Words of Wisdom

A waist is a terrible thing to mind.
- Jane Caminos

Meanwhile back on Squirrel Spur:

So I started knitting this lovely scarf pattern, Seine Scarf by Ann Budd, from the new Interweave Knits Weekend 2009.



I love this yarn...it's from indie dyer's Knit Fit Knitting's yarns that she has here at Greenberry House. But I don't love the fact that you can't see the lace pattern well. This is a repeat and a half of the pattern.



Same dyer, different colorway. This is two repeats of the pattern. Knitting has gone much faster with this yarn, too. So what do y'all think? Scarf one or scarf two? During our podcast last week we talked a bit about whether or not to continue with a project if you're not happy with it. I think it's a topic for further discussion!

Projects, projects...and a few projects

Seine Scarf by Ann Budd, knitted with Knit Fit Knitting sock weight yarn

Natalie's knitting ways may be rubbing off on me. Usually I don't have very many projects I'm working on at the same time, unlike Natalie, who seems to have lots of projects to work on. But, well, new magazines just keep coming in to the shop with more and more tempting patterns. And then there's all this wonderful yarn here.....


Little Crocheted Bag

And of course I can't neglect my crochet hooks....after all, I'm still a hooker at heart! So I also have to keep working on this little bag, which a customer is eying because she likes the colors. Which means I'll have to start another little bag for the shop that I was supposed to consign this one to....


Dog hair

And of course the spinning wheels can't be left out. Especially when customers come in with gorgeous fiber like this that they want spun. This is the combed fiber from a local's Komodor (I think that's what she said) and it is lovely! Creamy soft with no doggy smell. As I commented on our recent podcast, I'm not always thrilled to see dog hair coming in the door for me to spin. But this stuff is just like alpaca and spinning into a beautiful single. Check our the latest episode of our podcast for a hint on what to do if the doggy smell DOES appear in your carefully saved combings!


Dog Hair Singles Yarn

TJ doesn't think much of it, though, so I carefully remove the bag from his reach when I leave him alone. Lily just sniffs me with an expression that says, "Dull, really dull...."


Drum Carder

And naturally, since I had the opportunity to buy a drum carder from a former spinner (now there's a tragedy...someone that doesn't spin anymore...) I have to keep working on the lovely Corriedale fleece I've been spinning. I think I'm going to like the carder. I'm still figuring out the best way to use it but the few batts I've made from the Corrie so far are lovely.

So what's on your needles? Or hook? Or wheel?

P. S. I often don't know what's going on in the bluegrass musical career of my brother, Sammy Shelor. Mostly because he just doesn't think his accomplishments are any big deal. I happened to see a link on his Facebook page to this article. Not a small deal, I think, and congratulations, Sammy! Check out his web site to see more about the band, and some other good things that have been happening lately.

And to give equal time, the Corn Acoustics! Corn Maze is open in Meadows of Dan now and very popular with visitors of all ages. Check out the web site for a planned romantic couples night. And I'm hoping to be hanging around on Halloween telling spooky stories!

Taking a Deep Breath.....

Vintage and collectible spoons at Greenberry House

I'm sitting here reminding myself to STOP for a minute. It has been a busy week, with the usual good stuff along with getting ready for the Meadows of Dan Folk Fair tomorrow. There have been a few more errands and a bit of advertising work extra but I'm looking forward to the event.

I had a nice surprise when I posted about the Folk Fair on my Facebook page this morning. Deb Goodrich invited me to call in to her radio show way out in Kansas to talk about the Folk Fair and my shop! It was great to talk to her after so many years. We went to school together and Deb is a talented author with a deep interest in local and Civil War history. It was wonderful to reconnect!

I spent most of the Sunday pricing our auction finds from Saturday so they'd be here for people to see at the Folk Fair. Lots of lovely vintage linens and fabrics, books (of course) and some really interesting collectible spoons. Some are older souvenir spoons and others are truly unique...there are some made of old coins, some sterling and some lovely silver plate.


