Fiber Arts Friday: Fiber Funeral

Welcome back Fiber Arts Friday fans.

This week I lost a good friend, neighbor and equine enthusiast, David Britt.  Of all things David died encephalitis after getting the flu.  I’m so thankful that my last memory of him (a day before he got sick) is when he saw me riding by on one of my horses.  He couldn’t help throwing open a window, hanging half way out, screaming out my name and waving feverishly just to say hello and wish me a good day. David was that kind of guy and so full of love for life and everyone in it. I’m going to miss him and so will the horses, who drag me to a stop at his driveway because they know he’d always come out with some carrots.

David and Goliath
David and Goliath

So, why this talk of death? Well it’s my only release really.  Sorry to unload on you folks but just getting it out there really helps.  Thank you for tolerating me.

Ironically Stephanie (Hog Island Sheep Rancher) sent me over a TIME article about woolen caskets on Monday.  It just seemed to mesh into what I was going through this week so why not look into fiber funeral options?

There is a rather inventive wool mill in Britain called Hainsworth who has been in the mill business for 225 years and make everything from felt for billiard tables to the uniforms for the Queen’s guards. With economy tanking and the “green” initiative soaring the company figured out a way to tap into a traditionally wood and metal market with their felted wool caskets and cremation presenters.

I’m a bury me in the back yard in a pine box type of personality but I’m thinking oh wouldn’t an alpaca casket be even better?!  Ok, can you tell I don’t handle death well? Seriously though wouldn’t it would be the perfect send off for a fiber artist. You could needle felt a flower to it instead of real flowers.

Ok that’s it I’m done, I can’t type any more but if you want to check out their wool caskets Click Here.

Have a great weekend everyone I’m off to learn how to shear alpacas.

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Fiber Arts Friday: Hog Island Sheep

I have been slacking in my fiber duties as of late but this past weekend brought me back into the swing of things.

Saturday I got to enjoy a day of fiber fun with my neighbor Stephanie who raises the rare breed of Hog Island Sheep.  I’m told there are about 200 head left in the US but you can see them in their original home setting still at Mount Vernon.

Clover_Hill_Hog_Island_Sheep

Note: Hog Island lambs are usually born with color but 90% of them end up turning white as adults.

The most fun we had with the fiber was rug making.  Using raw fibers and only hand carders we wove the raw fleece straight onto the pegloom.  Stephanie really enjoyed the ease of using the loom and tells me her husband is in the works of making one for her.  I can’t wait to see her first full size rug on it.  I’m rather jealous since my raw alpaca doesn’t hold together even a 10th as nicely as her Hog Island does for weaving.

One thing I learned about Hog Island fleece is that it is springy! I think a small child could use a pile of their fleece as a trampoline. BOING!  She left me a small bag to play with and blend with other fibers. I think I’ll save it for the Tour de Fleece to work with.

I was a total idiot and didn’t take a single photo the entire time!  ARGH.  I blame it on the fact I was computer-less, the darn thing blew up on my Friday night and now I’m waiting for my new computer to come in. 

Be sure to check out Stephanie’s farm.  She is new to the fiber side of the business and has tons of this rare fleece. I’m sure she’ll be willing to sell some, if there are interested parties.

Stephanie Dempsey
Clover Hill Farm
2747 Bronson Hill Rd
Avon, NY 14414

Anywho, having a fiber weekend inspired me to finally finish my sock yarn shawl.  I am proud to say as of Thursday I finally bound off, wove in all my ends and even got some fringe on it.  All that is left is to block it.  Oh and of course mail it off to its new owner.

The photo is not a true blocking, I just tacked it up to my cubicle wall at work to have a look at it.  I was so proud of my last bind off stitch I could help but get a photo of it too LOL.

Sock Yarn Shawl

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Be sure to check out these other great fiber arts sights!

PS I just read through this post and realized my thoughts are rambling with no real path.  I guess that’s what 2 over night shifts this week will do to a person.  I’m SO tired!

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