All together now AWWWWWWWW

Is there anything cuter than a fat litter of newborn bunnies all tucked down in the mommy's fluff?  I think not. Can you see all 8 in there -cozy and warm and already fat on mama's milk. Life is so very good.

These are satin angoras born yesterday to chocolate chinchilla mommy by pearl dad. Can't wait to see as they get bigger what colours they are!

Olympics and Knitting

I decided to join in on Ravelry's

My new spinning stool

Look what my wonderful creative hubby made me -this is the prototype of the spinners stool he will be making - this 100 year old saw cut pine -isn't it gorgeous :) It still needs a light stain/finish on it but I already love spinning with it.

Jared's Rovings

All ready to go to the sheep dog trials :)  This is the last of the Corriedale I got from Alberta last year -amazing stuff grown on a small but growing farm -they are hoping to have more for more this year but demand is huge and I'm a small purchaser so get pushed down the list. I'm eagerly awaiting the mill to get running at my sister in laws full time -have some amazing fleece sitting there waiting to go - leichester, merino, icelandic and shetland so far LOL

Its too hot to post so here's some random new baby bunny photos :)

 Broken Tort Satin Angora

 Blue Tort and Broken Blue Tort French Angoras

 American Chinchilla Cuties -they are born black, turn browny.grey and then settle into a stunning silver chinchilla colour when grown up!

We currently have 5 satin angora babies, 4 French and 6 Am chins in three different litters booting around cages and generally driving their mothers crazy in this heat! 

Shamus Sixtoes

Meet the newest Parkinson Shamus Sixtoes.  The kittys above conspired and decided it was time for a new arrival.  So here he is - he's approx 8 weeks old according to the vet -3.2lbs (going to be a BIG boy) and has extra toes like thumbs on his front paws.   He loves being a shoulder cat and has a very loud purr. Somehow I think he knows he's got a good thing going on here :)
Welcome to your new life Shamus!!! May you have many happy years here with us.

More hats!

I have really gotten into colourwork in my hats. I love the way it all comes together at the end and shows off the colours of the work.
Here's the latest two all done and ready to go.

BIG BOYS = BIG Toys

  Its is a CF 140 Griffon Helicopter stationed here at CFB Kingston and is used by One Wing (the sponser wing for the 58th Air Cadets)  but he did get to take a 1 hour flight in it and shoot off the weapons. Sigh boys and their toys.........

Exciting new products at Cornerstone Fibres

I have finally found a supplier of natural dye supplies!! Available now are Natural Dye Starter Kits and Natural Indigo Dye Kits - I cannot wait to play (I mean test product) one of these kits myself :)  They are not inexpensive but they are a great way to experiment with natural dyeing.

 The Natural Dye kit includes 100g of the following: Madder, Osage, Logwood, Cutch, Tannin, Alum & 30g of Cochineal. The kit also comes with the in depth instructions. Essential to discovering the world of natural colour! $60

.Natural Indigo Kit
This kit contains 100 g natural indigo, 100 g thiourea dioxide, 100 g lye, instructions. $30

 This kit includes 10g of each of the following extracts: Madder Rich, Madder Standard, Chestnut, Cochineal, Lac, Quebracho, Logwood, Dyer's Broom, Weld, Coreopsis, Golden Rod, and Buchthorn. Also included is 250g of Alum, full practical instructions and a detailed artisan poster of all the extracts.
Extracts easily dissolve in water and are so concentrated that only a small amount is needed. $100

This kit contains both ochres and mineral pigments. The colours included are as follows: Maize Clay, French Ochre, Gold Ochre, English Red, Violet Glimmer, Manganese Brown, Bohemian Green, Italian Green, Mayan Blue, Amethyst, Burnt Umber, Pencil Clay, Davys Grey, Vine Black.

Applied using many techniques including hand painting, they add luminous colour and velvety texture to any cloth. Full instructions included in kit.  $120

Open Doors Kingston

Open Doors is a event where the 28 local historical places open their doors for the public. In Kingston there is one very special Martello Tower -called the Shoal tower which is only open to the public on this one day. This year they had historical interpeters from the actual unit that manned these British fortifications giving the tour.  So here's some pictures from the tour and the day. Kingston is called the Limestone City which I'm sure you can see why :)

 The Shoal Tower -it is the only Martello tower that is completely surrounded by water. There are four of these fortifications in Kingston -two up the hill by Fort Henry, this one right in the harbour by City Hall and one down the road across from the Hospital (The Murney Tower which is completely restored to show what life was like during that time).  There were 16 of these towers built -only 11 survive today and four of them are here in KIngston.

 Inside the tower -the walls are 14 feet thick on the harbour side, 8 feet thick facing Kingston.

