so, I spent the day at Maryland Sheep & Wool. lots going on.

We started the day at The Fold, where I resisted the siren call of the Socks that Rock. I did not resist the fiber they had though.

The purple is a 50/50 silk/merino blend and the black is one of the Raven colors of a sheep to shoe.

Then we passed by the Merlin Tree’s booth, and I sat down to play with a Hitchhiker wheel. It’s a cute wheel, but the treadling is very different from what I am used to. Definitely takes some getting used to.

I also wanted to get some fiber that’s a bit less common. I could not resist the Jacob wool.

I had a hard time picking which color combo to get. (in the end, I chose a small 1oz ball of a brown & white).

Here’s one of the Jacob sheep that was hiding behind the booth.

at some point, I ran into a bunch of knittyboard folks - Trillian, Turtlegirl, alerievay, monkeemaven, bezzie, and I’m probably forgetting someone. (it’s late. I’ll link people later.) and then we kept bumping into them throughout the day too.

I bought some more lesser known wools (after resisting a bunch in between)

and then we kind of called it quits for the day. (but not before stumbling on an awesome sheep artist. go check out her work.)

after a bit of dinner, we headed over to the Ravelry shindig. alas, I did not win any of the awesome door prizes, but I did meet a few people and it was fun.

off to bed now, so I can decide if there was anything I can’t live without that I passed up today…

DSCF6228, originally uploaded by criosa.

I finished this a couple weeks ago (I’m just slow to get the photo up).

Beaded handspun, from this.

here’s a close-up:

(my license plates are from Louisiana this time around. I am nowhere near Louisiana though. the car in the lot next to mine was a convertible. I got a little excited for a moment.)

I can almost smell the wool fumes, even though I’m an hour away.

I think the Loopy Ewe is in cahoots with Jimmy Johns. I placed my first order with them on Thursday afternoon, and the box was in my hands with Saturday’s mail. damn, that was quick!

here’s what I ordered:

Lone Star Arts Superwash Merino
color: Cricket

The Dyeing Arts Superwash Merino
color: Duos - Little Umbrellas

it’s cool - the Duos are two separate colorways. here’s what they look like separated

…

I have been spinning. today I worked on the beaded yarn. I went from this (spun earlier this month):

to this:

if the beads look familiar, they’re the same ones I used on Lilin’s socks and mom’s Mrs Beeton’s.

next up: plying it with the other bobbin.

I’ve also got the natural dyed coopworth that I bought at Shepherd’s harvest last year in progress. I’m thinking I need more of Stephania’s fibers this year.

Yeah, it’s been a crazy weekend. The fun started on Thursday when I braved the elements to go see the Yarn Harlot (again). Once again, I missed the dinner meet-up before the show, and I was a bit late getting there, so I ended up sitting upstairs in the balcony. The pre-show entertainment by the VonYarnery Family Singers was great (search it out on YouTube - a few people have uploaded videos), Stephanie was great, and it was an overall blast. (There was even thunder snow. Totally bizarre. Totally cool.) The drive home, on the other hand, was craptacular.

Friday was a day of rest, of sorts.

Saturday was the Guild’s Yarnover event. I spent the morning shopping and had my photo taken for Franklin’s 1000 Knitters Project. In the afternoon, I took the Celtic Cables class with Melissa Leapman. Great class, I can’t wait for her next book in October, and I think I got some mojo back for working on the GAAAA.

samples made in the Celtic cables class

I didn’t buy yarn! Jennie the potter has a new mug style - raining yarn. perfect, and the colors match my stash! got a second mug for my sister, and the elephant pin is for her too. and I couldn’t resist the fiber.

and a couple photos courtesy of Mary Lou Egan: