Its that time of year again!

God, every one I am so sorry. I just can't seem to blog as regularly as I'm supposed to.


I'm going to try harder.

It's time for MARYLAND SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL!!! I can not contain my excitement.

In just 5 days I begin my trek down to Jenn's in PA. and then from there a quick 2 hour jaunt into Glenwood, Maryland. There are a whole crew of us going again this year. We get a few hotel rooms and car pool back and forth to the festival. Plus a bottle of wine and the hot tub for after a long day of walking. Super excited!!

I'm taking two classes this year. "How to make your old wheel do new tricks" with Magie Casey and "Thick and Thin Coils" with Jacey Boggs. These are Saturday and Sunday morning so we will still get a MAJOR amount of shopping done. Looking forward to the classes. I've been more or less teaching myself how to spin. It will be nice to get a bit of tutoring from a real teacher. Ah the questions I have......

Here are a few quick pic of my latest stuff. And then I'm off to a soccer game.
This is Froggie Went a Courtin, superwash Merino. OOhh so soft.

This is San Diego Sunset - Superwash Merino and it was kettle-dyed. So soft and drafts like silk.

Hope your day is wonderful.

D

Time to start anew!

I'm in love, yup, well not in the way your thinking. I found this fantastic Blog that is going to help me change......Everything! http://www.blacksburgebelle.com/ This woman April Bowles - Rocks! She is fountain of information. And I hope that drinking from that fountain will make this a more interesting blog for you.

Let's get started. Today, other than taking down the christmas decorations and making cookies for the boys, I will be preparing for our upcomming sale. http://www.juneprycefiberarts.etsy.com/ Everything will be 50% off, I'm thinking that quite a bit of my stock will be out-going. That same weekend as the sale, I am taking my first knitting classses up at Slader Mill in Pawtucket. Very excited!! Jenn says that starting my first project on double pointed needles was special. I'm not so confident, if I do end up sucking at the classes, I am still getting a FULL weekend of girl time and knitting. The boys will be going to my parents for the weekend. WooHoo hot tub all to ourselves!! Bathing suits optional.

So to try and be ahead of the game, I am fluffing and labling all of my rovings. We use these very pretty bands that have the name of the colorway and type of fiber, the weight, and a color picture. The bands help keep the rovings in a tidy bundle and look beautiful. I will also spend some time getting together enough SWAG. We have differnt stuff depending on what the fiber is used for. I even grew lavendar for sachets that go in the packaging. Sooo pretty and smell great!

After that's all done, I'm working with 18 micron Merino. This superfine stuff that felters use. I had and inspiration light come on while flipping thru my moms quilters catalog. Instead of trying to fit every color of the rainbow into my felters packets I would try to do some gradient color packets. Check it out....I started by researching the Colors of 2011. You know, what colors are going to be "hot" for the next year. Check out www.fashionising.com/trends and it will show color swatches and the "looks" that are upcomming. In this picture you can see the Honeysuckle (2nd row, 3rd color from right) the BeesWax (top row, 3rd color in) the Coral Rose (top row right hand side) the Lavender, Silver Cloud, and Silver Peony (on the botton row from right to left). I dyed darker purples and lighter oranges to fill out those packets, but they are still drying. I'm hoping to work on the Peapod and the Nautical Blues today. Working on these packets really help me to work out the mixology of the dye, allowing me to see the color in all its forms, prior to me using it on a larger amount of fiber. And it lets me see the colors near each other, which helps when designing new colorways!!!
Coffee is done, time to get dyeing. Hope you have a colorful day ;)

Wow, Twice in one Week!!

Hello all!

Just quickly checking in. Trying to actually follow my resolutions. Today will be a small chat about what I do. This dyeing gig is pretty good. I retreat to my workroom to be swallowed up in a rainbow of color. I have been using large roasting pans to soak the rovinngs prior to applying the dye, but they have begun to spring leaks. I know, you all are cringing. "What!" you say, "citric acid in aluminum pans?!?!" Yes, my friends I had to use what was available. They work quite fine before the acid rots thru the bottom. I see no difference or problem with the rovings AT ALL. They are still soft and bright white when removed. No remember I only leave them in the pans until wet, no more than 15-20 minutes. I haven't tried over night or anything.

