"I put this livestock here
for you; it is your father and your mother, your thoughts and
your mind. You will have children and grandchildren and so forth
as times goes on. Your livestock is going to be your life."
("Relocation Booklet, Teesto, Arizona)"
(from Time Among the Navajo: Traditional Lifeways on the
Reservation, Kathy Eckles Hooker, photographs by Helen Lau
Running, Salina Bookshelf, Flagstaff, Arizona, 2002, p. 65)
Drawings ©July 20, 2003, by Ruby Biakeddy, wool grower
and weaver, Big Mountain.
"There were songs for the
sheep and for spinning, and even for an orphaned lamb. There
are so many songs, just like for the horses, and they go out
to the four directions..." (Dine'
Churro sheep raiser and weaver, Big Mountain, August 2003).
"'Their faces will be dawn,
their eyes will be rock crystal, their ears will be plants, their
wool will be white fog,' it was said.'" (--How
sheep were formed, from the Blessingway as told by River Junction
Curly, in Blessingway, Leland C. Wyman, editor, recorded
and translated by Fr. Berard Haile between 19281938. Tucson:
University of Arizona Press, 1975, p. 626)
Mission: Our work is grounded in the knowledge
that human and environmental justice are inseparable.
From our land to your home™
HANDSPINNERS! WEAVERS!
KNITTERS! CROCHETERS! FELTERS!
FIBER ARTISTS OF ALL KINDS!
HANDSPUN NATURAL AND VEGETAL-DYED CHURRO
YARN IN STOCK (updated quantities listed below):
From master spinners and weavers, expert
Churro sheep raisers, handspun, vegetal- and commercial-dyed
yarn from their own flocks. This handspun Churro Black Mesa
yarn can be used for weaving, knitting, or crocheting.
June 20, 2009:
Here's an up-to-date list of the handspun
Churro yarn currently in stock:
Edith Simonson
(all Churro) (classic, medium-fine
Dine' weaving yarn, also can be crocheted or knitted), recently
arrived:
Edith Simonson (from
Big Mountain) [ALL
SOLD OUT]
All handspun Churro classic medium-to-fine
rug weight weaving yarn, can also be crocheted or knitted:
--Wild
carrrot gold vegetal-dyed: 2.5 oz., 2.1 oz., 1.7 oz[SOLD]
--Natural rich chocolate dark brown: 4.2 oz.[SOLD]
[ALL EDITH'S SIMONSON'S YARN IS SOLD OUT]:
-Antique grey medium (2 skeins): 2.7 oz., 4.7 oz
--Antique grey light (1 skein) 4.1 oz.
--Grey/brown medium dark (1 skein) 3.6 oz.
--Red Mesa dark (1 skein) 3.4 oz.
--Bright red commercial
dye (2 skeins): 2.7 oz., 2.9 oz.
--1 skein pale Naples yellow, with hint
of pale lime, 6.4 oz. (vegetal dye)
--1 skein dark magenta, 5.6 oz.
--1 handspun skein dark warmer tone magenta, 8 oz
AVAILABLE: Betty Nez
(from Coal Mine Mesa):
All Churro classic Dine' "saddle blanket" thickness
yarn, can also be crocheted or knitted--it's thicker than the
medium/fine yarns):
--10 skeins natural white, average is 4 oz. each
--3 skeins dark magenta (commercial dye): 3.2 oz., 4 oz., 4.8
oz.
--1 skein medium magenta (commercial dye) ~4 oz.
--2 skeins coral (commercial dye), 5.6 oz.
--3 skeins natural grey/brown/multi (very thick and strong),
total ~12 oz., average is 4 oz/ each.
SOLD:
--1 skein glowing natural black/brown,
7.2 oz.
--3 skeins natural grey/brown, 11.4 oz.
--1 skein warm purple-violet
(commercial dye), 3.2 ozs.
--1 skein coral (commercial dye), 4.8
oz.
AVAILABLE: Lena Nez
(from Coal Mine Mesa):
Medium/fine classic Dine' weaving
yarn, also for knitting or crocheting, as well as weaving.This
yarn is primarily Churro with a very small bit of Rambouillet
mix in the fleece:
--17 skeins natural white, soft,
medium "classic" Dine' (Navajo) handspun weaving yarn:
6.15 lbs. (average is 5.6 to 6.4 oz each)
SOLD:
--1 ball grey/brown/tan/multi, 28.8
oz (1.9 lb)
--1 ball natural Red Mesa, 3.15 lb (50.4 oz) [one of the rarest
natural Churro colors]
--1 ball pale Naples yellow with hint of pale lime (vegetal dye),
1.3 lb. (19.2 oz)
--1 ball natural brown/grey/multi, 21.6 oz (1.35 lb)
The average weight of the white skeins is
5.6 oz. or more--you can buy as many or as few as you'd like.They
would be weighed individually for any orders placed--likewise
with Betty Nez's remaining white skeins..
Lorraine Herder (all Churro) (classic, medium-fine Dine'
weaving yarn, also can be crocheted or knitted):
--1 skein medium-light antique brown, 4 oz.(very soft but very
strong) [All SOLD]
This rare, handspun Churro yarn is for knitting, crocheting, or weaving
(hats, mittens, gloves, socks, sweaters, shawls, blankets)--immaculate, freshly spun pure lofty
and supersoft thick "saddle blanket" handspun churro
natural and commercial-dyed yarn from Betty Nez, and superb weaving
yarn, vegetal-dyed and natural, from Lorraine Herder, Edith Simonson,
and Lena Nez. Photos showing colors are above and below.
HANDSPUN YARN PRICES: We
are paying fair-trade prices to our experienced handspinners
of $3/oz. for all natural-color Churro yarn, and $3.50/oz. for
vegetal-dyed (or commercial-dyed) Churro yarn. This year, we
have consequently raised our yarn prices to $5.50/oz for natural
white Churro; $6/oz. for natural-color Churro; $6.50/oz. for
commercial-dyed Churro; $7/oz. for vegetal-dyed churro).
*2005
NAVAJO-CHURRO SHEARING RAW FLEECE SOLD OUT
About 420 lbs.
of freshly sheared fleece from our fourth wool buy, June 10-11,
2005, arrived in Massachusetts, along with handspun Navajo-Churro
weaving yarn in white, natural colors, and vegetal-dyed. Colors,
quantities, and newly discounted prices are listed below:
DECEMBER 31, 2007: end-of-year
raw Churro wool inventory (59.05 lbs. still in stock): [SOLD OUT]
[UpdatedJune 8, 2008--we
are sold out here in Massachusetts; 2007 and 2008 shearing fleece
is now available directly from Black Mesa, in Arizona. Please
contact us via email or phone for more information]
Last of the WHITE from
2005:
--1.5 lbs. white lambswool
($9/lb.) [SOLD]
Last of the NATURAL COLORS from 2005:
--5.85 lbs. brown/grey with silver tips (one fleece), adult
($10/lb.) [SOLD]
--1.4 lbs. dark brown/grey yearling ($10/lb.[SOLD]
--1.3 lbs. light tan/white
('03) ($7/lb.) [SOLD]
This fleece is well-skirted and in
very good condition. Minimum order for raw wool is 8 ozs.
(all prices are plus shipping/insurance). Washing instructions
are included with all orders.
We paid the
woolgrowers $1.65/lb. at our first wool buy in 2002, rising to
$1.85/lb. at our fourth wool buy in 2005, as well as again facilitating
their signup for USDA/FSA reimbursement, which will be around
20 cents/lb. Thus, the woolgrowers receive dover $2/lb. for their
wool in 2005, compared to only 4, 5, or 6 cents per lb., which
they were getting in the local market as of 2001, when we began
buying and selling Black Mesa area Dine' Churro wool at fair
trade prices. We are also very pleased that in 2004 and again
in 2005, the Navajo Textile Project at Dine' College in Tsaile,
Arizona, held wool buys as well, paying up to $2/lb. for Churro
wool to be used in their weaving programs. One of the goals of
our organization has always been to get Churro back into the
hands of Dine' weavers and to expand their use of this wonderful
fleece at the core of the Dine' weaving tradition.
