A Sheep In Wools' Clothing

Swans Island Blankets

While camping at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground during Fiber College of Maine, Laila, Sara & I decided to take a short road trip down the road to visit Swans Island Blankets.  The blankets are made from regional sheep, spun at Green Mountain Spinnery, then dyed with natural dyes and woven here in Maine.

They have scarves, stoles, baby blankets, throws, summer & winter weight blankets in many colors - stripes and checks.  The dye building was made with special care to not contaminate the environment as well.  The big rings the yarn hangs to dry from are the rings in lobster trap openings for $0.20 instead of $12 for the custom made ones originally used.  

The smaller items come in a linen presentation box and the larger items come in linen woven bags for storage...The looms were amazing with electric shuttle movement and thousands of warp strands.

Searsport Shores Ocean Campground

The venue for Fiber College of Maine is Searsport Shores Ocean Campground.  Laila, Sara & I strolled around today to check things out.  There is a studio with an artist in residence, dyers' garden, Beehive bunkhouse, Fairy & Toad house and fiber goats.  Lawn sculpture icludes a large triangle loom, a tapestry loom and a woven reed or twig basket.  The camp store sells dyed locks of fiber by the ounce.  There are crocheted party dresses hanging in the garden.

 

Astrig, the campground owner & Fiber College organizer, indicated that she has learned to spin drafting with her left hand, hoding fiber betweem her index & third fingers.  Later today, I am going to give it a try.  And I'm goint to try to learn how to crochet with a clearly impaired hand,,,, wush me luck!

The campground is right on the ocean.  They have lobster bakes every Saturday night on the beach.  Last night there was a giant Easter bunny wearing a tutu going through camp....

 

Right now there are two Great wheels in the studio loft, one of which will be auctioned off during Fiber College.  There will be a Rio Grande wheel for the Great Wheel spinning class as well.  The natural dyeing instructor, Jackie Ottino Graf, is reportedly phenominal.  There is a class in reading Japanese knitting patterns, bookbinding (Purple Bean Bindery), woodcarving, Navajo spindling, etc.  Lots going on with Phenomenal instructors.

Second Annual Knitting Friends Camp Week

Last year, I tent camped in Acadia National Park with two fiber buddies, Laila and NH Sara.  I "met" Sara through blogging, and physically met up at Fiber Revival in 2009.  At Fiber Revival, Sara told me about the Vermont Knitting Retreat.  Sara & I attended that in 2010 where we met Laila.  Laila moved to the USA from Sweden at the age of 14.  Sara knits & weaves.  Laila knits and weaves and now dyes (our dye weekend was at her daughter's place in Vermont).

The three of us met up again in 2011 at the Vermont Knitting Retreat.   Both of those retreats ended with a tour of Gilead Fiber Farm owned by Laila's daughter, Kristen.  We then added SPA to our meetups, sharing a room and enjoying each other's company.  Then we started adding in weekend get-togethers for events such as NH Sheep & Wool and Green Mountain Fiber Festival in White River Junction, VT or simply gathering at Laila's house for a weekend of being fiber junkies and friends. 

Last August  we got together and tent camped for a week, using the now-becoming-infamous three room Sam's Club find tent I own.  While I'm not certain that Laila and Sara were really hyped about the idea of spending a week in a tent camping, they were good sports & it all turned out well.  We have a fiber-shanty-away-from-home to use for events like the VT dye weekend, and our now annual week of tent camping.  

Last year was the first time I attended Fiber College of Maine despite the fact I live only 25 miles away from the campground where it is held.  I took two classes from Mary Jane Mucklestone in Fair Isle and Andean colorwork, a class from Josette McWilliams of Enchanted Knoll Farm and a wood carving class where I made myself a wood spirit staff.

