Carding for Art Batts Class at Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival

My post will probably be short on typing and heavy on pics:) That's really what y'all want to see any way. Or at least that's how I am....lol

The following pics are from the Carding for Art Batts class I gave at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival Saturday May 15. I had a wonderful group of gals there and they were very patient with me as I showed them how to make a puni, how to blend certain fine fibers, and how to diz to their hearts content with mounds of wild and fun fibers.

Also, I want to give a quick shout out to Otto and Joanne Strauch and their unbelievable servicing of the drum carders! They were demonstrating the Strauch Carders at the Festival. During my class, they came in and adjusted carders free of charge! I was so impressed with their service that I decided to get a Strauch dealership the next day! That's what I call CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Carding beautiful wool from Friday's dye class

End Results

OMG... I think this was gold sari or firestar with hemp and wool. Deliciously soft once it came off the drum!

Diz, Diz, Diz Away!

Life is but a Dream of....

Cotton Candy Fluff!

What is this I spy!?! Why it's milk weed fluff and...

When combined with wool and glitz it is the stuff Dreams are made of!

Joanne Strauch adjusting a carder:)

This is what silk hankies look like when sent through a carders and...

Then dizzed off with wool and angelina!

Tour De Fleece

Well, it's that time of year again. Time for the Tour De Fleece held in conjunction with the Tour De France. In the past, I have heard of the the Tour De Fleece, but never had time or it was way too late to sign up. This year, I think I have a smidgen of time and I got signed up in time... Yeah Me!

You too can sign up by clicking here: Tour De Fleece!

Also, I have tons of pictures from the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival. As soon as my arm is feeling better I'll post em all:) Until then, go check out the new carders at the shop! I finally got my Strauch Dealership! Isn't that the Bee's Knees!?! LunabudKnits

Going to the FAIR!

Actually, I'll be off at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival this week end in Lexington, KY! I have my wares packed and ready to load in the truck and go! Here is a sneak peek of some LunabudKnits wares!

Handpainted Spindles

Hand Painted Tops and Roving

Lantern Moon Bags

Hand Dyed Lambs Wool

Acid Dyes

And looky what came in this week! I'll now be accepting Credit Cards at Festival's too!

Miss Kitty says: 'I think I'll just hold down the fort! And, keep Little Kitty in line while you are gone!'

My Favorite Sheep.....

I just had to post it sooner or later. The all important thing to a spinner is her favorite breed of sheep wool to spin. And, My Favorite Sheep is the Tunis! As luck would have it, there is a flock Tunis sheep right down the road from me in Harrodsburg, KY. In the photo above, you can see an excellent view of a Tunis lamb. Note the beautiful red legs & head and the lighter body. This flock has both Tunis and Targhee sheep as well as crosses between the two. The Targhee are solid white, where the Tunis are noted for their red faces and legs and crosses of the two have a lighter shade of red visible on face and legs.

Here are some fun facts about the Tunis breed: 'The Tunis is one of the oldest breeds of sheep having descended from ancient fat-tailed sheep referred to in the Bible. As the name indicates, the Tunis originated in Tunisia on the Northern coast of Africa.' One of the most striking characteristics of this breed are the red appearance of the Tunis's face and legs. The fleece is light ivory to cream colored with 54 count or 28 micron softness factor. It is not as soft as merino, but when spun woolen, it has a lovely squish factor! Lambs are an almost solid coppery red when born and develop the creamy colored fleece as they mature. Want to know more about this wonderful breed of sheep, check out the National Tunis Sheep Registry

For Info about the Targhee Breed Please check them out here: Targhee Association

Tunis Lamb: Are you my Mom?

Tunis to Targhee Lamb: Maybe she is your Mom?

Targhee Lamb: Nope, she isn't my Mom!

Tunis Lamb: Oh, there's my Mom!!

Shakertown

Sunday, I took a little day trip with my Aunt Lisa, Cousin Elizabeth and Elizabeth's little cutie-pie.

There is no better place for a Day trip than the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, KY. Nestled in the hills of Central Kentucky Shakertown, as we like to call it, has been a family tradition for our family for many, many years. When ever relatives come a visiting, we always schedule an outing to eat and wander around the Village.

The Trustee's house has some of the best traditional country cooking around. The corn bread is to die for and I have always loved that for lunch, you get a bowl of cole-slaw to pass around the table. It is just like eating a family dinner. I had the Chicken Salad Sandwich and was it ever yummie!

After Lunch, we strolled over to the gift shop. Then we took a nice little stroll down the path to visit w/ some critters and the larger gift shop.

The Cutie Pie enjoyed her PB&J

In the Trustee's Hall, make sure to look up!

Enjoy some of the most beautiful rock walls in Central KY.

Everyone is always happy to greet you.

Friends can be friends

Or they can take a nap.
Some times they sniff you for treats.

And sometimes they give you a good look see.

The mice are very friendly.

Candles are strung with great care.

There are big boxes.

Boxes you look down on.

And look up at.

Boxes of every shape color and size.

And boxes that like hanging out with friends.

Kentucky Honey.

Pretty earthy colors.

Lovely Mohair curls.

Reflections of all kinds.

Enough brooms to sweep yourself out the door with.

Smiles are had by all.

And giggles are shared with others!

The Littlest Rescue

Pulled this little fellow from the pool skimmer at Bill's parents house today. Isn't he adorable! I've always had a little 'thing' for salamanders and newts ever since I was a little girl.

Our new resident is the Small Mouth Salamander, Ambystoma texanum, and we are very happy to now have him living under our deck and hopefully eating nuisance bugs such as mosquitos! In the field behind our house Spot the Salamander has a creek to play in as well as many more bugs to keep him full and happy. Sure hope he is happy here:)

See Spot Smile!

See Spot Run!

Spot is a happy Salamander!