I was here this weekend. “Where else would you be Mom?” asked Sam. You know you gotta get out a little more when your kids really can’t imagine that you have anything better to do than fulfill their lives, do their laundry and knit them socks.
Where else would I be? “Maryland, Sam…I should be in Maryland.” I had me the most serious case of festival envy this weekend, and feel that in the interest of honesty I must confess that I spent much of the weekend planning my escape. It turns out that there were several things coming between me and skipping town to Maryland.
1. I have no money. I usually don’t let this stop me, as it has been my experience that a minor cash shortage can often be overcome with creativity. This weekend, the only quick cash plan I could come up with was to sell Sam’s socks. Unfortunately I didn’t come up with that plan until I’d already given them to Sam, and I remain above ripping the socks off small children to make some quick cash. I may not have been above ripping the socks off Sam if I thought I could find some other 10 year old who would pay $500 for a pair of striped socks.
2. The consequences under Canadian law for Child Abandonment are quite stiff. I’m not sure that there is anything at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival that is worth doing time for. (For the love of my children…don’t tell me if that’s not true)
3. I’m sure that there was no wool that I would have liked. I have lots anyway. It’s not like I would have bought anything even if I was there.
(What’s wrong with a little good old-fashioned repression?)
4. I realized that I don’t know where Maryland is. South, right?
5. Joe says (after we look at the map) that it is about 550 km (350 miles) to Maryland. Since we don’t have a car, it would take me about 7 days to ride my bike there. (Possibly longer, since there seem to be some largish mountains on the way) I don’t mind that… but I’m going to need to start planning my escape way sooner next year.
Claudia says I should go to Rhinebeck in the fall. I wonder where Rhinebeck is?
In the end, I decided that I would stay here, but finish the intarsia panel of the Eeyore blanket as an appropriate statement.
Infer what you will.
My blog neighbour Kate’s husband made a Maryland Sheep and Wool bingo game. Go play. If like me, you didn’t go, I suggest making up enough stuff that you can at least win the damn bingo game. It’s small comfort, but comfort none the less.
Yarn Harlot
YH,
Rest assured, there was nothing there worth bothering over. Really. The sheep were *much* less adorable than I imagined and the line at Koigu was really far too long to be worth mill ends at $.10/gm.
Most of the yarn was terrible. Really. Very little soft, silky, hand-dyed goodness. And I don’t even remember if I saw any fleece… there must have been *some*… I guess most shearers and dyers and spinners were taking the year off. There was hardly anything worth spending one’s rent money on. (And even if one did, that is probably more indicative of one’s compulsion to shop, not of the dreamy softness of silky laceweight wool in heretofore undreamt of colourways.)
I mean the wheels and the spindles and the demos were… just OK I guess. And you know, deep fried twinkies aren’t even that *good* from what I hear. 😉 In any case, maybe next year will be, you know, *better* — I hope to see you there.
You finished a pair of socks and the Eeyore intarsia; I answered emails and made banana bread. Good things all ’round. No, it wasn’t the wool festival, but you’re right — what would one do with all that icky wool anyway?
I do like the bingo game!
I am still very depressed that I didn’t get to go the festival either. Granted I did go on a cruise to the Bahamas last weekend, but there was, get this, no yarn anywhere! What is up with that? I decided that there is no way Paradise Island can ever live up to it’s name until it gets a yarn store.
Ah, Rhinebeck, my Rhinebeck. How I adore thee.
While I am sure Maryland has its charms (and the cooler t-shirts by far), Rhinebeck kicks some serious fiber boo-tay. Plus, it’s only 2 hours from my house and in the lovely Hudson valley. Just think of how nifty it’d be, Harlot, to see New York in the autumn…
Harlot – I cannot lie. Ok, I can, but I won’t in this situation. MDSW was spectacular- but an hour from my apartment in Washington DC, it was like visiting knitter’s Candyland (though aside from Kettlecorn and Funnel cake, there’s nothing I want to eat there). There were some amazing crafters (soap, cheese, pottery and more), great finds (I got some Qiviut!), and it was great to run into old friends. Though I went on Sunday, I heard Saturday was like a clearance sale at Macy’s and there were more than a few crabby vendors. Though my friend and I practiced our elbow and shoving techniques in the car, we didn’t need to open a can of whoop-*ss. Can’t wait to see you there next year – or maybe Rhinebeck in New York.
This was my first MS$W in over 6 years (I know how long because one of the vendor’s daughters showed me a picture of her kid. She was in high school, planning for college when I saw her last). I used to go regularly, demo spinning for a couple of vendors, stuff like that.
The show is not as good as it used to be. Sue said she had nothing new to sell me after not seeing me for 6 whole years (This is another vendor, who was also acquainted with my whole family, and who I love). She is a specialist in books and spinning equipment…the only thing I bought at her stall was the ColorWorks book (spectacular) and some stretched merino.
