Sheep, Goats, Fiber and a Revelation

(The following is a guest post from Liz Fox of Knitty Kitties.)

My nephew was turning 40 and a surprise party was planned at his new home in Maryland.  I planned the route to see if there would be any fiber along the way.  The best part of taking a road trip is finding a new yarn store.

At first, I didn’t see anything that looked close enough or interesting enough to re-route.  But within just a few clicks, I found just what I was looking for. And it was the weekend of the party!

How serendipitous…I had to go.

I planned my route, giving me enough time to get there, get lost, look around and of course, buy yarn and get to the party at the appointed hour.

As I got off the highway and started down a winding road, I saw the Yellow signs pointing their way to the Artisan’s Spring Studio Tour.

I double-checked to be sure I had the right studio.  I turned into a gravel driveway, saw a sign that the studio is open, but saw no one around.  I turned around and headed down the road.   By now it is getting late and I was thinking that maybe the Tour was over for the day. I passed the turn to my nephew’s house and thought “hmmm..I just can’t be this close and not have a second try... So I turned around, found the sign and saw a second driveway just a few feet from the first.  I turned in and, voila!  Dancing Leaf Farms.

Sheep…goats…fiber…it was heaven.

Dancing Leaf Farms, a small cottage studio/shop, is only open on special days and by appointment. They will be at Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend.  Dalis, the owner, hand dyes a variety of yarns and roving, some from her sheep. Also available are knitting needles, felting needles, glass buttons and jewelry.

I bought some beautiful hand-spun/hand-dyed yarn, some roving to practice my spinning and buttons for my latest work-in-progress.

As soon as I walked to my car, it hit me.

THIS is what I want to do.  I want to have my own shop.  I want to be out in nature.  I think I want to raise some sheep and spin their wool, dye it and knit with it and sell it…

For so long now I have felt at odds with my career but never really knew what I wanted to do.  So that is my dream.  I am headed in that direction.  I am learning to spin with a bottom whorl spindle.  Next step – dyeing….

Then finding that perfect spot with some grass and sheep…

(The Artisan’s have their open house 3 times/year - Tour dates in 2009 are April 17, 18, 19; October 9, 10, 11; December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13.)

 

Liz Fox has been a crafter all of her life. She learned to crochet from her "Gram" and got her love of crafts from her Grandma Alice. She took up knitting a few years ago and found her passion.  Liz's favorite knitting times are during the Steelers and Penn State football games, all sporting events, and at Broadway musicals.

Comments

[Kelee Katillac]

Wonderful L'Tanya! I love it when we take as Milan Kundera would call(paraphrased) a life detour...and end up where our soul's wanted to go.

[Kelee Katillac]

Sorry Liz--meant to acknowledge your dream!! And thank L'Tanya for hosting you! love, kelee