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.

Jazzy JEWELRY by Jared!!!

He's loose again! This time he's raising funds for his baseball team by creating new and exciting jewelry for me to sell for him :) He's waiting for me to get more rovings in to dye but his choices of colours are as always inspiring:

Here's some of his work :)

New Babies!!!!!

Hurray!! At long last new babies in the barn :) So far the count is :

4 New Zealands -3 blues, 1 white to Laura our white NZ mama from NH by Blueberry our blue Diju Rabbitry Buck

8 - German Hybrids 94.75% from McMullan's Perfect -100% German -a stunning stunning girl! out of Smith's Sir Lancelot (chinchilla) 89.5% German -looks liek 2 chocolates and 6 whitesw -coats on these guys should be amazing as both mom and dad are incredibly dense and their body types are awesome~ one of the chocolates will be staying here for sure.

8 German Hybrids/crosses 87.5% from RM's Whimsey 100% German x RM's Emmerson (75% German -25% French broken black -my Xmas baby in pervious posts) 6 brokens and 2 whites -no definete colours yet -stay tuned!

Still due 2 litters of satin angoras -stay tuned for more details!!!!

Its all gone ;(

All of Jareds latest offerings are sold - we'll have to get going on more :) Its fun to do and he gets such a kick out of beign the "dye wizard" He's also taken up baseball -he looks os darn cute in his uniform -he's playing for the Cardinals this year!
Go Cardinals!!!!!

More Jazzy Dyesigns by Jared

Is he awesome or what!! 9 years old and so talented!! The colours oh the pretty colours. I wish I had time to spin it all! There is 2 more 4 ounce lots of the moorit shetland from Kalwa Taure Shetlands http://www.acornrack.com/KalwaTaureShetlands/Products.php which I am so in love with - the colour is amost jewel tones and oh soooo soft! The larger bags are Corriedale -8 ounces per bag. The range of colours this kid can produce is awe inspiring.

Pre-inventory Sale!

Time for a pre-inventory sale – I do not want to count more than I have to so prices are discounted to get this stuff gone :) Updated to reflect what has already been sold:
Misc.:
Spin Craft Patterns $2.50 each 2 X Leaf Lace Vest, 3x Backstrap Loom, 2x Weaving on the fold, 3x Angora Bunny, 2x rag or Yarn Sheep,

Books and Magazines:
Spin-off Magazines $7 each
Winter 2001, summer 2004, fall 2004, fall 2005, winter 2005, spring 2006

Vogue Knitting $2 each
Spring/Summer 95, fall 95, winter 95/96, fall 99

Shuttle. Spindle and Dyepot $3 each
Summer 1992, Winter 94/95, Winter 87/88, Fall 89, Spring 95, Spring 86,Fall 97, Fall 2001

Making Plaits and Braids June Baker $20
Inkle Loom Weaving by Frances B. Smith $15
Weaving is Creative –the weaver controlled weaves Jean Wilson $10
Tablet Weaving by Ann Sutton and Pat Holtom $35
Swedish Weaving By Thelma M. Nye $10
The Urban Knitter by Lily Chin $5
New Knits on the Block by Vickie Howell $15
Spin It making Yarn from Scratch by Lee Raven $12
The Handspinner’s Guide to Selling by Paula Simmons $20
Angora a Handbook for Spinners by Erica Lynne $25

Fibers:
1lb Cotton Candy Pink Corriedale Roving 1lb available $25 for both or $15 am 8 ounce bag

4 ounces of Brown Shetland with silver gray Llama – 85/15 percent blend $15 –2 bags available

4 ounces White Shetland with white angora rabbit wool 85/15 percent blend $15

Natural Silk in Sercin 3 ounce bags –3 available $10 each or all three for $25

Ecopsun –recycled pop bottles white only 2lbs available $25 per lb or $15 for 8 ounces

Prices do not include shipping. Payment is Paypal (contact for account info), cash, check or money order.
Thanks for looking!
Kim

Shetland Dark and Light

Well I let Jared loose again :) This time with some fabulous roving from http://www.acornrack.com/KalwaTaureShetlands/Products.php

located here in Ontario. These beautiful shetland rovings are so soft and easy to handle and they dye beautifully. 4 ounces of white and moorit hit the dye pot in an expiriment of dark and light dye exhaustion. As you can see the results as always are stunning.

My dye wizard continues to amaze and delight me and others -his rovings are currently getting packed up to head to a blending course with Beth Abbot -a master spinner and dyer in her own right. She LOVES Jared's origina; works of art and so do I. Now to convince him to not play baseball so he has more time to dye with me Not happening anytime soon.

Jazzy Dyesigns by Jared -SILK!!!

So what happens when you let a 9 year old loose with some tussah silk, easter egg dye and a crock pot? If its Jared you come out with a work of art!! The picture cannot do this fiber justice -it is amazing~~~as are all his works -but this one might just stay here with me :)

Baby "Goober"

Java has to be one of the most gentle dogs I have ever met -look what she dropped in my lap this morning -we were out in the garden sitting when she plopped this into my lap Besides being covered in dog drool he is completely unharmed -can't fly though poor little thing is too young -I figure he fell out of the big tree in the neighbours yard. He sure likes worms out of the garden though He seemed completely unfazed that this thirty pound thing had scooped him up into her mouth.
Java was so proud of herself -they say labs have very gentle mouths and I can well believe it after this!
Who decided I was the new mama :)

Poor Java the oppressed!

Poor girl -Java went in to get spayed yesterday and to have her dew claws removed -one ingrows and gets infected so we opted to have both removed to help her stay healthy. She is NOT impressed with the love and care she is being shown. Can't blame the poor thing, sore, bandages that itch and this horrible collar thing to have to wear to boot! Going to be a looooonnnngggg week!

CDAA Booth pic

Here's the setup we had at the Canadian Doll Artist Association last friday/Saturday. My friend Wendy helped me hold down the fort but refuses to have her picture taken! The dolls there were incredible!

Busy Fiber Happenings :)

Well its been a busy two weeks first the Port Hope Fiber Gathering and this week the Canadian Doll Artist Association show and sale. Who knew fiber had so many beautiufl uses. Spinning, weaving and dyeing are just the tip of the iceburg. Felting both wet and needle, fusion with silk, free form creations of awesome proportions -it was so neat to see and touch it all. I also got to meet at long last Leslie Samson the lady who co-wrote Completely Angora!!! And got her seal of approval on my new German doe "Perfect" who I got from Julianna McMullan this spring. Can anything be better -well maybe the thought of getting a BLACK German from the new import lines this fall
Photos will be posted as soon as I get around to it - had a wonderful mothers day yesterday complete with breakfast in bed (burnt toast a la Jared and juice by Lindsay), lovely flowers a dozen roses in salmon and a dozen bright red tulips and new shoes -can we say completely spoiled :)
Off to re-pack teh fiber bins and do inventory now -hopping off!