NH Road Trip

It's been a busy couple weeks pulling everything together for New Hampshire Sheep & Wool.  The work schedule is tight, but I'll be ready to hit the road on Friday.

We moved to an indoor space last year, and we'll be in the same spot this year.  Look for us in Building A, Arts and Crafts.  It's the long white building.

It should be a fun weekend.  Stop by and say hi.

Lovella

Another project off the needles and blocked.

Lovella.

This project has plenty of variety.

Garter stripes with a bit of lace.  Interesting shaping with increases and decreases.  Never a dull moment.  The only modification I made was a yarn over after the first stitch on every row.  Then at the end of the row I dropped the yarn over to create an elastic edge.

The yarn is a DK blend - Wineberry and March Sky.  The finished shawl is substantial but easy to wear.

Look for it this weekend at New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.

When the Bar Is Low . . .

After a busy weekend in New Hampshire, I don't have expectations of accomplishing much today.  A wet and windy Sunday forced most of the outdoor vendors indoors.  A couple friends pitched in and helped me move the booth.  I felt like a nomad vendor.  

The weather didn't keep people away, and it was a delightful time overall.  Thanks to everyone who came out.  It was great to see so many familiar faces.

I did a quick events update.  This Saturday I'll be at the RI Fiber Festival.  See the right sidebar for more details.

For the rest of the day, I'm taking it easy.

Snapshots from New Hampshire

I'm back from a delightful weekend at New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.  Usually this event is held on Mother's Day weekend, so we were a little out of sync this time around.  This is a traditional New England event, and people came out just the same.  Even the weather was typical New England - almost summer on Saturday, more like fall on Sunday and winds reminiscent of a good Nor'easter.

I completely failed at pictures this weekend.

I had slotted time for picture taking on Sunday, but a flat tire first thing in the morning thwarted my plan.  Life has a way of doing that.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth.  This show is always good for social connections, and it was wonderful to chat with everyone.

I came home full of ideas and inspiration.

For today . . . time to recover and plot a few new projects.

Snapshots from New Hampshire

I'm settling in after a busy weekend in New Hampshire.  Usually my booth is in the vicinity of the food vendors, but this year several of the outside vendors and a whole bunch of inside vendors were moved to a new section of the fairgrounds.  All of us were concerned people wouldn't know where to find us, so we spread the word and improved the signage.  It worked.

I talked with so many interesting people and saw some beautiful knitwear.  This weekend is always full of inspiration.  Here are a few snapshots.

I thought this display idea from Favour Valley Woodworking was very clever.  In addition to earrings and shawl pins, they have gorgeous wood buttons.  Check them out.

Chickens from Brown Bunny Pottery.

The weather cooperated, and it was a delightful weekend.  Thanks to everyone who came out.

I came home to find the kitchen had been tidied and the counter cleared . . . the perfect Mother's Day treat.

Weekend Fiber Party

My Monday doesn't look very exciting after a fiber-filled weekend in New Hampshire.  True to form we had a bit of weather excitement with rain and thunder on Saturday.  But Sunday dawned bright and clear, and we quickly forgot about the damp and chill of the previous day.

Follow along for a glimpse of the weekend festivities.

I talked with so many people over the weekend.  I always appreciate show and tell, and several people brought finished projects made with my yarn.  It was fun to reconnect with people I see every year at this event.  It was also a good opportunity to make new connections. Thanks to everyone who stopped by.

I didn't knit one stitch over the weekend.  Not one.  Before I do anything else today - and believe me, the list is long - I'm going to spend a few minutes with my knitting and a cup of coffee.  I'm on the road again later this week.  It's time to recharge my battery.

Before I Hit the Road . . .

Today I'm making a quick trip to the Deerfield Fairgrounds to stake my claim for New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.  I'm an outside vendor, and it's like being on a camping trip.  Over the years I've seen everything from rain to sleet to snow at this event, so I have to be prepared for anything and everything.  But before I head north, I have to stop at the hardware store, the Post Office, the gas station . . . the list goes on.  I can never escape last-minute details.

Since I won't know my exact booth location until later today, I'll be posting an update here, on Twitter and the Ravelry group.  If you're headed to New Hampshire this weekend, stop by and say hi.

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway here on the blog.  I appreciate all the gardening mentions.  And Denise, you're right to savor every moment with that new baby.  The time goes by all too quickly, but I'm sure you've heard that already.

The winner is Cate from Maine.  Cate, I can't find contact information for you.  Click on About Me on the right and follow the contact link. We'll work out the details.

Cleaning out cupboards can often lead to surprises.  There's a bit of that going on in my house these days.  It's fun to find a long-lost item, and it feels good to get rid of clutter that's taking up space.  One pleasant surprise is my color inspiration for the week.

Mexican bright.

Update:  My booth is right around the corner from Angelino's Sausage. Follow your nose . . . 

Some Assembly Required

I'm pulling together the last bits and pieces for this weekend and New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.  I seem to be ahead of schedule - something that doesn't happen very often.  Either I've forgotten something important, or I've become more efficient.  Since I prefer to put a positive spin on things, I'm going with the latter.

My recent dye runs have focused on kits, and, for once, Mother Nature has been on my side.  The air has been dry - perfect for drying yarn.  In keeping with that positive attitude, I'm optimistic that this weather pattern will hold through the weekend.

