So Many Things Happening

I'm not even sure where to begin. But since this will be a information-heavy post, I think I'll start with an awesome picture!

That's right . . .  it's a 1967 Volkswagen, Karmann Ghia! My husband is awesome. He and the kids completely surprised me this past weekend with it after going to "get lumber" and was gone for something like 6 hours. I got regular updates about broken windshield wipers, a flat tire and grocery shopping to explain the delay. I was a bit miffed when they finally showed up, but then when they opened the back of the trailer, I was speachless.

This is a car I've wanted since I was in high school, and one of the first Mike and I daydreamed about owning when we were dating. 

It has no engine, and there's a two-year ETA on driving it, but that's OK. It's mine!!!

In other news . . . 

I've decided that it's time to say good-bye to my Breed Study Group. This is a really bitter-sweet decision, and one that I put off announcing for a very long time because I wasn't quite sure I could let it go. But I did, and now it's time to look forward to new adventures.

The decision really hinged on the farm. Willow Glen farm now has 10 sheep and we have 8 pregnant ewes this spring! That's going to be a lot of animals and a lot of wool. I'm finally at a point where the farm is more than a hobby to write about. We'll actually have quantifiable products! So here's how the shop will look within a year (or two!):

-Shetland roving. Lots of it! Natural and dyed wool will fill up the shop all from my animals!

-Debouillet roving. Lots of it! Dyed debouillet will round out the shop's spinning offerings as a fine, delicate wool. This all comes from a flock in the midwest that I work with on an annual basis.

-Alpaca/Merino yarn--Sport and DK-weight will be available soon. Some of the sport-weight is in the shop now, and I'm test driving the DK yarn in a cardigan for myself. It's pretty scrumptous! This wool comes from Hope Farm, and is processed into yarn at Autumn Mist Fiber Mill, both NY small businesses.

-Romeldale yarn--probably a light worsted weight. This is a long-range plan for the shop/farm. I'd like to purchase some Romeldale sheep this fall and use their wool to start a yarn line. Just like the Shetland, it'll take a while to build up, so the yarn may not be available for a few years, but I think we have enough fluff to keep us knitting in the mean time!

-Handspun yarn--whatever I feel like working on at the time!

My goal is to further develop an identity for the shop and farm. As much fun as the breed study has been, it's been a challenge to keep the shop consistant for returning customers. 

And my time has been morphing quite a bit, too. I love teaching, and will definitely be available for private lessons or to teach groups, but I've decided that regular class offerings just don't work while I still have young kiddos. On top of that, I've taken on the added responsibility of being our guild's president for the next two year. Teaching will come back when the time is right.

In the mean time, I'm still writing for PLY magazine, and that is a much more flexible schedule for me to stick to. So far, I've had an article appear in the Winter 2013 issue and a pattern in the Spring 2014 issue. I have three more articles slated for Summer, Fall and Winter 2014. Pretty cool, huh? But to keep the article ideas flowing, I need time to actually spin and knit so I know what I'm talking about!

Though saying "so long" to the breed study and teaching has been hard, I think all of us here at Willow Glen are excited about the new opportunities (and lambs!) that are on the horizon!

Eureeeeeka!!!

I know I've been promising a great little tutorial on kids and dyeing, but it's going to wait until Wed. I've been completely immersed in photos. Actually, I've been struggling with photos for a long while now. I have a light box. I have a great digital camera. I have cruddy photos.

So last night I bonded with my camera. I downloaded the user guide (the original is long gone--if you've ever visited my house, you'd understand) and read about every setting possible. I bought new bulbs for my lights that are brighter and truer white. I read tutorial after tutorial on product pictures.

Here's what I've accomplished today:

"Waves" Corriedale battA clear, bright, not-discolored photo!!! You have no idea what I've been through. I was about to buy a new camera (it couldn't have been me!). But I learned all about white balance and how to set it myself with a white sheet of paper.

Here's my little studio:

Do you like my antique washboard as a prop? I thought it added a rustic touch.

I'll be in the process of photographing new and old listings for my etsy shop over the next few days, but my brain is racing to get a few tutorials up: one on the kiddos dyeing, one on batt preparation for spinners, one on pulling batts into roving and one on blending different batts for complex colors. When am I going to find time for all that? Keep checking back over the next month. And say a little prayer that I can get to it all!

Little Project Notes

I know I promised a tutorial on kid-friendly dyeing, but I just needed to get these pics out there. The tutorial will be posted later today. Check back!

I'm working on a project for my new blog and Etsy banners. I want to have roving flow into yarn and that flow into some knitting. All with my soon-to-be-revealed new logo over it.

In preparation for this, I've started working on some blends of green and natural corriedale wool. Here's a glamor shot of a finished ball of yarn:

Hand spun Corriedale yarnAnd I loved this setting for the picture so much that I think I may change over most of my pictures on Etsy. I re-did my handspun already:

Hand spun "Corriedale Expresso"Maybe not as professional as a light box, but I love the warm feeling it gives. The wooden stand it's on is my antique yarn skeiner that my in-laws got me for my birthday. Awesome, isn't it?! I may pull out my antique washboard as well for some pics.

I've also been working to change all my inventory over to farm-friendly stock. All new wool that comes into my shop will be from small farms across America that I've hand scoured, hand dyed, hand picked and hand carded. My hands are tired! Stay tuned for info on the fleeces I process and the resulting items that go into my shop.

Birthday Journals

I love journals. Maybe even more than actually journaling. A new journal, blank and empty, just calls to me. I think it's the vast possibilities that it holds. Much like undyed yarn, raw fleece and empty boxes. I want to fill it up, carry it around, and make it a good friend.

So for my birthday a few weeks ago, I asked for two journals. One from my parents to use as a business/dye journal and one from my husband for my morning quiet time. I picked them out from etsy shops and sent my parents/husband the links (I'm not good with surprises!). And here they are . . .

My journal from ECStewart Designs and Very Bradley pen

This is my new business journal (and my birthday pen from my wonderful friend Jen). The cool thing is that it's actually a moleskine cover. So when I fill it up, I can get a new moleskine and keep the same look. Love that. BTW, ECStewart was wonderful to order from and includes the journal with the cost of the cover.

My journal from Baghy on Etsy.And this is my handmade journal from Baghy on Etsy for my morning quiet time. It took a little while getting here because it came from Bucharest! She was great to work with--she actually custom painted this design for me! It's buttery soft and I pet it a LOT!!

Am I spoiled or what?