Sheep Shearing Day 2010 - update

~ Clinton Bell ~

Clinton has met with an unfortunate accident wherein the girth on his saddle broke and he was thrown to the ground which has resulted in rotator cuff surgery. He's unable to shear for me this year and may be unable to do his own shearing.

~ Derrick Spangler ~

Derrick, Lord Willin Shearin, is checking his schedule and I'm hopeful he'll be able to shear on April 10th. That's the Saturday after Easter and before the re-enactment taking place in our county.~ the lighter side of Derrick ~

We open the farm, free, to visitors and it's a great family day. Lost Arts Guild members will demonstrate and sell crafts that would have been absolutely necessary to this farm of bygone days. Last year we had a basket maker, spinners, blacksmith, loom builder, dulcimer maker, quilter and gourd decorator. Additionally, a professional photographer set up a studio for photo folks wanting their photos taken with black spring lambs.

The Cove Community Association will sell hot food and drink with proceeds going toward educational programs concerning agriculture and the part it plays in all our daily lives. You're welcome to visit, please dress in layers with coat, hat and scarf as it's always been chilly in the morning and warms up as the day progresses. We welcome service dogs only as well as your cameras; it's a great photo opportunity. Parking is alongside the road except for media and those with handicapped designations on their vehicles, we save a small area just inside our gates for those folks. If you're able, come join us.

Directions to Thistle Cove Farm are here or here or e-mail for more information.

Sheep Shearing Day 2010

~ Clinton Bell shearing a rare breed Shetland sheep ~

Sheep Shearing Day is 10 April 2010 and open to the public, gratis.

Shearing begins around 9 a.m. and, Master Shearer, Clinton Bell is finished by 12:00 or 1:00. Clinton answers questions and allows photographs as he shears Thistle Cove Farm's small flock of rare breed Shetland, Romney, Merino and crossbred sheep. All sheep are kept for fleece only; Thistle Cove Farm is a no-kill farm and all animals earn their keep by providing unconditional love and fiber.

~ skirting fleeces ~

Lost Arts Guild members demonstrate and sell hand crafted goods all day and may include spinners making yarn from wool, a basket maker making old timey baskets that are as beautiful as they are useful; the blacksmith pounding on his forge while he entertains with stories of by-gone years; the dulcimer maker explains just how ancient is his favored instrument and he'll even play a tune or three; the gourd maker showcases her beautiful hand decorated and home grown gourds and a quilter showcases her hand sewn quilts.

For a modest fee, a photographer will be on hand to photograph you and/or your children with spring lambs.

~ Mary feeding a spring lamb ~

The Cove Community Association will sell hot food and drink with profits going toward educational programs in the community.

It's a great fun day for the family as long as the family members have only two legs. Sorry but service dogs only, please, as this is a working farm. Dress warmly, in layers, as it usually starts out cold and warms up as the day wears on. We've gone from snow flurries in the morning to sunny, warm skies in the afternoon. Make sure you have hat, coat, gloves and scarf with comfortable shoes upon your feet.

Directions to the farm may be found at the TCF website; for more information, please visit the TCF blog.

BUSY,BUSY, BUSY......

Boy have I been busy, busy, busy......making baskets. Not only for Sheep Shearing Day at ThistleCove Farm, but also for a convention in Bristol, VA. The Virginia Federation of Garden Club is having there annual convention and a local lady, Elena Combs, is being installed as the new state president. I was honored in being asked to be a vendor. I accepted and being my first large event, am not sure what to expect. So, I have been weaving baskets like crazy. Also not knowing how many to do, I have done 30 different baskets. The picture above is a sample of some as well from previous blog. So if you are in the neighborhood in Bristol this Sunday, April 26 and Monday, April 27, I will be at the Holiday Inn, stop by and say hello, would love to meet you.

Also if you missed Sheep Shearing Day, you missed a great day. The sun was shinning, the sheep got sheared and we had a blast. Seven vendors, if I counted correctly, were there. A good crowd of people came and all had a great time. We also stayed for dinner at Sandra's and had a wonderful meal as well as visit. So make sure next year you set the date and come for the fun.

A SNEAK PREVIEW........

A sneak preview of some baskets I will have at Sheep shearing day on April 4, 2009 at Thistle Cove Farm. It should be a fun day for all, sheep shearing, good food, arts and crafts of many styles. Plan to come.

Sheep Shearing Day Correction!

OH MY GOODNESS!

Please, forgive me but I've given an incorrect date for Sheep Shearing Day @ Thistle Cove Farm.

The correct day is *always* a Saturday and is 4 April 2009. All other information is good.

Sheep Shearing Day @ Thistle Cove Farm

The 14th Annual Sheep Shearing Day @ Thistle Cove Farm takes place 5 April 2009. Clinton Bell, Master Shearer, starts shearing around 9 a.m. and finishes around 1 p.m. Our small flock of rare and primitive sheep include Shetlands, Romneys, Merinos and cross breeds. This is a working day on a farm; be a part of mountain community going back many generations.

Lost Arts Guild members are invited to demonstrate and sell their traditional Appalachian crafts. Hopefully, everyone will attend: Larry Counts - broom maker; Leslie Shelor - spinner; Linda Wright - spinner; Bud Thompson - blacksmithy; Mary Martin - basket maker; Charlie Butcher - luthier, Sue Shelor - gourd artist; Kevin Riddle - coppersmith; Richard Vogel - woodworker and Sandra Bennett, textile and fiber arts.

Hot food and drink will be sold by the Cove Community Association to support educational programs.

Directions found at Thistle Cove Farm website; updates at Thistle Cove Farm blog.

Service dogs only, please.

Spring at Greenberry House

Greenberry House, Meadows of Dan, Virginia

At long last the sun is out and we're looking forward to a busy, busy season up here on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Meadows of Dan. This morning a local farmer got me out of bed with "two bags full" of glorious carded Coopworth sheep's wool. I'll be dyeing and putting that out on the shelves soon. I've enjoyed the winter, although I don't know how the time flew by so fast, but I'm looking forward to fiber-filled days here at the shop!

Members of the Lost Arts Guild are going to be busy this weekend at Sheep Shearing Day, which I wish I didn't have to miss! This will be the first in several years I haven't been able to attend, and I regret not getting the chance to plunge my hands deep in fresh, wonderful wool. I'm hoping for sunny skies over Tazewell.

Next Thursday I'm heading to the Lambsburg Visitor's Center with several other Patrick County businesses, including Lost Arts Guild member Sue Shelor. We'll be talking about all the wonderful things there are to do in our little county and I'll be demonstrating how to spin some glorious roving made from the angora of my rabbits and some wonderful Corriedale sheep's wool. My shop specializes in hand spun, hand dyed yarns from Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee spinners and farmers, along with roving and raw fiber for hand spinners.