Colours to dye for!

On Sunday we spent the day at Mara's beautiful house in Cobourg (she is the red Tshirt) She had everything arranged for us to do some natural dying of our wool and rovings.
We had lots of fun and the weather co-operated as best it could.
Some of the naturals we used were Flowers from Black-eyed Susans , Stems from Black-eyed Susans, Walnuts, Jewel Weed, Umbillicaria and Avocado.
Here is a couple of pics to show off our wonderful colours.
Thanks Mara for the fun day....

5 down , one more to go!

Well we just finished our classes for another year for the OHS Spinning certificate. It is a 6 year course and we just finished the classes for year 5 at Loyalist College in Belleville. Now on with the homework!!!
This year we learned to spin flax, synthetics, and cotton. It has been an interesting adventure but a lot of work. We started year 1 with 60 students and 3 classes. We are now down to 17 students and one class so that tells you how tough the course is. I'll keep you posted.....

Model 101

Can anyone tell me why this stunning gal is not a model somewhere?

Sad day at Antrimlea

Why is it that things happen that seem so meaningless and almost to the cruel side. It makes you think about life and what the heck are we doing here. I feel I am truly being tested some days and today is one of them . While cutting my grass I had the grim discovery of finding a beautiful little fawn deer dead on my fence. She had caught her hind leg on the top of the fence while no doubt following her mother jumping over it last night. Her body is perfect with tiny spots covering her back. I can only imagine the agony of death she went through and I can't even fathom the feelings of her mother as she looked on unable to do nothing.
Sometimes life sucks and this is one day that does....

Happy Canada Day!!!

Antrim and I would like to wish everyone a Very Happy Canada Day! We are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful country and should count our blessings every day....
cheers everyone
Kerry and Antrim

Gel Nails

I can now do Gel Nails along with regular manicures and pedicures. The long tips are placed and with a little work the finished nails are done for my latest client. She loved her new nails!

Back to Back

There is always fun things to do in the "fibre world". Last weekend we formed a team of spinners and knitters and entered the International Back to Back Wool Challenge. This is a challenge that started in 1811 in Berkshire ,UK. and has continued world wide each year. The challenge is you get a raw fleece (preferably sheer the sheep at the contest) and without carding or any other prep work, spin the fleece into yarn and knit a sweater as fast as you can. The sweater pattern is a standard pattern to be used by everyone in the contest. You are allowed to have 7 people working on your team and one spare who fetches you water, food etc. The world record is just under 5 hours. The Canadian record was set in 2001 with a time of 7 hrs, 25 minutes. The InSein Yarnspinners from Manitoba hold this honour. It was a very tiring day but we had a lot of fun and finished our sweater in 10 hours and 41 minutes. Grace kindly rewarded us with a lovely lasagne dinner at her house afterwards.

My Little Princess

Just thought I would post one of my favourite pics of my grandaughter Katerra.... she is just adorable isn't she???

Good news!!!!

Great news Folks. My foster girls found their "furever" home. They have gone to live with a fabulous family in Ajax. Thank you to all my friends who were scouting for a good home for them. We wish them a long life and know they will be well cared for. It was nice they were adopted together too! I was getting too attached to Misty.......LOL...
cheers
Kerry

We had a wedding!

On Friday my youngest daughter Abby Jean Smith got married to Anthony Justin Smith. What are the chances of having the same last name eh?? She doesn't have to change her name anywhere. It was a beautiful wedding and everything was perfect. You can see in these pictures how much in love they are. They wrote their own wedding vows and as you can imagine there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd. Congratulations to you Abby and my new son Anthony! Love you both..... Moms..xxoo
Photos were thanks to
http://www.jbsmithphotography.com/blog
http://www.johnedgar.net
Please go to their sites to see more photos.

"The Girls"

Well, my foster girls came tonight and are they ever a couple of Ladies. Misty is the Blue Merle and Roxy is the Tri -colour . They are 8 and 9 years old and are just sweeties. Please pass the word around for us if you know anyone who would like to adopt them. They are in perfect health and are kid, people and cat friendly. They would like to be adopted together as they have been together since puppies but will consider separating them to the right home. Just call or email me for more info.
cheers
Kerry

Misty and Roxy

Well sometimes you just can't say no. These are my new foster girls that I will be fostering for the Collie Rescue until they get adopted. Roxy and Misty are 2 beautiful female Rough Collies who need a home. As they have been together since puppies it would be great to see them adopted together . Please contact me if you are interested. Misty looks so much like my Antrim doesn't she.

Spring is here for sure!

