Though there is always another

The another this time being Stitches East. This was my first year getting to go (Baltimore just wasn't worth the trip for the past few years)... but first, the trip there.

As true fiber fanatics, K and I planned our trip from Vt to Ct to hit a few yarn shops and some of the other fiber related businesses in the area.

Imagine my surprise when by going the way I thought I should (doesn't mean I was right..) instead of listening to my GPS, we drove past a place with a purple sign.

Yeah.. totally by accident, we found Golding's studio. Hadn't called, hadn't emailed, yet was welcomed by Tom himself (not to mention his guard llama and a few alpacas)

We got to go into his workshop, where we got a tour that included a completed loom, spinning wheels in various phases of completion, his wall of spindle rings and drawers and drawers of spindle tops. (sorry, no pics I feel able to share. I wouldn't want to see my half done wheel on someone else's blog)

Once we were done in the shop, we went up to their studio where K and I got to wander through a forest of spindles (none of which had been at Rhinebeck, those were still packed)

Now, I've been spinning for three years or so and I have NEVER been able to get a consistent yarn with a drop spindle. I've gotten so discouraged that I didn't even go to Golding's booth at Rhinebeck this year. Meanwhile, as K was having fun trying out spindles (she just learned to spin), it was suggested that I try it.

I tried it with a lace/fingering weight spindle.

I loved it.

It came home with me.

That is all. Munchkin was quite jealous.

Rhinebeck is over...

what's a girl to do? Well, K and I packed up the car and headed north. We eventually ended up in Manchester, Vermont and decided to look for a place to stay. (and yes, the song from Hair has been going through my head for weeks).

We ended up at a nice bed and breakfast a bit out of town. Town itself was rather expensive. Seems that Orvis has a fly fishing school there, there are outlets where the sale items start at $150 for a 3x4 change purse and a resort.

What did we do? Besides a bunch of relaxing? I started spinning up one of my mystery bumps, K finished off her gator scarf and we went wandering.

Our first day of wandering led to a nice little yarn shop where I didn't get anything but K was drooling over the loom she had set up.

Our second day of wandering led up north and we found the most amazing and friendly yarn shop where this came home with me.

It's mink! well, okay, it's only 70% mink, the rest is cashmere. Whatever it becomes will be worn next to my skin... hmmmm.

Our third day of wandering, wasn't so much wandering as it was amazing. That was the day that I got to participate in an intro to falconry (though I used a hawk). Sooooo cool!

Meet Tavish.

We interupt...

the yarn frenzy to say:

@whee!!!!!!!!

The blanket from h*** is done (well, okay, I have a few ends to weave in.. but still)

Pics will be forth coming.. the blanket is a deep purple and it is dark out.

Last of the Rhinebeck Haul

I can't keep posting one skein a day.. I don't know about you, but I want to see it all... and I want it all now :)

Today, my haul from Brook's Farm. I didn't get there till lunch time on Saturday and the orphan racks had been pretty picked over at that point.

First up.. their superwash worsted weight wool. Soon to be a new pair of heavy duty winter socks. My last pair is wearing wonderfully.

Next up.. two skeins of Solo Silk (50/50 wool/silk). These are actually matching skeins (same dye lot and everything), so these will probably become a shawl.

Final up.. I was going for as much solo silk as I could find, but there was very little left. Another skein of solo silk, this one will probably be a scarf.

There is one more skein of solo silk, but it is meant for someone else.. if I could find her address. Hey J.. send me your addy??

STR part two

I thought to save a bit of time, I'd just post the other two STR skeins together.

I truly have no idea which colorway these were supposed to be.

I thought this one might be Fire on the Mountain but I'm not so sure.

Either way, more socky goodness... as soon as I knit them up.

Halloween..

I was all ready to do this great Halloween post.. I even took pictures of my candy bowl before I went outside to hand out candy.

Turns out.. this year was a bust. The town allows trick or treating from 6-8pm. It was a nice night, I took Munchkin outside and sat next to the bowl of candy. I even managed to fill my bobbin. What I didn't do was give away all my candy.

It was mostly younger kids, I don't remember seeing a single teenager.

Oh well, lots of candy for work.

Which color to buy?

Notice anything about the two pictures??? Apparently, I really like blues and browns. It didn't dawn on me till I saw them together (after buying them) that I think I got the same color in the two different weights. One has more blue, but that might be what makes them mill ends. I think they might be "The Witching Hour". The lightweight seems to match that colorway more than the medium.

Okay, forget all that... a bit more research onto Blue Moon's site leads me to believe that the lightweight is "The Witching Hour" and the medium weight is "Strange Brew". Guess I didn't buy two of the same ones after all.

Close up of The Witching Hour