Deb on the Web

Lordy, look at me--

I'm blogging!  I seriously have been thinking of retiring this blog.  And I think it will be happening soon.  Now that doesn't mean you won't be hearing from me:)  I am planning on blogging through the show notes page about life and the farm.  I am talking about all that on the podcast anyway.  This will just consolidate.

Also, Stevanie Pico and I have created a new company!  Pico Accuardi Dyeworks will be very active soon and we will have a blog over there talking about colorways, retreats, classes and dyeing! 

What does that mean for Mt Hood Fiber?  It will still be alive.  But mainly for animal sales.  I always have Angora rabbits for sale:)  And next Spring we will start selling Pygora goats.  You will find the fiber through Pico Accuardi Dyeworks.  Plus you can always contact me if there is something specific you want.

Signing up for announcements with the Mail Chimp form will keep you up to date on what is happening with all my projects too!

Clara says it well

Here is a link to Clara Park's review of the Sock Summit.  Makes me feel all misty eyed--what fun we had!

Beauty on a Summer day

Sitting by the river knitting on a sock. Big boys skipping rocks, little boy trying not to fall in. The dog fetching sticks and the husband reading a book. Perfect day!

Catching up with some photos

I realize that I kind of dropped the ball with blogging through Sock Summit.  There was stuff going on every moment!  I did do a play by play for the podcast this week.  And it has taken me all week to get caught up at home to finally have a moment to upload some photos.
I thought I might do a top ten favorites from SS.  But really, there can not be one moment placed above another!  That was one of the funnest weekends I have had in a long time.
So in no planned order here is my weekend in photos:
one of our lovely planners--Tina before the storm;)
Pictures from the Pre-Sock Summit lunch that I hosted at Gino's
Class with Yarnissima (Marjan Hammink) class with Anne Hanson  class with Joan Shrouder and another with Marjan, Marisol and I
Here are some with all the fabulous friends I saw and new ones I made throughout the weekend Can you tell we were all a little giddy!  I have to leave you with a few more favorite moments--Marisol and I as the "Pink Ladies" at the Sock Hop Lucy Neatby with the hula hoop Stephanie having a blast at the Sock Hop Breaking the world record for the most knitters knitting at one time And the beautiful dresses worn by the ladies of the Sanguine Gryphon (I did some damage in their booth) I could add about a hundred more photos to tell the story of the weekend but i think I should just leave it here;)  Thank you Marisol for having a lot of these photos on flickr for me to steal!

You may notice a lack of new stash aquirements here.  That is for another post;)

Sock Summit Day 1

Wow!  That pretty much describes the day.  6 hours in an amazing class with Anne Hanson, talking with Tina and Steph as we pass in the halls, spending time with my friends Marisol and Teri.  And this says nothing about sitting next to the tables full of ALL of the incredible teachers at tonight's opening ceremony.  Day one was just plain amazing.  I got a few vocal snippets that you will hear on Monday's podcast.  For now I am off to bed after figuring out where I belong tomorrow.
Pictures you ask?  Well I lost my camera somewhere in the fray of the Pre-Sock Summit luncheon I held yesterday.  I so pray that it will be back in my hot little hands by tomorrow.  But if not I at least will have Marisol's pics to steal afer she uploads them.

Etsy Treasury list

I found my white Angora fluff on the Etsy Treasury list today.  Pretty cool combination of stuff!
We are off to Seattle for the weekend.  Lots of food and drink plans.  Plus a bit of art thrown in for balance;)
I've never had a hard time with age (although 31 was weird for me), but as today I turn 45 I've decided this is going to be the best year yet!  How's that for embracing middle age?  Now if I could keep the wrinkles away we would all be good...

Photos from the Dye Day

Here is a link to Nadya's blog.  She was up last Saturday for the Color-full Day class.  She got some pics of the day.  I'll add more links or photos as I get them.

