Yarn, Felt, Nearly-Felt...

Today I pulled together my contribution to the Silent Auction that will be held at the Taste the View event.  This is a spectacular fundraiser held each year by CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture).  Well known in this area by the phrase, Local Hero, CISA helps farmers get their produce to customers and helps customers find local food.  I no longer produce and sell lamb but I still participate as a Local Hero because I produce local fiber.

Anyway... my contribution is a gift basket of some of one-ounce "muffins" of my sock yarn for the knitter that enjoys color work.  I stitched the basket together from some of my "Nearly Felt."

I'm sometimes asked why I call it "Nearly Felt".  My processor needlefelts large sheets of wool for me; these sheets are not as strong and solidly-fulled as the wonderful felt that some of the talented felt artists produce.  Rather, it's sort of a thick, cushion-y sheet of felted wool.  I would not use it for any object that requires strength; if used to make clothing it needs reinforcement.  But it's a pleasure to embroider with wool yarn;  I love the texture that is created by stitching into it.  To stay on the good side of the serious, talented felters whose definition of felt is not as inclusive as my own, I call it Nearly Felt.  But... I believe that it is still felt.  Cheesecloth and canvas are both woven cloth; they are very different and would not substitute for one another, but they're still both woven cloth.  Stepping down carefully..

In preparation for the fall fairs I'm working on a collection of fridge magnets. 

And finally, Bud has new work.  He still does "sheep work" with relish (often more relish than skill, but the job gets done).  But now twice each month he does "gentle work": he visits Hospice patients at a local home.

Farm Photos

I've been doing some fiber work this weekend, but as of yet there is nothing photo-ready.  So a few farm shots will have to suffice.  Here's a little garter snake with blue eyes that lives in the planter where the horseradish grows.  When I approached to take this photo there was another one with him; that one seems to be camera-shy.  The snakes can be found in this same spot each morning once the sun's rays arrive.  I think they're there to melt away the night's chill.

These sunflowers, blooming far earlier than I would have expected, are volunteers that have sprung up from last summer's seeds.  I love sunflowers; they're so goofy, and happy.  They attract lots of hungry birds and are charming to look at during the winter when snow piles up on the spent flowers.

I like this peachy-bronze one.  I also like the fact that with sunflower photos it's so easy to lose perspective.  This could be the alien sunflower that was peering through my window, ready to take over my studio.

The hens are enjoying their summer, sheltered by the travelling vacation home that my husband created for them.

And this was once a pop-up camper, converted to a utility trailer by someone.  We purchased it locally from a very nice man this morning.  Why?  In preparation for the arrival of...
I'm not telling right now.