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.