I must be honest, I kind of dread the post-festival blog post. It is just such a sensory overload and even one day after, it kind of feels like a dream – a sweet fibery dream – of meeting amazing online friends and seeing beautiful animals and the lovely yarns. And after four years of attendance (and subsequently blogging about it), I always feel like I am going to forget something or someone.
As you might expect, I took a few photos - but not nearly as many as I planned. I was pretty busy handling yarns and hugging people. For the full set of MDSW 2008 photos, go here. Here are some highlights:
Amazing people: Isel, Jenna, and Kate. I met so many people that my mind is a little dizzy. Long-time blog friends (so many many many many more!) and some new(er) Ravelry and Flickr friends alike. I was thrilled to meet everyone!
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So many beautiful animals! The sheep breeds are probably the most ubiquitous animals at the festival, but it is common to see the goats, llamas, alpacas, and (sometimes) bunnies too. Amazing coincidence: this handsome llama is actually owned by my old friend that I used to work with (in my first year of knitting!) We reconnected at the festival when I was up in her llama’s face taking photos! It was amazing to see Holly again! (remember Holly? she helped me overcome my fear of DPNs so many years ago!)
YARN! oh my gosh. I bought a lot. I really need to work on this attachment to material objects philosophy. It seems to get me every year around this time. I enhanced the stash, as they say. Surprisingly, I did not buy any sock yarn this year. A big step, considering that that has been the bulk of my purchases in previous years. Nope, this year it was all about sweater yarns, and some drapey luxury fibers for elegant accessories. My companions bought a few things too; I am sure they will be talking about them very soon!
[Click here for details about each skein]
It was not clear to me until I saw them all grouped together, that this year’s yarns are not my traditional color palette. You may have noticed that I tend to group around certain colors, namely blues/violets, pinks/reds, and greens. I also love brown, and have a lot in my stash, but not as many FOs in that particular color yet. However, this year seems to be all about neutrals, or subtler shades of my usual choices. Maybe it is a subconscious nod to the upcoming Project Spectrum AIR element with the grays and whites? I got some very unique things this year – namely the beautiful handspun yarns from the Navajo Churro Cooperative. The natural colors and wonderful texture of the yarn was enough to put them in my bag! I also ran into some fabulous deals that were too good to pass up(Fingerlakes Wool and The Fibre Company). I splurged for the linen up top, but I figure the stuff will last forever (if they found it in Egyptian tombs…) I was also very happy to see the Botanical Shades booth again this year – I used their indigo dyed alpaca blend for my Aftur pullover, and this lovely grass green will make an amazing garment as well.
Saturday’s weather started out a little gloomy, but the day brightened up and actually got a little warm. I got a minor sunburn, even when rocking the SPF 45. Sunday, always my favorite day to attend, was milder weather-wise and crowd-wise. Mom, Jenna, and I had a lovely relaxed time. We even got to sample some goat and sheep cheeses, drink some lemonade, and try one of the yummy dip ice cream cones. At the end of the day, we sat out and reflected on the experience. We smiled with contentment… one of those tired genuine smiles after a great day.
The real highlight of this year’s festival was observing the very real success of Ravelry in a relatively short time period. I joined Ravelry in it’s infancy, and it has grown into such an amazing community. Casey, Jess, and Mary-Heather (and all the volunteers!) have poured so much of themselves into it, and we all reap the benefits in the form of the website and the activities surrounding it. For this, I am so grateful. Maybe a little less knitting since I find it so hard to click away from the forums, but no less gratifying or enriching! There was a festival meetup for Ravelers, as well as a wonderful post-festival Ravelry party at one of the local hotels.
I had met Jess several times at previous festivals, and it was wonderful to see her again. This time, I got to meet Casey and Mary-Heather too. They were the stars of the show! Mary-Heather and I have corresponded for years, and I was so happy to finally meet her! …and Kris (who came to the party with me! surprise!) chatted with Casey and met so many of my online friends. I think he was surprised that he was recognized a few times as well!
Mary-Heather and I were all smiles!
We stayed at the party and witnessed the way that Ravelry has touched the community. Everyone was so friendly and excited to be a part of it! I met so many nice people, and reconnected with some old friends as well. I don’t have the time to link to everyone, and my memory may fail… but know that I was very happy to see you!
…and now, back to real life… the fiber event of the year has come and gone, once again.
It was so sweet while it lasted!
It was GREAT to see you again and thank you for giving me such a sweet mention in your blog. Quinn doesn’t actually belong to me, but to our sister farm Eden View Llamas. We work together and between us have a HUGE herd of llamas as well as my suri alpacas. He is a beauty, isn’t he? All of those spots! We thought he would be the perfect llama to show off at the festival on Sunday.
Anyway, I would love to see you again sometime soon. It has been far too long since the days of laughing in the lunch room and struggling with those toothpick needles…
wow what a great time!! love all your pics – i’m totally living vicariously through you
I’m so envious – getting to be there surrounded by so much good stuff. Your sense of being overwhelmed really comes through here – people, yarn, connections….a huge weekend. Glad it went so well.
I wish we could have gone to the Ravelry party!
Yay!!! What a fun time. Too bad we didn’t get to hang out more. We really need to plan ahead next year!
