Tag Archives: Susie Gibbs

A Day at the Festival

Beautiful morning...  Lanolin in the air...  Promise of shoppers and friends pouring through the fairgrounds gates..


And if you're not prepared for the breadth and depth of fiber amazement beyond those gates, your head is at risk of exploding.


Everywhere you look, the colors just boggle the mind.  There are so many talented fiber artists assembled in one place, that the possibilities and inspiration are almost hard to take in.


Quality fiber tools as far as the eye can see, made by people you've heard about and read about for years.


 Of course, the sheepy goodness never ends...


...displayed and trotted out for show.


We ran into a BUNCH of our favorite people, like Susie and the Aunties.  Here we were, catching up on what's going on at Juniper Moon Farm, and Susie shared some fantastic news that knocked me off my feet.  Do pop over to her blog to see for yourself.   Hint: PUPPIES!


And look who dropped by the booth!  Our fellow Gulf Coast Sheep breeder and the Jacob's Reward Farm website designer -- Texan Shaun Jones!  We've never met in person before, so this was really neat.  Shaun had come to the festival to take a shearing course, and will take home some new skills.  We got to swap some husbandry notes on our sheep, and just visit, before he had to head back to the airport for home.


We wore Emma clean to the bone, but she earned her nap - she and I spent the day gathering photos, video, interviews, and check-ins with Very Important People.  We're putting together a Maryland Sheep and Wool video that, I hope, will really give you a sense of being here with us, and getting a taste of some of the most characteristic flavors of this wonderful event.  You may see some folks you recognize...


Oh, and I had crab cakes for supper!  Yay, Maryland!


The "Where’s the Trunk" Show


Susie Gibbs is a trooper.  She probably had the ability to take whatever was tossed at her before she became a shepherd, but raising sheep for fun and profit will surely arm you for any kind of set-back.


Yesterday, at the Woolie Ewe in Plano, Susie put on a trunk show without a trunk.  Seems UPS has temporarily misplaced all the finished garments and accessories made out of her new yarns.  She improvised.  That's what shepherds do.


Without missing a beat, Susie began telling her incredible story of moving from New York City as a news producer to adopting the rural, mucky life of a sheep and goat raiser, to designing her own line of commercial yarns.


As usual, her animated stories full of triumphs and foibles kept the gathered knitters entranced.  We passed around yarns and ogled the beautiful pattern books.


The photos are so lovely, it was easy to imagine the beautiful knitted sweaters, hats, blankets, mitts, and other designs.  Having the yarns right there to touch and evaluate helped a lot, too.


Today, Susie is off to Knotty Girls in Tyler, TX to share the Juniper Moon yarn line.  I hope UPS comes through for her by the time the knitters show up.  But if not, Susie will manage to communicate the dream: the story of a lady on a mission who doesn't let obstacles slow her down.


A big wave to Mary Bensel, Denise Royal, (pictured here with Susie) Laurie McIntyre, Joanne Pohlman and Marybelle (not pictured) who came out to enjoy time with our pal.

Today, January 26, we celebrate "Eureka Day" here at the farm.  Three years ago today, Susie agreed to sit down with me at the Barnes and Noble in Fort Worth and tell me everything I needed to know to move our farm into the CSA model.  With no thought for personal gain, she shared lots of amazing business secrets, and encouraged me to go for it.  Her determination and creativity are inspirational.   Thank you, Susie.

NOTE:  Knitting Fever, Inc., who produces Susie's beautiful yarns, is holding a design contest using two of the JMF yarns - Willa and Chadwick.  These are gorgeous yarns crying for new ways to knit them up.  If you are interested in entering this contest, run by the Woolie Ewe and check out the yarns in person and see how they speak to you.  Buy some.  Then head over to the KFI blog for all the details about the contest.  Deadline is March 1.  Fabulous prizes.  Good luck!