Let's Roc

Distaff Day, 

also called Roc day, is January 7.

Many St. Distaff's Day gatherings are held, large and small, throughout local fiber community. 

The distaff, or rock, used in spinning was the medieval symbol of women's work.

In many European cultural traditions, 

women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas. 

Women of all classes would spend their evenings spinning on the wheel. 

During the day, they would carry a drop spindle with them. 

Spinning was the only means of turning raw wool, cotton or flax into thread, 

which could then be woven into cloth.

( via Wiki )

~

Snap of the car trunk yesterday on the way to our yearly Saint Distaff Day

gathering.  Twin Lady Bugs and Lendrum loaded..

Thanks Linda for hosting..

As always it was a wonderful day of food, fun, 

lots of laughter and spinning.

~ 

: 2016 :

Thank you for such a wonderful year!

Happy 2016..

~

Yarn Along..

Our December weather has been extremely mild.

It is such a treat to throw the doors open and enjoy

experimenting with the colors of Madder.

The diversity of  the Madder root has captured my heart. 

While I miss the snow it has been wonderful to enjoy

long warm walks on our favorite trail.

... that moon ...

Just finished reading:

The Children's Blizzard

This story kept me up to the wee hours of the morning to finish the book.

It particularly appealed to me as our distant relatives were immigrants 

from Norway and settled in the Dakotas.

After reading this I can't believe anyone survived 

leaving their homeland, homesteading, and the wrath of Mother Nature!

~

Joining Ginny

Outside always..

We spent Thanksgiving camping at our 

favorite state park.

Deep, mossy, prehistoric woods.

Opting out of the hustle and

treasuring the holiday as its own.

Embracing gratitude. 

Being thankful.. as we are.

Quiet.  Deep scents of pine that clear the mind

and refresh the soul.

Lots of hiking, knitting, rock picking, 

red squirrel watching,

river walking, reading 

and exploring natures treasures like

beaver chewed driftwood.

Hope that you all had a most lovely Thanksgiving.

~

Indie Knit and Spin

Last weekend was the Pittsburgh Indie Knit and Spin.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth to say hello.

It was a lovely sunny day full of fun and conversations.

The weather was so beautiful out yesterday 

I just couldn't stay inside and photograph the yarns for the shop.

I'll be adding the inventory to Etsy throughout the week.

Of course I couldn't leave the festival without a few treasures of my own:

Handmade buttons from Rebecca at Dusty Tree Soap

and some absolutely gorgeous Polwarth wool from

Fiddlehead Fibers.

Cosy will be hosting two festivals this year....

(yay!)

SAVE THE DATE:

Indie Knit and Spin 

February 6, 2016

~

Acer

Acer palmatum

[ Japanese maple ]

Japanese Maple

she sits paused in morning's light

a breathless...haiku

©Albert via Allpoetry.com

(..for Ellen.. xx)

Coaxing color..

Last weekend I headed South to attend the

Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival

near Asheville, NC.

The road trip was inspired by the opportunity to take a class from the delightful 

master natural dyer Jackie Ottino Graf.

You can listen to a wonderful interview

with Jackie HERE

Some of her gorgeous natural dye swatches from

Swans Island Yarn Company:

Over the course of the day we mixed, brewed, and coaxed twenty different colors

from ONE natural dye: madder root.

Our results were breathtaking..

Thank you Jackie for the bond you've created around the dye pot.

You really "Make it Madder"..

~