Life is returning to normal. I have come down from the adrenaline rush that was Madrona & Stitches. It took four or five days for me to get it out of my system and start sleeping more than five or six hours a night. The pendulum swung to nine or ten hours of sleep. I think I am back to my regular seven hours a night and beginning to feel like myself.
At Madrona, I had a small challenge with Michele of Toots LeBlanc. She dared me to start on my shawl from her yarn before she started on socks from my yarn. I lost. I don't know why I thought I would have time to travel 800 miles, dye, fluff, and package more product, AND start a new project of my own design. I always think I can do more than is realistic. Is that a blessing or a curse? Both probably. Michele showed me a stranded sock with a beaded picot edge no less.
Here is the start of my shawl from their Jacob/Alpaca/Mohair fingering weight yarn. My design is a simple stole in a geometric pattern. 
I LOVE this yarn! It has the firmness of the Jacob wool, the softness of the alpaca, and a slight fuzz and luster from the mohair. It is quite delicious and very unlike any other yarn I have knit with. All of the fiber comes from farms in Oregon and they have it processed and spun in Oregon. It definitely has a handspun quality to it (a big plus for me).
There is spinning too. Not in a state to show you just yet. Here is the fiber I'm using:
Sincere Sheep* roving. Half of it was naturally dyed in various shades of red and pink and half was left the natural light gray of the fleece. The big coil has slumped over exposing the core of the coil. It looks really cool this way.
It has been a while since i have posted a picture of my Sam.
I love the specks of white fur on his jowls and paws.
* Sincere Sheep is our "think local" line of products. The most environmentally conscious wool (in my humble opinion) comes from local sheep raised on grass (as much as possible) whose fleeces are naturally dyed (with Fair Trade organic dyes) and locally processed.
ETA:
Dee has started a KAL (involves swapping too!) using my Big Bag pattern. How fun is that?!? There is a KAL blog here. Sign-ups end on March 7th. There is a Ravelry group full of friendly folks for this KAL/Swap too.
That shawl pattern is cool! I have a thing for simple geometric repeats.
Posted by: B | March 04, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Arrgh! You keep taunting us with the pretty, pretty naturally dyed things! I really want some of that tasty spinning fiber from you guys... maybe someday I can make it all the way back up there for spinning.
Seriously, let me know when your things are available, ok?
Posted by: Chialea | March 05, 2008 at 08:01 AM
The Sincere Sheep stuff almost looks to good to spin - and oh my goodness that first picture of Sam is adorable.
Posted by: michelle | March 05, 2008 at 09:36 PM
The stole is looking lovely so far, and that roving picture is so cool! Wow. I can't wait to see how that spins up!
Posted by: Lisa | March 09, 2008 at 06:03 AM
That pink and white looks like some kind of chambered seashell. Love the shawl pattern and the pup!
Posted by: Robin | March 22, 2008 at 06:48 AM