Fiber Twist!
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Cheap Trick "The Flame"
Topic: Show

Wow! I am completely amazed at the turn out for yesterday's Fiber Twist. Yesterday's show exceeded the volume of people compared to other one day shows I've done which have been in existence for 3 or more years (and to be honest, I think they easily compared in turn out to the Wool Tour, which is held in NH every year)! Diane did a fabulous job of advertising; I even saw large full color postcards at Clarkdale Orchards up in Deerfield a few weeks ago, which advertised the Fiber Twist and Cider Day through MassVacation.com.

I met lots of bloggers and list members alike (If I fail to mention you here, give me a shout at Baycolonyfarm @ aol.com and I'll edit this so that you get a mention). Carole and blogless Sharon were some of the first bloggers I met. O.k., so Sharon isn't a blogger yet, but I think she's bound to be soon. Diane was also there. We discussed Rogue and our potential yarns. I'm waiting to see if she made it down to Webs and checked out other possibilities on the way home. Dharia was there, making an appearance after having missed Rhinebeck. She was even wearing the felted mittens she purchased from Leslie Samson back in May at MAS&W. I let her know that Leslie will be coming back in late winter to teach another hats and mittens class. Sandy came by from the NETA list. She is a delightful woman, and I was surprised to learn that we live so close to each other (I'm thinking YEAH! Another knitter nearby!)! She brought her lovely daughter and granddaughter with her; her daughter already knits and it looks like her granddaughter is on her way especially after getting SO excited over being given a piece of fleece from a vendor. ;-) Sandy purchased the Wings Shawl kit in the natural colored yarn. I was wearing my Wings shawl all day, because of the lack of heat in the building and I was toasty warm. People kept coming up and petting me (grin). Cate came by and said Hi, stopping to chat with Deanna and I. She was wearing an absolutely gorgeous shawl spun from Indigo Moon roving. I also got to meet Kathy who's blog I'm a faithful reader of.

And before I forget, I owe Deanna a HUGE thank you for helping me out yesterday. She booth sat for me while I was giving a bunny shearing demo (more on that later) with one of my bucks, Spatlese, who is only 6 months old, but a lovely guy. Deanna also helped me get a bit farther on my sock yarn spinning. She spun up some of the black Border Leicester I was working on at Rhinebeck to go with the Magical Roving I spun. I think I have enough now to ply and start on the socks. :)

Now, the bunny shearing demo was lots of fun. People always ask interesting and intelligent questions when I do these and I had quite a crowd of people watching the demo. Spatlese was the model bunny, lying on his back and side as I was shearing him. What I really like about doing these demos is that it is a chance to educate people on angora rabbit care. Like how the scissors should be held at a 45 degree angle away from the rabbits skin, which helps to prevent cutting the rabbit. Or on how you really need to shear down the rabbits at 90 day intervals, or else you run the risk of wool block. The big one I like to tell people about is how German Angoras need to be shorn, and not plucked. That one always surprises people. Spatlese came home and was happy to see his brother, with whom he shares a cage.

I was exhausted when I got home last night, but also inspired by spending another day with like minded people. The energy the surrounds a person at a show is electric and the sharing and camaraderie is amazing. And I think we taught people some new things and got a few more people hooked on knitting or spinning. And isn't that what it is really all about? :D