Cuties

Those little bandits are so cute! They come right up to the door and wait for their peanuts... even when my cats are right up at the door. They make for good kitty tv. The soft toy bordercollie is here because I am missing my little girl, she left us a little over a year ago, and we haven't gotten another. Strange, but one of my cats has begun doing things she used to do, like beg at the table, strongeye my hubby, and come when called, but one thing just brings a smile to my face every time. He hears my car, and runs full tilt down the stairs (where his windowseat is) to greet me at the door. He is my sweet boy. The other cat I have is super cute, and very affectionate, but lets his brother lead. It is Trouble who seems to think he is a border kitty!

More photo play

How fun is this? I took a color photo, made it b&w, filmgrained it, sharpened it several times, raised the contrast, then hand painted it with dye inkpads... So cool! So okay, this photo manipulation stuff is okay... I am no expert, but I could have fun with it...Hmmm, I have all those pics of squirrels... I wonder how ol' One Ear will look dyed aqua?

Photo Manipulation

Well, these are the results. I am not happy with them, but as a learning experiance, they were certainly successful. Aside from that, not so good. Part was because the ink responded very quickly to any moisture, and partly because facial drawings in that scale is NOT my forte. Ah well, on to different things.

New Banner

I am still looking for the perfect Banner... until then, I will occasionally change it to suit my fancy. I am still spinning the luscious fibers I got last weekend, and dreading next weekend, when I will only get 1 day off. Still, it is better than none. These are more of the MD pics...Later I will post the pics of the altered photos I am trying with my artgroup, The Artist Circle. Later!

My Haul

So okay, I confess, I didn't go home Saturday emptyhanded. I almost made it though. Almost. What I did leave with is very restrained, just a mere 1.5 pounds of merino wool in yummy colors! See?

But wait til you see these....

These are done by young people, like a 4H or FFA affair.... these are the winners of the various divisions. I stand in awe! And of course the sheepcritters themselves!

More of Maryland S&W

Oh, yes, did I mention the sheepdog demos? And the sheep grooming, and the sheep trimming, and the .....

After the trip...

I am sorry I wasn't up to the swashbuckling fun yesterday, I rather overdid it at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest and got a bit dehydrated. Nothing too bad, just unpleasant. For those of you who have never seen a fiber fest, I took a gazillion phots. There were 8 buildings of fiber, plus a road filled on both sides with overflow, animals and food. Lamb, of course. Funnel cakes, ice cream, fresh squeezed lemonaid, yum! There were critters small (the bunnies), medium (goats and sheep), and large (llamas and alpaca). There was unprocessed fiber... the raw fleeces, and combed fiber, carded fiber, picked fiber, there were natural colors and rainbows, curly, straight, fluffy, shiny and sleek. There was yarn. Oh, there was yarn. Factory spun, handspun, natural and manmade. Bamboo, corn, and seaweed. There were tools... looms, wheels, spindles, needles, and hooks. There were books and tjangs and dyes, paints and wax and staffs. Oh yes, and the finished goods... coats and string bags, shoes and paintings, drawings and buttons. I am sure I have left some out, but just look at the pics... it is fiber heaven! Add in a demo of historical spinning, weaving and bobbinlace and throw in music for good measure, there's nothing left to wish for.... well, maybe a winning lottery ticket!