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Spin Dance Acres is a slowly developing/evolving small farm located just south of Boise, Idaho. The land was purchased in 1999. Initially the idea was to raise sheep to assist in keeping the land in an agricultural tax category. We became interested in Navajo-Churro sheep as a result of a dedicated issue of “High Country News” about the breed, their history, and Dr. Lyle McNeil. As I did more research on the breed, it became obvious that they might work for our situation. We purchased our first animals, four bred ewes, in the fall of 2000.
In 2001 we decided to attend the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association's annual meeting, which was being held in Taos, New Mexico. It was a great trip and we met many people that are very dedicated to the preservation of the Navajo Churro as a unique breed.
I had been endeavoring to sell raw wool with limited success. Someone suggested that if I really wanted to sell the wool, I should learn to spin. Even if I never did anything with the yarn, I would at least be able to "talk the talk" and have a better idea of what spinners were looking for. I took his advice and things exploded from there.
Now we have 18 breeding ewes and three rams. I spin my own yarn using a Navajo Spindle, and I use that yarn to weave rugs and purses using a Navajo style loom. The many natural colors of the Churro wool allow me to get striking color contrasts without using any dyed yarns. To see some examples of finished items, please visit the Woven Products page.
For 2008 here is a list of the shows that I will be attending:
Snake River Fiber Festival in Idaho Falls, ID May 17-18
Western Idaho State Fair in Boise, ID August 20-24
Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair in Salt Lake City, UT Sept. 20-21
Museum Comes To Life in Boise, ID Sept. 27
N-CSA Annual Meeting in Monticello, UT October 9-12
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