Where's the other stick?

 It all started with this....

beautiful, handpainted, 100% merino wool yarn in vibrant, rainbow colors...

 and a hook...

...along with the desire to learn more about crocheting.

I learned a few basic stitches years ago from my mother-in-law, Karen, who is an accomplished crocheter.  It was tricky business, however, because unlike knitting with two needles, you only have one hook, and you have to PICK a hand to hold it in.  I am a lefty, you see, and Karen is right-handed.  Being a lefty in a right-handed world my whole life, I have learned to adapt and overcome.  And I did, to some degree, get it figured out, using my left hand, but soon became frustrated and went back to my knitting.

It wasn't just about holding the hook and yarn.  There was also the challenge of learning to read crochet patterns, which was a whole new language to me.  My mind would go hazy trying to comprehend instructions like:  Ch 1, hdc across, do not turn, cont around edge of base as foll:  work 23 hdc evenly spaced across row ends, hdc in 44 unused lps of foundation ch, work 23 hdc across next 32 sts, sl st in beg ch-1 to join, turn.  It was SO different than knitting.  I might as well have been reading Arabic, or Greek, or well, you get the picture.

And just like learning a new language, you first have to understand the words, and then you have to be able to speak them or use them in real life, or in this case, actually do what it says, CORRECTLY.

I know what hdc stands for..half double crochet...I even know how to do one...but somebody please tell me, where are the 44 unused lps of foundation ch?  Where are the next 32 sts?  And then you want me sl st in beg ch-1 to join?!?  There seems to be no beginning and no end.  Counting chains and 'seeing' where to put the hook for the next stitch was such a challenge. I never ended up with the correct number of sts and even a flat piece that was supposed to be square at the edges turned round, right before my eyes. 

Knitting, whether flat or in the round, you can see exactly how many stitches are on the needles and you know where your next stitch is (most of the time anyway).  But this crochet business was more than my brain wanted to take in at the time any way. 

So like I said, I put it away for many years, only bringing out my hook(s) as it pertained to my knitting:  to pick up dropped stitches, slip stitch two pieces of knitting together, bind off many, many stitches on blankets (that's a neat trick, let me tell you, and so fast), and putting the occasional crocheted edging on a piece of my knitting.  I tell new knitters all the time that the most valuable knitting tool I own is a crochet hook, and I mean it.  I would be lost without it. 

So when someone asks me if I crochet, my stock answer is, yes, I can crochet, but I am NOT a crocheter.  There is a big distinction to be made here.

If a customer comes to the Brown Sheep store with a question or problem regarding crochet, I honestly cannot help them.  The best I can do is send them across the hall into the office.  The ladies in there both crochet and are able to understand a pattern quite well.  I do feel bad when I have to do that though, because they are very busy answering phones, taking orders and such.  They are always willing to help and do so with a smile on their face, I might add, but three years of this and I think I finally decided I needed to step up, get over my resistance and learn to crochet...really learn this time. 

A few questions, a few lessons, and patient encouragement from my co-workers, I got started, again.

This time I put the hook in my right hand from the start.  I held and tensioned the yarn with my left hand.  (So glad I can continental knit as well as throw!  That helped a lot.  When I learned from my mother-in-law years ago I didn't know how to continental knit.  Seems it has made all the difference for me this go around.)

I chose a simple shell stitch scarf pattern that we have in the store (along with several beautiful samples I have been coveting for months now) Our previous crochet instructor, Brandy Earl, used this same pattern in her beginning classes.

So anyway, I was off and crocheting.

Seeing those colors taking shape was enough to keep me going! 

But it was also the rhythm and flow I found almost immediately.  What a different feel than knitting.  How delightfully surprising that I was enjoying it this much, even if I did look down at my knitting work in the basket next to my feet and feel a pang of guilt, like a cheating spouse in a way.  I really related to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's self-imposed label of Yarn Harlot.  (She can't stay loyal to any one knitting project lol)  In my case it was like having an affair with crocheting and my knitting was very jealous. 

Evidently my husband was paying close attention and was even 'bothered' somewhat by my new found love.  
He asked at one point, "Are you giving up knitting?" 

The way he asked I almost felt like he was asking if I was giving him up. lol:)  He doesn't like change much and I guess after seeing me with knitting needles in my hands for 26 years, he just didn't quite understand what in the world I was doing.  lol:) 

The look in his eyes seemed to ask:  Was I changing careers...again?!?  Was I going to be a crocheter instead of a knitter?  Why in the world was I doing this?...I think it threw him off in no small way.   I just smiled and kept on crocheting, all the time reassuring him that no, I wasn't 'giving up' knitting.  It was time for me to expand my skills, that's all.

I have to be totally honest here though.  There was a little voice in my head that kept asking what if I liked crocheting better than knitting?!?  Oh my...;)   

In any case, I was eager to share the fun I was having with our Knit Night group because surely they could appreciate my enthusiasm.  I brought my crocheting along to our last get together.  My friend Virginia, who crochets, but doesn't knit, watched me for a short while and when I noticed she was keeping an eye on my work I asked her what she was thinking and she said:  "You crochet like a knitter."

I laughed and pondered that for a sec then asked, "What do you mean by that?"

She said "You hold the hook like a knitting needle!"

I really didn't get it and honestly I was too engrossed in what I was doing at the moment to give it too much thought.  I kept happily crocheting away, feeling only slightly self-conscious somewhere inside of me that maybe I was doing it all wrong and she just didn't want to hurt my feelings. :)

Later on I was showing off my new crochet skills to my mother-in-law and asked her what Virginia meant.  She smiled and said this is how most crocheters hold their hook and she put it in her hand like she was going to write with it.

Oh!  I see now!  In knitting, holding the needles that way is called the Victorian hold or the pencil hold.  The light bulb went on.  I guess because I hold my knitting needles like a fork or spoon, that's how I was holding my crochet hook as well. 

No matter, the point being it was cute and I realized I loved being told that I crochet like a knitter.  Well of course I do.

Anyway....less than a week later...
(unheard of, by the way, when KNITTING a scarf...it really is fast even for a beginner!)

...voila!

A pretty little scalloped-edged scarf.

That can be worn like this...

or maybe...

...like this.

It's 92" long!

That's the way I like my scarves...long...so that I can wrap and wrap around my neck and still have plenty of length down the front of my legs.

My excitement at my accomplishment wasn't squashed even when I brought it to work to show the girls in the office and Tracy said, "It's lovely, but you did it wrong."

"Wrong?", I said.  Well, it sure looked like a scarf to me! ;) 

Yep, it seems that the pretty little scalloped edge wasn't really supposed to be there.

Evidently I forgot to double crochet at the end of every row before chaining and turning, which made my turning chains at each end bend...hence the accidental scalloped edge.

Very pretty though (don't you think?) .

I made the same mistake for 92" and didn't have a clue! 

I'm a beginner.  It's a good excuse.

 Well, I thought, I better try again.  I chose a beautiful brown monochromatic yarn (Lamb's Pride Worsted M-260 Cafe Au Lait) and made it for myself...and this time I did it 'right'.  The edges were straighter this time. 

The brightly colored scarf, by the way, I gave to my daughter for Christmas.  She said she loved it.  Those colors are so 'her'.  She said it looked tie-dyed.  Cool.

Here's mine...

I have always thought of myself as a knitter, period. And then somewhere along the way I adopted the title fiber artist, simply because it represents the other fiber arts I incorporate into my knitting.   Also, because I teach classes, I am always looking to improve my knitting skills and that's what I spend the majority of my time working on.

Every year, January brings renewed optimism for change, for a better life, for a better you. And that’s a wonderful thing.  It’s wonderful, because this fresh start gives us a chance to reinvent our lives and ourselves. It allows us to reinvigorate ourselves, to shed the baggage of the previous year and do anything.

I want to make the most of this gift. And sometimes that means reinventing the way I live. 


While I am definitely not ready to teach crochet just yet, I am excited for the coming year.  (I have hired a new instructor, Esther Warren to take over Brandy's classes...see the Class Schedule Page for details.)

I love new beginnings and this feels like a true beginning of something for me. It isn't so much about the crocheting as what it represents.  You can fill in that blank with anything new and interesting that you'd like to learn. 

It's about the fact that I haven't stretched outside of 'my zone' for some time now.  I have been so busy concentrating on  the BUSINESS aspect of this business I have chosen, that I simply have not taken the time, nor the opportunity, to CREATE and learn and explore.  So I am off to do just that. 

Now if I only my husband would stop asking me: "Where's the other stick?"

Happy New Year to All!

Knit (or Crochet) On,

Donna

The 3 M's

Let me start off by stating this blog post is six weeks in the making.  I apologize for my absence.  And I don't want to make excuses here, but...

#1.  I lost my camera.  Granted, it was a camera that I absolutely despised because it took horrible pictures, but it was my only camera and I used it for all of my blog pictures.  (It also, of course, contained a memory card with weeks worth of pics that were to eventually end up in my future blog posts).

#2.  I moved on, didn't dwell, and borrowed by daughter's 'old' camera, only to discover it had 'died'...the battery didn't hold a charge, it wouldn't format a memory card...no pictures were in my near future, obviously.

#3.  I spent just a few hours designing a felted bag project for a 4-H class I taught, then realized I should have spent a few more hours on it because the bag came out looking like it would only hold a pair of chopsticks.  Yes, that long and that wide.  How long have I been knitting?  Had to go back to the drawing board on that one.

#4.  I knit 2 left fingerless gloves instead of a left and right.  No need for further explanation here I don't think.

#5.  I knit and then felted two different size clogs, one small, one medium, that were meant to be a gift.  Again, I'm sure you see the problem here, unless of course the recipient of the slippers has two different sized feet.  In this case the answer is no, she does not.

#6.  I caught a cold.  A miserable, achy, coughing, stuffy head, fever so you can't rest (or even knit and definitely do not feel inspired to blog) cold.

#7.  I thought I was saving time by knitting two sleeves of a miniature sweater at the same time, on the same needles, for aran afghan block #7.  It would have been fine, except the sleeves were supposed to be mirror images of each other and although I was sure I was reversing the pattern, they came out exactly the same.  I didn't discover it until I went to sew them to the body of the sweater.  (Okay, how in the world did I miss that one completely?!?) 

#8.  I have been trying to design a very simple, quick easy project for a mystery knit along.  I have spent the last 8 weeks, in all of my spare time :), ripping it out, erasing, rewriting, reworking, and generally being completely baffled that something so BASIC could haunt me for that long.  My stitch count didn't come out, period.  The design looked more like abstract art than knitting.  And, to make matters worse, I had already announced, on more than one occasion, that the mystery knit along would be posted soon. Yeah, right. 

#9.  I lost my 'little yellow bag'.  Do you know the one I speak of?  It's the pencil bag that holds all things necessary to my knitting life...scissors, tapestry needles, tape measures, crochet hooks, 20 different sizes of stitch markers, pencils, eraser, sticky notes, highlighters, a nail file (yes, not a typo)...and so many other things.  Mind you I only 'lost' it for a short while, but I did spend a large amount of time looking for it.  This seriously tweaked my already frazzled knitting nerves.  (Just a side note to put things in perspective here, I have often said that I'd rather lose my purse than my little yellow bag.  No joke.  It has taken me years to accumulate and pay for all the tools, gidgets and gadgets that are in that bag.  My knitting world stops until that bag is by my side. 

#10.  ...a nice round number on which to end this whine session, don't you think?  But I want to  add that while all of these things were happening, I must have ripped out and started over countless times on a half dozen other projects not mentioned in the above nine, further contributing to the feeling that I may not be up to the task of knitting for a living. 

So consequently, no blog post for six weeks.  

I honestly didn't have anything I felt was worthy of writing down.  How could I write about knitting and how wonderful it was and post all of the beautiful things I was supposed to be working on, when all I had to share were negative things...nothing but mishaps, misfortunes, and mistakes?

And if I dug a little deeper,  I was strongly suspicious that I had been hit with a good old fashioned case of writer's block and all of these things were of my own making so that I wouldn't have to sit down and write.  Yes, in fact, I believe I had a serious case of low knitting self-esteem.  Anyone else been there?

Where did this all come from?

This is what I concluded:

Sometimes I have to be taken down a peg or two..in life...and in knitting.  I don't believe it is because I walk around with a feeling of arrogance about myself, my life, or my knitting skills.  No.  But, evidently I do take these things for granted on occasion and life has a way of reminding me that I shouldn't do that.

I take 100% responsibility though.  No victim stance here.  I have intentionally invited the 3 M's upon myself.  How did I do that?  Well, by living with the philosophy that I am a lifelong student (I just said those very words to someone this morning).  And I have said that over and over to the universe.  The universe generously obliges, doesn't it?  Sometimes the things I have to learn come with heartache and pain, but most often with humor and humility.  That's what I strive for anyway. 

Life lessons and knitting lessons are a part of the deal.

I accept this fact without hesitation. I am not scared.  No.  I welcome the lessons.  At least that is what I keep saying anyway.

The hard part is that I never know when it's going to happen or what the lessons are going to be. Or let's get real...how long they are going to last!  These knitting negatives just kept going on and on until I felt like maybe this was it...I had lost my knitting mojo for good.  Spent, burnt out, done for....

So, what did I learn about myself and my knitting in the last six weeks?

Lesson #1:  The camera thing is a no brainer...lack of  gratitude and lack of perspective.  You see, I didn't appreciate having a camera that took terrible pictures was better than not having a camera at all.  No pics, pictureless blog posts...much worse. 

Lesson # 2:  You can't borrow your way out of a problem.  That would be too easy.  Also, just when you think you're frustrated enough, think again.  That was only the beginning. 

Lesson #3:   Give yourself more than a couple of days to design anything, even if it is just a 'simple, felted bag'.  And more importantly, do not use the word simple as freely as I do.  Simple is as simple does.  Yeah, whatever that means, but it came to mind and so I threw it in there.

Lesson #4:  Do not put a project away for months and then expect to finish it without some negative consequences.  In this case, make a big note for yourself that in fact people do have a left hand and a right hand and the thumb placement is actually pretty important.  Also, no matter how you twist and turn a left mitten, it will NOT work on a right hand.  Okay, hopefully I won't have to revisit that one any time soon.

Lesson #5:  See Lesson #4 with this addendum--if you are going to knit someone a gift, such as felted slippers, and it needs to be a certain size, do not highlight ALL of the sizes in the pattern (in different colors) so that you can't tell what size you knit the first one, forcing you to guess on the second one.  To set this lesson in your brain, repeat over and over to yourself, I am not a good guesser...I am not a good guesser.  Yeah, I guessed medium.  Turns out the first one I knit was a small.  Oh, and one other little something worth mentioning, try to finish your gift knitting in the same year that you started.  These clogs were for last Christmas.

Lesson # 6:  The lesson is:  there is not lesson because this just falls in the misfortune category of the 3 M's more than anything.  Everyone around me seems to have been sick for the last month or so.  It was bound to happen.  However, if there is a lesson to be learned, I am thinking it might be to not get smug and make statements about the fact that you haven't caught anything so far.  And knocking on wood, I now have proof, does not work at all.

Lesson # 7:    Cable chart reading isn't for wimps (or for those that are on the edge of a knitting breakdown).  I even had a nice little 'cheat sheet' that one of the students in the GAAA class, Dee Dixon, printed up so that we wouldn't get confused about the fact that the sleeves are knit in a reverse stitch pattern.  Again, chart reading, even with a cheat sheet, isn't for wimps, and certainly should not be attempted late at night, in a group, while talking on the phone, watching Sons of Anarchy, or anything that may distract you from the fact that you are doing it all wrong.

Lesson #8:  Another no brainer...DO NOT announce that you are going to do a mystery knit along when you don't have the design for the mystery knit along figured out.  That was my first mistake.  My second was assuming that this particular project was so simple (there's that word again) that I could whip it out in no time.  Hmmm...seems to be a theme going on here.  (see Lesson #3)  Making assumptions about anything has never really worked out for me.  Why do I keep doing it?

Lesson #9:  When you have a cold and are frazzled from so many of the 3 M's and the knitting gods are just beating you down, don't put your little yellow bag in a different place than you normally would.  You think you'll remember right where it is.  You won't.  You will panic.  You absolutely won't find the d@*# thing until you sit down, take a breath, and admit that you are beaten.  Then, and only then does the light bulb go on.

And finally...

Lesson #10:  I could mention the obvious here like not taking on too many projects all at once (of course everyone knows that, but who actually follows that?)...There is also a very real sickness (not fatal mind you, but very detrimental to a healthy knitting life:  UFO Disease (Unfinished Objects Disease).  It is REAL and I have it (bet you didn't know that) and it can create confusion and a mountain of knitting problems you didn't think were possible!

...or how about this:  planning and teaching, designing, blogging, running a store, organizing a fiber arts fair, and custom knitting may be a bit more than I bargained for when I said I wanted to live my passion.

I am not complaining, I promise.  It's just a point of awareness that I think, after this very bad period of time with the 3 M's, I am coming to accept.

This blog was started so that I could share my journey towards being completely self-supported by my knitting in one way or another.  Well, looks like this is all part of that journey.  I am figuring out (sometimes the hard way) exactly what I want that life to look like.  There have been many struggles so far, but also so many joys.