Little Wagon at Mountain Meadow Farm and Craft Market

It's still all about the garden here on my days "off" and I've been picking peas and replanting lettuce in the hopes of having a fall crop. I really enjoyed my Black Seeded Simpson until things got too hot and it bolted. I've been getting tomatoes every day and mixing them in with lovely squash and eggplant I bought locally at Sue's market. Sue got this cunning little decorative wagon from J. D. Briles (336-462-1369) down in North Carolina. It looks great beside her shop.

Wednesday was one of those lovely, perfect mountain summer days. Sunshine, a light breeze and a thunderstorm in the evening. I got out early walked with friend Kym and the dogs, and we enjoyed the last of the moonlight as the day dawned. Then I played in the garden most of the morning, weeding out, replanting, and just enjoying the smell of earth as I picked and shelled peas. Finally I sheared one of my older rabbits, grand dame Highland Mary, sitting out under the spruce trees. She went to sleep and I nearly nodded off myself in the quiet!

Late in the day a thunderstorm blew up, and I settled in with the dogs napping by my side to spin more of the Texel roving. I finished one bobbin and I really like the variations in color from light to dark blue. Natalie and I talked about Texel on our little podcast last week, and I think this week we're going to talk quite a bit more about Natalie and her dyeing and fiber projects. I hear that "What's Needlin' Ewe" is going to be opening in Mount Airy on August 20! I'm going to try to figure out a way to get to the grand opening on September 5!

Well, it rained some...

but who had time to notice? Sadly a lot of folks in Patrick County haven't been seeing the nice showers we've had here in Meadows of Dan. My garden is very happy right now, though. I'm happy, too, because I'm getting a few little tomatoes and the watermelons are blooming! Don't have any idea that we'll see a watermelon here but you never know!


Eggs in a nest in Sue's garden

Sue found a nest in one of her caged tomato plants a couple of evenings ago. She was watering and looking for ripe tomatoes when she saw it. There were four eggs in it and some poking around at bird information sites makes me think the nest might belong to a house finch. According to the books, a house finch will nest twice during the year. There are few things more beautiful to me than birds' eggs. I love the look of them.

I've been wildly busy, trying to get some advertising done for this year's Meadows of Dan Folk Fair, scheduled for August 8 this year. Amazing how fast time flies! I'll be hosting hand spinning demonstrations here at the shop and Blue Ridge Tree Climbing is coming to talk about his interesting tree climbing teaching and demonstrate tying knots. There's a play in town that day, lots of music and crafters and some other demonstrations going on. Even a chain saw artist!

I've also been working on three new web sites, which I'll talk about a bit more when they're all ready for company. And as usual, I'm behind on the newsletter progress but hope to get it out today or tomorrow. I need to start bugging some of my vendors for articles...hint, hint!

And speaking of projects, I've just signed on for a fantastic new one. Natalie of Knit Fit Knitting, on of my talented vendors, is an indie dyer with great ideas for promotion. She approached me not long ago about doing a podcast called "Knitting in the Round" which would feature local artisan yarn, spinning fiber, and the process of creation from the fiber animal to the finished product. We recorded our first session yesterday here at the shop and Natalie has it posted. We also put up a blog, Knitting in the Round, with more details and some photographs. We plan to post a session every two weeks and our next will feature an interview with a local fiber artisan.


Texel Singles

And somehow I've managed to get some spinning time in, between meetings, computer work and the odd weeding session in the garden. I'm trying to fill a bobbin on the Reeves wheel with some fine Texel wool singles. This is yet more of the Texel I bought at Border Springs Farm and had processed at Central Virginia Fiber Mill (there's plenty at the shop if you'd like to try it!) Natalie and I talked about it a bit on the podcast and she dyed it with a cold method which worked well for her. I was pleased with how mine turned out. The roving I'm using for these singles is some I painted with acid dyes in delicate shades of blue.

And some more exciting news that Natalie told me! Not long ago I heard a rumor that someone was going to be opening a yarn shop in Mount Airy, just across the North Carolina line from Patrick County. I was excited to hear about it but then the rumors drifted away. Recently in talking to Natalie I discovered that it's her mother that is involved in this project, and they are just a couple of weeks away from opening "What's Needlin' Ewe?" at 411 North Main Street in Mount Airy. I think it's a great idea and I'm happy to have more neighbors. Yarn crawl, anyone?