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Showing posts from March, 2024

The birth of a fiber Artist

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 Finding myself flock less, with only my family, chickens, rabbits and crochet to keep me busy. It was short a time before an angora rabbit or three came into my life. These little wooly rabbits help ease my longing for a flock. Soon I had not only fleece from my last flock, but bags of angora just hanging out around the house.  I was soon thinking of sending it all off to a mill to be washed and spun. After many days I became frustrated, it seemed so expensive, took 8 months plus and the minimum run size seemed so unattainable.  Dusty being ever supportive suggested that I just spin it myself. And you know at that time I totally thought this was the most logical idea. Enter in a perfectly timed and priced Craig’s list ad for a country craftsman spinning wheel and a bunch of extras.  I had no idea how much I lucked out with this wheel until after my lesson. I was quickly off to making yarn. This wheel made me learn to make smooth, consistent, thin yarn right out of the gate, because an

The early years

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 My love of fiber started with a little 4h lamb named Merlin. I loved that lamb, and quickly felt I needed more sheep. Merlin was sold at country fair, but that year I got a scholarship to purchase a breeding ewe. The next January, Allie was born. This little ewe came home later that spring. Soon Alley needed friends because sheep need friends to be happiest, that’s when a little ewe named Stompy came into the picture. Stompy was an Icelandic/ Shetland cross. With the addition of this very wooly little beast I learned how to stand shear, and skirt a fleece for show.  As with all things life changes and my first flock found safe homes when we moved from the family farm after I graduated high school.  But my love of sheep definitely did end there. In my early 20’s I acquired a small flock of Soay Sheep. These flighty little deer like sheep lived at my Aunt and Uncle’s house for a couple of years before I could move them home.  I also met my husband during this time, and he introduced me

Taking the Leap

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Every time we take a leap there is a ton of feelings, fear, excitement, that one feeling with no name that lives in the pit of your stomach. It's time to fly, I am taking the leap. I'm owning my name, I'm putting myself out there, I'm going to actually promote myself.  I have been soft publishing my patterns for over a year now, I have found a rhythm, a style, a tech aid, testers and even an amazing photographer. Now I just have to Leap. Welcome all to D Wallace Designs.