Spinning perch

My dear very talented artist friend Scarlett, painted this chair for me. The chair was my daughter Brooke's when she about 7 years old, so that makes the chair 26 years old! I saved it in the basement all that time. I brought it to my friend Scarlett one day and asked if she could spruce it up for me? I left it up to her as to what should go on it. I just told her I wanted something bright and cheerful that I would use it as my spinning chair at my wheel. This weekend my chair was delivered to me with this wonderful painting on it. She turned it into a spinning perch, for me! I shall perch in this many happy hours in the years to come. Each time I sit I will take a moment and think of my dear friend Scarlett and the many dear friends that I have been blessed with. Scarlett has reminded me of that. This is very special to me and will remain so for a lifetime. Thank you dear Scarlett.

Tea Time and Busy Hands

What a wonderful fall day for our tea here on the farm. We had a nice turnout of ladies that came by to chat, drink tea, eat snacks and work on or start their fall projects. Those who had not started something for fall were inspired to start. Those who had projects that needed finishing brought them along to get them going again. We shared ideas, admired one anothers work and enjoyed one anothers company. Some needle felted pumpkins and acorns for the very first time. Here are a few pictures from the day. Some met new knitting friends and some connected with old friends. All had very busy hands. I only wish I had brought the camera out earlier to photograph everyone who had come by. Next time...Thanks to all who came and all who brought baked goods. Thanks to the one hubby Tim, who came to have a beer with Mike and watch the game! All was well here on Dream Come True Farm.

You are invited to a Tea! Please join us

Please join us for a tea, here October 3rd, share in our knitting circle. Even if your not a knitter but are thinking about knitting. Please join us. 2 pm - 4pm. This is an outdoor front porch event. Tea hats optional!

Thank you to all who attended! Your all the best!

What a great weekend we had here on the farm for Alpaca weekend. All the folks who came were so wonderful to come out and support the farms that were open for this weekend. Thank you so much for your support, we greatly appreciate it. Anastasia and Alyssa were here to demonstrate needle felting and to take folks out to the animals and answerer questions, we couldn't do these days without the girls! Here are some photos from Sunday. We had young shoppers, we had lots of folks learning how to needle felt pumpkins, spinning demos, folks enjoyed the display tent, made friends with the animals, the husbands enjoyed watching Mike turn bowls, we had guitar playing and most of all we visited with some of the best folks! Thanks to all. Wee you all at our next Open House in November! Remember open most Sundays 11-3 unless we have a family function, call to be sure.

A peek at the goings on today on the farm...Come on by! National Alpaca Weekend

Here is a peek at what you will see here this weekend! We have an educational tent set up with displays, of course the animals will be here to greet you, Mike will be turning bowls, I will be spinning and tending shop..Join us for a farm fun weekend. So far we have had the nicest folks come by, very interested in what we do here. We love to share our farm, so come on by..

Needle felted pumpkin class!

Yea! I'm going to offer needle felted pumpkin class Sunday mornings! Per requests. It will be alternate Sunday mornings from knitting. Time 11:30, cost 20.00. We'll felt a pumpkin together for class then you will go home with enough supplies to felt 2-3 more! Call early, 1,2, or 3 in a class. This will be offered right through November. Call soon! Maybe we'll do needle felted Santa's for November and December. E-mail with your thoughts on that...
Check the left column for class schedule and events. Happy Fall my friends.

Fall brought with her a bunch of raspberries?

What a surprise! Raspberries on the bush in September. Actually the first day of fall brought this handful of raspberries to me this morning Thank you Fall and welocme to our farm. Thank you Fall! I see there are many more on the bush that are just turning...Is it me or is the first day of fall a little late to have a crop of raspberries? I have lots of yellow and orange leaves on the trees all around me and red berries on the bush! Has anyone ever heard of this? I'm truly baffled..Mother Nature has surprised me again. One of the reasons I adore her.....Happy Fall to all.

Farm fun weekend - National Alpaca Weekend

Our Open House for National Alpaca Days is this weekend! September 25th and 26th. The following farms have worked together to put together a day of farm fun. All the farms will be open (free) to educate the public on small scale farming and raising alpacas among other farm animals. Displays,farm shops, alpaca products demos, and loads of farm fun. Brochures or farm cards will be available here for additional farms and their address.... Here on our farm we will also offer a knitting circle, bring your knitting and sit and join in some knitting and maybe meet some new knitting friends. We will also have a number of hands on activities to help educate you as to what we do here. I hope to see you. Farm On!And good luck to all my farm friends!

