tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191495732024-02-18T15:21:55.036-06:00Spinning Dreams and Weaving YarnsJeanette Larson's musings on her farm, her fiber arts and life in generalJenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.comBlogger426125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-79989338221302177842023-02-21T13:59:00.002-06:002023-02-21T13:59:19.127-06:00Catching up<p> <br />A lot has happened, and a lot has stayed the same. </p><p>We still have Havencroft Farm in the Ozarks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHe4r_tXfbOasli_zQwXCatZ8ezhJo290D3sgv930amzTyDnJcpbw06jPNk28PI57dOEW4D27f7DoopzAPR-tAAQpT-jJQn0JKuMyJd5YM3iplKivp775UC8LfTAd3qFByF8OA_Dnu63brrjTBx2D4WVJOZaxN6QvcwPE6miEL_F79icxFdI/s4032/20230218_113340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHe4r_tXfbOasli_zQwXCatZ8ezhJo290D3sgv930amzTyDnJcpbw06jPNk28PI57dOEW4D27f7DoopzAPR-tAAQpT-jJQn0JKuMyJd5YM3iplKivp775UC8LfTAd3qFByF8OA_Dnu63brrjTBx2D4WVJOZaxN6QvcwPE6miEL_F79icxFdI/s320/20230218_113340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>We still have Jacob sheep, angora goats and dairy goats. And Pequena llama.</p><p>It's still Shawn and Radha and Jen.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupyRrQOkm-3oHXaEHl4t78yfZlL47j3wbD2KidvLWK60qIu7EHmX2qTxW3Mo-Vw-rOBbwxKlcCNB5vUYtq41c_og4GigsRt-f7p_4q3i2PcOGOSbws00rMGH7guxcvW8Z_81TlNRzNvOb6eLOrVnCfBjVVPp-r3wm6ONMVLmLZ3aE27pAKhw/s2048/received_3337503879855456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2018" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupyRrQOkm-3oHXaEHl4t78yfZlL47j3wbD2KidvLWK60qIu7EHmX2qTxW3Mo-Vw-rOBbwxKlcCNB5vUYtq41c_og4GigsRt-f7p_4q3i2PcOGOSbws00rMGH7guxcvW8Z_81TlNRzNvOb6eLOrVnCfBjVVPp-r3wm6ONMVLmLZ3aE27pAKhw/s320/received_3337503879855456.jpeg" width="315" /></a></div><p></p><p>Jen (me) still weaves and spins, Radha and Shawn still make brooms.</p><p>My parents still join in the fun on the farm.</p><p>We bought the house next to our old farmhouse when it became available. Radha now lives in the old farmhouse. She's added her Jersey cow to the mix of critters.</p><p>The big house now has the broom studio and weaving studio and our home upstairs and will have my parents home when we have it remodeled. It has been and continues to be a very consuming job. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYbBB6AhviLr1cK8aBvtRaURKlWttEcGFGTTyS4CTIJAmxdCbi4gXS5ee_CYnwnG0QC6ZSxWybn4u0UJhHvJHb-o0-s2JmISk60-7Dq9tBwsgMbY0yvKG9koLNmDquk8o9_IRE-FvDsSpcRRhFfx2r0HB2Tw_WVCe-OwofZIE58o3U9zd5ig/s4032/20230122_144950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYbBB6AhviLr1cK8aBvtRaURKlWttEcGFGTTyS4CTIJAmxdCbi4gXS5ee_CYnwnG0QC6ZSxWybn4u0UJhHvJHb-o0-s2JmISk60-7Dq9tBwsgMbY0yvKG9koLNmDquk8o9_IRE-FvDsSpcRRhFfx2r0HB2Tw_WVCe-OwofZIE58o3U9zd5ig/s320/20230122_144950.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>It's all good, we keep moving forward. Lots of plans and hopes and dreams.</p><p>And we're still here.</p>Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-1454153100172274292020-04-15T19:19:00.000-06:002020-04-15T19:24:03.924-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop 2020</h2>
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I applied to join this year's Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop through the Craft Industry Alliance, a group I find very valuable. For those of you who don't know me, I would normally never have the time in the spring to even consider cleaning. I am a shepherd, so spring is all about shearing, and lambing, and seeding pastures. I am a dairy farmer, so spring is all about kidding, and milking the new goats, and making cheeses. I am a gardener, so spring is all about starting new plants, cleaning out the beds, pruning the berries, and planting early crops. And I work full time at an Arkansas State Park, so I rarely get three days off in March and not too many in April.</div>
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But this year, the world changed. And while it is perfectly normal for the 30+ fleeces we shear to get piled in front of the fleece shelf awaiting skirting and sorting in the slower month of August, and for winter coats to get piled on my loom because it's right by the door to the barn, and post tax-time paperwork to get piled in heaps on my desk, this year is different. I suddenly had time to do some organizing and cleaning - and I desperately needed the peace that weaving brings me.</div>
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So, I signed up to do the Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop, so that I would have a deadline, and accountability. I've been working on this project for over a week. I started by finding a set of wire cube shelves on Facebook Marketplace. Many people are cleaning and destashing right now. I thought that they might replace my beloved "fleece shelf" that I got at a hardware store auction 10 years ago. It holds all my fleeces, and a ton of other stuff, but it is not easy to access things on it, and it takes up a lot of room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsthXXAWABpfgKtoJwYCxD9V7L0qmGwNMmxU9MXG0S5eBrdUMv1wLFEL0yB6fHE23bgm1_yaGnVQoWInDS8cp0wH3eqBgr9ZEWA004BCNtQiOYjr8eZC1s6kZfzCJyRhxO6Ap8A/s1600/20200412_100052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsthXXAWABpfgKtoJwYCxD9V7L0qmGwNMmxU9MXG0S5eBrdUMv1wLFEL0yB6fHE23bgm1_yaGnVQoWInDS8cp0wH3eqBgr9ZEWA004BCNtQiOYjr8eZC1s6kZfzCJyRhxO6Ap8A/s640/20200412_100052.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a panorama view of my workshop before I began working on the Spring clean-up. From left to right is my fleece shelf, we are almost done shearing the flock for this spring. Next you can see my Triangle loom, my JL Hammett rug loom, the shop window, my desk, two of my rug racks, warping board, another rug rack, and the door that goes out to the barn.</td></tr>
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I focused on my fleece shelf, and came up with a plan to get it organized and more accessible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tubs of yarn, my soap making supplies, a couple show tubs, and lots of<br />
fleeces all piled on my fleece shelf.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fleece shelf before the cleanup.<br />
Winter coats and fleeces piled on my<br />
JL Hammett loom.</td></tr>
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I emptied the whole shelf, putting most of the contents on our enclosed back porch, which also happens to be my dye studio. Much of it is still there, and I'll keep working on this project through the spring.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I deconstructed the shelf and now the boards<br />
are being repurposed in the garden as raised beds.</td></tr>
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I took apart the shelf and hauled the boards to the garden, to make raised beds (next week's project!). Then I built this cubby wire shelf. It wraps nicely around my triangle loom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHWlNpI6RLtJYuxvSzJdnm8F5O-kU5fs3vBW5pTgDdA2fV_vJMMtW-fAr7jAI658FtHoXdmPQn_s3BbGhsgV5S5ihjYb6VmbGsuYD8BZyEu6zDsZf8RvE8sVPSMf3D4LKXox09Q/s1600/20200412_184949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHWlNpI6RLtJYuxvSzJdnm8F5O-kU5fs3vBW5pTgDdA2fV_vJMMtW-fAr7jAI658FtHoXdmPQn_s3BbGhsgV5S5ihjYb6VmbGsuYD8BZyEu6zDsZf8RvE8sVPSMf3D4LKXox09Q/s400/20200412_184949.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new wire shelves. These things take a lot of time to build, but I like the clean look.<br />
I can put one to two fleeces in each cubby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-Fbpx0KsrN8XQ53rYOLJpHRX-xio91gsKAjbBJ1mb47tZQdAxHjyjOlLdhNvazST4LOIWCxT98LtSE7_KhQJXGl5xgzOsHzogdV0AjD1kiI6Cvbd95KGBKmvkvGNRSuaJDzYkg/s1600/20200414_052639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-Fbpx0KsrN8XQ53rYOLJpHRX-xio91gsKAjbBJ1mb47tZQdAxHjyjOlLdhNvazST4LOIWCxT98LtSE7_KhQJXGl5xgzOsHzogdV0AjD1kiI6Cvbd95KGBKmvkvGNRSuaJDzYkg/s400/20200414_052639.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The new fleece shelf, with organized and<br />
skirted fleeces. I still have about 30 fleeces on<br />
the enclosed back porch to skirt. So, there's<br />
lots more sorting to do.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xdvKAU0miaYIiGeIDkCmqXvHZuXC_G8fOMyqX1jkXg6MdjIfBHILeB1qZAvqPHYxktXBBlSM4EJLmxBCPJTDH5ticJf49vwNoRoyGYKTEn1m62m1VYhuiXXsIN0ZGvab8vx_vg/s1600/20200414_052746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xdvKAU0miaYIiGeIDkCmqXvHZuXC_G8fOMyqX1jkXg6MdjIfBHILeB1qZAvqPHYxktXBBlSM4EJLmxBCPJTDH5ticJf49vwNoRoyGYKTEn1m62m1VYhuiXXsIN0ZGvab8vx_vg/s400/20200414_052746.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Now, with the winter coats washed and<br />
hung up in the laundry room, and the new<br />
wire cube fleece shelf, there is room to<br />
move around in that corner of my studio.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlB5qjY5w2Z9nQKvjtkv126IevHq3drcvfGuXfoAnv71ucxA5HUzOQez9aGt37olDaz6itetRYoFkpWOEF5ZepOS5c8s22pnJ-8sfesM7W4p5EGAD6EK3zv5cM6qa9YhcUeCE4Q/s1600/20200414_052651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlB5qjY5w2Z9nQKvjtkv126IevHq3drcvfGuXfoAnv71ucxA5HUzOQez9aGt37olDaz6itetRYoFkpWOEF5ZepOS5c8s22pnJ-8sfesM7W4p5EGAD6EK3zv5cM6qa9YhcUeCE4Q/s400/20200414_052651.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">I now have clear space to go back to<br />
weaving my Fleecyful Wool rugs with<br />
all these Jacob sheep fleeces on my<br />
JL Hammett loom.</td></tr>
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That may be all the cleaning I accomplish this spring. There is a lot going on, and I really do want to weave a bit now that I have my loom accessible. However, just in case we get a spate of bad weather, this corner below is the next one to work on. It has my rug racks, a rack of heddles, and a few of the rugs that I weave with my fleeces. And lots of other stuff!<br />
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But right now, it's time to go do chores. My daughter and little Napoleon think I should be outside feeding sheep, not dabbling on the computer.<br />
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Here are the links to the rest of the blogs on the Spring Clean Up Blog Hop. Check them out and look at some awesome studios and great artists. Enjoy the Hop!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 1 - Sam Hunter - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huntersdesignstudio.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2tXWJ6MxjyV2W4Xwc6PQIOxnCGvX8vsUmbm88KXyU80ar2MqCPfJ6GImE&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.huntersdesignstudio.com/?fbclid=IwAR2tXWJ6MxjyV2W4Xwc6PQIOxnCGvX8vsUmbm88KXyU80ar2MqCPfJ6GImE" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.huntersdesignstudio.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 2 - Marian Pena - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seamstobesew.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1yWQlrBqczloR4cPHvtGUdJpg3OrtLIBD90H0rHGuByJH5ZW-jCCpSffI&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.seamstobesew.com/?fbclid=IwAR1yWQlrBqczloR4cPHvtGUdJpg3OrtLIBD90H0rHGuByJH5ZW-jCCpSffI" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.seamstobesew.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 3 - Jennifer Fulton - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inquiringquilter.com%2Fquestions%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3GSDzkpEi45fgRptPv6iWFt5d-6CC-XO2LKLL2m9Ekq8mEtquTKM7Iha0&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions?fbclid=IwAR3GSDzkpEi45fgRptPv6iWFt5d-6CC-XO2LKLL2m9Ekq8mEtquTKM7Iha0" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 4 - Martha Wolf - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FWww.pinwheelprodns.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0LDE1a5haXa1y5BBAX0olw5_mReiWgqqY3hrIWj1YOCVuSn7TqxvLSoSI&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.pinwheelprodns.com/?fbclid=IwAR0LDE1a5haXa1y5BBAX0olw5_mReiWgqqY3hrIWj1YOCVuSn7TqxvLSoSI" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://Www.pinwheelprodns.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 5 - Jennifer Strauser - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dizzyquilter.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2T8nAOw3ECfOrLN9QTsUtiqTQEhj5eRda4e9JSGkGb1A95LTGhYn_ilvM&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.dizzyquilter.com/?fbclid=IwAR2T8nAOw3ECfOrLN9QTsUtiqTQEhj5eRda4e9JSGkGb1A95LTGhYn_ilvM" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.dizzyquilter.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 6 - Steph Carton - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theelimonster.com%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR08jya94AEz6bjNee37g6jUTV8UrlfJvhMHGgvXKc-cfgYpC-tmmN9UyPo&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.theelimonster.com/blog?fbclid=IwAR08jya94AEz6bjNee37g6jUTV8UrlfJvhMHGgvXKc-cfgYpC-tmmN9UyPo" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.theelimonster.com/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 7 - Simone Fisher - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simonequilts.com%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0JubvGB5sgkYnZwA-hOkKC6G-TnlB8rMT__rQpAIC_W_vwx3V-0PH7_U8&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.simonequilts.com/blog?fbclid=IwAR0JubvGB5sgkYnZwA-hOkKC6G-TnlB8rMT__rQpAIC_W_vwx3V-0PH7_U8" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.simonequilts.com/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 8 - Kate Colleran - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seamslikeadream.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2K9n7vPXyc7CN_Eu1N3VNxD85FbcbknagE4-JvOZovI9NsQNjj59PepsU&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.seamslikeadream.com/?fbclid=IwAR2K9n7vPXyc7CN_Eu1N3VNxD85FbcbknagE4-JvOZovI9NsQNjj59PepsU" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.seamslikeadream.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 9 - Carlina Moore - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alwaysexpectmoore.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1yWQlrBqczloR4cPHvtGUdJpg3OrtLIBD90H0rHGuByJH5ZW-jCCpSffI&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.alwaysexpectmoore.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 10 - Jen Frost - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithandfabricdesign.com%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0pO1Dgmg9mlmYDvHvaoOm_6kPHnmgRbZvF_ri39SDEvLBAI4Pz2TBAaPE&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.faithandfabricdesign.com/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 11 - Leanne Parsons - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.devotedquilter.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0MG55uTrgSSGKqb9kvgNuEihA3ubnSBCmK__E97jQEzSC7llXzbAId2o4&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.devotedquilter.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 12 - Becca Fenstermaker - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prettypiney.com%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1uM9aRGjHPl9CLcAoMdgvRtSXdhMoqNglWhB5HJ3lqVMuQEVm66C-Cw0Y&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.prettypiney.com/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 13 - Sarah Myers - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quilted-diary.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3bJJs837let1GD0KdL3QaJaHPPyCcSlotT728DzAiPBqpiWT3GZMJIstU&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.quilted-diary.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 14 - Mitzi Redd - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddhomestead.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR04bP-ifFUKfONmDARw1CiF0UfgT4lqmdZZ61U0wi6Ksda9LNPzBSVH1d8&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.reddhomestead.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 15 - Jeanette Larson - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Jenonthefarm.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3bJJs837let1GD0KdL3QaJaHPPyCcSlotT728DzAiPBqpiWT3GZMJIstU&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.Jenonthefarm.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 16 - Camille Ainsworth - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stitchinthenw.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3PVAZLADj9__JpAT_mB86FvpTpPfPTNrkKBpbXOdygwPuOOVv7e9B5IRI&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.stitchinthenw.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 17 - Becky Philips Jorgenson - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patchworkposse.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0MG55uTrgSSGKqb9kvgNuEihA3ubnSBCmK__E97jQEzSC7llXzbAId2o4&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.patchworkposse.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 18 - Bobbie Gentili - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekybobbin.com%2Fcategory%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR006oKVNYEgqIt8-d_y5KGK4MuyT6Y_VbePXBuprvufG55V7PkFlR1cmNI&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.geekybobbin.com/category/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 19 - Janellea Macbeth - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.janelleamacbeth.com%2Fblog%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3jLPs_GeJGDs870fACtw9cHzSGFVULucgyX1Eg5bTH8x8jpsLti9YPXA0&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.janelleamacbeth.com/blog/?fbclid=IwAR3jLPs_GeJGDs870fACtw9cHzSGFVULucgyX1Eg5bTH8x8jpsLti9YPXA0" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.janelleamacbeth.com/blog/</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 20 - Lisa Ruble - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flovetocolormyworld.blogspot.