No Time For Posting

June has been a whirlwind month for me. I've been busy with work, workshops and fiber pursuits. Mother nature's bird parade has intrigued me as well.If you look closely in the picture above you can see Mama protecting the nest of baby birds below.



I took a super handpainting dye workshop with Kris Gonzales of the Painted Sheep. Rhodamine Red,Spiced Pumpkin, National Blue and Mallard were just a few of the Prochem dyes we used to handpaint roving and yarn.


Today I finished spinning some fingering weight Icelandic fiber for a special project. I want to knit a light and dark shawl in natural colors. Here is the handspun ready for the project.

Close Encounter of a Fiber Enthusiast

Where do I begin describing the fiber adventures that I have encountered?

Let's go back to New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.........I got to visit many vendors including Mad Angel Creations and Ball and Skein. I purchased some Strawberry Chiffon fiber from Mad Angel and I'm enjoying spindle spinning this wonderful fiber :



Here's Judy at her booth at NHSW:



Next stop is the 3rd Annual RI Sheep and Wool Festival. I had a wonderful day. I participated in our annual RI Spinning Guild Sheep to Shawl Demonstration. Here are some pictures from the day.

Carol and Beth are putting some finishing touches on the shawl


Here's a better view of the overall pattern:


Next post I'll continue the tale................

It was a great day for photos!

Last week I finally got around to taking pictures that some of you asked for of the shawl and scarf I finished. Judy graciously took some of the pictures. I am happy to report that these two projects are off the needles and ready to roll.

Lately I've been sidetracked in my knitting. I wanted to finish up a new cowl pattern so I double dropped or is it tripled dropped some other projects. My basket overfloweth with several projects screaming for attention like socks, a lace scarf and some zzzzzzz UFO's.

Well.....rest easy.... I'm straightening my knitting basket and also plan to pullout some spinning projects before I head out to New Hampshire Sheep and Wool this Saturday. My goal is not to do too much damage at the festival....mmmm maybe a bit of roving or a some nameless wooden object :)))

Stretched to the Limit

What a difference a hard block makes on a piece of lace knitting. This pattern called Old Shale Shawl by Evelyn Clark from Piecework Jan/Feb 2005 is a easy knitting experience. The yarn is Ball and Skein's hand dyed merino/silk Zephyr.
Purple hyacinths wow me with their color every spring.......................

Easter Pie Aka Pizza Gaina

It 's that time of year again when baking celebrates the humble egg. I say this because I make Pizza Gaina and Easter Rice pie for my family. Today I made the egg dough for the Pizza Gaina from scratch and added the fillings. The turnovers are cooling as I write.

Tomorrow I will make the Easter Rice pie aka Pastiera...............

Sachuest Visit

It's always a joy to visit Sachuest no matter what time of year.

Spring Tidings

Today, my small office window was cracked to air out the room. Not only did the welcome air enter, but the sound of birds chirping in my yard perked me up. April is in the air:

Eliot reminds us from The Waste Land:

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.

As we all know April's cruelty turns the frozen earth eventually to a warmer time. Given our cooler temperatures in RI , my spring hat may still be worn: