First of all, an aside... Now I have been blogging over 6 months! That is certainly a record for diary keeping for me.
Well, oh, oh, oh, where to begin?
The Maryland Sheep and Wool was far more than even I had imagined! Elayne and I left Thursday morning (escorted and chauferred by her longsuffering Bill) early and had a wonderful first day in the back of their extremely comfy van - it was sort of like a rolling girl slumber party, as Elayne hung out with me in the back seat and we worked on a trip project. We decided to do the shadow knitted hat with a star pattern that is in the current InKnitters Magazine. We had a long, but fun day on the road and stayed in Roanoke, Virginia. Unforutunately, my camera was throwing a temper tantrum after the first picture was taken, but Elayne had her digital one also, and took plenty. So, as soon as I get them and can upload, I will be sharing. Up bright and early the next morning with a glorious, fun ride along I-81 and the Shenandoah Valley with a 3 hour or so stop at Harper's Ferry for sightseeing. Then, on to Frederick to check in and wait for Saturday!
Saturday dawned with perfect weather (at least at first) for hitting the festival. Later, it became pretty hot and humid, but no rain. We hit the festival running with both feet! First, we visited some outdoor vendors pretty close to the gate, where I made my first impulse purchase. (Long inventory list will soon follow). Then, into the skein and garment competition for a peek at Bess' marvelous hat and to see if I had won any prizes. At first, my heart jumped up into my throat, as I saw neither one of my entries and just knew they had to have been lost or forgotton, or something. And then, turning, I saw it... I had a blue ribbon for my Easter Entrelac Socks, and I actually started crying! Totally unexpected, let me tell you. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to enter and who cheered me on. It's nothing without being able to share with good friends. You all deserve blue ribbons from me! By then, I was too keyed up to do much looking and anxious to go check out the seemingly endless string of treasure that awaited to be oohed and aahed over, handled and, of course, bought!!
At 12:30, we met our friends from KR for food, fun and fellowship! Especially great (well... that's a hard one... it all was great) was reunion with Bess, Jennifer, Lissa (with hugs from all three of these), Anita and NEW friends too!! I met Martha, Clara, Patricia, Julie, Christina, Amie and family and actually, there were too many there to actually chat with everyone. But what a happy bunch of chatterers we were... everyone talking at once and smiling and passing around Jennifer's awesome newest additions to her exquisite Spirit Trail fiber line: handpainted yummy sock yarn (sampled in lovely socks designed by Annie Modesitt and sweater kits also of Annie's designs. Bess and Jennifer showed off the lovely yarn they learned to spin in Judith MacKenzie McCuin's workshop. Fluffy, great stuff with beads and feathers! Elayne left us early to check out the spinning and weaving equipment auction, but ended up throwing up her hands in frustration. Let me tell you, this is a long auction!!
Inventory of what I bought (I have spent the last hour of so sorting through it):
Hardware:
Golding Ring Spindle (of course) ... Solid Purpleheart
A Small Valykyrie Hackle for Blending Fibers from The Woolery
A Wee Weaver Loom from Susan's Fiber Shop
Software:
2 pounds of grey CVM from Little Barn
2 packets of 2 oz. dyed silk roving from Stony Mountain Fibers
1 lb. 7 oz. scoured Jacob locks from (oops, don't remember... a fiber shop someplace in Pennsylvania
1 + pound of "marvelous stuff" - wool, mohair, alpaca, nylon blend in mostly blues and turquoise, but with other colors and some glitzy stuff from Puckerbrush Fibers
A handpainted boucle skein of yarn from The Lady Peddler
Patterns:
Shawl Pattern
Felted Clog Pattern
Souvenir:
Spinning apron with Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Logo!
Oops, and by the way, thanks a lot folks for recommending the Deep Fried Twinkie (you know who you are!) I had one, and the thing exploded all over my face and coat, and Elayne threatened to take my picture.
Well, that's all for now. A writer I am not!
Addendum: Also got Deb Menz' new book, Color Works
