Phat Fiber Goodies

     Thought we would show some proof that we actually do get some spinning time in once in awhile. These are 2 of the samples we received in our Phat Fiber boxes. The orange fiber is Superwash  BFL from Brazen Stitchery called Leelu Dallas and was in the most recent box. The other spindle is loaded with another sample of BFL from LMS Studio Arts called Sea Glass and was from our October 2012 box.  Susie used a couple of our Janet Yost spindles to spin these on and once we get them skeined off I will test them to see if they are lace weight or cobweb. Susie has plans for knitting them when she gets done with the spinning so stay tuned!  I think this may have been the first time we have worked with BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) and we both think it has a really nice feel but we both still prefer our Finn fiber!

Morning Ice

     We woke this morning to the sound of rain coming down and freezing on everything.  Even though this was predicted on the weather sight, it was still on the weird side since ice is something we have not had to deal with much since moving to Tennessee back in the '80s.  Fortunately I already had MORE than enough hours in that I didn't have to worry about driving 40 miles into town just to make sure I didn't have a short check!  Not having to travel ended up being a good thing since when I went out to see how slick it was, I fell on my ample posterior and SLID about 20 feet downhill on the gravel driveway and only stopped when I slid into the side of the car.  So.....today has ended up sitting inside by the wood stove keeping warm and knowing that when I try to get out of bed in the morning, I WILL feel the effects of my curiosity!  (By the way....it WAS slick out there!)

Finally Some Good News!

  

  For anyone that follows Dave Ramsey and his teaching through Financial Peace University, his lead in line of  "...where the paid off home mortgage has replaced the BMW as the status symbol of choice".... you'll understand our excitement when we say that as of last Friday our farm is PAID OFF!  I'm not sure the reality of it has soaked in as of yet. Maybe it's because of  all the repairs and work that needs done here or the continued pain and trials of our family situation over the past year but I really expected to be a lot more "giddy" over knowing that the place was now ours.  With all the uncertainty in both the economy and the state of the nation as a whole, we felt it was time to take the plunge and use our emergency fund to pay the place off and then start building the emergency fund back up. Earning 50% less now than I did a few short years ago has made ANY advancements an unbelievable ordeal but GOD is good when we are faithful in the little things....and believe me...my income falls in the "little things" category!

     On another high note, our Aland wool from Finland arrived on Friday and I will be taking pictures of it to post on here in the next day or two.  It is some REALLY nice looking fleece and Susie and I are looking forward to working with this new to us wool. Stay tuned!

                    

Happy New Year!

 

  Well, here I am again at the start of a new year with all the intentions of being MUCH more diligent in posting.  Time will tell if I can do this or if the continuing heartbreak we have experienced the past 10 plus months will continue on into the foreseeable future. (I'm not holding my breath since we are still very much subject to others LIFE decisions) At least let me start on a positive note since its the first day of the new year.

   For the past 3 months, Susie & I have been able to "score" what is called a Phat Fiber box.  Phat Fiber is the brainchild of a young couple from Southern Illinois that takes samples of fiber related items from small, independent fiber artist the world over and packages them into boxes for sale. These boxes come in either "fluff" which is spinners goodies.... "stitches" which are for the knitters or "mixed" which has a menagerie of items in both of the other categories. We have gone for the "fluff" box each time since we are more geared to spinning fiber and making our own yarn.  There have been some pretty awesome samples in these boxes! (I might add that the boxes normally sell out LITERALLY in less than 3 SECONDS!)  I attached a picture of one of the samples that Susie's spinning on a Yost drop spindle. The fiber is BFL wool dyed in the colorway called Sea Glass from LMS Studio Arts. 

   We started buying the Phat Fiber boxes as a way to get inspired to get our OWN rears in gear and get Sojourner Studios going in earnest rather just in "theory". I really hope that in the near future I will be able to show pictures on this blog of some of OUR items that have been included in future Phat Fiber boxes.