I hope you have found some humor in all of this...thankfully I have.  :)  I dedicate the 3 M's blog post to my fellow knitters out there and  to my students who come in, call, and text me on a daily basis ready to give up and throw their knitting in the trash (or at least in the bottom of the closet for the next 20 years or so).

May I offer a bit of advice?  Just put it down, step away, breathe, call me if necessary, and keep things in perspective.  I know I am always espousing the merits of knitting such as it being relaxing, meditative, therapeutic, and fun.  (It is, no really!)  However, just as in life, we wouldn't learn very much about ourselves if we didn't have to go back, rip out, learn from our mistakes, and start again.

Knit on,

Donna

[ pash'en]

I have a 'word sign' hanging on my bathroom wall...you know one of those signs with an inspirational word that maybe you want to remind yourself of from time to time.  Like 'BELIEVE' or 'DREAM' or 'COURAGE'.  I know, cliche, but who couldn't use a little positive reinforcement, even if it is cliche?

Mine sign reads like this:

PASSION
[pash'en]
There are many things that will capture your eye, but very few will capture your heart.

It is directly behind me when I am standing at my bathroom counter.  I see this word and this definition in the mirror when I am going through my morning ritual every day.

Of all the words to choose from, what made me notice this in the store, pick it up, buy it, bring it home, and hang it on my bathroom wall?

You think I'm getting a little too in depth in my thought process, don't you?  Why in the world do I even need to bring up this trivial little item and detail about me?

Well, I'll tell you why (you knew that was coming, didn't you?)

Here are a whole lot of reasons why...

 

These are high school students and their teachers from Gering and Scottsbluff.  Each year, in the fall, I am invited into the Family and Consumer Science classes and the Clothing and Textile classes to teach knitting, and between both school districts, we end up putting needles and yarn in approximately 75-80 teenage hands. (some years it has been closer to 100, depending on the class sizes)

It is hard work, no doubt,  but absolutely one of the things I most look forward to every September.

The students often will also take a field trip out to Brown Sheep Co. for a tour.  I take them through the mill.  They get to see the actual process of natural fibers being spun, dyed, and packaged into yarn that they use in their projects.   This is great opportunity  for them not only to see the yarn being made, but to see something being MADE period.  The tour takes the mystery out of it and shows them that yes, someone actually makes this product with their hands, from start to finish.
 
Craftsmanship.  Taking pride in their work.  A product being made right here in Western Nebraska.  What an opportunity for them.  What an opportunity for me.

So, this is my passion.  Teaching others.

(And all along you thought it was knitting, right?)  :)

Did I ever have an inkling that I would teach knitting and fiber art?  Not at all.  No really.

So how DID I get so 'lucky' as to have arrived at this place in my life, this place and time and experience that allows me to do something that I am passionate about?

Actually I am not a big believer in 'luck'.

For example, frequently people will say how lucky I am to have been married to the same wonderful man for so many years.  I do appreciate the comment, but honestly, luck has nothing to do with it.  It's called work, hard work.  And when I work hard at something, that usually means I am passionate about it in some way or another.

Passion is the key ingredient in anything thing that I have done and done well in my life.

Think about it...when you put your entire being into something, whether it's just for a moment or over the course of a lifetime, things in the universe just seem aligned, don't they?  It flows.  It works.

Living passionately comes with a price though.  A big price...and here it is:  Once you tap into what you feel most strongly about and incorporate that into your daily life, you'll never be satisfied again living without passion.  Yep.  That's the deal and if you don't believe me, just think about it for a second.  It will come to you.

Most dissatisfaction and discontent in my life can be easily traced to not being in alignment with my passion.  And I am not talking about living a life of some idealistic, Norman Rockwell painting.  Not at all.  Living with passion means a lot of things, including heart ache, pain, lessons you'd rather not learn, highs and lows and a lot of WORK.

So that is why I do not buy the notion that I am just lucky to be in the place I am in my life, personally or professionally.  Nope.

I have been moving towards this moment in my marriage my entire life.

The skills to work in this business were unknowingly developed as I went along.

Being passionate in your life requires a huge belief that whatever it is, it's worth trying or doing, even if you don't know where it's taking you or where you will end up.  It's almost always a risk and there are no guarantees as to how it will turn out.  That's not the point of living passionately.  For me anyway, it truly isn't about the outcome.  It's about the 'alignment'--remember--my insides matching my outsides.  There aren't always obvious rewards.  It is what it is.  

