Name That Cria

Name that Cria!

Winona Wildfire and IceBreaker

Okay - we're still trying to decide on a name for the black and white cria. Momma is Split Rock Winona Wildfire - Poppa is IceBreaker. Here are the names we're debating on:

Split Rock Wildfire's Hotshot

Split Rock Ashes in the Snow

Split Rock Fire Breaker

Here's the thought process: Wildfire (HOT) and IceBreaker (COLD) so Wildfire's Hotshot because the Hotshots come put out wildfires. But then hot ashes (the black) in the snow (white) is the same theme (I would still probably call him HotShot because he's such a precocious little man!) However, Jim doesn't think Ashes in the Snow sounds like a name for a male so he suggested Fire Breaker - kind of the same theme only we're taking the last part of Mom's name and the last part of Dad's name. Any comments, suggestions, etc.?! We don't have to decide for another 10 months, unless we decide to show him next spring, in which case I'll have to get his ILR paperwork filed before the show and then I MUST have a final name for him.

Update on September Cria

Here are some current photos of the cria born in September. He has a name now, too. He is Split Rock Wildfire's Hotshot. This little guy is incredible - he has correct conformation, beautiful strong level topline and such style and presence! His entire demeanor just screams "Look at me!" We plan to add him to our showstring in 2009 after he is weaned. These photos were taken today. Hotshot has quite a bit of dust and hay on him because I woke him up from a nap in the hay to take his picture. But he's still a gorgeous boy and I just had to share the new pics!

Van Eaton Spinning Wheel

I bought this beautiful apricot wood Van Eaton spinning wheel almost two years ago but didn't want to leave it out where our puppy could get to it so I put it away and didn't pull it out again until just recently. I bought it as more of an investment than anything but decided I needed to give it a whirl to see how I liked it. OMG - I LOVE this wheel! It took a bit of getting used to a single treadle (my other wheel is a double treadle Ashford Traveller) but now that I've got the hang of it, I am spinning effortlessly and the yarns are turning out beautifully. I'll get pics taken of the yarns I've spun on it so far and post those later. Just wanted to post pics of this beautiful wheel here for now. When I purchased this wheel I was told that Mr. Van Eaton is no longer making wheels, only finishing up what he had already started and making odds and ends, but no more wheels. So I feel very fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to own such a beautiful functional work of art!

Aspens Turning in Colorado Rockies

We took a little drive today from our ranch and headed south, then west, then north to Eleven Mile Reservoir. The aspens are beautiful. Depending on how cold it gets this next week and how much wind we get, this could be the last weekend to view the changing aspens and the Fall colors. I love this time of year! There's also a photo of a spectacular sunset taken from the front of our house last week.

Enjoy!

It's a Boy!

Born this morning around 11 AM (I missed the birth as I was spinning a batch of cashmere and only saw him because I went to the kitchen sink to wash my hands after oiling my spinning wheel.) Weighed 25 pounds and was up and running around the pasture when I went out at 11:30 AM. He is jet black and white with dead straight legs and a beautiful topline. Momma is Winona Wildfire and Poppa is Ice Breaker so we're trying to think of a hot/cold name like Fire & Ice except that name is already taken so we have to think of something else similar. Any suggestions are welcome! These photos were taken within an hour of birth.

Handspun Yarn - Mischief Merino

This is a handspun yarn from a Merino roving handdyed by Ginny at Fat Cat Knits in her Mischief colorway. I purchased the roving from her etsy store.

Two ply - 3.7 oz and 220 yards. Next to the skin soft.

I do not have this yarn listed in my etsy store. If you are interested in purchasing this yarn, please contact me and I can list it for you.

Handspun Yarn - Sunrise Merino

This is handspun yarn from a Merino roving handdyed by Ginny at Fat Cat Knits in her Sunrise colorway. I purchased the roving from her etsy store.

Two-ply - 2.5 oz and 200 yards

Next to the skin soft.

I do not have this yarn listed in my etsy store. If you are interested in purchasing this yarn, please contact me and I can list it for you.

Handspun Yarn - Hot Tamale Merino/Bamboo

This is Merino/Bamboo (80/20) roving handdyed by Ginny of Fat Cat Knits in her Hot Tamale colorway. I purchased the roving from her etsy store.

4.2 oz and 220 yards.

Fabulous color, luster and drape to this yarn! Next to the skin soft.

I do not have this yarn listed in my etsy store. If you are interested in purchasing this yarn, please let me know and I can list it for you.

Handspun Yarn - Festival Merino/Bamboo

This is Festival Merino/Bamboo (20/20) handdyed by Ginny of Fat Cat Knits. I purchased the roving from her etsy store.

Spun two ply - 3.9 oz and 150 yards

Fabulous luster and drape to this yarn - next to the skin soft.

I do not have this yarn listed in my etsy store. If you're interested, please let me know and I can list it for you.

Handspun Yarns

Here are some handspun yarns that I made from rovings I purchased from Fat Cat Knits on etsy.

I will do a separate post for each yarn to keep each of the particulars about the yarns straight.

Each of these was a joy to spin and my hands down favorite fiber is the Merino/Bamboo. It spins beautifully with gorgeous color intensity and fabulous luster and the drape of the yarn is fantastic.

The top two yarns are Merino: Mischief on the left and Sunrise on the right

The bottom two yarns are Merino/Bamboo: Festival on the left and Hot Tamale on the right

Wood Violets - New Limited Edition Custom Fiber Blend

WOOD VIOLETS

This Limited Edition Custom Fiber Blend combines soft merino wool and tencel roving, custom dyed first clip kid mohair, wool top and glitz in beautiful shades of teal, lavender and purple to create this gorgeous blend. Gently blended on our drum carder using a technique we have perfected to assure good color separation.

These batts are going to produce a somewhat textured yarn because I hand teased the kid mohair locks to leave as much curl in them as possible so they are not all carded into smooth straight fibers. You'll probably even end up with some mohair curl since these batts contain 35% kid mohair curls!

2.2 oz in one beautiful lofty ultra-soft batt. Two batts available at the time of this posting. See my etsy store!

Fiber Content:

Kid Mohair 35%

Merino 25%

Tencel 10%

Wool top 25%

Glitz 5%

Newest Colorway - Tucson

Here's the newest colorway called Tucson: turquoise, teal, gold ochre, golden yellow and chestnut. Shown on superwash wool roving. Available in our etsy store.

New Colorway - Lavender Fields - Another Sock Yarn

Here's another sock yarn - in a new colorway called Lavender Fields - Violet, Lilac and Silver Gray. 400 Yards per skein.

Available in my etsy store: www.splitrockranch.etsy.com

Sock Yarn - Superwash and Nylon in Peacock Colorway

Here's my latest handdyed sock yarn in my Peacock colorway (teal, brilliant blue, purple, spruce and turquoise)

400 yards of 75% Superwash Wool and 25% Nylon - enough to make a pair of adult socks

Available in my etsy store: http://www.splitrockranch.etsy.com/