Episode 74: Bear Medicine
Hello again! Look at how good I am doing posting to the blog! I hope you are still well and in good spirits! Happy Trails
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Fiber Trek ™
A TV show Connecting Community, Craft, Fiber and Farms
Orkney Wool Adventure
Blimey! I have been kinda of a jerk about posting here…huh? Well, I figured out my password. Ai! I hate managing passwords. So let’s start with a quick summer recap of my trip to Orkney followed by my most current podcast, Episode 74: Bear Medicine. Episode 70-73 are featured on my Youtube Channel. Are you well and in good spirits? I hope so. Thank you for tuning in and spending some time with me. happy trails!
Shackleton Yarn
The Shackleton Yarn is available! For a full description and instructions for ordering please visit my website at http://fiber-trek.squarespace.com
Pictured below in the Abide by Kirsten Kapur, the yarn lends itself to a variety of accessories and garments. It exemplifies it’s wild, island heritage with durability and tensile strength but does not compromise on elegance
Flat Island is located off the coast of Maine and is home to a small flock of island sheep. Their heritage includes a healthy dose of Romney and Coopworth leading to a long stapled, lustrous wool. This flock also contains an amazing assortment of diverse grey, brown, and charcoal, fleeces. Highlighted below is the 2016 trip to shear.
Episode 70: Yard Sale
Well, I am getting my act together…ahem- at least in theory. I can’t believe I am always so late to posting the latest episode here. But I was prompted when I came to the blog to post about the Shackleton Yarn! Yes, the Shackleton Yarn is available. See the next post for details. Also, I am completely healed and that will make sense after you watch. As always, I hope this finds you well and in good spirits and thank you for tuning in!
Wool Scouts
There are just a few places in this world that feel like home to me, aside from my actual home. Through some confluence of landscape and people the place just feels right, like a knowing or a belonging…that all is well right here and you’re that person who supposed to be there, perhaps even been there before in some uncanny way. That is Munsungun Lake for me. I stepped off the plane on to the dock at Bradford Camps and instantly I knew it to be home. I belonged. And Holy Cats! the food…that sealed the deal. But I am not the only one who experienced this immediate understanding of home and place. In 2017 I coordinated my first Wool Scouts Retreat to share something really special with other like-minded makers. And know…we are off and running for 2018.
I can’t explain what happens at Bradford Camps. It has nothing to do with knitting or yarn. It’s not about techniques or teachers although all of that adds to the experience. I can’t put in to words how it feels to fly in and arrive at the dock, to have ice that is cut from the lake in January…eat bread made in a wood cookstove, no…I’m not going to try. You’ll know exactly what I am talking about if wild places, and old times resonate with you.
This shameless post is pretty much to entice you to come to the Wool Scouts 2018 retreat. The video below is just a quick glimpse into our time in 2017. You can find more information about dates, price and registration at http://fiber-trek.squarespace.com
Hope to see you there.
Episode 69: Fiber Trek in 4 Acts
Well, apart from technical difficulty I managed to get 90% of the content in to the episode. There was ALOT of re-recording here’s hoping it looks a bit polished there in the end.
Thank you for tuning in and taking a little time with me and the program. Happy Solstice!
Norrland by Sara Burch
Barn Swallow Farm, Topsham, Maine – Gotland yarn, pelts and fleece
Branches and Buds by Carrie Bostick Hogue
Maine Yarn and Fiber Supply – Bold Coast Retreat
Mother of Purl Yarn Shop- Willow’s Wool
PortFiber – Tajik Cashgora Yarn
Astrantia Mitts- Wenche Roald
Madderroot
Wild Lily Artisan Fibers- Pace & Presence
Underwing Mitts by Erica Huesser
Mindful Folk – Finn/Mohair Yarn
Episode 68: Wovember
Well, it will be a twofer, I am terrible about posting on all my platforms, sigh…but ho hum…such is life. I have aspirations of being here more often, perhaps not just posting the podcast link but ACTUALLY doing some writing! What? I know, I know..believe it when I see it. In the meantime, in case you missed my last episode here it is. I am editing 69 post haste after this. Are you well? In good spirits? I hope so. Keep in touch, Fondly Sarah
Episode 66: Find Your Grey
Hello! I’ve been busy with puppy training. In fact, there’s been little knitting! It is nice to have some grey knitting to talk about though. Thank you for tuning in.
Seachange by Jennifer Steingass
Blacker Yarn
Love and Lemons by Melanie Berg
I Came to a Western Island by Archie Fisher
North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival http://www.nrsheepfestival.com
Starcroft Yarn and Fiber
Upton Yarns
Retreats – Wool Scouts & Highlands on the fly http://fiber-trek.squarespace.com
Tuku Wool at the Woolly Thistle
The Fox and the Sheep
The Netloft
Episode 64: Wool Scouts
It’s been a bit rough here of late but we’re managing some big changes. In the meantime Rob joins us this week to talk about double bit axe heads, what? Yup, we could have entitled this one the axe murder but wool scouts felt a bit more appropriate!
You can listen here: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HQQ07sVs
Hope you are all well and in good spirits.
Wool Scout Retreats
Wool Scout Retreat with Mary Jane Mucklestone
REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 8, 2017- fiber-trek@squarespace.com
The Wool Scouts Retreat, held deep in the Maine North Woods is about landing. It’s about connecting with place, leaning-in to our craft and finding the deep connection one can have with landscape. Join Mary Jane Mucklestone to explore the traditional mittens of the area, learn how to start flint & steel fires, paddle, and try your hand at fly fishing. Come land for a while in the wilderness, dig your hands in, eat amazing food, talk with friends and lean-in. We’ll be gathering at Bradford Camps, a classic Maine camp, the only structures on Munsungan Lake, surrounded by 3.5 million acres of forest.