*Dream Come True Farm, 82 Freeman Rd., Oxford

*Alpacaboose Farm at 12 East St. Oxford

*Alpaca Hill Farm, 8 Willow St. Seymour

*Coon Hollow Farm, located at 156 Punkup Rd. in Oxford

*Hubbell Farm at French’s Corner 61 East Village Rd. in Shelton (White Hills)

*Simple Gifts Farm, 1135 James Farm Rd. Stratford

Bragging again!

Im sorry to be bragging again, well maybe Im not really sorry. Im jumping for joy! Another Dream Come True item has been chosen for the Etsy Treasury page (naturally beautiful itmes). My hand carded alpaca batting for spinning!! My alpaca boys are so happy with themselves too! Click on the title above to be directed to the Treasury page
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c977fb7ca5e8eefa2f2caaf/naturally-beautiful

National Alpaca weekend here Spetember 25th and 26th

We will be celebrating our love for our alpacas this coming weekend. National Alpaca weekend is September 25th and 26th 10-5. Shop open with lots of new alpaca products,educational displays, questions welcome, visit our alpacas and other farm animals.Bring your knitting and sit and knit, meet new knitters and maybe new friends! Join us for a wonderful farm day! Other area farms will also be open for visits, pick up a brochure here with participating farm names and addresse so that you visit these farms as well, making this a wonderful farm fun weekend!

You just never know..........

Opening today was great. It started out very slow until Kate and her firend Mary showed up! The girls visited with the animals and as you will see were welcome in the barn yarnd. Dahli Llama who doesn't let anyone touch him, he's a hands off kind of guy let Kate pet, rub and kiss him. He blew kisses right back to her and loved the attention. All the other critters were quite interested in these visitors as well. There was some great kisses and rubbing going on until Mary decided to come between Dahli and his girlfriend Kate. Well, as you can see he let Mary pet him and then SPIT! Yes, he spit. Not a ugly smelly green spit (thank god) but a spit just the same. Mary was such a good sport even while it brought a mighty large laugh from myself and Kate! Another day in the barnyard, you just never know with that Dahli Llama. Mary purchased some yarn to make a couple of scarves, but I did notice none of the yarn was Llama, hmmmmmmm...
I guess Kate told folks on the way out that this was the place to visit becasue wow, we got busy for the last hour and a half. One right after another! As always the most wonderful people stop at this farm! Thanks to all the visitors today! And a special thanks to Kate and Mary who really sparked things up in the barnyard! Anytime girls, and Mary please come back!

No comments:

Newest gift items!

Hi all, its 2 am and here I am. I just had to get all these little knitted squares in the washing machine to get them felted tonight! And in the shop for tomorrow! A little OCD, maybe? I have decided I would like to make these felted coasters that I'm teaching as a beginner knitting class for the holidays in all the holiday colors. These will make such great hostess gifts and grab bag gifts. A simple but useful gift. Here are just a few that will be going into the shop.

NEW BEGINNER felted coaster knitting project!

OK, for those who expressed concerns about learning to knit the alpaca scarf and after speaking with my dear friend Marti about beginner knitting classes I have decided to offer two options, your choice for beginner knitters 101. The ribbed alpaca scarf or felted coasters, a set of 4! I love them, they work well and make wonderful gifts, especially hostess gifts. We will learn how to cast on the project, (co)learn the basic garter stitch and bind off (bo), which is to take the projects off the knitting needles. You may be able to complete two here. Then I will give instructions on how to put the coasters in the wash and send them through a wash cycle to felt and thicken them up to turn them into coasters. You will then take your project home and knit 2 or 3 more. We can also needle felt a design or initial on the coaster. I will update a photo of that when I complete one. Just another option with this project. I will of course be available any Sunday for you to return with any questions or problems...These can make great holiday gifts made in all assorted colors. I will have many colors available for you to choose from. Same as the scarf class, any Sunday, your choice 11:30, supplies included in cost which will be $28.00. What do you think? I have to say this is a wonderful project to learn the real basics of knitting. So you choose before your class which project is for you and I will have it all ready. Scroll down to alpaca scarf post for the info. on that class.................. Lets Knit!

