February 2009

Despite the sometimes harsh challenges of winter in New England, part of me secretly likes the slower, contemplative pace of late winter. It gives me a chance to assess the past year and ready myself for spring, the busiest season of all on a sheep farm. Here's a look at what's ahead.

Coming Attractions for early 2009:

Adventures in Yarn Farming

Trunk Show and Slide Presentation -

Saturday, March 21

WEBS, Northampton MA

Foxfire Fiber takes a field trip to WEBS for a one-day trunk show featuring the yarns of my woolly flock. I’ll be on hand all day to talk sheep and fiber.

Join me from 11 - 11:45 for my slide show/talk entitled Adventures in Yarn Farming, a peek at the secret life of sheep and the lengths to which a shepherd will go - all for the love of fiber! There will be special prize give-aways at the end of the talk and slide presentation. Click here for more details.

Introducing: Teach Yourself Visually: Hand-Dyeing!

In early May my most ambitious dye studio project ever makes its debut. I spent last spring, summer and fall writing a book for Wiley Publishing's Teach Yourself Visually series on one my greatest passions: hand-dyeing yarn and fiber. Geared to visual and experiential learners, the book is absolutely loaded with detailed photography, nearly a week's worth shot in my studio last September.

As a teacher, my goal is to simplify the process of hand dyeing for beginners while providing a range of creative techniques for dyers looking to try something new. Writing a book while running a farm and operating a business was challenging, but it was also an adventure - and a great excuse to immerse myself fully in what I love doing most: working with color and fiber. The book can be pre-ordered here or here - and I will also have copies available from my website in May.

Contest: Name the Lambs!

With lambing season just around the corner this year is your turn to help us choose a theme for naming our soon-to-arrive lambs. Submit your idea to me via email. If I select your theme, you’ll win a special "thank you" prize. If the winning theme is suggested by more than one person, I will pull names to determine a winner. Think of a theme that lends itself to many good names for both ewes and rams. Here are themes we've used in the past 5 years:
2004 - Botanical Lambs (mostly flowers)
2005 - Greek Mythology
2006 - Herbs & Spices
2007 - U.S. Towns & Cities
2008 - Designer Lambs (inspired by fashion icons)
2009 - ??

Click here to enter!

Classes & Shows

I am continually updating my show schedule and class offerings for the coming year. Join me for a spinning or dyeing class - or stop by to say hello at one of this year's events.

Please stay tuned - new yarns, colors, fibers and lambs are on the way!

Best,

Barb