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3oBP5wUk6BG9XuyYsH6YuF9aB2WgIC89NTwphdLUKHVUVivtBD6moKfdY&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://lovetocolormyworld.blogspot.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 21 - Debra Davis - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tuning-my-heart.com%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0JTYUgJOjLQLcLrcaLKS4TAFDoKAiwC00IP7-RbhoBC6E3Q7wPnndRavc&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.tuning-my-heart.com/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 22 - Rona Herman - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Ronatheribbiter.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0hpwNkZc9siRh87QnNzgOE1YzKdMnerDdj66eHsCpTZ6tzBVJWGuPKRU4&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.Ronatheribbiter.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 23 - Sue Griffiths - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.duckcreekmountainquilting.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3tG0vpBr6e31C098P--afNbgmPsav5oSXl6WigLxb0PWzK5fdH12tR0lY&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.duckcreekmountainquilting.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 24 - Sarah Ruiz- </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saroy.net%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0LDE1a5haXa1y5BBAX0olw5_mReiWgqqY3hrIWj1YOCVuSn7TqxvLSoSI&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.saroy.net/?fbclid=IwAR0LDE1a5haXa1y5BBAX0olw5_mReiWgqqY3hrIWj1YOCVuSn7TqxvLSoSI" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.saroy.net/</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 25 - Jessica Caldwell - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.desertbloomquilting.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2tXWJ6MxjyV2W4Xwc6PQIOxnCGvX8vsUmbm88KXyU80ar2MqCPfJ6GImE&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.desertbloomquilting.com/?fbclid=IwAR2tXWJ6MxjyV2W4Xwc6PQIOxnCGvX8vsUmbm88KXyU80ar2MqCPfJ6GImE" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.desertbloomquilting.com/</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 26 - Tammy Silvers - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftamarinis.typepad.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1wP14hgCnGBF1_MEwNIwkL1luiOlio3OU3YxATQB8NM9ohW1B0TSOQp-s&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://tamarinis.typepad.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 27 - Ebony Love - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lovebugstudios.com%2Fblog%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR07beenr8uz7QLN7gUt8PkCTzeiSmgxFzcpiOHLjq8fqZPRM2WpyY1INzQ&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" href="http://www.lovebugstudios.com/blog?fbclid=IwAR07beenr8uz7QLN7gUt8PkCTzeiSmgxFzcpiOHLjq8fqZPRM2WpyY1INzQ" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://www.lovebugstudios.com/blog</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #444950; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 28 - Cheryl Sleboda - </span><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.muppin.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3UE2vZzAgb6XqjutCHtJ3SZXi2Dcyp9EsrXLT7mKOwK4f96jeXPDhgrj8&h=AT1lnPUb_W_9LkmQABE80ECgkVBAVCrZROSUfG9sZ4jl-u6zKNfLwRm9Q94D1QSThaw46oTebd4XRUHiAhDxEmfvgkTJpCwx1XVhFGlibUdzpf7erz4fXo9nmej7le3S" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">http://blog.muppin.com</a></div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-54616006901932451872019-12-30T06:57:00.000-06:002019-12-30T06:57:42.068-06:003 Fiber Arts Tools That Changed My Art in 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e5f2a4c-7fff-1145-b702-dd15769c10b6">I've been a fiber artist for more than 50 years. Yep, that long. My grandma Augustine taught me to crochet when I was eight, and I've been obsessed since then. In that time I've developed a style that is me, designs I like, and a few that I've published. I've taught classes in places ranging from The Wool Festival at Taos to the Ozark Folk Center State Park. And I have learned so much and moved so far ahead in my craft in 2019. Always keep learning!</span></div>
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<span>Part of it was driven by changes in my body. Treadling a spinning wheel or standing at a loom can wear out your joints. I have a master weaver friend who quit weaving because, as she said, her body could no longer take being part of the machine. But, fiber arts is me, so I started looking at different tools, and that learning has opened up so many doors.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Spinolution Firefly with the 32 oz<br />bobbin. Lockspun hand dyed alpaca fleece.</td></tr>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Spinolution Firefly</b> - The Spinolution Firefly is an electric spinning wheel. I raise our sheep and goats for their wonderful fiber, that I spin into yarn and weave beautiful things. That's my passion. I've been spinning and treadling a spinning wheel daily for more than 20 years. My ankles and hips have joint issues, in part because of spinning. I tried electric spinning wheels off and on since 2006, and didn't like them. I love to spin from the locks, spin raw fleece, spin dyed blends, and spin lots of yarn. The Ashford Country Spinner was one of my very favorite wheels. and I couldn't comfortably treadle it any longer. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the 2018 Arkansas Craft Guild Christmas Showcase, my dear friend and fiber cohort loaned me her Spinolution Firefly. I spun on it the whole show, and broke it! After desperate panicked calls to their tech support, we learned it was a blown fuse, and learned how to replace it. After that experience, I was sold on their tech support. And Leigh is such a dear friend, that even after that experience, she let me take her Firefly home with me to spin more. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a huge learning curve to an electric wheel, it's not something you can just pick up and do, even after 20 years of spinning. But I spun 3 of our homegrown fleeces, one alpaca (first, because that's easiest), one Jacob sheep (also easy), and one kid mohair (still a challenge today, but my favorite fiber) before I returned her wheel to her. Then, with my parents' help, I ordered my own. They are pricey, but for me, it has been worth it. I can spin so much more yarn, so much faster. And I have learned so much already, in just one year with this wheel. My Firefly is a good teacher.</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love spinning yarn. I love dyeing our fleeces into bright colors and blending those to make soft, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">luscious</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> yarns. I've developed a unique style of yarn that I love making from our fleeces with the Spinolution Firefly. I've sold some of that yarn, but I wanted to make it accessible to people who don't do fiber arts. Of course, people can wear skeins, but that's not a real option for most people. I'm still in the process of designing yarn jewelry, look for that, maybe, in 2020. I tried crocheting scarves, and that seemed to hide the beauty of this yarn, as well as take forever. I tried big needle knitting, and just didn't like doing it. (I don't knit) I tried weaving a scarf on my 24-inch rigid heddle loom, and did a nice one, but the sizing was awkward. But that look I got from the weaving led me to looking at the "silly little starter looms." I love the Ashford </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">products for their durability and versatility. As a weaving teacher, I try to get my students to think about where they want to go with their weaving, and then steer them to the right loom. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL_7A9uuXN59qhdhTT-JN5qVG8iWva6_wE63VJz3Q6zfFKsR3mhm0GydXYAYB6WideDJwwbtx0fBXDC7JnPctA3Fj-DJZSa3i2LWTIsOGwOSTXG_r7BSRbJSNjY1sfVYrU_79vg/s1600/20191215_085708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL_7A9uuXN59qhdhTT-JN5qVG8iWva6_wE63VJz3Q6zfFKsR3mhm0GydXYAYB6WideDJwwbtx0fBXDC7JnPctA3Fj-DJZSa3i2LWTIsOGwOSTXG_r7BSRbJSNjY1sfVYrU_79vg/s400/20191215_085708.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kanger wishes I would spend more<br />time dog petting than weaving. Low<br />water immersion dyed/chain plied alpaca<br />warp, lock spun Nigel's mohair weft.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, in taking my own advice, I knew I wanted to weave scarves. My tools need to stand up to farm life, demonstrating, teaching, traveling, and lots of use. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">One consideration is that I travel a good bit, and I take my fiber arts with me. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A friend offered to loan me an older style small loom that she had so I could try the size, but that loom was no longer made. So, I jumped right in and bought a ten-inch Ashford SampleIt Loom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sampleit Loom</b> - My yarns are my palette and my passion. I want to share their beauty and comfort with everyone. I want to wrap people in a hug and make them smile every time they look down and see the flash of color draped down their chest. I want people to share my happiness in my fibers. The Sampleit loom lets me do that quickly. In two hours I can go from a naked loom to a scarf ready to hem and fringe. I can go from dyed and dried fiber to a finished scarf in less than 6 hours. That's lightning speed in fiber arts! I wove a scarf a day for a month and I am in love with that little loom!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hate a naked loom, so, like most weavers, I have the next 2 or 3 projects planned while I'm finishing the one I'm working on. This solid little loom is a work horse, and I continued to weave four scarves a week on it from my handspun and dyed yarns from our critters here on Havencroft Farm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking of Dyed & Dried...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Spin Dryer</b> - Fiber arts is a craft of lots of tools and tweaks. Many of them you create yourself, many of them exist and you just have to find them. Again, enter my dear friend and amazing fiber artist, Leigh. She is a creative explorer, maker and user of fiber arts tools. Check out her</span><a href="https://www.twiningvinedesigns.com/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Twining Vine Designs</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> web site here. She's a great teacher and an incredibly talented felter and jeweler. She is also very generous sharing her exploration of fiber arts equipment. When she upgrades equipment, she sometimes offers the prior one to the local fiber artists. So when she had a little spin dryer that need a new home, I thought I'd give it a try. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarves and dyed fiber drying in my dye room, aka the back porch.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wash all my fiber for dyeing and blending. I dye most of my fiber and wash and rinse out all my dyed yarns and fiber. I wet finish all my spun yarns and woven goods. I spend a lot of time hand washing wool, mohair, and alpaca. And it takes forever to dry in the humidity of the Ozarks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The spin dryer has been amazing. It pulls more water out than you could get out any other way, and in 12 hours I have dry yarn, fibers or scarves. I now can't imagine finishing my fiber arts without one. Thanks again Leigh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 has been an amazing year of learning and growing. Following Focus & Finish has pushed me to find tools and systems to allow me to expand and improve my fiber arts. Now I'm looking forward to building on this base by #PushingBoundaries2020.</span></div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-33616216020837155162019-12-28T09:03:00.000-06:002019-12-28T09:06:09.721-06:00Barn, Chicken Coop, Jug Pens & House Painting - 2019 on Havencroft Farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple years ago I adopted the practice of picking a motivational phrase for the coming new year. I can't remember where I heard that idea, or if I just thought of it. My phrase for 2019 has been Focus & Finish, a much needed reminder for my creative, energetic, blonde Gemini self. There is just so much to do out there and so many opportunities and ... I can start 9 million projects, and accomplish a few. Focus & Finish has been very useful.<br />
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When I look at 2019 from the perspective of what happened this year, instead of looking at what is still left on my to-do list, I am amazed. 2019 is a year when we made family connections and our family added new people to this world. Its a year when I found practices, people, and things that I didn't know I needed, and they revolutionized my life. It's a year worth chronicling.<br />
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<b>2019 Around Havencroft Farm</b><br />
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<b>Barn</b> - I had forgotten how much I love having a barn to keep my animals safe, dry and warm. It's a place to store feed safely, keep all the tools in one place and milk the goats in comfort. It's nice to have a barn again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">During installation, before we added more gravel at the base and brought<br />
the animals in.</td></tr>
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In November of 2018 we had a barn installed. Over this year we've filled it in and filled it up. It's actually a 17 by 32 foot carport, with 7 foot ceilings and a 10 by 17 foot tool room at the back. We've used and loved our mobile hoop shelters for decades, and we still have them for the sheep half of the farm, but now the goats have a tight, dry, permanent shelter. That means we have to clean it out, instead of just moving the hoop shelter, but we have friends who use the deep bedding as mulch on their gardens. They came and helped clean last spring. We'll see if the barn cleaning party grows this coming spring.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">The new barn is approved by the alpine dairy goat flock.</td></tr>
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We were able to store 83 bales of hay in the barn, instead of outside under tarps. Sweet! It is my milking barn, grain room and garden tool storage. We like it so much we want to get one for the sheep side of the farm, perhaps in 2 or 3 more years. It was an expensive purchase, but should last for decades, and one that makes me happy every time I step out the back door.<br />
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<b>Jug pens</b> - Something in shepherding that I've always said was unnecessary with our wonderful Jacob sheep, but that I have learned to love this last year, and a product of having the barn are jug pens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Kachina and her lambs Ophelia & Olympia in the jug pen<br />
in the new barn during the near constant rain of the winter and spring of 2019.</td></tr>
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These are small pens built inside the barn. Ours are 5-foot by 5-foot, for ewes or does who are about to lamb or kid. This allows the mother a clean dry place to have her babies, a quiet time to bond with them, and it gives the babies a start in a safe environment. In 40 years of shepherding, I did not use them. </div>
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We had safe spaces for ewes having trouble, sometimes it was the farmhouse kitchen, but for the most part, they weren't needed. Instinct leads ewes to find a safe place to lamb, the other sheep in the flock give them space, and most lambs are up and about on their own with just their mother's cleaning. But, during lambing season (February and March for us at Havencroft Farm) we rotate checking the ewes every two hours. This way we can help any ewes having birthing troubles and find any babies who are struggling. We leave many of our ewes out to lamb as they please. But now, we have two jug pens in the barn, and we rotated sheep through them for the 2019 lambing season. All the first-time mothers went into a pen, then we didn't have to search the pasture for them. Any ewe who had trouble in the past went in. The littlest lambs went in with their moms during big storms. We had no bottle babies in 2019, perhaps due to the jug pens. That is a huge labor saver.</div>
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<b>Painting the House</b> - Have you ever read John Grisham's "A Painted House"? I love that book. <i>Squirrel...</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Havencroft Farm, September 20, 2019</td></tr>
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I live in the rural Ozarks. I grew up as an Army brat, moved for the first time at nine-days-old, and even as an adult, I moved a lot. I love the Ozarks, the land, the water, the people, and our homestead. I live here by choice. </div>