Date: August 13-17, 2017
Location: Bradford Camps, Munsungan Lake, Township 8-Range 10, Maine, USA. 50 miles west of Ashland, 70 miles north of Millinocket. Surrounded by 3.5 million acres of forest this is the only structure on the lake. https://www.bradfordcamps.com/ Hosts: Karen & Igor Sikorsky
Price: $1478.00. This includes all meals, lodging, classes, workshops, materials, tax & gratuity. Transportation not included. See access for more information on float plane fly-in opportunities. Additional opportunities: Scenic Flight from Bradford Camps-$50, Fishing Licenses
CANCELLATION POLICY : 50% deposit to secure registration. Final payments are due by June 13th. Cancellations made prior to June 13th, are refundable less a $250 cancellation fee. Cancellations within 60 days of event are non-refundable. There are no exceptions. Fiber Trek & Bradford Camps reserve the right to cancel or reschedule this retreat as a result of unforeseen circumstances. In the event of a cancellation by Fiber Trek or Bradford Camps all fees will be refunded in full.
Coordinator: Sarah Hunt : fibertrek@gmail.com
REGISTRATION: Begins APRIL 8, 2017
To register-email fibertrek@gmail.com. A form will be sent back to download, complete and highlight instructions for payment. All inquiries will be treated on a first come, first serve basis. Should the retreat fill, you will be given the option to keep your name on a waiting list.
Coordinator: Sarah Hunt fibertrek@gmail.com,
Class & Workshops:
Instructor: Mary Jane Mucklestone: Maine & Maritime Mittens – Each participant will receive one, four hour class with Mary Jane focused on Fair Isle knitting. Themes will reflect the Maritime Canada and Maine knitting patterns and traditions.
Per Mary Jane’s website: “Mary Jane travels the world to study traditional knitting techniques and to learn more about the history of the craft. She’s a popular teacher specializing in lively, fun and informative classes. She feels lucky to be invited to teach all over the world, and is eager to share knitting knowledge with her students. She aims to give students the courage to try something new!”
Workshop Topics: More topics will be added per time and interest.
Instructor: Sarah Hunt- Flint & steel fires, Working with rare and primitive breed wool
Sarah Hunt is the host of the Fiber Trek Podcast and has a strong penchant for grey yarns, the toothier the better! She is a Registered Maine Guide and enjoys adventuring in wild places, even her backyard with wool in hand .
Instructor: Jani Estell-Viking Chatelaines
This workshop will provide an opportunity to make a traditional tool used by a variety of historical women. It is used to organize mending tools such as needles, scissors, and a small pouch.
Jani Estell is the wool manager of a wild flock of sheep off the Maine Coast. She is also the miller and owner of Star Croft Fibers which creates magical, Maine yarn from those same sheep. An accomplished knitter and spinner, Jani is interested in traditional knitting and those cultural fiber stories associated with time and place.
TBD: Instructor: Sarah Lake-Indigo Dyeing
Sarah Lake of Upton Yarns is in the process of checking her boat schedule! But we hope she can make it to cook up a dye pot for us.
Instructor: Igor Sikorsky– Into to Fly Casting, Intro to Map & Compass
Igor Sikorsky is co-owner of Bradford Camps. He grew up in the Simsbury, Connecticut area and spent summers at Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps in western Maine. There began his love of the northern Maine woods. After college he took to the road for a few years in the construction industry, working for Wood Structures in Saco, Maine. During their early years with his wife Karen, they hiked Katahdin, explored the Allagash region, and traveled throughout the woods of Maine exploring and enjoying its wonders.
Accommodations: Bradford Camps-Karen & Igor Sikorsky, owners & operators
Accommodation is shared. Members will be assigned a cabin and parties can be placed together. Time at Bradford will be highlighted by Maine waterfront log cabins, handsome and solid as can be imagined. They are hand hewn log cottages, with lakefront porches, sunset views, and include hot and cold running water as well as a full private bath. Each waterfront cottage is cleaned daily by our staff and the wood stoves are kept warm during colder days. The waterfront log cabin rentals are lit with elegant propane lights; no electricity in the cabins. Our lodge and modern kitchen have electricity, so cameras can be recharged. Lakefront lodging cottages include linen service, towels, and ice from our ice house!
Meals:
The Maine fishing lodge serves delicious breakfasts, hot lunches and dinners. We freshly prepare turkey dinners, prime rib, pork loin, fresh fish, fresh vegetables from our garden, home baked breads, pies and cakes for dessert, and an open menu breakfast. You won’t leave the table hungry! (and if you do, there’s always the cookie jar!) During August our garden provides a good portion of our vegetables. Special dietary needs can usually be accommodated.
Access & Transportation: Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.
Travel by road to the camps includes a vast stretch on working, logging roads. The camp can be accessed by car but it is recommended the vehicle be equipped to manage flat tires, and rough terrain. Note that drivers will be sharing the road with large, 18 wheel logging trucks. Fly-in is highly recommended.
Fly In– The float plane flight to Bradford Camps leaves from outside of Millinocket and can be coordinated with Katahdin Air Service. http://www.katahdinair.com/ Katahdin Air Service can provide pick up from Bangor, the closest airport as well as Presque Isle in northern Maine
Airports: Portland & Bangor
Portland by car to Katahdin Air-3.5 hours
Bangor by car to Katahdin Air-1.5 hours
Fredericton, New Brunswick by car to Kathdin Air 3 hours (plus border crossing)
Car Rental-Bangor & Portland-Note that cars cannot be rented in Canada and cross the border.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