We paid $1.90/lb. to the Dine' (Navajo) Churro woolgrowers
at our fifth (2006) and sixth (2007) wool buys. To our knowledge,
we are the only nonprofit fair-trade organization currently buying
Dine' Navajo-Churro wool from the Dine' sheep raisers in any
significant amounts. At our June 2007 wool buy, we purchased
2,000 lbs. from 31 households (plus arranging for the approximately
20 cents per pound USDA reimbuursement). This also enables the
Dine' selling Churro to buy back raw Churro fleece in other colors
that they don't have, at the price just paid, to enable them
to continue their own weaving.
Cost of goods for the 2005 raw fleece
(including money paid to Churro wool growers and shipping) is
$3.35/lb per pound. The money in our general fund from sale of
all our products is primarily earmarked to be recycled for the
next wool buy.
Churro natural colored
fleece is available directly from Black Mesa in Arizona from
our 2007 and 2008 shearing. Email, call, or write for more information.
Write to: Black Mesa Weavers
P.O. Box 543, Newton, MA 02456
or email : carol@blackmesaweavers.org
to place an order, or for more information. Or call toll-free
1-866-4-CHURRO (866-424-8776) Boston/Eastern Standard
Time 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
[2005 SHEARING WHITE RECENTLY
SOLD OUT]
--1 lb. premium white yearling ($9/lb.) [SOLD]
--2.95 lbs. (one entire fleece) premium white yearling
($9/lb.) [SOLD]
--1.55 lbs. premium white adult ($7/lb.) [SOLD]
--5.45 lbs. premium white
adult [this may also be an entire fleece) ($7/lb.) [SOLD]
--1.55 lbs. premium white
adult [SOLD] (7 lbs. ordered)
--5.7 lbs. (one entire fleece)
(Lorraine Herder), premium white yearling-to-adult ($7/lb.) [SOLD]
[2005 SHEARING NATURAL
COLORS RECENTLY SOLD OUT
--3.1 lbs. light antique brown adult
($11/lb.-- antique brown is one of the rarest Churro colors)
[SOLD]
--3.05 lbs. tan/white shell yearling-to-adult ($10/lb.) [SOLD]
--1.6 lbs. light reddish/tan adult ($10/lb.) [SOLD]
--8.2 lbs.light reddish tan lambswool ($12/lb.) [SOLD]
--1.6 lbs. brown/red with silver tips adult ($11/lb.) [SOLD]
--3.75 lbs. brown/red young adult ($12/lb.[SOLD]
--4.75 lbs. light antique brown to white lamb/yearling ($10/lb.)
[SOLD]
--5.45 lbs. medium to light grey lambswool ($12/lb.) [SOLD]
Two
8-toothed WEAVING COMBS STILL IN STOCK (see below). AND YOU CAN
ORDER TOOL SETS AND SPINDLES (the tool sets shown below are sold
out, but others can be ordered).
Buying handspun churro yarn, vegetal-dyed
and natural colors, Cultural Survival winter bazaar, Dec. 4-5,
2004
JANUARY 2009:
2ND NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION OF BLACK MESA BLANKET NOW AVAILABLE!
We have two in stock.
Black Mesa Blanket, female
side, 2nd limited numbered edition, 80 in. x 64. in.
$350. Nos. 1-87 cosponsored by and available at the Heard Museum,
Phoenix, Arizona. Deep midnight blue, rich "Ganado"
red, warm wheat, and warm tan, 100% Churro weft from our 2008
7th Annual Black Mesa Navajo-Churro Wool Buy, containing entire
2008 and some 2007 white Churro shearing (©2008
Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land, Inc. All rights resserved.
Photos of 2nd ed. blanket courtesy Heard Museum. Produced by
Pendleton Woolen Mills).
Black Mesa Blanket, male
side, 2nd limited numbered edition, 80 in. x 64. in.
$350. Nos. 1-87 cosponsored by and available at the Heard Museum,
Phoenix, Arizona. Deep midnight blue, rich "Ganado"
red, warm wheat, and warm tan, 100% Churro weft from our 2008
7th Annual Black Mesa Navajo-Churro Wool Buy, containing entire
2008 and some 2007 white Churro shearing (©2008
Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land, Inc. All rights reserved.
Photos of 2nd ed. blanket courtesy Heard Museum. Produced by
Pendleton Woolen Mills).
TO ORDER A BLANKET
FROM THE HEARD MUSEUM,
contact the museum at:
2301 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tel: 602-252-8848
Web: www.heard.org
The Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art
in Phoenix, Arizona, has cosponsored our 2nd limited edition
of the Black Mesa Blanket.Without the partnership of the Heard,
which has done so much to preserve and encourage the visions
of indigenous peoples, this Black Mesa Blanket would be just
a dream, and we are deeply grateful for their support and encouragement.
Thanks also to the caring and generosity of many people who helped
make it possible, the white fleece of every Churro sheep from
our 2008 7th Annual Navajo-Churro Wool Buy, and some from 2007,
has been woven as the weft. We are proud to again join with Pendleton
to producce this historic blanket. Now it comes to you from all
of us with appreciation for your support of a sustainable way
of life, which cares for the Earth and its future.
FAIR TRADE, MADE IN THE
U.S.A., NONPROFIT, A UNIQUE AND HISTORIC ENTERPRISE OF THE DINE'
(NAVAJO): PLEASE HELP THIS SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND,
CULTURALLY CENTRAL AND SACRED CHURRO SHEEP AND WEAVING TRADITION
CONTINUE--WALKING LIGHTLY ON THE EARTH...
Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land has two numbered limited
2nd edition blankets available.
Fifteen (15) 1st edition blankets, open limited
edition still available:
February 3,
2006--February 3, 2007:
The
Black Mesa Blanket
A Historic First
Enduring Vision, Sustaining Community
Designed by
Dine' (Navajo) shepherds and weavers, with weft spun from their
rare Navajo-Churro fleece,
this saddle blanket motif moves from water through clouds toward
land,
the sacred Black Mesa center,
and celebrates unbroken Dine' traditions.
The Navajo Nation Museum
in Window Rock, Arizona, and the Museum of Northern Arizona
in Flagstaff, are cosponsors of this endeavor. Without the
support and partnership of these two institutions, which have
done so much to preserve and encourage the visions of indigenous
peoples, the Black Mesa Blanket would still be a dream. We are
deeply grateful for their support and encouragement. Now this
blanket comes to you from all of us with appreciation for your
support of a sustainable and self-sufficient way of life.
This very limited number of Black Mesa Blankets (there was only
enough white Churro wool from the 2006 shearing to produce 141
blankets) is currently available for sale in the gift shops of
both museums, through our organization, and in the Pendleton
Home Store, in Portland, Oregon. 80 in. x 64 in.
We also want to thank Pendleton
Woolen Mills for their support of this project--their collaboration
and expertise in working with us closely every step of the way
has enabled us all to reach this unique and historic moment.
It has been a pleasure and an honor to work
with all the wonderful people we have met along the way in this
adventure. Ahe'hee'--Thank you all.
FREE SHIPPING ON 1ST
EDITION BLANKETS UPS ground insured). We have 15 blankets remaining...
Ahe'hee'--Many thanks to
everyone who bought a blanket in 2007 and 2008. As 2009 enters its sixth month, we
are continuing to offer the first edition Black Mesa Blankets
with FREE UPS ground shipping and insurance to anywhere
within the United States.
Please help us in these times
of economic hardship by purchasing these rare and historically
unique blankets. All our funds are currently invested in them,
and in the 2007 and 2008 Churro wool buys, which we were able
to hold in June 2007 and 2008. At our sixth annual wool buy,
we could buy 2,000 pounds of Churro fleece from the Black Mesa
area Dine' and at our seventh wool buy, 2,413 lbs. in 2008--because
of your generous support, donations, and purchases of handspun
weavings, handspun yarn, and the Black Mesa Blankets.
A harsh winter is still holding on in many parts of the U.S.
and the world... and climate change continues. "In June
2005, at a Dine' culture fourth grade school program in Chinle,
Arizona, the students examined the sample blanket. A boy put
his hands on it, felt the wool, and said with a smile: 'It's
good--it's warm!'"
