More fun than you can shake a stick at.

Wow.  I’ve just had the best time ever.  One whirlwind weekend of yarn, fiber & friends.  The last weekend in May was the Mass. Sheep & Wool Festival, in Cummington, MA.  It’s about a 4 hour drive for me, and it was great weather. 

I convinced a wonderful friend to join us, and Miss Wiseheart had a wonderful time – or at least I assume she did… she began laughing when she walked in the door and was still giggling when the car drove away.  Sandi came a couple days early – “tempus fugit” I told her… no time like the present to come have a good time (and she helped me pack up stuff for the show so bonus points for me).  We gathered up ‘stuff’ and more importantly, Georg and headed out on Friday.  Now, every good friend likes to get something nice for her friends – it’s what friends DO afterall.  So, in the spirit of this, I took my friends…. to the chiropractor on the way out of town.  Don’t laugh.  He’s a miracle worker and with the weekend of standing, toting, hefting and smiling (hey, that’s hard too, ya know), well… getting yourself in order is what the doctor ordered.  (Plus, I was driving.  They really had no choice.)

We arrived at the Fairgrounds and I waved my magic wand in the direction of the tent (and muttered ‘erecto’ to no avail) but we still had to do it the old fashioned way.  In a couple of hours (really I’ve no idea how long it takes. Sometimes it feels like an hour sometimes it feels like DAYS) we had put this together:

Our neighbor, as usual, was Patrick from West Elm Farm.  Sadly, he will not be next to us next year… so I’ve decided to double the booth space.  Ya’ll plan to come visit next year because the place will be amazing.

Favorite picture this year:

Note the turkish spindle and fine thread that ties the boy’s attention.   Fascinated.  They’ll be spinning next year, you watch.

And then we went home.  Actually, have you ever noticed how easy it is to ‘say’ something, but it’s never as easy to actually ‘do’ the thing?  Thankfully, folks like Brewergnome (his yarn and roving are in my booth), Jesh (I carry her spindles and other sundries as well), and 100 of our best friends stayed to help pack it up into the van.  Ok, not really 100 – but it sure felt like it!!  I think we had it packed up and in the car in under 55 minutes – a new record for us.  I can’t thank  you all enough.

No rest for the weary – that would be us.  We got home late Sunday evening, and all crashed.  Georg left for home the next morning, and Sandi and I stared at the cat, too exhausted to pet him.  Tuesday, she helped me unpack (she is full of win).  Then… we dyed!  Or rather, Nora dyed and we assisted.  Nora’s 3rd installment in her yarn club needed to go out asap and so right after school I got her setup and going.  She very politely invited Sandi to ’guest-dye’ with her on several skeins.  When it was over, we had some dye left and so Nora dyed 2 skeins for me in a one-of-a-kind flower theme:

Not sure what I’ll do with it, but it’s mine-all-mine.  The 3rd installment of her club mailed officially today.  Her theme was ‘flowers’ and the skeins were dyed one of 2 ways.  Either looking down on a field of grass and flowers, or standing in the field looking at the horizon of flowers and sky.  Here’s one of the sky skeins:

Sandi finally went home – I could keep her hostage no more.  Basically, she announced her vitamins were all gone, it was time to go home and refill.  She had a profound affect on the household here though.  The cat is basically never going to be the same – I thought he was demanding before but now that he’s had attention lavished on him constantly, he expects to be maintained in the manner to which he has become accustomed.  We hope she’ll come visit again some time – I will remind her that laughter is excellent stress relief and to come back for a refill.

Onwards.

What’s next you ask?  Usually, things would be quiet on the show front until the fall around here.  I’ve decided to change things up  bit instead.  I thought I’d throw in a Lace Club to begin with (check back the end of the month for details), and Nora wants to have another go-round for her club (she’s saving her pennies for a pony.)  And then… well, do you like Far Side cartoons?  Do you remember this one?

One of my top 5 favorites.  I’ve decided to fill the summer months with projects instead of anything to do with a vacuum (empty time/space or cleaning).  For example, next week I leave for Columbus Ohio.  I will be a vendor in my first ever wholesale TNNA show. (Yes, I wholesale my yarn – tell your local yarn store!)  Then I thought we’d spice it up with Stitches Mid-West in Schaumburg IL.  Still hoping the good folks over at the Fingerlakes Fiber Fest see fit to let me in this year (I keep trying…), and then I think I’ll head over to TNNA in St. Louis - but wait! I can’t be in 2 places at once… that one is the same weekend as the delightful Southern Adirondack Fiber Fest - this will be their 2nd year!  I know… I’ll have Georg help.  She’ll go to the Adirondack Festival with the show gear, and I’ll…. just have to dye twice as much so we can finally prove if the cat is alive or dead – no wait. we just want to be in 2 places at once. No problem!  Phew.  Anyways, after the 2nd TNNA/Adirondack Fiber Fest comes the mother of all festivals for me:  Rhinebeck.  Now, take a breath and then join me at Stitches East directly afterwards (ok, so there’s a couple of days between and that’s good because I’m pretty sure I’ll need to dye more yarn there somewhere.)  After that?  Assuming I’m still coherent, I’ve got a space all lined up at the 1st Annual Fiber Fest of New England at the Mass Expo Center (assuming you find me there with little of my wits about me, just speak slowly).  Then, I would like a nap.