Rhinebeck Part III

We stepped outside and although it was not as busy here, it was certainly picking up.  Happy people were scurrying in all directions.

A lovely band played us on our way to the next 3 or 4 halls.

I wanted to dance to the music with the Saint but was afraid I would look like this. Aren't they great? 

I loved these pumpkins too.

The inside of the halls were starting to look like this but what I like best about the whole experience was that people were kind and polite.

A lady spinning on an electric wheel. It is the first time I have seen one being used. It looks all wrong. 

There was still fleece everywhere. YAY. The back of these halls are clear plastic stapled to the supports so there will be a lot of backlit shots from now on.

Did I tell you I have a thing about sheep.....

These entralac colours were very tempting. The colours are very pretty.

At last, the Sanguine Gryphon Booth. Can you see all the heads at the bottom, hence no shot of the yarn, just a little sneak preview in the corner above the heads on the left.

Now I will tell you why the Saint is call the Saint. This is the line of people waiting to pay for their purchases from this booth and he offered to join the queue for me and buy what I chose so I could go and look at other halls. I did not have the patience for this stall even though I believe the yarn is outstanding. We moved on rather swiftly.

Finally we managed to wander pass some animals who were gorgeous. I love their colours and 'curls'.

The next hall had woven wares hanging around waiting for new homes

and a spinning wheel lamp.

Don't you just want to reach into this photograph and stroke these. They were so luscious

along with all the other goods on the stall. 

A lovely lady was taking a photo of these three beautiful lasses modelling the hats and I asked if I could take one too. They look like they are having a great time.

Further along this lady was spinning to the accompaniment of the banjo

and my heart went out to this beautiful angora rabbit who had everyone touching it as they walked passed.

At this stall, Swift River Farm, Shetland breeding stock with UK genetics. I made one of my few impulse buys. This roving was so beautiful to the touch that I had to bring some home.

A yarn stall that had gentle solid colours.

These were the most intriguing drop spindles that I saw. I wanted to talk to the creator but she was so busy at the time. I did wonder about their balance but they must be great fun to use.

Monster hats all hanging in a row.

I chatted to a wonderful weaver who was weaving on a tiny loom at her stall. She had some beautiful pieces for sale and shared her knowledge with me freely. I spent quite some time admiring her work.

This piece was my favourite. She had converted an overshot pattern into a twill pattern so that there were no floats at the back. I really want to try this.

 

Here is  a real farm stall with plants, preserves, fleece, yarn, fruit and books among some of the goods on offer.

A pretty little sheep throw that caught my eye. It's the sheep thing again...

We escaped outside to the tented stalls to browse around them

where I found the stall that Periwinkle Sheep was sharing and went to purchase some of her lovely yarn to give to my friends as gifts.

Looking back towards the fair, people were starting to sit down to eat their lunches

as we made our way back to a much fuller parking lot.

I had a fabulous morning at Rhinebeck and but was happily ready to leave after the four hours we spent there. It was an experience that I will never forget. 

The Saint, being the saint that he is, admitted that he actually enjoyed it too. He liked the colours and all the different products. Then he asked me if I would like to go again next year....

Rhinebeck Part II

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my previous post. I really did enjoy hearing from everyone, especially those of you who I have never met. It seems my Rhinebeck post has taken my blog to new heights.

When I was preparing this one, it came to my attention that a few of the photos are out of sequence. The lady spinning on the big wheel at the end of the last blog was actually in the next hall. My memory is not what it used to be.

This post includes the next four halls that we visited. One of these halls had the fleece sales at the back and the dear Saint was awestruck when I walked away.

In these halls I had my only and most disappointing experience of the day. Once the stallholders knew that I was taking photos to post on my blog, they were very happy to let me take photos to share what they had. However, one stallholder did not even let me explain myself. It had enamel shawl pins and enamelware which was really exquisite. I was treated quite rudely and made to feel like I may be there to steal the designs. The stall lost considerable business from me as I would have brought a number of items home as gifts for my friends. This was all swept away by my next experience.

Another highlight of my Rhinebeck visit was that I had the joy of meeting and spending a little time with Heather Ordover from the CrafLit Podcast in the Co-operative Press Booth, where all the samples from the WWMDFK Book were on display. I love the concept of this book and it is beautifully presented. I loved all the illustrations in it. All the staff were wearing some of these garments. She was a delight to talk to especially after she admired my lacy pinwheel gilet. In my excitement, I forgot to take a photo.

