The Frantic Fun of Fall and early Winter

November and December are always busy months for most people and our household is one of those.  We are truly blessed though with such great friends; our 2nd family who help make these seasons memorable.

We always spend holiday dinners with them.  I particularly enjoy this; mostly for the company but also because I don't enjoy cooking and there is always good food in their homes.  This Thanksgiving had an added blessing that one member of that family had been missing from the group and now she is back.

Mid November in Michigan is deer hunting season.  This year my husband brought home a big buck with an ugly rack.  As Gene put it, "the buck was a fighter, not a lover".  A tine on each side had been broken off, I was worried that the meat might not be tender but it is.  Hopefully, the removal of this "bully" buck will allow the other bucks a better chance at finding the does.

I am still working at pieces for the annual Allegan Art Hop.  It is only a week away now so most items are ready.  Several of the nuno shawls I've made are fancier party wear, they are so lightweight they will easily be part of the spring and summer wardrobe of their new owners.  My felt pieces will be at Sharon's Quilts & More, 128 Hubbard St.  The horse drawn wagon goes right past her shop on the way to Baker Studios .  I hope you that are in the area will come to see all of us.

Nuno Felt Shawl made for Art Hop sale.

 

This is one of the Nuno Felt Shawls I made for the Art Hop.  Gift items like this will be available the evening of Dec. 14 from 5 pm to 8pm at Sharon's Quilts in downtown Allegan. 

I'm felting a variety of styles, some more glitzy than others.  This one is perfect for casual attire as well as "dressed up". 

In between dyeing yarn and felting, I have had fun activities, too.  Last night several of us who enjoy author Suzanne Jenkins' novels met with her.  We talked about her books based on the character (and title of the first book in this series) Pam of Babylon. 

The Arts and Eats Tour was a great success for the Allegan County artists I spoke with.  Our shop had many visitors who had never been here before.  I heard lots of "I have heard about you."  or "I always wanted to stop by."  I hope they all enjoyed their stop as much as I did and will return.

The leaves were in peak color that weekend but began dropping in earnest the following week.  Even though we had already "picked up" several loads of leaves earlier in the month, it took both of us a good two days to have the yards around the house "clean" again.  We have many trees around us and gave up the hand raking a few years ago.  Here is my "picker upper", Gene's is a bit larger.

Then the Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast.  We were glued to the tv and internet sadly watching the tragedy unfold and feeling so helpless.  Thankfully our son and girlfriend had a safe place to stay for a few days and miraculously were able to return home this past Wed.  Our hearts and what little we can do to help are with the stricken still.  I was surprised at how quickly those winds did reach us here in the midwest.  It didn't take long for our temperatures to drop...oh, and those leaves we didn't pick up in the pasture are now in the yards.

I don't mean to downplay the catastrophe the east coast is and will be dealing with for awhile by detailing our annual clean up.  They will remain in our prayers. 

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.

Basswood Tree Blossom

This year's blossoms have been quite numerous on most of the plants and trees.  We all know now that was not a good thing for the fruit trees in our area,  Thankfully the big basswood held out for its "usual" time to bloom.  It probably helped that it is tucked in between our house and the pine windbreak.  The main tree is so tall we only get to see the blossoms as they land on our deck but the smaller tree beside it will share a few blooms closer to ground level.

Hand Dyed Yarn, five new one of a kind colorways.

May is generally a slow month, allowing us to slowly get ready for the summer season.  This year the trees and flower leaves were so early and inspired me to dye the New Greens pictured earlier.  At the same time the flowers were racing to see which could bloom first.  This colorway is based on the Crocus Flowers which of course, is its name.

This is one of the 5 new hand dyed colorways added to the shop and website. http://www.marrhaven.com/handyedyarn3.html

Needle Felt Sculpture

A few weeks ago I shared a photo of a needle felted purse by Teri Jackson of Georgia, since then Teri has taken needle felting to a whole new level.  She says what started as a hobby has developed into a business.

This is Zander, he is a warrior from the planet Zocor.  Teri admits she gets quite attached to her sculptured dolls, even writes stories about them when she sell them.


Teri's doll and animal characters are all impressive.  You can see them on etsy.   http://www.etsy.com/shop/FreeSpiritFelts?ref=pr_shop_more

I just love it when others get involved with felting in any form and especially when it becomes a passion for them.