WIP – Fairs and Hunt Races

Why hello everyone!

So with Tour de Fleece over I have lots of hand spun goodness in my stash and I’ve started using some of it.  All the talk of the Wine and Wool festival got me thinking about an event I attend as a vendor in the fall, the Genesee Valley Hunt Races.  The races draws in about 10,000 visitors and over the past few years they have added a rather large farmers market which has morphed into a wine market since we are in wine country.

Long story short, my booth was mingled in with tons of wineries and at this event the wineries can sell the wine and you can open it and drink away right at the races.  Open container is not a problem at this event.   That got me to thinking about adding a little fiber favor for all the wine that is consumed at the races and I came up with these very functional wine bottle koozies!

It turns out alpaca works amazingly well as an insulator to keep the wine at a perfect temperature even on these hot and humid days we’ve been having.  I tested one out at a cookout we had over the weekend and an hour later as I poured the last of the white wine it was still chilled even though it was 86 and humid out.  I’m listing some in our Etsy Shop if you want to purchase one.

The shawl in the photo I entered into our county fair and yes, that is a blue ribbon we received!  Viva Alpaca!

Fiber Wordless Wednesday

Here’s a short video of my little filly meeting 2 of our alpaca boys for the first time.  Usually I don’t turn alpacas and horses out together but these 2 boys seem to enjoy the equine company.

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WIP – Tour de NY

Hi everyone I’m back!  What a trip up to the Adirondack Mountains I had.  Of course it’s Tour de Fleece right now so I brought my wheel along with me.  Since it sat in the passenger’s seat for the trip I found myself talking to it and finally gave it a name, Chester.  I’m sure most wheel’s have feminine names but this one just seemed like a Chester to me.  Say hi Chester!

Chester and I spent quite a bit of time together at the lake.  You can see a seaplane in the background coming in in one of the photos.  I was working on a brownish color alpaca/wool blend.  I must not have taken a finished photo of the yarn though.  Oh well I’ll save that one for Friday then.

Here’s what I have on one of my bobbins right now.  It’s a hand carded alpaca/wool/tencel blend.  I’m not sure if I’m going to leave it that color or dye it later.  It’s so shinny!

Lastly I couldn’t help but share this last photo.  While I was rummaging through the cabin looking for a snack the Triscuit box caught my eye.  Andrea, this is 100% for you, I know you’re on a gluten free diet so you probably would never have seen this otherwise.

Tour de Fleece folks participating in the beaded prize.  I’m going through all the photos today and will have a winner randomly picked out by NOON!

WIP and Fiber Wordless Wednesday

Here’s what’s on my needles!

I’m working on this Diagonal Rib Cowl Pattern using the very last ball of gray alpaca I have from my boys.

Here’s this wee’s Fiber Animal photo.  We’re still doing halter training with some of our cria.  This one planted all 4 feet and decided she wasn’t going to walk anymore.

Share your Fiber Animal Photos with us!

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WIP and Fiber Wordless Wednesday

Yeah for hump day!

So I have made a ton of FO’s this week and only have one WIP to share.

My wool/tencel blend basket weave scarf.  Did I mention that I can’t stand knitting? I’m so much slower at it but only way to get faster is to practice so I figured a basket weave scarf can only help with my issue switching from K to P.

Of course Wednesday also means Fiber Animal Photos!  Here’s my contribution for the week share a link of yours too!

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WIP and Fiber Wordless Wednesday

So I totally forgot my cell phone at home today which had all my photos for today’s WIP.  So I decided to draw what I have been working on this week instead.

1. I’ve been spinning again!  This time I’m trying to see how thin I can make a single ply.  Making bulky weight yarn is easy, 2hrs for 4oz from start to ply but spinning this thin is taking forever!  I’m really looking forward to the yarn though.  Here is my artistic rendition of the fiber that is on my bobbin.

2. The alpaca fan shawl is DONE! Well kind of, it still needs blocking but all the crochet is done and the fringe is on.  Here’s what it looks like, cool huh?

3. Fiber fiber everywhere.  I shipped out 3 boxes totaling 60lbs of fiber yesterday to the mill.  With any good luck by September I’ll be stocked up and ready for shows!

Lastly I’m combining my Fiber Wordless Wednesday into this post, here is this week’s alpaca photo.   If you raise fiber animals and have a photo by all means join in on the linky!

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