Garden State Sheep & Fiber

 Random Thoughts, Yarn  Comments Off on Garden State Sheep & Fiber
Sep 072014
 
Garden State Sheep & Fiber

This weekend was New Jersey’s 20th annual fiber fest, and although it’s small, I like to think of it as powerful. There are four barns full of animals, fleece, spinning, shows and vendors – just enough for a good half day, with the added bonus of being local for me. Almost everything is under cover, which worked out nicely this year in the feels-like 100 degree heat, followed in the afternoon by drenching thunderstorms. I left before the actual rains came, but felt like I had been soaked anyway by that time from the humidity. The shade helped them, but the animals were hot too; the sheep that were getting sheared seemed pleased to lose the extra insulation. This guy was a blue ribbon winner, and he looked totally over it. The angora bunnies were alert, but keeping motion to a minimum. There were kids leading sheep around the show ring, the local spinners’ guild doing their thing, lots of fibery crafts (SO many felted things!) and a super array of booths from indie dyers. . . .

New Yarn . . .

 Images, Yarn  Comments Off on New Yarn . . .
May 072014
 
New Yarn . . .

and mixed feelings. Exultant over the fabulous stash enhancement, at excellent prices. And despairing at the reason for the sale – my fave LYS is closing. It’s always sad when a small, indie business shuts its doors, and it makes me re-commit to buying local in the effort to prevent more of the same from happening. In this case, the owner of Down Cellar is relocating for family reasons, and there’s no one to step in and take over. Even though as a consumer I cant really help with that in this case, maybe I can in others. That’s a thought to sticky-note to the computer as a reminder during future surfing sessions.