As always e-mail me with any questions or call.

NEW! Spiral Pattern Neck Warmer!

This yarn is our mill spun alpaca yarn that we offer in our shop. I took the oatmeal yarn and over dyed it in a light purple dye. I love the shading that it produced. Last year we came up with the mobius and shawl pattern to be used with our mill spun alpaca so this year my thought was for a neck warmer. Spiral pattern was the choice so Marti and I sat and figured out the pattern. And here it is! Spiral neck warmer. Kits will be available for 20.00, offered in my farm shop, also through etsy www.Pamsfiber.etsy.com, and by e-mail request. Available colors are spruce green, cranberry, oatmeal and bark brown. while colors last. If your in our area, pop in on one of our open Sundays, open houses or call for an appointment anytime or day.

Pumpkin delight wool for spinning

It is Fall after all! I love the smell of the air, wearing a sweater and socks in the morning while doing the animals and then again at the end of the day. I love the wonderful spunky attitudes from my animals. I love watching the very slow change in the leaves. I love the thought of raking leaves and having a fire in the wood stove. So these fall thoughts led me to do this pumpkin delight wool batt for spinning or needle felting. Just a quick run today with the drum card to blend the white soft alpaca and the hand dyed orange pumpkin sheep wool. Im spinning some of the batt tonight with the thought of making a pair of wristlets for the upcoming season. I'm listing some on Etsy as well. I'm really feeling that fall is peeking out at us! If you look hard you'll catch her!!

NEW wool for spinning or needle felting

Hi All, I have been working on new batts for the fall for spinning or needle felting. I have number of them done. This is just a sample of some that are already listed in my Etsy shop www.Pamsfiber.etsy.com or in the farm shop. More to be listed, I just need the time to sit and get them up. So check Etsy often.. Its been so much fun blending and choosing fibers for these batts. All carded here by me on my drum carder. Visit my Etsy shop, by clicking on it in the left colmn. Now I have to go out and enjoy this wonderful fall like day and pick some new colors from nature to do some more batt blending.

Bragging Rights

Another post already? You bet! Im bragging now. Etsy one of the sites that sells my yarn and goat milk soap has chosen my brown and white Babydoll Southdown handspun yarn as a fall "Treasure Find" to fit in with their fall display add for browns. I was so excited when I was notified. This is actually the second time one of my yarns has been featured (out of thousands!) Humble you say, NO NOT ME! Im bragging, yes. Im happy, honored and now inspired to spin. Thanks for listening to me. Click on the title above Bragging Rights and it will bring you to the Etsy site Treasure page..

What a find!

We were on our way to a country fair this weekend and in the front of a consignment/antique shop was this great round oak table with pedestal, for FREE! I guess they just couldn't move it. I immediately pictured it my little shop with some knitting friends around it knitting. So in the back of the pick up truck it went! What a find. We put it in the shop this morning and I sat at it with a friend drinking tea and knitting. We broke it in nicely. So this will be the official class knitting table. So come, take a private beginner knitting class and enjoy a cup of tea.

Learn how to knit this beautiful alpaca scarf

Always wanted to learn how to knit?
I have been asked many times for knitting lesson. My schedule doesn't make the commitment to lessons easy. So I have thought long about how to offer beginner knitting. So for those of you who may want to learn how to knit, here is what I'm offering. Sunday morning beginner knitting lesson. The alpaca scarf shown below will be the project. Minimal time away from home to learn..This will come as a kit with the knitting needles, choice of bark brown or oatmeal natural colred alpaca yarn and pattern, oh yes and me on Sunday morning! Sign up, come at 11:30, first class will be learn to and practice CO casting on. Once this is accomplished we will do a practice swatch of K and P knit and purl. Once you are comfortable with that we will start the scarf. When you have a couple inches of scarf knit, you can take it home and knit the 42 in. required to complete it. Then call me and arrange your second lesson which will be learn to BO bind off and remove the scarf from the needles. Then if you have chosen another project we will CO cast on another. Viola you will have knitted a beautiful alpaca scarf and will be on your way to knitting your holiday scarf gifts!! What do you think? Interested call me and we can set your Sunday morning up... Time 11:30 total cost $38.00
includes, classes, alpaca yarn, knitting needles, pattern and a morning on the farm, maybe doing a chore or two! (only kidding about the chores)

