I know I'm always a day late and a dollar short. Regardless, the NY Sheep and Wool Festival was stupendous! The weather held out....we'd had over a week of rain and lo and behold that morning the sun came out.
Almost immediately I ran into these adorable creatures
. Their owner almost had me convinced I could buy 5 of their brothers and sisters and legally keep them on my 1.1 acre property. I was all set to pull out my checkbook when Michael said, "Hey what about the bears in your neighborhood!" Yes I have bear here and so I don't think it's a good idea. But a girl can dream can't she. Of course there are other complications too.
My next stop was Spirit Trail I knew from last year her tent gets so crowded early that you can't get near it. Plus there is nothing left in a short time. I acuired some gorgeous sock yarn. I'd also looked forward to meeting Stepanie Pearl-McPhee aka The Yarn Harlot who planned on being there to autograph her books. Unfortunately Stephanie had a death in her family. I'm so sorry Stephanie!
My next urgent stop was Brooks Farm Yarn. I wasn't going to buy much from them because I still have some left from last year even after making hats, scarves and three shawls. But who can resist those colors! I bought this. And this and this!
Michael wants a hat and scarf out of the darker blue on the far left and I have some ideas for these other skeins of yarn.
Then we went in search for food. Some place Michael saw a sign for Fajitas when we came in but we just couldn't find it. So we chose Artichokes with Escarole and Bean Soup, which Italians call Minesta! (One of the first things I learned to cook from my ex-husband's Italian family). It was superb but the longest line. That's OK though because I met some very nice knitters from NJ while in line and we ended up eating with them and talked knitting of course.
From lunch on is a blur! I wanted to hit every booth and was on a mission.
This lady delighted the crowd with her music.
At Morehouse Farms I purchased 3 kits. The Barbizon Jacket Kit is a beautiful sage green for myself. (I think on their web site it is called Silver Birch) It's just stockinette stitch but the lines are simple and very smart. The 3 strand yarn is soooo soft and feels great when knitting up. I just had to swatch even though I can't start on it yet. I also bought the Lace Camisole kit in Coral. And I grabbed a lace scarf kit in varigated colors of purple, pink and orange. After looking at the vaiegated yarn samples on their site, it is called Zesty.
I visited a lovely vendor I met last year, Jewel. She is always a delight. This year she had a huge collection of yarn she'd spun herself. Quite beautiful! So I had to buy some green heavy worsted weight from her. She's a Master Chef by trade and is quite interesting. I can't wait to see her again next year.
One thing that amazed me is how many knit bloggers I recognized just from reading their blogs. I was a little hesitant to talk to many of them since I don't know them. I was afraid I'd be looked at as a stalker. Is that wierd or what? Sometimes reading blogs feels like snooping, as so much of it is personal. But one of the many bloggers I recognized and did speak to was Theresa at Knitting the Blues We were at Carodan Farms booth looking at sock yarn. I took a chance and said I recognized her. And she was absoltuely delightful. She even helped me with some Mountain Colors Mountain Goat I bought for socks in a blue colorway of course! It was so nice to meet you Theresa!
I can't believe no one told me I spelled Rhinebeck wrong in a previous post! I know how to spell it and have spelled it correctly before but in a headline I spelled it so wrong! Shame on me.
Linda MacMillan at Oak Grove Studios is a very talented lady. It was nice to see her again. She has beautiful hand painted yarns and stunning hand made beads and buttons. I bought this yarn from her last year which I love but just haven't gotten around to using yet. So this year I bought sock yarn from her in the colorway Antique Roses. It is gold, teal, rose and gray. (I even ordered more yesterday) I already started a pair of socks in it using a Lisa Lloyd free sock pattern called Pink Ribbons that she designed free for national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I had planned on using it in the Soctoberfest Lolly is running....but again I'm late. She closed the list. Of course I'm still making the socks and thinks it's kinds neat that I am making a pair of pink ribbon socks in October for Breast Cancer Awareness. I'll post a pic as soon as I pull out the camera and the sun is shinning. When will that be, I wonder!
Thanksgiving weekend there is an Artisans Festival in Putney, VT. I'd love to go but am scheduled to work. If any of you get a chance to go, look up Linda MacMillan of Oak Grove Studios. You'll love her and her creations.
There were more acquisitions and more knitting updates but I have to run into town now so more later.
Did I ever mention that Knitting is my Passion? No I didn't think so.
Sherry at Brooks Farms and I were talking and she agrees with me...."She has has the most yarn wins." Well I'm trying!


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