Retro

When someone asks you what your favorite color is, do you tend to lean towards the cool and comfortable blues and greens?  They are safe and most people can wear them no matter what your skin tone or hair color.  They are “quiet” and subtle and safe colors. I have kept track over the years, and I think I can easily say that people who shop for my yarns are instantly drawn to the blues and greens.

I choose many different shades of each to dye and encourage them to add lighter and darker tones to their work.  Sometimes the cautious knitter will take that leap of faith and try something new, and many times a note of thanks appears in my inbox along with pictures from excited creators.  It is then that I feel such a sense of satisfaction for them and myself … you go girls ..and boys!

Luscious Mulberry

RED -whoa!  Does that scare you?  Red can be an intimidating color for many.  I find many times that folks pick up my red skeins and fondle the strands, they think about the color, suggest what it reminds them of … and then put it back.  Unless I can convince them that they could incorporate it into their work with a few stitches, very few leave with and armload of red yarn.

So this got me thinking about my own color choices.  Those of you who know me know I have a thing for red shoes.  From clogs to cowboy boots and a few Keens in between, my collection of red shoes makes me feel “fiery”!    Red can be the perfect accent color, complimenting it’s surrounding colors.  Red is bold, eye catching, rich and powerful, and I have yet to dye a color that I cannot put a red skein with that does not work in some design.

My newest experiment of color not only delighted me as it emerged from the dye pot, it grabbed at my soul -I know I am weird like that.  It is from the depths of the earth, colors I am sure I will see when I visit New Mexico this Fall, and maybe that is where the inspiration for my new ELEMENTS line of yarn came from -or from my recent sleepless weeks and early morning ‘big ideas”.    The deepest richest red transforms as it travels down the skein.  I call it FIRE as it pulls every color from the flickering flames of a campfire, as well as the countless mesmerizing sunsets that have stopped me in my tracks and forced me to stand and marvel.  -yes I am a bit of a dreamer.:)

Loco

And then there is my favorite red color combination colorway so far -LOCO!   My beautiful rooster Big Red was the real inspiration for this colorway.  The big goof-ball of a bird, prefers to peck his grain from my hand, and in the sunlight his impressive plumage sparkles with colors and shades ( yes even blues)  that much like the sunsets,  I just can’t seem to get enough of.

So are you brave enough for red?  And if not would you give it a try?  Sneak a little into some color work, or whip up a beautiful pair of red mittens for next winter … I challenge you with many choices!  :)

A Quiet Peaceful Barn

It’s still cold outside this morning.  I spent a little time in the barn looking at my still unshorn sheep and for a moment thought -quick, go get your camera!  But instead of focusing on the business side of my life, contemplating angles and perfect lighting, and who was paired up with whom, for perfect shots, I just sat there and enjoyed the chilly, early morning.  Puffs of breath filled the air. Chickens scratched all around the munching mounds of woolly monsters and the sun peeked trough the cracks in the walls.  Ahhhhhhh yes …that’s what I needed after three long days under the blaring lights of the “Dome” -home to the best trade show in New England!

Trade Shows, and Fiber Festivals, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Christmas Festivals all go with the territory of my business.   I fret for days and weeks over the best way to set up my booth, the best way to represent my visions, how to angle my products to catch the light, and what to bring for the long days to keep my hands busy when the crowds are a little slower moving.   There is so much more to this life that you could ever imagine … and I love every minute of it.

I am honored to have been chosen as one the many  fine crafts people at the The New England Products Trade Show.  As I walked around the floor before the show each morning saying “hello” to old friends and “nice to meet you” to new, I was as always, so pleased to be surrounded by craftsman and women who have the exact same passion for their products as I do mine.  Wonderful, hard working, creative artisans !!!

We talk and share, and laugh and sometimes get a little silly towards the end of the day.   I have hugged and laughed with old customers and enjoyed meeting many new.  And let’s not forget the “shout out” to the good folks behind the scenes who organize and market for us, they check in on us, make sure we are doing well and treat us to little goodies at our booths.  Thank you Giraffe Events -you guys ROCK!  Thank you new and old businesses who fill your shops with New England made products!  And thank you to my husband and kids who keep things running smoothly when I am away!  Show season has begun!

Now …. into the dye pots!

Romeo

I guess it’s time for a confession.  While looking through a collection of photos I came across the folder called Romeo.  Do you know him?  Have you visited our farm in the summertime and met the trouble maker who invaded your cars and pulled the tags off your yarn?  I’ll bet there are lots of pictures of him out there.    It was a loooong 10 years with the “devil goat” keeping him out of my gardens, chasing him off the road, pulling him out of my truck when the door was left open, and shooing him off the deck.  He was trouble.  He was a goat.  A creature of endless curiosity.  A childlike being who just had to know how something worked and  had to touch everything in sight.