Enter this year's plans for our now annual camping trip, and we decided to dovetail our week of camping with Fiber College and pitch the tent at the facility hosting Fiber College, Searsport Shores Ocean Campground.  We have a screen room, camp kitchen, LED Coleman quad light, 2 queen sized air mattresses (and the cigarette lighter pump to fill them), two burner camp stove and the tent.  While I don't have a rain fly for the screen room, we move indoors to the "living room" of the tent during rainy times and the screen room otherwise.

I'm taking classes in A) Navajo spinning  B) Introduction to Japanese patterns   C) spinning on a Great Wheel  and D) photography for knitters.  I believe Sara is making a dragon.  Laila is along for the ride (saving pennies for a trip to Australian this winter, with plans to meet David of Southern Cross Fibre.  We have Krysta (Banrion on Rav) and "the other Sara" from Maine (knitmainea on Rav) joining us the last weekend, and even Lisa (knitnzu on Rav) for a day.

I'll be moving Gamma (my daughter Kille's youngest brother - the other two are "Alpha" and "Beta") and his girlfriend into their apartment Saturday morning (using the pickup I now own and the new-to-me horse trailer), then they will follow me to camp to help me set it up.  Hopefully when Laila and Sara get there, it'll all be up and ready, and there will be an adult beverage and hors d'ouevres waiting...Just saying that horse trailers (power washed out) are fabulous pieces of equipment to have when moving college students in and out of places..

I'll be posting the adventures of the nomadic fiber trio as the week progresses..

Hunter-Gatherer

Ever since returning from the Gilead Dye weekend at Gilead Fiber Farm (Etsy shop here) in Vermont last month, I seek dye plant materials every time I venture outdoors.  On my own road, I've discovered burdock (roots can be used for dyeing), stinging nettles, goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace and staghorn sumac (leaves and berries).  I even have a dead apple tree on my land I am considering using for a dye bath.

 

My friend, Sissy, has a number of acres of land, abutting to land of both her brothers and her mom.  I went there (with permission of course) and gathered Queen Anne's lace, tansy, jewel week, rose hips and goldenrod to make dye baths from.  Sissy has been weeding out her jewel weed, but will now save it for me & dyeing.  I am hoping to even do an experiment with the more abundant materials comparing freshly gathered vs frozen vs dried materials and the results.  Kristen of Gilead Fiber Farm mentioned that one can cook down the plants in a dye bath as usual, but store the hot dye bath after straining out the plant matter, in canning jars in a dark closet away from light.  Then when one is ready to dye or has the fiber ready, the dye bath can be used at that time for dyeing.  She has had success storing the dye materials in that form.  Some dyebaths she has had success with even after two years of such storage.

 

So, I splurged and bought myself a huge stainless steel pot for cooking dye materials, a big metal strainer, a large funnel (in the auto department at Wal-Mart), and canning jars in various sizes to use for dyeing.  I was too over-eager to wait for a large stainless steel dye suitable pot to show up at Goodwill or Salvation Army (although I did go looking, but got too impatient).  I am hoping to get these materials cooked, frozen or dried before I leave for my second annual camping/fiber week with fiber buddies Laila and NH Sara next week.  Last year, we stayed in Acadia in my three room tent (a Sam's Club special a number of years ago - suitable only for car camping but perfect for this purpose) in early August.  This year, we are dovetailing into Fiber College of Maine in Searsport, ME at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground.  Still in the three room tent, which also made its appearance at the dye weekend in Vermont, we have the original three of us fiber nuts plus Laila's dog, Lily (a Yorkie) plus on the Fiber College weekend, we will have Krysta and the other Sara (Maine) joining us.  I have a camp kitchen (to keep all the cooking stuff off the picnic table), a screen room (but no rain protection other than the roof there), and the tent.  We have queen sized air mattresses (& a cigarette lighter adaptor pump), camp chairs, nesting cookware, an LED quad light from Coleman, and an outdoor extension cord (who can camp without cell phone chargers, laptops and a Kuerig?)....   come by and chat or have a cuppa if you are there - we have an ocean view campsite and you can't miss the big red Tundra parked there!