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When we first looked at this house, it was many colors on the outside. When she couldn't sell it, the former owner painted it white on the outside the summer of 2009. I don't think it was good quality paint, so by the summer of 2019, it looked really shabby. </div>
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We've wanted to paint it, and fix a lot of the structural necessities for years, but with Shawn working two jobs, Lena full time in the broom shop, and me working 45-55 hours a week, plus the farm and the weaving business, and now school, it was obvious we weren't going to get it done. But the Spring rains of 2019 had exacerbated some wall rot on the west side. So, we took out a loan from the bank of Mom & Dad and hired a contractor. Picking paint was fun. We went with a slate green for the body, and a tan to match the rock walls for the trim. I like it a lot. And the homestead looks so much more groomed and cared for, just having the house painted. When I look through old photos of this place, I'm amazed by all the improvements we've made in our decade here. It's still got a ways to go, but, Focus & Finish.</div>
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<b>Chicken coop</b> - I've had chickens most of my adult life. They eat bugs, they turn the soil in the goat barn, and they lay eggs. They just fit in my life. My chickens have lived in falling down sheds, up in the top of a pine tree for the night & just loose during the day, a nice home made chicken coop with an elaborate big run, the top of the pig barn, and a cattle panel covered with a tarp. They did fine in all these accommodations. But I like to keep them safe. So I wanted a strong, solid, tight chicken coop. </div>
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And we don't have the time or direction to build one. Talent we have, and we can all build what ever we put our minds to, but we each have other directions our time. Spending about 6 months researching and looking at coops, we finally decided on one. It took a while to get in touch with the builders, and a 6-hour evening drive to Clarksville to make the arrangements to purchase it and have it delivered. I spent hours figuring out drainage, sun, shade, access and the best place to put the coop. The couple delivering it came from Conway. It is 10' by 14' and weighs over a ton. They delivered it on a truck and had a little tractor that just lifted the coop and put it right where I wanted it. Our babies chicks were moved out of their little pen in the barn and into the coop. We clean the coop out every Sunday and re-bed it with waste hay from the goat barn. There is no way eggs will ever pay for the cost of that chicken house, but it was so worth it in ease of care, aesthetics, and peace of mind. </div>
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That's all for today. Further recap of 2019, the year of Finish & Focus to come.</div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8662881 -92.160968435.866187599999996 -92.1611259 35.8663886 -92.1608109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-64393945013545884872019-12-24T11:47:00.000-06:002019-12-24T11:47:13.545-06:00PushingBoundaries2020 or a Tale of Two Looms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My tagline for this coming new year is #PushingBoundaries2020. A boundary is a line that marks the limits. I am comfortable within the limits of my job, my farm, and my craft. But there is more to be learned, and more to explore. Going back to college full time in September of 2018 got me back into the learning process. It stretched my ability to manage time. It reminded me that you get out of things what you put into them. And through my classes, I touched on many new ideas. My tagline for 2019 was Focus & Finish. It has served me well. More about that in some year-end wrap up posts.<br />
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Why Pushing Boundaries? Why not something brighter, like Exploring Options?<br />
Well, I'm a curious person who likes to do and try new things. But, sometimes, I need a push, from myself, or from other sources, to go beyond my comfort zone and go through the process to get to a different level. Yeah, the options look interesting, but I'm comfortable, (and dog-gone busy!) right where I'm at. So #PushingBoundaries2020.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weaving Fleeceyful Jacob Sheep wool <br />rugs with raw fleece on my Newcomb Loom</td></tr>
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For example, you all know my Newcomb loom. I got it from my Aunt Jeannie and have been weaving on it for a long time. It is a big part of the development of my Fleeceyful Wool Rugs. I've been weaving rugs from my raw Jacob Sheep and mohair fleeces on this loom since about 2004. I've woven about 30 rugs a year on it for the last 15 years. That's about 450 rugs. A few are in my house, many are in homes across the United States. I love that loom. It's simple, it's sturdy, and it works.<br />
About two years ago, when the<a href="http://arkansascraftschool.org/" target="_blank"> Arkansas Craft School</a> was in the process of moving to their new location, they had a pile of sticks and gears and metal bits that looked like something, but needed to go somewhere. My dad knew they were looms, but it wasn't clear how many, or what type. So he offered to take them home, to assemble them if possible, and see what was there. After much work on his part, the pieces were reassembled into a Union 2 harness rug loom, and a JL Hammett 4 harness loom - and lots of miscellaneous parts. The Union loom found a new home, for a donation to the school. And the Hammett hung out in my dad's shop. I asked the school if I could weave on it, and they said "Sure, for as long as you want." But I never did spend enough time in my dad's shop to even get a warp on the loom.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newcomb with the latest warp finished.</td></tr>
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The Hammett kept tugging on my mind. My home studio only has room for one big loom. The Newcomb is 54" by 48", the Hammett is 54" by 54". There is no way they'd both fit. I love the Newcomb, but the Hammett offers unexplored possibilities. With the concept of #PushingBoundaries2020 in place, I took a deep breath and asked my family for ideas on how to safely store the Newcomb, for a year at least. Shawn came up with the idea of disassembling it and hanging it from the ceiling in the wood shop. We picked up the bicycle hooks on Tuesday when we were in Mountain Home, and took the loom apart and hung it in storage on Saturday.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Newcomb disassembled and safely<br />in storage in the wood working shop.</td></tr>
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I wasn't sure when we would have time to go take apart the Hammett and move it to my shop, but first thing on Sunday morning, both Shawn and Lena said, "We're going to get your loom, you're lost without a big loom." I wasn't pouting, I know I wasn't, but they were right, there was a hole in my shop, and in my heart. So right after morning chores we went over to my dad's shop and took apart the Hammett. It disassembled much easier than I thought it would. My mom came out to watch the proceedings. In only about an hour, the loom was labeled and loaded into the back of Shawn's little truck. It only took a little more than an hour to unload it and reassemble it in my shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjNu-ucC02Tl7guMQ6H881NHr8tNjNmp0a2QpmNXH4QAD8y73XPe8SYFZIlm-QfAbp999tKS8E30N7sC6JbeKhRuuYHwtJ4-9bAYpqFYN5MDWd2Sr1Q1Jr8hWoRYWeB0nfU2hLA/s1600/20191221_160941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjNu-ucC02Tl7guMQ6H881NHr8tNjNmp0a2QpmNXH4QAD8y73XPe8SYFZIlm-QfAbp999tKS8E30N7sC6JbeKhRuuYHwtJ4-9bAYpqFYN5MDWd2Sr1Q1Jr8hWoRYWeB0nfU2hLA/s400/20191221_160941.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hammett in my dad's shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Hammett in it's new home in my workshop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tying up the treadles, still need to balance them.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">I decided to start small, with a 26" reed and only 150 threads. I'm winding<br />a 12 yard warp to start.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new loom is Daxie approved.</td></tr>
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I chose to put on the short 26" reed and I'm only winding a 12 yard warp. With time off from work and school for the holidays, I'm looking forward to having it up and weaving by the new year. The are lots of possibilities here, and I'm sure some frustrations. But I'm excited to see what this loom, my critters fibers and my hands can produce on this loom. And I wouldn't have made the change without #PushingBoundaries2020.<br />
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-78917238140546947352019-12-22T07:39:00.000-06:002019-12-22T07:39:16.053-06:00Catching up to myself - Squirrel!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />I woke up this morning at 4:30 ready to write this blog post. It's a fairly normal time for me to get up, I allow myself to get out of bed anytime after 4 a.m., and it's the best time for me to do my school work. This was going to be a post about goals, and objectives, and pushing boundaries to get to where you want to be... when I get to it. But it's already Squirrel! kind of day.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDPnZ08K-OU1SHmtDl1we2vj4x1h-xaVCuoYND_owoSNrRgID2HqEBzT3GNfMdpS5qHp3zE5Bdy23_nW5_bDAWq1ilsf04Q15nbhQo82a8_jVjsmvfjvdeanC7zygG586rWkNkQ/s1600/IMG_6225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDPnZ08K-OU1SHmtDl1we2vj4x1h-xaVCuoYND_owoSNrRgID2HqEBzT3GNfMdpS5qHp3zE5Bdy23_nW5_bDAWq1ilsf04Q15nbhQo82a8_jVjsmvfjvdeanC7zygG586rWkNkQ/s400/IMG_6225.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Squirrel - Needle felted from Demi's wool. Pictured in the Ozark Folk<br />Center State Park Craft Village, Feb. 13, 2014</td></tr>
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Like I said, I woke up with this idea. I went to the kitchen to get my morning coffee. We've just started remodeling the kitchen. When we bought this house in 2009, the interior had just been updated with new wallpaper and paint and some new flooring (all except the bathroom, which was and still is pretty reprehensible, though I did paint it this summer!). The wall paper in the kitchen and living room is striped dark blue, gold and maroon. Not bad, but not my colors. And they put popcorn paint on the ceiling in the kitchen. Just try to clean that! So, as we just bought a new gas stove and a dishwasher (never been one in this house), and they will be delivered January 16, we need to make some changes to the kitchen. I started stripping wallpaper this week. On my way to get coffee (remember that?) I decided to start scraping the popcorn off the ceiling. I did go get a drop cloth, and scraped a decent 2-foot by 4-foot swatch clean before I got off the step-stool and made my way to the coffee pot. I cleaned up the mess while I waited for coffee to brew. Squirrel!</div>
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Coffee in hand, I sat down at the computer to write this post. I wanted to pull some pictures of my looms that I took yesterday, the experience on which I am basing this post. Apparently, neither my OneDrive or Google Drive are backing up my phone pictures right now. But, they are going into Google Photo. But I can't get Blogger to pull from Google Photo. Don't I remember that Google photo is going away at some point? Got to go look that up. Stop that Squirrel!</div>
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There were lots of picture of our sheep in my Google photos. I've been filing the recent ones into albums on my phone, but I don't seem to be able to access those albums from other devices. So, as one of my goals for this year is to get the registrations done on all our sheep (bad shepherd for letting those get behind!) I started creating a Google photo album with all my Jacob Sheep photos. I'm back to 2014, have 1,376 photos in the album and have enjoyed a trip down memory lane. Wow, we've done a lot of improvements on this farm! But how can I get Blogger to access Google photos? Squirrel!</div>
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So, now it's 7:22, the sheep are starting to get vocal about not being fed yet, and I still haven't started this blog post. So, working on goals, objective, and accountability, here is a rundown before I go do chores.</div>
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I like doing slogans, tag-lines, or whatever you want to call them for a year. 2019 was Focus & Finish, you can see that I need that one, and it has been amazingly powerful. I have nine blog posts drafted to cover my highlights for 2019 (hope I can find where I stored that draft). </div>
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My tag-line for 2020 is #PushingBoundaries2020. Yeah, life is all hashtags now. Why pushing boundaries? Well, when I finish morning chores, and figure out how to get my loom pictures over here, I'll explain that one. Hope to see you tomorrow.</div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-64365737237239667462019-10-29T05:23:00.004-06:002019-10-29T05:28:28.542-06:00And the Seasons, They Go 'Round-an-'Round...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddha-cat keeps my neck warm these<br />
frosty mornings</td></tr>
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Fall Greetings from Havencroft Farm<br />
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We are modern homesteaders, small holders, shepherds, and crafts people. We pay our electric bill, use the internet, drive our cars to our jobs, and store food in our refrigerator. But, we are still tied to the seasons of the Earth. </div>
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It's fall now, and we've had a few frosts. The garden is tucked in for the winter and the green tomatoes are sitting on the counter ripening for a few last summer-type dinners. The cats are looking for laps.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-6lJo4IqDnDjtANWNdMAtnnu2YQwKZqCYfCev00Gq1dPM8mo7Rzy1A8m3nnNxeLgYSDyPqCYyHcyQ7DWtVrZokPQDu7nnFj762R2wOlpAY8gMb_fTLv4Ur41Rx1gUF5Co0KC-w/s1600/20191006_090640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-6lJo4IqDnDjtANWNdMAtnnu2YQwKZqCYfCev00Gq1dPM8mo7Rzy1A8m3nnNxeLgYSDyPqCYyHcyQ7DWtVrZokPQDu7nnFj762R2wOlpAY8gMb_fTLv4Ur41Rx1gUF5Co0KC-w/s400/20191006_090640.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Richwoods Nutmeg, our Alpine dairy <br />
goat buck knows he's beautiful.<br />
Fall is goat and sheep breeding season.<br />
Having seasonal polyestrous animals<br />
helps cement the cycle of the year.</td></tr>
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It's sheep and goat breeding time. I breed the dairy goats first, so we have a supply of milk in case we have any bottle baby lambs or angora goat kids. Knock on wood, we won't, but best to be safe. At this point, the dairy goats are all confirmed bred and the breeding sheep are in with the rams. I got a new angora buck goat kid this year, Whisper Hills Oberon. He may or may not be ready to work, but he lives with the girls, and if they figure it out it's a bonus. Kid mohair is my favorite fiber.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibbs dog prefers to hang out in the<br />
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I spin and weave year-around, but I really seem to tuck into it in the fall. That's when I pull out my dyepots and make all the pretty colors for my yarns. We have our two annual shows in September and December, so much of my production schedule is geared around those.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad and my grandbaby Zo.</td></tr>
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Now that we have a grandbaby in the family, it's another cue of the flow of life and the circle of time. I am luck to have both my parents and they dote on little Zo, who will not be little for long. Luckily human babies don't grow as fast as the sheep and goat kids!<br />
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In addition to farming, shepherding, spinning, weaving, and working full time, I am in the process of finishing out my bachelor's degree. I hope to graduate in May of 2020. One of the lesson I've learned is to be ok with my own schedule and my own cycle. My early 20's was my time to experience and explore, now is my time to put it all together into a formal credential. So, while I do seem to write more here in the winter (maybe it's because I'm inside more, or not at work quite as many hours!) it may be a while before I post regularly. In the meantime, if you've found our Havencroft Farm through this blog and are interested in the happenings here in the rural Ozarks, take a look at our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/havencroftfarm/?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">Havencroft Farrm Facebook </a>page. If you're looking for brooms or shawls or our other products, try our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HavencroftFarm" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm Etsy Store</a>.</div>