(Above or on left) Female side. (Below, or
on right) Male side (both photos courtesy and ©2006,
David H. Davis,). 80 in. high x 64. in. wide. $349.
Water border and one of the four directions, female side
of blanket.
(Left): Black Mesa in center, female side of blanket.
(Right): blanket folded, showing ultrasuede story tag
with three logos, and blue Pendleton logo.
Center of male side of blanket.
A Black Mesa Blanket on Vancouver Island, Canada, female side,
surrounded by Northwest Coast Indian artwork.
Mission: Black
Mesa Weavers for Life and Land -- Fair Trading from the Source™
The Diné (Navajo) of Black Mesa in northeastern Arizona
are one of the most traditional indigenous populations
within the U.S. Their history is one of ongoing struggle to sustain
their culture, land, water, and way of life. Black Mesa Weavers
for Life and Land was cofounded in 1998 by a group of Diné
and a Massachusetts resident to help restore economic and social
self-sufficiency to the region through preservation of traditional
lifeways based on shepherding
and fair-trade marketing of their products--primarily Navajo-Churro
wool, mohair, and weavings. Faced with problems of economic and
cultural survival in a fragile ecosystem, our organization works
with local Diné families and communities to expand their
traditional economy within the contemporary marketplace through
sustainable development, and reinvests in the strength
of the community.
Since 1999, we have been working with the Black Mesa Diné
to conserve the land that nurtures them. We have demonstrated
how a volunteer, grassroots organization can improve the lives
and well-being of people through the work of their own hands.
We have implemented ways to overcome the limited market access
to which the Diné have historically been restricted and
empower them to get their products to a wider market by fair
trading from the source.
Since 2002, we have held annual wool buys, and in 2003 launched
a wool-processing microenterprise for handspun Diné yarn.
We are cooperating with other indigenous and nonprofit organizations
to develop the community-based marketing of Navajo-Churro wool
and mohair. We are also advocating for the development of renewable
energy resources and the conservation and restoration of the
aquifers that provide water to the entire region.
Our work is grounded in the knowledge that human
and environmental justice are inseparable.
Black Mesa churro yarn in hand-knit scarf and skeins of handspun
churro yarn amid gifts from the sea, the Atlantic Ocean, in Connecticut.
Photo of "Ocean / Wools" © 2007 and courtesy
of Chris Brunson.
Wool and Stone
Stone grows to the sea like a plant,
fossil fern deep within it,
a heaviness of trees
worn in green and burnished air
sharp with the tang of tannins
in a dry place.
August 2005: We are honored
to have received this beautiful, handpainted bowl from the Center
for Sustainable Environments, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff,
acknowledging our participation in the work to sustain lifeways,
water, and land on the Colorado Plateau. Ahe'hee'--Thank you!
Buy the book, "A New Plateau" to learn about 38
organizations and people engaged in many aspects of this crucial
work.
"The
Real Sheep"--Living on Earth--NPR Nationwide Broadcast
The excellent Daniel Kraker story on the Churro,
from our fourth wool buy last June, and with poignant personal
history commentary by Dr. Lyle McNeal (broadcast out of KNAU
"All Things Considered" June 26, 2005), has been expanded
to 8+ minutes and was broadcast on several hundred NPR stations
on the NPR "Living on Earth" program recently. It's
archived on the Living on Earth website--full audio, complete
script to read, and photos: http://www.livingonearth.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=05-P13-00043&segmentID=5
SOME PHOTOS OF HANDSPUN YARN COLORS, AS LISTED ABOVE:
HANDSPUN VEGETAL-DYED CHURRO YARN--some photos of colors.
Edith Simonson, Big Mountain. Handspun churro
vegetal-dyed warm brown and an indescribable Naples yellowish
pale green.
FROM BETTY NEZ, COAL MINE MESA
-- more of her thick, soft "saddle
blanket" handspun churro yarn:
Betty Nez, June 2006. [natural and commercial
dye coral/pink]
Betty Nez, June 2006 [natural and commercial-dye
blue]
Betty Nez, June 2006 [Natural churro colors]
Betty Nez, June 2006 [natural churro colors]
Betty
Nez [natural churro colors] Cinnamon brown is sold; others available.
Betty
Nez, Commercial-dyed
handspun churro yarn (below):
From Lena Nez, Coal
Mine Mesa:
Lena Nez
Below is a wonderful
assortment of fine handspun mainly Churro-some Rambouillet mix
natural-colored yarn by master weaver Lena Nez--about
35 lbs. in natural white, natural black, natural brown/grey,
and one ball of vegetal-dyed. This is $5/oz. for white; $5.50/oz.
for natural colors; $6.50/oz. for vegetal dyed (one ball, pale
yellowish/tan--naples yellow). This yarn can be used for weaving
and/or knitting and crocheting.
Lena
Nez--representative colors of her superbly handspun Churro-Rambouillet
mix--a total of about 35 lbs. Above is pure natural black, a
warm grey, a warm brownish-red (upper corner of photo, and the
one ball of vegetal-dyed yarn. $5/oz. natural colored; $6
oz. for ball of vegetal-dyed yarn (pale yellow in photo above,
on right). Two large balls of black/brown SOLD. GOOD QUANTITIES WHITE SKEINS STILL IN STOCK.
More of Lena Nez's yarn--The two balls
of of natural black are sold. BUT
STILL AVAILABLE: Grey, warm
brown, white, and skeins of white (there are many more skeins)
of white. $5/oz. both white and natural colored.
FROM LORRAINE HERDER, BIG MOUNTAIN
Vegetal-dyed handspun churro
yarn:
Extraordinary vegetal
-dyed handspun weaving yarn (in photo above):
--Purple/pink: 6.4
oz., prickly pear with juniper ashes ($7/0z.) SOLD
--Mistletoe: 4.8 oz., a soft earth green.($7/oz.) SOLD
--Snakeweed, with white vinegar: 4.8 oz., darker earth
green ($7/oz.) SOLD
--Canaigre, with white vinegar: 2.4 oz., warm earth gold
($7/oz.) SOLD
--Sagebrush, with baking soda: 3.2 oz., warm yellow ochre
($7/oz.) SOLD
--Judas tree pod: 2.4 oz., warm light tan ($7/oz.) SOLD
The drought conditions this
winter have been severe and extreme--no perceptible snow or rain
, and a drought emergency has already been declared. This makes
these vegetal-dyed yarns even more precious, because the plants
from which they are dyed cannot grow without water. And Lorraine
Herder, like many other Dine' in the region, continues to haul
drinking water for her livestock and family almost every day--there
is no running water where she lives.
With this drought, the glorious
rich deep pink yarn dyed with prickly pear (see photo
above for the color) is especially rare now, and Lorraine has
sent 2 skeins, 6.4 oz., $8/oz. SOLD
*STILL AVAILABLE
from Lorraine Herder --Natural soft antique brown/grey, 1 skein,
4 oz., $6.50/oz.
SOLD
Edith Simonson
Edith Simonson, June 2006. [SOLD]
Edith
Simonson, June 2006 [SOLD]
Edith Simonson, June 2006 [SOLD]
Drawing ©July 20, 2003, by Ruby
Biakeddy, wool grower and weaver, Big Mountain.
Write to: Black Mesa Weavers
P.O. Box 543, Newton, MA 02456
or email : carol@migrations.com
to place an order, or for more information. Or call toll-free
1-866-4-CHURRO (866-424-8776) Boston/Eastern Standard
Time 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
We are paying fair-trade prices
to our experienced handspinners of $3/oz. for natural colored
churro yarn, and $3.50/oz. for vegetal-dyed churro yarn. This
year, we have consequently raised our yarn prices to $5.50/oz
for white churro; $6/oz. natural colored churro; $7/oz. vegetal-dyed
churro).
Dine' (Navajo) Weaving tools
Wonderful collection of weaving combs
by a Dine' elder from Red Lake
Weaving tools: handmade Navajo spindles
(may be ordered at $45 each) and weaving combs are in stock.
