Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival

Mark and I took a trip to Canby to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival .
This is the 3rd year that I have attended the show and I have to say I really enjoyed it.
Even though I would probably shrivel and fade outside of the city lights, This little voice inside my head says I could totally live on the farm and take care of sheep, chickens and Alpacas.

Then I remember that all of that takes place in the early morning and not after several diet cokes in the wee hours of the night.



There was a huge menagerie of fiber animals on display and for sale. Even a rare Bactrian Camel (2 humps) and a Tibetan Yak.



By far my favorite was the Navajo- Churro sheep. This is the a wool used in Navajo blankets and have been one of the mainstays of the Navajo people. The Rams have 4 horns and are something to see.





Bactrian Camel. Look at that face !



Tibetan Yak and an Alpaca







Navajo- Churro Ram and a mohair goat



Across the walkway and past the show ring was an open air spinning circle. Folks brought there spinning wheels and drop spindles, sat in a large circle and spun "yarns".



What an ideal way to build community and friendships.
It also makes me want to learn to spin on a spinning wheel. As if I need one more distraction.


There was also an open air and indoor fiber market with everything from yarn and baskets to wool carders, spinning wheels and looms.




I missed the fiber competition, however Mark was able to get some pictures of some of the entries. Those pictures a lot more can be seen on my Flikr site.


I was very good and walked away with only some dyed mohair locks for doll hair and a new ear flap hat ( I have always wanted one).



Mark modeling my new ear flap hat!

Lil Weirdos take a trip!

I have packed up the Lil' Weirdos and sent them off to the Sampler yesterday. They will be a part of the October Sampler. I sent out 50 weirdos and 50 promo cards. The last time I sent them out I got quite a few sales, so this time I doubled the # I sent.

Speaking of the Sampler I received mine last Friday. There were so many fun things.



My favorites were:



The limited edition storyboards from Button Collective. It is an awesome print of a camera with a button set into the lens.



My other fave was a hairpin with a cashmere, yes cashmere, flower on the end from Remnant Clothing.
I am currently growing out my bangs (bad hairdo choice for me) and going through an awkward stage where I have to keep them pinned back. They are too short to tuck behind my ear too long to possibly look cute.



I also love, love love the super cute Halloween card from moongirl productions. It has a tiny bat on the front and inside it says Bite Me.

As far as production in the studio goes...

Well I spent most of last week getting the Weirdos ready to ship, bur I did get a chance to finally make some wing for my Faerie dolls. I have been struggling for the longest time to find a stabilizer that was heavy enough to hold the wings up on their own and a style that would be easy enough for large productions.

This is what I came up with:

I think they will work and will know more after they are attached to the dolls.


I also finished piecing together my banner. This weeks goal is to get it all together so I can hang it in my booth.

Sparkle Sparkle!

Hopefully the next time I write will be sooner and My Tattooed Crow will be finished so I can add some pictures of him as well.

I am off to update my website!

Ding Dong the Witch is DONE!

Last June I had this idea to make a tall (24") witch doll. So, I dyed Muslin, added eyes, stuffed arms, legs , nose and chin. Sewed all parts together and then stopped. She had been in this bag ever since pleading with me to give her hair, a mouth and a cute outfit.

So last week she finally got to me and I finished her!

I am still having issue coming up with a good name, but other than that I am truly finished.

With hat Sans hat.



w/o attached arms, mouth and hair. With arms attached dress, hair and lips.

And what a show it was!

The weather cooperated, lots of shoppers showed up, and other than going 30 miles in the wrong direction it was a success.

Kristin of Urbana with her beautiful pottery. Awesome hand painted pillows from River Infinity Arts super fabulous clocks

Mark's set up. One happy Mark! Mark just about sold out of all of his work. Woo Hoo Mark!

I fell in love with these metal sculptures. I really have a thing for trees and leaves.

I really love our etsy group. They are so great at getting organized and putting these shows on with out a hitch.

Now it is time to gear up for the Holiday shows, so back to my studio I go!

This Studio is Clean!!

I should be getting ready for my show on the 1st, so how do I spend my week?
Cleaning and organizing my studios of course!!

I spent a good portion of this week cleaning and rearranging my studio. I realised that I have a whole lotta stuff crammed in to a tiny space. I went to the Goodwill Outlet (Yes, OUTLET) lovingly called "the bins" here in Portland because, well, everything in in large bins . I found a small storage cupboard and a wooden trunk. I repainted them both and upholstered the top of the trunk.
I spent a total of 15.00 for the furniture, sandpaper, paint, fabric and new draw pull. Woo Hoo!

The new cupboard, The super large window , My Sewing table

My Designing/cutting table, The closet and new trunk under all of the toys.

So now that I am all cleaned, organized and have it recorded. I will promptly mess it all up and cover the floor with faux fur scraps and bits of yarn.

Say Hello to My Little Friends!

I have been on a tiny toy kick lately. These are some of the lil' weirdos I sent out to The Sampler this past June.

I am currently working on tiny version of my mermaids and of course Mark is out of town for work and he happened to take the camera, so I will have to post pictures of the tiny maids next weekend.

Today I had a great day I went to Scrap. It is a great place that sells just about anything craft related most of it is recycled and they have great prices. I purchased some wool tapestry thread for doll hair, a really cool wall sample, it is basically a square piece for foam covered in a nice dark blue linen and some great stickers that say Thank You. I am going to use these on orders I send out and on my receipts at shows.

Speaking of Shows....

I just realised that the Etsy Beach Show is in less than 2 weeks and I have sent most of my Imaginary Friends and Mermaids to Seattle for Bumbershoot. The Friends and Mermaids will be a part of the I Heart Rummage Booth.
I guess I should get on the ball and lock myself in my studio for the next few days.

Next Post I promise will be full of photos. But so not to disappoint here are a couple shots of the Friends and a Mermaid that are on their way to Seattle without me and hopefully to a new home!!

I think it is time to invest in a camera of my very own.