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And, if you're just interested in a glimpse of our homesteading journey, scroll back through the archives here. Every once in a while I enjoy going back through this blog and remembering seasons past and the joy of the journey to today. Happy Fall 2019!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvest moon over the barn & good<br />
brown dirt resting for the 2020 garden.</td></tr>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8671875 -92.1606613999999819.9937080000000016 -133.46925789999997 61.740667 -50.852064899999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-12215497430728924502019-03-31T07:09:00.002-06:002019-03-31T07:09:43.181-06:00Dryer Balls - or gnome bait?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This batch of dryer balls is made from HCF Kachina's fleece.</td></tr>
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Off and on over many years, my family has made wool felt balls. When the kids were little, they were toys (medieval nerf balls we called'm). Then we made them for kitties with catnip centers and for dogs to try to teach them to play that game called "fetch." Lena's Gibbs dog loves to fetch the harder ones that bounce.</div>
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A couple years ago I read an article in <i><a href="http://www.raisingjane.org/" target="_blank">Mary Jane's Farm</a></i> magazine about using wool felt balls as dryer balls. You just pop a few of the wool felt balls that we always have around the house into the dryer and they cut down on the time it takes to dry clothes and take the static out. We tried it, and they do work that way. We also found they have a far more important function in the dryer.</div>
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Dryer gnomes love felt balls! They will happily trade a felt ball for one, or even two of your socks that they have been hording. And if you give them dryer balls, they will quit taking your favorite wash cloths. They sometimes even trade an especially nice dryer ball for one of my tie-dyed tea towels that they do so love to steal.</div>
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I have no idea where they take them, any more than I have any idea where missing pens go. But I do think the parallel universe must be a pretty, fun place. And I bet dryer gnomes never have cold feet.</div>
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All the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/101361636/natural-jacob-sheep-wool-felt-balls?ref=shop_home_active_36&frs=1" target="_blank">dryer balls</a> I make now are from our sheep's fleeces. This latest batch is from Kachina's wool. Some of them come out firm like a tennis ball, others are more squishy. We make them in the natural colors of our jacob sheep's wool. They are 100% Jacob Sheep wool. No fillers or inserts.</div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8671875 -92.1606613999999819.9931744999999985 -133.46925539999998 61.741200500000005 -50.852067399999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-34789829012675936352019-02-18T09:12:00.001-06:002019-02-18T09:16:09.501-06:00How to Finish Your Triloom Woven Shawl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The last weaving pass is run, the center yarn is clipped and your shawl is done! Yippee!</div>
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Oh yeah, the weaving is done, now there's the finishing. </div>
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How do you go from that triangle shaped weaving on the wall to the beautiful, drapey, shawl to wrap around your shoulders?</div>
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Follow along on the pictures below, and if you have any questions, you can contact me via messenger from our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/commonthreadsfiberarts/" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm Homestead Facebook page</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt9i6s-axssi8B_kLPFytyFad3GpDY7rqgoQPBZrbwU-VSOEopqgkyUrM-DhfbBKaktjUzPx59G5ha5fMz-MLUp6Pv355QI51nA2nBxOKMhP33MuTV9EfJUKdJ3xrag_oaTwf9g/s1600/20190217_071502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt9i6s-axssi8B_kLPFytyFad3GpDY7rqgoQPBZrbwU-VSOEopqgkyUrM-DhfbBKaktjUzPx59G5ha5fMz-MLUp6Pv355QI51nA2nBxOKMhP33MuTV9EfJUKdJ3xrag_oaTwf9g/s400/20190217_071502.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weaving is done! This is a twill/tabby combo pattern done with 100% Havencroft Farm grown Jacob sheep wool (<a href="http://www.patchworkfibers.com/" target="_blank">Patchwork Cowboy </a>and Havencroft Lauren's fleeces) processed into yarn at <a href="https://www.yampavalleyfiberworks.com/" target="_blank">Yampa Valley Fiberworks</a> and hand-dyed by me.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty as it looks from a distance, there are still some spacing issues that need fixing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spend time lining up yarns with your trusty weaving comb. (Not to recommend Walmart, but this is the <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Detangle-Metal-Lift-Hair-Pick-Piks-Comb-Wig-Braid-Hair-Afro-Man-Tease-Pocket-Sz/133005348" target="_blank">comb</a> I use.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC3eNr3h4utHkC-y1RrJc57RwWTGhzsVXrBKARs2sOKSNxhMxII2iuaPmVP-7EUOmW6mSEZsxHg3iXIXPDPdw1Uz_x8BZ32Idu2bImv1IloHwXbpC8PB8YIKdO80z7ZZJHZVt9A/s1600/20190217_073339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC3eNr3h4utHkC-y1RrJc57RwWTGhzsVXrBKARs2sOKSNxhMxII2iuaPmVP-7EUOmW6mSEZsxHg3iXIXPDPdw1Uz_x8BZ32Idu2bImv1IloHwXbpC8PB8YIKdO80z7ZZJHZVt9A/s400/20190217_073339.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once your weaving is all evened-up to your liking, crochet off the top. This shawl is not fringed, so the color changes are along the top. I'll weave those in later. The chain I use to take a shawl off the loom is; pull the corner loop of the shawl onto your hook; pull a loop of your finishing color through that loop; pull the next shawl loop off the nail and through the loop on the hook; pull another loop of finishing yarn through that loop; and all the way across, shawl loop, yarn loop. You should only ever have one loop on your hook. You can see the pattern in the picture above. At the end of the top edge of the shawl, pull up your last loop, cut the thread in the middle and pull it back through, then knot the starting thread for the shawl and the ending thread of the finishing yarn together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top edge is crocheted off the loom. Now to lift the bottom two edges.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUosLv3wesd0udY-OZqWvPVl8iDc1MNMExmQhhYl_Xc5EL2RppfZRbtu0rlSywdNlGUA5nGlfpcqIGfT5uTy2_v3C9iF58R3dcbFwemlVY7p_-oa4jJRsbTVXgr3b61xYbl_LGFQ/s1600/20190217_075018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUosLv3wesd0udY-OZqWvPVl8iDc1MNMExmQhhYl_Xc5EL2RppfZRbtu0rlSywdNlGUA5nGlfpcqIGfT5uTy2_v3C9iF58R3dcbFwemlVY7p_-oa4jJRsbTVXgr3b61xYbl_LGFQ/s400/20190217_075018.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just gently lift the yarn off the pegs, or nails, starting at the bottom corner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8kKY02oio8mfwB6qF-b6x9FcpKoviTrhkbbtVymC6aE0_AS7T9kagE1R4j-3IcHPdFVy0t7FPzqqGiLN0xsWy24COU15GKIZdYeF2OPijL9xDsRUFLbapuIQ7e9vlIz9ooS3uQ/s1600/20190217_075140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8kKY02oio8mfwB6qF-b6x9FcpKoviTrhkbbtVymC6aE0_AS7T9kagE1R4j-3IcHPdFVy0t7FPzqqGiLN0xsWy24COU15GKIZdYeF2OPijL9xDsRUFLbapuIQ7e9vlIz9ooS3uQ/s400/20190217_075140.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shawl is now attached to the loom only at the top two corners. This is where you can see floats or any other issues that may need to be fixed by stitching them in. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocBL8g-iuQetT7xKh-eYrBhgj2fuev74wnNLGTya4vkidIwq8FGvJT5PE1O-ZZjo141RQw21JncWgHbdWrv-3nUcvRGEiTf2Jm_C7oMexonPxvh8Rmw020fzjbK6r16KfnxU-PA/s1600/20190217_080802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocBL8g-iuQetT7xKh-eYrBhgj2fuev74wnNLGTya4vkidIwq8FGvJT5PE1O-ZZjo141RQw21JncWgHbdWrv-3nUcvRGEiTf2Jm_C7oMexonPxvh8Rmw020fzjbK6r16KfnxU-PA/s400/20190217_080802.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take off the finished shawl, hang up your loom and start the next shawl. I always put the next shawl on the loom right after I pull the shawl I'm finishing off. I've planned it while weaving the last one, and I'm eager to get started on it, plus I hate seeing a naked loom!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQcvAoQREoTH60wiAb3VqtfAf6aml2IVkznR2arlgpLHmJovB0fKjc_urvsXdMKnIeDoNKjfGOkpK1O6-n_Nhv0s9skvwOELQGzrGyY45-jEhO4OSFLfx0r-uj8UteEaRFKMYtw/s1600/20190217_100254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQcvAoQREoTH60wiAb3VqtfAf6aml2IVkznR2arlgpLHmJovB0fKjc_urvsXdMKnIeDoNKjfGOkpK1O6-n_Nhv0s9skvwOELQGzrGyY45-jEhO4OSFLfx0r-uj8UteEaRFKMYtw/s400/20190217_100254.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I weave in all the color join ends with a crochet hook. Some people use a yarn needle. What ever works for you. I take out the knot that I used to join the colors (why I knot the joins loosly), make sure the yarns are crossed over so there are no awkward holes at the top of the shawl, and tuck the ends in, weaving them down their own color run.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some shawls I crochet a decorative border, and strenghthener on the top, other shawls don't seem to need it. This one needed a bit of straightening on the top edge, which is provided by the crochet border.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once you are happy with your finishing on the shawl, it's time to wash it. This "wet-finishes" the shawl, allows the yarns to bloom and meld together and sets it as one garment, instead of a lot of woven yarn. It also assures me that the piece does not have any flaws that I missed in the planning or weaving. Hand wash, gently in cool water with wool safe soap. I do the same - lather, rinse, repeat that I do to wash most things. Make sure you fill the basin first and dissolve the soap before adding your garment. Take the garment out to drain while you rinse the basin and prepare the next water bath.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4c9kDNXcV4H_Em9W8UdB6IQPXHRVgbzgySUWl9SPLwKnLnuwHbHE-uNgxff0Jv5EOUsOqIwgtR1W_MzWj1SKeiFH2pmgIv3QihUOb_TrWCBc8A9PCYSaB7dfBOfCHBypFe9hQeA/s1600/20190217_120422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4c9kDNXcV4H_Em9W8UdB6IQPXHRVgbzgySUWl9SPLwKnLnuwHbHE-uNgxff0Jv5EOUsOqIwgtR1W_MzWj1SKeiFH2pmgIv3QihUOb_TrWCBc8A9PCYSaB7dfBOfCHBypFe9hQeA/s400/20190217_120422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After washing and rinsing, roll your shawl up in a towel and gently squeeze out the excess water. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lay your shawl flat and shape it how you want it to dry. I put a king sized sheet over a few towels on our queen sized bed to block my shawls. It's a big enough space, and the door is closed to our bedroom, so it is a cat-free zone, too.<br />
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Give it a bit to dry and then wear your beautiful new shawl. This particular shawl is for a friend, if you want to see a picture of her wearing it (give me a few days to get it delivered!) visit our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/commonthreadsfiberarts/" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm</a> Homestead Facebook page.</div>
Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-89568912567616666872019-02-13T20:05:00.001-06:002019-02-14T09:11:27.308-06:00What to keep in your kidding or lambing kit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havencroft Kachina had these adorable twin ewes by Havencroft Neptune. The new barn gives us a great set up for jug pens to give mom and babies a safe place to bond .</td></tr>
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It's the beginning of lambing and kidding time here in the Ozarks on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/commonthreadsfiberarts/" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm</a>. That means it's time to keep the "midwifery" kit hanging by the door so we're ready to help when needed.<br />
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I've been a shepherd since 1979. I learned from an old-time shepherd, Finley Nelson, and from my dad's stories of having goats when he was a kid. So, I do things the old fashioned way. I am happy to learn about new ways, but I still think simple is good.<br />
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Our lambing kit is simple. It starts with towels to help mama dry off babies. Most ewes or does have twins, so if we can help her by drying off one while she goes about the business of having the second, that's good. If it's cold, getting the babies dry quickly will help them stay warm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scissors, iodine, towels and clean straw are staples for planning on Havencroft Farm. </td></tr>
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The next thing that's in the kit is a sprayer bottle of iodine for spraying the lamb's umbilical cord. It's vitally important. We always iodine babies. Sometimes we dip navels, but for the last few years we've been drenching them well with the sprayer.<br />
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We also keep scissors in the bag, just in case we need to trim umbilicals that are dragging the ground, or trim wool away from udders on sheep that haven't been sheared yet. The next thing that is vital is making sure that babies nurse very soon after being born. They need the protection of the first milk, colostrum, to protect them from bacteria and to get their gut working. We check the mama's udder, making sure the colostrum is flowing freely even if we weren't there for the birth. We also check to make sure babies have full tummies and warm, moist mouths.<br />
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If the babies are too weak to nurse, or if there is any other reason they can't get colostrum within an hour of being born, we thaw out some frozen colostrum from last year, or earlier in the year and use a bottle or dose syringe to get it down them. We always freeze excess colostrum from our dairy goats in two ounce bags for just this purpose. Colostrum and soaking navels in iodine are considered absolutely necessary on our farm.<br />
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Something else I try to keep in the kit are recycled shopping bags. They are handy for disposing of after birth. We keep that cleaned up because we do have coyotes, raccoons and other predators that we don't want to invite with the smell of new birth.<br />
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We also make sure we have clean, dry bedding available. Some of our ewes choose not to use it, but we try.<br />
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Finally, we keep molasses in the kit. We mix about 2 tablespoons (or glugs) in a bowl of warm water to offer to every new mom after giving birth. Most of them drink it down. It gives them water, sugar for energy and minerals like iron to help replace what they've lost.<br />
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It's not much, we keep it simple. We also do regular night time barn checks during kidding and lambing season. The whole flock gets used to the flashlight as the silly humans wander through their sleeping place two or three times a night. We are respectful of their sleep and try not to shine the light hard on any ewe or doe unless something looks unusual.</div>
Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8671875 -92.1606613999999819.9930379999999985 -133.46925539999998 61.741337 -50.852067399999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-63688219454316874922019-02-03T17:25:00.003-06:002019-02-03T17:25:40.284-06:00Shearing Time Begins with Magic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havencroft Magic, daughter of Havencroft Luke and <br />Havencroft Hocus Pocus is due to lamb February 11. <br />She's the first ewe sheared for the 2019 season.<br /></td></tr>
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<br />We started shearing today here on Havencroft Farm.<br />
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We start shearing this time of year because it is much better for the ewes to be sheared a week or two before lambing.<br />
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We breed our ewes to lamb this time of year for several reason, but mostly because, even though our jacob sheep are very parasite resistant, we help them with that in all ways possible. We want our lambs growing big and healthy and strong before we reach the time of year with above 60-degree nights. That's when the barber pole worms and other parasites flourish. If the young ones have some good growth on them, they are able to resist the parasites.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havencroft Molly<br />Molly is Magic's cousin. Her mum Higgldy-Piggldy is sister to Hocus-Pocus.<br />Molly and Magic are also sisters on the paternal side. They are best friends,<br />and now that they are sheared, they look a lot alike. Luckily, Magic has a<br />dot on her nose and Molly doesn't. Now that she's sheared, it looks like<br />Molly has some freckles, too.</td></tr>
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We breed to lamb in February and March, so, we shear in February and March.We do all the shearing ourselves, by hand. We also have busy work schedules, so we shear two to four a weekend. This time of year especially, we shear them in pairs, usually Mother-daughter or sisters or close friends. That way the newly sheared sheep can cuddle together in the shelter at night and keep each other warm.<br />
