Monday, May 9, 2016

May the Sheep Safely Graze


This day old lamb's sweet face captures my 2016 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival experience beautifully.  How does it get better than good friends, sheep, fresh air, ice cream, fiber tools and lots of fluff!


These dudes were so handsome. 
Nora and I drove up on Friday and met up with Susan, Sallie, Peggy and Burgl for dinner. 
Saturday, I enjoyed the auction.  It was crazy fun, a wise man suggested I make a list of the items I wanted after previewing the auction items.  His best suggestion was to write down my top bid for each item.  He chuckled and said "because people lose their minds out there."

He was not kidding, some of the used, much loved items sold for bids above their new retail price.  There were bargains too.  I got three items off my list, a 12 inch Mirrix loom, an Archie Brennan
style copper pipe loom and best of all nine brass tipped tapestry looms.


I promised myself that my top bid for these lovely bobbins was $50.00.  They were part of a lot with three spindles.  Unfortunately they went for $70.00.  I turned around to see who my nemesis was and it was friend and fellow Piedmont Fiber Guild member Dawn.  Turns out she wanted the spindles and had no interest in my coveted bobbins.  Purchased them from her, so happy!

 That was the highlight of Saturday.  Sunday morning was bright and although the fairgrounds were muddy it didn't impede our progress through the vendors. 

MDSW  is an opportunity for shepherds, vendors and fiber enthusiasts to come together in one place to celebrate.  Nothing captures this as well as the Sheep to Shawl competition.  The  Spin City team won first place.  They had wonderful costumes, display and of course the shawl was beautiful.
Dawn and Christina from our guild were on this Alice in Wonderland themed winning team.




Another highlight of Sunday was a talk by Judith McKenzie on the history of wool.


Inspired by Judith, Nora, Peggy and I headed to the fleece sale.  We were only going to look.  Yeah, right.


This is a six pound Romney lamb fleece that Nora and I split.  Yikes, I said I would never process another fleece.


Until next year MDSW, may the sheep safely graze.

2 comments:

Jan Bode Smiley said...

Looks like you had a pretty much perfect weekend!!

Unknown said...

That auction was hilarious! It means a lot for Christina and I to see the supportive faces of our guild.