I have found that it is better to run towards something than from something. You cannot let fear be your driving force; you truly need to have passion pulling you out of bed each day.

Do you see the smile and concentration on the those bright, beautiful faces in the pictures?  That fuels me.  That gets me out into the world every day.  It's worth doing...this business of teaching...and passing on the art of making something with your hands.

When you do something with everything you've got, well there's nothing else like it in this world. 

So I think that answers my question about how [pash'en] ended up on my bathroom wall.  I guess it's a little more than a cliche to me.

It is me.

Knit on,

Donna






   

Sweet Success

We now have the 2nd Annual Scotts Bluff Valley Fiber Arts Fair under our belts.  I spent the last week reliving and relishing the entire experience in my mind and with my fellow board members and awesome volunteers.

Here's to a job well done ladies!     

Comments that I heard from our participants were positive, to say the least, and very encouraging:  "Upscale, inspiring, educational, high-class, well-organized, so much fun!"   And most importantly, "Can't wait for next year!"

Our many thanks to all who came out to the fairgrounds!  Your participation was fabulous and your enthusiasm inspiring.  I am already working on some new things for next year's event, so stay tuned.  (Yes, the show must go on and the planning never stops!) 

In the meantime, I thought you might like to see a few highlights from Friday's classes and of course the fair on Saturday.  I will have a complete gallery for the 2010 fair up this week on the website, but this will give you an idea of the incredible talent that was this year's fair!

Donna Friebertshauser teaching Brazilian Embroidery

Stephanie Flynn-Sokolov conducting her beginning wheel spinning class

I love spinners!  Barefoot and comfy while they are working!

Deb Wagonner of Two Windows Dye Co.  She came all the way from Hutchinson, Kansas to teach a knitting class and vend at the fair

Many thanks to Nancy Shroyer for traveling the farthest (North Carolina!) to teach Traditional Fair Isle

Felted Entrelac Tote class

...taught by Mavis Davis of LaPorte, CO.  Mavis is Harlan Brown's daughter

Joan Sheen of Kearney, NE shared her expertise in the Crackle Weaving class

Oh how I love this piece...the colors are gorgeous!

Color Theory class

Vicki Square of Ft. Collins, CO...so pleased to have her teach this year

 

Donna Friebertshauser also taught Silk Ribbon Embroidery in the afternoon session

The very talented Rhonda McClure of Ewe and Us teaching Needle Felting.  Rhonda and her husband also had a booth at the fair.

Here is a wonderful piece that Rhonda shared with her students.

 

Hand made soaps from Laura Whelchel of Laura's Herbal Apothecary

Couldn't be a Nebraska fiber fair without a few team hats...compliments of Kathy Hartmeister of Op Pa Llandet

Peggy Wells, daughter of Harlan Brown and Vice President of Brown Sheep Co. giving a greeting and thank you to all of our vendors at the Galleria the night before the fair

Getting to know each other and taking a little time out for some great food and drink was a welcome break from all of our hard work!

After a very busy day on Friday, you would think everyone would be dragging the next morning, but no!  The energy was high and smiles were seen all around the show floor.  Below are some highlights of the fabulous demonstrators, vendors, and breeders that made this year's fair such a success.

Creativity and imaginative uses for natural fibers were everywhere that day!

This young lady is so talented!  She was the youngest student the day of classes and everyone was amazed at her talent for fiber art at such a young age.  She will be one to watch for in the future of this industry!

Beautiful, hand crafted drop spindles from Wooly Designs of Crawford, CO

Kim Schiffmacher and Deb Barrett demonstrating weaving and Australian locker hooking

Fair t-shirts and totes for sale featuring the fabulous artwork of Laura Avila, a local artist from Mitchell, NE

And oh yes, a fair favorite last year and this year, the Swedish Tomten!  Each one has a personality of it's own.

Our spinning instructor, Stephanie, posing with Laurie Alkire, one of my fellow fair Board members

Cher Maybee of Barn Anew Bed and Breakfast showing her tomten

 Cher and her husband Allan co-sponsored the fair, along with Brown Sheep Co.  Cher is also on the Board of Directors and planning committee for the fair.    Allan gave an historical presentation of sheep wagons at Barn Anew the day of the fair.

