Time is my friend!

Felted vase with glass insert

I'll probably be eating these words this time next week when I'm desperately getting ready for the Francisco's Farm Art Festival with lots of last-minute stuff to do, but for now it's all pretty good! Both kids have been at camp this week, the first time that's EVER happened, so I'm really getting to do what I want to do without distractions, trips to town, and other things pulling at my time and creative mindset. (Of course I treasure my kids, and I have had twinges of empty nest foreshadowing for when they get a little older, but still...its great to have a break, especially when I need the "space" right now). After a great riding outing and overnight with friends, I was happy for an entire day of listening to Pandora, without having to share ANY stations! (Listened to Somewhere Over the Rainbow's station ALL day!)

Felted vase (alpaca and other fibers) with glass insert

I feel that this art show has given me a big push to come up with a "critical mass" of work and it's really made me focus, and try to improve, and to truly stretch. I guess that's exactly what the organizers are trying to do by including "emerging artists" like myself. It's made me feel like I really kind of am... an artist!

Wine bottle huggers of wool, alpaca, copper glitz

If it happens to be really hot next weekend, it'll be hard to interest visitors in garments (even the lightweight nuno shawls and scarves), so I've tried to create more true art pieces and functional items. Here's a sampling of some more new stuff!

Wall hangings from Shelby the sheep's lovely locks of wool

I'm already excited to see what tomorrow brings, I've got some newly-dyed silk and merino ready, and will be using some of the gorgeous long Wensleydale locks that I ordered from Namaste Farm as well. At least I stepped out of the turquoise and purple color pallete... for a while anyway!

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Maine Mitts for Me!

Last weekend before heading off to my spinning retreat, I went through some of my fiber stash and discovered some lovely Bluefaced Leicester hand-dyed roving and some yarn I had already spun from it. I purchased the fiber at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival the only year I had the good fortune of attending, perhaps in 2005? The yarn was sold by Firesong, and I remember all of their colors being stunning.

I enjoy working with alpaca most of all, but it is nice to work with other fibers from time to time. BFL wool is relatively soft, hard-wearing, and has really pretty luster. The yarn that I had already spun was fairly bulky and uneven, but I felt that it would be good for that pattern I love, Maine Morning Mitts! I spun a skein last weekend that will perhaps become a hat or scarf, my spinning was so much better the second time around.

These mitts will be nice to wear tomorrow morning when we finish up on the alpaca's routine herd health (worming injections and trimming toenails)! It's nice to have warm wrists and hands but to have my fingers free for fine motor tasks.

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