One Crazy Fiber Lady

This past weekend is one of my two favorite of each year.  Might have my priorities a little outta whack, but boy I dig me a good fiber festival.  MDSW definitely rates as a good festival!  Thanks to everyone for all their comments regarding Ms. Kat accompanying me.  As I expected having only one kid when used to two was almost a breeze, though not quite that easy.  Ms K came along because Friday morning she awoke running a fever.  When I called into school to tell them she wouldn’t be coming, I found out a number of kids had had a fever thing in their class.  Just a fever.  Take some tylenol and relax kind of illness.  All in all, not a bad one and when Ms. K gets sick, that’s pretty much what she wants to do anyway, not to mention stick close to me.  Since she wasn’t going to school, I couldn’t say goodbye when I dropped them and make my exit for the highway.  Oh no.  Things definitely wouldn’t be that easy.  After some serious tears (from both of us), I relented and brought her along.  Initially feeling like bad mother of the year for dragging my sick daughter along with me so I could go to the festival, but after the fever broke early Saturday, she really was a very pleasant kid (if not easier when she was sick). 

It marked the first extended separation of the twins.  Shortly after crossing the border into Maryland, Kat started crying to go home.  I called my mom after arriving at the hotel to let her know we’d arrived safe and sound, to find that Alex had a bit of a fit because Kat wasn’t there.  It was very sweet when the two of them hugged yesterday when we got home.  Alex proclaimed "I so glad you came back" as he hugged her again. 

Anyway, Kat and I had good bonding time and I fed her budding fiber love…

She picked this fiber Saturday at the American Cormo Association booth.  The kid has some good taste in wool and definitely a girly tendency in her colors.  So far, she hasn’t let me spin this, but did play catch with the ball in the hotel room Saturday night with it

Before I go into the purchases, I have to send big thanks to Kim, Jessica and Liz who I believe went out of their way to keep me company before, during and after the festival.  I had the best time and I thank you very much ladies!  Friday night Liz picked up dinner, adult tasty beverages and joined Kat and I at our hotel.  Kim, who was staying in the same hotel, came up for some pre-festival knitting.  It was a nice night for sure, even if I had a unhappy, warm child clinging to me.  Liz finished up the finish work on Kim’s Poppy.  Seems Liz likes that sort of thing.  Here’s Kim modeling it…

..isn’t it gorgeous???

And the typical blogger-meet-blogger photo..

Saturday morning, Kim met us in the lobby for breakfast and by 8:30, we’d made it to the festival where we met up in short order with Jessica.  As always, my favorite part of these festivals is seeing/meeting people that I either only see at festivals (Sorry I missed you this time Shari, but it was wonderful to spend some time with your husband and beautiful children!) or haven’t met outside the cyber world yet.  I bought a Mr. Plyer from Marcia, which I can’t wait to try out!  I have no pictures at the actual festival as I couldn’t find my camera in my bag and was convinced it was back in the hotel room.  I did find it in the bottom of my bag when we got back to the hotel, after not finding it anywhere in the room   Amongst the blur of faces and names, I remember seeing Elaine, Christine who I hadn’t the pleasure of meeting previously, Rosemary. 

The story behind the title of this post is a good one.  I have mentioned before that I was seriously considering CPW to add (replace the saxony) in the wheel stable.  I’d visit Dave Paul at the Merlin Tree early on Saturday and had checked out his antique CPW, which wasn’t for sale as it needed work.  Kat got antsy at that point and we had to move feet.  I looked at various wheels during the course of the day but resigned myself to maybe Rhinebeck to get a CPW.  Anyway, at around 3pm, we’re walking through the Main Exhibition Hall and I run into Juno.  Always a pleasure to see her!  We start talking about CPWs and then she suggests that if I really wanted a CPW that I had to try the Vermont Wheels by Pat Russo.  It was shortly after that when she took me over to his booth.  I was handed both some shetland roving and a batt of alpaca to play with as I tried out the first wheel in the booth.   Within moments I was really and truly in love.  I did glare up at Juno on a couple of occasions.  I bought it.  A beautiful cherry wheel with brass inlay.   Liz tried it Sat night back at the hotel and bought one for herself on Sunday, got his last too!  Kim and Jessica helped me get the wheel, stroller and Kat back to the car. 

Liz, who hadn’t gone to the festival on Saturday, joined Jessica, Kat and I for a nice dinner out at the local Applebees where Nick, our waiter, definitely earned himself a good tip.  He brought a hot fudge sundae to lure the ornery Kat out of her stroller and up to the table and later a balloon after she’d spotted those.

After dinner we went back to my room for a spin-in where Kim rejoined us, along with her son Liam.  Poor Liz sustained a nasty finger injury when she jammed her finger opening the window, when she pinched it on the window stop.  Here she’s using her head to keep the blood oozing finger above her heart while still keeping ice on it (it was swelling).

I do hope her finger is better in no time and that the suggested tetanus shot doesn’t hurt.

I got to play with my new toy and feel head over heels for the wheel.  Juno was right.  This wheel can make you a better spinner.  Checking the spinner control card I bought at the festival, I consistently spun a 40wpi corrie cross single from a Grafton Batt faster than I’ve ever done before.  Sweet wheel.  Thank you Juno, I love it and wouldn’t have it if not for you!

Sunday, Kat, Jessica and I went back to the festival for more stash enhancement and before long it was time to hit the road to go home.  It was a wonderful weekend and I thank everyone for making it so great!

Here’s a look at the enhancements…

A spinner control card, a hi speed whorl for the schacht (which ships today iirc) and a sweet shawl pin!  Not pictured that I just remembered, was a woolee winder and 2 extra bobbins for the schact.

There’s the Mr. Plyer underneath the soft stuff.  There’s a little of this, and a little of that.  Some serious acquisitions of decadent fiber (alpaca, baby camel, silk and such) from Barneswallow Farms, some Cloverleaf braids, Ohio Valley Merino top, 2 grafton batts and a skein of sock yarn.  One skein.  That’s all I bought.  Amazing isn’t it.

And again, the big purchase was this…

Isn’t she beautiful?  You can see the brass inlay on the wheel.  L O V E.

Thank you Juno!

Now what to do with the Lendrum Saxony….

Craft on!  (I took today off and am going to go spin until I have to pick up the kids)