My favorite dyers have either gone out of business or just didn’t have time to build any more stock. Actually, the main reason I went was to see people. I didn’t even spend all the cash I brought, much less touch the credit cards.
If you want to come next year, you can always crash here. Having a crasher means I will actually go to the show (elka crashed this time).
Rhinebeck is about 45 min to 1 hour south of Albany, NY just off the NYS Thruway. Big festival, pretty scenery but if the weather is bad it is miserable!
I’m just plain envious, too. Just being at a festival like that and walking, talking and seeing other yarn fiends is enough. We have a small festival in September here in Utah. It’s very small but there is always a treasure or three to enjoy…plus the alpaca are too cute for words. Maybe next year, Steph!
Oh, Harlot–you were better off staying home. In addition to the comments above by those who were there, I can give you the following reasons not to be sorry you missed it:
1. Joe’s map math is a little off. Add about 100 miles to his estimate, and you’ll be in the right ballpark.
2. Maryland is hot and humid. I know. I grew up there. Why spend the weekend in sticky icky proximity to thousands of your sworn enemies (“enemies” because they want to buy the same stuff you do and they’ll fight you to get it) when you can spend the weekend in civilized (civilised) Toronto, finishing a way cool pair of socks for your daughter?
3. Finger Lakes Fiber Festival. Even closer to you than Rhinebeck. Smaller, of course, but lovely and manageable. This year it will be September 18 and 19; the festival is in Hemlock, NY–about 30 minutes south of Rochester. Here’s the site:
http://www.gvhg.org/fest.html
If you want to attend, let me know–I’m a member of the sponsoring guild.
4. Major fiber-buying karma points. The self-deprivation you’ve engaged in by not going to Maryland should make you feel blissfully free the next time you want to buy any fibery thing. And just think, with the money you saved on gas (!!!) and lodging alone, you could fund your fiber purchases for at least…a month?
–Kristen
Kristen is right- it was mighty humid yesterday until the pressure dropped. And then suddenly I felt like I was in the Wizard of Oz before the tornado sweeps up Dorothy. Though I understand from friends that it barely sprinkled after that.
I didn’t get to go either. But Eeyore looks great!
I’m envious of everyone’s yarn festivals. I can’t even find a LYS down here and y’all have entire festivals?? I am beginning to hate Texas. There’s no wooly goodness here. Just acrylic. We’re the Red Heart state. *sigh*
On a positive note, Eeyore looks fab. He always was my favorite.
Pouting in Denver as well, especially after reading everyone’s post-festival posts. In the words of the great Eeyore, “Another gloomy day” without a festival.
It rocked. Sorry you missed it. Really.
It takes years of constant attendance to become blase about the goodies. You better start soon.
YH,
Yes, do come to Rhinebeck, NY Ocotber for our Sheep & Wool Festival. http://www.sheepandwool.com/
If you do come down, you must contact me. I will personally escort you (in my car) to the festival. There are buses and trains to be taken to/fro Toronto.
If you don’t come, I will publicly question what kind of Yarn Harlot you really are…
Eeyore was always my favorite, too – your blanket is wonderful! I spent the weekend moving all the stuff from my old laptop to my new one. I must say, I hate XP!!! (sorry for the outburst in your comments, but I had to let it out.)
Oh geez…had I known there was a festival going on Maryland this weekend, it would have taken three days to get back from Massachusetts, because I would have made my friend stop there on the way home. Yeah, I know…Maryland is not “on the way” from Massachusetts to Indiana…but neither was Walden Pond, Harney & Sons tea shop, IES, or Punxsutawney. Rhinebeck sounds almost do-able, though…assuming classes and work don’t kill me next year in grad school.
In September, you can hop on the “Fast Ferry” and do Finger Lakes. It’s no Rhinebeck, but it’s still fun! http://www.gvhg.org
Yeah, I didn’t get to go this year either. Of my many cousins, the only one who knits lives about an hour’s drive from there… lucky lucky Vikki. Two years ago I went to visit her that week and we went. It was heavenly, I bought beautiful hand dyed silks and mohairs. I promised myself I would NOT touch it until I finished the gifts on the needles. Then there was a bumper crop of babies which had me busy making acrylic blankets! I dug out my MDS&W stash last week, and guess what? Yep, it’s in the freezer =( I don’t think the silks are damaged, but the mohair!
I know it’s cuz I should NOT have prayed for M*&%S in the stash for any other knitters – no matter HOW depraved!!!
Ah well. No use going back until I knit up some of the stuff that’s clogging (um – insulating?) my house in every corner. I have some great stuff to knit, so better to save the money for later.
Your Eeyore is just adorable. I do believe he’s saying, “Kiss my bow!”
Don’t underestimate being there for your kids. If they don’t already, when they grow up they will appreciate having had the only mom around who can knit socks like that!
Ken, knitting? In a public place?
Ok, lets fight! 😉