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Among the reasons to shear before lambing are:<br />
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<li>There is a natural break that occurs in the fleece due to the hormones when a ewe lambs. If you don't shear around this time, you will end up with a break in your wool, a problem when you spin it.</li>
<li>When the ewes are sheared before lambing, it is easier for the lambs to locate the udder for that all important first drink of colostrum.</li>
<li>If the ewe is sheared, she'll know when it is cold or wet, and go into the shelter. Her lambs will follow her.</li>
<li>If the ewe is sheared, she can cuddle and share body heat with her lambs. If she is still wrapped up in a full wool fleece, all the heat stays inside. Her lambs can freeze if they can't share her body heat.</li>
<li>We leave tails on, and it is easier to see udder development and lambing signs on a sheared ewe.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNu_3pkDIusf_kTmAVQxUEtyW67uMa5tqZHY9W58FEnmwXfNRRR1pQusk46BESUgwEdU7G0PzkI2ACdLtp0_KQdVSnlcc4eZ5W-EKw8lyDsMrJCNHanf1mbUlLFuFIL-1jXdMKQ/s1600/Magicrear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNu_3pkDIusf_kTmAVQxUEtyW67uMa5tqZHY9W58FEnmwXfNRRR1pQusk46BESUgwEdU7G0PzkI2ACdLtp0_KQdVSnlcc4eZ5W-EKw8lyDsMrJCNHanf1mbUlLFuFIL-1jXdMKQ/s400/Magicrear.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My daughter Lena and I do all the shearing ourselves, <br />by hand, on a stand. It's what works well for us <br />and gives us time with our sheep. It gives me <br />good spinning and weaving fleeces. </td></tr>
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<br />We have 12 bred ewes this year, so even at only two a weekend, we'll get through them by mid-March. The other 13 sheep will get sheared around and after the ewes. The old sheep don't get sheared until the nights are staying warm. The angora goats get sheared in April and October and the three alpacas get sheared in May.<br />
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So if you're looking for me on the weekend from now until May, and it's not raining, and I'm not in the garden, I'll be out back shearing.<br />
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-21456046637742274562019-01-30T08:56:00.001-06:002019-01-30T08:58:31.877-06:00The Story of Story Scarves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I started making story scarves several years ago. I met the delightful, energetic, flamboyant Ezra Phillips at an Interpreter workshop. I always spin yarn and crochet at workshop. Ezra was fascinated. I showed him how to spin. We had fun and at the end of the week, he said, "I want you to make me a scarf with EVERY COLOR!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was intrigued by the challenge. It sat in the back of my mind. I saw Ezra a few months later at a training. "Do you have my scarf done?" He asked. "It's starting to get cold!"</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I went home that day and dipped into my yarn stash. As a weaver and crocheter, I often have a bit of a skein of yarn left when I finish weaving a shawl or making a hat or...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I came up with the idea of using these little bits of yarn, some only 10 yards long, others hundreds of yards, to make a l-o-n-g, multicolor, scrappy scarf for Ezra.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I crocheted it as we traveled while Shawn drove. As we went north, through corn fields and farmland, I though about the stories of the yarns I was working into this scarf. Some were handspun from our critters fleeces. Some were hand-me-overs from friends who were destashing. Some were bright novelty yarns from gypsy-style shawls I wove. The stories of the yarns wove themselves into the story of our trip. And the concept of story scarves was born. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ezra loved his scarf as much as I loved creating it. He shared pictures of where he traveled in that scarf. His stories added themselves to the fiber of the first story scarf. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was a concept that found its home in my heart. Every time I finish a big project, the little bits of left over yarn go into my project bag. That bag travels with me everywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I crochet story scarves at conferences, in hospital waiting rooms, on the plane, and in the passenger seat of the car. I've given them to nurses who went out of their way to care for family members. I've given them to friends who expressed an interest in the project. I've donated them to auctions for scholarships and causes. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My word for 2019 is "Focus" (to me that means "be present where I am and work on the thing that is in front of me at the moment") and to that end, I am focusing story scarves on a cause. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Crafts people across the US are aging. It's hard to make a living with your hands. It's hard to find the time to focus in a craft enough to achieve a mastery of that craft. We have craft masters in more than 20 crafts at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OzarkFolkCenterCraftVillage/" target="_blank">Ozark Folk Center</a> State Park. This year I am focusing on growing our exsisting apprentice program into one that will help young people connect with our craft masters, learn their skills and perpetuate our Ozark tradition of craftsmanship. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To that end, I'm donating 50% of the sales price of each story scarf to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/COOHOzarkFolkCenter/" target="_blank">Committee of One Hundred for the Ozark Folk Center</a>. Their craft scholarships have helped create many of the master craft artisans in our park over the last 45 years. We are going to bring that tradition to a new generation. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This story scarf in the picture, crocheted on the plane to Winter Market in Las Vegas, and any others I create this year will be available in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/679121737/story-scarf-on-a-jet-plane-westward" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm etsy store</a>, along with its story. The donation to the Committee will be in the scarf buyers name.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFHIP3khXNePZcHT71QJ3BPQV4oaWEke_VklkFvzFovdBhBUn0rUYyCFi520WZmuR0tQDk72a8sDiwkjshRq31-1ApPnyCbO-j9pAEmEqxzZlHw3Fx0eDfHhvD8gPr302zP-8rA/s1600/20190128_062641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFHIP3khXNePZcHT71QJ3BPQV4oaWEke_VklkFvzFovdBhBUn0rUYyCFi520WZmuR0tQDk72a8sDiwkjshRq31-1ApPnyCbO-j9pAEmEqxzZlHw3Fx0eDfHhvD8gPr302zP-8rA/s400/20190128_062641.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The Story of this Scarf</div>
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This story scarf was crocheted on the plane to Las Vegas in January of 2019. We were headed out on a buying trip to Las Vegas Winter Market. </div>
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The base yarn in this scarf is the center handspun gray, it is from Cowslip's wool. She is currently our eldest Jacob Sheep ewe. She was born in February of 2003. She is quite the pet and comes out of the retired sheep yard every morning and evening to get her own special grain mix.</div>
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The next yarn is a bright red wool. I dyed it to make a hat for an runner friend. I never could get the hat right, and the yarn has been used in several projects. I ought to get back to that. Maybe I'll try some alpaca yarn this time.</div>
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The heathered green yarn is from a dear friend who was destashing her very delicious yarns. I let most of the bag go to our Sit & Stitch friends, and to the project basket for the Fiber Arts shop at the Ozark Folk Center, but I liked the feel of this one, and wanted a chance to work with it.</div>
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The fall multi colored cotton is from a shawl I wove, as is the blue/green/black thick-thin, the shiny ribbon, and the pale lavendar fuzzy. And there's a light gray alpaca in the mix that Lena used in knitting a pair of socks.</div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-73437996687868055392019-01-20T11:34:00.001-06:002019-01-20T11:45:42.149-06:00Sheep Farming - A Labor of Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am a shepherd.<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB8z3LMiqR3ZFJCiXJ5vUREn7Sk2wsqMpEqnn8OHSG9f764jh7DEK1sm5uTs9Yw2DVE6KjtJQcQVGztVkWB90Zdm_tILDpyEPsgkJOmcFhF2H4cs-1vwQgJb8ySqQJz5D-D3U4A/s1600/20180812_074708_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB8z3LMiqR3ZFJCiXJ5vUREn7Sk2wsqMpEqnn8OHSG9f764jh7DEK1sm5uTs9Yw2DVE6KjtJQcQVGztVkWB90Zdm_tILDpyEPsgkJOmcFhF2H4cs-1vwQgJb8ySqQJz5D-D3U4A/s400/20180812_074708_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havencroft Higgledy-Piggledy (Higgs) grows fleeces for<br />
some of my best wild rugs, has awesome lambs, and loves<br />
to get scratched under her wool. She wags her tail when<br />
you get the right spot, just like a dog. She passes that <br />
unique trait on to her children.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My heart, my soul and my passion are -<br />
<ul>
<li>the land that supports my sheep and goats; </li>
<li>the healthy flocks that greet me every time I look out the window or step outside; </li>
<li>the milk, wool, mohair, alpaca, llama and dog fiber they provide for my fiber arts; </li>
<li>the spinning, weaving, felting and crochet that I do with the fleeces from my animals; </li>
<li>the cheese that I make from the goat's milk; </li>
<li>the connections I make with the people who buy the things I craft; </li>
<li>and the relationships that those folks build with our animals and land.</li>
</ul>
<div>
It's a lot of hard work, and it is truly a labor of love.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOeicWREblvSC8UhDvqvN7PcGVsLQVjfzzOCFMWSO8kBmdDfRfgglggDt-XfhHFzZ-9eh-74RXOxPvD21DMn5ncfLGgNMvfSAnL8J_4BZjPt3c2cfCTvB1ORrH_xoizSEVP_RoQ/s1600/20180331_192704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOeicWREblvSC8UhDvqvN7PcGVsLQVjfzzOCFMWSO8kBmdDfRfgglggDt-XfhHFzZ-9eh-74RXOxPvD21DMn5ncfLGgNMvfSAnL8J_4BZjPt3c2cfCTvB1ORrH_xoizSEVP_RoQ/s400/20180331_192704.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HF Hocus Pocus is mildly annoyed at her son for climbing on her.<br />
HF Finesse ("Nessie" - Thyme's last lamb and Canoe Lake Sonic Boom's first <br />
on our land), is on the right is with her two 2018 ram lambs. We retired her<br />
with those two boys. She's only nine, but she had trouble lambing.<br />
Our retired sheep, now six of them, ranging in age from 9 to 16,<br />
live in a big paddock with trees and a deep bedded shelter <br />
on the west side of our land.</td></tr>
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I frequently get asked if I make a living farming. I have learned to school my expression and not laugh maniacally at the question. There was a time when I thought I could live sustainable as a farmer, and there are people who do. I don't. As my tax preparer says, "You have a hobby farm." It's a lot of hard work for a "hobby". It is a labor of love.</div>
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<div>
So, it's tax time again and as I was figuring things up, I thought I'd share some numbers. Every farm is different and costs vary every year. The weather is also a big factor. Some years we can graze seven months. Some years we feed hay all year.</div>
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These numbers aren't meant to prove anything. They are just some business numbers from <a href="http://www.havencroftfarm.com/" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm</a> in the Arkansas Ozarks.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Like many Americans, we have a mortgage, utilities, gas, groceries, medical bills and insurance. We are lucky enough to have jobs to pay for all of that. Our jobs and help from our folks cover infrastructure like roofs, fencing, and barns; and equipment upgrades like my new <a href="https://www.spinolution.com/" target="_blank">Spinolution Firefly</a>, an electric production spinning wheel that allows me to keep spinning the yarns I love as my body ages.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzHZpBny_RmAexUeH-sup16n8dlkMyIUfpxVTzo9edeqfWlT0QqQ6KQn53lDtOnnO3XTkXj3qsTMJyk845xBEcWzaYj6I0lPQh8LKxnRLrdGSAxlljo9aZReh8iZx-Jq6jjzy6g/s1600/20181117_152149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzHZpBny_RmAexUeH-sup16n8dlkMyIUfpxVTzo9edeqfWlT0QqQ6KQn53lDtOnnO3XTkXj3qsTMJyk845xBEcWzaYj6I0lPQh8LKxnRLrdGSAxlljo9aZReh8iZx-Jq6jjzy6g/s400/20181117_152149.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture of the sheep grazing out front fall of 2018. <br />
Left to right are HF Judith, HF Hester, HF Ipswich (Dapper Dan's last daughter), <br />
HF Magic, HF Nexxus, and HF Natalie.</td></tr>
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<br />
Our flocks of 25 adult Jacob Sheep, 4 angora goats, 3 alpacas, and five dairy goats mostly pay for their own food, supplements and medical bills.</div>
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This last year, expenses were</div>
<div>
Hay - (thanks for wonderful friends in a very weird growing year), $1,350</div>
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Grain - $4,680</div>
<div>
Supplements - salt blocks, kelp, selenium - $800</div>
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Vet - (supplies like wormers and visits - and we have an awesome vet. Thanks Doc Nixon!) - $900</div>
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Total expenses - $7,730</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv4WGM9K70ZTNFFvLn14Hryvb_DwWdoQTK6onwe-r36d1GqE4OFPJu45a5opkANgd7UzE-XP_7lXdNj5WIA2jO075kjPEu-xgqWcRp0wBUAObGgLkbkcItgUCXk_iE3XAWsZwwg/s1600/20190106_070750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv4WGM9K70ZTNFFvLn14Hryvb_DwWdoQTK6onwe-r36d1GqE4OFPJu45a5opkANgd7UzE-XP_7lXdNj5WIA2jO075kjPEu-xgqWcRp0wBUAObGgLkbkcItgUCXk_iE3XAWsZwwg/s400/20190106_070750.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="clear: both; font-size: medium;">
This year my goal is to weave all my</div>
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shawls from yarns spun out of </div>
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fleece grown on our </div>
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Havencroft Farm by our beloved</div>
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sheep, goats, and alpaca.</div>
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That's part of the reason I've </div>
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enjoyed dyeing so much this winter.</div>
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<div>
Income from sales of products I make by hand from milk and fleeces from our animals -</div>
<div>
Goat's milk - $384 (family drinks most of it, or eats the cheese I make from the milk, this number is just direct sales to customers.)</div>
<div>
Sales from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HavencroftFarm" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm etsy store</a>, $1,200 (I hope to build that back up this coming year)</div>
<div>
Sales of Fleecyful rugs, Havencroft Homestead Handspun yarns, and handwoven shawls - $4,300</div>
<div>
Sales of ram lambs and extra ewe lambs - $1,500</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Total income - $7,384</div>
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<div>
So, the cost to our homestead budget of having the sheep and goats that I love so much is $346, this past year.</div>
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They're worth it, to me, and I hope to those of you who love the things you treasure from the fleeces they grow. Its truly a labor of love.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk0v7RZFjZ8YPvIqQu9RmpILpJxU6xkZUvl88SFGfg4j8SCvSXrdDojbxLwHJUS8aueMYpwJTlt-qqt3tKbqW_QcbgB3U31CcQo0yIDHZ4I3LIpG6gEWTh5cDcZD_00pFbSyLaA/s1600/20181231_053158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk0v7RZFjZ8YPvIqQu9RmpILpJxU6xkZUvl88SFGfg4j8SCvSXrdDojbxLwHJUS8aueMYpwJTlt-qqt3tKbqW_QcbgB3U31CcQo0yIDHZ4I3LIpG6gEWTh5cDcZD_00pFbSyLaA/s400/20181231_053158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love to spin yarn from the fleeces of my sheep, and to be able to watch them<br />
playing out the window as I spin. I love how the yarn seems to have the<br />
characteristics of the sheep or goat who is growing it, sometimes sweet and<br />
soft, sometimes michevous, sometimes elegant. This yarn is <br />
HF Luna's (Moose Mountain Jacob x HF Imbri)<br />
spun as a whole fleece, right from the pillowcase we put the fleece in after<br />
shearing. Luna started out shy, but she has grown to be one of our boss ewes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDFB1GN6H5hoiHgnNgXP68fzpiK3O0HTdKR2KOk0kRUoR1ly-XSWnrfWzcx58VfSmXrsdAjbNOuAuJB7Wm-ek1_2HSfSSs_4A_NCkuiQVKDY0hDtn2Tg4duJXlkmpfDG5JVa-GQ/s1600/20181201_102100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDFB1GN6H5hoiHgnNgXP68fzpiK3O0HTdKR2KOk0kRUoR1ly-XSWnrfWzcx58VfSmXrsdAjbNOuAuJB7Wm-ek1_2HSfSSs_4A_NCkuiQVKDY0hDtn2Tg4duJXlkmpfDG5JVa-GQ/s400/20181201_102100.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each Fleecyful rug that I weave is from the whole fleece<br />