Thanks for taking us with you to MDSW. It was the next best thing to being there. Looks like a great time that will keep you smiling for some time to come.
Fabulous pictures, L!! Looks like it was a great time and I love the fiber colors that you chose this year. So happy for Jess and Casey – they really put a lot of hard work into Ravelry and I, for one, and thrilled with it!!
I meant to write “am thrilled with it.” Need. more. coffee.
Thanks for the MDSW update, you obviously enjoyed all of the fibery goodness there is to be had. The yarns you bought are beautiful are they all for knitting or are some for weaving?
I only made it to the festival for a few hours on Saturday; it’s too bad we didn’t run into each other. Glad you had fun.
Beautiful fiber, weather, and friends. What could be better?
Amy
It looks like you had a wonderful time! I’m thrilled for you. Wish I could have been at the Ravparty!
Hi Lolly, it was great to meet up with you, even for a short time! Your pictures are really impressive, I can see how you’ve gotten into your photography!
oh, so sorry I missed you! but you definitely had a great festival. And the yarn!! I will live vicariously through your purchases.
It was great seeing you!! Awesome pics!!
Looks like a wonderful time. I’m hoping to get there one of these days!
Now, the important question: did you get home in time on Sunday to see the game?
Wow, what a fun time! So much to see, buy, and do! I’ll bet the Ravelry party was especially great.
I’m so glad I had a chance to meet you on Saturday! I wish I could have made it to the Ravelry party too, but that might have been sensory overload. You picked out some beautiful yarn. I stuck mostly to sock yarn this year. I’m sure I bought enough to keep me busy til the next festival and beyond! Now that we have figured out we are nearly neighbors, I hope we can get together sometime, for knitting or hockey purposes.
–Amy
It was great to meet you. I wish i’d made it to the Ravelry events but there’s only so much you can fit in in one day – especially when you spend most of it on lines. Ugh! In the past we always went on Sundays and I think I prefer that. It’s still fun but a bit less crowded.
I loved your recap of the festival! I also enjoyed learning that when you first moved here you didnt know how to knit yet – gives me hope that one day I’ll move beyond knitting and purling, be able to read patterns, and more importantly learn to knit socks! This year was my first festival and I had a great time!
So great seeing you, as always!!
Thanks for all your kind words about our party and Ravelry in general- you are the best.
as usual, your photos are great! it looks like you had a fabulous time and scored a lot of great stuff!
I’m going to say it again (as you could probably go back to your post from last year and see the same comment from me)….next year. I will be there.
Hopefully.
You’re photos are beautiful. I especially love the sheep.
Looks like such a fun event!
Meeting you was definitely a highlight! Now I can read your blog and associate the sound of your voice! Oh, wait, that sounds a little stalker-ish.
Anyway, you got some great yarn, and I can’t wait to see what you create with it.
Looks like a great weekend! I definitely have to try and make it next year.
Sounds like a fantastic time! Oh I am so so jealous of all the yarn purchases I’m seeing pop up in my flickr contacts… Your pictures make me feel like I was there though, thanks!
Such a fantastic event, almost like old home week!
Lolly, you pics make it look like so much fun! I’m glad you had a good time. I hope someday I’ll live closer to fiber festivals. I’m so jealous of all you guys that can go!
I love that photo of you and Mary Heather. You guys are adorable in your glasses
Ahh, stash acquisition! I love your picks and can’t wait to see what you do with them. You don’t need to feel guilty because you actually use your stash – I instead have them holed up in a rubbermaid container, hidden from sight because they make me feel bad when I look at them.
what a great report and beautiful pictures.
It was so great to meet you! I’d love to get together and have a cup-of-one’s-choosing and hang out sometime.
great pictures.. sorry i missed seeing you there. Maybe you could enter the photo contest next time.
Great recap! It really sounds like you had a wonderful time. I hope to be able to attend one day… I’d be delighted to get to meet you!
Nicely done! Thanks for the post-fandango pleasures. As you so ably show, it comes down to the folks, the four-leggeds, and the fiber! For me, seeing you–several times!–on the fairgrounds was a highlight. See you soon!
Too bad I missed you! I was there on Sunday afternoon. Next year I will have to take part in the Ravelry activities. Looks like fun and great to meet everyone!
I am sooo jealous! It sounds like everyone had so much fun! I’m going to try my hardest to go next year – maybe I’ll see you there!
You’re so right, it is a sensory overload! I couldn’t believe how quickly it passed, and how it seems so far away already! I don’t know if I thanked you adequately for your hospitality and lovely companionship, but it was so wonderful as usual. Let’s do it again some time soon xoxo
As for the stash, you’re an artist and you need your materials to create. Most of that was an amazing deal, so you were really SAVING money, not spending it.
Ravelry definitely added a fun dimension to the festival. I hope their presence there will continue to grow.
I love post festival blog posts. I can vicariously enjoy the thrill of being there. Especially this festival. I look forward to reading your posts:)
It looks like it was a blast Lolly, and like you had enough fun for both of us! I wish I’d been there, but maybe we can meet up soon somewhere else local.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun at the festival. At the last minute, I had to back out and was admitted into the hospital. I am gearing for next year.
My brother lives in DC; I clearly have to time my annual visits to coincide with MD Sheep & Wool! I loved reading your report.