it's not me, I swear....

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9268970/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=news

I don't live in that area....13 thousand in yarn, _wow_!

They must be more trusting in that area. Here, we have the clerks that look at a 20 dollar bill as if the ink was still wet and Bugs Bunny was on the front of it.

Could these women claim some sort of "yarn acqusition syndrome" for this crime?

some scraps

The Sheep & Wool festival was _great_ but amazingly crowded. I was in the fairgrounds when they announced the opening (9am) and I was surprised so many people were there already. I had wanted to get the 2006 t-shirt, but the line was too long. That's okay because I can get it online.

There is a wonderful array of yarns available at S&W. Not just wool, but other yarns that various yarn shops from over the US bring - believe it or not, I only bought _4_ skeins of yarn, 2 were Bernat's Baby Coordinates and 2 I forget the brand name - one is a royal blue with bits of different colors in the yarn & the other one is a daffodil yellow, again with bits of different colors. Now there was a _lot_ more I could have purchased but I didn't.*

Interweave Press was there, giving free kits and infor on spinning yarn. I was going to pick up a kit, but the lady before me took the last two. Oh well. I probably wouldn't spin yarn anyway. Yarn Barn of Kansas , Wild Meadow Angora and the Horse Brooch folks were there, along with a ton of other people. I honestly don't go to watch them shear the sheep, but you can't help seeing (and hearing) the sheep. There were angora bunnies, alpacas and of course, sheep for sale.

But what did I spend my money on, if not yarn? Good question. I find the S&W vendors will often have a book for sale before it shows up at the local bookstore or Amazon. I don't know why or how they do it, but they do. I got a book about the buillion stitch (sp?) by Prudence Mapstone. I am quite happy with it, haven't done anything besides look at it yet, but still quite cool. I also bought a pair of earrings that had pewter balls of yarn as the charm.

The baby afghan was a big hit, tho the younger folks called it "psychdelic". More "op art", I think but my neice was quite happy with it, so I was happy. I made a blue & white turtle to go with the afghan for the new baby and mad a blue & green turtle for Payton (her first child). I really liked the 12 point ripple and it really worked up fast. Here's the website for the pattern, in case I forgot to mention it before
http://project-angel-kisses.150m.com/roundripple.html

It's very much like the kit in the Mary Maxim catalog. I had considered buying the kit, but I really just wanted the pattern.

Currently I am working on lion filet curtains for my dining room. It will just be 2 panels. I plan to alternate working on the panels, 10 rows on one, than 10 on the other - I think it will be easier for me that way. The total height of the panel is (I think) 51 rows. Since it will be used as a tier, it should work out well. I intend to crochet an edge around it. I havent's decided what type of edge yet. I am using the picture from the book, it's just a chart and no instructions are given. I am using sports weight white acrylic. It won't achieve the lacy effect that thread would have , but my wrist protests when I work with thread. I think it will be pretty cool when it's finished, but why wouldn't I? It's my project.

After I finish the panels, I plan on making the world's ugliest sox. I have the yarn - a Red Heart sport weight that probably should be used for a kilt. The colors clash (okay, they fight violently) so I think it will be neat to do a pair of sox with it. It will probaly make my eyes tear up - oh wait, that's just allergies. I've made 1 pair of sox before, with the Lion Brand Thick and Quick. I painted that fabric paint on it, let it dry thoroughly and gave it to my older sister as a pair of bootie sox. She really liked them because she's diabetic, has big feet and it's hard for her to find something like that in her size.

That's it for today.


* The day before, I had found and tossed a box of yucky yarn in my shed. It was entirely my fault the yarn went moldy. It was on top of a tote, not covered with anything and apparently the shed is not watertight. The yarn in the plastic totes was fine.



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It's sheep & wool week:)

Yes, my friends, one of the most eagerly anticipated days (outside of half price chocolate day and the "moonlight madness" sales) is coming up. The Maryland Sheep and Wool festival is this coming weekend.
http://www.sheepandwool.org/

This is one of the coolest (if not _the_coolest) fiber events. There's no admission, so all your money can go to yarn or yarn accessories or even buying rovings if you want. You can just walk around and gaze at the beautiful yarn, pet the sheep and see people spin angora yarn right off the bunny's back. This is the event I have been trying to save my nickels for, so I can blow it there. Last year I didn't find much of anything, but I wasn't in the proper frame of mind to actually be there. My younger sister was dying (in fact, she died the next day) and it's hard to even consider yarn when your heart is elsewhere.

They generally have alpacas, goats and llamas as well as sheep and bunnies. If you are so inclined, you can purchase the animals to get the yarn right at the source;) I won't, because I don't have room for any more animals. But I will look closely at the angora bunnies. Luckily I have one at home and that will stop me from getting another one. (No, I have never spun his fur. I keep thinking I will, but I'm just lying to myself.)

I will be at the festival with my younger son. My beloved hubby will be out of town, taking a class that day. It will definitely be different with my son, because Craig will just wander worund with me. I hope Will has that much patience, we'll see.

I am hoping to catch up with a few folks I only see there now. I will be wearing a large yellow straw hat, I think they call it a "picture" hat, so if you see a middle aged woman with a big yellow hat digging thru the yarn, it's a good chance it's me. I have nothing specific in mind that I am looking for, I probably shouldn't even buy any more yarn. But I'll be there, buying yarn anyway;) The hand painted yarns are amazing to look at, so far I can't part with the bucks to buy a skein. There's lots of different yarn (than what you see locally) and you have a good chance of finding something to tickle your fancy.

They also have items that are knit / woven / crocheted out of wool on display. The judges are very strict. The comments on the garments tell you exactly what the judges found good or bad about the item. Most of the time, I can see why some things are not the first prize winners. One comment surprised me was that the item "smelled of cigarette smoke". I don't smoke and in the open, you can't really identify a smell, but apparently the judges could. It was a shame, too, because it was a beautiful shawl.

I have finished the 12 point round ripple and a turtle to go with it. I am debating whether to make a turtle for the future older sibling. Since the baby shower is for the new baby, I don't know. I could probably make one fairly quick if I quit goofing off and get to work. hmmmmm



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