of one of our Jacob Sheep, angora goats, or alpacas.<br />
I usually weave with the raw fleece, right out of the bag<br />
it's put in a shearing, letting the natural colors of the<br />
animals design the pattern of the rug. </td></tr>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8671875 -92.1606613999999819.9922940000000011 -133.46925539999998 61.742081 -50.852067399999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-7176713928980182572019-01-13T07:43:00.002-06:002019-01-13T07:45:56.764-06:00Dyeing Days - Winter in the Havencroft Farmstead Kitchen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="G1VCxe kno-fb-ctx" jsname="rdVbIe" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-top: 12px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtpDd7yerosZkz8fZ0BGLt5ci0M0i1Ocjgof00MAZH0qJNbwfDL_Y2ZJIbXhzSjACNfwCC93RU8Yr6W2UonoSaNvL8Ik7B3ltI2b-KEuN0RaCre4jQqJakCXZkhMaZ6sTpwU_mw/s1600/20190112_212251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Art Yarn from Havencroft Farm" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtpDd7yerosZkz8fZ0BGLt5ci0M0i1Ocjgof00MAZH0qJNbwfDL_Y2ZJIbXhzSjACNfwCC93RU8Yr6W2UonoSaNvL8Ik7B3ltI2b-KEuN0RaCre4jQqJakCXZkhMaZ6sTpwU_mw/s400/20190112_212251.jpg" title="Havencroft Homestead Handspun Art Yarn " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HavencroftFarm" target="_blank">Havencroft Homestead Handspun Art Yarn</a> -<br />Grown and spun with love.<br />This wool (purple and yellow), mohair (hot pink) and alpaca<br />(natural white and berry) art yarn was all grown by critters here<br />.on Havencroft Farm and dyed by me, before being<br />picked and spun into this wild art yarn. I was concerned<br />that my goal of using only fleeces grown on our farm<br />in my fiber art might be limiting my color and texture<br />palette. I'm not worried any longer. </td></tr>
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<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Life and work on the farm is seasonal.There are the obvious things. Most planting is done in the spring. Hay is harvested in the summer. But there are many other tasks that may make total sense for those who live the homestead life, but may not be so apparent to others. Right now it is winter. Winter in the Ozarks is unpredictable weather-wise, but it always brings shorter days and forests without leaves.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NPUOASYfyxh9Izr8Nx0qvoxCcIvoUweZmCxglUXjobmXGFIO3MwlGs6L3qvPxAYJMsJUd5yHae7RtjIXqHwEE3D6b2nMHg6YGSlbi2QyJ7VBRZZsfbns2Eci4V93jjMBvNM0SQ/s1600/20181105_172001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NPUOASYfyxh9Izr8Nx0qvoxCcIvoUweZmCxglUXjobmXGFIO3MwlGs6L3qvPxAYJMsJUd5yHae7RtjIXqHwEE3D6b2nMHg6YGSlbi2QyJ7VBRZZsfbns2Eci4V93jjMBvNM0SQ/s400/20181105_172001.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing dyed mohair. <br />In the winter it can't be confused<br />with kale, chard or collards from the garden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">So, winter is the time we harvest broom handles. The sap is in the roots of the trees. We can cut sassafrass without harming the thicket. We can see the handles we want. And best of all, there are far fewer ticks and bugs in the forest in the winter.</span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge"></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Winter is also the time I run my dye pots. Colors are more subtle in nature in the winter, so I love to add some bright vibrant color to my life, my fleeces and my yarn during this season. Also, dyeing takes heat and water. While I do my dye mixing on my back porch, I do heat my dye vats on the kitchen stove. It helps to heat up the house in the winter. I do much of my washing of fleeces to prepare them for dyeing in the bathtub, which also heats up and steams up the house, which is appreciated in the winter, not in any other season.</span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">I also have the time and space to dye in the winter, because I don't make cheese in the winter. Goats are seasonal breeders, as are the sheep. So even if I manage to stagger their breeding dates so that one or two of them are always milking, in the winter there is only enough milk for me to drink, not the gallons I need to make cheese. My cheese pots and dye pots look similar, but are stored in very different areas and are not mixed in any way. However, it is good to have the two activities separated by seasons, too.</span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijftGLpABa4LTC4cjG50oLB8bAgTb_DNW5D6db8DLNHLasZhsdlmSqEcN6LP_lJX92WolUrLDMvNvQJNKCyv_34hHZXpzgjDIjbxZQsZdW8jMEJF5iMmUsC47PPuaGTCviy-5JRA/s1600/20181210_070717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijftGLpABa4LTC4cjG50oLB8bAgTb_DNW5D6db8DLNHLasZhsdlmSqEcN6LP_lJX92WolUrLDMvNvQJNKCyv_34hHZXpzgjDIjbxZQsZdW8jMEJF5iMmUsC47PPuaGTCviy-5JRA/s400/20181210_070717.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My back porch is where I mix dyes and dry the dyed yarns and fleeces.<br />It doubles as my potting shed and plant starting room.</td></tr>
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<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Winter is the time we are increasing the feed to the ewes and does as their fleeces grow long and their baby-bellies get bigger. We are looking forward to lambing and kidding. That means shearing season is coming soon. I need to finish weaving, spinning and dyeing the rest of last years fleeces to get ready for this year's on the shelf. So I'm weaving, spinning, washing and dyeing what's on the shelf. </span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">After it is processed, washed, picked and dyed fleece is stored in cedar trunks for use through the upcoming seasons for spinning and weaving.</span></div>
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So, I'm off to start a fresh dye pot. I've been dyeing natural stone colors for a project, so I think I want something bright. How about more florescent pink?</div>
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For practical matters, I do use some natural dyes, but I mostly use acid dyes from <a href="https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-acid-dyes.html" target="_blank">Dharma Trading</a>. I've been buying from this company since before there was an internet. </div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
If you are looking for any of my Havencroft Homestead Handspun art yarns for your next project, check out our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HavencroftFarm" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm etsy store</a>.</div>
Leading today's music playlist in the Havencroft Farm Fiber Studio.</div>
<div class="G1VCxe kno-fb-ctx" jsname="rdVbIe" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-top: 12px;">
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><i><b>To Everything There is a Season</b></i></span></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">adapted from Ecclesiastes 3, 1-8, </span>by Pete Seeger</div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">To everything (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">There is a season (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And a time to every purpose, under heaven</span></i></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to be born, a time to die</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to plant, a time to reap</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to kill, a time to heal</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to laugh, a time to weep</span></i></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">To everything (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">There is a season (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And a time to every purpose, under heaven</span></i></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to build up, a time to break down</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to dance, a time to mourn</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together</span></i></div>
<div jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">To everything (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">There is a season (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And a time to every purpose, under heaven</span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="G1VCxe kno-fb-ctx" jsname="wq5Syf" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<div class="iw7h9e" data-mh="-1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time of love, a time of hate</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time of war, a time of peace</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing</span></i></div>
<div class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="48" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 12px; max-height: 48px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">To everything (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">There is a season (turn, turn, turn)</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And a time to every purpose, under heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="64" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 0px; max-height: 64px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to gain, a time to lose</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time to rend, a time to sew</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time for love, a time for hate</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A time for peace, I swear it's not too late</span></i></div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-59743335892820037352019-01-07T07:05:00.001-06:002019-01-07T07:05:47.912-06:00Havencroft Homestead Handspun Yarns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRER_wBj7vHAmay9MJ5arutHLKmw9e5H-rx2kaWU2aGFP-OO2kKa7QrePvGxMaatmjCmukWQ2OZ0HFPQ2mXiDiim7VQ3U8DAgf0zaS4l3Bym8Gtub3aG8LoSUHOqKxIymqBNCCg/s1600/20190106_070750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRER_wBj7vHAmay9MJ5arutHLKmw9e5H-rx2kaWU2aGFP-OO2kKa7QrePvGxMaatmjCmukWQ2OZ0HFPQ2mXiDiim7VQ3U8DAgf0zaS4l3Bym8Gtub3aG8LoSUHOqKxIymqBNCCg/s400/20190106_070750.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the Havencroft Homestead Handspun Yarns off my spinning wheel. Many of these are listed in the Havencroft Farm etsy store.</td></tr>
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I love to spin. I enjoy the feel of the fleece in my hand. Watching, petting and cuddling the animal friends who grow the fleece makes me happy. I love deciding what I want to ply the single yarn with and the unique beauty of each skein as it winds off the bobbin and on to the niddy-noddy, ready for washing.<br />
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Spinning is also what I do to relax. People often ask me how I keep up with the pace of my daily life. I have built in relaxation in my spinning, weaving, crochet, animal care, and sometimes, writing.<br />
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I spin lots of yarn, I love the challenge of sitting down to spin a whole fleece. But, it is all one - or maybe four or five - of a kind skeins of yarn. Many people like to follow patterns, and set guages, and predictable results. They want to know the item they are spending all these many hours making will turn out to be the item that they liked the picture of and wanted. I understand that, but my world is one of creative directions, happy accidents, design elements and excitement in seeing how the latest project turned out. Yep, I'm a double gemini in a house full of gemini's. Life is endlessly entertaining.<br />
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To that end, I needed to figure out how my one-of-a-kind skeins of yarn, grown by my wonderful Jacob Sheep, colored angora goats, goofy alpacas and guardian llama fit into the greater world of fibery fun so that I could connect them with people who would like to use them in their projects. That's where the concept for Havencroft Homestead Handspun Yarns came in. All of my yarns are from fibers grown on our homestead, with a few accents like dyed silk (don't raise silk worms), star fire or angelina, and metallic thread.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg783k0xm5-cGTRgeEB5GXcdAn0MzRgWEa7hTbeRB1jbxndXWcifv_a9Ql9FdlDtJzS_3kD2Go8hkl-RFAMAi0m5NB-jG_BkWWtV8BtfNqlQ-qeCC1JRnB89SY2Qj4ds5lgrX_7Fw/s1600/20190104_132310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg783k0xm5-cGTRgeEB5GXcdAn0MzRgWEa7hTbeRB1jbxndXWcifv_a9Ql9FdlDtJzS_3kD2Go8hkl-RFAMAi0m5NB-jG_BkWWtV8BtfNqlQ-qeCC1JRnB89SY2Qj4ds5lgrX_7Fw/s400/20190104_132310.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skein of Luna's Jacob Sheep wool, all natural colors.</td></tr>
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Havencroft Homestead Handspun Yarns are one-of-a-kind, individual skeins of yarn, grown by pampered critters, spun and dyed with love in the Ozarks.<br />
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These yarns are great as accents for scarves, shawls, hats and many other projects. Also, I'll be working on developing crochet patterns for small skein projects and have a few pattern testers lined up.<br />
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If you'd like to check out some of my yarns, they are listed in our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HavencroftFarm" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm etsy store</a>; we are on the <a href="http://www.offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com/" target="_blank">Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour</a>, if you want to come meet the critters, too. We also do the <a href="http://www.arkansascraftguild.org/christmas-showcase/" target="_blank">Arkansas Craft Guild Christmas Showcase</a> in Little Rock.<br />
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I have several goals for this year, one is to work only with our homegrown fleeces in my fiber arts. I worried about that one, because as much as I love the natural colors of fibers our critters grow, color is what sells. But then I spun the yarn below, all from wool, mohair and alpaca grown on <a href="http://www.havencroftfarm.com/" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm</a> and dyed by me. I'm not worried about having novelty yarn any more!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooaHXdkgZlAuYLMARYWQwsWJiiCvvgRs-stvOnY4bZCLO1YY3M69LTzVRhWTRs4J2C1NNw3Lfn51TOJzw1sjzetOLU4sAs2y5Rza7bJM3ZHoUgnqKJGJuGdHhCgTyHeOGyVnEfA/s1600/20190104_164251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooaHXdkgZlAuYLMARYWQwsWJiiCvvgRs-stvOnY4bZCLO1YY3M69LTzVRhWTRs4J2C1NNw3Lfn51TOJzw1sjzetOLU4sAs2y5Rza7bJM3ZHoUgnqKJGJuGdHhCgTyHeOGyVnEfA/s400/20190104_164251.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havencroft Homestead Handspun Yarn, an art yarn skein of wool, mohair and alpaca.</td></tr>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8671875 -92.1606613999999819.993302 -133.46925539999998 61.741073 -50.852067399999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-67793326657197259502019-01-01T07:53:00.001-06:002019-01-01T07:53:06.159-06:00Why I love to spin raw fleece<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I love to spin yarn. The flow of the fleece in my hands, the twist of the fibers, the tug of the wheel. It's my meditation, my relaxation, my joy. I spin almost every night. It's how I unwind, pun intended. Rough days at work, worries on the farm, health issues with family and friends - these all wind away onto the bobbin. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ExUlrvkQAAWbE6FVWTszpBelgYXeeexknI09Ft2XX2ZLAYojGkW1PGsjaclg_lLYT81dho6xL1ALgYfh0ayYw2hj0fvQRYsjdXej0wYWIdPU8NGHI1tj-fF5UEEVPWOoImGr8w/s1600/20181218_230225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ExUlrvkQAAWbE6FVWTszpBelgYXeeexknI09Ft2XX2ZLAYojGkW1PGsjaclg_lLYT81dho6xL1ALgYfh0ayYw2hj0fvQRYsjdXej0wYWIdPU8NGHI1tj-fF5UEEVPWOoImGr8w/s400/20181218_230225.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This <a href="https://www.spinolution.com/" target="_blank">Spinolution</a> Firefly 32 oz bobbin holds most of Havencroft Luna's 2018 Jacob Sheep wool fleece spun into a 2 ply, 5 wpi yarn. It was spun raw - unwashed and uncarded, right out of the bag.</td></tr>
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<br />But I have a dirty little secret. </div>
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I love to spin raw wool. Yep, unwashed, uncarded, with little bits of vegetable matter (vm) to pick out on the way. </div>
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There are many reasons for this.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I weave and crochet with my finished yarns. I love the unique texture that spinning unprepared fleece gives the yarns. </li>
<li>I love the feel of the lanolin. It makes my hands soft. </li>
<li>I love the heathery look of random color blends from each of my spotted sheep's fleeces.</li>
<li>It gives my spinning wheel a nice patina. (yes, I do have to clean it periodically)</li>
<li>I hate washing fleece.</li>
<li>I feel like it helps me connect to and appreciate my sheep and angora goats and goofy alpaca boys.</li>
<li>Strong, healthy sheep equals strong yarn. If there are health issues, problems in the yarn are one more way for me to find them.</li>