Prices listed do not include shipping/insurance. We charge only
actual costs.
Only two 8-toothed combs available. All are 2 inches wide; lengths
vary from 8.5 to 13 inches, and some are heavier (thicker) than
others. $40 each plus shipping.
Four
weaving combs.
Comb
on right is sold.
13-in.
long comb.
Photo of all weaving combs originally received.
There
are now a total of 7 combs in stock, all 8-tooth ($40 each),
and the one 16-toothed comb (8-teeth on each end) is NFS.
CURRENTLY, MARILYN PRESTON'S JEWELRY IS SOLD OUT AND THERE
IS NO MORE AVAILABLE.
STERLING SILVER SHEEP, LLAMA & ALPACA JEWELRY,
and more--EACH INDIVIDUALLY HAND MADE
by Dine' silversmith and jewelry designer Marilyn Preston (©2004)
(like sheep, no two exactly alike). You can collect a flock of
them, if you'd like!
Marilyn
Preston and some of her prize-winning jewelry, June 2005.
A flock of sheep (pins) from Marilyn Preston: Ewes
and rams, large and small. Large ewes are $45 each, small
sheep (ewes and rams) are $30 each. No two pins are alike,
all handmade in heavy gauge pure sterling silver. SOLD OUT
Four pair of handmade sterling silver earrings by Marilyn Preston.
SOLD OUT.
Sheep
pin. Handmade sterling silver single ewe sheep pin,
a unique design by Dine' silversmith Marilyn Preston. $45
plus shipping. (©2004 Marilyn Preston). (Photo
courtesy Navajo Co-Op, Thoreau, NM). SOLD
OUT
Ewe and Lamb sheep pin, unique design by Dine'
jewelry designer Marilyn Preston. (©2004 Marilyn Preston).$60
each plus shipping SOLD OUT (Photo courtesy Navajo Co-op, Thoreau, NM)
Navajo-Churro sheep pin specially designed by Marilyn
Preston, $45 plus shipping. (©2004 Marilyn
Preston). Special order. SOLD OUT (Photo courtesy Navajo Co-op, Thoreau, NM)
Llama pin by Marilyn Preston, $45 plus shipping. (©2004 Marilyn Preston). SOLD OUT
Two smaller
llama pins by Marilyn Preston. $30 and $35 plus
shipping. My scanner doesn't do justice to these elegantly shaped
llamas. Heavy-gauge sterling wire, like the above photos, impeccably
and creatively soldered. SOLD OUT
Wonderful ram
pin. $45. Again, my scanner doesn't do justice to this finely
made ram. Heavy-gauge sterling wire, like the above photos, impeccably
and creatively soldered.SOLD OUT
Customer feedback: "Just wanted you to know that
I received the pin and just love it. Wore it for the first time
yesterday and received several compliments" (July 27, 2004).
Ewe pendant
that hangs gracefully on 18 in. sterling chain. $45. SOLD OUT
Traditional
old-style pin, turquoise and sterling silver. $40. ONE IN
STOCK, AS OF 2/11/07. (One was sold at the Cultural Survival
Winter Bazaar, December 2005.) ON HOLD.
Mother
fox and kit (baby) fox pin, $30. SOLD at Cultural Survival Summer
Bazaar, Tiverton, Four Corners, RI, 2004. SOLD
OUT
By Raymond Tolth, Marilyn Preston's husband:
Horse pin, with
turquoise eye. $40. SOLD at Cultural Survival Summer Bazaar,
Tiverton, Four Corners, RI, 2004. (another can be ordered;
several have been). SOLD OUT
(On
left) Lizard pin with deep orange-red coral head, $40. (On
right) Kokopelli pin with turquoise $40. SOLD
OUT
"WHICH ANIMAL FIBER IS THE STRONGEST, CHURRO WOOL
OR ANGORA GOAT MOHAIR?" --KIRTLAND, NM 8TH-GRADER'S SCIENCE
PROJECT
By using a steel bar, weights, a Navajo spindle and other
materials, Kirtland Middle School eighth-grader Laura Garnanez
(above) was able to determine for her school Science Fair project
displayed before judges Dec. 13 that Navajo Churro wool fiber
(held in her left hand) is stronger than Angora Goat Mohair fiber
(held in her right hand).
By Larry Di Giovanni
Special to The Daily Times (posted Dec. 18, 2005)
KIRTLAND, NM -- From behavioral science and botany to the
space sciences, physics and zoology, a total of 91 seventh- and
eighth-grade students at Kirtland Middle School competed in their
school Science Fair held Tuesday (Dec. 13), which included an
evening awards banquet.
The student exhibits were mounted on poster boards in the
KMS library. Their designers used drawings, photos, charts, graphs,
scientific samples, and descriptions of materials used and step-by-step
procedures, in order to try and convince judges that the scientific
author had nailed down his or her hypothesis, materials, methods,
observations and conclusions. There were 18 judges total, with
sets of three each judging each of the 91 entries. Judging included
the requirement that students explain their Science Fair projects.
Each judge was able to ask one question.
Eighth-grader Tori Alldredge had used blindfolds and popped
balloons in front of four friends so as to determine how the
heart reacts to "unexpected vs. expected events." Her
category was medicine/health. Alldredge used a stop watch to
check each subject's pulse for six seconds, and then multiplied
the number by 10 to average out to 1 minute. True to form, she
said she discovered that balloon popping raises the heart rate
more when unexpected: up to 130 beats per minute. One judge suggested
to Alldredge that she might want to examine how stress brought
into the equation affects heart rates.
Kirtland Middle School science teacher Don Linskens, one of
the Science Fair organizers, said students have an opportunity
to learn and grow, scientifically speaking, from one year to
the next. They can take a project they had worked on previously,
fine-tune it and add more wrinkles, and then bring it in for
this year's judging.
Along those lines, eighth-grader Laura Garnanez had discovered
last year that Navajo Churro tightly spun is much stronger than
the same wool loosely spun. She was given judges' advice to conduct
more trials and average the results.
This year, Garnanez asked the question: "Which Animal
Fiber is Strongest, Churro Wool or Angora Goat Mohair?"
She hypothesized based on experience from a family that
raises sheep, goats and llamas in Waterflow that the Churro
wool would win the durability test. The testing materials including
a steel bar for tightening the fibers, a Navajo spindle, a scale,
and weights to put on the fibers until they broke.
Each student posted their typed reports along with their
Science Fair displays, and Garnanez' was highly descriptive:
"My family raises Churro sheep, Angora goats, and llamas
My father (Ron) cleans, cards, spins, and weaves wool. I wanted
to find out which fiber would be stronger." Her project
was good enough for a third-place finish in the zoology category.
She was correct: Churro wool fiber beats the goat's. [emphasis
added]
Kirtland Middle School Science Fair first-place winners, by category,
name of winner, and title of project, were: Behavioral/Social
Sciences, Ryder Hathaway, "Got Gas?"; Botany, Brenna
Lewis, "What Type of Manure Helps Beans Germinate Faster?";
Chemistry, Elissa Flack, Which Store Has the Dirtiest Shopping
Carts?"; Space Science, Alex Biggs, "Does Light and
Air Pollution Affect the Viewing of the Sky?"; Earth Science,
Dennis Simonson, What Coal Burns the Hottest?"; Engineering,
Hilari Palmer, Shape Arguments;" Mathematics, Caroline Holland,
"How Many Licks?"; Medicine/Health, Rachel Williams,
"No More Breakage, Please"; Microbiology, Khari Tsosie,
"What Anti-bacterial Soap Is Most Effective?"; Physics,
Elena Bruce, "Is Sound Affected by Different Materials?";
Zoology, Mika Benally, "Poultry, Feathers and Proteins";
Team category, Maree Trevizo and Lilly Bodkin, "Which Chemical
Dissolves Sugar Cubes the Fastest?"
The co-Science Fair sponsor with Linskens was KMS science
teacher Keith Weiss.
