April: DJ’s Farmjoyables
Published April 8, 2021
I had been curious about the creation of yarn for a while now but hadn’t really acted upon that interest until February of this year. I’d been knitting for 4 years now and learned to weave last year but I soon noticed how my knitting technique was not ergonomic at all. My wrists were starting to experience a bit of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and my horrible posture did not help that case at all.
So I suppose you can say that I needed a change of pace and spinning seemed to be a fiber art that was less strenuous. Who would have thought that spinning will become my new therapy and passion?
I remember my friend Kristina spinning some Malabrigo Nube using a top-whorl drop spindle and I thought to purchase one on Etsy. It was a cute set that was most affordable and it came with a niddy noddy. All I needed now was some yarn. Browsing around in Facebook Marketplace, I saw $23/lb of cormo/cvm (California variegated mutant) blend and free shipping! I messaged the seller and got more information and before I knew it, I had all the tools I needed to spin. While I have upgraded to an Electric Eel Wheel Nano 1.1 since then (and am looking to upgrade again in the near future for production speed), it’s good to take a moment to reflect on how simple joys begin and watch that joy grow into a passion that sticks with you for life.
Dottie the animal lover
Dottie — I adopted my first sheep in 2015. They were 6 babydoll southdown wethers that the breeder no longer wanted. Then my neighbor retired from her sheep breeding business and I got some of her older ewes and rams that were "undesirable". We adopted 2 more sheep from a roadside zoo situation. We now have 24 sheep. We have 6 Southdown Babydolls. I use the babydoll wool for dryer balls. They graze on our chemical free pastures and during winter, we buy hay from local producers. Once a year, the sheep are shorn by a shearer that we hire.
Our farm is fully solar powered. I'm a vegetarian so we have a no kill policy. Even past their "productive" years, we keep all animals healthy to live out their lives as fully as possible. Besides sheep we have rescued miniature donkeys and horses, 3 goats, a mini pig, chickens and ducks! We also have dogs and cats.
Sheep-story and life
Some people find it easier to share their stories through writing, and some are more comfortable verbalizing them. Listen to Dottie share a brief history of DJ's Farmjoyables (DJSFarmjoyables) and some snippets of the sheep living in the farm. While there isn’t much greenery yet in the bleakness of midwinter, the sheep are well fed and sheltered in their 7 acre farm.
Dottie is very passionate about her work and her love for animals. Can't get enough of sheep cuteness? Check out this other video that showcases just that.
Unlike other small businesses that I have featured, Dottie has not shared the location of her farm. With the pandemic still looming about, we want everyone to be safe and secure. That being said, I hope that you have enjoyed the virtual Farm Tour and mini meet and greet! Some happy-nings in life are kind of like the "chicken or the egg" -- we're not really sure which came first. For me, my journey began from revisiting the memory of my grandmother creating things led me to teach myself to create fiber crafty things. To Dottie, her journey began with the love of animals which is progressing towards a more colorful future through yarn dyeing, and hopefully, more fiber arts adventures!
How about you, dear reader? Which came first? What adventures await you? I hope that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, may you find something that sparks joy within yourself and that the flames of positivity spreads to the ones you love and the communities you touch.
To learn more about DJSFarmjoyables and their products, visit their website at www.djsfarmjoyables.com to see a full gallery of what they offer. To purchase or to check what Dottie has in stock, check out her Etsy store or contact her through her Facebook Page. If you'd like to see more stories like this, please support Himaymay Creations by purchasing my patterns and products or by becoming a Patron. For as little as $3 per month, I can bring more inspiring stories like this and generate financial support to the small businesses that I feature every month. Do you know of a small business that you think is needs to be put on the limelight? Please leave me a message or write it on the comments below and tell me how this small business has impacted your life and your community. Thank you once again for your awesomeness!