100% Maine made, from sheep to spinning, to color.
Oh my heart! Driving up the long winding driveway to the sight of daffodils, and lambs everywhere frolicking to keep up with their mothers on dewy grass sounds so very sweet but I assure you it's a real scene I witnessed and experienced. It was a Sunday morning and Ciaran was hard at work trying… Continue reading Ciaran & Little Bud
Long before planning my 44Clovers Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour, I was planning my Irish Birthday Trip. And it included sourcing Irish wool of course! I found Sandra Coote of Crafts of Ireland2 online and saw that she raises Roscommon sheep- a thought to be extinct wool breed. After shooting off a very excited email,… Continue reading Friends Old and New; Cavan and Comber
It's Day 2 of our Knitting and Craft Tour of Ireland and we've just enjoyed our first Irish Breakfast of the trip. You know what my favorite part of an Irish breakfast is? The marmalade. And a bit of tomato with the egg. And at least 2 cups of sweet milk tea with the toast.… Continue reading The making of Day 2, The Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Lisa Sisk, Crafts of Ireland, and Cabra Castle
My love of Irish lace making knows no bounds. In 2013 while on honeymoon, we looked up and down the whole of the country trying to find non-synthetic lace curtains. I knew so little then about lace that I know now. How people must have laughed at me. Even after returning home, I became a… Continue reading The Making of Day 3, The Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Olann Fiber Mill, Carrickmacross Lace, The Shed Distillery Gin Tasting
The first time I ventured to Donegal was on my honeymoon. We were doing specially for Studio Donegal. We both wanted to see authentic Irish tweed and how it was made. Along the way, we were entertained by the sheer number of Scottish Black face sheep we witnessed grazing the hill sides so close to… Continue reading The Making of Day 4, Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Studio Donegal, Knitting with Edel McBride, & Exploring Donegal Town
At some point during the planning of our itinerary, I got the idea to some how obtain a Galway wool fleece or Galway wool yarn for the workshop that I will teach at the end of this tour. I did a quick search and found the Galway Wool Co-op. With a few messages back and… Continue reading The Making of Day 5, Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Belleek Pottery, Galway Wool Co-op, Galway City
I've been knitting since I was 13 (35 years!) and I know there is always more to learn. I'm not sure if there is anything more grounding and life giving than making a new friend over a few sticks and string. It can feel like the easiest thing in the world. As a teacher of… Continue reading The Making of Day 6, Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Knitting w/ Carol Feller & Irish Set Dancing on Inishmore
Spending time on Inishmore is when the whole essence of how this tour came about will come full circle. (refer back to day 1 post). In the meantime, be sure to check out the film Banshees of Inisherin (which brought in 9 Oscar nominations!) as it was filmed on Inishmore! And if you're curious at… Continue reading The Making of Day 7, Aran Knitting w/ Úna McDonagh & Exploring Inishmore
Welcome to Clare, the Wild Atlantic Way, and the Burren. I have been falling in love with County Clare and the Burren for half my life now. I love for us that we can spend time here and share of the counties most beautiful and beguiling natural treasures. This morning, we'll board our ferry and… Continue reading The Making of Day 8, Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; The cliffs of Moher & a Guided Foraging Walk in the Burren
Little did I know that in October 2021 while visiting the Burren and conducting dye experiments that I would planning such a trip for THIS October! I must have been subconsciously manifesting this trip. I will be heading out to the Burren from Maine next month and I am so excited to be scouting out… Continue reading The Making of Day 9, Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Natural Dyeing w/ Rachel Bingham Kessler in the Burren at the Michael Cusack Center & Farewell dinner at the Old Ground Hotel
