Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival 2010!

Here is the sheep.
And there is the wool.
These are "hand crafted yarns" by Jan Marek Raczkowski. He doesn't have a website, but can be reached via email at janraczkowski(at)comcast.net.
I see Jan at many fiber festivals.
His business card reads: hand crafted yarns, hand knitted and hand woven wearables, handmade pottery.
And also says "studio and gardens".
He is always wearing a gorgeous hand-knit sweater. Above is the sweater he was wearing at the festival.
I love to watch the sheep dog trials. We own a copy of Babe. My favorite scene is of the farmer singing to Babe.
It was hard to convince Karen, my booth buddy (Karen's husband and my husband have been friends since they were twelve, and Karen always kindly consents to come help me at these festivals - last September she bought a goat, now she has two) not to buy a lamb. I'm not sure we could have smuggled it past the front desk of our hotel.
My camera must be on some weird exposure, because outdoor shots are now over-exposed. But isn't this an adorable rabbit?
The glorious wool above is from Brown Farm in Scotland, CT. In addition to their lovely yarn, they have goat meat, fresh eggs, broilers, angora yarn, cord wood and organic fruits, vegetables and preserves. You can phone them at 860 423 0533.
The yarn above is Nepalese silk, spun from recycled saris. The colors are brilliant oranges, blues, scarlets, fuschias, which this photo doesn't really capture. It is available from Susan Bates, www.cooperage.com, who found it in Nepal. Her website has lovely photos.
The man with the kilt was back!
I loved this amazing poncho...


We adore maple syrup.
Above are the gorgeous hand-painted yarns of Purple Fleece.
Here's Debbie, owner of Purple Fleece, spinning. In addition to yarn, Debbie sells spinning and weaving supplies. She also gives spinning and weaving lessons.
Debbie just returned from a visit to Sweden. She was worried that the Icelandic volcano eruption would delay their return, but their flight left on time. My daughter was stuck (well...) in Dublin for a few days. She flew home yesterday, while I was here. Dad picked her up at Logan.
The adorable animals above are from Alpaca Hill Farm.
And this remarkable spinning wheel is from Twist of Fate Spinnery.
And the luscious yarn above, and cutie below, are from Bittersweet Ridge, 860 355 2644.

I loved this wonderful and unusual vest.
A few hours after I took the photos of the vest, another lady came running up to me with this same vest. "She gave it to me!" she said. She had admired it, and the woman gave it to her, saying she wanted to make another one anyway. Knitters!
And look at these charming socks. The owner of these socks sheared, prepared, dyed and spun the yarn for them. Stunning!

Other highlights:
The door curse: There is often something odd about the hotels Karen and I stay in on these jaunts. Last year at the NH S&W, the motel had a pigeon nesting in the window box of our room, about which the motel owner had a long and involved story. At the NETA Spa and Knit in February here in Maine, the electricity went out in the motel and the only light we had was my cell phone. So as we were driving to the hotel, Karen was wondering what would be funny about this hotel. "The door," she said. "There will be something funny about the door." We arrived at this hotel with our luggage as well as bags of food and knitting, looking a little like immigrants. We received the door key and proceeded to the third floor. We put our massive amounts of luggage down and put the key in the door. It wouldn't work! Karen and I both tried it. I had to get the concierge who showed us the trick to it. The next day after the festival, I couldn't find the key! And had to get the concierge again. Oh the shame. I found the key in my purse when we got into the room. Next time and I am not going to let Karen tell me what she thinks might be funny about the hotel.

Moo Dog Knits: I met Chris Brunson, editor of this new fiber magazine.

It's a Purl Man podcaster Guido Stein came by and interviewed me. Fun!

Karen knit bombed down and back. She writes about it, complete with photos, on her blog My Life with Knitters.

Best question of the Festival: A lady asked my delightful friend and booth buddy Karen if Linda Cortright, on our new audiobook Wild Fibers, mentions where to get yak butter tea.

Paula Moliver of examiner.com wrote about the festival and made a Youtube video of sheep shearing, bunnies, yarn, fleece and other highlights from the day.

Rhode Island Sheep and Wool Festival planner Linda Rhynard stopped by. Yay, another sheep and wool festival! This one is May 15th.

We had a great time! See you in New Hampshire May 8th and 9th!!!
-Kathy