Romeo was a giant chunk of my daily life.  Fencing him in was not an option, he’d figure out a way out through the tiniest hole, jumping the highest rail, he could not be contained.  In August of this past year I received the sign I was waiting for to let him cross over the rainbow bridge.  He wasn’t an old old goat, but his body was suffering.  Many years of CAE ( goat arthritis) had plagued him, and now the loss of his back teeth was not allowing him to chew the cud his body needed to thrive.  Two weeks of mash, supplements and fruits and vegetables three times a day were just not enough to give his body what it needed to keep up his weight.  His body was wasting away and it was time to make that hard decision.

When I am faced with these choices I try to put on my strongest front.  I am very grateful for the ability to let my friends go peacefully without long, drawn out sickness and pain, especially when I am seeing little “quality of life”.  And that is the key in my mind -quality of life.

Talking about him being gone  has been a touchy subject for me.   No more impish face at the door, no more casual character on the front steps, no more pest invading my gardens and breaking into the feed storage area of the shed then feeling sorry for himself with his pepto bismal stained lips as his upset belly settles.  There are a million stores to be told about Romeo.  A million memories, laughs and some frustrations that are left with me.

My kids say that Romeo is wreaking havoc in the great beyond … and there is no doubt in my mind that he is.   And so another chapter closed on my story -my adventure.   It is not a sad ending, just an ending that we eventually cannot avoid.  Animals have shorter lives so that we may experience many of them in ours.  I came to this realization when I said good-bye to my first dog.  It is a true blessing from above though we may not realize it in our sadness having to let them go.

And so this will be the first Spring planting that I will not have to fight for the lives of my seedlings  from  the “devil goat”.   I will plant a tree and a small garden in his memory in the front yard.   It will be in the first paddock where sheep and goats lived on our farm.  And though the fence is now gone and the animals are all up on the hill, they made this the perfect place for a new beginning.

Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?  Looking down with a smile as I look up?  Yes, of that I am sure.

The tragic events of the Sandy Hook School shooting took the wind out of me.  It took my breath away, and sadness overtook my spirit.   While feeding my sheep that afternoon I sat in the barn and tried to make sense of the day.  I had gone about my morning like any other, put my kids on the bus with a hug and a kiss and an “I love you”, and went about my day’s work … just like the Mom’s and Dad’s of Newtown.  And now, while I finished up my chores and waited for the bus to arrive with my children, I sat in the barn with my sheep, God’s most peaceful creatures, in the place where I come every day to pause and let the quiet envelope me.  It was a feeling I wished I could bottle and give to every broken heart in that town.

When my kids were little we used to give each other “big squeezy hugs” before we parted for the day.  We still do this, but not in the silly little way that young children do.   But a few days ago my daughter reminded me that we hadn’t done “a big squeezy hug” in a long time … and so we did.  And it made me think about a way to share that much cherished, wonderful thing that is needed by so many people right now.  And so the wheels in my head began to turn.

Much like so many other kind hearted folks, I have wanted to do something.  Something that could help to bring comfort to the children, parents, and families of Newtown.  Just something simple and easy for them to have to remember that they are loved.  Something they could feel every day like a “big squeezy hug”.  And so while I sat in the barn yesterday, I realized how much  the simple touch of wool, the thought of it, the smell and the mere mention of a warm woolen sweater or mittens makes us feel cozy and loved.  And an idea was born.

As Knitters and crocheters, weavers and felters we always have scraps of yarn – leftovers we keep for later.  Let’s create a small token of love and coziness in the form of a simple woolen cuff.  It can be knit, crocheted, felted, or woven, and let’s make them about two inches wide like the cuff of a mitten.   Embellish them if you like, needle felt a little heart or star on them, sew on some beads and buttons, make them colorful and unique.  We can make them in any colors and many sizes.  Use any yarn you have and if you need yarn or felting needles and wool let me know.   Let’s make tons of them, and the children can have as many as they like.   They can slip them on their wrists and squeeze them when they need a feeling of love and comfort.  They will be small and easy to wear, just a little token of love.

A simple knit cuff.

I need your help with this project.  Is there a graphic designer that can help me with a logo?  Can you help spread the word?  I’m calling this THE BIG SQUEEZY HUG PROJECT –and I hope it will grow.   I’ll start a blog over the weekend with full details of what to make, how to tag them, and where to send them.  I’ll also start a facebook page where I will list your names and share pictures.

Sometimes it is the littlest of things that can mean so much.  I also want to recognize the kind folks who are knitting toys for children and shawls for the parents of Newtown.  Bless them.  And thank you for helping me with what I hope can be comfort to our little treasures.  Our kids.

Our Kits include everything needed to make 2-3 felted creatures!

While traveling to many shows this Fall, I took the time to write down thoughts, ideas, and suggestions from my customers about my Needle Felting Kits.  There were mostly suggestions for new animals and designs, but the most common statement was ” Are these easy?”  and  ”Do you think I can do this?”  Many folks thought they couldn’t  … until I showed them the instructions.    When Lorna – the original designer of 12 of our Needle Felting Kits developed her business plan, she gave the instructions top priority in her design.   Many of us are very visual in our learning, and the color photos along with the detailed written instructions are incredibly helpful when creating your creatures.  In keeping with this design process, I have continued to create new designs such as the PUFFIN, BEARS, and BUFFALO KITS which include the pre-rolled center and the full color photographed  instruction sheets.

