Oct 02 2006
Crafty Bastards!
Last year's Crafty Bastards festival was a real blast, and despite a very busy schedule this year (read: school work and afternoon study group) I made it down for the last two hours of the festival. I met up with my dear friend Jenna, and made my first pit stop at the Woolarina booth. I bought the Woolarina yarn for my Pomegranate Pullover at last year's Crafty Bastards, so I figured I should wear my Pom for the "full circle" effect!
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It was great to see Paula and Kate's lovely new handspun and handpainted yarns. Paula shows off some of her handspun and Sarah (who we also met up with at the Woolarina booth, just back from her Africa trip) shows off some more Woolarina handpaints.
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I bought some handpainted sock yarns (are you surprised?) and Jenna got some amazing handspun that she has been admiring for weeks… it worked out quite perfectly.
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Jenna and I were quite attracted to the bespectacled Mr. Pickle doll.
We met Sprite from Sprite Writes and also met Rania from GoshDarnKnit. She had her own booth featuring her amazing printmaking artwork and illustration. It was a pleasure to meet these other local bloggers!
I learned about Rania's work through my good friend Heather. Heather worked with Rania earlier in the year for the banner illustrations on the top of her blog. I have admired it so many times – such a great scene of Heather and her daughter 
It was a lovely day for a festival, I am just glad I made it there after my study group meeting. And, I helped support local crafters and artists with my purchases…
The cropped blazer was a little splurge… it was beautifully designed and sewn by one of the vendors, and I just loved it at first sight! Surprisingly, it fit as well! I also bought a necklace, some pins, some postcards, an eyeglasses case, some printed ornaments, and some handmade soaps.
Of course, what you really wanna see…
400 yards each of the green/turquoise blend (dyed by Paula) and the dark jewel tones (dyed by Kate)
New sock yarn was the way I celebrated the first day of Socktoberfest! 
Stay tuned for an overdue Socktoberfest opportunities post – there are a lot of side projects that you can get involved with! It is great to see that the original idea is morphing into something of a phenomenon!
**We passed the 1500 participant mark this morning! This is a REAL festival!**
It looks like you had a great time and you definitely got some gorgeous stuff. I can’t believe there are so many participants in Socktoberfest. That is amazing.
I’m so jealous. I almost hopped in my car and drove down from Ohio… maybe next year. Looks like you got some great merchandise! I’m hoping to see Woolarina at a festival up this way soon
Ohh it sounds like so much fun!! I wish that Northern Jersey had more of these events!!! I love it all – and you’re looking great, Lolly!
Please add me to the jealous list. It looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time, and Mr. Pickle is just the cutest.
The blazer looks so fab! I love the colors. Enjoy all the yummy purchases
that green yarn is so beautiful!
Looks like it was lots of fun!
That’s quite the haul you’ve got there! Remind me to invite you to the next art festival that I participate in.
The jacket is really cute – it has that pink/brown combo that’s so attractive (and I know you like!)
I was looking forward to the Crafty Bastards fair but ended up going to the Takoma Park Street Fair instead due to its proximity to a family thing I had to do. Lots of crafty things on sale as well, but no handpainted yarns (or giant stuffed pickles with glasses). Sounds like you had lots of fun and picked up some great finds!
Yay, how fun! Fabulous Socktoberfest sock yarn celebration purchases!
That woolarina yarn is yummy! I wish she’d update her online shop. I may just have to make a purchase
Oh the festival looked like so much fun and the yarn you bought is beautiful!! Happy Socktober!
What a fun afternoon! Love your haul, especially the blazer, it will look so cute on you!
1500 Socktoberfest participants, incredible!
Remember, you can link to any of my tutorials and/or patterns if you want!
Holy crap. 1500 people? Ummmmmm maybe you shouldn’t tell everyone about my dealio……ACK!
We had such a fun time, weee. I miss Mr. Pickle already! All of your purchases were so lovely. The picture doesn’t even capture how pretty the dark sock yarn is. As my grandmother used to say, enjoy them in good health.
I love that Mr. Pickle. He’s fuzzy and green, just like Kermit!
*Sigh* Socktoberfest. My goodness, that’s a lot of people. Sign me up, Lolly, please!
So so fun! The sock yarn is beautiful!
Ah, looks like a lot of fibery fun!
your day sounds like so much fun! passed 1500! wow. imagine if we join forces on something other than socks, we could change the world one stitch at a time…
I’m so jealous! Why don’t they have events like this near me? Why?! Why?! Why?!
Sure looks like you had a great time! Was the weather as perfect as it looks in your pictures? I love that blazer… and the yarn? YUM!
ps. Happy Socktober!
How did I miss that there would be prizes in Soctoberfest? Cool! We’re happy to donate for this, if you’d like to email me. I couldn’t find a way to email you personally via the blog.
yay for crafty bastards! so much fun!!
thanks for coming!!
ps: I might temporarily steal a photo! hope it’s ok…
pps: updating on the way…
Oooh, purdy sock yarn!
The Pom still looks faboo
So sad that I missed Crafty Bastards. Maybe next year. I love the yarn that you bought – especially the green/turquoise.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! The jewel-toned Woolarina yarn… I did not buy it, knowing that I was coming back to the booth later, thinking, “If it’s still there, then it is my destiny to own it.” To my resigned chagrin, the yarn was GONE when I got back. Now I know what happened to it! Don’t worry, I made off with plenty of yarn anyway. I even brought some to work to show everyone why I drove all the way up to DC.
So sorry to have missed you at Crafty B’s. It was so crowded I was trying not to crash into people, too busy to look around for familiar faces.
Honey, of course that jacket fits, you’re skinny! When you turned sideways at knit night last night I almost couldn’t find you!
You look so cute in your new hoodie with Mr. Pickle! I’m very jealous that you got to go to such a cool craft fair. Hopefully my Oktoberfest plans will work out and I can have a fun adventure (even if there is no fiber!)