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Gizmo Project ID: fibercast

Skype ID: fibercast

Voicemail line: (508) 635-4416

Email: fibercast [at] gmail {dot} com

New England Podcasting

November 2009
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Syndication

On my needles:

Socks - claudia's handpainted yarn, in a beautiful rainbow of colors called Carousel - purchased from The Loopy Ewe - excellent customer service

The reason I'm knitting socks - the 52 pair plunge

I already have another pair almost done - made from J. Knits yarn in the colorway Iowa, which is shades of gold.

Let's Knit2Gether video podcast

Lime & Violet podcast

NEWS:

Excellence in Needlework award winners: 

Read this news release and print a PDF online at: http://www.interweave.com/PressRoom/PR_Press_Releases.asp

View the winners at: http://www.interweave.com/needle/NWOY/pastwinners/winners_2006.asp

Knit & Crochet Show in Manchester, NH July 12-15 2007

http://www.KnitandCrochetShow.com

Sheepless Yarn Swap Launches from Interweave

Registration is open until May 1 online at:http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/No_Sheep/swap/nosheepsignup.asp

EVENTS:

April 13 & 14, Greencastle, Indiana (Putnam County Farigrounds, located on 231 just north of the courthouse).  Friday,  noon to 7; Saturday, 9 to 5.  Free admission and parking.  http://www.thefiberevent.com/

Sat, April 21st in Denmark, ME - 13th annual Sheepfest at the Denmark Arts Center http://www.pinestarstudio.com/SHEEPFEST.htm

April 28 - Connecticut Sheep & Wool Festival, Tolland Agricultural Center; on-site parking fee of $3.00  http://www.ctsheep.org

Gerald left me a comment and let me know about a new event called the Knitters Connection. June 6-10 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, OH   http://knittersconnection.com/

Interview - Nancy Zeller of Long Ridge Farm ( http://longridgefarm.com ) talking about Earthues Natural Dyes

Nancy will be at Ct Sheep & Wool Festival on April 28; http://www.ctsheep.org as well as at NH Sheep and Wool Festival (May 12 & 13) http://www.yankeeshepherd.org and the Jamaica VT Fiber Festival, Sat May 19 10 am to 4 pm http://www.margiesmuse.com/pages/fiberfest.htm

Listener Feedback -

Email exchange with Becky about spinning dog hair

Contact Info -

email fibercast at gmail dot com

or leave voicemail at (508) 635-4416

Direct download: episode12.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 3:10 PM
Comments[1]

This took me almost all day and several tries. I hope it came out OK because I'm uploading it as is - I have to get DD to play practice and I have no more time. Hope you like it!

NEWS

Eunny Jang Named Editor of Interweave Knits Magazine

EVENTS

2007 Gore Place Sheepshearing Festival - Saturday, April 28, 10 am to 4 pm rain or shine. 52 Gore Street in Waltham MA, entry fee is $10 for adults, children 12 and under are free.

March 23-25 SouthEast Fiber Forum at the Montgomery Bell State Park near Dickson TN.

Fiber arts calendar on the Knitter's Review site

Maine Fiber Frolic

Alpacanation.com

Shearing pictures from May 06

The Alpaca Registry

The Suri Network

Llamapaedia Fleece Evaluation page

J. Knits yarn

Connie Delaney

Listener feedback

email fibercast at gmail dot com

or leave voicemail at (508) 635-4416

Direct download: episode11.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:52 PM
Comments[2]

AlpacaEase program http://www.alpacaease.com

New podcasts I like:

Rural Radio http://www.acountrylife.com
Geek.Farm.Life with Andrew and Misty http://geekfarmlife.com

Podcasts I'd like to see:

competition obedience
endurance riding

What I've been doing -
computer problems
sick dog
what it takes to ship an alpaca out-of-state

Flax interview part 2
Johannes and Christian at FlaxForSale.com http://flaxforsale.com

Promo for Crochet Cast http://www.crochetcast.com

Contact info:

Gizmo Project ID:  Fibercast
Skype ID:  Fibercast

Voicemail line:  (508) 635-4416

Email:  caroline@thefibercast.com
spinningalpaca@comcast.net

Direct download: episode10.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 3:45 PM
Comments[6]

Those of you who know of my regular blog (Fiber Arts & Furry Critters) know that I've been dealing with computer issues.  At this point I think I have everything about ready to go as far as making the next podcast.  I've been busy with other things, though.  Right now I have three alpacas sold, and we're working on the paperwork and testing required for inter-state transport.  Last week the kids were home from school; I've been working on getting ready to put in a small garden; and I've been sleep-deprived for the last two nights while caring for a sick dog.  Indy is now at the vet, and I'm waiting anxiously to find out what's wrong with my buddy.

I hope to have a new podcast ready this weekend.  Sorry to keep you waiting.

Category: general -- posted at: 12:06 PM
Comments[3]

From Nancy Zeller: Jamaica, VT will be holding the 3rd Annual Jamaica Fiber Fest May 20th.  It will be up and down Main St - Contact: http://www.margiesmuse.com  They are expecting around 40 vendors!

