On the Farm
Had a sad end to the summer. Our oldest riding horse, Oliver, had to be put down in August. He was a good age, guesstimate of the vet, was 29 or more. Our heat wave really aggravated poor Oliver's heaves and he had no quality of life left. We are still looking for a permanent replacement for him, but it is a hard thing to do.
All the market lambs are gone. Will have to wait till spring to watch a new group play and gallop about. Maybe there will be some spots this time in the crowd as our new Icelandic ram is black and white spotted...Hopefully he will break the all white trend of the last 2 years for the purebred Icelandics.
Good old Norton is still hanging about. Have again had several people look at him, but then decide that I was not kidding when I said he was a large coloured ram, part Lincoln, part Colombian and God only knows what else. His about 300 pounds is a bit intimidating I guess :)
Have a Blue Eyed White English Angora soon leaving for Newfoundland. She will be my long distance flyer for this year I think. Others have gone afield, but so far. In the spring I will be using a new tort buck to bring in some new blood to the BEW's. Expect to have a number of spinner/wooler bunnies of assorted colours ready to go next summer. But that is enough looking ahead on the farm front.
At the Torch
Not much happening here. Have not felt inspired to do new things with so many beads already available from passed sessions. Maybe inspiration will stick as the weather cools. I feel it stirring now and then, but nothing to light a fire over yet:)
With the Pliers
Has been a Byzantine link summer. All things chainmaille in fact, but the byzantine link has really got stuck. Have made this bracelet in every colour of wire can get my hands on so far. Hopefully the pictures show up. Am told they loaded but can not see them anywhere... Sometimes new technology and I are not best friends...
In the Mill
Still the center of attention here. We are currently clearing and rearranging for a larger carding machine to arrive shortly. Will let us more then double our capacity of roving production and free the current smaller machine for more custom fibre blends days. Expect to see lots more of things like Blushing Vanilla or Sailor's Delight in future.
Once the dust settles and we are running will get some pics up here.
Have also been busy logging in new colours of Ashland Bay fibers. Have almost every colour available now instock. Next thing to work on will be getting more of the ecru yarns in stock.
We will be taking a day or two to do some fibre and yarn dyeing. Just have to wait for the yarn to get here...
On the Road
We have been hitting craft events this month. Small venues for the jewelry and the beads...So far we have been at the Napanee Lioness's Christmas Craft sale, St. John's hall Christmas sale in Bath, and coming up will be the Odessa Christmas Sale at Emmanuel United.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Oh My Almost a year!!! Serious catch up to do here!
On the Farm
There are a number of chances on the farm. Our original Icelandic ram Tveir Skan is getting ready to head to a new home. We have all of the genetics we can use from him. So he is off to do Nancy proud now. In his steady we have a fine black spotted fellow arriving later in July. Hope to add some spots to my growing fleet of white ladies. Next year I may actually be ready to sell ewe as well as ram lambs. Numbers born will of course dictate the final outcome. Otherwise the sheep are doing well. Five ewes lambed 9 lambs and all are growing well.
Other animal events include the birth of a litter of 3 Blue Eyed White English Angoras. Two may be off to new homes in Newfoundland by end of August. The 3rd I believe is staying here. Considering a second litter before the fall is done. Then the meat bunnies are also producing. The freezer will not want by fall.
Poultry are kicking out eggs of all varieties, duck, chicken, guinea and turkey. Selling some, eating some and incubating others. Trying something new with the incubator, was asked by a Filipino fellow if I would incubate duck eggs just till day 17 so he and his family can have a delicacy they miss from home. So we will see how that works. the second bator will have another run of turkey eggs in it to go full setting time. Sooner or later we will eat a turkey we raised ourselves:)
On the Torch
Not much here. Been making a few beads a week, but still have a stockpile from previously to work my way through. Just as well as other things have been going nuts!
With the Pliers
Ah, more happening here. Trying to evolve new styles in the bracelets and earrings in particular. So lots of experimenting happening here. None to soon either as we have a show coming up in August, the Sheepdog Trials in Kingston, Ontario at Grass Creek Park. Should be an excellent weekend all round.
