I'm skipping Inspiration Monday today in honor of the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival. It was a fabulous weekend, with amazing fiber folk, and gorgeous fiber everywhere you turned.
The journey began friday morning when Lesley picked me up. She is my hero for driving the entire route, especially since the weather on the way home was of the white slushy variety. See that stuff out the window? That's what we - or rather, Lesley, - faced for 6 hours yesterday.
(And that's Spunky Eclectic Amy being adorable for the camera.)
But, I'm getting ahead of myself. The trip started without snow, and we drove with Spunky Amy and David of Southern Cross Fibre.
I finished my very first pair of handspun, handknit socks for the occasion. The fiber is Panda from Spunky Eclectic in the Sherwood colorway and I am silly proud about how they came out.
My camera angle was poor, but I had to try and capture our arrival.
We arrived early enough on Friday to meet up with Beth from The Spinning Loft, who was there to teach classes all weekend.
And score some Socks that Rock.
Silliness ensued.
Saturday was a beautiful day.
Chilly enough to necessitate all the warm wooly things people were sporting, including us.
As we turned the corner out of one of the barns, we had the happy surprise of running into Anna! She was wearing a fabulous new design of her very own creation. She reported that the finishing touches were added in the car on the way to NY.
Penny and Donna were both stunning in their new sweaters.
And Lizzie got spotted for wearing a Clapotis shawl in the wild!
This year we skipped the hotel route and stayed at a rented house with a great group. Many, many thanks to Carolyn (dinner was amazing), Nicole, Jen, Adrian (cheese party - yum), Amy (wonderful breakfast!), David, Lesley, Maryse, and John for the fun. A million thanks to Adrian for the brilliant idea and arranging everything. After a full day of shopping, we got to relax back at the house, knit, and enjoy the charming local deer.
So, what goodies did I get?
400yds of pure cashmere from Still River Mill in Eastford, CT.
I'm thinking it needs to be a Pretty Thing, the new cowl by the Yarn Harlot.
A skein of sock yarn from Socks that Rock. I couldn't resist the colors.
8 ounces of handdyed BFL from Briar Rose Fibers
And 4 ounces of superwash merino in Lagoon from Fiber Optic Yarns, as well as 4 ounces of superwash merino pencil roving with seacell in "Days of Wine and Roses."
I'm already looking forward to next year!