Chronicles of a yarn farmer, shepherdess, and fiber geek!

Chronicles of a yarn farmer, shepherdess, and fiber geek!

August 18, 2009

Spindles and Bunnies and Sheep, Oh Boy!

Now that we're back from the Michigan Fiber Festival it feel good to kick back for a few. That's about all we have is a few before second cutting hay starts, more shearing, and other stuff around here. But MFF was a good time. I took a spinning class with Galina Khmeleva on Friday afternoon after the sheep were unloaded and in the stalls. The class was great. We learned how to spin lace weight yarn for Orenburg-type shawls on Russian spindles.

My new Russian spindles.

Galina teaching her workshop (she's awesome).

Some of Galina's Orenburg shawls...exquisite!

Then in between the sheep show and taking care of the sheep, I slipped over into the Angora rabbit area and watched the judging and shearing. I couldn't resist, I bought a three month old black German Hybrid Angora. He's gorgeous. He's settling in outside in his new home with the other four Angoras and I'll take a pic this week and post it. I also watched some bunny shearing so that I'll know what to do in November. Rosalie Truong had some beautiful bunnies (I bought one of her bunnies) and she was very helpful with educating people on shearing bunnies and other basic care.

And our sheep brought home a few ribbons, but most of all they're back home and very happy about that.

Amos - Yearling Ram - Reserve Champion

Ram lambs and Steve getting ready for the show ring.

Next trip...Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. We're going without the sheep. That way we can enjoy a lot more of the festival and I can take some classes. I'm signed up for two and a half days of spinning and knitting classes! We'll be helping out with the Great Lake Bluefaced Leicester show as well.

4 comments:

Claire MW said...

Looks like a wonderful time! I hope to meet you at the Wisconsin Sheep & Fiber fest! We will be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. :-)

ColorJoy LynnH said...

I didn't see you at MFF but it was a very crowded place, and I don't go see the animals because of allergies.

Congratulations on the ribbons!!! I'm sure you are glad, as I am, to be back home... work or not.

LynnH

Carol said...

Claire,
Michigan Fiber Fest was a great time...a bit warmer than I'd like. When you're at the Wis Sheep & Fiber Fest, come by the BFL Show in the horse arena barn on Saturday morning. The show starts at 10:30 but we'll be there earlier setting it up. We're not bringing sheep but helping with the show. I'll be in all day classes on Friday and Sunday and a P.M. class on Saturday. Hope to see (meet) you there!

Carol said...

Hi Lynn! Too bad I didn't bump into you at MFF. I took a Russian Spindle class with Galina. It was great! Want to make an Orenburg shawl...I'll put it on my to-do list :-).