The days of summer have turned warm and life on the farm has changed forever. We don't often think things can change in the blink of and eye but they sure have here. Two week ago I noticed my husband Dave was jaundice. He went in for blood tests and we now know he has Pancreatic cancer. The last two weeks have been back and forth to the hospital as we sort through this tragic new element in our lives.
We were planning a move late this summer to oregon to be much nearer our adult children. We are even more determined than ever to make this move this summer. Dave is home now but not very comfortable. He sleep a lot.I am just keeping up with daily farm chores, but it is a day to day struggle. I have canceled my August natural dye retreat. Just tooooo much gong on. I still plan to attend the Iowa Sheep and Wool festival In Colfax Ia on June 11th and 12th. I have ordered extra Hia Hia needles will have a full both.
I am at a loss for words so will sign off for now. I hope I can find the energy to get down to the studio and paint some skeins for the wool festival. I am thankful every day for the amazing community arround us helping out in so many amazing ways. Janette
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Friday, May 6, 2016
So many summer birds are back the feeders outside my window are the best show in town. White-Throated sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, and Chipping Sparrows are all back in force. I have seen a few Towhees but they stick to the ground for their feeding. Today I need to weed and mulch the sage bed that sits next to the feeders. It will be a perfect way to spend a few hours and get a tedious job done.
Tomorrow is Shepherd Market. This show has been on my spring fiber events for several years now. It is always a fun event with lots of vendors and everything from fresh fleeces to spinning wheels. This year it will be held at the Kirkwood Center at 3375 Armar drive in Marion Ia. Doors open at 9:00 AM. I hope it is once again a good turn out for this show. I will have a booth and have my new fiber and skein club signup sheets on hand. I will have to go run those off when I sing off here and remember to stick them in my tightly packed truck. I have one copy taped to the door so I can not forget this important task. I had better go get started on running copies and weeding the sage bed.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Moving
It has been way to long since I came here with an update. I am going to set a goal of blogging once a week as my life is filled with major changes. Over the past few years I have been feeling burdened by all the work here at the farm. The time has come to simplify our lives. We are now planning a move to Oregon later this year. Our oldest son lives in Portland and our other son is living in Seattle. We will be listing our farm for sale in the next few weeks. This is an amazing opportunity for someone looking to start a fiber/ vegetable form in the Iowa City area.
As I plan a new life on a 1/4 acre I am both terrified and trilled depending on the moment and the day. I have only lived a few short years of my entire life in town. I will be taking all my studio equipment with me, a LOT of fine fleeces and my flock of angora rabbits.I trust my animals, my spinning and my passion for color will help me through this transition.
I can not even begin to express how much I will miss my community here. To continue my connection with the Iowa City fiber world I will be offering two Fae Ridge Farm clubs.
Spinners club: each member will pay $100.00 and will get a delightful 4 oz bag of fiber 4 times a year. These will be my signature blends that many of you have been punching for 20 years. I will also include a tiny surprise gift. This could be everything from stitch markers to a free pattern. Members can let me know any colors they refuse to let into their stash and any fiber they are allergic to. I will be making large batches of these fibers, so if you love a blend I have sent out you can order more for a big project. I will be working up a sign up sheet and hope to have it ready for my next two fiber shows.
I will also be offering a skein club for my knitting and crocheting friends. This club will be set up much like the spinners club. I will create skeins by a variety of creative methods including dyeing,painting, natural dyes, and spinning. Members will pay $100.00 for a year if skeins. They will get 4 shipment of fun yarn plus a tiny gift in each shipment.Yarn club members should let me know what type of yarn they like to work with:worsted, sock yarn lace weight ect.
I am trying to keep in mind that western Oregon is a fiber rich world. Lots of amazing fiber festivals and a great variety of flocks. I am already in touch with a spinner group out there. It will be a whole new creative life searching for new fleeces in a region filled with new and exciting breed of sheep.
As I plan a new life on a 1/4 acre I am both terrified and trilled depending on the moment and the day. I have only lived a few short years of my entire life in town. I will be taking all my studio equipment with me, a LOT of fine fleeces and my flock of angora rabbits.I trust my animals, my spinning and my passion for color will help me through this transition. I can not even begin to express how much I will miss my community here. To continue my connection with the Iowa City fiber world I will be offering two Fae Ridge Farm clubs.
Spinners club: each member will pay $100.00 and will get a delightful 4 oz bag of fiber 4 times a year. These will be my signature blends that many of you have been punching for 20 years. I will also include a tiny surprise gift. This could be everything from stitch markers to a free pattern. Members can let me know any colors they refuse to let into their stash and any fiber they are allergic to. I will be making large batches of these fibers, so if you love a blend I have sent out you can order more for a big project. I will be working up a sign up sheet and hope to have it ready for my next two fiber shows.
I will also be offering a skein club for my knitting and crocheting friends. This club will be set up much like the spinners club. I will create skeins by a variety of creative methods including dyeing,painting, natural dyes, and spinning. Members will pay $100.00 for a year if skeins. They will get 4 shipment of fun yarn plus a tiny gift in each shipment.Yarn club members should let me know what type of yarn they like to work with:worsted, sock yarn lace weight ect.
I am trying to keep in mind that western Oregon is a fiber rich world. Lots of amazing fiber festivals and a great variety of flocks. I am already in touch with a spinner group out there. It will be a whole new creative life searching for new fleeces in a region filled with new and exciting breed of sheep.
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