<li>I learn first hand what weeds are hidden in our hay or pasture.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7SrNO8KlpfUQGt5CxKM1DuITaWYy3GEwQCSAUWvQeY74TI1J5RroZ2mXxlomuBxP25__Kx2_0LBB5tsuE2bWKTec37s8FjaS_lX3dujqqLCHgpH5DPFsbzXjH5bju7EYoPjA5A/s1600/20181117_152140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7SrNO8KlpfUQGt5CxKM1DuITaWYy3GEwQCSAUWvQeY74TI1J5RroZ2mXxlomuBxP25__Kx2_0LBB5tsuE2bWKTec37s8FjaS_lX3dujqqLCHgpH5DPFsbzXjH5bju7EYoPjA5A/s400/20181117_152140.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of our <a href="http://www.havencroftfarm.com/" target="_blank">Havencroft</a> Jacob Sheep ewes grazing on the front pasture, summer 2018. From left to right, Judith, Hester, Ipswich, Molly, Nexxus, Nebula.</td></tr>
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It's still quite a process to go from sheep to yarn.</div>
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My daughter and I do all our shearing by hand here on <a href="http://www.havencroftfarm.com/" target="_blank">Havencroft Farm</a>. We shear each sheep up on a stand, and put the fleece in a pillow case after it rolls off the sheep. We skirt out the really dirty bits as we shear, they don't go into the bag. After shearing, and after the sheep has had her toenails trimmed (mani-pedi with her hair cut, the full beauty salon treatment), the sheep bounces off to scratch and enjoy not wearing her full wool blanket, then I label the bag with the name of the sheep, the date, and the intended use of the fleece. The soft, buttery, silky fleeces are destined for my spinning stash. The coarser fleeces are woven into Fleecyful Rugs.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuNWXZqePlB4q_YtNm8VRD2CyS06cGL2PnvKhD2RzmYULAstrV2j1I27gEdMOO-F5eUS11aobmaKxd-5ShcLPA1N5e47N-I-Aia3B4v9myDIf9pyzDF44Sg8INwZ97SNw8uaDeg/s1600/20181231_062106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuNWXZqePlB4q_YtNm8VRD2CyS06cGL2PnvKhD2RzmYULAstrV2j1I27gEdMOO-F5eUS11aobmaKxd-5ShcLPA1N5e47N-I-Aia3B4v9myDIf9pyzDF44Sg8INwZ97SNw8uaDeg/s320/20181231_062106.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each fleece goes into a pillow case for storage after shearing. <br />I spin right out of the pillow case</td></tr>
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I've always loved to spin an entire fleece at a time. I've enjoyed doing that since I started spinning about 2001 or '02. Jacobs are small sheep, so a spinning fleece, which is often a lamb fleece, will net 400 - 1,000 yards of 2-ply worsted or bulky yarn. Spinning in the evenings, it can take me a month to spin and ply an entire fleece. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05fA0AezYXNCls_iz9GKfUwPHVWK66f-43uSL5aFeM5w_EJKm0WXEPC_BO849Ldt6mNphMpIdj0GfVvjSBxtlUKNhULbCm0OdUlza3wMYcOczzJGwEuI9_JSQJo03BPtXY52BcQ/s1600/20181231_061133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05fA0AezYXNCls_iz9GKfUwPHVWK66f-43uSL5aFeM5w_EJKm0WXEPC_BO849Ldt6mNphMpIdj0GfVvjSBxtlUKNhULbCm0OdUlza3wMYcOczzJGwEuI9_JSQJo03BPtXY52BcQ/s400/20181231_061133.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luna 2-ply Jacob Sheep wool yarn, 5 wpi. Spun right from the bag.</td></tr>
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<br />After spinning, then plying, winding the yarn off into skeins, and tying each skein securely in four places - Then I wash the yarn. It takes seven water baths to wash most yarns. I wash them in warm water in my kitchen sink. I handle the yarn gently to prevent felting and allow lots of soaking time to ease out dirt and vm. For soaps I use <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Orvus-Wa-Paste-Cleaner-Ounce/dp/B004M5MGNI/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_3905707922?_encoding=UTF8&hvadid=198060065450&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9025992&hvnetw=g&hvpone=&hvpos=1o2&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvrand=4673748070989724236&hvtargid=aud-466346483690%3Apla-351194429238&ie=UTF8&linkCode=df0&psc=1&tag=hyprod-20" target="_blank">Orvus</a> or <a href="https://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/dharma-professional-textile-detergent.html" target="_blank">Dharma Proffesional Textile Detergent</a>. In the past I have used Dawn or people shampoos and creme rinses.<div>
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<b>Raw spun yarn washing steps</b><br /><div>
<i>Always fill the sink first, and take the yarn out of the sink for draining and filling. </i></div>
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<li>Soak the yarn in a sink full of warm rinse water for about 20 minutes, to wet the yarn down.</li>
<li>Remove yarn from sink, squeezing out the water. drain and wash down sink</li>
<li><b>Wash</b> - Fill sink with warm water, add 2X normal amount of detergent after sink is done filling. Disperse soap completely before adding yarn, one skein at a time. Make sure the yarn can move freely. Do not try to wash too much at once.</li>
<li>Let soak for another 20 minutes, turning, swishing and squeezing gently every time you walk past the sink.</li>
<li>Pull yarns from water bath, gently squeezing out the soapy water.</li>
<li><b>Rinse</b> - Drain and clean sink, and refill with warm water.</li>
<li>Again, one at a time add skeins to sink, gently swirling and squeezing the yarn. GENTLY is the key. Wool, alpaca and mohair yarns are very happy to felt.</li>
<li><b>Repeat </b>the wash and rinse cycle one more time, or twice if the yarn is still dirty. </li>
<li>I usually do a double rinse at the end, the next to the last rinse has 1/4 cup of white vinegar in it to remove the last of the soap. </li>
<li>Then I finish with one more plain water rinse.</li>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyqnoUP9ZV7aem_9WbG82DL0uMJTvO75Ar2n0ATBZl-90vrNm4RV-1APjS9CtlUfmEViVZB0P5fyLmHBq3t964K18jjlPfTLM23g90lzR69JzKW2Nj_eY-7cbJAQRnzq_FY43Sw/s1600/20181231_053158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyqnoUP9ZV7aem_9WbG82DL0uMJTvO75Ar2n0ATBZl-90vrNm4RV-1APjS9CtlUfmEViVZB0P5fyLmHBq3t964K18jjlPfTLM23g90lzR69JzKW2Nj_eY-7cbJAQRnzq_FY43Sw/s400/20181231_053158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luna's washed skeins of yarn, ready for listing in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HavencroftFarm" target="_blank">Havencroft etsy store</a>.</td></tr>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com017467 AR-66, Mountain View, AR 72560, USA35.8671875 -92.16066139999998110.345153 -133.46925539999998 61.389222000000004 -50.852067399999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-22688463063520582012017-01-17T05:14:00.001-06:002017-01-17T11:00:53.345-06:00Crafting Felted Slippers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've had a hankering to make felted wool slippers for a very long time. Now, I've made crocheted and felted slippers, even had my pattern published in SpinOff. And I've crochet amazing woolly slippers from raw fleece. But I wanted to learn to make felted slippers from wool, just by felting, without any needle art in between the fleece and the wearing.<br />
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That's been a long involved learning process! I've failed, I've learned, I've succeeded, I've learned, I've practiced, I've learned and now I'm wearing a pair of alpaca and kid mohair slippers that I just love.<br />
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So, I'm ready to share a quick pictorial of my process. I use only fleece from our animals- Jacob sheep wool, mohair and alpaca. Through trial and error, I've learned the fleece must be washed first to felt well. This is a pair of alpaca and mohair slippers I made for my mom.<br />
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1. First you draw out and cut the pattern/resist. A cheap textured plastic placemat works well. Cut about 1/2 inch wider than the person's foot.<br />
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Weigh and prep your fiber. Don't skip this step! Lesson learned the hard way.<br />
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Lay out your under towel, your super heavy duty bubble wrap, your netting and your soap. The soap matters. This is handmade soap from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/villageapothecaryshop/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Village Apothecary Shop</a> at the <a href="http://www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/" target="_blank">Ozark Folk Center State Park</a>. It works well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTaT5yO2UcrWkvlQ8_KxjFKcIcsNol5ESERJcWWaC0-R5d8MX6ERS1rKg2BpwTmjCcFSCnAeX44ZeH_SiXDOHziakXoiBdW1AqwNLGFexjCy4DJ4n2-fgj4eAqO0tYsNdlTFCog/s640/blogger-image-976680251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTaT5yO2UcrWkvlQ8_KxjFKcIcsNol5ESERJcWWaC0-R5d8MX6ERS1rKg2BpwTmjCcFSCnAeX44ZeH_SiXDOHziakXoiBdW1AqwNLGFexjCy4DJ4n2-fgj4eAqO0tYsNdlTFCog/s640/blogger-image-976680251.jpg" /></a></div>
Lay your resist/pattern on your bubble wrap and cover with your first layer of fluff, fibers mostly going one direction.<br />
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Layer your second layer of fiber over the first, going the opposite direction. Build up five layers of lightly fluffed fiber.<br />
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Put netting over pile of fluff.<br />
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Pour boiling water in a spiral over fluff.<br />
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Rub soap over netting being careful not to shift fiber sideways. <br />
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Pat, pat, pat.<br />
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Flip.<br />
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Wrap the loose fringy edges over the resist.<br />
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Repeat.<br />
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Once you have all your fiber for that slipper wrapped around your resist, roll it up in the bubble wrap and towel and roll, roll, roll for 8 minutes. Set a timer ('nother lesson) it's longer that you think. </div>
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Decide where you want the opening on your slippers and cut. Make sure you felt the cut edges immediately. More lessons. </div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyQ4_fSyJ4wGiOAdEDwvhLr0zLc8lHTnMxhzznVGFAIK5tOljPGOc5UsCLvCYQdfXabtunlUQxPJWuJhKU_u5vh3aaTG6FbS9nxLIQStscGCsUxoUY2D1Fky3F2pGjUijaa5eww/s640/blogger-image-1240466178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyQ4_fSyJ4wGiOAdEDwvhLr0zLc8lHTnMxhzznVGFAIK5tOljPGOc5UsCLvCYQdfXabtunlUQxPJWuJhKU_u5vh3aaTG6FbS9nxLIQStscGCsUxoUY2D1Fky3F2pGjUijaa5eww/s640/blogger-image-1240466178.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Make a last for further shaping and felting. Duct tape and old socks on the person's foot whom the slippers are for. Very bad English!</span><br />
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Finish shaping, embellishing and drying your slippers on the last. </div>
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Cut a leather sole using the original resist as a pattern and stitch to bottom of slippers. </div>
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Wear and enjoy!</div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-50258276185972410482016-07-10T07:58:00.000-06:002016-07-10T07:58:00.207-06:00Using Small Sheep and Goats to Reclaim Land<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; line-height: 115%;">This is the outline of a program I recently presented at the <a href="http://www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/" target="_blank">Ozark Folk Center State Park</a> Farm to Table event. It's a concept I've been developing for two decades, but I'm starting to put our practices into words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Using Goats
and Sheep to Reclaim Land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jeanette Larson, co-owner
Havencroft Farm, Mountain View, Arkansas, jenonthefarm@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Small
ruminants are not just for weed-eating and brush clearing. They can be used to
help turn marginal land to into productive pasture, woodlot and garden. Sheep
and goats provide fertilizer and other soil nutrients. Their hooves break up
soil crust but don’t compact the dirt like heavier animals. The attention the
shepherd pays to the animals also pays dividends in improved care to the land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Any
amendments you put in the animals, you ultimately put into the soil. Hay,
grain, minerals, water, all cycle through the sheep and goat’s digestive system
and pick up life-giving natural bacteria along the way. Many plants thought of
as weeds provide needed nutrients to the animals. It’s a beneficial, natural
cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good fencing
is a must for this process to work. Goats especially need good fence. While
some sheep will jump, goats are known for that ability. Sheep tend to respect a
fence, goats see it as a challenge to puzzle out. You need to confine the
animals to the area you want to reclaim. You need to keep predators out. Being
able to rotate grazing, strip graze and rotate species will all help with this
process. Goats are browsers. They eat the brushy, woody plants and coarse
weeds. Sheep are grazers. They like grass and soft weeds. The two species
complement each other when used in a rotation.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Use mobile
shelters to terrace land and build soil where you want it. We use cattle panels and tarps. Deep bed with
waste hay in the winter, then move the shelters in the summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You must
adjust your stocking levels to the carrying capacity of your land – and your
budget. You can buy hay and grain to feed animals on smaller parcels of land,
but that can be cost prohibitive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Caring for animals is a commitment that you
need to consider before taking it on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choose your
species based on your interests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meat goats
like Kikos, Boers and Spanish goats do not necessarily need daily tending,
though like all animals they need access to feed and water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dairy goats
need intense management and daily milking –every day and often twice a day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fiber goats,
such as angoras and cashmere goats need regular shearing or combing for their
health as well as optimum fiber production.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sheep have
similar categories. Hair sheep are raised for meat, wool sheep for fiber and
dairy sheep for milk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Camelids
such as alpacas and llamas can fit into this species mix and find their own
niche as fiber animals, guardians, pack animals or pets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Free range
chickens are also an important part of our land-management. They turn the waste
hay and keep insects pests at bay.</span></li>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-18968602892926509052014-12-27T08:50:00.001-06:002014-12-27T08:50:55.551-06:00Winter GearI'm four fifths of the way through my five days off work for the holidays and starting to panic about not having time to finish all the things I wanted (needed) to get done. <div>Some people have the impression that things slow down on the farm in the winter. The work doesn't, we just change gears. Each season has its own jobs, demands, workflow and pace. </div><div>In the winter, I dye fleeces and yarns, because in spring we are too busy with lambing, kidding and planting and in the summer, it's too doggone hot to heat up the house with simmering dye kettles. Yesterday, I dyed turquioise all day, maybe trying to fill the need for a sunny sky that has been long absent. So, with that in mind, I started with yellow today. I'll run the yellow, orange, red, brown spectrum today. </div><div>The new porches, under the new metal roof on the house, are nice dry places for drying fleece. But everytime I go out, it's a reminder that we need to put up porch rails, and I want to screen in one of them before summer. Front, back, we're still debating. At least painting can wait until its warmer.</div><div>We mostly have the critters in dry shelters now, though the bred angora does are not sharing well. We'll add another hoop house to their pen today, giving added shelter and a extra space for when kidding starts in March.</div><div>Hay is under cover and supply seems to be holding out well. I need to catch up on registrations for the Jacob sheep and dairy goats. That's a winter chore that I haven't tackled yet this year. </div><div>I like to get ahead on my rug weaving in the winter, too. Weaving rugs is much more fun in the winter, when wool is warm and comforting, rather than in the summer when its hot. Two nice new mohair rugs done this week and I'll tackle finishing the beast of an all-farm rug today.</div><div>I've been spinning through Mo's alpaca fleece most of the year, off-and-on. I want to get it done. The bag is almost empty now, and I did get the warp on the loom this week for the blanket I'm weaving from the the fleece. Almost through the first 20" of natural, then I'll weave 6" of turquiose and recreate that band on the other end. </div><div>Winter is the time of year when we are most optimistic about our gardens. The plans, research and dreams take up our evening conversations, but much of the stuctural work is done in the winter, too. Yesterday my folks came over and my dad helped put up the framework for our hoop house cold frame. We'll plastic it on the next sunny day... which I hope is soon. We are going to start greens, maybe cabbages right now. The baby plants under lights in February. In the summer, we'll strip off the plastic and use the hoop to grow green beans.</div><div>Lena and I tight fenced a little area in front to do a flower garden. I'm thinking herbs and dye plants, along with strawberries, but we are also looking at flowers just for pretty. We both want climbing roses for the front porch and are researching fragrant, disease resistant, drought and shade tolerant hardy climbing roses. She likes the peach and yellow, I like dusty purple.</div><div>But right now, I need to take mohair out of the dyebath and go fix the angora does shelter before the next round of rain.</div><div>Maybe I'll even find time this season to do some more blog updates. If you want to follow what's happening here on Havencroft farm, like the Common Threads Facebook page. I update that off my phone on the run. Happy winter!</div>Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com1Common Threads 17467 Arkansas 66, Mountain View35.866241 -92.160944tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-70838740791885555372014-07-17T05:21:00.001-06:002014-07-17T05:28:16.273-06:00Playing Tourist - Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock</td></tr>
