Happy Holidays

Can it really be 74 outside on this first day of winter? We have had the most beautiful weather this fall. Perfect for spinning and dyeing wool - even better for knitting.

This week the Farmer's Market will be held on Friday December 24 from 9am to 1:30pm since Saturday is the Big Day.

Solstice Blessings to you all.

Thanks to everyone who asked about how I've been doing this week. Much better. There is even new core spun on the big Ashford wheel right now.

This core spinning is kind of addictive. The colors are mixed on a large drum carder then spun with locks of mohair and coopworth wool with some angelina thrown in for sparkle. I'll have these at the market on Saturday so please come by and say hello if you are there.

Also a reminder that the Farmer's Market will hold a special Christmas Eve market on Dec 24 from 9-1:30 in case you need any last minute gifts.

Just to let you know I will not be at the market this week due to a hand injury. Hopefully back on Dec 18.

New Yarns

Core spun yarn! I've been playing this week in between special orders and this core spun is the result. The skeins are huge well over 100 yards and surely enough to make a scarf or trim that special project. Have you tried the huge knitting needles in size 33 or even 50? They are wonderful to show off this kind of yarn and make the project knit up very quickly. Hint: you can order the needles from Amazon for less than $10. There is a lot going on around the Market on Saturday's this time of year with people looking for that one particular Christmas gift. This Friday is the December Ramble at the Galleries downtown and the city is also hosting a Winter Wonderland where the Market usually is. Come have spiced cider and cookies with us. See you there.

Just a quick reminder that I will not be at the market the Saturday November 6 because I will be at the Renaissance Faire instead. Bob Brown and I will be playing our Hammered Dulcimers near the entrance under a tree all day on Saturday. Come by and say hello!

Sock Yarn

Autumn has officially been with us just over a month now and the knitting season is in full swing. So many people have asked me about sock yarn that I am now offering Wildefoote Yarn that is hand dyed. It is a Merino and Nylon blend that makes the most wonderful soft durable socks. I do not spin sock yarn because I cannot spin and ply that finely - others in this active spinning community are able to do so. I will stay with my bulky singles and two plys and be perfectly happy. However for those of you who NEED sock yarn I will have eight new colors on Saturday at the market. A reminder that we vendors will be dressed up for Halloween and there will be children trick-or-treating. Hope to see you there!

Home. What a sweet word. I'm home again after travelling to see my husband, this time in Ireland. I looked for yarn and expected everything to be woolen but was sadly disappointed. There were many, many sheep but relatively little wool on offer in Dublin or in the countryside. What little I found was from Northern Ireland in Donegal where the govt still subsidizes the wool and weaving industry. Ireland is a beautiful place, almost impossibly green. We were fortunate to have good weather and were able to get out and walk a lot.

Back here at home the dyepots are already in use so there will be new things for the market on Saturday. I'll be back in my regular place across from the Rio Grande Theater.

Two pictures for you from the trip. The first is a ruin in the town on Trim where the movie Braveheart was filmed. The second is from a churchyard in Killkenny where there were many Celtic crosses.