I swear the pair on our back porch are headed for cardiac problems. They've been in that nest for 2 years now, and are currently raising their 3rd brood. I understand that when our cat is outside, they would be upset and raise a rucus. Whichever bird is closest to the porch flies from bush to bush, squawking and chattering in anxiety. But...they do the same thing when I pass near the window, or when nothing at all is happening out there. Any day now, I expect to go outside and find one of them lying on their back dead and the other bird parent fussing around, while the babies in the nest chatter for more bug dinners.
Anyway.....
I finally put the Siberian Husky-blend yarns up in the store. The fur creates a nice halo, I like it a lot. I haven't knitted anything yet to see how it behaves while being worn, but that's in the works. And, by the way, 10% of the proceeds from selling this yarn will go to Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
In which I report on another teaching venue, my garden, and my knitting pattern revisions
New Teaching Venue
I've been going to Fingerlakes Fiber Festival for several years now. Last year, I bumped into the lady who organizes the classes and chatted with her for a bit. Sent in my applications this spring. And received word last month that all three classes were accepted! Their website is updated with the 2010 classes and there's lots of other stuff to do up there. This is a wonderful hidden gem of a festival, folks, about 6 hours from DaBurg. There's lots of wineries around, and I can tell you where the BEST Indian restaurant can be found. This is the area that inspired my Upstate Meadows batts (which are currently sold out of my shop, but more will be made soon). Come on up and spend some time in the country!
Garden
Speaking of the country, I started harvesting my garden a couple of weeks ago. Well, actually, much earlier than that because lettuce and spinach come up FAST. After the lettuce, rhubarb and peas, the garlic was the first crop to come out of the ground. And I made a garlic braid today! I'm so proud of myself! It's hanging in the kitchen right now, with some bits of dirt still clinging to the roots. Couldn't shake/brush all the dirt without losing the dried garlic leaves, which is what one uses to make the braid. Making some caponato tomorrow with fresh eggplant and tomatoes from a nearby farm, and have some whole wheat Italian bread in the breakmaker right now. Lunch is gonna be GOOD tomorrow.
Garlic braid
Garlic fresh from the garden last week
Fresh rhubarb, peas and lettuce, washed and ready to go!
My knitting patterns
Reading the always-active copyright posts on Ravelry, it occurred to me that I hadn't looked at my copyright blurb in some time. It used to read "Garments knitted from this pattern are intended for the buyer's personal use and may not be sold for profit without prior written financial arrangements with the author". And I realized that it did not reflect what I actually wanted to say. I have always been happy to see knitters make something for themselves or their family/friends from my designs. *I* know I'm not going to make a boatload of money licensing my designs, but I did want some type of control over the items made from my pattern(s) and offered for sale. After all, if my name is going to be attached to a handknit item, I want it to be high-quality and the sales handled in a professional manner--and so I want to talk with the knitter to get a feel for who they are. And I LIKE knowing other knitters, especially the ones who like my patterns LOL. So I have taken out the word "financial" in order to be clear that I'm quite happy to have folks use my patterns to make and sell items--just please ask first.
I've been going to Fingerlakes Fiber Festival for several years now. Last year, I bumped into the lady who organizes the classes and chatted with her for a bit. Sent in my applications this spring. And received word last month that all three classes were accepted! Their website is updated with the 2010 classes and there's lots of other stuff to do up there. This is a wonderful hidden gem of a festival, folks, about 6 hours from DaBurg. There's lots of wineries around, and I can tell you where the BEST Indian restaurant can be found. This is the area that inspired my Upstate Meadows batts (which are currently sold out of my shop, but more will be made soon). Come on up and spend some time in the country!
Garden
Speaking of the country, I started harvesting my garden a couple of weeks ago. Well, actually, much earlier than that because lettuce and spinach come up FAST. After the lettuce, rhubarb and peas, the garlic was the first crop to come out of the ground. And I made a garlic braid today! I'm so proud of myself! It's hanging in the kitchen right now, with some bits of dirt still clinging to the roots. Couldn't shake/brush all the dirt without losing the dried garlic leaves, which is what one uses to make the braid. Making some caponato tomorrow with fresh eggplant and tomatoes from a nearby farm, and have some whole wheat Italian bread in the breakmaker right now. Lunch is gonna be GOOD tomorrow.
Garlic braid
Garlic fresh from the garden last week
Fresh rhubarb, peas and lettuce, washed and ready to go!