Today is the final production phase for these skeins and many more.

I'm going to pour myself a big cup of coffee and settle in.  It's time to assemble kits.

Whirlwind Weekend

It's the Monday after New Hampshire Sheep and Wool, and I'm wavering between exhilaration and exhaustion.  This event brings people together from all over New England.

It was great to see so many friends from around the region.  The event has a track record of crazy wet weather.  While it was a bit damp this weekend, it could have been (and has been) much worse.

There are buildings and tents stocked with fleece, fiber and yarn. Looking for equipment?  There are spinning wheels, looms and more.

Beautiful baskets with yarn added for scale.

Wonderful colors and gorgeous handknits are on display everywhere. It's easy to be overwhelmed.

There are animals, sheep shearing, dog herding and sheep dog trials.

If you get hungry, there are a variety of food vendors to choose from.

And you can top it all off with any number of sweets, including fudge.

I think I might be suffering from a fiber hangover.  Thanks to everyone who came out.  It was great fun.

News From New Hampshire

Monday mornings are brutal.  Monday mornings after a weekend event are doubly difficult.  I wish I had the luxury of making today and tomorrow my weekend days, but I can't make that magic happen.


We had a terrific time in New Hampshire this weekend.  This event has a tradition of producing every form of precipitation - rain, sleet, snow - and usually it's in abundance.  This past weekend, however, was dry.  Saturday was a bit on the windy side.  

I lost a few signs to the strong gusts that threatened to blow yarn off the hooks, but all in all it was a pleasant weekend to be vending outside.


The booth was located just inside the main entrance.

Gate F.


This year New Hampshire Sheep and Wool moved to a new location at the Deerfield Fairgrounds.  I was encouraged by the turn out - you never know how it will go at a new location.  I had one customer who went to the old location only to find the grounds empty, but she was resourceful and eventually made her way to Deerfield.  Cell phones are handy in emergency situations.


The distinguishing thing about the new location is the hill.

This is the view from the top.  There were outside vendors and a few barns with animals at the bottom of the hill.  There were buildings with more vendors and animals at the top of the hill.  All directions were given in reference to the hill.


I was non-stop busy and didn't get a chance to see nearly enough.  Of course there were many cute animals.

Clean cut.


And there were so many vendors.  

You could find everything from fleece to finished goods.


While a busy weekend like this keeps me in the booth, it's a great opportunity to meet many creative, enthusiastic fiber lovers.  That's what I love most about an event like this. Thanks to everyone who stopped by.  It was a great weekend to be in New Hampshire.

Change Of Address

New Hampshire Sheep and Wool is this coming weekend.  For many in New England this event is a tradition.  If you're a knitting mother, this festival is a great way to treat yourself on Mother's Day Weekend. If you want to treat your knitting mother, you should take her to New Hampshire.


For those who have attended in the past be warned that this year the event has moved to the Deerfield Fairgrounds in the Manchester area. All spring I've been telling people about the move, but it seems that many still aren't aware.  Help spread the word - tell all your knitting buddies about the new location.


Dirty Water DyeWorks will be vending outside.  I'm not sure of the exact location yet but will be providing details via Twitter.


With any luck I'll have a new pair of socks for the weekend.

The race is on.

New Hampshire Adventure

This past weekend I was a vendor at New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.  This event is always an adventure and has a reputation for less than ideal weather.

We set up camp in record time.

The colors stood out against the white background.


Saturday was cloudy but dry.  It was a cool, comfortable day to be at a sheep and wool festival.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth.  It's fun to chat with friends and make new acquaintances.  I wore my Corinne sweater on Saturday and was delighted with a visit from Crystal Erb Junkins, the designer.


New Hampshire Sheep and Wool is a big event.

Barns and buildings filled with vendors.

And more vendors.  Booth after booth full of creativity and inspiration.


One booth had this beautiful shawl on display.

It's made from yarn spun from a Jacob fleece.


There were Jacob pelts in the same booth.

Jacob sheep have such wonderful color variation.


I saw people test drive new spinning wheels.  I was intrigued by the Schacht Sidekick but declined an invitation to try it.  I knew it would be all downhill if I gave it a whirl.  


All weekend I watched people leave the fairgrounds, weighed down with bags and bags of fleece.  One woman commented that she hadn't been to this event in a few years and was making up for lost time.  I may have come home empty-handed, but I'm inspired to spin from my stash.


There were animals of every kind.

Sheep waiting to be herded.


Newly shorn alpacas.

Such an adorable face.


And there were rabbits.

This one sat patiently for a spinning session.


When you're at a fairgrounds, you have to have fair food.

Fried dough, kettle corn, baked goods, ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, falafel, Italian sausage, Indian pudding, apple crisp, pretzels.  All this and more.


On Sunday the weather turned wet.

This puddle formed just outside the booth.  


Slowly it made its way inside.

I tried to keep it at bay, but by the end of the day this cardboard was under water.  It's all part of the adventure.


The rain came down heavy just in time for tearing down the booth.  I gave up all efforts to stay dry and looked like a drowned rat by the time everything was loaded.  I'm still drying out from the weekend and probably will be for the next couple of days.  But it was worth it.