The Woolen Rabbit

Mama's Got A New Vest.....

Accomplish your visions.
Persevere in your ambitions.
Only then can you negate
Visions and ambitions.
Deng Ming~Dao

Whew....I finally feel as though I am caught up. I love doing fiber fairs, but they truly do take a lot of work.....especially getting caught up after the fact, but I do so enjoy getting to visit with both new and old fiber friends. :-)

While I was making purchases in Rhinebeck I made a promise to myself to clean up some of my UFO's.  Yep...those bags piled around my chair (or throne as Ken likes to call it.)

I had mentioned a while back that the handspun vest that I practically live in was falling apart.  Anticipating that I will have to toss it pretty soon, I started another one.

I had hoped to have it ready to wear in Rhinebeck but alas that darn button band took longer than I anticipated.  PIcking up from the bottom, going around the neck and then back down the other side translates into a lot of stitches....just sayin'

Then there was the button dilemma.

The buttons in the first picture were actually rescued from the first vest and amazingly they match perfectly.  Then I found these sweet buttons at a vendor in Rhinebeck. (I wish I could remember her name.)

I went back and forth and back and forth, but finally settled on the old buttons.  It's like a little piece of the old vest is still with me and the new buttons would look really nice on something that had perhaps some navy and rust together.  Hmmmm.....I'm sensing a new colorway. :-)

Pattern:  Side Slit Vest by Sarah James
Yarn:  Hand spun wool/mohair blend from Spinner's Hill
Needles:  Size 6 and 8

I added a few inches to the length of this vest.  I don't think I would do that next time.  Other than that, I love it!  I'm thinking I could use another one. ;-)

I fell down the rabbit hole hard......

I am betting that almost any fiber person on the east coast can guess where I was this weekend just by looking at those lovely trees.  These colorful trees always welcome we Autumn fiber enthusiasts into the beautiful town of Rhinebeck...never changing and always beautiful in October.

This was my 11th trip to Rhinebeck and as a rule of thumb I am usually pretty good about hanging on to my pocketbook, but this year I fell deep into the Rabbit Hole...eek~

I have to admit though....it was all good.  This year has been a year of hard work with little time for much else, so it was such a treat to be with much loved friends and incredible fiber.
(yep....long post, lots of pics....just sayin')

I started out the weekend with a trip to the Culinary Institute on Thursday evening with my Yarnmonger friends, Vanessa, Hope and Jaya.  What a treat!

  I followed that with another trip to the Institute on Friday with my dear friends, Anne, Kim(kim, kim) and Beckie, Natalie and Mary.  Natalie and her husband both work at the Institute, so we were treated to a behind the scene tour of the inner workings of the Institute....thank you Natalie!

Saturday brought chilly temperatures and gusty winds, but this did not deter the crowds.....and let me tell you what a crowd it was!

My first stop was to visit Chris in the Briar Rose Booth.  Last year I purchased a pattern from Chris and this year I decided to purchase the yarn to make it. :-)  This is Glory days...beautiful blues and greens.

As I was wandering around the various booths I came across the Fiber Optics booth....oh my!  These girls have a wonderful sense of color.  I rarely buy fiber these days as I have a houseful of it, but I couldn't resist these beautiful rovings.  Could you?

What can I say?  Anne had this fabulous sweater and the yarn from Spirit trails was one that I didn't have here, so that's a good excuse...right?
(are you sensing an unusal attraction to blue??  yikes!)

...and the big purchase....
I'll share more about this later, but until then I will tell you I am smitten with this little block of wood. ;-)

...but the most precious items of all were the ones gifted to me by friends.  I love how my friends really understand how much I love those little bee girls!

The beeutiful Abeille soap is from Kim, kim, kim and the beeswax is a useful gift from another lover of fine spinning wheels, Vanessa.  The wine was a gift from the girls who love and follow Anne thru the knitspot ravelry group.

It was a wonderful vacation.  I am so thankful that Ken encouraged me to take a few extra days so that I could rest and recooperate after the busy fair season.

I am rested and looking forward to what is ahead.  The upcoming year promises to be an exciting and interesting one. :-)

Beeutiful!

I know I said I would be better about posting, but truly I have been away for a good reason. :-)  It's my yearly fiber participation at Fryeburg Fair, which means I am there from 8am until 9pm for the week, except for today (so I can do my real job)....but it's all good!

I work with a group of incredibly talented women.  Each is gifted with a talent that is a little different than the next which makes it all work so well.

I always purchase a piece of art from my dear friend Julie of Kick the Moon Farm.  This year as I strolled into her booth, can you believe what was facing me?  Holy crap, that little Fairy Queen Bee was meant just for me..........don't you agree?

I'll be back soon...I promise. :-)