Crochet demonstrators Carmen Sanchez and Brandy Earl along with my good friend and fair volunteer, Jan Johnson

This is Laura Avila (the artist who created our logo) with her mom, Cathy McGrath of Tanglewood Studios who came all the way from Las Vegas to participate in the fair.

Two extremely talented ladies, Darlene Tagler (Prairie Pines Quilt Shop, Gering, NE) and quilting demonstrator for the fair, Deb Aschenbrenner

Phil Switzer ( and wife Chris)  brought Paco Vicunas which was a new addition to the fiber animal lineup this year

Mick Leighton of Loveland, CO brought alpaca again this year

Richard Phillips of Prairie Moon Alpacas taking time out to relax and knit

He and his wife, Ann are such a fun addition to the fair and so knowledgeable on all things fiber art

Debbie Leighton (Deer Valley Alpacas) and Ann Phillips (Prairie Moon Alpacas) share a booth called Fiber Frolics

Sarah Meyer along with her mom, Cheryl of Hidden Valley Ranch showing an angora hat her mom knit out of the fiber obtained from their French Angora rabbits

Tracy Kreie demonstrating drop spindle techniques

Our weaving demonstrators Libby Lundgren and Berni Lewis

Laura Avila, Stacia Phifer, and Christy Strong at the information booth...oh these ladies worked hard that day!

Our door prize gang!  Virginia Garrett, Melissa Robbins (coordinator), Anna Robbins, and Marge Townley

Loretta Haught, one of the hardest working volunteers and fiber art enthusiasts you will find, taking time out to pose with me

Judy Hoxworth, our Silent Auction coordinator (talk about a big job!) along with Christy Strong, co-chair of the Hospitality committee

One of the many beautiful items on the silent auction table

A Little bluegrass music courtesy of Green Valley Homesteaders to set the mood!

Payson Haught with Salty, a French Angora rabbit

Miss Maggie Brunmeier, daughter of Jewel Brunmeier, our Breeder Committee Chairperson (Jewel, why don't I have a pic of you?!?)  She was so busy I guess there was no time to pose! :)

And speaking of posing...llama brought in by Curt and Susan Boyes of Red Barn Wool Station from Minatare, NE

Oh my!  A face only a mother could love?!?  Angora goat....what a ham!  Maggie told me all of their names, but can't remember now!

Alex Becker holding a sweet baby Cashmere goat

Joanna Johnson's book signing at the Brown Sheep booth

These ladies asked me to take a picture, but I don't know their names..totally adorable in those hats though.

Me along with our guest of honor, Mrs. Janet Brown of Brown Sheep Co.  She said she had a wonderful time that day and visited with many, many people!

Last year's fair was so busy that I wasn't able to buy one thing!  This year I did get to sneak a little shopping in with my daughter, Kendall,  and here's a few of the treasures we came home with:

Phil (my husband) won a door prize from Designs by Anna (felted bracelet and pin)...he said it wasn't his color though, so he generously gifted the set to Kendall and I :)

Another Designs by Anna (Walker)  purchase...Kendall picked this one out for herself (quilted/felted bracelet)

My beloved little Swedish Tomte handfelted by Gabriella Cervin (he's a faithful guardian of small things...every home needs a little watching over) 

Sock yarn hand-dyed by Deb Wagonner of Two Windows Dye Co.

Kendall and I each picked our favorite colorway for socks I will be knitting for us--the pictures don't do the color justice!

And the same goes for this lovely little bundle of hand dyed roving from Ingrid Borah of Whysper Mountain Woolens--I hope to get out the drop spindle soon and practice my spinning with this luscious fiber

Then once I get it spun I'm thinking I will knit this:

Deb Wagonner was wearing this cute little knit headpiece the day of the fair and Kendall wanted the pattern

Linda George was selling her Swedish Mittens kits again this year...I so wanted to buy the pattern last year, but missed my opportunity

This year mission accomplished!  I can't wait to dive into the pattern, which Linda told me was written in the late 1700's...that's very cool...they are a combination of Lamb's Pride from Brown Sheep and a beautiful soft mohair...I especially love the detail of the embroidery and buttons and they are so thick and warm!

What an exciting weekend!  Thank you again to everyone who shared their time and incredible talent to the event. 

Sweet success indeed!

Knit on,

Donna

ps.  I will try and go back when I have time and add a links to the businesses listed here (there are so many!).  I do have a booklet with all the contact information though.  Leave me a comment and I would be happy to send one to you or give you info. on any one you would like to know more about or order from.