 

Last year, Laila was warping her rigid heddle loom using her sideview mirror as a warping peg.  Sara knit on socks we never thought would get done, but did.  Laila worked on her socks that were knit one inside the other (but she hasn't finished them, he he he), and I worked on my Color-On-Color scarf that has been in progress for far too many years.  I am finished now with the scarf but for a ton of iCord embellishments, so perhaps this year will see that project finally finished.  If it does get completed, I am rewarding myself with a black winter jacket of some sort to show off the scarf!

Abby Finds A Home

Last weekend, while at NETA's SPA 2011 in Freeport, ME I fell in   
love with a character named "Abby" made by the wonderfully talented women at Mountain Fiber Folk in Vermont.  

Some of the women make the clothing for these dolls out of vintage doilies, others wet felt things like vests and embellish them, others contribute animal fleece for hair, and Amy Felske is the doll sewer extraordinaire.   Her dolls have energy and life in them - Abby made friends all over the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday!

Abby has wonderful details like a felted embellished vest, a tail, vintage lace doily overskirt, a Battenberg lace cap, a carved swan staff, a rusty key on her belt, Birkenstock shoes, and a basket of wool in her other hand.

The co-op members all knew the dolls by name, and said goodbye to her when I purchased her.  They even got me a box to put her in for the long ride home - her "car seat".  Then one of my SPA 2011 companions, NH Sara went to the freebie table, found some dark green yarn and knit Abby a blanket to keep her warm on the ride home as well.

Abby wears bloomers, covered by a dark screen gassamer skirt, then the vintage doily overskirt.  She sports a calico blouse and wet felted,
embellished vest.  Her tail is even adorned with ribbon.  Her platform is old barn board found inside the artist's own barn.  Soon, I hope to have some formal modeling pics of her that Amy took after her creation...  AND Amy created Abby especially for coming to SPA!

I've commissioned another creature from Amy - it will remain a secret until he arrives!

Seyon Lodge Knitting Retreat 2011

Last year, a group of 16 knitters and spinners rented out the Seyon Lodge (Vermont State park) for
a weekend of knitting and spinning in the snow, trees and quietude.  The lodge is state run by Vermont, and rents out for incredibly reasonable rates.  The innkeeper, JessieMae and her assistant Emmet, are fabulous and very accommodating chefs.  Their lodge granola is to die for, and I am told (I am gluten free so I can't speak for these) that the scones and muffins are top notch as well.

The fireboxes are kept well stocked with split wood for the fireplace.  Bedrooms aplenty are there, with everything from queen beds to futons and bunks, all with quilts on them.  The lodge rents out snowshoes, and they groom trails for sledding,
snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  We all bring snacks, tea and wine or whatever suits, and share or not - it's all relaxed and comfortable.

Charlton always gives some classes on Saturday - this year his topic was socks and he even had a booklet printed up to go with his classes.  We all came away with autographed copies of his booklet!
 One knitter, Lynne, a Vermont science teacher in the middle schools, is making a tradition of bringing a huge cone of chenille which she winds into cakes of yarn.  Everyone there can take one or more cakes home with them...

Both years, we've had a total of 16 people (the max for the lodge), and this year about half of us were returnees from last year.  We come from all walks of life, span several decades of ages, and have vastly varying years of knitting expertise and we all share and are united through fiber...  I'm looking forward to next year already.

2010 SPA

This weekend was the annual NETA SPA event in Freeport, ME.  A co-worker, Robyne and I have made this an annual event for the past three years.  This time, we stayed at the Harraseeket Inn, which was fabulous.  Jetted tub, fireplace in the room, hot breakfast buffet and afternoon tea included.  This year, the spinning and knitting rooms were at the Harraseeket while the vendors room and spa services were over at the Hilton Garden Inn.    
 

