Month: September 2024

Felted Hats

Felt Like Making Hats with Alpaca Fiber from Our Spring Harvest! ( see what I did there?)

This spring, we took on the fluffy mission of harvesting alpaca and sheep fiber, transforming our farm into a scene straight out of a Pixar movie. Think Cloudy with a Chance of Woolballs. Now, it’s time to put that fiber to good use: making fabulous, one-of-a-kind felt hats!

Picture this: You’ve just spent a solid hour shearing an alpaca who—let’s be real—is giving you some serious side-eye and yes, some of them do spit.🤢 Their fleece falls in tufts, and you suddenly wonder if there’s enough coffee in the world to get through this. But then, magic happens! You look down at the fiber—soft, luxurious, and you see all the possibilities.

Here’s how we’re turning fluff into fashion, and I promise it’s easier than talking an alpaca into a haircut:

  1. Prep the Fiber – After collecting this year’s fiber, we clean it (this means less hay in your hair), comb it out, and get it all fluffed up. Yes, there’s something so satisfying about fiber prep—like untangling holiday lights, but softer.
  2. Wet Felting – Grab your soapy water and prepare to get messy! Felting is all about coaxing those fibers to shrink and lock together. It’s like giving your wool a spa day, with a little elbow grease. Who knew? Spa days for fiber are a thing.
  3. Shape the Hat – As the fiber turns into felt, we shape it into hats that could rival a royal wedding. Whether you want a classic cloche or something with a bit more flair, you’re only limited by your imagination—and your ability to keep your pets from destroying your project mid-felt. (Don’t ask how I know that.)
  4. The Finishing Touches – Every great hat needs its final flourish. Whether it’s a flower, feather, or something wild like a yarn pompom, you can customize it to fit your style. Need to blend in at the next fiber fest? Or make a statement? I’ve got you covered.
Here’s a short video with a look at the process.

Want to learn how you can create your own felted fun projects with fiber? Join me on Patreon for behind-the-scenes videos, tutorials, and insider access to special deals on all our creations. Plus, keep up with sales and new fiber-related shenanigans by following me on Instagram.

So, whether you’re into DIY fashion or just want to stay cozy this winter, grab your fluff, follow along, and let’s get felting! 🎩

Don’t forget to sign up for updates and exclusive offers on our upcoming sales! You won’t want to miss our next trunk show or fiber drop!

Turquoise Reflections

Turquoise Reflection Timelapse Painting

Watercolor Wednesday

Hello! Hope you are enjoying this wonderful day! I am glad to be sharing this quick view of my latest Patreon tutorial upload.

The scene is a beautiful reflective water near a shore and a distant crop of trees. It feels like just the place I would like to sit and relax for a bit.

I invite you to head on over to my Patreon to see the full tutorial. Whether you are a painter or not, I think the process is really fascinating to watch.

While you’re there, be sure to take a look at the other projects I’m working on. Fiber art, watercolor and pottery are the mediums I focus on but you will also find a variety of added benefits like how to organize a yarn stash, how to use old books to create sketch books and how up to make your own mats and frames. These are all the things that are waiting for you to discover at Patreon.

Join me on Patreon!

Discover Your Creative Potential with Our Patreon Community!

Hello! I am thrilled to share the news of my new Patreon channel with you. While I enjoyed getting to know so many of you during my in-person workshops, I want to make my workshops more accessible. The goal is to build a community where we can meet, share our progress, and encourage each other.

Eleanor at spinning wheel on a dock.

Why Patreon?

I searched for a good place to meet and share exclusive content like behind-the-scenes views of the farm, share news offer previews of workshops, and support and offer guidance to the attendees of my workshops. Patreon feels like the right place. It is an environment where I can share weekly updates, workshops, and tutorials.

two alpacas

Let’s grow and create together!”

I invite you to join me there to build what I hope will be a fun place to share, learn, and grow. This is a great opportunity to join me on the ground level to build something together. As an early Patron, you will help me set the sails and chart the direction for this new adventure.

Become a Patron
Take me to Patreon

The Myth of Ceres and Persephone

SEPTEMBER- Autumn Equinox 

Also known as the Greek goddess Demeter, Ceres was the Goddess of the harvest and was credited with teaching humans how to grow, preserve, and prepare grain and corn. She was thought to be responsible for the fertility of the land.

One autumn day her daughter, Persephone, walked with friends among the bountiful fields.

When they reached a field of flowers, Persephone called to them.

“Come here quick and we can gather all the wildflowers we want. ”

They filled their baskets with herbs and clover each selecting among the variety of crocuses and lilies. 

Persephone wandered away from her companions and it was then that  Dis, Lord Hades of the Underworld abducted her. 

There was no place on earth that Ceres did not look for her daughter Persephone. 

Ceres wore a crown of grain on her head and wore white for “twice three months”. The time that Persephone would remain dormant in the underground. 

With the promise that her daughter would return again, she waited.

Persephone represents the seeds that fall in the Fall and the white worn by Ceres is the snow that will cover the ground until Persephone returns in the Spring. 

Separation and Loss Followed by Joy and Belief

Mourning/Searching, Joy, and Belief are the three phases of September. 

I find myself fully immersed in the Joy Phase as my mourning and searching have led me directly to my path of unbounded Joy. Relationships that were strained and dormant have reemerged as the fruitful seeds of hope.

I enter the final stage of this Equinox with the BELIEF in the powerful relationship and bond between a Mother and her Daughter. I celebrate us and you in this season and as we rest to rediscover ourselves again, I remain eager to see what we become when we bloom again in the Spring.

Celebrate the Equinox

Make an oak leaf crown or create a special table topper with two items that represent the mother and daughter relationship. You can also start a gratitude journal and include intentions (seeds) that you can focus on while the snow covers the ground and see how they develop after months of your belief.

Don’t forget to sip on a warm honey tea as you acknowledge the end of a season and prepare for rest.

To see what my Equinox table scape will look like, visit my Patreon channel.