Nancy will be hosting Michele Whiplinger, owner of Earthues natural dyes, for a workshop at her farm August 22-24 for an intensive 3-day workshop on Dying in the European Tradition.  Nancy's web site is http://www.longridgefarm.com - watch for further info on that.

April 15, 2006 - Denmark, ME SheepFest.  Small fiber festival, packs a lot of punch (and quite a few vendors) into a small space. If you know of a website for this event, please email me.

Listener Feedback

Lissette emailed me around the end of February and said that she's another one who keeps a sock in her purse in case she gets stuck somewhere.  She heard me mention it on a previous podcast, and said she thought she was the only one!   

I got a comment from Janet Szabo of Big Sky Knitting  Janet is the designer of the (FLAK) Follow The Leader Aran Knit-Along, and the author of several books, including one great book on Aran sweater design. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nancy Born wrote to offer some West Coast fiber arts festival information.  Seattle Knitting Expo, April 28-30, http://www.seattleknittingexpo.com/

Black Sheep Gathering, Eugene, Oregon, June 23-25, http:// www.blacksheepgathering.org/

Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival, Canby, Oregon, Sept. 22-24, http:// www.flockandfiberfestival.com/ (still 2005 info) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Irie also wrote with info on the Black Sheep Gathering.

Ellen Bloomfield wrote to suggest I do a program or two on alpacas.  Awesome idea, Ellen!

Today's interview - broken into two parts - is on raising and processing flax.  I spoke with Johannes and Christian Zinzendorf of The Hermitage.  They can be found at FlaxForSale.com and on a blog at FlaxNow

Direct download: Episode9.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:37 PM
Comments[3]

Canterbury Shaker Village - Canterbury, NH - Sheep Shearing Day, Sat. March 11  Admission is $5.00
http://shakers.org/programs/?show=FAMILY
From the website - "Spring is here and it's time for our small flock to get rid of their thick winter coats!  Join us to watch the shearing and get hands-on with spinning, carding, weaving and dyeing activities!"

Spinning Wheel Sleuth - a newsletter about spinning wheels and related tools
Florence Feldman-Wood  http://www.spwhsl.com/

American Textile History Museum
http://www.athm.org

Spin-Off - build your own cigar box charkha information
http://www.interweave.com/spin/
pdf file - http://www.interweave.com/spin/projects/Cigar-boxCharkha.pdf

CrochetCast - Jeannie Gist in Texas

CandieCast - Candie Cooper - podcast about jewelry making

AussieKnit - Kate in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (love the accent!)

Musings of a Peaceful Knitter - Lisa

Time2Knit - Donny

WeaveCast - Syne Mitchell, Seattle

Music - Brobdinagian Bards http://www.thebards.net

Colonial Spinning Bee
Sunday May 21, 1 to 5 pm, at the "Old Chelmsford" Garrison House, Chelmsford, MA
http://home.earthlink.net/~judycat/id2.html
Judy Cataldo

Gore Place Sheep shearing festival
Saturday April 22, 10 am-4 pm, at Gore Place, Waltham, MA
Admission $10 - Children 12 and under are free
Spinners who bring their wheel and demonstrate are also
admitted free
http://www.goreplace.org/events/sheepshearing2006.htm

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
33rd year for the MD Sheep & Wool Festival
This year they are featuring the Lincoln breed
Admission and parking are free
May 6 & 7 - 9 am to 6 pm on Sat, 9 am to 5 pm on Sun.
Weather is variable - always the first full weekend in May
http://www.sheepandwool.org/
NO DOGS ALLOWED

NH Sheep & Wool - http://www.yankeeshepherd.com/
Hopkinton Fairgrounds in NH, May 13 & 14.  Sheep to Shawl competition, special Juniors division
Alpaca show

Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival -
same wkend - May 13 & 14  Washington County Fairgrounds, Lake Elmo, MN
Free Admission, Free Parking!
http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/
The Festival was started in order to provide a venue where wool producers, wool consumers and wool artisans could come together and share the excitement of working with sheep and their fantastic product - wool. Gradually, the Festival has grown to include other fiber animals such as Angora rabbits, alpacas, and goats.
Live entertainment each day. Demonstrations are ongoing for sheep shearing, herding dogs, rabbit agility, spinning and knitting.

Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Fair is May 27 & 28, Cummington, MA  http://www.masheepwool.org
No dogs allowed ; bill themselves as one of the oldest New England sheep fairs ; admission $5.00 per car.

Aug 19 & 20 is the 2006 Michigan Fiber Festival
http://www.michiganfiberfestival.org/
Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan Michigan
Not much more info on their website yet but there is some contact information

Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, September 8 9 and 10
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Johnson Creek, Wisconsin
http://www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com/
Admission is $5 per person, children under 8 are free.  Admission is also free from 5 to 8 pm on Friday

Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival
champlain Valley Expo Center in Essex Junction, VT
September 9 & 10, 2006
http://www.vermontsheep.org/festival.html
At this one there is a company that rents RVs

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival
Hemlock Fairgrounds, Hemlock NY
Sept 16 & 17 2006
http://www.gvhg.org/fest.html
Countdown on their site - only 192 days until the next festival!
Fleece, skein and garment competition info is prominently featured on their front page.

