First Fiber Festival and Fantastic Friends!

Last Saturday's Western New York Fiber Festival was absolutely wonderful! We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather or a more perfect setting. Crisp Autumn air got everyone in a fibery mood! 

This was the first time I've ever set up my own booth at a fiber festival, and I've been very excited and even more nervous, but it all came together with the help of some wonderful friends and a great sidekick.

My friend, Hannah (seen here posing with me!), really encouraged me to get it together and have a booth, so I made her help :) She was my right-hand girl for getting it all ready, setting up, selling and taking it all down. Oh, and for taking pictures!! Thank you Hannah!!!

And I can't forget my friends Petra and Jen who devoted themselves to cutting paper and packaging products all day last Thursday. Couldn't have gotten through that without you!

My parents are in town from Texas, so they had to see what all the fun was about. And my in-laws couldn't miss it either! Brendan, Morgan and Mike were with me all day doing various tasks for the festival. Did I mention I was on the planning committee as well? Brendan and Mike ran the jump rope maker until Sue (of The Critter Ranch)'s son Cameron showed up to help Brendan. Thank you family!!!

Jude and Dave (in-laws extraordinaire), Mike with Kat, and Janice and Bill (best parents ever).

One of the very best parts of the day was getting to see old friends that I only catch up with a few times a year, and getting to meet people I've only ever met on-line. What an amazing community of fiber friends we have here in Western New York. I am so blessed!

And now for some random fun shots of the day!

The BoothFoofing

Sue Phillips of The Critter Ranch hard at work in her booth.Brendan helping me twist up skeins (with Petra looking on!)Petra and Renee having a great time!Morgan telling me all about the great things she'd found (and it was her birthday, so she was a bit spoiled!)Jen and Rich Johnson of Whispering Pines Shetland Sheep Farm with FOUR bags full!Packing up after a long, wonderful day!!Now that the festival is over, I'm turning my sites toward Winter and organizing some classes to teach. I collected a lot of names and email addresses on Saturday for a E-Newsletter that will include more details. If you'd like more information, please feel free to give me your email to be added to the list. Off-hand, I know I'll be teaching beginner drop spindling, beginner knitting and the pattern "Wingspan."

Introducing Mixies!

Miniature batts and tops to mix-and-match for endless inspiration!

This new line of miniature tops and batts are designed to be blended together while giving you more control of your yarn. They'll be making their debut on Saturday, September 29 at the WNY Fiber Festival.

Here is a sneak-peak of 6 colors (out of 20!) on the Rambouillet top.

Each Mixie Top is 2 oz. of 100% Rambouillet from a father/son ranch in Texas, and it feels wonderful! They're semi-solid and will blend with the other colors in the line.

The Mixie Batts are 1.5 oz. and feature a variety of blends including local wool, silk, firestar and alpaca. There will also be lux batts of fine wool, alpaca, kid mohair and silk blended in various ways. All Mixie Batts are semi-solids that are carded with multiple passes to ensure throughout blending and easy drafting.

What to do with a Mixie?

* Spin the colors separately as singles and blend for a 2, 3 or 4-ply finished yarn.

* Strip the top/batt and hold various colors together as you draft for blending at the wheel (blend two Mixies for one singles and another two Mixies for the other singles, ply, and you'll have a complex, interesting yarn for larger projects!)

*Strip the top/batt and hold various colors together as you draft for blending at the wheel AND alternate which colors are in the mix for a subtle shifting of color or a fade.

* Alternated colors at even intervals for stripes.

* Randomly alternate colors for crazy stripes!

* Spin each color separately and use for colorwork projects.

* Let your imaginiation soar, and make the yarn your own!

Come see me at my booth on Saturday and mention seeing the Mixies here on my blog: I'll have a special gift waiting for you!