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<br />My mother has an incredible curiosity. No matter where we were in the world, she'd go find interesting things to see, people to talk to, natural places to visit and culture to explore. I have memories of grasshoppers in Germany, tulips in Holland, blueberries and boulders in Alaska, forests in Alabama and so much more. Where ever we went, she'd find place for us to explore and beauty around every corner.<br />
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And my mom loves pretty rocks. I remember having the back of our old Chitty bang-bang station wagon full of pretty rocks we picked up on a camping trip in Alaska. We just enjoyed them for being pretty. I don't know about my brothers, but I never even tried to identify any of them, I just enjoyed the rocks for being pretty. That family attraction to pretty rocks continues to this day. Just last night, my daughter Lena brought me a pretty rock, that might be a chunk of a geode from the sheep pen. It surfaced in the last rain.But I dye grass (family word for wandering off topic - that's a whole 'nother blog post).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXvaf0sDWTfAK1LNHEVA7ron-DgNZ_QrqOSvydQJErvNyEuPEnWVageqmDYqShiC2O67Uh-zmoKBUi4lw4y1wnmNQ8guCXOhycY72dw0oFN9D6Me8sb8kzItwDfs3xK-JUtFM9g/s1600/photo+1.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXvaf0sDWTfAK1LNHEVA7ron-DgNZ_QrqOSvydQJErvNyEuPEnWVageqmDYqShiC2O67Uh-zmoKBUi4lw4y1wnmNQ8guCXOhycY72dw0oFN9D6Me8sb8kzItwDfs3xK-JUtFM9g/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very large pretty rocks</td></tr>
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Yesterday I was in Little Rock at central office for a work meeting. Over the lunch break when I am there for meetings I love to go explore the Capitol campus. There are monuments, interesting trees, things that could be art and lots of pretty people. One of the things that amused me yesterday was the number of large rocks with bronze plaques attached. It made me think of my mom. The people who collected the pretty rocks on the Capitol lawn needed more equipment and support than three energetic kids!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjWDZolV-yEDDGzNl2jvC78_UQoXIBRJdO6_wgw5V5DeMcCrZnkUJZqmN7YSxXfsCJp1f2ljNx_FgYOaTkznJMNv64nCmgMtKsMRnQjIqlrVORuYH872ESXAHU4gRIlEHzyXOpA/s1600/photo+4.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjWDZolV-yEDDGzNl2jvC78_UQoXIBRJdO6_wgw5V5DeMcCrZnkUJZqmN7YSxXfsCJp1f2ljNx_FgYOaTkznJMNv64nCmgMtKsMRnQjIqlrVORuYH872ESXAHU4gRIlEHzyXOpA/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bronzes are incredible.</td></tr>
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If you want to explore the <a href="http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/stateCapitolInfo/Pages/stateCapitolTour.aspx" target="_blank">Arkansas State Capitol campus</a>
in Little Rock, they have a nice tour guide you can download at the
link above and an audio tour that you can download to your phone and
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-3542483620392889242014-07-14T07:01:00.002-06:002014-07-17T05:23:17.253-06:00Tech! - grr - and maybe I did need a new ram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a beautiful summer here, enough rain to make the garden grow well and the lambs, kids,
alpacas, angoras, Jacob Sheep and dairy goats are doing well. Lena and I
have moved shelters to the best summer spots and fences for better
grazing. In the garden I have hundreds of green tomatoes on the vine,
have frozen a couple gallons of black berries, am watching the potatoes
and garlic almost ready to harvest and enjoying the moderate
temperatures. It has not broken 100 degrees yet this summer.<br />
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Early on in the summer, I was shopping for a new Jacob Sheep ram to breed our Canoe Lake Sonic Boom daughters to, but I decided that we could wait another year. Just like I've decided that my dairy goats are for giving milk, not for making more dairy goats, I have the sheep for their wool. Lambs are nice, but I don't have to breed the girls every year to get wool. I was ram shopping on the new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/178078942329734/" target="_blank">Jacob Sheep</a> facebook group - a modern way to find new bloodlines to keep our heritage breed vibrant.<br />
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I love to tell people in my work at the <a href="http://www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/" target="_blank">Ozark Folk Center State Park</a> that we use and keep the traditional methods of making things by hand, but we also use and enjoy modern conveniences of internet and vehicles. We cherish our history and our unique culture. History and culture didn't stop in the past - we are living and creating both today. <br />
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My broom maker partner, <a href="http://www.laffing-horse.com/" target="_blank">Shawn Hoefer</a>, was twice named champion craft broom maker at the Arcola, Illinios Broom Corn Festival. He and my daughter Lena (second place broom maker at the Arcola festival!) make and sell more than 4,000 hand-tied, hand-dyed, hand-carved brooms per year. Broom making is Shawn's vocation. And his other vocation is tech. Broomsquire by day; Geek by night. He designs awesome web sites for more than 30 clients. He swears he really needs all those tablets, computers and handheld devices to make sure his sites display correctly cross platform.<br />
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I, on the other hand, am a manager and interpreter by day. I have an awesome, creative job working with lots of people who I really enjoy. And, as you know from this blog, I am a shepherd, dairy farmer, fiber artists, cheesemaker, gardener and cook with the other 118 hours in a week that I'm not at work. I use a computer at work and I depend heavily on my handheld for many, many things. But I am not a geek.<br />
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Shawn offered to update the ram in my little Acer Aspire One about a year ago. I said I didn't need it. I like my little computer. I would be perfectly happy to keep using this same computer for the rest of my life. But over this year, it became so slow that it wouldn't accept software updates. So I'd open it and couldn't use it. (That's why I've gotten away from writing blog posts). So it sat in the pouch on my chair.<br />
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Finally, about two weeks ago I gave it to Shawn to try and get the updates installed. He fussed with it, cussed it and ordered a new ram chip, which he installed last night. I guess I did need a new ram, just not the wooly kind. My computer does seem to be faster, though now it doesn't want to save my pictures where I want them. Probably something to do with the updates. Several people have told me that my photo system is too old school and not supported any longer... but I like it and know it and it works fine for me!!! Or it did... that is one of the things that I wish we could figure out how to add to the tech world. I have a perfectly good 90 year old loom that I use daily, why do I have to quit using my beloved handheld device after less than 4 years?<br />
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So, I seem to have a working computer at home now, and should be able to go back to sharing updates with you from Havencroft Farm. I'm a little better a putting updates on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Common-Threads/172741799435516?ref_type=bookmark" target="_blank">Common Threads </a>page on Facebook as I can do those from my handheld.<br />
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And now I'm headed out to milk and weed the blueberries. When I come back in after chores, I'll see if I can't find a way to get pictures to post here.<br />
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-20026951308192979552014-06-23T09:36:00.001-06:002014-06-23T09:36:47.863-06:00Gardening and cheesemaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Those of you who follow my blog know that last year I made the decision that my dairy goat herd was for milk production, not for raising dairy goats. To that end, I found someone who would take and raise the kids for their own use, and I have all the sweet, creamy milk from my four does. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQpFiv5LscZe_j6Kam36Yps1YTnNbyHlVeNgIOAIxWq64h7X7hnaZp93RN-Qpb2_Y6HTCCC7YjRorFq8ekHVtjVvzDYB0mTldQIG-zFW09P1nWgru5Wh3BonfS83s_U8TkL_YBA/s640/blogger-image--489281651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQpFiv5LscZe_j6Kam36Yps1YTnNbyHlVeNgIOAIxWq64h7X7hnaZp93RN-Qpb2_Y6HTCCC7YjRorFq8ekHVtjVvzDYB0mTldQIG-zFW09P1nWgru5Wh3BonfS83s_U8TkL_YBA/s640/blogger-image--489281651.jpg"></a></div><br><div>Right now I'm getting about four gallons a day. And I'm making cheese daily. </div><div><br></div><div>I got a Dutch style cheese press for my birthday, along with molds and followers. I've made some delicious cheeses. I have yet to be able to save any to age. My family loves cheese. </div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday I made a cheese with some fresh Greek oregano incorporated into it. I got the plant from the Ozark Folk Center State Park Herb Shoppe and it is doing well in my garden. </div><div><br></div><div>Between making cheese, doing chores and gardening, I seem to be having trouble finding time to weave this summer. </div>Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-84599126069392081522014-05-29T12:08:00.001-06:002014-05-29T12:08:08.889-06:00Cheesy DayI thought I'd take my own advice and start keeping a cheese notebook, as I have several cheeses in process today. But, I couldn't find a blank notebook and didn't want to drive to the store, so, I thought I'd try this. <div>Shawn got me a Dutch style cheese press for my birthday, so I can make some hard, aged cheeses. </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX2AURMx8lrDATcPRH2hu-opiHv6TdLhQDe0fqzBwbhqN9MoVh8XKviGw_zmiuagva8ns6ETO7nc11ENoxj2ocR4OruC6UtyLdIr99V8h6ECfcJk_tcVmcR11eqrCYpJfCCK0ow/s640/blogger-image-921493587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNX2AURMx8lrDATcPRH2hu-opiHv6TdLhQDe0fqzBwbhqN9MoVh8XKviGw_zmiuagva8ns6ETO7nc11ENoxj2ocR4OruC6UtyLdIr99V8h6ECfcJk_tcVmcR11eqrCYpJfCCK0ow/s640/blogger-image-921493587.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To that end, I made two recultureable cultures starting with New England Cheesemakings Mesophilic culture and I started a culture of the "fresh" culture whilst I was at it. I sterilized two canning jars with lids in boiling water, then poured in this mornings fresh milk and put the two sealed jars in a boiling water bath about an inch over the lids for 35 minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When the timer want off, I ran cool water into the pot and when the milk temp was down to 86 degrees I added the fresh culture and put the jar atop the freezer. When the milk temp was down to 80 degrees, I added the Mesophilic culture and put that jar above the fridge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFUXxHc8LQSNsJE8tPrXlUqUGxwqH8pOC7v5RRcc8SlyncsEk-dW8doDWnpqBQ5dtBgwR9x1B3DQX7QOKubAp6d_Ia1GA8Aqx8fQH6MuVelRuDFYIJ32T1Mti4J5-Z4CuFWGS5g/s640/blogger-image-720969936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFUXxHc8LQSNsJE8tPrXlUqUGxwqH8pOC7v5RRcc8SlyncsEk-dW8doDWnpqBQ5dtBgwR9x1B3DQX7QOKubAp6d_Ia1GA8Aqx8fQH6MuVelRuDFYIJ32T1Mti4J5-Z4CuFWGS5g/s640/blogger-image-720969936.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tomorrow, I'll put the two cultures in the fridge until I can divide them out into ice cube trays to freeze them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP2-QoUmgW-981brFU1JpL3rJUXwQCGwNGq67JdjKKENWuCDdKCHkl3FnIXmA3drBE2_6f6xYsk6YILlqcp2JFTMoH5JFZP7LouAAAgMa8tiT_fP7vnXUh9DNFebk7S60YAtwWg/s640/blogger-image--367159718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP2-QoUmgW-981brFU1JpL3rJUXwQCGwNGq67JdjKKENWuCDdKCHkl3FnIXmA3drBE2_6f6xYsk6YILlqcp2JFTMoH5JFZP7LouAAAgMa8tiT_fP7vnXUh9DNFebk7S60YAtwWg/s640/blogger-image--367159718.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also started a cheese in the crockpot with this mornings milk. At 90 degrees I added 1 cup of sweet homemade goat's milk yogurt ( made with New England Cheesemakings sweet yogurt culture) and then I let it set at that temp for 3 hours. The keep warm setting on the crock pot was too warm so I unplugged it, but the temp seemed to maintain. I added 1/2 tab of dissolved Marschalls rennet at 12:20 pm and the temp was still at 90. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAvbhsbMBGH5U2vB0HdXIMnUMbIeWWsWFdIlFwJ3KgldZA7hvhikV94LFtn73QON95PuFJm1IC-SZnsMHEtyeh7hnee6AAucLHg21gns2gekBcjRhAWXGd8ByAyHDc1UfZ5IGJw/s640/blogger-image-520907515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAvbhsbMBGH5U2vB0HdXIMnUMbIeWWsWFdIlFwJ3KgldZA7hvhikV94LFtn73QON95PuFJm1IC-SZnsMHEtyeh7hnee6AAucLHg21gns2gekBcjRhAWXGd8ByAyHDc1UfZ5IGJw/s640/blogger-image-520907515.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Today is humid, raining off and on and the outside temp is 76 degrees. I have the house windows open. The weather app says rain will start again in 51 minutes, so I'm going to go feed the bottle baby lambs and work in the alpaca fence while the curd forms on the crockpot cheese. </span></div>Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com0Common Threads 17467 Arkansas 66, Mountain View35.866122 -92.161163tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-31295514536837202572014-04-19T05:15:00.001-06:002014-04-19T05:15:23.539-06:00Homesteading economics"But don't you like meat?" queried the young woman as we talked about my goat flock. I had just given away the last of my crossbred goat kids to a family who raises them for their own winter meat supply. <div>"Oh, I like our own farm-raised meat well enough." I replied. "Just not well enough to spend my milk supply raising meat."</div><div>I'd far rather have my milk for putting in my coffee, making cheese and sharing with my friends and family. Homestead economics. </div>Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com1Common Threads 17467 Arkansas 66, Mountain View35.866297 -92.16104tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19149573.post-64982336556272100742014-04-03T20:58:00.001-06:002014-04-03T20:59:16.658-06:00C is for Craft<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Merriam Webster - Craft</h2>
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: an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands</div>
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: a job or activity that requires special skill</div>
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<span class="bnote" style="font-weight: bold;">crafts</span> : objects made by skillful use of the hands</div>
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My life is devoted to the perpetuation of the skills of creating things with your hands. I work with more than 50 independent craft artisans at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. When I'm not at work, I'm at home on our farm in the Arkansas Ozarks, spinning, weaving, dyeing, felting, crocheting and finding other ways to create beautiful things from the fleeces from my much loved angora goats and Jacob sheep. </div>
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Crafting has always brought peace and relaxation to my life. And I've watched learning to create things with their hands light a spark in young people's eyes and lives. This is an idea that I'd love to develop into a full essay, but I need to go rinse the purple wool I have in the dye pot...</div>
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Jenonthefarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13221147611054024752noreply@blogger.com4