Photo Saturday

I usually post the weekly photos on Friday, but I had a lot to share this week and the Friday post was pushed back. Here's our week.

Emmet, our Holland Lop Bunny

Big Tom

Latest drawing to hang in our remodeled spare bedroom

Oliver

Sunday roasted chicken

New Bottle Opener design available in the Etsy shop

Thanks to the Leghorns!

Photo Friday

It's hard to believe how quickly winter has made its presence. Last week it was in the 50's and this week we've seen some single digits and about 3-4 inches of snow! I made a promise that I wouldn't start decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but my harvest themed corn stalks and pumpkins look ridiculous under a blanket of snow!

Zach and I have been taking advantage of the early evenings and cold weather to work on some new products for the Etsy shop. I hope you enjoy this weeks photos and our new items below! You'll see from the photographs the rapid transition in weather.

New Roving blend

New bottle opener design

New Double Twist Railroad Bottle Opener

Wheat Wreath for Thanksgiving

Juniper Berries

Arborvitae

Bittersweet

Bittersweet

Oliver having fun in the snow!

Dyeing Fiber with Black Walnuts (Video!)

So we started the de-shelling process of the Black Walnuts. Most of the green husks were soft enough to just smush off with our fingers, but a few stubborn ones needed a blade to help.

They remind me of a small pine scented coconut.

The unveiling...

Once the green was removed it was time to wash them.

We swished them around in a clean bucket. The rough nut shells help clean each other. We dumped the water when it got cloudy and rinsed several times.

They will cure in this airy basket for two weeks then we'll crack them. (I'll keep you posted.)

The husks we saved in another bucket for dying.

Then we filled the bucket with water and let it soak over night to extract all the dye.

Then we strained the walnut water through an old towel so the bits of walnut wouldn't tangle in the fiber.

Walnut sludge.

Once we had a nice clean dye bath I soaked our mohair overnight.Black walnut dye is so absolute, that you shouldn't need a mordant.

Here is the final product! A very natural brown almost as if it has come from a brown fleece rather than a dye.

Troll Owls, Meet Waldorf

I love owls, and I've been messing around lately with some different materials, some from nature, some not, but rustic none the less, and I've started making these Troll Owls. I came up with the name because they remind me of little trolls, or owls that live in gnarled branches of forgotten forests where trolls still reside.

They're made from bits of this and that, things you might find in shadow boxes, button tins, or your grandfather's old desk drawer.

This is Waldorf, he has acorn cap eyes, a scruffy yarn body, a beak made from a Red Wood pine cone, and real feather "owl ears". 

They're available for purchase on our Etsy site in the right column of the blog. I have many more to come!

New Products!

Here's this weeks newest products from Iron Oak Farm, thought you might like to peek.

Black Walnut Roving
This is our 95% Mohair, 5% Angora roving dyed naturally with Black Walnuts. To view our process visit the Black Walnut Post.

Monogrammed Railroad Spike Bottle Opener. Simple design lets the character of the spike come through. Monogramming available. 

Oak Leaf Scarf Pin
This product was listed before, but we've found a new use! It works great with fine knit scarves as well. Holds beautifully just being looped through.

Gypsy Hair Roving
Our Mohair/Angora roving blended in rich jewel tones. Perfect for spinning, or felting.

New Products!

Been so busy, finishing up fall projects, taking advantage of the last few beautiful days here in Michigan before winter starts to blow. It's been hard to find time to get myself in front of the computer to blog, but one good thing is that Zach and I have been in such a creative spirit lately. I have tons of stuff to share, videos, photos, new products that we've been working on, just need to hanker down and post it all. Here are some of our latest creations hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them. All of our products are for sale in our Etsy Shop 

Amber Whiskey in Oak Barrels Roving
4 oz hand dyed roving Mohair/Angora blend. Beautiful mix of rusts, deep oranges, chestnut browns and a rosey pink. Perfect for spinning or felting.

Simple Railroad Bottle Opener
Lets the railroad spike speak for itself, this simple design can be personalized easily.

Oak Leaf and Acorn Scarf Pin
Shown here with our own knitted hand spun yarn. Takes an ordinary scarf and makes it extraordinary. Works on any knitted item, scarfs, sweaters, purses, etc. Makes a great gift!

Hand Spun, Hand Dyed Yarn, Rusty Tinsel
Our natural yarn dyed a deep rust, plied with a tinsel string. Looks earthy with a bit of luster.

Hand Spun, Hand Dyed Yarn, Straw Into Gold
Another tinsel yarn this one is in shades of gold and olive, plied with a copper tinsel string.

Mine Spike Twisted Key Chain.
This key chain is made from a recycled mine spike, the hand forged twist makes it a mini piece of art.

Pet Portraits

I haven't really posted a whole lot about my other business, but as a lot of you know, I draw pet portraits. My medium of choice is pastel on Bristol Board and I work from photos. I'm getting really busy as the Christmas season is upon us, and I've had even more interest since I added the Etsy thumbnail design element on the blog. (lower right)
I just wanted to let everyone know that if they want a drawing by Christmas, I need payment and photos by December first, and even that is subject to change as I have several drawings in process, and even more inquiries in my in-box.
I've been trying to think of a way to work out the Christmas rush, as each drawing takes a considerable amount of time to complete, (each one is different and I still have to allow for shipping times if you live out of state). This year, I am offering gift certificates that are redeemable from January 2nd, 2011 to September 1st, 2011. This way there is no rush, on anyone's part. The gift certificate gives the "giver" something to wrap and put under the tree, and then after Christmas, we can discuss the portrait in more depth. I know a lot of people who want to give a dog portrait to a friend or relative as a gift, don't have a quality photo of "the other person's dog". This way I can work directly with the dog owner and get them what they really want, angle, background color etc. To view more examples of my work, visit our shop by clicking here.

Blacksmithing, CXXVI Clothing Company

Zach is also selling some beautiful products at CXXVI Clothing Company in New York. They have a young Urban look with a Nautical theme.Check them out!
Anchor II Necklace
Anchor Neclace
Key Bottle Opener
Sea Rope Bottle Opener
Bottle Opener Necklace

Blacksmithing, Zach's New Product!

Zach has a new product that he's offering, the Mining Car Railroad Spike Key Chain and Bottle Opener. It's made from the spikes that hold the small rails that mining cars ride on. It has the same rustic feel as the Railroad Spike Bottle Opener that he sells, but in a compact, portable form. It makes a perfect Christmas gift for the "hard to buy for" man in your life. Visit our Etsy site to purchase one, or to see our other products. If you don't see it listed, they're selling fast so e-mail us and we'll be sure to get you one.Vat 19 is featuring this product as well. Check out the new video promo they're running. It's pretty funny!