As a warm up for Rhinebeck, I attended the Garden State Sheep & Fiber Festival today. I had heard that it was a small festival, and I talked David into going with me. I figured this way he could get an idea of what Maryland and Rhinebeck are like without having to deal with the travel time and overwhelmingness of the big ones. We had a great time, and I was pleasantly surprised to find maybe 20 vendors there.
We saw some of the animals one would expect to see at a fiber festival. There were sheep (some of the horned variety) and alpacas (sorry, didn't get a good picture of them).
But there were also yaks, turkeys, and porcupines. The baby porcupine was snuggled up against a Pooh doll. Awww...
I also picked up some yarn. I've had these two sweaters on my mind recently, and I couldn't resist some beautiful bulky wool handspun. It has recycled silk sari thread woven in with it, and it's got a great sheen and coloring.
Now I have to decide which sweater I want to make!
I must have totally walked past you today. I went up there too. I ended up with some lovely handspun from Duck Flats Farm from a Ram named "Spotty". It's like a brownish,grayish color. The angora bunnies and porcupines were my favorite. The baby was ADORABLE next to his Pooh doll.
Posted by: Sharon | September 15, 2007 at 03:50 PM
Hmmm, I didn't have the time to get there today. Perhaps I should try to go tomorrow.
Good choices for your yarn. I love the one over at Flintknits.
Posted by: Kirsten | September 15, 2007 at 04:19 PM
Those are awesome pictures! Now I want to go to Rhinebeck too. That's great yarn. I, too, am yearning to make the drops sweater.
Posted by: kim | September 15, 2007 at 06:29 PM
OOooh I like the cabled sweater. But look who is saying that. ;) Great to see you and your man today! :)
Posted by: Jessica | September 15, 2007 at 06:51 PM
Oh, my! Those horns!!
Posted by: Nora | September 15, 2007 at 06:59 PM
Awesome pictures! I need to go to a fiber fest one of these days!
I vote for the Drops sweater (and not just because I'm so in love with mine). I think that tweed is so darn pretty and so multicolored that the cableyness of Glampyre's pattern might be too busy for it. What do you think??
Posted by: pamela wynne | September 15, 2007 at 09:58 PM
Did that animal have 3 horns? So weird! I vote for the drops sweater too!
Posted by: tiennie | September 16, 2007 at 12:43 AM
What a fun little fest - I am left stumped about why a porcupine was there? Cute though:) I vote for the Drops sweater! But both are fabulous!
Posted by: stacey | September 16, 2007 at 07:31 AM
That festival looks like so much fun, but what kind of fiber do you get from a porcupine??
Posted by: Ariel | September 16, 2007 at 02:42 PM
hee! love the porcupine! I guess it really couldn't cuddle up to another porcupine, huh? :)
that red will be beautiful for either sweater - can't wait to see what you pick!
Posted by: stacey | September 17, 2007 at 09:38 AM
I love both of those sweaters...not sure which one I'd choose...love the cables of the first one, but would probably wear the second one more...
Posted by: Sara | September 17, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Lucky! I'm jonesing for Rhinebeck. My jaw dropped when I saw the Drops 103-1 sweater pattern. LOVE IT! I'm going to order that pattern today and I think I even have some stash yarn I can use. The wee porcupine is beyond cute.
Posted by: Kim | September 17, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Those are some horns on that one sheep! Why were the turkeys there? Is there some turkey fiber I don't know about?
Pretty yarn! I'm considering the DROPs cardi myself. Stephanie's is a nice design too, but I look terrible in raglan sleeves, so I need to stick to a set in.
Posted by: Brenda | September 17, 2007 at 12:19 PM
These pictures are great! Those are some impressive horns.
Posted by: Stella | September 17, 2007 at 02:53 PM
my vote if for the drops cardigan, but only because I want to cast on for it so badly....
Posted by: nova | September 17, 2007 at 05:12 PM
I can't believe it... I was there too, both days! And we could have met! *sob*
Posted by: Beth S. | September 18, 2007 at 02:28 PM