I am in search of "fish tubs". Anyone who has worked in a restraunt or a grocery prepared foods kitchen knows what I'm talking about. All the frozen/fresh fish arrives in these white plastic bins with tops. They are EXACTLY the size of roasting pans but made of sturdy, food grade plastic. I need some of these. I do still have some friends in the business, and I should just get off my lazy butt and given them a call. They are constantly throwing them out when the dishwaher has changed their shape enough for the tops not to fit correctly. OK, OK I'll call them today. Thanks for the push.

I am always looking for inspiration. I have folders and folders of pictures, both paper and on my computer. I don't go anywhere without my camera. Digital is a blessing!!! There is beauty everywhere, it's the taking of that beauty and reproducing it on the rovings thats the challenge. Exciting and extraordinary but still a challenge. I love it.

Whoops sorta got off the tracks there and now my time is up. I'll be checking in again this weekend.

Later

Happy New Year (aka Screw the Resolutions)

Happy New Year All!

We just returned from the year end - New Year June Pryce company meeting. This is where the men get together and shoot off model rockets and target practice with the 22. While Jenn and I hang out and knitt and discuss what we will be doing with the shop for the next year. I must say it was a VERY productive meeting. I am so excited, we will be having a One Year Anniversary Sale. Everything is going to be 50% off for Januray 22-23 only. We intend to clear out the old and bring in the new. Sorta to shake things up. We are also going to start a Fiber Club!!! WooHoo can't wait. Exclusive colorways just for the lucky members. I've been brewing up all sort of beautiful new colorways.

I hope Christmas was nice for everyone. I was hosting this year, and I must say I enjoyed not have to travel. Everyone came to me. No stuffing the car full and driving with all the other crazies. Just a mellow 4 days of cooking and chatting with my family. Eating then because as of today that changes.

This is my VERY FIRST Project. I dyed this superwash, I spun it on my drop spindle and then I knit it on double pointed needles. It is a hat for my loving hubby, it should keep him very warm while he goes hunting. The head is my teenage son, and he was not happy about being my model.

This is a year of MORES and here is a few of my resolutions:

MORE exercise!! I love my food and it shows in my big fat ass, time to get moving!

MORE loving of the husband - yes, you know EXACTLY what I mean (heh heh)

MORE sales - yup we are kicking it up a notch and selling everything!!

MORE Blogging - I am planning to be blogging at least once a week.

MORE smiles, MORE laughter and MORE LIFE!!!

MORE later :)

Cheryl

Ps I'm on Ravelry now too!

DyenamicDyestress - check it out!

Spin, Spin, Dye, Repeat

Hi Gang!

I've been spinning up a storm. I love my wheel. I've been spining up stuff that we weren't too happy with once they were dyed or stuff that never sold. Man, on either count once this stuff is spun its BEAUTIFUL!!! The first was some superwash in Espresso to Latte (check out the shop for other color ways) that the black broke purple and bled down the length of the roving. So I kept it and remade the fiber with no black. I've spun that up in a fat single and I'm going to knit (OMG NO!!!) a hat for my loving hubby for x-mass.

The next was some Salt Water Taffy in a Superwash merino. I was practicing the thick thin spinning for a potential customer. While it came out OK, I found that the superwash is very "slippery" when you try to spin it. It's very pretty and soft but it is as delicate as silk so I had to be VERY gentle.

Next, was 8 ounces of Domestic wool (aka nubbly, scratchy outdoor wool) dyed in Tapestry. I do not understand why someone didn't buy this stuff. True it is scratchy, but its very nice looking. And it naturally slubs it's self, the clumps and pips make for easy slubs that come at relatively equal intervals. The one I'm working at now and I won't have any pictures for you is the Pretty Sophisticated in Superwash Merino. Yea, I'm trying the superwash again to see if it was just me being ham fisted. Its still slippery, but my spinning buddy Gail gave me a couple of tricks to try and they seem to be working. This color way is a sweet pale pink and smoky gray mix. I working it in a standy yarn size. Not fat or chunky but definately not lace weight.

My fantastic Hubby made me a hand carved Niddy Noddy in teak!!! Take a peek and be very jealous!! He even made three different lengths of center poles!!!

Gotta get back down stairs and dye. Today is yarn and some more Superwash.

If I don't get back to you, have a great Thanksgiving!

