Happy Imbolc!

Brigid, (Brighid, Brigit, Bride,) the Celtic goddess who in later times became revered as a Christian saint. Originally, her festival on February 1 was known as Imbolc or Oimelc, two names which refer to the lactation of the ewes, the flow of milk that heralds the return of the life-giving forces of spring. Later, the Catholic Church replaced this festival with Candlemas Day on February 2, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and features candlelight processions. The powerful figure of Brigid the Light-Bringer overlights both pagan and Christian celebrations.

New rescue bunnies

Two lovely little bunnies who were an impulse purchase that quickly became a problem for their owners - they didn't realize they would have to groom them and clean the cages as often as they need.  They are suppose to be both girls but I'll let them settle in and then check.  They are pet store bunnies so one never know exactly what breed they are but they will make some great 4-H rabbits if they have the personalities to make them good pets.

Teaching spinning

I LOVE drop spindling and I love corrupting (I mean teaching) it to others :) Today 5 brave souls joined me as I got to do what I love to do spin :)  They all walked away very happy with their new knowledge and their ability to make yarn!

 And their teacher was thrilled to have been able to share her love of fibre and spinning. One of the lovely ladies was going home to her grandmother's spinning wheel ready to give it a spin :)

Still spinning

Working on this lovely yellow mohair blend from Maggie's Farm :) I'm hoping to start plying it this week and then see how much yardage there is - I have an idea in mind but it needs a HUGE amount of yardage so we'll see. It makes me happy to spin it though.

FO's and an almost FO

 Just need to finish shaping the brim for Meaghan and her hat and mittens will be done.

 A special request for a special friend :)

These are mine unless Lindsay gets a hold of them LOL

Turn the page....

Another year, another blank page to start a new chapter in our lives. A day to realize that no matter what is going on it is the little things that really matter.
A hug from my children, a wagging dogs tail, a smiling face at work these all mean more to me than anything else.
Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy 2012 -may only good things come your way but know that if there is darkness I'm there for you :)
HUGS
Kim

Litters in the barn -babies everywhere!

Here's some of the presents Santa brought to me -a lovely litter of French angoras and a fat and chubby bunch of American Chinchillas. And of course my own baby snuggled safe and warm with her buddy Dutch guarding her.

HUGS all

Stopped by a friends today

She has taken up rug hooking - I want her to teach me or in the spirit of the season let me take this spectacular rug home with me ;)
Its beautiful in its simplicity - I hate to think how many hours of time this took for her to do it though.

Happy solstice!~~

The food is put away for the winter,
the crops are set aside to feed us,
the cattle are come down from their fields,
and the sheep are in from the pasture.
The land is cold, the sea is stormy, the sky is gray.
The nights are dark, but we have our family,
kin and clan around the hearth,
staying warm in the midst of darkness,
our spirit and love a flame
a beacon burning brightly
in the night.

Sunday spinning

This week in the mail was a secret Santa present this week from somebody who knows I love to spin. Today I spun up the lovely superwash merino that was in the box :)   4 ounces now waiting to be washed and the knit up.

Santa came early

And brought me sparkly little satin angora babies all tucked down in a warm little nest -there are 9 to first time mommy Arwen and daddy Twister. :)

Gratification as a fibre artist :)

I attended the amazing and fun Plowshares show in Syracuse this past weekend. Beside having great food and music all weekend long I got to hang out with Maggie -aka Wonder Woman!!
We even got time to spin together !! Me on my spindle and her on her beautiful Robin wheel.

 We rocked it all weekend long and both of us were very proud of our accomplishments of the weekend :) The best compliment I got paid was a lady looking over one of my angora yarn skeins for $80 and telling me "its worth that for your time and skill alone" -boy does that make a spinner feel good !!!!
HUGs all I'm off to play on the spinning wheel again!

Sweater project

I love the slubbiness of this yarn and the glow of the fibre is just magical :) This sweater pattern just seemed a perfect match~
Maggie makes the BEST rovings!!! And they are so easy to spin! 

Best Christmas Display at the Mall

Thought these were awesome and very lifelike!  Wanted to take one home with me but they don't produce spinnable fleece LOL

More angora yarn

100% Angora yarn awaiting a knitter with ideas LOL

Another mans trash = this Spinners new treasure

Can you believe this...Its stunning and just the perfect height for a spinners stool. So it's my new treasure and cost nothing -it was sitting on the curb with a Free sign.

Happy Spinning ahead!!!!!

Spinning = Happiness

Doesn't matter how upset or flustered or rushed I am - if I can spin all is right with my world.  The fibre flows through the fingers taking with it all the bad stuff and leaving only good happy feelings. Unless I'm forced to use synthetics or cotton but we will not go there LOL
Wool, angora, mohair, cashmere, silk all are wonderful and fun to spin!
Here's some of the latest -warm, cheerful and glowing with colour!

 And here is the next lot waiting, calling my name .............I could just sit and spin for hours lost in the feeling of it all. Too bad housework and other work is calling me away. But a quick fondle of fibre before I go. SQUEEZE and SNIFF AHHHHHHH Wool.

BFN

My beautiful daughter

She is so darn cute in the morning all bright and bubbly and ready to go to school NOT! But she does have the most stunning eyes and when she smiles she is wonderful!
She is independent and clever and oh so smart too!!!  And very very creative especially when it comes to crafts.
Love you baby girl!

HUGS

Working working working

I am working on yarn and finished projects for a variety of events coming up soon :)
Here's some samples:
 Black mohair and merino/silk trimming with a matching scarf! White angora and some merino wool for shape.

Back off girls -he's still my baby!!

But oh is he tall and handsome and so darn cute!
Here he is going to the Air Cadets dance Saturday night. Every girls dream a knight for the damsel in distress.

Brave and valiant and noble too.

Crowds at Rhinebeck

We can play where's Waldo -or in this case where is Kim and Maggie LOL

My new sweater

My dear friend Sally sent me this AMAZING gift!!! A handknit sweater that fits me sooo perfectly and I LOVE the colours!
I feel so special that somebody made me something this magnificent!

A critter at Rhinebeck

Any guesses as to what he is?

Back from Rhinebeck

What can I say beyond WOW!!! What a great weekend. Daryl and I drove down Thursday - Friday we cruised through Hyde Park and toured the amazing VanderBuilt mansion there. Saturday and Sunday we spend load of fun time with all the people who make this so great Maggie, her daughter Mia, loads of bunny friends and a special delivery to a fellow Ravelry friend Vicki from Texas who got her yellow wheel.
Beautiful scenery, fantastic food and best of all friends! What more could a girl need!

Garden bounty

I'm seeing lots and lots of lovely pots of soup and other goodies in my future :)  MMMMMMMMMM

My father in laws new hobby

My father in law is a supremely talented woodturner and woodworker. I asked him when he started if he could make a drop spindle -several incarnations later this is his latest creation. Its pure Purpleheart wood and is actually that amazing colour. And this thing spins forever with a flick of the wrist. He's making more for me to sell for him. This is if I can be parted from them LOL