Drool

Project flaming rabbit has dried to a far more vibrant and beautiful shade than I could've dreamed.
I wish your screen had feel-o-vision because it is SO soft.







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Pheonix yarn, Harry Potter inspired

Here's a quick how to for dying your own yarn with koolaid.
First off, I HIGHLY recommend wearing gloves for this:


Ok so first you want to get set up. I'm using a skein of 2-ply white angora (from Princess). Set your fiber to soak. Wet wool really takes the dye easier. If you're using a lanolin-y wool wash it first with a mild soap.
Get your color packets, two cups, and a microwave steamer.












You may also want a syringe and some plastic bags.
So next put each color in a cup and add a few tablespoons of water.



If you are doing a large batch of yarn and want a really specific effect I suggest doing a test swatch; this was originally supposed to be gryffindor yarn but the orange wound up far more orangy than the goldish color pictured here.

Lay your skein out on some plastic and get ready to paint!



I like to start with the syringe to define my color boundaries, and then soak if it's not a super absorbant wool. (note: koolaid is very acidic you don't necessarily need vinegar for this.)






This is where you put your gloves on (whoops) and really smush the dye in. Check for white spots especially under the ties. Be careful not to agitate the wool or it can felt.

When it's ready put it in the steamer with some water and nuke for about 2 minutes on high. Let rest a few minutes and nuke again for 2 minutes on high.
Let cool and rinse completely in water the same temperature as the yarn. Sudden cold water can shock the wool and felt it.





When it's done and rinsed lightly roll your yarn in a towel and hang to dry.

Tada!



I will post again when this is dry and knit. This photo really doesn't do the variegation justice.

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Do you twitter?

I'm loving this networking tool. Follow me @sheepmama.


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Grand opening!!!

Now presenting my farm store! Please take a look and tell me what you think!
Www.woolandwingsfiberart.etsy.com

Thank you for looking!


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Back from NH with three stowaways

Phew what a long crazy trip!! I went on a gorgeous farm tour in Barrington, and picked up a cat and two chickens! 

The chickens decided to get in a scuffle during the long trip home resulting in my first animal rehab situation. The little araucana is hanging in there despite her wounds and seems to be a good natured little birdie. The banty that attacked her is settling into the coop with no further issue and has even given us our first egg!! 

Some pictures from the trip:

 

What next?

No seriously, I'd love to know what kind of pestilence shall befall us next. I woke up this morning covered head to toe in what is apparently chigger bites. So now after the snakes, ticks, roaches, ants, beetles, spiders, and now chiggers, what is next?
Here's the kicker- I am NOT a city girl gone country. I spent roughly 20 years of my life in the middle of nowhere in NY or VT out in the great outdoors. Even during our time in charleston (creepy crawly Mecca!) I did not encounter this many problems.
As a child I spent near everyday outdoors in swamps and woods and deep brush and never encountered much worse than a dozen mosquito bites.
This leaves me to ask- What the heck is wrong with Ohio? Did it's founders piss off some angry bug god who decided to bequeath the area with nastiness?

I am so frustrated!

Off to vaccuum, steam clean, and wash everything in hot water.
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Long lost update

It occurred to me I haven't written here in forever and a day. There isn't a whole lot to say. The guineas were a disaster that flew off however I've been happily free ranging my chickens who faithfully return to their roost every morning. My day went kinda like this-
"why you still in the barn chickies?"



"oh we didn't realize it was to come out and play! Here we go!"



"Mm bugs!"



Then to feed the bunnies...
Peter and Nougat
"pssst, hey peter, she looks funny when she hasn't brushed her hair yet!"


Ginger
"sniff sniff I know I dropped some hay out here..."


Princess "I'm going to kill you in your sleep..."



I swear really that white rabbit still hates me for some reason!
Anyhow things are starting to bloom and grow. The blackberries are so close!



And my tomato plant has little baby tomatoes on it. I'm a proud mater mama!



Outside of that I've just been knitting, spinning, and hanging with the kids. The Nougat shawl is almost done and I've also started the St Augustine shrug in merino.
I just spun up this gorgeous batch of yarn-
Merino, bamboo, and angelina, from an etsy purchased batt of fiber. It came out awesome! About a fingering weight, maybe a little lighter. Two ply with gorgeous blues, purples, yellows, honey brown, and sparkling silver. It came to about 115 yards. I'm trying to decide whether to list it or knit it myself.










Last but not least- two of my sheep come next month- the two wethers, a black and a moorit. In august our ewe joins us from another farm, a badgerface mouflon.

That's all for now! Will update when the knitting is done and berries are ripe!

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