New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival!!
Today, my youngest daughter, Hannah and I made our way down to the NH Sheep and Wool festival. What a FUN time we had!
Who IS that behind that camera……..and…….who or what is she snapping a photo of??
Why that is our Helen of NETA (New England Textile Arts) and she is snapping a picture of none other than
Stephanie………that Harlot.
What I didn’t realize until after we took this picture, that not only was Stephanie there, but Norma, Cassie and Theresa.
We had a nice time, visiting and it was especially nice to spend time chatting with Cassie in person, as we have come to know each other a bit thru emails. I love how blogging has opened up our big world and made it a bit smaller for each of us. That common bond that connects all of us, truly has made the world a smaller and friendlier place. Cassie’s shawl is more beautiful in person than in pictures, if that is possible. I was too darn busy chatting to get all of the pictures that I wanted to take, so you will have to take my word for it here.
Next it was lunch with another blogger from New England, Judy of Smatterings, and her friend, Cindy. I am always a wee bit nervous, when it comes to putting myself out there with people that I don’t know but what I have found with most fiber people is that the bond that connects us, also makes it so easy to become friends. Judy is a very talented spinner and dyer…….check out her fabulous yarns for sale!!
Now, as I started out today, with the mindset of behaving myself at this fiber festival, as I have so much blessed fiber. However, the one vendor that I missed out on in Rhinebeck this fall, my regular first stop……….who was almost completely sold out at 9:15 am……Spinners Hill, also comes to this NH festival. My first visit was to her booth and I picked up this incredible wool/ mohair batt. As you probably guessed……..yup……..there are those rusty, reddish, paprika colors that I always seem to bring home.
So……….I thought……hey, why not break out and be crazy? Get something different for a change? So…..into my basket landed this yummy grass green mohair/wool blend. The different shades in the batt are so pretty, blended together. This will be slated for this year’s vest. I try to make one every year with this vendor’s wool.
Nestled in all that luscious fiber is a pin…….a handpainted bunny of course!
How could a Woolen Rabbit pass that one up?
Now, that was all I had planned to purchase, as the Good Lord knows, that I do NOT need any more fiber and I am really trying to be mindful of that fact and to simplify…………however, there was one temptation that I just could not avoid, no matter how hard I tried.
To self, I said
……..No………No………BAD…….NO………….NO……..Nooooo
YES!!!
This gorgeous Cherry Vermont Wheel came home with me.
Truly, I did try to resist, but the temptation was just too strong. I had tried a Vermont Wheel a few times, when a local spinner purchased one a few years ago and I just fell in love with it.
Pat Russo, has made mention a few times that he is contemplating retiring from the fiber show scene, so I thought that it would be foolish for me to pass this lovely wheel up now, if I truly wanted one………and I did!
As a concession to my DH, who sometimes feels completely overwhelmed with the fiber and fiber tools in this old wool house. I have decided to sell my antique Canadian Wheel. It is another lovely wheel, made of cherry, with the typical iron treadle, footman and flyer adjustment……which spins like a dream. I will list it in a photo album this week with all of the particulars.
I truly believe in keeping all wheels happily spinning and I like to pass the ones that are collecting a bit more dust than it should to another happy spinner.
So there you have it……………….
Hannah snapped this picture of a bunch of cute, cute, cute angora goats as we were getting ready to head back up to the Mountains.
We had a lovely day in Contoocook, NH, visiting with old friends, new friends and incredible fiber.
I hope that all of you in your corner of the world, enjoyed your day, as much as we did ours!
The Woolen Rabbit 
Oh, what a great day you had! The fiber is beautiful and that wheel! Speechless! 🙂 And you were amongst my favorite people! Lucky you! 🙂
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Wow – you really did go a bit over the edge, eh? That paprika color is starting to grow on me. 🙂
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It really was great to meet you, though we didn’t have a chance to talk. Your sweater is gorgeous. I wanted to find out where you are from, because I am from the area (have I asked you this before?) and am always looking for people to hook up with for real personal contact. Norma, Cassie and Stephanie had you immediately talking and, as you may have noticed, they are pretty chatty and I was a bit tired so I didn’t jump in like I would usually do. I was looking at wheels today, but I am not yet a spinner and don’t want to plunk down the cash until I try a few and see if I even like it. I hope we get another chance to talk for real, and I am envious of your haul! Great job.
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I very much enjoyed getting to meet you today at NHSW while eating our lunch!!! I love your new wheel and would like to know what pattern you used for the beautiful sweater you wore today
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After meeting you and hearing about your new wheel, I hauled myself right over to see it for myself. It is really fantastic with the metal leaf inserts. I haven’t spun on his wheels, but they surely are works of art. It was wonderful to meet you and your paprika.
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Holy cow, KIM!!! I saw those wheels on someone else’s blog and thought, “How beautiful”. I guess we both got lucky this weekend!! Congrats!!!
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We had a terrific time too! Great weather and lots of great things to see.
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Sounds like a great day and the fibre is gorgeous. I really should do something about learning to use my wheel!
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I am speechless… my dream day was yours. No wonder I was sleepy most of the day.
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Looks like it was a fun time. What a beautiful wheel!
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I love your new wheel. Congratulations. I’m eagerly waiting for the particulars on your “old” wheel. 🙂
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Whoa. That there is one very full blog post.
The wheel is amazing. Your sweater was absolutely breathtaking in person.
And it was GREAT to get to meet you!!
Oh, and I need that red batt. wow. 😉
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I’ll wrestle Cassie for that red batt! It was lovely to see you again, and I adore your sweater. I won’t mention how jeal… I am about that WHEEL!!Congratulations and ENJOY it!
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sounds like u’ve had a whale of a time! Wish we have things like that over my side. Love that new stash addition you’ve got there and ur wheels looks really lovely!
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Sounds like a wonderful time! Glad you and Judy got to hook up too! Your new wheel is gorgeous as well – nice choice. 🙂
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I am still waiting for a wheel to enter my life. that new one you got is very very nice.
spin in good health and have a blast
vi
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Oh you got a new wheel. I’m so sorry our paths didn’t cross! 😉
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Looks like a fun day!
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Sounds like a wonderful time! Great fiber, fantastic wheels and terrific people…what more could any Woolen Rabbit ask! Wish I had been able to be there!
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MMMmmm, love the wheel! I tried one of those in MD, and it was a case of serious temptation.
I somehow missed your booth at NH–hopefully I’ll see you in Cummington–I need more of the hand cream I got from you at SPA!
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GAWD. Now you see why I like to stay BEHIND the lens.
Helen
(back of hand to forhead, falling to floor with a horrible thud.)
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I do enjoy reading your blog, and indeed blogging really does bring the world together. Despite my jealousy at reading all about the various fibre fairs over in USA recently, it is really lovely to hear what people are up to in their day-to-day lives… the kind of daily experiences that never make it into the news.
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Love the new wheel, Kim! Did you get the opportunity to meet Margene at the festival?? If not, we’re all dying to meet you when you come out to SOAR in November. You are coming; aren’t you.
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I was at NH too! Too bad we didn’t meet up.
Three of my siblings & myself were busy showing llamas on Saturday. It was a lot of fun.
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