I will stop gabbling on now and get on with the fun part.

Inside the next hall was more fun felting. I love the colours on on the stall. It looks happy.

A felted pumpkin made me smile and I almost missed the beautiful knitted bags that were hanging behind him.

There was a large stall of leather goods with this stand of handbag handles in all colours and sizes.

These bright cheerful felted hats are such fun. It is a pity that no matter what I put on my head I look like I am wearing a dish towel.

There were more displays of knitwear. I love the miniatures in the front. For a moment they had me considering giving them a try, then I got wise again.

At a booth filled with Norwegian knitwear with patterns, yarn and kits, I chatted to the sweet lady in the black and white swan jacket. I love that design. The lady sitting next to her, told me that it is a symbolic design. There is a swan looking to the past, one looking to the future and the one with its wings open is in the present. It sounds like a very Zen-like design which appeals to me even more. I may have to knit a row of them on some future knitwear. The Saint was eyeing the vest behind her. It is in his colours too.

 I enjoyed the rug hooking pictures. They made me smile. I am smiling a lot, aren't I!

This is the Woolee Winder stall. I so want one of these! It makes spinning look very easy.

The fleece here is kept together with a thin thread like cotton to create a lovely art yarn which makes snug scarves. Sorry about the blur, but people will walk passed and bump one... or maybe my excitement is finally starting to show and I can't keep still. You decide.

I fancied these knitted pictures and thought that they were quite unique.

This caricature made me laugh out loud and if there had been any without glass, it would probably have come home with me.

Of course, by now you are wondering, " But where is all the yarn?" So, here is a little more for the time being. Is that an indecisive face I see? How does one choose when there is such and amazing variety. Look at all those gorgeous shawls.

I loved these paintings. I am sure that this is what I look like when I spin. Can you see the pure mad delight on the lamb's face?

This is how I felt when faced with all the choices of all the different types of fibre and yarn.

Then we escaped the fibre halls and entered the Food and Exhibition hall. There are no photos of food.

The Saint homed in on the only carving booth we found where we had a long chat with a kind gent who was carving huge eagle, at least, that is what he hopes it will be one day.

This is another one of the Saint's downfalls. We have wooden spoons from around the world at home. He lovingly fondled them and did not bring one home. I am still in shock.

Now on to the exhibits. I will leave you to look at them and enjoy them in peace without much comment. Weaving, knitting and spinning was all mixed up together.

Since I helped Sue at Hillers with her felting worshop, I have gained a new respect for the art. It was not something I thought much about before then. This sheep was one of the two of my favourite pieces here. From afar, it looked like a photograph. In my inexperienced opinion, it was an amazingly detailed and well executed piece but then I am probably terribly biased.

The picture above the sheep in this photo is also felted.

This was the best in show. I am disappointed at how dowdy handwoven garments can be made to look. It is exquisitely made and I can really appreciate the work involved as I have recently handwoven and sewn a garment for myself.

This was my absolute favourite and I would have this in my house anytime! The picture at the back is a painting of the whole picture. It is just grand and so wonderfully thought out with lots of different crafts depicted.

There were 3 rails like this of handspun which were all beautiful and I coveted a skein or two.... or three or four...

This one had a very poignant feel for me. It seems that I have a thing for sheep.

There was also a photography exhibition which the Saint and I really enjoyed

and sitting in front of it, two men participating in two of my favourite crafts. I was so entranced I forgot to ask what that strange device was on the right and then I realised that it was a skein winder.

I will end this blog with some of their woven products which were beautiful.

These blogs are taking me 4 hours to put together so the next one will only be posted over the weekend if the Saint and I don't find a little rambling to participate it. Yes, I can walk the rough stuff again with care!

I will leave you with the wonderful news that the consultant has pronounced that I am on the road to mending well although it may not be a quick and I will still need to listen to my body. I am, however, grateful to be much more mobile than I have been in the last year with little pain and getting out and about more than I dreamed would be possible at this stage. 

The NYS trip helped me to regain some of my confidence. Thank you to all of you who have offered your support so graciously. I am very blessed to have you in my life.