New York State Sheep & Wool Festival ( http://www.sheepandwool.com/),
also known as Rhinebeck because it's held at the Duchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY.
Admission is $10 per person.  In 2006 it's being held on October 21st and 22nd, but according to their own literature it's always held the 3rd weekend in October.  Norm Hall wheels

Additional fiber festival information
http://www.thistlecovefarm.com/fiber.html

Direct download: episode8.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 2:36 PM
Comments[1]

Sorry the podcast is late. It will be a few more days. The kids are home on school vacation, and that means everything is a little off schedule right now. In the meantime I have created a one-minute promo. As always, feedback is welcome!
Direct download: fibercastpromo.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 1:39 PM
Comments[0]

Reminder - New England Textile Arts SPA Knit & Spin - Doubletree Hotel, Portland ME http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewEnglandTextileArts/

Email from Marianne Billings, asking me to mention *her* local fiber festival. Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival Mother's Day Weekend, Washington County Fairgrounds, Lake Elmo, MN http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/

Claudia's spinning retreats - http://www.countrywool.com section on the front page for "Weekend Retreats"

Northeast Handspinners http://northeasthandspinners.org/ The Gathering Nov. 3 to 5, 2006 Loon Mountain, NH http://northeasthandspinners.org/html/nha-events.htm

Also got an email from another listener who had problems downloading the mp3 file.  If you need help setting up computer/ itunes/ ipod (or another mp3 player), please feel free to contact me.  I may be able to help.

http://www.noipodrequired.com/

Email from Lesley Prior regarding her Bowmont Fleece.  Leslie is at http://www.devongoat.co.uk/  By the time I emailed her with some questions, about 4 hours later, it was all sold out!

Nancy Zeller of Long Ridge Farm - http://www.longridgefarm.com/ Contacted me about CVM fleece.

New podcast from Alex Anderson - Alex Anderson Quilt Connection - heard about it on Annie Smith's "Quilting Stash" podcast, and found it in iTunes already.  Alex Anderson's podcast can also be found at http://www.alexandersonquilts.com/podcast/index.phpm

Podcast User Magazine http://podcastusermagazine.com/ THere is also one in production that will be coming out in print at http://id3mag.com/

Public Service Announcement from blind & visually-impaired podcasters at http://www.blindaccessjournal.com petition at http://blindwebaccess.com

Promo for Phedippidations - http://www.steveRunner.com

Interview with Helen Thelen  http://www.baycolonyfarm.com

IAGARB  http://iagarb.org/

giant rabbits http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4690000/newsid_4694200/4694270.stm http://www.local6.com/news/3547722/detail.html

Contact info: Voicemail # (508) 635-4416 Gizmo Project, Skype - "fibercast" email

Request for intros from listeners

Direct download: Episode7.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 3:29 PM
Comments[4]

Intro from 6620 West
http://6620west.com

Regular blog and steek pictures
http://fiberarts.typepad.com

New England Textile Arts' SPA Knit & Spin weekend, Doubletree Hotel, Portland Maine, Feb. 18 & 19
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewEnglandTextileArts/

Brenda Dayne of Cast-on Podcast
http://cast-on.com/

Rhonda of the Knitting News Cast
http://knittingnewscast.blogspot.com/

The newest rising star among the crafting podcasts -
Whit Larson at About Time.  Wonderful! 
http://www.about-time.us/

What to do with raw fleece?

First of all, you have to find raw fleece.  What do you want?
What do you want to do with it?

Fiber Festivals
Farm days/ farm visits
Online vendors

What kind of fleece?
Sheep wool - heavy grease / low grease
alpaca / llama
mohair - angora goat
angora rabbit
cashmere

Sheep wool -
washing - HOT water

Washing mohair:

http://www.fiber2yarn.com/selection.htm

Washing alpaca / llama / anything else that's low to no grease -
lukewarm water, less soap

drying

preparing to spin -
carding - hand cards or drum cards
combing
flicking
grab a handful and go

http://www.icanspin.com

Direct download: Episode6.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 9:09 PM
Comments[2]

Episode 5 of The FiberCast - Interview with Ted Myatt of Ontario, Canada, the Knitterguy.  One of his readers has dubbed him "The Obi-Wan of Lace Knitting."  He has a blog at Knitterguy.typepad.com, and another he is keeping with Katherine Matthews at The Princess Diaries

Also:

New free pattern - Aran Weight Victorian Lace Shawl by Michelle Ciccariello at Elann.com; YahooGroup for an Aran Weight Victorian Lace Knit-Along

Sharon Miller's Heirloom Knitting site

Mentioned in the interview -

Lendrum Wheels, Tracy Eichheim's Woolly Designs spindles

Episode 6 will focus on fiber preparation - OK, it's off the animal, now what do I do?

Direct download: Episode5.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 7:02 PM
Comments[1]