Sunday, May 06, 2007

Maryland Sheep and Wool: Strip and Do Me!



Let's just say that all the hyperbole surrounding 'Maryland Sheep and Wool' is appropriate and commensurate with the utter kick-assness of the event. The hype is not missplaced...Where to begin?

Because a long and demanding semester has taken a bitter toll on my fragile nerves , the last thing I wanted to deal with was the mayhem and feeding frenzy (unless of course we're talking about funnel cakes) of a Saturday at MDS & W, so Little Peeper (Tween thing's knitting younger sister) and I decided that a Sunday visit was in order. Highlights included:


-watching a woman spin angora yarn from a rabbit sitting in her lap!? Peeper loved this and had many questions, including 'why doesn't he run away?'

-meeting up with other knitbloggers, including Frecklegirl Jess, who was in the midst of her exciting Ravelry whirlwind promotional tour. She and her posse were gleefully handing out buttons and promoting Ravelry, which is basically my new reason for living. She patiently explained that it will soon be ready for any and all to use but that at the moment she and her husband are working as fast as they can to get it ready for such a huge volume of users. She is such a friendly person and what she has created is so deeply impressive. Right on Frecklegirl!


-meeting the folks from Green Mountain Spinnery who introduced Peeper to an old fashioned device. No, not a ye olde spinning wheel; rather a 1980's sliding credit card machine! She was very intrigued...


-watching Peeper be interviewed for the LetsKnit2gether video podcast about knitting! Her killer line: "I prefer to knit only with corn....".

But please don't think that MDS&W is all fun and games. There were lowlights which included hearing people play hammered dulcimers (At a fiber festival? Do we have to?), seeing several creative anachronism people walking around in clothing made out of leather hides, experiencing craven fishwife types actually pushing and grabbing Socks that Rock at the Fold booth (?), and my personal favorite gaffe, celebrity stalking Eunny Jang in the IK booth:

Eunny: "Hello"

Me: (nervous, weird voice) "Umm...hi...congratulations...I love the Anemoi pattern, really....(dry mouth prevents swallowing).

Eunny: "Thank you."

Me: "Umm...ok...Endpaper Mitts were a ....really great project.....seriously, congratulations....bye...." (Awkwardly lingering around the booth to the point that confused daughter was giving me a puzzled 'what's your damage' type of glare.) No, not my finest moment. But those funnel cakes sure were the perfect antidote to my embarrassment!

I suppose you're wondering about purchases... Well rest assured, I did manage to acquire some yarn and other various and sundry items. But seeing as I'd like to wake up in the morning with my marriage intact, I'll leave most of it to your imagination, except these:



OK, I dropped some serious coin at the Crippenworks both. I have up until now convinced myself that I didn't really need needle cases. Then I saw the work of Katharyn Crippen Shapiro and quickly revised that notion. She is such a gifted artist with an eye for sharp, vintage-y fabrics. Score one for me!! DRMC: You know I love you baby, but sometimes a girl just has to get her knitting retail groove on, k?


This was my first MDS & W, so please excuse a newbie's unbridled enthusiasm. I am sure that you'll read many different accounts of the event, but I am here to tell you that these two chicks with sticks had an amazing day.

36 comments:

...Sarah said...

I think you win for best blog title, ever!

Those are some seriously stylish needle holders. And, of course, little peepers is super cute!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a most wonderful time! I opted to stay home; now I'm sad and wish that I would have gotten my but in the car and driven 5.5 hours. Next year definitely.

pamela wynne said...

Aw, this sounds like a wonderful day! (And it wouldn't have been complete without making a star-struck fool of yourself in front of *some* knitting celebrity.)

Veronique said...

You're not going to show us the yarns you got?! *pout*
I agree with Peeper about the angora rabit: doesn't that hurt?
PS the Ways were very happy to learn you were a fan of their produce :)

Sonya said...

Sounds like a great day! I wish we lived closer. I was equally inarticulate when I met the Harlot at a book signing. Oy.

Anonymous said...

It was so nice to meet you guys! Such a fun day...

I got one of those needle cases last year- the same fabric as your large on in the middle. They are so well made. :)

Heather said...

Wow! It sounds amazing. I particularly love the angora rabbit shot--I always get a kick out of the idea of spinning wool with the adorable little rabbit sitting on one's lap. Your daughter seems to have had a lot of fun, too! Very cool.

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

Oh that sounds like so much fun!! I've never attended a fiber arts festival. It's so great that your daughter is into it with you--very cool. Love the needle cases. As for the rest of it can't you pull the old, "What are you talking about! I've had this forever! You never notice anything." Always worked for my Mom (she was quite the fashion mave in her day).

