Time flies

My deep apologies for being absent for so long.  I've been *meaning* to catch up but life's been happening.  Here's a very image-heavy post to catch y'all up!

The end of May always means the annual Great Lakes Fiber Show.  This year, 3 friends and I hung out in Wooster, OH for the weekend and had so much fun.  Here's a bunch of photos ... mostly of stuff I bought.  Next year, I'll try to do better at getting photos of people (including me and my friends!) and animals but for now (and in no particular order) ....

Christina brought buttons.  These are the two I chose.

A trip to Wooster always includes a meal at Broken Rocks Cafe.
On the first night, I sipped a strawberry margarita with a sugared rim (instead of salt).  Yum!

My dinner on the first night was kind of amazing.
Beef tenderloin, topped with something I don't remember, but I asked the chef
to add bacon to it.  Sides of asparagus and potatoes.  Divine.

A friend asked me to repair the thumb of a mitten that her dog chewed up.
It was in my knitting basket so I got it done while I was surrounded by folks I could ask for help if needed.
  Turned out to be an easy fix!

Fish leather.  Makes sense that it's a thing, but I'd never seen it before.

Check out this cool basket.
I think it's actually a planter, but it will certainly suffice for yarn storage. 

There's my car at the end of day 1.  Last one standing.

Project bag.  Oil cloth ... should be nice & sturdy.  And how could I go wrong with sugar skulls?

Day one dessert: Strawberry shortcake with creme fraiche and vanilla bean ice cream.
The calories are SO worth it.

Sheepy oilcloth apron.  I ended up buying more twill tape and lengthening the straps so I could wrap them around my waist in order to hang a towel.  That's how I roll. 

Black yak/merino blend fiber.  It was 50% off ... I couldn't just LEAVE it there!!

Here's that fiber on the spindle.  Ply on the fly, baby!

One vender had these light-up letters at her booth.  I need this in my life!

Two new baskets.  Fair trade, made in West Africa.  I love these!

These cute bags are made from recycled materials.
The larger one is my "notions" bag with all kinds of stuff in it (markers, tape measure, a crochet hook, darning needles, etc).  The smaller one with the elephant is my makeup bag and lives in my purse/backpack.

Squishy little stress reliever sheep.  I think he needs a sweater.  

More yak/merino fiber, waiting to be spun up. This stuff is heavenly.

I had to have this cute red scarf with sheep on it!

Large project bag, with hedgehogs and OWLS!  

Small project bag, perfect for knitting socks on the go.

Here's the inside.

My friend Kate Larson wrote a book ....

... and was kind enough to sign (and date) it for me.

Saw this adorable little sheep keyring ....

.... and decided I needed a flock.  This is the closest I will ever get to being a shepherd. 

So .... this gorgeous yarn was on sale too. $10 each (from the original $28 price).
This is a lovely merino, cashmere, and silk yarn, you already know I had to have it.
I got enough for a sweater.  Now to choose a pattern ....

Another cute project bag.  You can never have too many.  Seriously.

Fiber I've never spun before: Targhee.  I bought about 12 oz, and put some on the spindle right away.
I love how springy it is. 

This is a fiber blend I've never spun ... alpaca/bamboo.  It's black alpaca mixed with emerald green bamboo.
It's so subtle but boy does it pop in the daylight.

Cute owl and pearl stitch markers.  Something else a knitter can never have enough of.

And I "needed" another spindle.  This one came with its own storage bag.

Next time, an update on my list of current and recently completed projects!

Until then ...
-mz