It’s not so often that we get a chance around here to indulge in fiber festing. Up in the Northeastern part of the country, it seems like everyone gets to head off to a fiber fest every other week. Here in northern Illinois, we just don’t have that many.
So they’re special. A whirlwind when you do get the chance to go.
This past weekend was the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair up in Lake County, Illinois. The Little Bird and I enjoyed a Saturday afternoon up there, squishing yarns and woolly things and watching the Big Llama Show.
See?
Walking out to the barn.
This llama is showing how to duck…
While her baby waits back in the pen…
And now she’s hopping a hurdle.
It was great fun. The llama pics are all I got, because once we got inside, I’m afraid I was overcome by the wool fumes.
Still, all things considered (wool fumes + pocket full of money), I didn’t go that overboard.
Here’s the haul:
(Yep, the Little Bird lost her two front teeth over the past couple of weeks. Freaking cute, right?)
There’s some Leicester Longwool yarn, Coopworth roving (that big purple and orange bump), Coopworth Silk roving (the greenish one right behind it), some BFL top (the two braids) and a bunch of natural Shetland rovings.
(I’m kind of having an orange thing right now, can you tell?)
There were many many more temptations, but thankfully I had the Little Bird dragging me away from almost everything I got my hands on.
If I have any regrets they are:
- That I didn’t buy a fleece. There were several that sorely tempted me, including a pretty black and white Icelandic fleece at the booth where I got those Shetland rovings. Next year, I’ll be sure to get one.
- That I didn’t go back for the Cormo-Silk roving. It would have been worth it.
- That I didn’t sign up for any sessions. This is tricky, because I’m always pretty sure I’m going to have the Bird in tow, and if I’m going to take a class, I need to fly solo. Maybe next time.
It was a fabulous time. All the fiber arts were well represented. I saw plenty of beautiful and inspiring handwoven items, in particular. And it’s always nice to meet people, hear music, pet llamas, squeeze woolly things and so on.
We had a blast. It kind of makes me wish we could have a fair every month.
