Another Sheep & Wool Fest Done and Gone!

The day of set up dawned clear and sunny. I was up early and saw the first light highlighting Audrey's sheep next door. The apple tree was full of blossoms and I knew this was going to be a terrific weekend.

We unload my 80 crates packed to the brim (expertly by Anne) and started arranging them. I brought the most yarn ever.

Anne busted some moves on the table.

Anne and Bev in some heavy discussion about world events or my slubby yarn, not sure.

After 6 hours of arranging and rearranging crates, samples, baskets and stuff, we stepped back and admired our set up. I called it "The Amphitheater of Color"! A total surround of deep, rich colors for the senses.

Nuno felt scarf kits aplenty

The end of the day….notice the bottle of wine and glasses!~

As dusk set in, we hauled our tired butts home, ready for a good night's rest.

Another beautiful day. Cool weather, clear skies, and no wind make for perfect yarn selling weather. 

Anne donned her hand spun, hand knit skirt and the darling little cardi that Audrey finished at the last minute! I picked it up on my way to the fairgrounds. I had asked her the week before if she could knit something out of my new yarn, Shimmy, by the weekend and she of course took on the challenge. 

One of my customers carrying her 'bouquet' of colorful yarns. Look how nicely they coordinate with her outfit.

And a mom with her darling little girl holding up some slubby to see if it goes with that blond hair. Yep!

I brought my newly made felt vest as an example of what one can do with felting and this customer asked how much it was. Well, I hadn't thought of selling it as I hadn't even had a chance to wear it, but what the heck….I'll make another one.

She was thrilled and I was happy that she was happy.

This was a unique and clever way to carry bags of fleeces.

There was much hanging out, yarn bombing of trees, spinning, knitting and of course yarn talk.

Anne was part of the Sheep to Shawl contest where a shearer shears the sheep, a team of four cards the wool locks, three people spin the yarn and one person weaves. This team is called Harley's Angels because the sheep's name was Harley. 

Here is the finished scarf which won FIRST PLACE! Way to go Angels!

Here's part of my team…Claire, Anne and Natalie. Michele helped out on Saturday but since she was going to Australia for four months in a couple days, I thought she could use some time getting ready. And of course Bev helped set up on Friday. Without my Dancing Leaf Farm team, I couldn't do it.

All packed up, ready to say good bye to another successful Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!

Sheep & Wool Here We Come!

The morning started out beautiful and stayed true to spring weather all day long. Finally, after all the rain we had this week, it dried out and everything is in bloom and happy to see the sunshine.

It's a big move day and Grace had packed the trailer to the limit.

We couldn't even fit it all in the trailer and my truck so Anne had to come over with her van and we loaded that up too.

We hauled it all to the Howard County Fairgrounds where the Maryland Sheep & Wool Fest takes place. Luckily, it's less than an hour away from the farm. 

The booth started to take shape. We placed about 80 crates of yarn into place.

Anne had to show us her dance moves when she was on the tables. There was a pole nearby which she decided NOT to use.

I really couldn't believe how much yarn we had when we put it all together. 

It's been spread all over my house, basement, studio, outdoors for so long that I had no idea it would amount to so much.

But we put it all in place and I think we're ready for the onslaught tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing my fiber friends and meeting new ones. 

After our vendor dinner, we loaded our tired bodies up, said bye bye to the fairgrounds and traveled home for some wine and hot tub time. Much deserved I might add.

River Run Shawl

My neighbor and Knitter Extraordinaire finished this shawl last week, just in time for the Maryland Sheep & Wool Fest. It's the River Run Shawl pattern available on Ravelry. 

It's knit with one skein of my 'Biggie' yarn and one skein of Hustle for the trim.

The color we chose is Briar Patch, a blend of dark green, aubergine and fuscia with 

Sorta Solid Fuscia trim.

Biggie…6 different yarns, chosen for their texture and how they take the dye.

Crunch Time

We are down to the wire now. This Saturday & Sunday is the Maryland Sheep & Wool Fest and we are bringing a heapalottabuncha fiber! Anne is labeling, organizing, packing and keeping me in line. 

She packs crates like a pro. Samba alpaca yarn is ready for ya!

Michele is upstairs in the studio measuring fiber, putting kits together, packaging silk and doing every task I ask of her with a smile.

The studio is such a mess right now, but it's gotta get messy before it gets better. I'm taking nearly everything in the studio, so it's going to look like storm hit soon.

Trapper was exhausted just looking at us run around.

 Baloo was right by my side all day, waiting for the next load to be put on the fence.

I filled up nearly the entire fence with freshly dyed yarn and roving.

Until it started to rain. We rushed out there and gathered up all the yarn and I could hardly see Michele!

Now that's a LOT of color! 

I'll be posting more of the fabulous people that make up the team at Dancing Leaf Farm.