Daytripping to Rheinbeck!

Hi Gang! Happy Halloween!

Couple of weeks ago Jenn ,Raisin and I made the trek to Rheinbeck Sheep and Wool Festival. What a great day! It was cool and a bit windy when we started out, but in a short time it was warm and sunny, what breeze was there kept you from getting too hot.

Look at all of these colors!!! All of these skeins we spun up boulce (?).

There were people EVERYWHERE! Yes, I know its to be expected with this size faire and all but..... Wow. And what I found so astounding was that EVERYONE was wearing something that they had made. There were sweaters, scarves, shawls, gloves, hats, vests........ I could go on and on. I was the only one, that I could see, that didn't. Jenn was sweet enough to lend me her scarf - THAT SHE HAD MADE - to keep me warm. Oh yea, I didn't tell you that this was our chance to be walking billboards and get the name of June Pryce Fiber Arts famous! Jenn had these cute shirts printed up. Short sleeve, because at the Maryland Sheep and Wool we almost died from the heat. So here we are in this chilly day with short sleeve shirts on. Jenn, brilliant woman that she is, put it on OVER her sweatshirt. It looked nice, she does not agree. But I had this jacket on and was attempting to wear the shirt under but on backwards so you could see the logo. Didn't work so well. We will make up Sweatshirts for next time.

See isn't she cute? Don't look too close, I caught her with her eyes almost closed. (She is gonna KILL me.) We spent a bit of time checking out different spinning techniques. Now that I'm "helping" with my wheel - THANK YOU GAIL!! - she was showing me what I'll be able to accomplish. Speaking of which I have been using my wheel, quite a bit. I'm spinning a superwash merino into a thick single for a hat for my Dad for christmas. I hope. Remember, I'm Ok spinning but I SUCK at knitting.... I'm using a book called "Kids Learn to Knit", it is well writtten for kids like me who need to go slow and have it explained in the simplest form.

This was also a fact finding mission. See, we are considering taking our gorgeous product out on the road to different festivals. We needed to look into how other fiber artists displayed their stuff. You know, what shelving systems made the product look the best, which would be easily portable, how to price things out and what other toys/tools to carry. While we we there we also found this great idea on how to package up our scarf/sock kits. Soon to be seen on our site - Keep watching!

These are neat aren't they? Inside they have everything you need, directions, yarn and such plus you get this cute hand colored picture on the front to show you how it will look once all knitted up. These plastic containers would also work for our felters kits, no? So we chatted up vendors, took many, many pictures and of course bought some stuff. I know that sounds funny, someone who can make whatever color they desired purchasing a hank but sometimes it just fun to have someone else do the work for me.

OK kids back to work, I go in search of a new roasting pan. Mine sprung a leak and I can't steam the fiber without it. I'll have to focus on yarn today, but only until I can replace the pan.......

Hope you have goulishly good fun tonight!!!

I'm Getting A Spinning Wheel!!!

Hi all! Sorry its been a bit. We had a small emergency with my father needing some more coronary jewelry. Five stainless steel stents in all. He is fine, at home and in good spirits. Thanks for asking :)

I'm getting a wheel!!!! Yup, Santa (aka my hubby) is coming early this year! Jenn had sent me a e-mail about a lady who was selling perfect Louet 10. I laughingly sent it onto Hubby, who I guess had no idea of what to get me for Christmas, quickly called and snagged said wheel!!

I flipped! Not in a good way either. I was unsure of if I would use the wheel enough. The last thing I want is another "thing" taking up space and collecting dust. And I just couldn't take years of "you wanted it so badly......Are you ever going to use that again....". So I got on the phone to cancel the pickup. That being said, I am still getting the wheel. Gail, the LOVELY woman who is selling the wheel, was wonderful. Fun, interesting and a spinning addict like myself! She reminds me a lot of my friend Lia. Full of life, creative..... I can't wait to meet her!

We will take the two hour ride tomorrow to pick it up! Pictures to follow! Gail, sweet thing, asked me to be her "spinning buddy". I gotta tell you this clinched the deal. I really look forward to spinning along with her (I'll keep you in the loop). I am just so impressed with the way Jenn spins, I hoping that some day I'll be just as good.