If you have purchased one of our Needle Felting Kits and are a little intimidated, or of you have yet to purchase because you think they might be too difficult to make, let me share a few images from our SHEEP KIT instructions.                                                                                                                Please remember our instructions are copyrighted …thanks! 

Before, during and after all in one photo.

STEP 1 shows you the pre-rolled center “egg” before, during the addition of the curls, and after it is done.   Keep the word “tap” in mind when felting, not “poking” or “jabbing”.  The felting needle has tiny barbs that grab the wool fibers and push them in and out of the center. If you look closely at your needle, you will see that the barbs are only on the 1/2 first inch, so you do not have to push the needle in very deep to make felt.  As you repeat this motion, the fibers will adhere to the surface of your Felting Egg and become solid.

Rolling out the ears.

In STEP 2, you will learn a wool rolling technique.

The two ears are  made from one roll of wool that is formed on the skewer.  Using a thin, three-inch tuft of brown wool, hold the wool in one hand and spin the skewer with your other.  You’ll create a smooth one inch tube.  Gently slide this tube off of the skewer, carefully poke the fuzzy ends into the tube with your needle, and needle the shape flat using a foam mat  - a thick sponge or a piece of foam insulation board will work fine for a mat.

Having taught a few classes this Fall, I saw that this part was the most challenging for new felters.  The idea is that the wool is spun around the skewer very tightly creating a “tube” of wool.  Once reaching the desired thickness, spin the skewer in the crease of your hand then slide the tube off the skewer and gently tap the ends in.  This technique is used in all of our Needle Felting Kits for legs, ears, heads and even beaks.    Many of the students in my classes would try and roll the wool without loosening it or “drafting” the fibers first.   Once  I showed them the correct way to spin the fibers on we had great success!  It is an important step to learn as it makes the pieces firm and strong, especially for legs.

Creating the Sheep head.

When rolling the head piece, you will use the same technique, only this piece is much bigger.  Start the wool like an Ear Roll, and as it thickens, move it into your palm and roll inside your loose fist for a few moments to smooth the shape. Remove the head and needle in the ends loosely on your Safety Mat to make the shape stick together.

Tap in your pieces.

When attaching pieces like the head, ears, and the legs, start tapping around the edges of each piece, then gently tap through the piece.  This will help you to make the legs the same length.

Have fun making your felted sheep!

Each creature should take about an hour to complete.  Slow down, have fun and enjoy the creative process!   Soon I’ll put together a few video tutorials to help you as you create your Needle Felting Kits … and as always, thank you for supporting Romney Ridge Farm!

Color! Color! Color!

UP!  YUP!  Again at the crack of dawn … or so they say.  But in early Dec there is no dawn at the 4:30 a.m.  Is this a bad thing?  No, my brain is full again.   Stuff to do, thoughts to write down, a plan for the day, week, months ahead.   Yesterday I filled out my calendar of shows and festivals to apply for.  Some are the old stand-bys, and a few are new.  But this year I won’t stretch myself so thin when school starts.  After working at home for 15 years, and only traveling to a few shows here and there, my travels this year have been a bit overwhelming, and yet fun as heck!  But with three kid’s lives to keep up with, a husband, a farm, and orders to pack through it all, I was happy to unpack my Suburban for the last time in November and re-group for the upcoming year.  It is good to be needed.

So what’s the plan you ask?  Well, they are BIG this year.  Some I have started, some are on paper, and some are waking me up at, you guessed it …  the crack of dawn.

Our Winter Barn

The challenges of Winter are beginning, and I am embracing them this year.   Though the cold is not a favorite of mine, but the smells, the sounds, and of course the snow covered landscape is.  Strangely it inspires me …  me, the crazy-color obsessed junky who almost put her car in the ditch oooooing and ahhhhing over a flock of birds flying over a marsh.  Me who runs a flock of colorful roosters who stop me in my tracks when the light hits their beautiful plumage just right.     Maybe it’s the justification I can finally feel of staying inside to keep warm rather than working in my beloved outdoors that I am looking forward to.    There is no garden to weed, no leaves to rake up, no lawn to mow.   But, a walk in the woods with two of the longer legged K9 family members is always good for the soul, and of course a visit to the barn is in order 2-3 times a day no matter how low the temps will drop.

Maine continues to be dear to my heart.  I was born and raised here, and though my travels and adventures haven’t taken me waaaaay far away from home, a smile always spreads across my face when I see the MAINE sign as I cross the border and know my drive is only a bit further.

Time to settle in.  Create.  Design.  Plan for the new year.   Enjoy.  Give Thanks.