My last minute trip to Maryland was a complete success. Everything just seemed to work out perfectly. I got airfare from Columbus for $144, Barb needed a roommate so I was able to split the hotel room with her and I rented a cool Jeep for the same price as an economy car. We had a wonderful group of 10 from Friendship Spinners all staying at the Fairfield Inn in Frederick: Barb, Nancy, Theresa, Linda, Sandy, Betty and Mark, Carol and Ted, and me. Friday night, I arrived in Baltimore around midnight and picked up the car for the 30 minute drive to Frederick. At 2 a.m. I was still driving around Baltimore trying to find my way to Frederick. I drove under the harbor tunnel twice (and paid $2 each time for the privilege). I didn’t panic, but I was a mite confused. Eventually, I found my way out of the city and got to the hotel around 2:30, totally exhausted. Barb was so sweet – she’d been worried about me and was glad to see I had made it safely.
Saturday morning, then, I slept in. I got to the Festival around noon and immersed myself in the sights and smells of utter wool abandonment. Too much hyperbole? Not really. It was heaven on earth for the fiberholic.
Saturday morning, then, I slept in. I got to the Festival around noon and immersed myself in the sights and smells of utter wool abandonment. Too much hyperbole? Not really. It was heaven on earth for the fiberholic.
The Festival was HUGE, as usual. It took me two full days even to SEE it all. They had everything that a fiber lover could love. 
They had sheep and alpacas. 
These alpacas were especially cute with their funky haircuts. They also demonstrate the difference between Suri and Huycaya alpaca. The alpaca to the left with the dread locks is Suri and the fuzzy one to the right is Huycaya. Aren't they adorable? 
This lady was proudly leading her newly purchased sheep to the truck and let me take a picture. Her only worry, she said, was how to break it to her husband that she was coming home with another sheep! 
This sheep is getting a haircut. I was impressed with the way the shearer, a slim woman, was able to handle that large sheep. 
This woman was demonstrating spinning directly from the bunny. She had some beautiful English angoras. I've tried doing that with Andy and he won't sit still long enough for me to spin anything. He just jumps off my lap. Her angoras were much better behaved!
The auction on Saturday called to my frugal (stingy) tendencies and sucked me in for most of the day and I scored big time. I got a Brother Knitting Machine for $20!!! and, if that wasn't enough, I snapped up an item that's been on my wish list for years: an Ashford lace flyer. They run $180, the primary reason that I don't have one. At the auction, I was able to get one for $80 -- $100 off! I was thrilled! I can see that the auction is going to be dangerous to me. They had all sorts of amazing eclectic items that you'd never see anywhere else and at amazing prices. They had antique skein winders with clickers (another item on my wish list), and looms and a kick spindle and spool holders and warp reels and carders and combs -- everything you could think of. It was hard to tear myself away.
The lure of Tess' Designer Yarns, however, was sufficient to draw me to it. I don't know how Melinda does it! It's just yarn and it's just dye -- but she makes it into art. Her booth is just too beautiful to be described. She groups her yarns by colorway, not type and the effect makes you want to swoon. It's overwhelming. And the yarn! So soft, so lovely, almost edible. Unfortunately, it's expensive. I bought two skeins of sock yarn, which were very reasonably priced at $15 each. 
Then I had to buy a skein of her cultured silk and wool (50/50). It was $30 for 200 yards (100 oz.), but so worth it. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I'm glad I bought it. I may just hang it on the wall for inspiration. 
Saturday evening we gathered at the hotel for the annual "Run From the Roses" party. Linda supplied us all with cute little jockey hats and we placed our bets (actually we drew our horses randomly). 
Barb won the pool -- it must be good luck to room with me. I think Lorain won last year. After the race we went to May's for a crab dinner. I think we'll go somewhere else next year. We were underwhelmed. Even though we had a reservation, we had to wait for 45 minutes and they refused to do separate checks for our party of ten. The service was slow and somewhat surly and there was a puddle of water on the floor that they never cleaned up, even after a waitress slipped in it. The food, however, was good. I guess that's how they stay in business. It certainly isn't their charming atmosphere or excellent service.
On Sunday, I spent more time at the booths. I also toyed with the idea of buying a raw fleece. Carol had bought a gorgeous dark brown fleece and I was tempted to follow her lead. I was looking for Shetland to spin on my new lace flyer. 
They had bags and bags -- some beautiful, some crappy and filled with dirt. I ended up foregoing the "pleasure" of all that preparation (I've still got about five pounds of raw Romney in the basement)
and bought 8 0z. of Shetland roving from Louis at Little Barn. I also bought 10 skeins of his inexpensive worsted weight wool in black. I'm hoping to make a sweater and accent it with other colors, like a stained glass window effect. 
Four teams competed in the "Sheep to Shawl" competition on Sunday morning. They started with a sheep at 8 a.m., sheared it, carded the wool, spun the wool and wove a shawl before 10:30 a.m. The shawls were then auctioned off for charity. 
Another cool thing was the team knitting. A group of four knitters all were working together in a circle on one afgan, which they were going to give to "afgans for Afgans." They gave me a set of instructions -- somehow each knitter knits with one half of two sets of circular needles, so the circular needles go around the outside edges. It's hard to conceptualize, but it worked. 
For lunch on Sunday, I chowed down on a leg of lamb sandwich. I couldn't decide which condiments I wanted, so I put mint jelly on one half and horseradish and pickle relish on the other half. It was really good! I hung around until they closed down the Festival -- irritating the vendors by wandering around the booths while they were trying to put everything away. I just didn't want it to end.
Sunday night we had better luck with our dinner -- at least for those who were still around to eat it. Nancy and Theresa left at noon and Betty and Mark were gone too. We went to the Red Horse Inn and had a marvelous meal. It was a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. They seated us immediately and were very accomodating about making out separate checks. And the food was incredible! I had a petite filet mignon and a crab cake and it came with salad, potato and asparagus. It was a real treat. Monday, I made my leisurely way to the airport for my 4:20 flight, which was uneventful and I got home from Columbus around 11:30. 
Here are my purchases (except the Shetland roving, which somehow missed the picture). It was a wonderful trip. I had a great time wandering the aisles at the Festival and a super great time hanging out with a delightful group of spinners.
Here are my purchases (except the Shetland roving, which somehow missed the picture). It was a wonderful trip. I had a great time wandering the aisles at the Festival and a super great time hanging out with a delightful group of spinners. I hope Linda and Sandy made it to airport with Roseannadanna. She was getting a little testy ....
