VK Live Pt.2

After a little bit of a slow start on Saturday morning, wherein I walked the dog and packed up Wool Dispensary orders (happily because of this), shuffling around my apartment in a planning haze. You know when you have all these things swirling around your head about what is going to happen but you can not for the life of you seem to get them in any coherent order. That was Saturday morning. I blame yarn fumes.

I wanted to make it down to the Palmer House in time to get a copy of Finishing School signed by Debbie Newton. She was at the Vogue Knitting booth from 1 to 1:30 pm. That was forefront in my mind. Next was meeting up with friends around four and possibly catching the 'When your passion becomes your career panel' at three. In between, well that was up to me.

I made it out of my house by sheer force of will. The market was swamped. Because I was in a booth all Friday night, I didn't realize how many people were there. Saturday was unlimited exploration. The aisles were a little cramped especially when you put lots of bags of purchased yarn into the equation. Maybe a squirreling station next year? But I did make it to get my book signed. Since I purchased my copy there, I also received a free copy of Stitchionary 2: Cables. Woot!

After the last great reorganization of my studio wherein I discovered SABLE and beyond I wanted to be cautious and thoughtful about my yarn purchases. As much as I could have gone hog wild, my pocket book and storage containers appreciated the restraint. I am fortunate to have 3 amazing LYSs within easy distance of me and working in the yarn industry for a number of years has given me a solid grasp of yarns and what I like. I am spoiled in that way. So I bypassed quite a few booths (sorry to say that but it's true). I wanted to find yarns not as readily available to me. 

I had seen Studio Donegal at Stitches Midwest but had already blown my budget on other goodies (can anyone say bundle of Rittenhouse) so I sadly passed them by then. Luckily, they were there in conjunction with Leilani Fiber Arts and Melissa Leapman. As I stroked the soft tweed and dreamed of hills of Ireland an image of the Rocky Coast Cardigan jumped into my head. A sweater-quantity was destined to come home with me but in what color? Sometimes you just need the advice of friends. 

When the Lovely Bitches with Lovely Stitches got there it was unanimously agreed that Oatmeal be the color of my cardigan. And so it was done. 5 skeins of soft heather oatmeal tweed are now mine. 

Looking at the White Whale booklet by Ann Weaver? That was Sunday. As I worked in the Nina booth I couldn't help but notice all the gorgeous sweaters running past. And I caved. Not to mention I am slowly working my way through Moby Dick and am a sucker for good illustration. The patterns are exquisite and it will take a lot of will power not to start something new before the holidays. 

Sunday started off with a brisk walk in the early morning with Gudrun Johnson down to Eleven City Diner for a quick breakfast before my lecture and her Knitterati appearance. I first met her at TNNA and was so pleased when she emailed and we had time to get together for brunch. I wish I could have shown her (and everyone who came to town) around my city. In another life, I was a concierge. It's such a pleasure to introduce people to the city I know and love. Vogue Knitting Live was such an insular event there was little time left for anything besides what was going on in the hotel. If I didn't live in another part of Chicago it's very possible that I wouldn't have left that hotel for three days straight. 

After the market closed at six, I stayed to help pack up yarn and displays, hauled everything down to the U-haul and back into the shop. While I am sure Hilary and Nina made an even later night of it, I made my way home around eleven. But not without one last thing. My very last splurge in the market place. I received three yarn bowls in one year from family and friends. I, in no way need another yarn bowl. But who can have too many mugs? Pawley Studios had a beautiful selection of yarn bowls and mugs. I couldn't resist this:

I mean really? Could you?

Birthday Weekend #1

Why this birthday was awesome:

• Time with mom
• YARN!
• Sheep
• Dogs
• Ice cream

If you know me at all, you I love to celebrate my birthday and most years it turns into a month long hooha. Kicking it off this weekend, my mom took me to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson as an early birthday present. I took the train up Harvard and her house in South Beloit on Friday afternoon. Thinking that there would be two 2 hour train rides and a couple of long car rides I packed three knitting projects for the duration of my two day trip. I promptly zonked out on the train ride up there. After a nice two hour nap there was Dairy Haus, which to my delight was open and had my favorite flavor of anise flavored Blue Moon in the case, and some knitting, and wine and dinner and Downton Abbey watching. Then bed, because we were going to be up at the butt-crack of dawn to head up to the festival.

The butt-crack of dawn came and there was coffee to make it less cracky and a quick car jaunt through the back highways of the cheese state to the festival grounds. It was a chilly morning, a first true taste of fall with the wind whipping my hair and biting my cheeks. We sat and watched the Crook & Whistle dog trials.

There are different levels for novice and advanced dogs, the differences being in how long the drive was and the tasks performed. Watching the Shepard and dog work together was amazing, driving home just how integral the relationship between dog and human can be. The dedication on the animal's face as it trotted next to it's human knowing it had a job and that it was respected made me miss my Stella. Unfortunately, no pets on the fair grounds (and for good reason), so she had to be left out. However, grandma did buy her a treat, a deer antler, for her birthday; which is in September as well.

When we couldn't take it anymore we wandered into the hall of breeds where we saw all different sorts of sheep penned up next to each other. You really get to appreciate the diversity of breeds this way. Seeing the tiny Shetland next to the extremely long-wooled and shaggy Icelandic, next to the big, fat Romney and my personal favorite the Leicester (blue faced or not).

We shopped the hall of vendors. My mom treated me to some birthday yarn; a skein of beautiful DK in natural brown/grey, a mixture of BFL and English. So soft I can't stop squishing it. And some birthday buttons made from cut and polished black walnuts. I also treated myself to a sweater quantity of Suri-Shetland blend from Rach-Al-Paca in Minnesota. Can't resist when a skein is only $8! There was also a  giant ceramic dinosaur button purchased, some Somerset cheese and a skein of Angora Bunny & Cormo from Bleating Heart Haven. Too soft and pretty to resist.

My mom was fascinated by the shearing demonstration and I have to admit I was too.

The shearer was captivating. I could just imagine sitting down for a beer and some cheese curds to listen to his life story. At 58, he's been shearing for 35 years and learned in New Zealand. Hence the wool pants and old school shearing mocs. Kinda makes me want to go to shearing school and not just 'cause I might get to go to New Zealand. He did make tossing about a 140 lb sheep look easy.

After a lunch of lamb brat and root beer float we watched more Crook and Whistle trails until it was time to leave to catch the train. Which I barely made since mom's GPS was down and the navigator (me) was lulled into a nap and we almost ended up in Lake Geneva instead of Harvard. With minutes to spare I boarded the train home laden with yarn and happy smile.