Shepherd's Harvest and Tons of Wool for Dyeing

It's Spring, and I love daffodils.

Thanks to my friend Barb for this sweet bouquet!

Here's a head's up, SHEPHERD'S HARVEST FESTIVAL is coming up fast! Be sure to mark your calendars...we'll be at the Washington County Fairgrounds (in Lake Elmo) Mother's Day Week-end, May 8th and 9th. If you are at all into fibers, it's a must see. A ton of activities going on, it's a blast, and it's totally free! For more info, http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/.

NEW INTO THE SHOP:

We're loaded with fibers, including nine new colors in the solid color Merino Tops.

There are some very pretty new Multi-Color Merino Tops, too...can't wait to spin them up.

We've got a bunch of undyed wools that are perfect for dyeing. There's Blue Face Leicester (BFL), Merino, Superfine Merino, Falkland, Colonial, South African Top, Wensleydale (very lustrous and a very long staple), Superwash Merino and Superwash BFL.

We also have a bunch of other undyed fibers you can dye up. China Silk (aka Paj Silk) Fabric for Nuno Felting (54" wide), Bombyx Silk Top, Silk Hankies, Silk Caps, Silk Throwster's Waste, Tussah Silk with Flecks, Mohair Top, Soy Silk, Bamboo, Tencel, Firestar (100% Nylon) and even Hemp (new in the shop).

We're working on the new class schedule and I hope to have that ready soon. If you'd like to get notices about class schedules and other events at the shop, shoot me an email at pamangier@comcast.net with the subject "Email List," and I'll add you to the list.

And, as always, if you have any recommendations for the shop, I appreciate your input.

SHEPHERD'S HARVEST FESTIVAL, May 9th & 10th

SHEPHERD'S HARVEST FESTIVAL is just around the corner and I've been stocking up! Here's a preview:

-A new shipment of KUNDERT DROP SPINDLES (see the photo).

-I also have an order of TURKISH SPINDLES coming from Ed Jenkins (including his new, smaller style TURKISH DELIGHTS, which I hear are fabulous).

-A shipment of GALE'S ART came in, in a really BIG box (see the photo). I have SEMI-SOLIDS and HAND PAINTED BFL and MERINO, yummy HAND PAINTED ALPACA/SILK BLENDS and something new...Gale's LIMITED EDITION HAND PAINTED CORRIEDALE CROSS TOPS in striking colorways (each is a one-of-a-kind, 4 oz).

-I have HAND PAINTED BAMBOO coming any day. It's wonderful to spin and it has such a luxurious drape and luster!

-I'm very excited about PIGEON ROOF STUDIO'S HAND PAINTED FALKLAND WOOL TOPS coming in time for Shepherd's Harvest! And after SHF, Krista will be sending me an order of her HAND PAINTED SIREN TWO SOCK YARNS (Superwash Merino/Cashmere/Nylon)!

-An order of deeply colored HAND PAINTED BFL from Lisa at DICENTRA DESIGNS will be here next week, too.

-And, don't forget the FIBRE FUSION FELBI PREFELTS! I'll have a bunch of prefelts at the Festival, some silk kits, and who knows what else. Afterall, I've still got 2 whole weeks to get it together! (Those of you who know me will understand that joke.)

-I'm also hoping to have some of the RUBBER BULB SPRAYERS left for sale. They are great for you wet felters (for wetting out your fibers), and they've been selling well.

Now, you be sure to visit us at SHEPHERD'S HARVEST FESTIVAL May 9th & 10th. Takes place at the Washington County Fairgrounds at Lake Elmo and for more information you can go to http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Finally, the Pre-Felts and Sprinkle Bulbs, More!

I am so happy to be able to tell you that the FIBRE FUSION FELBI PREFELTS have come in, as have the RUBBER WATER BULBS for wetting your fibers in wet felting!

