SAFF

Last week end a friend, Debbie and I decided at the last minute to take a trip down to Asheville for the SAFF festival.  I am so darn stinking glad that I said yes when she called me up!

We left Saturday afternoon and after a 5 hour trip we arrived at the hotel and were greeted in the lobby by a group of fun loving spinners and knitter having an impromptu spin in.  Well, if you know us, you know that Debbie and I grabbed our wheels and luggage, checked in and ran back down to the lobby with wheels and fiber in tow.

What an amazing group of women and one young man we met.  Unfortunately, I remember to bring the cables to download pictures to my ipad, but completely forgot to bring my camera, so no pictures of our new fiber loving friends.  At 2 am, I had my fill of homemade raspberry wine and could barely keep my eyes open as I trudged down the hall to the room.  I did manage to last to the very end though!

Up at 8 am.  A quick shower later found us in the lobby eating some of the best waffles from a wonderfully spread continental breakfast.  From there, check out and off to the show!

This is the first thing you see as you enter the fair grounds.

The main arena at SAFF

OMG.  This picture is crappy, but her hand felted puppets are out of this world!

My Bootie!

Baby Doll roving

Two more bags of crosspatch creations from Susan Markle of Trading Post Fibers

What the Crosspatch creations will become;)

Lovely top from Gales Art

Silver enamel sheep earrings.  How can you go wrong!

A 'Trindle' spindle and Mountain Colors Targhee Top.  Lovely stuff!

And before I forget....  I did put in an application for the 2011 show.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I make it in;)

SIFF & SAFF

Where did the time go!  I have been wanting for so long to get a few posts up about the Southern Indiana Fiberarts Festival and my trip to SAFF!  I figure I can use today as a little catch up time for the poor wittle neglected blog.

I was a vendor at SIFF this year.  The festival takes place around the same time as Rhinebeck, so many of you may not have heard of it before.  It is a small festival and each year, it gets a little better.

One of the big plusses for this festival .. it is almost ENTIRELY in doors!   You can't beat a festival where your booth is out of the rain;)  Also, I simply love the comradery of my fellow vendors at this show.

I am definitely looking forward to next year!  And I must apologize for not getting all the vendor booth photos.  These are the ones who were set up  when I was finished setting up  on Thursday.  Trust me there were many vendors I missed getting photos of.

Next up...... my SAFF trip;)

My booth ;)

One of my customers showing off the shawl she made from the BFL Sock in Apple Pie with Cinnabar edge.

I bought the gray one for my Nephew in Japan.  These lovely bears are made of Soft Hypo-Allergenic Alpaca.

The Alpaca Bear Booth

Look at the size of her......  Bunny!

The bunnies were hiding under the tables;)

Mmmm..  I was in smelly heaven here!

One of her yarns graces the cover of a Cat Bordhi book!

Soap Balls- These were perfect for washing your hands.  Next year, I will have to remember to get a few!

The soap Lady's yarns.

Colortura

Setting up.

Follow the Star Studio had some of the most beautiful handspun art yarn around!

Loved her huge needles and shawl pins!

Huge needles

Shawl Pins

Peeps, Sheep & Rabbitry...  Kinda flows off the tongue

Rooster Run

Yarn

Socks

One of three outside vendors;)

The gals across the way from us were selling rug hooking kits and this was my favorite;)

Of course they had sheep

and supplies;)

These beautiful rugs were sold by local Mennonites 

and the front rainbow one is now adorning the floor  of my kitchen:)

These shawls were simply stunning!

Shawl booth

I love, Love, LOVE the name Spitters!

She had some very adorable felted work too;)

She is very lucky I let her keep her fabulous pumpkins!  They were gorgeous!!

Ursula

Got one of these last year and love it, but waiting for a special project to use it;)

Cute little pin cushions

and adorable cupcakes

All from Ewesing Wool;)

Did I ever tell you I was a sucker for yarn bowls?

And brightly colored fiber?

Pearl Pirtle

I will be adding a new spinning wheel to the herd pretty soon. I got lucky and found a fun little wheel on the web and after a few convos back and forth she is now mine. I will not get to play with her for a while as she is being dropped off with a friend who will bring her to me at a later date. But, the herd of wheels and I are definitely looking forward to her arrival!

I have already named this lovely little wheel 'Pearl' Pirtle.  She was originally created in the 1970's by Paul & Beverly Pirtle.  Paul was a retired Air Force  engineer and made the Pirtle spinning wheels out of their garage in Huntington Beach, CA.  Pearl is one of approximately 200 Pirtle wheels made.  Due to her lovely 1" yarn guides and orifice, Pearl and I should be turning out some fun, funky and large art yarns soon!