Monday's Mission

Spring is a busy time of year, and I'm always juggling commitments. Between shows and graduations and parties and showers . . . well, usually I can't do it all.  

This past weekend was an exception.  On Saturday I was in Rhode Island for a one day event.

Short and sweet.

It was a lovely day.  It started out bright and sunny.  The clouds rolled in by midday, but the rain held off.  Thanks to everyone who came out.

Sunday morning I was glued to the couch with my knitting.  I could have spent the entire day lounging, but I had a graduation party to attend.  I was tempted to take a nap, but I rose to the occasion and was out the door by mid-afternoon.  This was one of those rare weekends where I was able to do it all.

Here I am Monday morning, and this is the task at hand.

Find a hat pattern for these two.  I'm on it.

Farm and Fiber

My tour of New England sheep and wool festivals continued this past weekend with a stop in Rhode Island.  There's a passionate group of fiber people in Rhode Island, and it's always fun to visit.

This festival was held at Coggeshall Farm . . . a charming spot. 

Of course there was a sheep shearing demonstration. 

I get a chance to chat with some interesting people at these events, and this weekend was no exception.

Meet The Amazing Taylors and some of their puppets.

A Cheshire cat under construction.  These puppets are works of art.

Thanks to everyone who came out in spite of a few sprinkles. Coggeshall Farm is a living museum.  I recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Weekend Balance

I spent another weekend on the road, but this time it was only for one day.  Rhode Island Wool and Fiber was held on Saturday at Coggeshall Farm.

Coggeshall is a living history farm tucked down a narrow road with beautiful views all around.

This event is all outdoors, and it was a lovely day to be vending outside.

The weather cooperated with dry, sunny conditions.  

If there's a farm, there are bound to be animals.

Chickens roamed the grounds, visiting booths along the way.

This event included a diverse selection of vendors.

I didn't have much time to look, but I did discover Queen Bee Fibers. They carry interesting jewelry and more.  I brought a couple bars of soap home with me.

I always enjoy spending time with the Rhode Island fiber community. Thanks for a relaxing, fun day.

Sunday dawned bright and early, and I discovered I've lost the ability to sleep in.  After taking care of a little business in the morning, the rest of the day was work free.  And there were plans.

Birthday plans.  My son delayed his celebration by one day so that we could properly mark the occasion.  From fiber to cake it was a well-rounded weekend.

The Great Outdoors

I've had two consecutive weekends of vending outside.  Having a booth outdoors can be challenging to say the least, but both weekends Mother Nature came through with dry, sunny conditions.  This past weekend I was at Coggeshall Farm for the Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival.

The narrow road out to the farm is full of twists and turns that hug the shoreline.  Turn off the road to a tree lined lane that leads to the farm. The setting is beautiful - so peaceful.

This event may be small, but it features a mix of vendors.


Rising Sun Earthworks was a new vendor this year.

They offer a wonderful selection of coffee mugs, yarn bowls and so much more. 


There was plenty of yarn and fiber available.

And handmade soap complete with bees.


The day included children's crafts and various demonstrations.

A display on dyeing with plants.


Some people came for the day with wheels in tow.

The spinners' tent.


As always it was great to see so many of my Rhode Island fiber friends. 

There's nothing like a beautiful day in the sun.

While I Think Of It . . .

In the early morning I often do a lot of thinking before I even get out of bed.  It's quiet, and there aren't any distractions or interruptions.  The other morning I was pondering a puzzle.  Knitting has been on the upswing for quite a while, and there are more knitters now than ever. How is it that yarn stores are dropping like flies?  I hear of yarn stores closing their doors on a regular basis.  How is it that a booming craft isn't supporting local stores?


I understand the dynamics of online competition, but surely, knitters, we can do better than that.  Remember when you had that knitting needle emergency and ran to your local yarn store?  Or the time you ran out of yarn and your local shop came to the rescue?  Or what about the time you've spent at your local shop's knit night - hanging out, getting knitting advice, having an all around good time?


I'm sure we've all witnessed the passing of bookstores in our local communities.  Don't leave your local yarn store to the same fate. These days the emphasis is on buying local, and that includes your local yarn store.  Remember to spend some of your knitting dollars locally.


The tour of New England sheep and wool festivals continues this weekend with a stop in Rhode Island.  This event is on Saturday only and is held at the Coggeshall Farm in Bristol.  The setting for this event is a beautiful, restored 18th century farm.  If you're in the area, stop by.  There will be demonstrations, shearing and vendors. 


Sometimes we find color in the most unlikely places - along a concrete foundation, for instance.  I have no idea what this is - probably an invasive weed - but the colors caught my eye and are my color inspiration for the week.

Soft pink and green.

Rhode Island

I spent a delightful Saturday this past weekend at the Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival.  This one day event is held on the grounds of Coggeshall Farm.


All of the vendors were outside.

The day started with dense fog, clouds and a bit of drizzle.  Given our recent wet weather pattern, vendors were concerned about rain.  There was nothing to be worried about.  By noon the sun was out, and the day turned warm.


Coggeshall Farm is in a beautiful location off a winding road with ocean views.

The farm is a living history museum with interpreters dressed in period costumes performing farm tasks from the late 18th century.  


The farm has many animals.

There were donkey rides.

Chickens roamed around by the barn.


And this baby duck felt right at home.  She came all the way from Maine with one of the vendors.

Her name is Harriet.


It was good to see so many of my Rhode Island friends.  It was a relaxing day to hang out and spin or knit. 

Beautiful setting, wonderful people. It was an enjoyable Saturday in Rhode Island.

Detour

I'm packing for Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival.  I should be packing.  I had the bright idea that I need to start a new knitting project, so I've taken a slight detour.

I have a pattern in mind and am considering this yarn.


Or this one.

I thought the situation was manageable - pick one color or the other. Things became a bit more complicated when I started thinking about a second pattern.


That's when I pulled this yarn.

I know I'm procrastinating.  Packing isn't fun, but at least now I can contemplate these options while I load everything up.  After an endless string of gray, foggy, drizzly, damp days there's a good chance the red one will win out.  I don't need the sun to brighten my day.


Lilacs are one of my springtime favorites.  Their delicate, rich purple is my color inspiration for this week.

And they smell good too.