Courtesy Central Consolidated Schools
Story courtesy of Larry Di Giovanni, Communications Journalist
larryd@centralschools.org
We are honored to announce
the publication of an important and beautiful new book:
A New Plateau: Sustaining the Lands
and Peoples of Canyon Country
"New Release! A refreshing
look at 38 'modern pioneers' in the Four Corners region who have
found ways to make a living while enriching their communities,
economies and lands." The first
story in Section Two, Ranching, is "Sheep Is Life: Dine'
Be'iina and the Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land," by
Gary Paul Nabhan, pages 52-55. Available in hardcover and softcover
from Renewing the Countryside, Minneapolis, MN.
A New Plateau: Sustaining the Lands and Peoples of
Canyon Country
Produced by The
Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern Arizona University
in partnership with the Museum of Northern Arizona and Renewing
the Countryside, Inc.
FEEDBACK FROM 2004 SHEARING:
"Received the fleece and am amazed at how beautiful
and soft it is even before I've washed it. Thanks so much
for the extra information and your time and energy with this
cause. I'll pass around the literature here and good luck in
all you do."(--customer from Louisiana who bought grey/brown
and dark brown/black).
"Oh, I received the gorgeous Red Mesa fleece and I cannot
tell you how incredibly beautiful it is! I have been ordering
fleece for 10 years and never have I seen such a clean beautiful
fleece. I am hooked on Churro! Just touching the fleece gives
me such a sense of history of these wonderful people and these
beautiful sheep." (--hooked rug maker from Florida)
"Oh my God, the yarn is so beautiful I can't believe
it! The colors all just seem to sing together. Well, after looking
at it for a long time, I thought it almost begs to be woven into
a small rug. I think I have mentioned to you I have had several
looms and lessons while living on Cape Cod and even the teachers
told me, weaving is not my thing! I agree 100%. Then yesterday
I had what I thought was a brainstorm. I got looking at those
weaving frames on the Internet. They come in various sizes and
won't intimidate me, especially the ones that say, 'for ages
12 and up.' There is one 20" x 28" that I am thinking
about and they cost around $30.00 and I don't think that's bad
The yarn is so gorgeous I think this is the way to use it, as
it will show the beauty of it and I adore the smell, but I am
one of those people who just loves the smell of sheep and their
fleece in any way, shape or form. I just wanted to say a huge
thank you again and let you know what I am thinking of doing
with this yarn If you should speak to Betty Nez, would you please
tell her how much I love her work and I will send a picture to
you when this all comes together as a little rug." (--repeat
customer, fiber artist from Florida who bought churro yarn handspun
by Betty Nez).
"I spun a skein of the Red Mesa color and it is simply
out of this world. I am going to send you a sample of it.Usually
I flick card each lock prior to putting it through the carder,
but I just teased the locks by hand and put them through only
once and I can't tell you how pleased I was, the color is amazing."
(--repeat customer, fiber artist from Florida who bought raw
adult Red Mesa).
"I just don't know what to say about the fleece, it is
so beautiful and more. Each one feels different and if I close
my eyes, I can imagine the personality on each sheep. I have
never felt anything as soft as the black, like putting your fingers
in silk. And when the others were drying out back, I could see
the luster from the house, just amazing. I am going to spin the
Antique Gray when I get home I cannot pick a favorite either,
they are all so outstanding and the best part is I just put the
locks through the drum carder without having to flick at all.
These are the only fleeces I have ever been able to do that with."
(-repeat customer, fiber artist from Florida who bought raw fleece).
"I received the package yesterday and began spinning
immediately! The wool is very lovely, and spins very well. Thank
you." (--customer from Montana who bought six different
colors of washed wool).
"Oh happy days..... my fleece arrived today and it is
fabulous! Not only did I read all the information you gave me
but I also received the Spring 2005 Cultural Survival
magazine and started reading that. I e-mailed one of my professors
with their website to use in her cultural class. I think she
will appreciate it. Thank you for opening more windows that
allow me a better view of other cultural worldviews.
I really appreciate that you are there and you care." (--customer
from California who bought white and black lambswool, and adult
light red mesa and antique grey).
"The package arrived today and all is well...to say nothing
of fragrant! Thank you for all the information about your project
too. ...Thanks for handling everything so quickly and easily!"
(--customer from Oregon who bought raw white, light grey, dark
brown, and medium grey, and white handspun yarn).
"Just wanted to let you know that my wool arrived and
I am a 'happy camper'. The fleece is wonderful and the cause
is good! You will be hearing from me again. Ahh, if I could only
card and spin faster!!. Thanks again. (--repeat customer from
California who bought washed white and raw dark brown/black and
antique brown).
"Everything has arrived!!! It's all safe and sound and
beautiful! Such amazing fleece. Thank you for all your time and
care and information. I've already washed some of several colors
of the fleece. The Ecover works beautifully. I actually enjoy
the red earth that washes out. It reminds me of Monument Valley
and the Kayenta area that I think is wonderful. My loom arrived
also. I'm in heaven! The tools are exquisite as well. They have
craftsmanship and soul. I've carded about a pound each of two
colors and have piles of rolags waiting. Now to start spinning!
Thank you again for all your hard work. ... I love that each
fleece has its own character." (---weaver from Vermont who
bought 98 lbs. of raw adult and lambswool in 12 different colors,
a set of handmade weaving tools, and a handmade spindle).
"The wool arrived this afternoon; I have already washed
up some of the Multi and it is just beautiful! It is also amazing
how many different colors are in the white fleece. Also, thank
you for all the literature and for the wonderful phone conversation
we had last week. I have been sanding my loom and should be able
to send pics. soon" (--weaver from Maine who bought washed
premium white and raw brown/grey/multi).
Our thanks to everyone who came to the
2004 and 2005 Cultural Survival Winter Bazaars
and helped make it a success for all!!!
26 Years of Bringing Indigenous Cultures to Cambridge
Indigenous Artisan Bazaar featuring Fine Art, Jewelry, Native
Crafts, Food, and Entertainment
Pound Hall on the Harvard campus (1563 Mass. Ave.), Cambridge,
MA."The Cultural Survival Bazaar brings
together the work of dozens of skilled artisans and craftspeople
from around the world in one place. With each step you take,
the sights, smells, and sounds will transport you to a time and
place in another land. Our members and friends come back year
after year for this colorful event," said Pia Maybury-Lewis,
bazaar organizer and a co-founder of Cultural Survival with her
husband and Harvard anthropologist, David Maybury-Lewis. Over
50 vendors offered their wares for sale. A percentage of the
proceeds of each sale will support Cultural Survival's work with
indigenous cultures worldwide.
BLACK MESA WEAVERS FOR LIFE
AND LAND WAS THERE WITH WEAVINGS, STERLING SILVER JEWELRY, HANDMADE
WEAVING TOOLS, CHURRO WOOL, HANDSPUN YARN, AND MORE..
Ahe'hee'--Many thanks to everyone who came to
the Cultural Survival Bazaar in Tiverton Four Corners, RI, July
31-August 1, 2004, and helped make it a successful event for
everyone! We were there with weavings, handspun Navajo-Churro
weaving yarn, freshly sheared churro wool, handmade weaving tools,
jewelry, and more...
Many thanks to everyone who came on April 24, 2994,
to the
SHEEP SHEARING FESTIVAL
GORE PLACE
52 Gore Street
Waltham, MA
where we were selling Navajo-Churro fleece, handspun yarn, weavings,
and more at the Gore Place 17th Annual Sheep Shearing Festival
Weaving tools: handmade Navajo spindles (may
be ordered at $40 each)
and weaving combs are
in stock. Prices listed do not include shipping/insurance.
We charge only actual costs.
MBM-412abcd.
SPECIAL & UNIQUE PURCHASE: We
received four complete bundles of handmade traditional
Dine' weaving tools. Four complete sets of superbly
handcrafted weaving tools, each with three combs (two double-ended),
by the same maker of the superb combs shown above. $185 each
set ($115 to maker; $70 to general fund). SOLD OUT. This
toolmaker has retired, but we have another one, and you can still
order spindles and weaving tool sets.
Handspun churro yarn from Edith Simonson
and weaving by her mother, Alice Nez, age 96, Big Mountain.
