Wrapping Aabel Around My Neck

Aabel is an unusually gorgeous buck, got a doe's wool quality and a buck's broad face.   

Aabel is not only gorgeous, he is also sweet, he is one of my favorite rabbits.

I normally put all the same colored wool in a bag together but I decided to put Aabel's wool in a separate bag when he was cut down.  

I made a scarf for myself.   It's soft and warm.

Here is a close up of the stitches.   I spun loosely so the yarn is puffy and light.  The stitches are simple but lacey.   It turns out well.   I love the feeling of wrapping Aabel around my neck.  

 

Felted Miniature French Angora

We saw some beautiful felted English Angora heads made by Felicia using Debbie's wool yesterday.   Here is a French Angora made of sheep wool that Carolyn purchased on an Etsy site.

Carolyn also bought this one made by the same artisan.

Betty owns this one that was gifted to her by April, also came from Etsy.  These felted French Angora are truly miniature, only 2 inches in diameter.   Since they are all made from sheep wool, they are not as realistic looking as the English Angora heads made by Felicia.   





  

 

English Angora, Are They Real?

That is a pretty REW English Angora, it's very realistic looking,  is this for real?  Where is the little body?   Debbie sent in this picture, she gifted some of her beautiful English Angora wool to her friend Felicia who does needle felting and look at what Felicia created!   

  

Debbie is on the COD team to present broken English Angora.   It's not a surprise that Felicia also created a broken black English Angora based on Debbie's photos.   Great work, both Felicia and Debbie.

 

Winter Wonderland

Where is this?  New England? Alaska?  A picture from a Christmas Card?
Nope.   It's in California!    It's Pattee's yard and her horse Jewels.    The storm brings rain and snow that will supply California with most needed water for the summer and creates a winter wonderland for the northern California.

 

A Bit of History: Angora SOP 1947-1950

The 1947-1950 Angora SOP does not contain a photo.  Whether a photo or photos of the English Angora or French Angora were in a different section of the SOP book, I don't know.   Over the years, Angora people asked why it took so long to get broken pattern accepted, here is your answer.  Click the above photo and read the first two sentences: "No points for color on white.  Whites to be disqualified if marked with any other color".      From this SOP all the way to the SOP in the 80s, broken could not even be considered for presentation as "any other color" on white was a disqualification.  

In the previous SOP 1934-1939 there was a lower weight limit of 6 pounds (assumed to be senior weight but not specified) but no upper weight limit.   In 1939-1944 SOP,  there was a lower weight limit of 5 pounds but no upper weight limit for English Type Woolers.  In the 1944-1947 SOP, the English Angora weight range were 5 to 7-1/2 pounds, no difference for buck or doe.   In this 1947-1950 SOP, the English Angora senior buck weight range was 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 pounds and senior doe 5-1/2 to 8 pounds.  You may note that this range is 1/2 pound more than the current range of English Angora weight.  

Also noted that the total points allocated to wool was 65 points, while the current standard is 57 points.

The points allocated to length in 1947-1950 was 15, density 30 and texture 20.   Current SOP points allocated to length is 12, density 25 and texture 20.   The ideal length range in 1947-1950 was 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches.   This length would be barely showable today.  
The lower half of this page is the French Angora standard.  The weight minimum is 7 pounds but no upper limit.   

  

The rest of the French Angora standard is at the upper part of this page.   It's interesting to note that at this point, the ear tuft was highly desired.   It specified severe cut in points on lacking ear tuft.   Today French Angora are considered as totally acceptable or even rewarded for a "clean" face.    The wool points allocated was 50 points (20 for density, 15 for length and 15 for texture) , less than the 55 points (25 for density, 10 for length and 20 for texture) today.   

 

Litters of Bunny Slippers

Casey has a litter of bunny slippers.

Two pink ones, wish that they could produce bunnies that are pink and fuzzy.

Satin Angora? French Angora?  They are furry and cute.

Here is Betty's litter of bunny slippers that hopefully will become Best of Show!

 

Carol’s Heirloom Quilts

  Carol's Fiber room has many heirloom quilts, this on the wall was made by her great grandmother who handsewn every single stitch.  

   

This quilt was made by Carol's grandma Rutherford on the table.

This is a clearer view of grandma Rutherford's quilt.

Carol's mom made this quilt for Carol's doll.  Carol loved it so much that she carried it everywhere, there are holes in the quilt.

Carol makes quilts too but instead of sharing an image of a quilt that she made, she's sharing this crocheted table runner that she made while in graduate school.

All these artifacts are old, from the newest crocheted table runner made thirty some years ago to the pink quilt that was made over 100 years ago.    Carol treasures them.