Karen said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time!! Love the needle cases. But come on, we want to see the rest of the haul!!! :)

schrodinger said...

Looks like much fun was had by all. Great pictures, maybe you can sneek out that yarn to photograph bit by bit?

Mia said...

Be glad you went yesterday. It was much much worse Saturday. And I am surprised that you found STR. That booth was pretty wiped out Saturday.

Romi said...

I. Am. SO. Jealous. It looks like you had a wonderful time! :)

Theresa said...

I agree - best blog title ever.

Lone Knitter said...

Oh, man! It sounds like you had some FUN! I loved reading your post--it made me feel like I was there in a way. Funnel cakes and fiber. That is a hot combination. Thanks for your kind words today. :)

Stephanie said...

What a fun day! I was thinking about all you lucky east-coasters visiting the fest this weekend.

I'm glad it was as much fun as I imagined.

Maybe next year...

YawnOver said...

Love your needle cases, they are gorgeous :) And how fun to have a daughter that knits!!

Anonymous said...

Oh...looks like you had so much fun! I want a little knitting daughter too!

Anonymous said...

Wow! It seems you had such an awesome time - lucky you! I'm a tad jealous here, we just don't have any such events over here and that sucks big, big time! Guess I'll just have to fly over for one of the next MS&W to have a look around there - it must be so absolutely wonderful! Thanks for sharing the time you had there with us - I adore the pics!

Laura said...

What an awesome day!

I am so excited about Ravelry. It looks fantastic. Want it to be out of beta now! ::tapping fingers on desk::

:)

Lolly said...

Nice to meet you the other day! It was brief, but great! Good to see you enjoyed yourself :)

KnitPastis said...

I love the needlecases you bought! The fabric is so beautiful, you're right.
So, now you got to see how crazy it gets over at Socks That Rock booth:) Ususally, they sell out.
You did have a great time and both are some cuties!

nicole said...

Oh come on, you gotta flash your Maryland stash!!!

Peeper's corn quote made me LOL! Priceless!

Coley said...

Sounds like you had a blast!!! I HEART FUNNEL CAKES! I'd love to go to mds&w but it's a little to far away. I did get to go to the michigan fiber thingy and it was fun!

Angela said...

Nice to meet you Sunday. On the way home from the festival, I asked my niece to list her top 5 favorite things from the day. Meeting your daughter was on her list. Can't wait to see the interview on the podcast!

carrie said...

glad you had a such good time! i really wanted to go this year. and im sure eunny wasn't at all thrown off by your reaction.

knittingphilistine said...

Sounds like you had a blast! Wish I had been there to meet you!

gray la gran said...

lucky you! sounds like you had a great time on sunday =)
i'm hoping to make it to SAFF in october, as it's more "local" for me.
ps. can you imagine the damage stuart would do at a giant festival ?!

Kirsten said...

Sounds like you had a great time. I avoided the Fold booth myself. I've decided that it is easier to click the add to cart button on the website.

Zarzuela said...

Very nice to meet you this weekend! Looks like you definitely had a fun time. I probably would have been nervous meeting Eunny too. I had to laugh about the credit card machine. Never thought about it, but one that young wouldn't really know what that was, would they?

Jessica

Anonymous said...

Next year, when I'm back in DC! Woohoo!

This really cracked me up: "seeing several creative anachronism people walking around in clothing made out of leather hides"

I totally saw some of those guys last year when I was up in Vermont for a wedding. There it was raining and yucky, and they're out there bashing around in fakey chain mail and leather. We gawked and took photos for a good 15 minutes. I'm sure this encouraged them.

hehe fish wife types. Awesome. hahahaha ! lol

Laura said...

Looks like you had a great time!!

Alison said...

I want to spin from a rabbit in my lap someday!
That all looks seriously fun- too bad the east coast is so serioulsy far away from here... (Minnesota!)

Oh well, there are a few alpaca farms close by, that will have to suffice, though I don't think they'll fit on my lap...

Great haul on those needle cases- I love funky fabrics!

Happy knitting,
ali

Gallycat said...

I was there! My friend Dani posted pics at knitster..

Faith said...

Oh fun! That's a bizarre-o picture, looks like a great time!

Melissa said...

It sounds like you had a great time! How cool that your daughter got interviewed for the videocast!! She's a knitting celebrity!

Alison said...

Just wanted to let you know that I posted my first contest... stop by and read about it- let the summer fun begin!
Happy knitting,
ali