SOME CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ON THE 2003
SHEARING:
"I got the carders today ... At home tonight
I started carding a small sample of scoured black churro.
There's a special feeling in these fibers. I realized that
the Navajo and the little churro love each other. The black wool
seems to be saying 'I love you'. The sheep from which this
fleece was shorn, feels loved by its shepherd. Every
strand of its wool is sending out love.
No wonder that these animals are so dear to the Navajo.
It's not simply an economic relationship with these sheep, but
one of mutual caring and giving.
To cover yourself with a woven blanket made from such sweetness...that
would have to give you the happiest feeling. I'll let you know
as fiber adventure continues..." (--customer from Virginia
who bought black and antique grey)
"I have washed the wool out and it is just beautiful
! Buttery soft and rich feeling.
You have more? Any black? I'd love to get a pound of black if
you have it. Let me know" (--customer from Virginia,
who bought antique grey)
"The fleece reached me and it is wonderful...many
thanks and hope to stay in communication...(--another customer
from Virginia who bought antique grey)
"I'll look for Ecover in our local whole foods stores.
.. Can't wait to try my hand at spinning, too, and making my
very first skein---with churro! ....
Hugs from me to you because all you
have been doing is a wonderful blessing to the Navajo, and more...
It's a blessing to the endangered gene pool of churro sheep,
and a blessing to this world by helping to preserve the survival
of a gentle, artistic people living close to nature. Best wishes
(--C.H., also in Virginia)
"I opened the box -- the fleece was fascinating
to look at; my very first view of raw fleece..."It's like
seeing a wig but it's better because it's so special,"
I thought to myself. "The smell of the fleece, that's
got to get better," I thought, "once it is washed."
I found the black fleece at the bottom of the box, baa baa black
sheep! -- it has some bits of dirt in it so I can make it better,
too. ...I was getting my loom unwrapped this weekend, looked
a few more times at the fleece, and let imagination take wing...how
happy I am! I tried using pure castile soap on the small sample
of lambs wool you gave me. It came out white as a cloud and so
nice! I used a cat brush--it's like a mini-carder--to fluff it
up--it's really pretty. Next I need to scour the churro, and
get a genuine carder and a spinning wheel and....(-- a novice
weaver from Virginia)
"It is lovely. Not too much veggie matter and no hard
hang tags off of it. I cannot wait to clean it and card it."
(--customer in WA who bought white shell).
"Hi, thanks for the beautiful Churro fleeces...I have
washed a few locks of each color and am happy with the quality
and colors, I am yet to spin any. These locks will be spun tightly
and put into the weaving I am working on. I was surprised about
the donation to the Native American group when I purchased the
wool from you, and am very happy that wool can help so many people
in so very many ways. Carol the group that you have co-started
is making a difference and I am proud that I can help in my own
personal way." (--another customer from WA who bought
dark brown/black and antique grey)
"Thanks again for all your help -- my BIG package
of wool arrived today and I'm anxious to take a look at all of
it. I've gotten the first half-pound of the antique gray spun
up and that looks wonderful." (--customer from Vermont
who bought black, dark brown, grey/brown, and white lambswool,
after an earlier order of antique grey).
Wool arrived Thursday, I came home Friday, Opened box this
morning!
Thank you thank you. Am beginning wash process; home smells homey
again. Thanks for the reading material, too. It's more meaningful
for me to buy small, and hopefully put my re$ources closer to
individuals than to corporations. (--customer from Nevada
who bought white from 2002 shearing)
"...so far you have only had my emotional response
to the wonderful sheepy fragrance when the box arrived! I wanted
to get further into the two fleeces, and be better informed about
them. Yes, I'm so happy with these two white fleeces. "Shell"
white is still a mystery to me (I wondered briefly if it was
an agouti pattern as in rabbits), but they are wonderful. Of
course, the sand washed right out, and the wool was so easy to
clean. I'm currently finishing picking the smaller fleece.
Carol, I'm so happy with the high quality of this wool. I have
found it all sound, no breaks in staple, no dried out and crumbly
tips. Double cuts left in from shearing were almost nonexistant,
absolutely no insect damage pre- or post-shearing, and so far
only two of the incredible killer burrs Nevada shares with Arizona
and New Mexico. And no golf tees <grin>. Again, the good
health of the sheep and its fleece is so important to me, and
so apparent in these two fleeces!
Also plain to see is the care paid to each fleece along
the way, from good shearing and skirting, to your storage of
the older fleece. I was perfectly happy with last year's shearing."
(--customer from Nevada who bought white from 2002 shearing)
"I warped my loom yesterday, and wanted to say that
it was beautifully spun. Thanks... The warp is beautiful."
(--initial feedback from our first handspun Churro wool warp
and weft yarn customer in Wyoming, who bought white and natural
black yarn)
"The wool arrived and Yes and it is beautiful. I've
washed it and now working on carding it. There are two dolls
made now using it. I will email you pictures when they are developed. I've
shown the wool to several people at our school who spin and knit. They
think it is fantastic. Do you have any brochures you can send
me that I can hand out? Even just a stack of your business
cards will do." (--Customer from WA who bought white
lambswool from 2002 shearing and dark brown from 2003).
"The extremely well packaged wool arrived yesterday
as expected and I've been delighted in examining it."
(--Customer from Connecticut who bought white and colored raw
fleece and handspun yarn).
"The fleece arrived yesterday! Washing some of it last
night was an interesting experience. As the fine red clay soil
swirled down the bathtub drain, I was reminded of the desert
from whence it came. It was beautiful to watch. I'll wash the
rest of it outside to keep the soil in my garden instead of the
sewer! I hope to get some dyed during the holidays. I use weld
(a bright and lightfast yellow), woad (blue like indigo) and
madder (rust red).
"Thank you for your efforts. I will ask my fellow spinners
if they are also interested in your program." (--Customer
from Washington state who bought white churro.)
"I have finished washing my 5 pounds of fleece and started
spinning it. It feels so organic to be connected with this kind
of tradition." (--Same customer from Washington state
who bought white churro)
"The fleece arrived today along with the skein of
handspun. The handspun is beautiful and I am so looking forward
to some more spinning now that I have a good example of what
I am aiming for!" (--Customer from Colorado who bought
brown/grey, grey/brown, white shell, antique grey, and white
handspun yarn)
"It arrived yesterday and I washed up a small sample
of the grey/brown multi today. I can't wait to card it and try
spinning a nice rug singles with it. I couldn't believe the fiber
length, and the colors are so rich. So much different in feel
than the Romney I've been using. ... I would love to use it in
many of the rugs I have planned. I'll let you know how the spinning
goes. I'm sure I'll be putting in an order for the next wool
buy. Thank you for getting the wool to me so quickly."
(--Customer from Iowa who bought white shell, dark brown, grey,
grey/brown/multi, and brown/grey/multi)
"I carded and spun some dark grey into a bulky singles
rug yarn and it is such a gorgeous rich dark grey in color. I'm
sure I'll be ordering more churro wool soon! I'm so happy I found
your website and have been introduced to this wonderful wool.
Thanks again." (--followup email from weaver in Iowa)
"I did get the wool and just finished washing it in
the tub. I am really pleased and in awe of its long tufting curls.
It will mean all the more to make art and grow as an artist using
such life-sustaining wool. Thank you!" (--Fiber artist
from New York City who bought white shell and dark grey)
"I received the box of fleece this week and have already
spun some. It's all so beautiful. Please keep me posted about
this year's [2005] shearing." (--spinner from California
who bought white adult and white lambswool churro).
"I just got the box opened yesterday and the fleece
looks really nice. In fact, I washed up the med/dark grey and
the brown/black last night. It is really beautiful" (--repeat
customer from Iowa).
Drawing ©July 20, 2003, by Ruby
Biakeddy, wool grower and weaver, Big Mountain.
Write to: Black Mesa Weavers
P.O. Box 543, Newton, MA 02456
or email: carol@migrations.com
to place an order, or for more information.
Drawing ©July 20, 2003, by Ruby
Biakeddy, wool grower and weaver, Big Mountain.
Minimum order
for raw wool is 8 ozs. (all prices are plus shipping/insurance).
