I am really behind on my posting.  Maryland has been flogged blogged nearly to death.  Everyone knows who was there, what was bought and how much fun it was.  So.. in a  nutshell:
I arrived (after flying to Pittsburgh Wednesday and driving 3 1/2 hrs Friday, with my sister and the finished Vine Lace Cardi) at the festival in the afternoon to scope out purchases that should be made first thing Saturday and buy what I wanted and could Friday BEFORE the 75,000 +/- crowds descended.  Here’s why.

Easy right?  I knew from last year, that by this time this year, a certain Wensleydale breeder (in this country) would probably have a black fleece.  That was my first buy.  I’ve never processed Wensleydale so only bought a bit to try.  I washed it before getting back on a flight with it and packed it still damp.  Somehow I could NOT bring myself to pack that smelly thing in with my clothes and carry-on seemed out of the question.  As soon as I get the carder free of while Montadale, I’ll test spin a bit.  Next stop, the souvenir booth for a bag, a pin, and a set of note cards.  This year’s logo knocked my socks off.  Then, down to the Mannings.  I didn’t buy anything really special here, some sock yarn and a 32" addi for a magic loop sock.  I tried it out on a 24" I had and figured I’d enjoy the process more with a longer needle.  Then… ah yes!!! Dinner with the exhibitors.  It’s not the cold cut picnic food that I love, but the company (and the wagon filled with ice and beer).  Everyone is excited, loads of expectations, and shepards busy getting their animals fair ready beautiful umm… cleaned up.

There have been so many pictures of the crowds and the fiber, that I’ll just post these three.  The llama with the mostest:

and one of the prize winning entries in Felting.  Absolutely fantastic!!

this should be good for a few new ideas..

I’ve chosen my travel projects.  I’ve got a ball of Opal and the pattern for Pomatomus.  In my head I carry the basic sock pattern.  Anything goes.  I also wound up two balls of silk in my Verdigris colorway.  400 yds are plenty to start a shawl, if I need more (like I’ll get THAT far), it’ll have to wait until I get back.  I’m still thinking the Adagio shawl.  As I wound the balls, (you know that you can NOT wind silk into a decent ball on a ball winder, right?) I used the sewn method of the Russain join to eliminate all the tied ends in each skein.  Perfect.  One continuous strand of yarn.  I’ll Russian join the yarn from each skein to the next as I change them, too.  All it took was a large sewing needle.  What a great, simple method.  I worried over it up and until I did the first one.

That’s it for now.  See you along the way. 

This week is pretty well down to the wire, so to speak.  While most of you have until  Friday to get yourselves ready for MDS$W, I’m leaving Wednesday morning.  My trip there is circuitous, first stop a visit with my family, then Friday a road trip through the mountains to Maryland with my sister.  What to take… I need a new easy to travel with project.  Socks, you say.  But what pattern?  Two circs or Dps?  A simple stockinette stitch or something that makes the trip go faster?  And, who wants JUST one project on a trip, how about a little something else.  I’ve got the Adagio shawl in mind.  In silk.  I’ve been getting my patterns downsized, maybe I should put them in a pdf. file.  SO much to think about. 

I will be wearing the Vine Lace.  I blocked her today, well sort of, I soaked and spread her out to dry.  Looking at the long range forecast, the lace alpaca should feel pretty good.

It’s too rainy to stand outside, and cool,thus the red long sleeved tee underneath.  Hardly a glam shot.

I managed to dye a batch of singles while waiting for the billing to print.  I think this color will be Parrot.  Cheerful, seasonal, and it reminds me a lot of a parakeet I one had as a pet.

and Ooohhh… my orchids!!  they are blooming like crazy!