Just finished spinning for a couple of hours.  Finished a bobbin of lace weight, Navajo plyed some Pygora (gorgeous!) and started on some dyed Shetland.  I'm too pooped to take photos, but I'll have some tomorrow.
Included will also be photos of what I did with the leftover dye pots after the ladies went home;)

Another busy week in July

No time for resting around here.  Hiking didn't happen last week since we were so busy getting ready for the Dye day and catching up in the garden.  But we are heading out tomorrow for another beautiful hike.  Here are some photos the husband has been taking this Summer on hikes around Mt Hood.
It's been a fun Summer so far.  Tomorrow we head to Elk meadow and should be finding tons of wild flowers!
The Dye workshop was wonderful!  I think everyone went away with both new skills and some inspiration.  I was so busy all day I didn't get any photos.  I can't believe it either!  But I know a couple other ladies did.  As soon as I get some I will start a gallery of class photos.
In spinning I am still participating in the Tour De Fleece.  But I did have to take a couple days off to get ready for the weekend.  As we are in the last week I can tell I will not meet the goal of emptying my spinning basket, but I have created some great yarns.  Right now my goal is to finish my current lace weight project by Thursday night as we are leaving Friday morning to celebrate my birthday with a weekend in Seattle.  I'll be taking my spindle so I don't miss any days at the end of the journey.
Knitting wise I am mailing my sock swap package today.  I'll take pics before it gets packed.  I've enjoyed the pattern so much I am making myself a pair of socks with it as well!
As soon as I get yesterday's photos off the camera I'll share the pond tour we went on.  It was great fun with a couple of beautiful gardens.  Of course my favorite spot was not photographed by the husband.  I need to bring my camera for these moments!  The bus ride in between was perfect for some sock knitting and we finished with a bbq at Orient Gardens (the organizer for the day). 
A really fun and creative weekend!  On to the week ahead--getting some fibers and yarn dyed today to put in the new etsy shop.  I need to change my account so I have the correct name (Mt Hood Fiber) loaded.  I'll be podcasting at some point today.  And I'll be sending out my first Mt Hood Fiber newsletter so if you would like to receive a copy make sure to fill out the subscription form on the sidebar.

On the wheel and On the trail

It has been a fun week here on my little bit of Mt Hood.  Yoga Monday, big hike Tuesday, bunnies visiting Portland Wednesday, small hike Thursday, spinning everyday.  Here is a pic of spinning for Abstract Fiber's "Autumn" in Merino/Alpaca/Silk.  It is wonderful to spin but it doesn't fly through the hands.  More preparing means I have been working on this 8 oz for a couple of days now.
And hiking--nothing yet.  I thought the husband had uploaded his photos, but they aren't here yet.
We have been eating a lot of corn.  On the cob, salad with smoked onions and cucumber, salad with herbs, arugula, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds and hard eggs.  I never get sick of corn:)
In knitting I can't show you yet;)  I am knitting on the second sock for the Sock Swap Kit. (Ravelry link) I'll take a photo before I send the package off though.  I have loved the pattern I chose and the yarn is like butta.

Fully into the week

What a wonderful weekend!  The weather was wonderful!  I enjoyed getting together with a few friends on the fourth.  I did some gardening and ate lots of bbq leftovers on Sunday.
Plus Tour de Fleece has begun! I was right there watching the first stage of the Tour de France on Sunday morning as I spun up my first small batt of merino/silk.
Here is the goal for the tour The most colorful basket is the one to be emptied.  But there is a back up basket just in case.  the third basket hiding there is for spinning tools.
Project #1 These are the "Fire" batts.  I spun up the red one on Saturday.  I had planned on spinning four of these up for a cabled yarn-and this will still happen.  But on Sunday I picked up this lovely roving from the basket and spun it right up Corredale/Nylon (10%).  Great for sock yarn.  Four oz spun up yesterday and Navajo plyed a sport weight hiking sock yarn this morning There is only 98 yards so I'll pair this with another yarn for the feet of the socks.
Next up is Abstract Fiber's Merino/Alpaca/Silk in "Autumn".  It is so very lovely spinning up.  I have 8 oz and plan a two ply for a large scarf.
More updates in a couple of days.