Nancy Crow's Barn - The Story

The story of how the barn was moved from a neighboring farm and repurposed as Nancy's studio and class areas is fascinating.
I have photographed this article and posted it for you to read.

I have left if very large and by clicking on it you will see it in the larger size on your screen. You will have to scroll back and forth to read it, but it will be worth it.



Years ago I hoped to someday live in a repurposed barn. I eventually realized it was a fantasy, not a goal that would ever happen.

taking classes here is how I get to spend some time in the most wonderful barn I can imagine.

A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric - Day 5

Today was our last day of class. I will share some photos and will continue sharing photos in the days to come when I have access to the internet.


These were just a few of the fabrics dyed by Donna from Canada. Her bright cheerful colors were just like her personality!


These were dyed by Linda, who is my neighbor in Florida. We just met at the class!


Here are just a few fabrics dyed by Linda from Michigan.


These fabrics were dyed by Mary Ellen.

I have tried to show a variety of types of patterns and colorations as each person has their own color signature.

We also were expected to design a final project, although we were not required to sew it in class.


This is my final project in progress. I will be tweaking it a little or a lot.

I'll be back with more as there is just so much to share with you.

A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric - Day 4

I can't believe we have completed 4 days of class already. The time has gone so fast.
Tonight I'd like to share with you some of what I have accomplished as well as some of the work of two of the other class members.


These are the fabrics I have completed as of the end of our work day today.


These fabrics are just a few of those created by Mary Valerie Richter. (I got a message from a friend last night and I found out Mary is also a friend of hers) Small quilting world!


This is the work of Mary Porter Vaughn. She created a very strong graphic image and has done a very similar design in various colors. These are only a small part of what she has created.

Tonight's puzzle is the fabrics I have created.

A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric - Day 3

Before I came to The Barn for the class I got a message from Elizabeth, one of my blog readers.
She said that she enjoyed my blog and it made her decide to come to The Barn for the class.
I was looking forward to meeting her.


These were the fabrics she has created so far. She certainly has a great color and design sense. Aren't these GREAT!
I've also enjoyed meeting her and visiting with her, what a lovely lady.


This is a closeup of some of her work. I hope you can appreciate the interesting textures she has created on these fabrics. If you would like to see a larger version of either of these just click on the picture.

Today's puzzle is the palette of colors we are working with this week.

A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric - Day 2

This is the palette of dye colors we are working with in this class. Aren't they luscious?


Here Jan is explaining a new shibori technique she developed.


These are some of the fabrics I dyed today. I love them.


This is my very favorite piece of fabric I dyed today. In fact, it may be my all time favorite piece of fabric I have dyed.

Of course the food today was exceptional as usual.

A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric - Day 1

We started class today.
I can not believe all the different ideas Jan has come up with for us to try.
It is going to be a great week if today was any indication. And from previous experience I know it will be - any class at the Barn is just the best.


To start the day we learned many ways to wrap the fabric around the poles. We use PVC plumbing pipe for poles. This is just one of the poles I wrapped waiting for it's turn in the dye pot.


This is the first group of dyepots being stirred by the designated stirrers.


These are my first 3 pieces of fabric and they were dyed in the first dyepots.


This was today's lunch - delicious!


We had warm freshly baked cookies for our 3 p.m. snack, along with other interesting delicious fruits, nuts and candies.


Dinner was wonderful and concluded with a blueberry dessert.

What more could a girl (or for that matter even a guy) ask for? Great company, excellent instruction, great finished product and meals to please the discriminating palate.

A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric And More

Tonight we had our orientation dinner at Nancy Crow's barn before we start our week of classes.
The quilt you see here was made by Pauline Davy from fabrics she shibori dyed.
We are taking another shibori class from Jan Myers-Newbury called "A Pole And A Piece Of Fabric". I hope I produce something half as nice as this gorgeous quilt Pauline created.


Here are most of the participants who will be taking either Jan's Class or Nancy's class this week at dinner. The dinner was fantastic.


This is Margaret Wolf, our chef for the week. She is a creative cook who feeds us lunch, homemade afternoon snacks and dinner. Her cooking alone is enough to make someone become interested in fiber arts so they can come to the barn and take a class and eat Margaret's cooking. And yes, she is just as nice as she looks in this picture.


This is John, Nancy Crow and Nathaniel who have created this wonderful place we all keep coming back to for the wonderful classes and the whole farm atmosphere.

Keep watching as I share more as the week progresses. I am looking forward to it.

Why Did I Go Missing And Where Am I Now?

These baskets contained the last things I shipped on eBay last Tuesday. That is one project that kept me busy, along with all the other purging and organizing of my house the past several months. That is why you have heard little from me.

I'm hoping to be back each and every night this week if the internet cooperates.




Do you know where I am when you look at these pictures? You may have seen this on someone else's blog recently and then you will know where I am!

Soc-tober in Wisconsin

I decided I needed to knit a pair of warm wool socks before the weather changes for the season.


I love what is happening with them. What I don't love is the amount of time it is taking me to knit them. I am using Emily Parsons's Sophie's Toes sock yarn. The color is Christmas Lights. I love the names she picks for her yarns.

This is over one weeks work!


I am knitting these on Size 0 double pointed bamboo needles. I am getting a gauge of 7-8 sts per inch.

I am quite certain these will fit me perfectly.

The last pair I knit ended up far too big so I just use them to put on my feet while I sit around if I am chilly in the evening!