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.

 

Trunk Show Announcement

I just occured to me that I made posts about my current trunk show on Facebook but not on my blog...  big ooops! 

Currently I have a trunk show going on -- it started Black Friday and runs through mid-December (Wednesday the 19th).  It is at Two Rivers Yarns in Brunswick MD. 
Two Rivers Yarn Shop

My focus was three fold - Yarn, Kits, Roving.  My three main hand-dyed yarn bases:  Merlin (worsted, wool 'n mohair), Gwenevere (DK, alpaca), and PenDragon (sport, superwash merino) are there.  Also a good selection of knit kits which I hoped may make good gift ideas.  They are all quick knits so there could be time left to produce yourself or perhaps give to the knitter on your list.  And, last but not least, a grouping of my rovings are present.

Reflected in the picture choices is the idea that there is some work in semi-solids and some in the rainbow dyeing in all three - the yarn, kits and roving.  Hope you enjoy the colors.

Check out Two River's website for shop hours, but they are open all weekend, of course, and a number of weekday hours too.  They also have a knit group that meets on Wednesday evenings.  Very nice.

Happy Holidays everyone!

The wash is done:

.

I just finished washing these fleeces that came to me by way of our sheerer, Emily C. They were pets, but what prety fleeces.  They are all colored fleeces each one slightly darker than the one above it.  All combinations of cream, gray, chocolate, tan, and medium red/brown.  All nice and young and soft.

I like blending wool, mohair and alpaca.  It is a favorite blend.  I feel that each one has its special contibution: 

The wool adding knitability, the mohair for color punch, and the alpaca for the touchability.

So off to contemplate what these will become...

Roving, humm - Felt, humm - Yarn, humm

What a yummy delima!

Christmas came a little early...

Okay, okay - I have all these fiber animals;  I make and dye all this yarn, and I am not really a knitter.  For me, its more like "Mom, will you cast on for me?"  And then I knit a rectangle.  Its just that the children, the animals and all the fiber art more than take up my time.  I've got a dye pot on before 7 am and it often only gets shoved over a burner for dinner and is still going at 10 pm.  So who has time to knit - I say to myself.  Well, I am finally determined.   I'll state my New Year's Resolution a little early too... By the end of 2013, I at least want to have knit all the patterns that I have in my booth for my customers.  I hope I can do it, most are beginner level, and some intermediate - not sure if I can get to any lace, but I'll try.

So on that note, I am alway drooling over some of the finished knits in the booths of my friends, comrads, and mentors.  One such thing that I have eyed for several years are these triangle shawls by Greta Dise of Persimmon Tree Farm.  Greta has a really nice old farm up in PA.  She goes to both MD Sheep & Wool and Rhinebeck.  She has been all across the country for the last two decades showing goats and selling her fiber art - mainly hand-dyed yarns and rovings, but she also is always knitting something.  So, you will always find some hats, sweaters, scaves, and shawls and such in her booth.  And, oooh how I drool over those triangle shawls.  Greta finally said to me, "Well, darn it, Karen, if you get me some yarn that is your dye work, I'll knit you one."  I thought it was too good to be true, but below are the pictures.  Greta is certain, that now that I have one and the pattern to boot, I can teach myself how to do this.  So it has become part of the resolution.

In the pictures are the yarn I dyed for her to do the knitting-- I dyed a little extra, and me in the shawl.  Why are we all only "photogenic" in our twenties?  Drat!  But I do think, I like that shawl!  I adore Greta, and you guys have no idea how wonderful it made me feel to open this special present from her!!

Check out Greta's goats and yarn on Facebook under:  PersimmonTreeFarm on Facebook
There are also some pictures of her knitting in progress on my facebook page at:  Avalon Springs Farm on Facebook
 

The Quest is to Spin....

Next weekend is SpinQuest in Front Royal, VA.  I will have a booth there.  This is the first year of this event, and it is a really neat idea.  The show is really dedicated to spinning.  It is all about fiber and the art of spinning.  Here is the link:  http://www.spinartiste.com/spinquest .  I love their logo, it was designed by Melissa Ricks of Wild Hare: 

There are two ways to participate, of course, just come and shop, but also you can register to be a spinning participant at the show.  Spinning participants will spin their hearts out with fibers from a special Quest Kit, as well as learn all kinds of spinning techniques from teachers & demos.  It should be a blast to be a part of this circle.  I can't wait!  See you there!

Shop and Show!

I am so pleased to announce that Uniquities Yarn Shop in Vienna, Virginia is now carrying some things from Avalon Springs Farm.  You will fall in love with this yarn shop - an awesome selection of yarns for all kinds projects and fun and even more importantly - the nicest staff ever!

The Uniquities Shop is very easy to get to in the heart of Vienna:
421-D Church Street NE, Vienna, VA, 22180 | 703-242-0520 | service@uniquitiesyarnshop.com
Shop Hours:
Monday – 10:00 am to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
It is in a two-story red brick building.  The shop is on the ground floor, but spinning wheels, and classes are above in a really nice space too.  Check out thier web site for upcomming activities and classes.  http://uniquitiesyarnshop.com/

Speaking of activities --- their annual Fiber Farmers Market is comming up on Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at the Vienna Community Center. The Market will be open to the public from 1pm to 5pm. The community center is almost walking distance from thier shop - located at:  http://www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?NID=77
120 Cherry St. SE
Vienna, VA  22180
Ph: (703) 255-6360
This is a really lovely show, it usually is about a dozen or so vendors that seem to fill the community center with color and excitment, a non-profit bake sale, a good sample of Uniquities Shop, and a really neat spinners circle.  Last year they completed a very neat woven scarf from the work of the circle of spinners right at the show!!

See you there!

In a yarn shop.....

In a yarn shop you will now find MY YARN!!!  Hurray!

I am so delighted that Mary Penxa, owner/proprietor of Two Rivers Yarns has a collection of Avalon Springs Farm yarn.  Mary has a lovely shop in a cute little historic building in oh-so-hilly down town Brunswick, Maryland - a short drive from Harpers Ferry, WVA, or Frederick, MD.  Reallly this is an important "brick 'n mortar" spot these days as there have been so many places that couldn't sustain themselves during economic hard times.  Mary offeres a variety of your favorite national brand yarns as well as a nice collection of local indy-artisan products as well.  Her shop has all the needed notions, books, and sundries, and a cozy spot to stop, knit and chat.   Be sure to sign up for her email news and read about up comming activites and classes.  I am thrilled to have my yarn there!

http://tworiversyarns.com/index.html