Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is almost here....

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is a huge annual event for Avalon Springs Farm.  This year's festival is May 4th and 5th.  Hours:  Sat - 9am-6pm and Sun - 9am-5pm.  Here is the link to the festival:  http://www.sheepandwool.org/

Merlin Yarn, "Esclados the Red"





 Above and below are photos of recent dye lots that are being produced especially for this show.

Merlin Yarn, "Goblin's Gold"

Our booth will be filled with many different kinds of yarn, different textures, weights, fiber contents, and some new and interesting cottage milled yarn.

Merlin Yarn, "On the way to Gaul"

Along with yarn I will have some felt, and dyed locks, and neat little knit kits.  I always have a few patterns and I'll have some new ones too!

Merlin Yarn, "The Book of Kells"

I know that folks come see me for the multi-colored and rainbow dyed work, but those of you who are into semi-solids and solid colors will be very pleased this year too.

Merlin Yarn, "The Moon Spinners"

I will be in my same spot:  LC19 = Lower Corral, space #19.  We rather like it; I've kind of nick-named it "Sheep and Wool West" 'cause we're as far west as one can walk in the fairgrounds.  To find us, walk down hill from the main street - pass the food & t-shirt buildings, get to the bottom of the hill on to where the sheep dog trials are held.  It is a lovely green space with shade trees all around, and generally a little less congested.  Your family and friends can watch the amazing dogs while you shop! 

Can't wait to see you there! 
Karen
 

More Excalibur

I'm currently working on the Excalibur yarn base, and the next installment of photos is below.  I have finished washing, labeling and making into pretty skeins for sale these next colors:  There are two solids: a kind of lilac and a dark night-sky kind of purple, then there are two versions of plies - a lighter and darker.

The solid light purple is named "Camelaird," after the royal court of Gwenivere's heritage; and the solid dark purple is named "Camelot" for Arthur's court.  The two related versions of tweeded colors are "Chilvary" and "Courtly Love".

The two photos with the bundles of skeins were taken in my informal farm shop that is in the 100+ year old part of the house.  There is very little electric in there and the windows are not big, so the lighting is not great.  I don't think these photos truly reflect the rich and pleasant nature of the colors.

I am very happy with the fleece quality that went into these yarns, they have turned out wonderfully.  In particular, I think I could have called Camelaird "don't squeeze the Charmin" instead.  It is simply irresistible.  This grouping, plus the color called "Fairy Wings" were all part of the same group of fleeces, they all have some of the same fiber family in them, and they are awesome!

The details are the same from my previous listing of Excalibur.

Description:
These yarns were all 1/3 Targee cross wool, 1/3 Mohair and 1/3 Alpaca.  They are all sport weight, International yarn gauge #2 Fine.  Each skein is 375 yards and approximately 4 ounces.  The reference to farm yarn means that they are all my animals and fiber from farm friends.  Care suggestions are to hand wash and dry flat.

Inquiries are welcome at AvalonSpringsFarm@comcast.net

Two New Roving Colorways

I really like these two new rovings.  I am definitely exploring a deeper and darker tonal color palette.  "The Vineyard" has a traditional mix of fibers for me:  Corriedale wool, Mohair, Alpaca and glitz.  In the "Knotty Oak" I kind of went out on a limb (ha ha), and it is a little bit of everything including some silk noil for fun in ocher and two shades of green.

Knotty Oak

Both rovings make use of some natural fiber colors.  I will be bringing these to my up coming shows in March, but inquires are always welcome.  Please feel free to email me at:  AvalonSpringsFarm@Comcast.net.  

The Vineyard

Excalibur

I am so happy and excited lately.  I have been working for months at skirting, washing, and dyeing some fiber for yarn in which the milling was just finished! Hurray!  It is for the Excalibur yarn base, that in 2012 I offered only in a worsted weight and now I am offering in sport as well.

Lady of the Lake, full skein

What's in the name...  The poetic connection between "Excalibur", King Arthur's famous sword, and this yarn is that this entire yarn base is produced with a tiny bit of glitz.  It is a little shine and a little sparkle that maybe one could see when the Lady of the Lake rose out of the water to give Arthur the sword -- shining and reflecting from the sun and the water.  Or perhaps, it is Arthur rushing into battle with his gleaming sword risen with courage.  I thought it would be fun to infuse some yarn with a little of that poetry, magic and imagery in mind.

