Wool washing experiments. And more felted sheep.

This is the white Shetland fleece I bought. I tried a little experiment a few days ago. I had heard on a fiber forum how some people use Orvus Paste, which is a horse shampoo. So I found some at Tractor Supply. I got a little bit of the wool and used Orvus. Then another hand full and used Dawn.

This is before washing. It's more a cream color. Not a lot of VM, but dirty.

Here are the 2 drying on racks. I cannot really tell much difference.

This is washed in the Orvus. Nice and soft. Clean. But still a bit yellow, which could just be the sheep it came from. I don't really know a lot about all this. Someone did mention that not all sheep will wash up pretty and shiny white. That some sheep are a creamy color.

This is the wool washed in Dawn.  I think the Orvus is a little whiter looking at this picture. Someone also said they use Dawn and Orvus together. So I might try some washed that way today and see what happens.
But this is really soft and clean too. I also didn't let it soak as long as I usually do as I had to leave in a few hours to meet my mom. So I'll let more soak longer today.

And some more cute little sheep I'll take to the Bazaar Christmas Bazaar at Brainerd market this Saturday. The gray one on the left is from some Icelandic roving I got from  Jessica in NY. I also made dryer balls with some. The one on the right is from the Romney fleece I bought at the fiber show. I love this wool!
The 2 white sheep are made with the white Romney wool.

 
And have to have some cute little different sheep, right? I made a lamb to go with the big blue ewe. And added more wool to the red ones.

Off to the studio to make more things for market. I'm also making some Christmas gifts for family. I made a pretty cowel last night and will use a few of the wooden buttons I got from Wooly Moss Roots. I LOVE these buttons. But now I want some bigger ones for the cowels.

Are y'all all busy making things? Would love to hear what you're all up to.

Working around here

 See this tree? See where it's headed?

Right onto the little barn out back. Not a good thing. So it's being cut down today. The sheep are back there, so they'll eat all the pine needles. This little barn is old, but built to last forever. It's oak, from rough cut boards. I have tried to pound nails into these boards. It can't be done. The man who built this place, he wanted things to be here a very long time! So he built to last.

I spent a good part of Monday going around the electric fence, taking off branches that had fallen over the wires, trimming underneath, tightening the wires, moving things around. Last time the sheep were out here, Cora Belle had gotten out and was at the top of the hill, baaaaing like crazy.

Some of the posts needed to be replaced, so got those put in this morning. Fixed the ground wire and turned it back on. It's hot again!

So let the sheep out there this morning. There's green grass out here. So they will be happy for a few days here.

Had to get another round bale of hay Monday. They had eaten all but a little pile in the corner. I think the first bale lasted a month. So $35 a bale plus $5 to deliver, I think I can live with that. I'll have to get at least 4 more. SO much cheaper and less waste than square bales. And I don't even have to touch them!!!!

Buttercup, on the left here, and one of the Tappit brothers, were playing. She could be in heat. But the boys are wethers now, so nothing going on there. I have decided to not breed the sheep this year. I'll wait til the lambs are bigger and try to find a Romney ram for next fall. I am in love with Romney wool, so will see how the wool is with the Finn/ I love my Finn wool. And together, I think that would be some really awesome fiber.

Getting ready for market this cold gloomy dreary Wed. afternoon. Just picked collards, lettuce, kale and wild chives. Plus, found some wild dock growing out in the garden. I looked it up and it can be used like any green. I really want to do wild edibles. There is so much growing here that's wild and so nutritious and beneficial to us. I'll take some to market and see how it goes.

And some more wool...

 I have gone a little crazy ordering fleeces on-line the past few weeks. It can get a bit addicting for sure. Some are just beautiful. Others, not so much.

This one came from Windswept Acres. Romney sheep.  They are coated and this fleece is amazingly beautiful! I cannot wait to get it all washed and spun. It's just beautiful. I would love to get a Romney ram now to breed my Finn sheep next year. Wouldn't that make some awesome fiber?