My knitting patterns
Reading the always-active copyright posts on Ravelry, it occurred to me that I hadn't looked at my copyright blurb in some time. It used to read "Garments knitted from this pattern are intended for the buyer's personal use and may not be sold for profit without prior written financial arrangements with the author". And I realized that it did not reflect what I actually wanted to say. I have always been happy to see knitters make something for themselves or their family/friends from my designs. *I* know I'm not going to make a boatload of money licensing my designs, but I did want some type of control over the items made from my pattern(s) and offered for sale. After all, if my name is going to be attached to a handknit item, I want it to be high-quality and the sales handled in a professional manner--and so I want to talk with the knitter to get a feel for who they are. And I LIKE knowing other knitters, especially the ones who like my patterns LOL. So I have taken out the word "financial" in order to be clear that I'm quite happy to have folks use my patterns to make and sell items--just please ask first.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Change in dates for summer workshops!!
Due to my brothers death, I've had to reschedule the 3 summer workshops/classes I'd previously scheduled. Folks who had already registered were kind enough to help me choose new dates, and I'm hoping the new dates will allow some of you to attend now.
Register early by email (carol [underscore] mcfadden [at] verizon [dot] net) or phone to reserve your space. Payment can be made via Paypal (I’ll send you an invoice once you’re registered) or personal check. At this time I’m not able to accept credit cards. Payment in full is expected three days prior to the workshop.
Spinning Woolen vs. Worsted Yarn
Did you know that the preparation of your wool affects the type of yarn you will produce? That there are different methods of drafting your wool to achieve either woolen or worsted yarn, and variations of these techniques? We’ll be preparing our own fiber from washed fleece, and talking about the traditional uses for both types of yarn. Students should be comfortable spinning on either a wheel or spindle.
Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel (don’t forget oil, hook & extra drive band)
--Handcards/minicombs, if you have them (one pair of each will be available to share)
July 31, 2010—12:30 to 2:30
$35 includes materials and handout
Spinning Textured Yarns
Ever wonder how tweed yarns are made? Don't know what to do with that ounce of angelina or dyed silk waste you bought at the last fiber festival? In this 4-hour workshop, we’ll address these questions and more. If you have a fiber you've been wanting to try, bring it along too! We’ll experiment with it if there’s time. Students should be comfortable spinning on either a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.
Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--Niddy noddy and hang tags to wind off and label sample skeins (optional)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available
August 14—10:00 to 12:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout
Spinning Colored Yarns
In this 4-hour workshop, you will learn how to put multiple colors in your spinning without buying handpainted roving. We'll explore different carding and spinning methods to achieve mixed-color yarns and space-dyed effects and discuss the results and their uses. Students should be comfortable enough with a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.
Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available
August 28, 2010—10:00 to 2:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout
Hope to see yinz guys soon. Notice of August Saturday spinning day will be coming in your email soon......
Register early by email (carol [underscore] mcfadden [at] verizon [dot] net) or phone to reserve your space. Payment can be made via Paypal (I’ll send you an invoice once you’re registered) or personal check. At this time I’m not able to accept credit cards. Payment in full is expected three days prior to the workshop.
Spinning Woolen vs. Worsted Yarn
Did you know that the preparation of your wool affects the type of yarn you will produce? That there are different methods of drafting your wool to achieve either woolen or worsted yarn, and variations of these techniques? We’ll be preparing our own fiber from washed fleece, and talking about the traditional uses for both types of yarn. Students should be comfortable spinning on either a wheel or spindle.
Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel (don’t forget oil, hook & extra drive band)
--Handcards/minicombs, if you have them (one pair of each will be available to share)
July 31, 2010—12:30 to 2:30
$35 includes materials and handout
Spinning Textured Yarns
Ever wonder how tweed yarns are made? Don't know what to do with that ounce of angelina or dyed silk waste you bought at the last fiber festival? In this 4-hour workshop, we’ll address these questions and more. If you have a fiber you've been wanting to try, bring it along too! We’ll experiment with it if there’s time. Students should be comfortable spinning on either a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.
Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--Niddy noddy and hang tags to wind off and label sample skeins (optional)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available
August 14—10:00 to 12:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout
Spinning Colored Yarns
In this 4-hour workshop, you will learn how to put multiple colors in your spinning without buying handpainted roving. We'll explore different carding and spinning methods to achieve mixed-color yarns and space-dyed effects and discuss the results and their uses. Students should be comfortable enough with a wheel or spindle to make well-constructed consistent yarn.
Supplies to bring with you:
--Spindle or wheel
--Handcards if you have them (one pair will be available to share)
--At least 3 bobbins for your wheel; spindlers bring a storage method so you can wind off yarns as you make them
--Spare drive band, oil, any other “tools” you usually carry when spinning
--Please bring your own lunch; coffee/tea/water will be available
August 28, 2010—10:00 to 2:30 with 30 minutes for lunch
$60 includes materials and handout
Hope to see yinz guys soon. Notice of August Saturday spinning day will be coming in your email soon......
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