"Because it wasn't enough that Daddy works all day so that Mommy can buy yarn."

Billiam's response when Emma asked why I wanted to learn how to use drop spindle. I love you, sweetie. You're the best. Mwah.

I loved the class. The teacher was Sally Jenkins of The Golden Spindle (sadly, webpageless), and she was great. First we spun with very skinny pencil roving then moved on to Romney Fleece. Once we had done that for a little while, we plied the two together. Mine could best be described as inconsistent, but I'm pleased, nonetheless. As Sally demonstrated carding fleece I had grandiose visions of growing Daisy's hair long again and then spinning with it.

This is the stuff we started with (minus the pencil roving, as I spun all of that up). That's coopworth to the left and the romney fleece to the right. We learned on a spindle made of a dowel and two cd's glued together. Those things in the front are quills, so that the newly spun yarn can be removed easily from the shaft.

And here is my precious, in all its uneven glory:

Yes, my pencil roving spun into a much finer strand than my romney which appears to be coming undone.

My girlfriend was supposed to take the class with me but couldn't at the last minute. It would have been more fun with her there, but I got her materials and will attempt to share what knowledge I gleaned.

And you know where this spindling is going, don't you? Dad, if I can't have a horse, can I have a spinning wheel?

MD Sheep and Wool

Saturday morning...the line started on the highway.


and kept going. The fairgrounds are up this hill.

The people within the yellow lines are all in front of me in line at The Fold, waiting to pay for Socks That Rock. We were repeatedly asked if we were in line to get into the barn.

Lydia amused herself with leaves on the ground as we waited. See my crocs? It wasn't until we were leaving that I noticed Lydia and I were dressed all matchy-matchy. My shirt was the color of her shoes and her top matched my crocs. And that top? It's this one (scroll down). She has been wearing it for a year! First as a dress, now as a top. That, my friends, is a good pattern! And the silk gets softer each time it's washed.

Here are the folks in line behind me at The Fold.

On Saturday there were a gajillion more people there than when I went last year (on Sunday). This was when we took a break to share a bbq sandwich. Nope. As good as it smelled, I just couldn't get the lamb. We had beef.

"Thank you for not eating my friends...and where is Angie?"

The weather was gorgeous, but toting Lydia around in the crowds (especially in the main building) has my arms still sore, two days later. For some reason she wanted nothing to do with the sling and I didn't want to have to navigate a stroller through the crowds. By the time we got in the gate is was after 10 and we left at 1:45. In that time I went through one barn and the main building, stopping for lunch in between. The most time was spent in line at Tess Yarns and The Fold, but Shelridge Farm had a line, too. It seemed like that at many of the vendors and I didn't really get a change to look at things as much as I would have liked to. It was nice chatting with Buffy and she remembered Lydia from last year (when she held her as I chose my colors). The Taylors are very excited to be expecting their second grandchild in October.

If you were there and saw a wild-eyed, sweaty-faced woman struggling to hold a wiggly baby (who was no doubt cursing me in baby-speak), that was me. I went to the area (I think) where the big blogger meet up was supposed to be at one, but you know, no one was holding a sign that said "Big Blogger Meet Up," so I didn't meet anyone. Just as well. I really looked like hell by then.

And now, the loot:

(Billiam, please avert your eyes)

Top, left: my spindle!, Tess' Designer Yarns supersock

middle: all my lovelies from Sheldridge Farm.

bottom: Socks That Rock in Crazy Lace Agate

And I still have to tell you about my drop spindle class/aka A New Obsession is Born.

let's talk Sheep and Wool.

So, are you going? I am so excited to be taking a drop spindle class Sunday morning and will be drooling and spinning in circles walking around with Lydia to see the vendors on Saturday.

I was really hoping to meet Angie in person, but she has had to cancel her trip because of a scary foot situation with her husband.

I will be keeping an eye out for cool things to add to the remaining four drawings. Will I see you there?