Ancient Textiles

Tongue in cheek- one might need an archaeologist to get started on this old project again... I think I've only had this twill saddle blanket warped on the jack loom for close to ten years now. It is home-grown and spun Suffolk yarn dyed in oxidized copper.

Man, textile photography is fun stuff, especially in natural light. These are raw images, and of the three frames that I shot, all three turned out good (I think) in the different angles and foci that I was after. They'd look even cooler if I pulled some mid-tones and played with contrast in photoshop, but I am getting to where I hate the over-stylized shots that a lot of photographers are displaying... I like natural. So, they stay raw.

This EOS T3 is the best thing I've ever invested in.

I like Schacht shuttles. I've made a few of my own, and they just aren't as nice.

And string heddles are the bees knees, dude!

The next project is a SonCroft Dunface tartan I designed to feature the range of colors in my Shetland flock. I think the coarser fleeces would be perfect for a nice, tight tweed. 

We've got a HUGE stash of hand-painted and natural colored Shetland, Bluefaced Leicester, Mule, Merino and Shetland/Baby Llama blends (from my guardians' crias) yarns and roving going to the Meeker Sheepdog Trials- all home-grown and processed in our mill. Come see us and replenish your knitting stash!

Unleash the Fury

That's his name, but we generally call him 'Furry.'

I went and filmed my sister working Furry, her paint gelding, to show a prospective buyer. His track career was short lived, but his sire and dam have both produced some respectable stakes winners.

I got some fun still shots too, most of them with Mom's ginormous new lens, and a macro shot with my stock lens. The light was harsh and very difficult to get a shot that I liked.

Warming up. And I caught him flopping leads! His girl was a bit irritated. LOL

Then she set up the cans and I filmed a few runs.

It's been really intensely hot again, and we were all utterly knackered.

Ayla the Aussie thinks it's hot too. So we were heading back to the trailer...

...to go home for a bath and some iced tea.

From the Garden

"Oregon or Bust!" Part 3: Showing the Longwools

Black Sheep Gathering is a good show on many levels. I like it mostly because of my friends who gather there. It's kind of our hoo-rah for the year. Friends made in this industry are good friends and true. 

Joanie Livermore and her good Wensleydale ram.

Yearling ram class...

The ram championship...

The ewe championship...

Cotswolds and Lincolns in the small flock class...

Joy Dally of Super Sire Ltd. with her rock-star Wensleydale ewe.

Another well deserved win for Silver Creek Lambscapes.

Beaming, Maria Rooney with her trophy!

The Vandenacks and their Ace 'n the Hole Romneys.

The Bear Hill Cotswolds.

"Oregon or Bust!" Part 2: Showing the Hill Breeds

The yearling Shetland tups.

Mark Eidman is judging.

The Shetland tup lambs.

The Yearling Shetland ewes.

Judging the yearling Shetland ewes.

The yearling Jacob ewes.

The Jacob ewe lambs.

Shetland small flock from Joshua Farms.

Jacob small flock from the Phifers at Kenleigh Acres.

The Kenleigh Jacobs again and a Churro small flock.

"Oregon or Bust!" Part 1: The Coast

John, Callie and I went to the coast between Florence and Heceta.

Yum, seaweed!

Fascinating stuff, really.

John is a wiz at catching sand crabs, and I'd bet he could have caught a laundry basketful in a matter of an hour or so. It prompted discussion of the way Andrew Zimmerman ate them on one of his episodes. Deep fried? They look like a crunchy, little ball of guts. Not too appetizing if you ask me.

  

We had lots of fun, and it was nice to see the Pacific again!

Botanical Shots