I can't remember, but I think this is Border Leicester wool. I ordered 2 or 3 pounds of it. It's really pretty too. And clean. Came from John and Madeleine Messersmith.

This came today from Sycamore Farms in N.C. It's Shetland. It's really greasy but not too awfully dirty. I just bought some Orvus Paste from Tractor Supply, which is a horse shampoo. Sodium Laurel I think. It's supposed to really get fleeces clean and white. I hope this one gets clean and white after using it. It's really soft.

This is from Elk Sheep farm. Raw Lincoln fleece. Very crimpy and soft. I hope it gets white when cleaned. Don't really know what to do with this.

This came from one of my blog friends, Sandra Morris, of Mitten State sheep. It's BL too. SO beautiful and clean and soft. Can't wait to get it all washed up and spun too. Thank you Sandra! I love it!

Sandra also sent some BL roving too. Really soft and pretty. Thanks again. I love this!

Now this. I ordered 2 fleeces, which I can't remember what they are, probably Romney too, from an Emily on the Raw Wool for sale forum. When I got the box and opened it, it stunk so bad! And it felt wet. I had to leave the box outside. Then the other day, I opened the bags and put them on the racks. They are totally nasty. Full of VM and really quite gross. And still felt wet. I paid the most for these fleeces than any of the others.  I'll have to wait to even do anything with these til later, when I might not have much to do. I am not happy with these at all. And I hope I'm able to salvage enough to do anything with at all.

This is a Romney fleece that I washed last week, in Dawn and a whole box of  Borax. It's still a bit yellow and the tips are a mess. But near the bottom of the bag, toward the end of skirting it, I found some really nice parts. I am using this for needle felting and dryer balls. I might try to wash this again in the Orvus and see if I can get it looking whiter.

This is that same fleece, in some batts. It's  just a little yellower than I'd like it to be.

So, I will be busy, washing all these fleeces. They will become cute little sheep or owls or pin cushions or dryer balls. But most will become beautiful hand spun yarns.

It's been a learning experience for sure, ordering on-line. Not really knowing what I'll be getting. Some did not look like the pictures at all. And some I was very surprised and happy with. And I will be ordering more from them for sure.

Happy Monday to you all! Gotta get back over to the studio and create more pretties. What are y'all up to today?

Wool...

I have been making lots of needle felted woolies this past week, getting ready for the first of 2 holiday markets in a row. The first was today. It was so fun! I did really good there. Sold a lot of soap and dryer balls. And sheep. Other things too, but mostly those things. So I will be making more this next week.

I made these cute little pin cushions. I love them. But didn't sell any today. I'll be going to the Main St. market Wed. so maybe I can sell a few there. I think this will be my last Wed. market. It's getting to be too cold for outside markets. Especially for just 1 hour.

Some more little owlies. They are so sweet. I need to look for some little feathers and put on the little heads.

I did sell lots of sheep. One lady bought 3, then wanted a little lamb. So had to get that made while there and her grand daughter took it home to her. I had one of the other vendors ask if I could maybe make a bass or catfish for her husband. I told her I could certainly try. She said she's call to see how much I'd charge. She'd like a life-sized fish, so not really sure what to charge. Also another lady wanted to me to make an Airstream camper for her husband who is restoring one. Still working on that.

I love going to markets and meeting new people. I met a new neighbor out my way here. She was next to me today. And saw so many old friends there. It's always fun.

Now to get ready for next week! Hope y'all have a great Sunday.

(Almost forgot to say that anything I make is for sale! So let me know if anything catches your eye. These would make great gifts! And shipping probably wouldn't be too much.)

December already!

    I am so busy I don't know where to start. Or go. I have a Holiday Market at 2 different churches the next 2 Saturdays that I am trying to get ready for. I've been ordering fleeces and getting some of them delivered. I've been washing a white Romney fleece I got Monday, so I can make dryer balls, snow people and owls with it for markets.

