Our week has been rainy and foggy for quite a while, but luckily on on Saturday it was only foggy and began to clear as I walked through the tunnel of forest, over the woodsy brook, to the fair grounds.
I love this Fair so much and have been going to it for about....well, over 10 years! It used to be in another town, in the south of my state, but for the last few years has been much nearer. This means I get there very early and go back the second day.
I love the "just the right size" nature of this fair - I can visit and talk to every vendor in a day and over time, I've gotten to know quite a few!
My first visit this year was to Ball & Skein (pictures of booths on my blog are all with permission):
Her booth was Beautiful! Everywhere I looked there were the colours and the images of nature - leaves, vines, ocean waves, sea glass, abalone shell, beach rocks, flowing garments, natural coloured yarn, glowing natural woods... it was amazing and very striking! And very hard to resist! I got a pretty fingerless mitt pattern with an oak leaf design and two skeins of yarn - one in deep green and other in a dark, complex brown.
I was next distracted by the Sheep Dog Trials. I love to watch these happy well-trained dogs herding the sheep or the geese into the little pen across a wide and hilly field! What I like best is that the dogs are so joyous in their work - the just love to hear that "good dog!" from their trainers and when their turn is finished and they head out of the gate, their tales are wagging and their heads held high. I love a happy, well-cared-for dog.
(the dog is that dark spot behind the last sheep)
Next, I wandered through the several barns, perusing what might well have been every single skein and accessory!
I love especially the small farm vendors and always find treasures. Here is Tidal Yarns, a spinner and dyer new to me. Her natural colours just glow:
And here is Persimmon Tree Farm, who I first met at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Fest in Virginia where I fell in love with her single spun Pot Luck yarns:
I fell hard, and although her yarns don't have colour names I think the green one is definitely seaweed-like, and the magenta yarns so closely match the cherry blossoms in bloom at my house right now!
I don't know what it is about these nature-dyed yarns. I love the subtlety and depth of the colours so much more.
These are silks from Longridge Farm - Earthhues Natural dyed yarns...
And speaking of gorgeous colour, I visited the DyakCraft booth both Saturday and Sunday, to visit with the wonderful Linda and to finally make up my mind about which interchangeable needle set I wanted!
Their needles are Darn Pretty! Each one is hand made by Linda's husband Tom, hand polished, hand tipped and pointed, individually tested. You don't get that just anywhere! Only with an artisan company where the owners are the crafters of each individual tool.
The colours above are, from left to right, Hazelnut, Vermont Apple, Sunrise, Bubblegum, Winter Sky, Sunrise (again), Bloomin', and Vermont Rosewood. I had a hard time making up my mind - they are all so beautiful - and Linda allowed me to order a mixed set. I can't wait! But I have to wait - for Tom to get the wood and to make them by hand - each one, just for me. Linda will make my case and Tom will sign it. There is just no comparison. I'll love using my exceptional knitting tools!
By now I was so near to the animal barns that I could hear the sheep baa-ing and the alpacas whistling! Wandering through the animal barns and visiting the owner's booths is another joy of this particular fair. I always look for handspun yarns that are labeled with the names of the 'real owners' - the animals themselves!!
feeling cosy and sleepy:
Here's a happy friendly fellow - this particular alpaca was quite outgoing and social!:
Recently sheered, but not minding one bit:
And my favorite small farmer of the Fair: Dillner Hillside Farm
and the yarns - the beautiful, incredibly long locks fleeces - were kindly donated by the angora goats, Max and Primrose:
This handspun will lend itself well to a simple vintage shawl pattern. I'm searching my 1840 - 1860 books for the perfect pattern!
By this time, it was starting to drizzle, and my bags were full.
Time for me to wend my way back through the woods to my cosy home for a warm afternoon of tea of knitting, and hugging my new yarns.
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