Saturday morning I went to the NJ Sheep and Fiber Festival. I'm lucky enough to live just 20 minutes down the road from the fairgrounds, and it's always a good time. This year it was even better because in addition to sheep of all kinds, yarn, new-to-me dyers, and even angora bunnies, I got to meet Dee and Vera in person! They are both lovely people and wonderful company to wander through a fiber festival with.
We asked a vendor to take our photo, and this was the best of three attempts. None of us is blurry in real life and we all look much better than this photo shows. :-) |
Bridget was also there, but sadly I didn't get to meet her. I had some family obligations and had to leave after being there for only about an hour or so, but I still had time to see the sheep and all manner of fiber-providing animals.
And then there were all the vendors and yarn. This is a Goldilocks type of festival, just the right size to provide plenty of beautiful yarn, but not overwhelming.
White Birch Fiber Arts was new to me, and she had loads of gorgeous self-striping sock yarns, beautifully displayed with samples of how they knit up.
I had to get two skeins because I knew Ryan would covet the fingerless mitts I intend to knit with "Nothing Says Screw You Like A Rainbow" and I would feel like a terrible mother when I wouldn't give them up. This was my only purchase, but that is only because Wandering Wool didn't have the rainbow gradient she used to make this sample sock that stopped me in my tracks.
Luckily for me , Joelle has a website and said she would be very happy to dye some for me, so I know there will be matching sock cakes of this yarn in my hands and on my needles in the future.
It's a rainy, gloomy Monday and I'm back in MD, but the fun of spending time with Dee, Vera, and sheep along with the potential of rainbow knitting makes up for this dreary day. I do hope your weekend was as nice as mine!
Oh my! I love, love, love the "Nothing Says Screw You Like A Rainbow"!! I made a pair of socks with White Birch and found it to be one of the most lovely sock yarns I've used! Sounds like your weekend was a winner!
ReplyDeleteFiber Festivals are always a treat and they are made all the more so by meeting up with and making new friends!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great name! LOL It looks like you had an amazing time! And, those Jacob Sheep! LOVE!
ReplyDeleteI think I want to put those words on my fridge! :-) Can't wait to see your made-up-mitts!
ReplyDeleteI will keep an eye out for White Birch yarns. Like you, I was gobsmacked by the Wandering Wool gradients one year at the Frederick Fiber Festival. I bought "Midnight on the Water" because they were out of the rainbow... but a friend spied the rainbow set at another event and got it for me. I have it on the needles now though I haven't showed it online yet.
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun! I love everything you wrote about the rainbow mitts!! It's always fun to meet up with knitters!
ReplyDeleteThe festival looks wonderful and how lucky to be able to share it with friends! The animals...the yarn...oooohhh myyyy! lol
ReplyDeleteWhat great fun! It's so fun to meet blog friends in real life. :-) I love your rainbow mitts yarn (right down to the name!), and can't wait to see how they look all knit up. Our Michigan Fiber Fest is also one of those "goldilocks" events -- just right and not too overwhelming. XO
ReplyDeleteIt was SO nice meeting you! The festival wouldn't have been the same without you.
ReplyDeleteLooks like we'll have plenty of soggy days to knit up what we bought.
See you soon!
What a great weekend, Bonny, and no travel involved. That makes it about perfect! I can't wait to see your mitts, and I love the name of the yarn. You will get to say that everyone who asks what the colorway is - what fun! I hope your week continues to be full of pleasant surprises and fun close to home.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun to meet in person. And those "sheep in shirts" crack me up! Assume you got back to MD with no issues...this soggy weather...
ReplyDeleteoh my - I squealed when I read "screw you like a rainbow" - how perfect for Ryan (and you!) ...and now we're watching the Weather Channel. I sure hope Florence doesn't live up to her expectations.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to enjoy the SHeep. WITH KNIT PALS!
ReplyDeleteIt really was a wonderful festival, made even better by meeting Dee and Vera in person!
DeleteI really only kept a low profile so that my personal mystique would stay ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think the smaller fiber festival sounds wonderful. How nice that you are so close by. I love the rainbow yarn for mitts. They will be fun to knit.
ReplyDeletehow lovely!!! and that rainbow yarn... lovely too!
ReplyDeletegah! I would have loved to be there!!!
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