Can your Animals Talk to Us and What Would They Say?
Please visit the free podcast download from Namaste Farms Blogtalk radio on Dana Miller Coburn; What Animals Tell Us (WATU on Facebook). Dana communicates with animals, lives in Southern California and she’s been on ABC Nightline. Please visit Namaste Farms Blogtalk radio to listen to Dana Miller Coburn.
PHAT FIBER FOUNDERS!
Wow, now this is awesome, I just discovered about Phat Fibers, better yet, they are going to be on Namaste Farms Blogtalk radio. So, what is Phat Fibers? It is like a fiber exchange. Jessica Booth and her husband, Marcus, discovered this concept, marketed it, and VIOLA!
The way it works is that fiber, yarn, tea…. WHATEVER is contributed to Phat Fiber from many different sources. These contributions are put into “mystery boxes” and marketed to fiber artists. According to Phat Fiber
“Phat Fiber is a mystery box of awesome samples for the yarn and fiber enthusiast in us all. With a focus on the independant artisan, this box is a super grass-roots treat for the senses. When your box arrives, chock full of samples, expect to be overwhelmed with the sight and feel of artful yarns, bits of roving, small batts, stitch markers, original patterns, valuable discount coupons and much much more. Inside, you could find anything that yarn and fiber enthusiasts would love…even an herbal tea or two! Phat Fiber seeks to bridge the gap between talented online artisans and consumers hungry to support the independent small business.” http://phatfiber.com)
This concept is a treasure as are the boxes. I have been seeing (for years) things advertised as “Phat Fiber” on Etsy or Ravelry and had a little jealous twinge like, “I want to be in the loop!” Now, I am…. please join us on Blogtalk this week (whatever week this is!) to learn about the concept, the creation and where this phenom is going in the future!
Almost time for the Sizzle Reel!
As most of you know, we are about to start filming for a sizzle reel for a reality show. In 2009, we were on an episode of MTV’s Teen Cribs which was both fun and enlightening. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that you are all praying for our success. So, what’s the ultimate goal? To have a show and be a positive role model for agriculture.
I really feel like the animals sciences and agriculture have such a bad rap because of issues like the Chino Slaughterhouse horror story. It breaks my heart that the animals were treated like that, and for people like me in agriculture, it makes our job convincing people that there are good responsible farmers, very difficult. There are heroes like Temple Grandin who have advocated for livestock for decades. Temple has lobbied extensively to get livestock yards to change their practices and their facilities, and, she has been VERY successful. Anyhow, wish us luck and keep your eyes open. You just may see us on the big screen advocating for animals and agriculture.
Tour De Fleece?
I am starting to hear the shuffling of the Tour De Fleece again. I don’t really know that much about it except that the logo etc… is the intellectual property of Katherine Vaughn AND it is a genius idea. Here are some of the rules (courtesy of Tour de Fleece site):
1. The idea is to set yourself a challenge. It doesn’t matter what the challenge is — it could be spinning fine for the first time, or producing an artsy fartsy yarn as an exercise, it could be spinning enough for a specific project. If you’ve always wanted to spin a little every day (say, a spinning meditation practice), but never seem to find time for it, perhaps that could be the challenge — spinning every morning of the tour. What matters is you set out the challenge, and meet it during the specified time.
2. There will be no spinning before the start of the first stage.
3. You must finish spinning before the last stage ends.
4. You may sample and do other research as needed beforehand if it helps you decide on your challenge, or will help provide you the tools and information you need to meet the challenge.