It seems that one night each year, Robyne and I make a late night trek to LL Bean (open 24/7/365), and Robyne has been photographed in the fish tank bubble, sliding down the banisters (with permission), on the LL Bean boot outside the main doors, and this year, saying hi to the musk ox we found in the sporting section.  Robyne scored a down jacket for $25.  I scored some new, smaller jeans and pj's.

This year, both Robyne and I actually did a full day and evening of spinning (I know - shocking!) after visiting the favorites in the vendors' room at the HGI like Heather (Sereknity), Amy King (Spunky Eclectic), Kim Kaslow (The Woolen Rabbit) and others.  It seems about half the vendors return annually, and the other half change over, bringing new faces and new items.  Amy's corner always seems to be the most active.

 The Harraseeket had a small herd of Ladybug wheels in the lobby spinning quietly away, as did the HGI.  We met new people, found awesome sheepy slippers, shared wine, cheese, pizza, stories, laughs and friendship.  Most of all, we got away from our daily   lives and winter with the most awesome folk in the world - fiber people!

I finished spinning some beautiful ice blue merino/bamboo from the Portland Fiber & Weaving Gallery, and getting it plied.  It is destined to become an ear warmer for DD.  DD is now a sophomore in college and a music major.  She is the tuba section leader for marching and pep bands.  The UMO mascot is the black bear, and their colors are sky blue and black.  So, the   ice blue will be the MC, with black as the CC, and I will add in a bear paw print and a stencil shape of a Sousaphone(tuba) on the ear warmer.  

And the parting photo of this post is the moose who joined us at dinner Saturday night (no, I wasn't drinking, but Robyne was).  He was at the Broad Tavern in the Harraseeket Inn - there was lots of character in the tavern, including shotgun shell light strings, canoes hanging from the ceiling, a musket over the mantel, this moose peeking around the column (click for bigger), and tons of other wonderful details and character.

It was an awesome weekend, and it is a great annual tradition.

Fiber Revival 2009

Last weekend, I drove down to Newbury, MA for the Fiber Revival at the  Spencer Peirce Little Farm.  It would appear from past photos of the event that this year was the third year, and the plans are already underway for next year.  Admission to the farm was $5, and there was a very nice trio of young musicians for background music, a few well-selected vendors, and of course the crux of all such events, fiber fanatics.  Knitters, spinners of all ages. 

I met one young lady who was 11 years old.  She's been crocheting since the age of 4 and already spins, knits and is starting to sew as well.  There were vendors with ice cold water and soft drinks, burgers and hot dogs as well, and indoor plumbing to boot!  The location beautiful, the historical buildings a feast of texture in building materials, and the weather cooperated.

I finally met in flesh and blood, Sara of Fabric 'n Fiber Fanatic and Julie of Noolie Knits.  There have been other occasions we'd planned to meet, but they didn't work out, since we all know life happens and others have plans for our time...  We had a wonderful afternoon spinning, lusted after the baby alpacas for sale (pet prices, since there was a large escape of male alpacas, leading to unknown heritage in these babies, who now cannot be registered - can't you see Sam with an alpaca to guard?), got Sara going on taking weaving lessons (she inherited a rigid heddle loom & has never woven), and caught up with Heather of Sereknity.  I was hoping to see  Amy of Spunky Eclectic there (she was there last year apparently) and have her sign her book for me, but alas, it was not to be.

While I went to this event intent not to spend money, but to visit with friends and make more friends, I did manage to spend some anyway.  I bought one sweater kit for a gift sweater (fall birthday), some yarn and some fiber.

Before heading home on the 3 1/2 hr drive, a couple of us had dinner together in "downtown" Newbury.  We ate at the Town Tavern, before the Saturday night crowd.  The food was awesome, the company better, the atmosphere quaint and welcoming, and the extension of a wonderful day was welcome.  This fiber event is definitely on my radar for next year!  Hope to see more of you there!