All quiet on the yarning front

I feel like I'm growing into Becky's couch. A lot has been done since I've last blogged. Here is Emily sporting her first knitting project (NW Summer in Super-wash) a simple scarf. She's now knitting a hat

It was the last day of Emily's visit so we took a break and went to Silver Falls State Park here is a map of the water falls to view
Inside the lodge/cafe is this wonderful fireplace
Mariel learning about the park
This is hand made furniture from Madrona logs cut in the park
The lodge
Upper North Falls
Emily on the left
Me!
The drive home was bitter sweet but then these fields called to us it's flower seed farming!

Lower Something Falls


Emily's scarf drying and endless yarn
Say good-bye Emily! This is our last time together for awhile Emily is at the airport having lunch
The weather has been hot!!! So Becky and I took a cool break in her room and I finished my summer project! Done!!!
Becky and I went to "Canterbury Faire" as a break the man in the middle is one of her neighbor's Paul (remember his birthday cake!)
Here is Sue Middle Eastern Dancing for the crowds

Lovely horse work
Our Hansom Knight
Then back to the cool room... One of Becky's Pullets is laying look this egg is the exact color of Becky's bedroom walls!
Mariel is farm sitting for Jan and Neil but came down to rush a special order of 24 textured cashmere skeins for a blanket..... I spun and plied these this week

Then back to beaded yarn.... and more "fun" with beads....
All over Becky came home and found way more than I had picked up
So after a stressful day we went and had a nice dinner at Silver Grille our favorite and had Naomi's Blueberry C something or other with Honey Lavender Ice Cream!
This is in the right a skein of beaded Ice and on the right a skein of Butter Icing (beaded yak and silk)
Here is just a few of the skeins that have dried and waiting to be skeined

right to left Ice, Butter Icing, a new color/fiber Sterling Silver (50%Angora 25%Silk 25%Cashmere plied with 50%Cashmere/50%Silk then beaded) which I'm going to knit something out of... and Fudge Icing

That's a lot of beads
I'm off today to mail packages and check on Mariel! I'm on Skype now if your interested!

Change of Venue

I've moved a small part of the factory to Becky's house and am babysitting chickens and my own cats... Here is Lily chilling on Becky's bed, check out those feet!

I walked into the house after being gone for a couple of hours... look at what I found

Note the half of circular glass needles, the other half is under the table this will be going back to Shelia and Michael Ersnt to be fixed...
Look at her happily laying amongst the wreckage
A Vest made out of the new Sterling Silver (50%Angora/25%Cashmere/25%Silk) that is being knitted by Shelli from Knitterly. This will look perfect on her and keep her warm
Today was Shearing day at Jan's and we had lunch after. Behind her is a "Lamb Ham" a leg of lamb prepared as ham is. I have to tell you delicious
Jan got me into Skype, it took us several hours.... Now we are going to have a cup of tea and then go skirt fleeces more pictures to follow!

Another Week lots more yarn

Well it's been a really good couple of weeks. We are in the grove now and making great changes in lots of areas of Tanglewood Fiber Creations. Lots of behind the scenes things like computer programs, check lists, inventory control etc. I've been glued to the spinning wheel and spinning samples of good idea's. Emily makes our "to do" lists and Mariel has gone great guns at getting the singles storage organized. I've enjoyed having time to do what I love best and that's making yarn.

This is Cheryl from Knitterly's dye class showing us this great garment made from her yarn she dyed at our dye class. This was such a fun thing to do that several other yarn shops have asked for a dyeing class so watch the "Where's Trish" marquis to see where I'll be doing this next

I've been dyeing (while the girls did great work!)

This is yesterday's progress but boy was I tired
Yarn that I made the night before drying with the fiber
and more fiber
This is strange I know but I wanted to give you the scale of this project and show you where one skein ended and the next begins. I'm almost done and then I fix all the mistakes and dropped stitches. I'll be sorry to see this project end as I've been carrying it around the whole summer. However it's time for a new project umm what can it be
Since we were so good this week Emily said we could go to the Columbia County Fair
This is Franklin and Debbie. This was Becky's 4-H leader and her son. It's hard to believe that Franklin is 19 we knew him as a 3 year old....
We saw this ride on the road while on our road trip!
We watched Cloggers and ate Fair Food, not too far off the "No Plan" and had a generally wonderful time. Now is the Internet time and then up to the "Compound"/ Office to work! Lots of yarn still to make. If you are in Portland during the first weekend of August see us spinning at Twisted!

Back at the factory

Here Emily is at Becky's house getting some computer work done. Business is Business and it's not only about yarn.....

Jan and Neil had us all over for a BBQ on July 4th here we are in line for some good food, Steve and Linda were a big part of making dinner as well...
Look at this everyone knitting as it was cold and drizzly in the evening
This is me! Getting ready for White Water Rafting on the Clakamas River
Mariel mixing dye for the new color-ways being developed
Mike is driving as I write this and it's topping 95 degrees today. This is a big departure from the low 60's that has been our spring and summer up to this point. Emma and Don have started their summer adventure in their restored RV. I was very sorry to see them go but lots of yarn has been made in the last few days. We are working on the computers at Burgerville in St. Helens beating the heat although we have to get some housekeeping work done before Mike comes for his visit. Know that yarn is being made at a surprising rate and soon will be making it's way to a shop near you. I've also updated my fall Trunk Show dates hope to see you soon!

On the Road Part 6

Crater Lake! After a lovely visit to Knitterly we had to move on....Here we are at the rest stop
And arriving at Crater Lake
Our Cabin in Mazama Village
At the Crater
There was lots of snow and it was cool but not cold except at night
This picture doesn't even begin to show the beauty from the Rim
Mariel and I stopped for a rest while Emily motored on
Emily was on an adventure while Mariel and I went to the Ranger talk, and had fruit and tea....
Here are the girls taking pictures



While waiting for our dinner reservation we sat by the fire in the Lodge and knit
Here we are knitting while the sun set on Crater Lake

As with all good things we come to the end. I got a little sick so we motored home to St. Helens. On Thursday we worked and got unpacked and did laundry. Then on Friday it was back on the road to Becky's house. Cleo, Lily and I were so happy to see each other. Having me plus two cats on the twin blow-up mattress was exciting last night. Today we are regrouping and while I am typing they are watching a movie and knitting. Mariel is hooked totally, Emily is ready to move on to a hat! I'm going to be plying today and then we are going to the Oregon Gardens for an early Fireworks display.

Tomorrow we are going to Jan and Neil's house for a BBQ and such. Then back to St. Helens. We aren't sure if Emma and Don (and the boys) are still going to be in St. Helens as they are very close to beginning their road trip. Mike is driving Wednesday to Oregon to join us at what now is termed "The Compound". Tuesday we are planning our White Water Rafting trip!