Well you really know it is spring when the sheep get sheared for the season. On Friday I went to help my friend Cindy Osland with her shearing. The famous shearer Ruco Braat was doing the shearing and we were doing the skirting and decision whether the fleece went for sale to hand spinners or got shipped to the wool mill. I really enjoy this day and as payment we get to pick what fleece we would like to take home... tough decision of course as their are so many nice ones. I did settle for a dark brown fleece and can't wait to start working on it. 90 sheep were shorn on Friday and another 60 will be done next week. The little white lamb was so cute watching his mommy get shorn. The noice in the barn is incredible from crying moms and babies as they are temporarily separated. They are so cute. One little lamb is so small it had to have a sweater on. I cuddled him and he weighs nothing.....

Mexico again!

Well I had another fabulous time in Mexico. My daughter Emily Smith and Bencar are starting a tour business and they took us touring EVERYWHERE! It was fabulous. We started in Mexico City which is just beautiful and ended at their house in Chetumal. We saw lots of pyramids and ruins and got to swim in this fabulous lake as shown . The colours of the water were unreal. Check out her website... www.ohpana.wordpress.com

Sorry Folks to rub it in, but I will be in Mexico again for the next couple of weeks but will be home for The Gathering.....
I will be going with Jessica and Kate to visit my other daughter Emily who lives in Mexico. First we will spend 4 days in Mexico City visiting different sites and pyramids then fly to Chetumal to tour around and stay at Emily and Bencar's home there. They are starting up a custom tour business soon so check out their website!! www.ohpana.wordpress.com
We are honored to be their first guests!!!!
Poor Antrim will be left behind with the housesitter and cats.
Cheers
Kerry

The Gathering

Be sure to come to The Gathering in Port Hope on Saturday April 18.... I'll be there with my many coloured rovings for sale.

New Challenge

Ok so you all know of my Winsome Women girlfriend group and our usual get togethers spinning, knitting, rug hooking etc. Well, Grace is always coming up with these new ideas to keep us EXTRA busy, as if we don't have enough to do in our busy lives.....LOL... She has once again challenged us to a project. Making a "Stash Bag" from wool in your stash. You knit the bag and then felt it in the washing machine. The pattern called to knit it in stripes but as you know I am a bit of a rebel and have chosen to make mine in a knitted honeycomb pattern from wool I had in my stash which was one day going to be woven into a rug. (I've had it for 8 years!!) So now it is going to be a felted bag.
Stayed tuned for the finshed project in a few weeks. Not sure if I will get it done before my trip to Mexico in April.

Sleepovers at Antrimlea

These 2 cuties have had sleepovers at Antrimlea for the past 3 weeks staying 3 nights a week while their "Daddy" had to go out of town for work. He did not want to put them in a kennel so contacted me. They are so cute and so well behaved they were allowed to come and stay with my Antrim and me. We had fun with Buddy and Charlie. Just look at those little eyes eh???

Ok all you fibre folks. You must come to "The Gathering", a blending of knitters and spinners.
The Great Pine Ridge Spinners and Weavers together with the Northumberland Hooks and Needles are hosting a fun day of knitting and spinning. Bring your knitting and spinning wheels and have a play day and bond with other fibre people. There will be 18 vendors selling rovings, yarns, fleece and many other things so bring lots of cash as not all vendors take credit cards. Entry is $6 and includes your door prize tickets. Coffee and snacks are provided and for those who do not want to pack a lunch Cindy will have fresh BBQ Lamb or Beef Burgers for sale made from meat from her farm.l
Last year we had about 130 people come so it is a very fun day.

It's on Saturday April 18 from 10 to 3:30
Town Park Recreation Centre
62 McCaul Street
Port Hope

Hope to see you there and be sure to drop by my booth to say hi and check out my hand dyed rovings for sale
.
cheers
Kerry

COME AND BE PAMPERED....

Need to escape for a couple of days???? How does a relaxing weekend or a couple of weekdays in a quiet country home with all meals prepared for you sound?? I can sleep 5 in my home in a casual and shared accommodation atmosphere. 6 if you wouldn't mind being more cozy. We can be as busy as you want and offer interesting courses or just sit and relax and do nothing. My home is awsome for enjoying the beautiful sunrises, sunsets and night skies filled with millions of stars. Sometimes you can get to hear the owls and coyotes sing at night. My fee is $260.00 and includes 2 nights,6 meals and a relaxing pedicure. ( I have completed my courses and offer pedicures, ultra spa pedicures and manicures.) So you can sit and soak your feet while sipping on a wine and watching the birds at the feeders.
So gather some friends together with your spinning wheels , rug hooking, knitting, quilting or just a book and give me a call to arrange your stay. I do have a very behaved and friendly Collie dog and 2 cats for those with allergies beware. This is a fibre house so you will come in contact with pet hair and wool.
You are welcome to bring any alcohol or music to play. I also have a smoke free home but you may smoke outside on the screened porch. There are also 4 Golf courses near by if you need to break up your day.
One more thing.... only giggles , laughter and good times are allowed at Antrimlea...
I'll wait for your call. ....
cheers
Kerry
613-475-0880
email: antrimlea@sympatico.ca