Raw wool will be shipped with information on how to wash it.
.
It is said that after creating the
Corn People and giving "instructions for the raising and
care of corn," Asdzaa nádleehé (Changing Woman) returned to her home in the west
(at the Pacific Ocean) and "created horses, sheep, goats,
and game animals" (Blessingway,
Leland C. Wyman, ed., Tucson: U. of Arizona, 1975, introduction,
p. 3233).
Churro sheep at corral gate, Big Mountain, June 2003.
AHE'HEE'--THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR PURCHASE OF BLACK
MESA DINE' FLEECE.
WE HAVE LAUNCHED OUR HANDSPUN WOOL-PROCESSING MICROENTERPRISE
AND HAVE ENTIRELY HAND-PROCESSED AND HANDSPUN CHURRO WEAVING
YARN AVAILABLE IN WHITE AND NATURAL COLORS (see above). WE ALSO
HAVE VEGETAL-DYED YARN AVAILABLE AS WELL.
We are also offering handmade Dine' (Navajo) weaving tools
for sale--spindles, battens, and combs. Dine' vegetal wool dyes
may also be available--a small amount of Navajo tea is in stock
($11).
HANDMADE DINE' (NAVAJO) SPINDLES
may be ordered @$45 each plus shipping/insurance.
Write to: Black Mesa Weavers, P.O.
Box 543, Newton, MA 02456
or email : carol@migrations.com
to place an order, or for more information. Or call toll-free
866-4CHURRO (866-424-8776) Boston/ east coast time, 10 am-7 pm.
"SATISFIED CUSTOMER FINDS NEW FRIEND"
Here is a photo "of my cat Bumper and his new
friend the Churro. You can call it 'Satisfied Customer Finds
New Friend'." From a spinner and weaver in Framingham,
MA, who bought this grey/brown and some white raw fleece. She
spun it into some fine knitting yarn that was sold recently at
the Weavers' Guild of Boston exhibit and sale.
Knitting
yarn from antique grey Navajo-Churro.
(Left) Soft and silky knitting yarn spun by Bumper's person
from "antique grey" churro; (right & below)
and wonderful warm hat knit of four colors of churro wool--antique
grey, antique brown, natural black, and natural white. Churro
can be carded and spun into superb knitting and crocheting yarn,
very comfortable to wear, as seen in this hat. SEE KNITTING
DIRECTIONS, JUST BELOW.
Churro hat knit of four colors of handspun churro wool, spindle
with handsun yarn, and two Black Mesa Dine' churro weavings.
A bit of washed and spun white mohair from this weaver.
Knitting Directions for Churro Hat (Great ski or winter
hat)
With four to six colors of softest churro fleece (example:
black, white, antique grey, antique brown), prewash by letting
fleece sit in warm water tips down, resisting urge to scrub,
until water is cool which releases seeds, manure, and the beautiful
red soil of Black Mesa. Gently squeeze out water and wrap in
towel; dry like a sweater. Card and spin two half bobbins of
a rather thick yarn and double ply it (with wheel or spindle
going in the opposite direction) to obtain a knitting gauge of
3-1/4 sts per inch on a #10-1/2 - 16" circular needle-about
the grist of Icelandic wools-think Lopi or a yarn at least 1/8"
wide). Wash yarn well in small amount of shampoo or woolwash
dissolved in warm water. Dry skeins; wind into balls. Very large
hat can take 50 rows which includes optional fold-up brim.
With #7 - 16" circular needle, cast on loosely 60 sts
for small adult, 64 sts for med. adult, 68 sts for large adult
and 76 sts for very large adult head. (Any number divisible by
4.) Work k2, p2 ribbing for 1-1/2" (or 2-1/2" if you
want a fold back brim double thick over your ears.) Increase
1 stitch and add a row marker (small ring or paper clip). Change
to size 10-1/2 16" circular needle change to Color
2 and work pattern changing colors every other row for 7-1/2"
to 8-1/2" from beginning.
Design notes: Slip all Sl sts as if to p (purl). Leave at
least 4" tails, long enough to sew in, when cutting and
joining colors. Change color every two rows as you design dark
to light; or dark to light to dark; dark, light, dark, light
or whatever strikes your fancy. The "yarn in front of work"
covers the front of the slipped stitch (on Rows 2 and 4 only)
as it returns to the back for the k3, giving a wonderful blip
to the pattern. Knits up fast and can be finished in a day.
PATTERN:
Row 1 - k2, *Sl 1, k3* repeat between *s, ending k2.
Row 2 k2, *Sl 1 with yarn in front of work, k3.*
Repeat, ending k2.
Row 3 Drop Color 2, join Color 3, k4, *Sl 1,
k3*(as in row 1), ending k4.
Row 4 k4, *Sl 1 with yarn in front, k3* (as in
row 2) ending k4.
Row 5 Drop Color 3, join Color 4, repeat row 1.
Row 6 Repeat 2
7&8 - Repeat 3&4 with color 1
9&10 - Repeat 1&2 with color 2
11&12- Repeat 3&4 with color 3, etc.
Repeat changing colors every 2 rows (or not as you choose).
FINISH: For two rounds: k2 tog around row to 19 sts.
On size 8 (or near) dp needles, slip 6 sts on two needles and
7 on 3rd needle. With 4th dp needle continue 2 more rounds of
k2 tog. With large-eyed needle run yarn through last 6 sts on
needle tightening and finish off underside pushing needle into
fronts of 5 or so sts, so sewing doesn't show on outside of hat.
Inside hat, tighten and tie all tails together at marker seam,
sew ends into same colors, trim.
POM POM for top is fun to make. (1) Take 2 - 4"
plastic coffee can covers and cut 1-1/2" circle in middle
of both, placing two tops flat together. Cut a 15" piece
of heavy linen or string and place in a circle between the covers
and around the cut center leaving ends hanging out in one place.
(2) Lay out a bundle of 6 strands of yarn each 5 yards long.
Holding the linen ends in one hand start wrapping the yarns as
one bundle evenly around the plastic covers like a wreath, starting
next to the linen and distributed evenly all around coming back
around to the linen. (See picture.) (3) With scissors cut all
ends around the outside edge of the large circle only. Pull covers
apart 1" leaving room to tie the linen as tight as possible
in the center with square knots, then slip covers off ends. Thread
linen ends down into the top of the hat securing tightly with
square knots. Then hide linen ends inside by threading through
5 sts of yarn each and clip. Trim any long ends of pom pom to
make even.
Here is a "Peaceable" ...
Here is a "Peaceable" -- a calm and gentle handmade
friend whose face is of clay surrounded by cloud-soft white wool
and whose body is of felted Dine' churro, wonderful to feel and
to hold. Shianna bought our wool and sent this to me as a gift,
with the message: "Pass on a 'Peaceable' to promote awareness
that one heart at peace is the path to a peaceful world."
If you'd like to know more, or get your own "Peaceable,"
you can email Shianna at shirex4art@HSNP.com
And here is a peaceful
pin:
Here is
a lovely Churro wool pin (about 2 in. long) made by Laurie Sanford
of Twin Gate Farm in Connecticut, from our Churro fleece: felted
antique brown is entwined with white and gold-brown locks encircled
with handspun white yarn. Laurie gave this pin to me at the Connecticut
Fiber & Wool Festival, April 26, 2003. The pattern reminds
me of the four directions and the Dine' "whirling logs"
motif, although Laurie said this was entirely coincidental...
FELTMAKERS--PLEASE NOTE: Laurie writes: "The pin was
needle-felted, rather than wet-felted. The intact Churro locks
are beautiful, and make great embellishments for felted hats,
rugs, bags, etc. The carded wool also felts beautifully with
either method of felting (traditional or needle), and when spun,
knitted and then felted makes excellent hats. Also appealing
are the oodles of natural colors."
"The wool arrived yesterday and looks gorgeous!! I
can't wait to start
spinning" (--Customer in Tennessee who bought 1/2 lb.
of carded white & 1/2 lb. of carded multi, ready to spin).
"I washed all wool today. Beautiful!