In the Mill
Here is our hot spot. Processing like mad, adding fibre and wheel dealerships, looking for a second card to speed up production...crazy crazy, but good. Yes, we now sell spinning equipment, so far we have added Spinolution and Babe's Fiber Garden items to our growing list of products available. We also secured a dealership with Ashland Bay Fibres. This gives us a new range of fibres beyond what we already produce in the mill to sell and also gives us a range of fibres to offer for blending. For instance your wool and Ashland Bay's tencel or nylon blended to make a custom sock yarn .... Or your angora and Ashland Bay's Merino blended to make a lush scarf roving. The possibilities are endless!
On the Road
As I mentioned we are going to be at the Sheepdog Trials in Kingston Ontario. Still debating showing some of the angoras this fall at Spencerville, Ontario, or in Fulton, New York and maybe we will make it to Rhinebeck, if nothing else just to look around. Know of a fibre event you think we would be interested in let us know. May even make some of the fall bead shows in the Toronto/Ottawa areas.
Well, hopefully it will not be 10 months before I get back on here to update again!
Enjoy your fibre and beads as much as I do and the world will be a happier place!
Cheryl
There are a number of chances on the farm. Our original Icelandic ram Tveir Skan is getting ready to head to a new home. We have all of the genetics we can use from him. So he is off to do Nancy proud now. In his steady we have a fine black spotted fellow arriving later in July. Hope to add some spots to my growing fleet of white ladies. Next year I may actually be ready to sell ewe as well as ram lambs. Numbers born will of course dictate the final outcome. Otherwise the sheep are doing well. Five ewes lambed 9 lambs and all are growing well.
Other animal events include the birth of a litter of 3 Blue Eyed White English Angoras. Two may be off to new homes in Newfoundland by end of August. The 3rd I believe is staying here. Considering a second litter before the fall is done. Then the meat bunnies are also producing. The freezer will not want by fall.
Poultry are kicking out eggs of all varieties, duck, chicken, guinea and turkey. Selling some, eating some and incubating others. Trying something new with the incubator, was asked by a Filipino fellow if I would incubate duck eggs just till day 17 so he and his family can have a delicacy they miss from home. So we will see how that works. the second bator will have another run of turkey eggs in it to go full setting time. Sooner or later we will eat a turkey we raised ourselves:)
On the Torch
Not much here. Been making a few beads a week, but still have a stockpile from previously to work my way through. Just as well as other things have been going nuts!
With the Pliers
Ah, more happening here. Trying to evolve new styles in the bracelets and earrings in particular. So lots of experimenting happening here. None to soon either as we have a show coming up in August, the Sheepdog Trials in Kingston, Ontario at Grass Creek Park. Should be an excellent weekend all round.
In the Mill
Here is our hot spot. Processing like mad, adding fibre and wheel dealerships, looking for a second card to speed up production...crazy crazy, but good. Yes, we now sell spinning equipment, so far we have added Spinolution and Babe's Fiber Garden items to our growing list of products available. We also secured a dealership with Ashland Bay Fibres. This gives us a new range of fibres beyond what we already produce in the mill to sell and also gives us a range of fibres to offer for blending. For instance your wool and Ashland Bay's tencel or nylon blended to make a custom sock yarn .... Or your angora and Ashland Bay's Merino blended to make a lush scarf roving. The possibilities are endless!
On the Road
As I mentioned we are going to be at the Sheepdog Trials in Kingston Ontario. Still debating showing some of the angoras this fall at Spencerville, Ontario, or in Fulton, New York and maybe we will make it to Rhinebeck, if nothing else just to look around. Know of a fibre event you think we would be interested in let us know. May even make some of the fall bead shows in the Toronto/Ottawa areas.
Well, hopefully it will not be 10 months before I get back on here to update again!
Enjoy your fibre and beads as much as I do and the world will be a happier place!
Cheryl
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