January, white, cold, and most definitely winter here in the Northern Hemisphere. But, even in the bleak cold of mid-winter, sometimes spring just seems to sneak in to surprise you.
Yesterday, I took a short break and went over to give the neighbor a helping hand. One of their ewes was not bonding well with her newborn twin lambs, and they needed an extra body to help with the catching. 
Well, the catching went fine but those two little pre-fleeces were Too Cute! One was a gorgeous dusty brown colour, looks like she might grow up with a bit of a caramel coloured fleece. I saw another one out there with ebony black fleece, and another with a beautiful reddish brown tone. All little cute lambs that are likely under a month old, and just carrying a hint of their future fleeces.
On the home front, there are two adorable little, three day old, goats in the stall. Not fiber critters, but fully as cute as the little lambs. Cute enough that I actually tried to take a selfie, not sure how well it turned out. Their mom doesn’t look too impressed though. But, that might be because I’m holding her baby.
Something You May Not Know: I’m also an Author
Fiberartist by day, and persevering writer and author by night!
Actually, fiber fun and writing happen at all hours. However, plain knitting happens more often than writing at night. And, as this blog shows only too well, writing, fiber, natural dyes, and all these fun things can go very well together.
However, well writing is a big part of keeping wearingwoad going, my authorship is in a slightly different vein. I write clean fantasy fiction, and just today I got the first print copies of my first novel (Kindle version here). Hot off the press books! And, I’m excited. Not only is my name in print, but the world and characters are now able to be read and enjoyed by others. 
Also in my author list is a lovely little novelette, set in old Scotland. The main character of this story uses walnut as a natural hair dye when he wants to disguise himself from easy recognition. Both my currently published books are only the first in their respective stories.
Blending Fantasy and Fiber:
Nope, not a spinning blend, though “Fantasy” might be an awesome name for a carded roving blend. One with silk, merino, and some fancy glitter or something in deep midnight blue, forest green, and royal purple tones, with silver silk and some lilac or lavender streaks. Oooh, now I want to spin that!
Fiber art, particularly natural dyeing, informs my writing. I can write about a person dying their hair with walnut because I know how it would be done, and how it would work. Or, I can describe historical natural dye process, with accurate information and techniques because I’ve researched it.
Writing informs here too. What I research specifically for a story can end up here on wearingwoad because it is awesome and fascinating information. The other beauty within this blend is simple, the more I write the better my writing can become. And, as my writing improves in the realm of fantasy, it also improves here in the realm of natural dyes and natural fiber.
Of course, there is one other very fun benefit to blending Fantasy and Fiber. And that is found in the thinking. I can work on knitting or something else fiber while thinking through a plot problem, and both sides of the equation benefit.
Back To You:
If this was new to you, leave a comment! I hope you like the goat picture too.