We went to VT S&W

JessaLu got a beautiful fleece.

CygKnit got an adorable little angora bunny.

And all I got was this lousy spindle:

Hello, Golding, my new love!

I tried a couple of the Forresters, and one of them was apparently a dud. (It could have been me, but the vendor tried it too and said it wasn't "working" right.) I went with the Golding, a slightly heavier one than I thought I would, I think 1.7 ounces. I also got some lovely merino/tencel roving to spin on it. I haven't had a chance to do any spinning in two days, but I'm thinking about it whenever I get a chance.

I was hoping to meet a few more bloggers at the festival. I had no trouble finding Pippi KneeSocks, which makes me think that perhaps next year, we should all dye our hair bright pink. If not that, then perhaps a meet-up place and time would accomplish much the same thing.

The festival was fun, although the weather was muggy. I was a bit disappointed that they moved the venue around. The main vendor barn was not used this year, and the booths were instead divided between two buildings, with the animals and a few vendors banished to the grandstand, across the fairground. Between that and a different entrance gate, it took quite a while for me to find my bearings. Unfortunately, I had to leave quite early, so I never got to really relax and enjoy the day the way I had hoped, although I did have fun while I was there. Got caught in a huge downpour on my way out, but at least the weather wasn't freezing.

I had to run home to find an inconsolable child, who was stuck with only her father to see her through a horrendous thunderstorm. I did a quick change and we headed off to a very casual wedding reception. I had planned to come home and find JessaLu spinning away in my living room (because a woman with 3 wheels never leaves home without a couple of them), but she took ill and couldn't make it. The good news is that Tempting II finally made its debut and worked out great.

Unfortunately from the picture you would think it was several sizes too large; actually, it sets quite low on the shoulders and was riding up here, although I was oblivious at the time. The only problem I have with this sweater is a fashion one. It seems that shirt hemlines have dropped with an audible clunk over the past few months, and though I'm as relieved as anyone that the low-rise pants/cropped shirt look is OVER, the sweater would have looked more up-to-date had I made it a couple of inches longer. (I am ridiculously short-waisted, and still it wasn't quite long enough.)

I am delivering a wholesale yarn order today, and whatever is left will go on the website. I also plan to update the site today or tomorrow, which includes basic maintenance but also adding DONNA's gorgeous HANDSPUN, of which there is enough for a whole sweater, I think. Beautiful! I also am going to play around with shipping options. Although I only offer Priority Mail right now, I'm hoping to add some solid and natural commercially-spun Vermont yarns to the site, and I'd hate to have someone pay $8.10 for Priority over a pound if there are cheaper, albeit slower, options. I'll take any suggestions on this matter.

Tomorrow I'm meeting with a woman who raises sheep and is going to sell me some Romney and Border Leicester fleeces. Can you say sock yarn? And I'm also talking with a small spinnery right in Vermont that might be able to process some Vermont yarn right in state, which is my ultimate goal.

Busy. But good busy.

Comments

[Carol]

Beautiful spindle! Wow! Makes me want to quit working & learn to spin. OOOhhhhh what a bunny! I'm feelin all kinds of friendly envy down here :)

[Donna]

You didn't get yourself a bunny??

[Norma]

Goldings are the BEST, aren't they? And I'm not even so much into the spindling....but I now have four -- two Goldings and two Bosworths, and I really love the Goldings best. So sorry we did not meet.

[Carole]

That's a wonderful picture of you and your husband!

[Leigh]

I'm not a spindler but that is a beautifully tempting spindle.

[Amanda]

Look at that little bunny! I would have been helpless under his powers. :)

[Carrie]

Lovely, and the sweater is gorgeous. (You two are so sweet.) You could always snip the bottom edge and add some more length.
...sniff... There weren't any chicken pics in this post...sob...

[christine]

Sounds like a very fun day! And your TemptingII looks wonderful - that's such a cute picture!

[trek]

That is an awesome spindle design!

[stephanie]

I can't imagine how you walked out of there without a bunny!

BTW - got the yarn. It's gorgeous!!

[jillian]

Bunnies! Oh how cute. Sounds like you had alot of fun! I'm envious ( in a good wholesome way) that you have such a great festival right in your state!

That's a great picture of you two, BTW.

[Dorothy B]

Baby bunnies make me feel all soft and fuzzy. Good thing I wasn't there or I would have been trying to get bunnies through customs.

What a beautiful spindle. Excellent purchase.

You two look great in your picture and so does Tempting II.

[Cindy]

I will want to hear a frank and honest review of the Golding and the CD spindle. Terrific picture of you and your adorable hubby. Oh, and I agree, you're getting turkeys, why not sweet bunnies? Yeah, I know.

[Cynthia]

I'm not sure how you got out of there without a bunny, either. I did try!

Your Golding is so beautiful. How's it spining?

[bananaknits]

Your husbands a hunk! You make a very nice looking couple!

[Beth]

Hey! I'm going to Rhinebeck and that is the Golding on my list. I have to keep the purchases on the down low this year but i'm definitley getting one of those beautiful babies.
Happy spinning!

[JessaLu]

*ahem* you know, Carole has like six wheels...just sayin'

...and I technically only have two...

Tempting looks awesome and that is a great picture of you two! :o) I'm sorry we didn't have more time to hang out - and sorry I have horrible stomach issues :o\

[Scout]

Aw. You're so damn cute!!

[Laura]

Oh that bunny is the cutest!!

And really - I can't decide which is more beautiful, the Golding, Tempting II, or you! All awesome. But whew... hubba hubba. Nice looking hubby - cleans up great after his dead tired at the end of the day asleep on the sofa photos. heh

[janna]

You could always add a ruffle.... (that was what my mom always threatened to do to my too-short jeans). The picture of you and the mister is very cute -- almost as cute as that bunny!

[Tina]

Oh, pretty pretty golding! I dream about those, but I've never even seen one in real life. I hope you have time to spin on it soon!

[Lindy]

I can't believe that you didn't buy any animals.
Love the photo of you and hubby, you both look relaxed.

[Kelly]

Those Golding spindles are fabulous! I have the sunflower one and it spins like a dream.
Great picture of you and your husband!

[pippi]

~beautiful spindle!!!!

i say for the next one, we all dye our hair to match our blogs, lol..

oh, did you by chance happen to talk to a woman named carol yesterday?
she said a woman had called her & she thought of me (i suppose the yarn dyeing thing...) she couldn't think of the person's name off hand, but i was all like "this" and "that" and "the other" and she said that sounded right. :)
maybe you and i should just start a mini mill.

[lynne s of Oz]

It's nice to see a pic of you and DH looking happy - mostly we see your DH on the couch, asleep with Sophie asleep on him :-)
I would so love to do what you are doing on the fleece and yarn side, but alas here you need at least 20 kilos of wool before places will process it....and our market is not big.