Fairy Wings, full skein

The first two colors that I have finished labeling are pictured.  The blue is "Lady of the Lake"  -- a very deep rich true blue with sparkle for The Lady.   The gray is a natural gray from the alpaca, mohair and wool - all natural gray fleeces.  I generally am not known for my work with a natural color palette, however, this was too beautiful to do any thing else with!  It would have been just "gilding the lily" as they say.  The gray is named, "Fairy Wings."  I am so pleased with its softness and lightness.  I think my customers will really enjoy it.

Lady of the Lake, close up

Description:
These yarn runs are all 1/3 wool (Targee X), 1/3 mohair, and 1/3 alpaca.  They are all sport weight, international gauge #2 Fine.  Each skein is 375 yards, weight is appx 4 ounces +.  The reference to "Farm Yarn" means that it is my animals and some fiber from some friends' farms.  It is all cottage milled and hand dyed (not to mention all the other steps done by my hand too).  Care suggestions are hand-wash and dry flat.  Inquiries at AvalonSpringsFarm@comcast.net are welcome.

Fairy Wings, close up

Fairy Wings, many skeins

Lady of the Lake, many skeins

More to come, stay tuned...

Always, Karen

At New Farm Market

Well, I was interviewed/juried into a new farmers market in New Market, Maryland (just outside Frederick, Maryland).    It is a very neat little market.  The building is a re-purposed dairy barn located on the farm.  The original farm house, silo buildings, hay barns and chicken house are all nested about the place, parking is just in front of the market.  When you pull in you are driving onto the farm.  It is very easy to find, just a straight 1/2 mile down Detrick Road off of Rout 144 streatching between New Market and Mount Airy.  The web link is:  http://englandacres.com/

As for my products, I have filled a bakers rack with fiber and five different yarns as well as a little of this and a little of that - to keep you interested.  And, I will visit the market myself on a regular basis to revolve the inventory and meet customers.  However, I am going to use the blog space below this time to highlight some of the things that I found were interesting when I was there this past weekend for "Customer Appreciation Days".  Below is a little photo essay....

Candle maker

Old fashioned candy



England family fresh baked goods



England family farm fresh meats

frozen custard

delishous local dairy

jams and jellies

lovely pottery

neat soaps and lotions

 

 

Come and enjoy!

 

 

Happy Holidays from Avalon Springs Farm!

Knit Group at Two Rivers Yarns

 

In session: working, laughing, in deep conversation!

Wednesday evenings from 6pm-8pm is the Two Rivers Yarn shop knit group.  Everyone is very warm and welcoming.  I was a new-comer this week to the group.   The shop is such a nice atmosphere to knit, spin, see what others are doing and chat about life and fiber.

 

Spinning at the group too!

Of course, we all had a few sweets and tea. Then I had a chance to hand out a few silly yarn notions and business cards. And, the group had me speak for a few minuts on the art of dying and fun of working with color.

 

Some display from the trunk show!

I also got to inverview the group a little and found there were not just knitters there - crocheters, spinners, felters, weavers, quilting was big too!  A little impulse shopping went on because we couldn't help ourselves.  I bought a beautiful little handmade shawl pin (by a relative of one of the evening's knitters).  So nice to buy local! 

 

Colors for winter, spring, summer, fall !

Part and parcel was "show and tell" which was fabulous.  And I am definitely bias in this case.  Linda Minnick of Mid Valley Fibers had knit tons.  She showed some holiday presents she had finished, but she gave a big plug for work she had done with Avalon Springs Farm yarn.  In particular, the Celtic Knot yarn bundles I make (multiple textured yarns of the same weight in a dye bath together.  I am pictured below wearing the shawl and since there was plenty more yarn, she began a triangle pattern textured scarf too. 

 

Avid dyer, beginner knitter.

Purple seems to be a favorite color of the evening too as I have been requested to make much more yarn in purple.  For my current trunk show there I have several yarn bases and lots of little knit kits (great for gifts).  The show runs through next Wednesday evening, the 19th.  So please do come on by - through the week or see you at knit group!

 

Work in progress from Mid Valley Fibers using Avalon Springs Farm yarn.