Fiber Arts Friday: Alpaca Cape, part 2

Given my Day Job workload, I haven't had the capacity for much more than knit stitch... and sometimes, only the energy for one row at a time.  So I've been ignoring my other projects and giving my Alpaca Cape a little attention recently.

After spending an intense day on the computer and phone, it's really nice to pick up yarn and needles.  It reminds me of why I'm doing the things I'm doing.

Since I'm not able to operate the farm full-time (yet) and the farm does not support itself (yet), being able to spend just 10 minutes working with luxurious alpaca yarn is a truly grounding experience.

I have just started ball #4 of 10 and have a few rows to go before I begin the cabling.  I suspect it will cover most of the guest-bed before I'm finished.  ;-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

I'm Still Here

The last few months have been crazy-busy with the Day Job.

So busy, that I had a drafted post for Fiber Arts Friday last week and did not get it posted.  I have hardly even read most of my favorite blogs for months, let alone written anything.

Aside from working, sleeping and doing the minimum of farm chores, there hasn't been much else going on.  I wish I could say I'm working on something amazing or ground breaking, but I can't.  All I can say is that it's consuming most of my time and energy.

It's January, though.  The days are getting longer.  The weather was remarkably lovely last weekend.  I saw a Robin several days ago and the Geese seem to be on the move.

Hubba and I took a day to visit with a friend and his new Tibetan Mastiff Puppies over the weekend.  Of course, our dogs were very interested in what we had been up to.  ;-)

My seed catalogs have arrived.  I'm realizing that in about 2 months it will be time to start planting early-season seeds, so I guess I should get busy on my plan.

Next month, I'll start booking shearing clients too.

Spring is coming.  I hope I'm ready for it.

Fiber Arts Friday: Huichol Deer

Happy New Year!

I was in Mexico last week.

It was supposed to be a vacation.  My first vacation since 2008!  But things with the Day Job meant I was working every day... well, every day except for one when I spent the entire day in bed because I got a nasty cold shortly after I arrived.  My SIL said my body was telling me that I need more balance in my life.  She is correct.  However, that is an entirely different post.

So, aside from working nearly every day I was away and spending a lot of time hiding off to the side trying to not share my germs with my family, I did manage some time out.

One such outing was breakfast on the beach with my Dad and Sister.  The food was delicious; the coffee, fantastic; the skies, threatening with the rain that would stay for several days; and the company was rare and wonderful.

While we were at breakfast, a Huichol girl came by with her wares.  She had many beaded coin purses and bags of varying sized as well as a handful of stuffed toys.  There was a zebra, a horse and a few others, but I was drawn to this deer.... relatively simple and plain with a fantastic rack.

The body is made with a simple, woven, wool and green felt.  It appears to be entirely hand-stitched.  The rack is made of several strands of thread wrapped around felt fabric.... obviously wrapped by hand.  Aside from the little bits of felt sticking out the top, you can not see the felt at all.  The attention to detail and whimsy captured me from the very beginning.

I'm not likely to make toys and don't have many, but I definitely appreciate the work that went into this one.

He is currently living in our guest room.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!