I have been having fun with gelatin prints, and decided to add a "Creating Art Cloth" class to the farms  summer classes.  Here is a photo of some of the fun fabric I have been creating  in the last few weeks.

 There are still two spots in the July 29th Natural dye class, and a posting of all the classes I have on the calendar. 

Natural Dye Class July 29th from 10:00-4:00  $75.00

In this class we will harvest many dye plants from the farm's dye garden including indigo and weld to create amazing colors.  Each student takes home  an extensive  handout and great selection of samples in both wool and  cotton.

Spinning Designer Yarns

July  26th from 10:00 to 4:00  $75.00

 In this class we dive into the amazing world of textured yarns. Spirals, slubs, boucle as well as many other adventurous yarns will be covered in this class. Students must be experienced spinners and have  good control of their wheel. 

2015 Two Day Natural Dye Retreat 

August 23rd and 24th   $225.00

 At this two day retreat students stay at the farm eating from the vegetable garden and creating an explosion of color from the dye garden. We Will immerse ourselves  in a world of natural colors. Students are welcome to bring  so skeins or fabric to add to some of the many dye pots we will create over this amazing weekend. Each student takes home  a large handout  as well as a great variety of dye samples in wool silk and cotton.

Creating Art Cloth 

August 30th   10:00-4:00  $75.00

In this class we will create one of a kind detailed plant prints with echo steam prints. We will also  explore the world of Shabori and other resist methods of  unique art cloth. 

For more information on any of these classes contact Janette at 319-643-5873 or faeridgefarm@lcom.net All classes require a 50% deposite. Make checks out to Fae Ridge Farm  and mail to Fae Ridge Farm 5140 rapid Creek RD NE Iowa City Ia 52240  

I am working out a schedule for summer classes.I am planning to offer three natural dye classes this spring and summer. Sunday May 31st will be the first class and Sunday July 19th will be the second class. These two one day classes will run from 10:00 AM to 5:00PM and will be a $75.00 fee. This fee includes all materials.This class will cover a wide variety of natural dyes from the dye garden, as well as an indigo vat. Student takes home a great selection of samples in both wool and cotton. Students are invited to bring a few skeins of their own to add to some of the dye pots. These two classes require a $40.00 registration fee. For more information on this class contact me on Facebook or call 319-643-5873.
The third class will be the annual two day on farm retreat on August 22nd and 23rd. This is a chance to submerge yourself in the amazing world of natural dyes. Students stay at the farm and we spend two days exploring many methods of natural dye, and eating from the gardens. The dye garden will be in all its glory for this class. This Retreat is $225 this include room and board for the weekend. This is a very limited class and students have lots of opportunities to dye their own skeins, wool and even cloth.Indigo,cochineal and log wood are just a few of the dyes in this amazing retreat. For more information on this retreat contact me on Facebook or call 319-643-5873 Here are just a few shots of  some of the wonderful creations from last years retreat.

It was a gorgeous day in Iowa yesterday. Not a big turn out for Studio Sunday, but we had a great day with lot amazing results.  The onion skin dye pot turned out beautifly with lots of different shades from different wool, different twist in the yarn and different alum mordent methods. Natural depot never  fail to amaze me.  The carder was running and Juliana and Sarah turned out some nice bats. I am still deciding on the depot for next Studio Sunday. Hope folks come to join me on My 3rd from 10:00 to 4:00 in the studio space in the house. I will have some nice big depot going so be sure to bring a skein or two to add to our mix. Here are a few shots from the studio yesterday.

Spring is here and each day seems to have a huge list of things to do. On wednesday morning I  sheared Milo and Trudy. I can't wait to for a rainy day that I can spend in my studio  working on their fleeces. They were both very cooperative about the shearing. Trudy almost fell asleep as I  had her down for her tummy cleaning. It was a mixed look as I walked them down to the pasture behind the store this morning.

Milo is on the left Trudy is on the right and Ebony and Teddy are still waiting for their spring  hair cuts. One of my task in the next few days is to set down with my calendar and pin down class dates for this summer.  I plan to do tow natural dye classes this summer and maybe even three. I have had a woman get ahold of me requesting a Nuno felting class. I would love to teach that one again, so contact me if you are interested in learning this amazing method of felting.  I am contemplating a designer yarn class too.  I have to sign off and go bag up the latest fiber blends, but I will let lots of class ideas   drift through my thoughts and post a schedule soon. 

I have two new fiber blends back from the carder. In my last blog I posted pictures of one of these blends as I worked on it. I am calling this one Kaleidoscope with all its amazing bits of color.  I have been busy spinning up samples of these two blend. Both are created from beautiful Blueface fleeces  from my sheep and a few from other Iowa  Bluefaces.  The red blend  has a bit of star fire in to add just that hint of sparkle.  I am still working on a name for the red one.

 Spring is here and it is time for spring fiber shows. The Iowa Spin in will be held on April 25th at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services Center in Marion Iowa. The doors open at 9 and this spin in  has some fun mini classes set up for a fun day. Everything from Beginning Spinning to Combing Fleece. It looks like lots of great vendors and fiber will be there for  folks to stock up on. 

 The next show after this one will be Shepherds Market held on My 9th at the Amana Woolen Mills. I hope  to see many of you at one or both of these spring shows.

I will be shearing the flock in the next  week or so, and can't wait to get my hands on these wonderful fleeces.       

 Once again life is just too busy to post as often as I should. It has been a good but challenging winter  here at the farm.  I am getting ready for spring fiber shows. Iowa Federation of spinners and weavers  is holding  the spring spin in in Cedar Rapids  on April 25th.   I will post info on the Fae Ridge farm Facebook page  in the next week. Shepherds Market will once again be held at the Amana Woolen Mills in main Amana on May 9th. There is  a link on the FRF Facebook page. I  am working on a new blend with some yummy icelandic and  Blue Face lamb fleeces.

 I am so blessed with an amazing studio that  has facilitates for skirting, washing, drying, dyeing, picking, and carding as well as a fleet of spinning wheels. I have desided to open my studio space to the public on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 to 4:00. I will have tea and coffee on hand and  am asking $5.00 per hour for folks  using equipment. For more details send an email of check the FRF Facebook page.
       I have to sign off and go to the loom. Rugs are calling me.

 

Another busy week here at the farm. Last Sundays farmers market at the Johnson county fairgrounds was great. we had a nice steady turn out and everyone seemed to be in a great mood for some holiday shopping. The last two days  I have been painting skeins and working on an indigo vat.  Yesterday I dyed a bunch of Peace fleece skeins in indigo. They turned out so nice I can't  wait  to get them out to the store for knitters. I also worked on silk scarves and cotton project bags. Here is a pic of the rack in my studio with lots of  drying  blues.