Also trying to take care of Mrs. T and her household problems. And trying to spend time with my Mom and sister, while she's here at Mom's. I am SO thankful my sister Heidi has been able to be here so much during this time. My mom fell a few weeks ago and broke her right knee. She won't be able to drive til after Christmas now. She's walking, so can do some things for her self now. And my brother was her last week from Colorado. He left Monday morning. So it's been fun. And lots of food. And traveling here and there.

So I am trying to get some things made for the holiday markets in between all this. Haven't had much luck though. I have 2 more full days to work at it. Just seems like so much to be done still.

And my hive outback was empty last Friday when I was showing my brother the hives. Slap empty. Well, we did see a few bees buzzing around it. I was just stunned to find it empty. It was full just the day before. I've been feeding both hives sugar water so I know there were bees in both hives.

So now, the garden hive bees have been out back in that hive, cleaning it out. I suppose some of that hive's bees joined the garden hive. The queen must have died. I did see what looked like a few queen cells on the bottom of a few frames up there. But the bees are doing a good job of getting all the pollen and honey moved to the good hive. When they are done, I'll put that hive away for next year's new bees. Or a split from the garden hive.

So this is why I have not been here lately. Just so much to do! What is going on in your lives out there in blog land?

1st crocheted hats...

 My sister has been here since Monday, staying with mom. We went to my niece's in Tn. Wed. to learn to crochet hats. My sister just learned to crochet and loves it. And I have crocheted for years, but have never made hats. I had learned to knit a hat a few years ago, but it takes too long. And I HATE round knitting needles. So Jill said to come on up and she'd teach us a simple hat. And it really is simple and that's what we like! So this is my first hat. Made for my youngest grand daughter, Kansas, who was more than happy to be my model. She's just a natural, don't you think?

And this is my 2nd hat, made for my oldest grand daughter Chloe, who was too shy to model it. So Kansas said she would. It's more slouchy, which I like.

This is the 3rd hat, made today in a few hours, at my mom's. For my oldest daughter, Heather. I first made one too many rows at the beginning, where I have to add a few more stitches. So when she tried it on, it was quite big. Like she could do her hair in dreads and it would have fit fine. So I took it all out to the 5th row and then went from there to this.

I learned a new  stitch to make a ribbed look. I love this stitch. Something like front and back stitch. And this pattern is SO easy and fast to make for even a beginner. Heidi, my sister, who has just started crocheting, has already made 2 hats. So this is what we have been doing together. I love it!

So everyone is getting crocheted hats and scarves for Christmas this year! Done!

Thanksgiving was different this year. My youngest daughter and her husband always had to leave to get to his parents house by 4 on Thanksgiving day. So we decided to do it on Friday this year. So Thursday, we just had a ham dinner at Mom's. Friday, everyone came to my house and we had turkey and all the rest of the usual stuff. So much nicer.

AND, this is the first year I DID NOT LEAVE MY HOUSE!!! The WHOLE day! It was fantastic! We have always gone shopping on Friday. But the past few years, I have not wanted to go. But my mom always made me go with her. So I did. Naw, I really did enjoy spending time with mom. Just the past few years, I haven't even wanted to think about Christmas. And getting out in all that mess? UGH! Not my favorite thing to do anymore. Plus, Mom had broken her knew a few weeks ago, so can't be on her feet too long. So it was different this year. I am not complaining  at all.

I hope you all had a wonderful week with family and friends. And that you didn't eat too much.

John C. Campbelle Folk School...

This is some of the pictures I took of my trip last weekend to the spinning class. Look at the snow on top of this mountain. So pretty.

Bee hives out in the field by the house I stayed in. No bees in them though. Someone said they take the bees somewhere else for winter.

                                                                I just thought this was cool.

A greenhouse and chicken coop. I felt right at home with the chickens and bee hives so close.

If you click on this picture, you can see the name of the little town. There was a store and a few other buildings, called Clay's Corner.

                                                                 

This was so peaceful.

And a log house. Doesn't look like it's used for anything. But really cool place.

I am ready to go back there!