Sunday, October 19, 2008

Aftermath: Part 1

I've got blog fodder for several days here, people, so today's post will be all about the day Kate-the-Enabler and I spent at the Sheep and Wool Festival rather than on what we actually BOUGHT. That'll be for next time. Yeah, I know, I'm evil. Deal with it :)

After a delicious night of uninterrupted sleep (something we're both in a position to appreciate right now), we had a colossal breakfast and made our way to the Fairgrounds. I was briefly shaken when I met Christine(?), toting the same fabulous ClutterBags market bag that I was, but I managed to keep it together.

Undeterred by my doppelgänger, we made our way bravely onwards. We were on a mission, people. Codename: Briar Rose Fibers.

By this time the Fairgrounds had only been open for about 45 minutes, and the booth was PACKED. I won't go into details now, but suffice it to say that when I arrived at the register I revised my plan of "only paying for my purchases with cash" ('cause, you know, then I would have had nothing left). Kate ALSO bought yarn for 2 projects. I was very proud of her.

After that initial shock, we wandered around for a while. We looked at yarn. We petted the animals. I may have made a few more purchases. Kate bonded with a rabbit and seriously considered whether or not it would constitute an acceptable pet for a 3 and almost 1 year old.

I successfully restrained myself from buying the cutest darned little felted gnomes you ever saw in your life.

They were just adorable!!!

And besides, I had sock yarn to buy. Oh right, I wasn't going to buy sock yarn at Rhinebeck. Oh well, so much for THAT resolution!

By this point it was midday and we were a little shell-shocked, so we decided to retreat to the car and just sit and knit and regroup for a while (it was cold out there!). I ripped out all 1 and a half inches of the sock I had in progress and immediately cast on for a new pair, and Kate worked on Gale.

When we went back in, we bumped into none other than the lovely and talented Ann Hanson herself. And guess what? She was wearing Cluaranach, just like me. We were twins!

Kate got her to touch her Gale (wow, that sounded a bit dirtier than I thought it would...)

We even scored an invite to the "cool knitters" party being hosted by Chris from Briar Rose (more on that later). All in all, I'd say this was a Festival highlight. She was delightful, as was her lovely and fabulously fashionable friend Kim (I loved her coat).

After making our second trip of the day at the Shelridge Farm booth (OK, Kate's second, my first), we ran into Michelle from The Sweet Sheep.

And by now, we had had enough. We headed back to the car and made our way to the Eveready Diner, and restaurant I had heard about on one of my new fave shows, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
Yeah, we came, we peed, we left. The place was just too damn crowded! Besides, we had a party to go to.
The party was fun, and surreal in the sense that, as Kate put it, "All these people think knitwear is pretty darn cool". And there were a LOT of people. Like Alison!!!

And guess what???? I won a prize! And not just any prize. A Knitspot prize!!!!


Friggin' awesome. We left the party with the firm intent of going to the afore-mentioned Briar Rose Party, where we suspected the knitterati were all gathered. But honestly? It was late, so late that we would have been crashing said party as opposed to attending. Besides, we were beat.

All in all, a great day. My only regret is that we never managed to hook up with Robyn!!!

Happy Knitting Everyone!

11 comments:

Dad said...

Honey, you have no idea how proud you make me. Your enthusiasm, joy, powers of observation and ability to infuse me with your experiences is a real talent. Buy a skein (or 2 for me)! Mom would have been thrilled, I can hear her "Well spit and shit" as and I can hear her high pitched hoot/chuckle while she read of your and Kate's exploits. Much love to you all. Dad

Anonymous said...

Wow looks like such a fun trip...congrats on your win also!
mary
hoganfe handmade
handbag originals

kate-the-enabler said...

Wow. Now THAT's a ringing endorsement from your Dad. Kinda makes ME want to knit something for him :)
And as for the trip...I had a ball. Thanks for asking me to go with, far enough in advance that I was able to overcome my usual homebody tendancies, 'cos I wouldn't have wanted to miss that weekend full of fun. (and Ann Hanson, for crying out loud. Woot)
I'm still talking about the Yakaloo. Good to have goals for 'next time' already, dontcha think?

Alrischa said...

Oh, I want to go!

I was very jealous, but it was so fun just to live vicariously that I had to read it twice.

Why did you resist the gnome? What was the prize? What did you buy? Hurry up and post all your wool pictures! What are you going to make with the bag of red wool?

Hope you enjoyed your time off enough to keep you going until next time. lol.

Sereknitty said...

I am so jealous that you got to go to Rhinebeck!!! Thanks for making me feel as though I was there with you.

Sinéad said...

Sounds like you had an absolute blast, and what a stash of yarn you got! I shall do my best to match you in purchases this week!

Ali P said...

You are SUCH a good blogger!! I still have my very small amount of pictures on my camera and in other peoples cameras. I got Stephanie Pearl-MacPhee's book and got her to sign it, apologising for the heart failure I gave her the day before in my freaky fan girl guise. She was super cool about it alll....which just makes me idolise her MORE!!!!
I have been imitating your booty prize dance since Saturday night, babe. And I have a lot of booty to shake.

Montreal Mama said...

First off, we were in that same row of Briar Rose, just after Rhinebeck opened! You said you were there 45 minutes after Rhinebeck opened - so were we! UGH! I can't believe we missed you.

Second WE ATE AT THAT SAME DINNER SATURDAY NIGHT TOO! HAHAH! We went after we left the Rav party though. I have pictures for proof!

We couldn't find the Shelridge Farm booth! I swear! I looked everywhere and I didn't think we missed anything. Grr!

I can't believe I didnt see you once. Kept people watching everywhere to find you. Amy wanted to finally meet you!!!

Anyhow, we HAVE to get together in the city here.... you say when!

Michelle said...

I wish there was a rhinebeck every month..that would be heaven!

Amelah said...

Just Robyn? Sniff sniff I am hurt :(
Haha we had dinner at Everady diner too, just at 8:30 pm lol
so we went to the Ravelry first and then there and you guys did the reverse! No wonder we never met up!!
Love the picture of you and All that yarn!!!

Anonymous said...

1. Your dad is cool.
2. That last photo is THE definition of "yarn porn", if ever there was one.
3. KTE needs a blog.
4. I'm soooo jealous about not going to Rheinbeck (but my wallet is relieved).
5. Did you pick a brown color for your shawl on purpose? It looks beautiful, but how funny that you both matched!
6. Am I crazy or when I saw you working on it at Robyn's it was actually a dark purple? Or was that a different lace project? I can't remember and am too lazy to go check your Ravelry projects.