The prefelts are so soft and they're very generous in size, approximately 60" x 80". I have them in 17 beautiful colors, from neutrals to earths to brights, and they are priced at $38 each. You can use them as a base for wet felting (and needle felting) and save a huge amount of time not having to lay out multiple fine layers of fibers. They're also perfect for cutting into shapes and patterns to incorporate into your projects, as some of you have done in the Felted Tote Bag Class for embellishments and flowers. I've also got some new colors in the SUPERFINE MERINO tops.

SPRING CLASSES, OTHER NOTES:

The BEAD EMBROIDERY CLASS (with Jennifer Diedrich) will be Tuesday, April 7, from 6 to 8:30 PM. There are still a couple spots open in the class for anyone who would like to learn how to embroider with beads on fabric! (And don't worry, even though I'm closed on Tuesdays, I will be here!)

The REVERSIBLE FELTED HANDBAG CLASS (with Leslie Granbeck) is coming up Saturday, April 11, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM and there are still a few spots available in this class.

And, finally, we need to get some of you to come out for the COLLAGE: ARTIST TRADING CARDS CLASS (with Kathy Coulter) on Tuesday, April 14, from 6 to 9 PM. I'll try to find time over the week-end to post some links you can visit to learn about ATC's (as they're called). I think a lot of people aren't familiar with them, but they are so much fun. It's art-making on a small scale, about the size of a playing card. You can do a Google Search for ATC and/or artist trading cards and you'll be amazed at what people are doing on these little pieces. You need absolutely no prior experience to participate in this class, and you will learn a TON about collage, distressing, and many other techniques you can use in altered art projects. Come join us for a soul-satisfying evening that is sure to open up a whole new world to you.

For information about all of our classes, go to http://www.thefiberstudio.com/. There are also photos of the Bead Embroidery example and Reversible Felted Handbag example on the "Classes" page.

FINALLY, don't forget to mark your calendar for SHEPHERD'S HARVEST FESTIVAL on May 9th and 10th at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. For more information go to http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/.

Classes, New Items and Shepherd's Harvest!

Spring 2009 Class Schedule... I've got some of the classes on the website (http://www.thefiberstudio.com/), with a few more to come. New offerings are:

~Try It, You'll Like It! one day, 6-hour spinning class
~Drop Spindle Class
~Artist Trading Cards (ATC's)
~Bead Embroidery
~Knitting with Roving
~I'm still working on a few other ideas, so be sure to re-check the website. If you have any ideas for classes, I'd love to hear about them! Call 612.822.1600 or e-mail pamangier@comcast.net.

We've got lots of new items in the shop...

~hand dyed silk fabric for nuno felting, hand dyed silk hankies, silk caps and throwster's waste
~luscious 70% Alpaca/30% Silk top, hand dyed for us by Gale's Art, 4 lovely colorways
~a fresh shipment of hand dyed BFL and Black BFL in semi-solids and hand paints
~hand painted Merino tops, perfect for your nuno projects
~fresh shipments of our Corriedale, Merino solids and Harrisville batts
~custom blended batts

And, coming soon (next week?)...

~rubber squeegee bulbs for wetting your fibers, these are great!!
~Felbi prefelts and Superfine Merino Wooltops from Fibre Fusion in Australia

Remember to check out our Etsy store at http://www.thefiberstudio.etsy.com/ where you can order through PayPal (you don't have to have a PayPal account to use PayPal). And, as always, you are more than welcome to call the shop (612.822.1600) or e-mail me with your orders at pamangier@comcast.net. We always love to hear from you!

Save the Date: SHEPHERD'S HARVEST FESTIVAL

It's that time of year and our wonderful Shepherd's Harvest Festival is coming up soon! I can't wait! If you've been to the Festival you understand my excitement, and if you haven't been you should definitely make plans to attend!

Mark your calendars, it's Mother's Day week-end, May 9th and 10th, at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, MN. I'll be selling there again this year with my trusty sidekick Leslie, I'll post more in the days to come.