Keeping the farm safe

On days like today as I ready the farm for a storm I realize how much these animals mean to me. My thoughts all day are on how to keep my animals safe with the pending tropical storm. I will close all barn windows, half doors will be shut, water buckets filled to the brim in case we loose power which means no water pump. I have hooked the monitor in the barn so when the predicted storm hits us at 2 am I can monitor the barn for safety. We are nestled among lots of big old trees which always scare me with high winds. I will be glued to the window in the spare room with a watchful eye. If the going gets tough, I will make several trips to the barn to make sure there is no water flooding. If so I will rake it out into a wheel barrel and put new dry bedding down for them all. Being a Shepard can be a worrisome job at times. I will not rest until the storm has passed and all is well here on the farm...I do love those faces!

Fall events at Dream Come True Farm

Hi folks, I wanted to drop a quick note with some happenings coming up on the farm for the fall. Details will be told to you as soon as everything is smoothed out.
First we will be opening most Sundays from end of September on. Only closing for family gatherings. Always opening for appointments anytime during the week.
September 25 and 26 will be National Alpaca weekend, visit our farm meet the alpacas, and learn all about alpaca fiber, enjoy spinning demos and this year we will offer a knitting circle all day. Bring your project and sit and knit with us a while. Meet knitters and share your project. Weather permitting of course. The shop will be full and we will have a list of all the alpaca farms that will be open in the area.
We will be open on Thanksgiving weekend again this year with activities just like last year. Maybe even Santa again? Hmmmmmm we'll have to check his schedule. Also end of September I will be offering beginner one on one knitting lessons Sunday mornings. This will consist of 3 Sunday lessons, you pick the Sundays and you will learn to CO cast on, knit and purl, and BO bind off. The project that you will complete will be an alpaca scarf! Details and sample scarf are being worked on.. So check back often for our upcoming events...We may even be offering one other knitting circle day... Let me know how that interest you?

We have our winners!

Six slices ready and waiting to be shipped!

Finally the names were put in a jar and pulled for our winners. Your chances were really good there were only 16 entries. Most of you e-mailed or entered through FB do to trouble with the blog comment area. For that Im sorry. So if the following ladies will e-mail me at pamsfiber@aol.com with your mailing address I will get your soap packed up and shipped to you. Thanks for reading our post and visiting our FB page and this blog. And yes, it is a toaster! We use a newer one while camping to make out toast over a low fire on a grill top. Works great. It would work great on a gas range also....

Sandra from www.plainfancymerchant, folks be sure to visit this blog, you will love it
Nancy B. FB entry
Maura M. FB entry
AND The Wool Pantry was stuck onto Maura's drawing so YOU WIN TOO! www.Thewoolpantry.blogspot.com folks visit this blog too, you will be glad you did....

A note from Montey Christo,shop open for a fall sneak preview

Hi everyone, It's me Montey Christo one of the alpacas here on Dream Come True Farm. I'm writing this blog because Pam has been very busy adding new items to the shop. So I needed to step in and help...The drawing for the goat milk soap will be this coming week, I promise even if I have to do it myself. Most responded to face book with their answers so we need to put all the names together for the drawing. I promise I will make sure its done this week.
This Sunday the 29th our shop will open for a sneak preview of some of the new items for fall. I will be there for this opening so step on over to the barnyard and say "hi" We have added a lot of new yarns, both hand spun and mill spun. New this year we have added some sock yarn, some great colors. We also have more lace weight alpaca then ever before. We are putting together our neck warmer and mobius kits that we offered last year but we will use new yarns, some great hand dyed colored yarn and of course natural as well, sheep and alpaca. We are waiting for an order of alpaca gloves that will also be new this year to the shop. Coming from a mill here in CT made from alpaca fiber we shipped them. So all in all we are ready for the fall and holiday season. Adding new yarns weekly, Mike will be doing some glass kiln work this weekend, after be brings us up the new second cut hay. I think we are ready. Our first open house will be National Alpaca weekend in September. Check back for details. I of course will be there to greet you as well as all the other critters. But lets face it, with this face who will you be gazing at??? Thanks for stopping by. Montey Christo