New Fibers available at Cornerstone Fibres!!!

We're so excited we are now carrying Southwest Trading Company Fibers includuing - Milk Latte, Soysilk, Optim, Bamboo Top, Black diamond Bamboo Top and Karaoke:

What is SOYSILK® fiber?SOYSILK® brand fiber is made from the residue of soybeans from tofu manufacturing. This process is 100-percent natural and free of any petrochemicals, making it an extremely environmentally friendly product. Soy is a completely renewable resource - coming from the earth and being wholly biodegradable. As early as the 1940s, textile experts dreamed of a fiber made from soy. (In fact, Henry Ford had a suit made of soy as an early prototype.) SOYSILK® brand fiber offers superior moisture absorption and ventilation properties along with beautiful draping, softness and warmth.

Bamboo carbon fiber, called Black Gold or Black Diamond by those in the industry, is resistant to ultra violet rays and possesses anti-odor properties. It also adjusts well to both humidity and dryness.

BAMBOO fiber is made from the bamboo plant, a grass farmed commercially throughout Asia. Bamboo can grow 10 ft tall and a stand of bamboo plants can thrive for up to 100 years. BAMBOO fiber is cool to the skin, comfortable to wear ,and shows beautiful drape and softness.

Silk Latte is made from the milk proteins. Like SOYSILK, it is a luxurious champagne color fiber but even softer than SOYSILK.They are produced in much the same process.

Karaoke is 50% Soysilk -50% Wool and is available in three colourways as well as white at this time Below is Playful !

A table of Fibre -courtesy of Jared of course :)

Here's his latest works of art - some are already spoken for -I would love to keep it all though

All this wonderful fiber once again came from Kalwa Taure Shetlands in Ontario -the fiber is always lovely and take the dye wonderfully! Tammy has to raise some awesome shetlands to produce this incredible fiber!! Her website is: http://www.acornrack.com/KalwaTaureShetlands/

Memories ...........

Today Jared, Lindsay and I finished our dye day as we bagged the fibre from Jared's last accomplishments. As we sat we talked about family -Jared and Lindsay are so lucky to have so much family who love them Jared commented on. I told him yes he was -he then started asking about the pictures on the wall - the one he really noticed was one of myself, my mom and my grandmother on my wedding day -he commented it was like fast forwarding to show all the different stages of a life. How right he was.
Today marks the 9th year of my grandmother "Beppe's" passing. Not a day goes by I don't think of her -she was an original do it all woman - she was wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother when she passed. In her 92 years on this earth she witnessed so much and never lost sight of the things that mattered. She witenessed great horrors and wonderful joys in her lifetime. My favorite picture is her holding out her arms to hold Jared. The picture we have in his room is her hands old and workworn being held by perfect little fingers just starting to learn how to take life by the horns.
At 43 she immigrated from The Netherlands to Canada with my uncles who were grown men and my mom who was only three. She taught herself to speak English listening to the radio and later on read when my mom came home with schoolwork. She worked hard all her life -she could sew- was a seamstress by profession, knit (I still treasure my Beppe sweaters and socks), crochet, embroider, and spin. She was an avid gardener and her flowers were always a thing of beauty. And best of all she could cook and bake. Some of my best memories were of a bowl of soup, a fresh bun and later on some cake and cookies all while sitting at a kitchen table and talking. Our days were filled with crafts, laughter and most of all love. She carried on for 16 years alone after my grandfather passed away -she never lost sight of heaven and that they would be together again there someday. Her faith was incredible, her strength immense and her love never ending.
She was without a doubt the most important influence on my life. She was my friend, confidant and mentor. Every important event minus one in my life she was there. Lindsay carries her name -a fact she doesn't like but I wanted my daughter to have something of this wonderful woman whom she would never meet. She watched me grow up, helped me grieve when my grandfather passed, smiled at my wedding, was there to hold my firstborn child.
I know she is still with us in spirit - I feel her presence often, when I sit to spin, struggle to knit or sit in my garden in quiet reflection.

Funny how things come full circle sometimes. Today we sat at the kitchen table -ate fresh buns and soup and later on made cookies from a recipe written in a beautiful spidery script and most of all we felt loved and blessed to be part of a circle that never truly ends. I hope someday when my kids look back they will remember that day with a smile.

And the cutest baby of the year award goes to.......

BRIANNE! Here she is at 11 months - our niece Brianne or Bri for short. This is Don and Lories little girl -spoiled little sister of Brandon. She's a real cutie thats for sure :)

She definetely looks like her brother good thing she doesn't look like her daddy!

Jared at Bat!!

Here he is -isn't he the handsomest baseball player you have ever seen :) Not too proud of a mommy now am I? They played their first tournament today - tey lost the first two games (not a surprise as these were rep teams from other areas) BUT they won their third game 20 to 7!!!!!

Jared got 4 RBIs in this game -can we say thrilled and proud! Absolutely -this is his first year playing after all. My only complaint is it take him away from me and the dyepots .

GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!

Here she is -getting bigger and more beautiful every day -JAVA!!! What is Java besides adorable - stubborn, opinionated and very very loving! She knows HER territory and kids and god help anybody who tries to get near either without hearing the okay :) She is so gentle with the kids and they adore her, shes defientely spoiled and well loved. She's on lifeguard duty here we sit on the deck while the kids play in the kiddy pool - she had to have her own lawnchair -she's too heavy to sit on my lap!

PICTURES!!!!!!

Here they are the first baby pictures of the three angora litters :) First up is McMullan's Perfect a first time mommy -awesome wool and type on this pure German girl. Her man of choice was Smith's Lancelot 94.75% German cross. These babies are genetically 97+% German bloodlines. There are two chocolate chinchillas and 4 whites in this bunch -I'm keeping on of the choc chins for sure :) I mean look at that face -who can resist such cuteness!

Next up is RM's Whimsey -100% German bred to RM's Emmerson -75% German -25% French cross -broken black. This litter is more than I was hoping for by these two - I was hoping for one or two with spots but got 6! Two whites round out the litter. The patterns on these guys are amazing -lots of colour and splash!

Predominately broken blacks but there is a broken chocolate as well! Very pretty. These guys are 80% + German in bloodline

Should be nice thick coats with easy care thrown in for good measure. Emmerson has retained his nice dark black coat too -here's hoping these guys do as well.

Last but not least is RM's Spitfires -broken reds -first litter of 9!

Bred to Davises Fuzz -lilac she produced this gloreous shimmery bunch of kits. I'm keeping a broken out of this for sure - I love the contrast of the bright white fiber and the sparkling colour -and to spin this fiber is heaven on earth!

My barn is full and boy do I feel blessed - now to watch all these guys develop -it makes it hard ot part with them but I know there are other breeders out there who will happily take some of these guys home with them :)

Canada Day Fireworks arrive early!!!

Well Canada also brought a wonderful surprise first time mommy RM's Spitfire (broken red) Satin Angora delivered 9 fat and sassy kits -these arrived two days early -guess she didn't want to miss the party! 7 brokens and 2 solids. Proud daddy is American import Davis's Fuzz (lilac).
Stay tuned for pics of these and the other two litters here :) Lots of splash and sparkle in this litter - Happy 140th Canada and Happy Birthday to you guys!

Happy Canada Day!!!!!!

Happy Canada Day!!!!!! As a first generation Canadian -my parents immigrated her as children I was always taught to be proud of being born in this wonderful and diverse country. My children also are taught this important lesson -that we are Canadian, we are free and we are truly blessed to be able to live here.