Lakefront Property

It rained on Sunday, at night even harder and then kept pouring Monday morning. By 10:00 am this is what my back "yard" looked like. The creek, that is not normally visible, could not handle the runoff from the hill in front of the house. Once again the driveway got washed out, water in the basement and septic system flooded (not funtioning still)... Today is sunny and beautiful and I have to find a septic repair dude. More $$ that I don't have out the window for shit, literally.

Felted Lily Runner

This project used up the last of the wool felting fiber I had dyed. I washed and dried two fleeces during the past week. I carded the first one and cooked it in alum/tartar so I could start dyeing today. I used an old (fermented) jug of goldenrod dye and the funky smell stunk up the entire house even though I dye in the basement! bleh. I have some nice candles taking care of the problem now.

Water Lily Table Runner

I just put the finishing touches on this hand made natural dyed wool felt table runner. The base is a combination of indigo, logwood and millet. The colours cried out for water lilies which I had never done before. I added a few beads to give a little sparkle in the center. I am happy with the way it turned out. In fact I am happy just to be working in the studio two days in a row! I have been working too many in the flower shop. The pay is low, but now... my shows don't start up until next month. I do need time to get inventory ready though.

Picasso

I've decided to name the cria" Picasso". Still no birthing activity from Catawissa. Today is the set up for the craft show and it is pouring. It has been that way an awful lot this year, but now it is cold too! And my sister Juliet and I are camping. Back to packing.

New Cria!

After acting odd for the previous week, Friday morning Oct 2nd Chickapee (black, sitting) gave birth to a beautiful little male! He is brown with black points, scampering around...adorable. Catawissa was also due on the fifth of Oct but so far nothing has happened. I have a show this weekend and wanted her little one born before I left. Still a little time. Any suggestions for names?

Alpaca Shearing Day

Wednesday was the long awaited shearing day. Bud and Karen from Shores Fiber Farm brought their trailer down from Ulster to use as a shearing shed. My friend Denise stopped by and took this photo of me clipping burdocks out of Boo's topknot before he was sheared. Bud handled the actual shearing and shots while I collected fiber and attempted to keep them as calm as possible! The strange surroundings and buzzing of the electric clippers got them rather excited. They all look so different without the bushy fiber. The first thing they did back in the pasture was roll in the dirt, I guess it is itchy like a fresh haircut. It was a long but satisfying day.

We did it!

I got up bright and early yesterday. All my jury items were packed and ready. I drove to Shamokin Dam to meet up with Dixie, a friend and fellow member of the Williamsport Chapter of the PA Guild of Craftsmen. She does awesome wheat weaving and was scheduled for the same jury session. Her husband Matt drove us the rest of the way to Lancaster. She seemed like a cool cucumber, until we got there, then she admitted that her nerves were frazzled too! We set up our displays and went for a walk. We stopped at a few galleries and then decided on a bite to eat. If we were going to get bad news we preferred not to hear it with empty stomachs! At the scheduled time we returned to the jury room... and both of us were greated with our seals! The feeling of relief is a wonderful thing. So happy!!!!