I am embarrassed at how long it has been since I posted here.  My weak excuse is the unusual summer weather.    I know it was not limited to our part of the world, that is why it is such a weak excuse.  You would think since I was nearly housebound for 3 months that the number of new felted items or hand dyed yarns would be substantial...not.

After I did the morning chores trying to keep the sheep and horses comfortable, it seemed to take half a day to recoup from that little exertion.  By then it was time to feed us and do the animals all over again.

Thankfully that passed, in August Michigan Fiber Festival had lovely weather and the shop was busy with their workshop members before that weekend, then visitors coming just for the Festival weekend.  In Sept. our son and his SO came home for the 10 days of the Allegan County Fair...yes, we love the Fair.  Also hosted a book club for Suzanne Jenkins, author of the Pam of Babylon series.

The fall has been beautiful so we have most everything around the farm ready for winter and I am trying to keep caught up with the wonderful "wool season".   Next weekend, Oct 20 and 21 is ARTS AND EATS, a back roads art, food and farm tour of Southwest Michigan.  I am excited to be a part of it and ready to talk and show lots of wool and hand made items.

Michigan Fiber Festival 2010

Our good friends, Karen and Manny from Illinois, come to MFF and usually bring guests who have not attended before. This is the group from this year, left to right:Abraham, Nissa, Stephanie, Karen, Jessie, Manny, Charles and Janet. We did have a good time even though it always seems rushed to get everything in.

Special Note: Enjoyed meeting the new bridegroom, Charles. You make such a happy couple, Belated Congratulations to you both.
A Second Special Note: Glad we don't have to wait till MFF 2011 to see Karen and Manny again.

Needle Felt Sock Monkeys

Sharon Elzinga from Michigan came to the shop after her tour of Michigan Fiber Festival to get more Lambswool Roving. She showed me the family of Sock Monkeys she has started from the Lambswool Roving and I had to take a picture, they are so cute.

I promised to mention that the female doesn't have all her stripes on her feet or mittens on her hands so she isn't quite finished, the 'baby' one hasn't begun yet. Each one is made individually and very firmly needle felted so they can be handled easily.

She also showed me a recycled wool vest that she has embellished with needle felted flowers and vines, wish I had taken a picture of that. What really impressed me is Sharon's statement that she tells her students, "We change recipes in a cookbook all the time so we should change patterns or designs in our creative work like needle felting to make it our own."

I wholeheartedly agree and think it is important that a beginner learns that from the start. Sharon would be willing to come here to teach a class, if you are interested, let me know.

Michigan Fiber Festival Magazine here!

This will get all those creative juices charged!! The 2010 issue of FIBERLINE MAGAZINE is in the shop.

FIBERLINE is the official publication for the Michigan Fiber Festival with information on all the workshops (which begin August 18-22, 2010), the competitions and shows, as well as vendor information. The Festival dates are Aug. 21 and 22 at the Allegan County Fairgrounds in Allegan, MI. You can also check the information on the Festival's website.

If you are on the Festival's mail list, you will receive your copy soon. If you aren't on the list, come to our farm shop and pick up your copy.

Michigan Fiber Festival

Wow, only two more weekends before the Michigan Fiber Festival. Last year at this time I was having real withdrawal pains since that was the first year I didn't have a booth at the festival. I am so proud of what the Michigan fiber enthusiasts have created with this event and to think I was one of the original 9. It is almost like watching a child grow up.

Again this year, the farm shop will be open each day the week before festival weekend - open August 10 through the 14th. The shop will be closed for the weekend - 15th and 16th so I can attend. If you haven't been to the farm shop before, we are 7 miles southwest of Allegan. Here are maps and written directions if you need them. Hope to see many of you at the festival and/or here at the farm.

Michigan Fiber Festival

Well, it is over for another year. I did enjoy my first trip there as a 'tourist', being able to watch the joy of others when they found the just right yarn or fiber was fun. You would think after being on the selling side of fiber festivals etc, for 20 years it would be boring - NOT!

I got to see people I hadn't seen for a year or had only 'talked' with online and spend more than a quick Hi with them. I was so new to this tourist thing though that I didn't think to bring a camera. Fortunately, some of the Ravelry members took pictures and posted them. Here are the pictures from CoggieTM blog and
Holly's blog Tim also posted some on Flicker

Thanks to all the people who also came by the farm shop and let us serve them here. Now it is back to checking out the garden and getting the website caught up with new things for fall.