My poor family. Hanks of dyed fiber in boxes everywhere, little colored tufts of fluff on the rug and now there will be this gorgeous wheel sitting in front of the TV along with their wii paraphenalia (sp). I can't wait to hear what they tell their friends when they ask "what is THAT?!"

More when I get this beautiful girl home!!!

OMG!! It's Everywhere!!

HELP!! I need an assistant! I have wool everywhere! This is a picture of my dining room table. At this very moment.

The buns with pieces of paper on them are to be banded. Which means that they are dried, fluffed and have had their pictures taken. All ready to be put into stock and await their new home. The banded purple hanks in the left front (Napa Valley colorway) have been sold and need to be packaged up all pretty to go out on Monday. The pages in the front with the scissors are bands to be made for the buns in the back of the picture. There is handspun in the digital scale, and the large silver pail is for pickings (cleaning up of the wool of any little frayed bits) that I'd love to sell (GIVE??) to felters. I think I have about 5 small sandwich bags packed full. What you don't see in the pile of expenses and inspiration papers that need to be filed away.

AAAHHHH!! And I have to blog (woohoo I'm gettting something done!!) and get the postings ready for this coming week. I can't set up posts from my day job because the pictures are here on my laptop. I also don't have the time, it flu season. It's easier just to drop in the listing address and press finish. Then, just so you don't think I'm done whining, I must go down a begin dying. I know, wah wah wah, suck it up and get back to work.

Man, I feel better. Thanks for listening.

I've been Spinning Again!!

Help me!!! I adore my drop spindle. It seems that Jenn has been reading the blog and I got caught. It's OK tho, its better that my problem is out in the open now....

Ahh to watch that beautiful fiber twist up into juicy fat singles..... The anticipation.... The silky softness. Oohhh almost as good as chocolate.

This is the "Sari" colorway from the shop. Its the BFL. This one "broke" and I had to take care of it. There is the Sari in Merino still for sale, but not for long if I can help it ;) heh heh heh heh. (Think sick pervert laugh). The first, sorry second, attempt was the Sea Glass colorway.

It came out a bit more thick and thin than the Sari. Still I love it!! I really need to learn to knit. What am I gonna do with all of this?? Any ideas? Do I need to start going to SA (spinning Anonomous) meetings? Hey! No comments on my lack of spelling skills :) Have a Great day, I'm out!!!

Fall's Here!!

Hello all! I am loving this weather!!! FALL IS HERE!! Cool mornings thick with dew then a nice warm (not the muggy hot of summer) days then back into a crisp cool evening. Gets my blood all up for the fall colors. I just finished a new colorway "Autumn" - so very predictable of me - and it's gorgeous!! The color mix was requested by a customer who is test driving my new techniques. I had a small problem early on. This IS a learning process after all. And this is the customer who pointed it out, so only fair she gets free stuff to test for me now. All of the stuff coming out of the WORK ROOM, Yup, still loving this space, is perfect. Fluffy, completely dyed and easy to draft. Its too bad that my photography skills suck so very much. Jenn has it down pat. Her stuff is all artsy fartsy and shows off my work perfectly. BUT sending the hanks down to her in PA just to have their pictures done is sort of cost prohibitive. She dosen't have as much storage space as I do. She also has two little people that need her attention more than the wool does. So I struggle with lighting and set-up and pray that people will purchase this great stuff even tho the pictures on the site suck.







This is MY idea of a artsy picture. I'll try to down load one of hers and you will see the difference.

I've been spinning on my drop spindle. I'm addicted. I watched this cool tutorial on u-tube by this girl Megan. http://www.theartofmegan.com/ She was so very helpful in the learning process. I've tried the wheel, and was bad at it, I liked it but Jenn is in possession of the wheel. Sp I don't get much time to practice. Jenn is MUCH better at it than I so I started with the spindle. I've done a ew different pieces. My first looks a bit like Noro.














See? Not so bad for my first try. The second and now third trys are getting much much better. I can't stop. I take it with me everywhere. Spin a little, draft a little. Now all this time I've been telling Jenn "no" when she has anounced that their is a particular hank she wants to spin. I feel so naughtly, I'm not only eyeing the fiber but I've gone so far as to have the roving "break" while prepping it for pictures, which makes ut unusable for sale. And free game for me to spin. I think I have a real problem......Hope Jenn dosen't find out.