Catching up

The last week of January--really?  I am working on catching up on projects and thinking of what is ahead for this year's classes.

The never-ending Kaffe Fasset squares are finished and I will be making two cushions.  It will be easier to display the cushions than the larger bolster.  I love the colors, but just did not enjoy knitting the squares.  I prefer stranded color work or intarsia.

The two pieces are drying and soon will be covering a cushion.

The KAL for Endgame by Michelle Hunter (knitpurlhunter) is finished.  It was rewarding to be able to complete the project within the four weeks.  Working with HiKoo Kenzie is always a pleasure.  I have to take a good photo to send in for the contest ends in February.

Endgame in HiKoo Kenzie, Saddleback.

Last Monday a group from Anoka Fiber Works took a field trip to Black Cat Farmstead in Stockholm, Wisconsin.  It was a lovely drive through the snow covered landscape, which reminded me of the hills of southern Ohio. There were fish houses scattered on Lake Pepin.  When we arrived, Rollo and Andrea greeted us and we walked from the house to the studio.  Andrea's studio is a small, two story house that once occupied a spot on the farm of author Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandparents.  The farm is nearby and after Andrea purchased the house, she had it moved to her farm.  The basement houses a large loom and a cheese-curing room.  The main floor has a wood-burning stove and there are baskets of natural and dyed roving, finished yarn, and silk hankies.  Andrea rescues spinning wheels and they dot the nooks and crannies of the back room.  Upstairs there are two large looms and some of her wheels.  We sat up there and enjoyed some of her homemade goat cheese with crackers and nice hot coffee.

We went outside to visit the sheep and the horses.  the Icelandic wool had a nice sheen in the late afternoon sun and there was a particularly cute dark Shetland lamb.

It was a great day and good to get out and about with fiber-loving friends.

Rollo leads the way to the studio.

Andrea and Rollo

Always a good sign!

Spindles and other fiber goodies.

Rollo helps Andrea get the stove going.

The layers of paint tell a story inside the house.

Bight colors on a cold winter day.

Lovely fiber everywhere!

The basket of roving by the window was hard to resist.  The stairs lead to the...

...studio!  The upstairs is newly renovated.  

On the other side is a cozy spot with lots of light and the perfect place to work and chat.

A dream wheel.

Downstairs is for drying. 

Of course no trip is complete without sheep encounters.  Icelandic and Shetland sheep, my favorites.

Over the weekend was the bi-monthly Spin In at Anoka Fiber Works.  There was a good crowd and the bunnies were there, too!  I brought my Moosie and the roving I got in Stockholm.  I like the way the singles plied together in the bottom photo.  

Mary's center pull ball exploded while she was plying.

Dawn snuggles one of the visiting bunnies.

The bunnies were friendly and so sweet.

The fiber matches the hair!

Whatever I make with this yarn will be called Rollo.

Knitting and Spinning Update

I have been working on the scarves and have to get back to the Secret Garden cardigan. Now that Ben is in New Mexico, I am focusing on my Troop Guide presentations for course.  It is looming large in my future!
The natural light is good today, so I had a little photo session with some WIPs and handspun.  A couple of recent photos are added, also...

Hail from the storm on Sunday.  It was so loud against
the windows, just like the hail storms in Texas!  The shapes
were perfect and the layers made them look pretty.
I was happy not to be hit on the head by them!

This morning a baby bunny was checking out the patio.
There are bits of leaves from the storm and we did not
put the chairs back, yet.  We tucked them underneath
the deck and removed the umbrella from its stand.

The New Box of Crayons (Paintbox Scarf, by Lucy Neatby)
made with Kauni Solid and Color.

The Swoosh.  This is a fun and easy project similar to the Baktus  Scarf.
Opal sock yarn in Van Gogh colorway.

This is the first 8 ounces of the tweed.
I am just about finished with spinning the singles
from the second 8 ounces.  I checked out the wraps
last night at class and it is 10 WPI, which is exactly
what I wanted.  Hopefully I will be as fortunate with the yardage!
Natural gray wool with silk noils.

Seeing spots!

I finished the Chocolate Covered Cherries last night and ended up with 763.8 yards of yarn.  That should be enough for something fun!  The Bunny Nuggets inspected the finished product and gave their approval.

It's a good Friday in more ways than one...

Even though rain is in the forecast, it's going to be another lovely day.  The temp will be in the 70s again and it's a good day to open all the windows and let in the fresh air! 

The latest newsletter from the shop features some of my students (and me) wearing finished projects.  I'm so proud!  I finally downloaded a cute pattern for a quick project--Bunny Nuggets, by Rebecca Danger.  They are adorable and I'm making up four for the LYS owners.  I'll finish them today so they will have them before Sunday.  

Last night was Round Table and I can't believe we have one more before the steak fry in June.  I made Southwestern Egg Bake last night for the Dutch oven sample.  They were very good.  I brought along some red salsa, which was really tasty spooned on the eggs.  It's made with green salsa and chilies, so (as usual) I thought it needed some more color!
Poor Baci is trying to keep the Bunny Nuggets together for the photo.  They are now at the shop.  Paula was working and picked out the tan bunny.  They are so cute!
So much for the windows, as it decided to rain.  It's okay because we certainly need the rain.