Here you can see the other towers up the hill with Canada's Roayl Military College and Fort Henry further up there -all constructed out of limestone.

 Our guides in their full wool uniforms - see there is fibre content :)

 Two of the guns at the top of the tower -they are on rail sliders so they can go all the way arround the tower.

 Our guide fired off his rifle to show us how hard it was to fire.

 Daryl found something he wanted to bring home with him LOL

 City Hall -made entirely from limestone -this is how close it is to the fortifications.

 Our second stop of the day -the penitentary museum -this use to be the Warden's house -again quarried out of limestone.

Here's his front window view - Kingston Penitentary - a maximum security prison and the oldest in Canada.
There is actually a limestone quarry that was manned by the prisoners inside the walls -one of the most famous chrurchs in Kingston is made from Limestone quarried entirely by the prisoners and is called "The Church of the Good Thief"

Father's day Jackpot

I have to say as far as Fathers go I have won the lottery :) My own dad is a super wonderful guy (alibet a little quirky -see photo above LOL) but as Dad's go he is A++++++++++.
Then I married my soul mate and got another A++++++ Dad is Don Sr. Another crusty and quicky dad but still one of the good ones. But best of all I get to share my life with a third A++++++++++++++ dad my very own hubby and father of our two children :)
They say good things come in threes so I guess I am blessed beyond measure.

Happy Father's Day to the awesome men of my life :)

Bouckville CNY Fiber Festival

I love the colours and textures, the inspirations and the creativity that fibre people have :) From felting to spinning, woodworking to pottery there is so many ideas to work upon. And there are critters galore - someday ahhh someday there will be other critters. but for now there is the dreams and inspirations and of course the wonderful people who make it all possible :)

 Needlefelted and then framed with an old barn window - beautiful!!

 Handdyed and felted cloak - I want one!!!!  I cannot even fathom how many hours this took to make.

 Handturned wooden accorn spindles

CVM Lamb -lovey colours!

 Baby border collies all sleeping soundly

 One of Maggie'ns new Nubian goats - stunning colour on this little lady~~~

 Boothmate -a wonderful Icelandic Ewe named Torfa -she had her lambs with her as well -if only I could have figured out how to get them across the border :)

 Time to walk the "dogs"

 The amazing and talented Maggie and the felters who gave amazing demos all day Suzanne  Farrington - I learned so much watching her all weekend long.

Jazzy Dyesigns by Jared

Here's his latest works - 8 ounces braids all ready to go :) He wanted more friendly packaging than plastic bags so here they are ready to go as is.  Bright and cheerful on a rainy day.

Hat Kits available now

 I now have hat kits available for both designs of my hats -the dragonfly one is only available in wool at this time as it needs to be fulled slightly to make it the way it is :) The waves pattern is available both a pure wool or an angora/wool combination. Kit includes all yarn needed to complete a hat and the pattern. $25 each kit.

Assorted colours available :) Can put together a special colour request if you like.

Goodbye Shenangians

The little kitten stirred inside his shell. It had been so long since he felt himself this way -young, strong and vibrant. He chased the light to the other side and sat in wonder. There were trees to climb and couches to lay upon and smiling people. He knew he had never been here before and wanted to explore.

He watch as people and animals viewed the world down below with interest. Curious he watched them for a while but then a familiar scent drew him away. He stalked it to where a smokey grey cat and a small black dog with soft brown eyes looked down "He's coming soon" the dog commeted to the cat. Pounce the little orange kitten struck landing on the grey cat with a bounce. "Grimjack" he cried out happily "I've found you again!!!!"

The two played together happily and then looked over at the little black dog with mischief in their eyes. the rolled and pounced on her till they all fell together in a heap.  "Where are we?" asked the little orange kitten "We've crossed to the other side" Scamper the little black dog commented her tail wagging happily "We watched as mom and dad said goodbye to you" she added and looked down to where the little orange kitten saw his old shell laying there empty.  He knew his people would miss him but he told the other two they had told him it was alright to go and they would all be together again someday.

The three friends reunited once more on the other side climbed up onto a couch to nap - they knew there would be space enough when their people came to be with them.

"Think Nemeisis, Java and Dutch are enough for mom and dad" Grinjack asked Shenaniagans"  as he purred happy to have his friend again.  Scamper looked over at them with a snort "they finally figured out they need two dogs to replace me, so one cat should more than replace the two of you" she laughed.
The two cats pounced their friend again and sent her off running.  "I like it here" Sheanigans happy and content to be young again and back with is fur brother.  "Its nice" Grimjack replied "but we'd better keep an eye out on mom and dad and the kids"

"Yep" Shenangians replied "after a nap on the couch and some food"

Good bye my beautiful orange boy. I'm so glad you are together with your buddies again. I' love you all.

Together again :)

Could not resist this :)

heehee