Classes at the fair...

The weather couldn't have been more perfect at the Acadia Fiber Faire on Saturday. I taught a drop spindle class and my four students did very well. They all caught on quickly and, as a result, we have 4 new spinners in the fiber universe. I teach quite a few different classes at the various fiber fairs. At Fiber Frolic on June 5th and 6th, I will be teaching 3 classes: "Spinning 101" (an introduction to spinning on a wheel), "Carding Basics and Tricks" (everything you always wanted to know about hand carders), and another "Drop Spindling" class.

There were about 2 dozen vendors in the gymnasium at the Pemetic Elementary School selling fibers, kits, baskets, books, audiobooks, spinning wheels, etc. Here are some of my favorities:

Here is a woman visiting from Florida trying on a beautiful shawl in Betsy Dorr's Quilt Essentials booth.

String Theory from Blue Hill was there with a lovely selection of yarns.

Karen Jelenfy of Village Books was there and this was her first solo vendor adventure!

Kathy Goldner of Knitting Out Loud Audiobooks was there as well with her beautiful display.

Acadia Fiber Faire

I promised in my first post to tell you more about upcoming events. This Saturday, May 22nd, will be the first annual Acadia Fiber Faire in Southwest Harbor, Maine. The show starts off with a bang on Friday evening with an opening reception with keynote speaker Linda Cortright of "Wild Fibers" magazine. Her presentation is entitled: "Living with Cashmere in the high Himalayas". During the day of the fair, there will be lots to see and do including classes (I will be teaching a class on spinning on a drop spindle!), shopping with the vendors (Purple Fleece will be there along with Knitting Out Loud, Village Books, and many others!), activities for kids, demonstrations, etc. Southwest Harbor is located on beautiful Mt. Desert Island. Hope to see you this Saturday.

Monday is Wash Day

In the old ditty, Monday was wash day. For me it's dyeing day. Having said that, let me explain that I don't die; I dye. I have a fiber shop; fiber as in wool, not as in the food product. Now if I eat dyed wool fiber, will I die going to the bathroom? Enough of that. I produce a line of Hand Painted Yarn in 3 weights. The most popular is a fingering sock weight yarn of superwash wool and nylon blend. The second is a worsted weight 100% wool yarn. The third is by special order only and that is a lace weight yarn of merino/silk/cashmere. I love seeing all those colorful skeins hanging on the laundry line...

Tessie...

A lot of people ask about Tessie. My husband made her for me about 5 years ago as a surprise birthday present. Since she took about 4 months to complete, she wasn't a total surprise. She's made from recycled foam and spray insulation, a bit of leather, and stands on some wobbly wooden legs. The crown she sports is only appropriate as she's the queen! She winters inside Purple Fleece but when the weather gets nice, she moves outdoors to graze.

It's a busy spring...

Sheep and wool festivals start off with a fervor in the spring. Three weeks ago I was packing up the "Blue Light Special" (the Purple Fleece van) for the Connecticut Sheep & Wool Festival in Tolland, CT. It was very well attended, weather was perfect, and sales were brisk. All in all, a great show...until the ride home. I'm no auto mechanic but I do know when my brakes disappear all of a sudden. Luckily I was at a dead stop at a gas station before getting on to the Mass Pike. I have visions of plowing through a toll booth at 65 mph running through my head. I must have had an angel sitting on my shoulder that day and all ended well. The "Blue Light Special" got towed back to Maine. The tow truck driver even helped to unload all the stuff from the show! My bank account was much poorer but I'm here and laughing about it and it makes for a great story.

Last weekend I packed up again for the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival in Contoocook, NH. Always over Mother's Day weekend, this is one of my favorite shows and it's just the right size; not too big and not too small. The weather could definitely have been better. It was cold and rained all day Saturday. There were a few die-hard souls who made the trek that day but most people opted to come on Sunday. Although still very cold, the sun was out. I looked like the Michelin Man in 5 layers of clothing but at least my teeth weren't chattering. I even wore 2 pairs of hand knit socks and my fingerless mitts for the occasion. Nevertheless, vendors kept a smile on their faces and were happy to be there. More fairs coming up but that's for another post...
(photo courtesy of Kathy Goldner, Knitting Out Loud audio books)