California Polytechnic “Dual Degree Fiber Artist” Natalie Moton-Redding
I am just so proud, I can’t stop referring to it. Did being in Lexi Boeger’s (Pluckyfluff) book, “Handspun” mean this much? NO WAY. Did having yarn in Nicky Epstein’s book (to be released Sept. 2012) mean this much? Well, I love Nicky, but I stopped making yarn, so… Did having Jacey Boggs write about me (and put my techniques in her new video) mean this much? Hmmm, getting really close… BUT I have to say, being mentioned in the Alumnus news from California Polytechnic University, SLO is at my top 5 all time published accomplishments. They refer to me as “Dual Degreed” and it makes me feel so satisfied. You must understand, my father told me (in high school) ”I doubt you’ll pass high school; you’re an albatross around my neck.” Then, 20 years later, to get my masters, I left with 3 children under the age of three… 6 hours away from my husband and oldest child. Am I crying foul? NO. I am pointing out that we can empower ourselves and imprinting by our parents doesn’t mean a hill of beans. There aren’t many moments in my life where I feel satisfied, but this is one. I never thought there would be an occasion where my University would recognize me. Actually, 30 years ago, I didn’t think I was smart enough to even go to school. Hmmm.
The Joy of Heavenly Handspinning
I just stumbled upon this great site for hand spinners. I can’t believe I haven’t known about it but here it is; Heavenly Handspinning. I think one of the things I completely appreciated was the picture of on the homepage of their site. It is the quintessential hanspinners picture. I loved looking through the menu to see Clotho’s and Calypso spindles and the spinning wheels.
Please go visit them. There is just something about this company I really liked. I think it is grass roots type business that is trying to make affordable spinning products for hand spinners;
“Heavenly Handspinning Spinning was born out of a desire to offer people an alternative to what is available in spinning wheels today.”
Cal Poly Noticed I was in the Bend, Oregon News!
I was sort of excited to see that Cal Poly recognized I was in the Bend Paper. It is from an LA TIMES article, but still… I was in their newsletter. It made me feel good. It did occur to me that maybe I didn’t have two degrees, COMPLETELY out of paranoia. Two of my friends have had their degrees revoked after Cal Poly did a review and found discrepancies in units… oops. Here is a direct link to the article.
Learn What Sales Site is Best; ETSY or ARTFIRE or MAKE Your own Ecommerce
Tonight on Namaste Farms blogtalk please join Kimberly McAlindin, Lenore Ortyl (Lola Tech) and Natalie Redding on a episode that can help you make a successful store and where to make it. Lenore will discuss what some of the ups and downs are and empower you to tackle selling your products in an efficient way. This will be a very empowering show for fiber artists. We will also discuss some important happenings and goings on in the world of fiber.
Mental Toughness and Tiger Woods… OOPS
I am a firm believer in becoming mentally tough so that you can manifest your dreams. I think of life like a competition, not against the world, but against yourself. Being mentally tough is not a new concept, put those words in Google and see how many results come up.
Our blogtalk tonight, May 3, 2012 is about mental toughness and some “failures” of what unbridled toughness can manifest; case in point, Tiger Woods. I think about Tiger and the early indoctrination he had as a child. His father, Earl used psychological methods on Tiger that he learned as a Green Beret. The first time I read this, I thought, “Wow, that is horrible.” Well, is it horrible? Well, in doing research, I stumbled upon this article written about Tiger Woods. It was released sometime around when the book, “How to Train a Tiger” (Earl Woods) was being published. It talked about how great Tiger turned out and how the techniques Earl incorporated had created such a compassionate and kind person. REALLY? Obviously, this author did not have a crystal ball to Tiger’s heinous infidelity and double life. I am actually shocked the author did not remove the article. If you like, HERE is the text. I just keep hearing Alanis Morrisette’s song playing in my head, “Ironic.”
So, SURE Tiger Woods was mentally tough. He was NEVER distracted when driving a ball or putting, BUT, once he had to pay the piper for his indiscretions, he could NOT get back on track. So, what am I saying? I’m saying Earl taught him to never be distracted by noises when playing golf but he failed to teach him how to stay mentally tough if you destroy your families life as they know it because you are a self centered loser.
How To Make Ainsley Daisy Yarn
This is a darling yarn that is really fun to make. Please subscribe to me on Youtube; Namaste Farms channel.