...I hope to sell stuff besides wearing wool that sings. Maybe
others will hear the lovely music and weave it too"
(--Repeat customer from California)
"It's here!!!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!;
YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EEE-HAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's more than I ever imagined. You really outdid yourself."
(--very happy customer from Texas)
"I received the wool yesterday and it
is beautiful.
I can hardly wait to wash and card it." (--customer
from Michigan who bought white & red mesa)
"I got my wool today. It is lovely and smells so wonderful.
... I can't wait to start spinning."
(--customer from Rhode Island)
"Thank you so much for the wool, which arrived today.
It is truly gorgeous stuff! And it will spin into an ideal knitting
yarn, soft and bouncy. The "Navajo ply" works perfectly
on it, now I just need to set up a spindle holder so my husband
can do something else while I ply yarn. I rinsed a handful of
the wool, and, as you said, it's hard to tell what's wool colour
and what's earth. It came out entirely creamy white. Lovely."
(--another customer from Rhode Island)
Got the fleece on Thursday--it's beautiful,
and I can't wait to dive in.
Thanks!!
(--customer from Ohio who bought lightly washed white)
"Carol, it's here! and it's beautiful. Please thank
Julia for me. I shall try my best in spinning, braiding, and
weaving and hope that it does its magic in return."
(--customer from New Hampshire who bought carded Red Mesa)
"Altogether beautiful! Thank you." (--customer
in Missouri who bought taw multi/grey/brown fleece)
"I received the fleece, and I believe
it will be perfect. Thank you so much."
(--customer from Kentucky who bought washed dark brown and multigrey/brown/tan
, and who makes wonderful dolls.)
"The wool has arrived... It is gorgeous!!"
(-- customer from California, who bought washed dark brown/grey
with rust-red)
"I received the wool today, thank you
so much, it's wonderful. I already spun a bit of it on a Navajo
spindle, can't wait to fill it up. I will next dye some with
natural dyes." (--customer from Connecticut, who bought
carded white)
"Thanks for the lovely, lofty wool, which I received
today. So fast! I can tell it will make great springy knitting
yarn for a nice thick cardigan." (--customer from California
who bought carded brown/grey/multi)
"The fleece is all very lovely and has
the good homegrown and cared for energy that makes one want to
spin and weave immediately" (--customer from Massachusetts,
about an assortment of samples)
"The samples arrived! The two tones of the wool are
beautiful, really beautiful. I'm thinking now about doing something
creative with the two tones. I've got to think about how to incorporate
the two tones into the design of the sweater. It may take me
a week or two to figure this out. I spun the wool with my hands,
and it looks lovely with a soft twist, very fluffy, just exactly
what I had in mind." (--customer from Arizona, who asked
for white samples, and later placed an order)
"Thank you for the wonderful work you
are doing to ensure the Navajo wool traditions and churro sheep
will continue. This is fair trade work right here in the U.S.!
I'm a knitter, and I'd like to purchase a spindle and white wool
for a special project."
(--customer in the Southwest)
"I got the wool yesterday. I couldn't wait & washed
up a small bit of each and spun it up. ---- BEAUTIFUL!!! ---
Thanks a lot." (--customer in New York who bought
natural black and white shell)
"After reading every word on every page on your web
site, I very much would like to order some of your very special
Churro wool. What an incredible story your pages tell.. I'm a
handspinner and fiber arts instructor and am currently using
lots of Scottish Blackface wool from a local farm for my rug
yarns. I would love to introduce your beautiful wool to my students
and spinning guild, and blend some with my mohair. Thanks for
your time, and God bless you for the work you are doing."
(--customer from New England)
"Two GIGANTIC boxes of beautiful, natural-rainbow-of-colors,
softer-than-expected, steeped-in-history, grown-in-Arizona-sunshine
CHURRO FLEECE ARRIVED! (Did I use too many adjectives?) Fleeces
stampeded in... yesterday afternoon just as I had to leave for
work ...When I got home at 2am, I spent WAY too many hours happily
unwrapping each color of fleece and hugging them and washing
samples and gazing at the variety of natural hues and textures!
I saw the sun come up ...Visions of thick yarns, thin yarns,
sweaters with natural color variations, woven pouches, scarves,
rugs with rows of long churro locks ... I can't wait for the
weekend and some free time! I can't wait to send you photos of
handspun. I can't wait to share these fleeces with my spinning
guild and design a display to honor the churro breed and the
Dine'. How can I enjoy spinning any other breed of sheep wool
now? (--customer from Connecticut who bought 110 lbs. of
the full range of colored raw fleece.)
"I received the fleeces yesterday. What a wonderful
surprise to come home to after a long day at work! They are absolutely
beautiful! Thank you so much for the bonus fleece also! I couldn't
wait so last night scoured the 1 lb. bonus and am now anxiously
awaiting to get home to card it and spin it! The colors are just
gorgeous. I can't thank you enough!" (--customer from
Arizona who bought several colors [40 lbs.] of raw fleece).
"I have never had the absolute luxury of having enough
of a special fleece to feel free to experiment; to just sit among
all the colors and let them 'talk' to me ... I don't have that
feeling of 'wasting' any part of a tiny five-pound fleece I usually
work with, and can just go wild! I can really chew thru fleece,
I spin about a pound an hour of chunky 2-ply, and more for single-ply
rug-type yarn. With all this gorgeous wool, I have several large
projects planned, and oodles of smaller ones. Today I washed
about 20 pounds, keeping the colors separate to preserve the
individual shades of each fleece. Fleece looked tough to clean,
but with just a bit of shaking (love that red sand) and very
gentle soaking (with my 'magic' handmade old-fashioned soap),
it's one of the easiest types of fleece I've ever washed! My
big goal is to weave a rug on a Navajo loom. My more attainable
goal is a good warm churro hat!" (--customer from the
Northeast)
"I got the wool yesterday and have already spun up
a quarter of it -- I can't believe how nice it works up! I'm
really looking forward to dyeing and weaving with it. Thanks
also for the information about your coop. You have put so much
work into it, you must be very proud to see things coming together
now. Thank you so much for proving a source of wool that also
gives something back to the Navajo community -- it means so much
more to me to know that my weavings use real Navajo wool (even
though they are not real Navajo). The hardest part of promoting
indigenous handwork is bringing the product to people who are
interested." (---customer who works with Kuna Indians
in Panama, who bought washed white)
"I washed the red mohair and it came out
an absolutely gorgeous jute color--absolutely beautiful! Thank
you! Thank you! Thank you! (--repeat customer in California
who bought red mohair)
"I received my box of mohair today. It is beautiful.
I am hoping for a sunny day tomorrow, so I can wash it, and let
it dry in the sun." (--repeat customer from RI who bought
badger doe, white yearling doe, and red buck mohair).
"I'm slowly washing the fleece up and
once it's washed, it's very nice and actually 'soft' -the antique
brown is a lovely color and carded up quite nicely. It took several
rinses to get all the dirt out, but once it dries, it's very
nice.
I'm hoping to weave it up into a nice tapestry when I get it
all washed." (--customer from Arizona)
"The wool arrived and Yes and it is beautiful. I've washed
it and now working on carding it. There are two dolls made now
using it. I will email you pictures when they are developed.
I've shown the wool to several people at our school who spin
and knit. They think it is fantastic. Do you have any brochures
you can send me that I can hand out? Even just a stack of your
business cards will do." (--Joni Crines, a dollmaker
and crafter from WA who bought white lambswool from 2002 shearing
and dark brown from 2003).
Go to Black Mesa
Weavers for Life and Land welcome page
Go to
Black Mesa Weavings for Sale
Write to: Black Mesa Weavers
P.O. Box 543, Newton, MA 02456
or email : carol@migrations.com
to place an order, or for more information. Or call toll-free
1-866-4CHURRO (866-424-8776) Boston/Eastern Standard Time
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All poems, photographs, and text copyright © 1998 -2009
Carol Snyder Halberstadt, Migrations (unless otherwise noted).
All rights reserved. Migrations, Black Mesa Weavers for Life
and Land, Fair Trading from the Source, and "the wool that
is sung to..." are trademarks of Migrations.
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