SAFF 2007

This year we went with the intention of only doing shopping; there were no classes we really -had- to take, and because of work and such, we couldn't stay but for one day. So Jason, Brandon and I headed out early Saturday morning, cash in pockets with the decisions made that we would only spend what cash we had.

It was, as it had been last year, quite overwhelming. My first stop, of course, was Brooks Farm Yarns, where I purchased a couple of hanks of simply gorgeous 100% mohair. I eyed some of their other stuff, but wasn't really there for wool, and I'm still working on my sweater so didn't need to buy yarn for another.

I then headed up to another of the vendors I liked last year, Yarnsmiths, and found that they had branched out into sock yarns .. specifically specialty ones. I picked up three different types, two of which had a good bit of Cashmere in them, one of which that was mostly silk and some nylon, which should make some lovely socks. Then I stopped at the booth of the woman who we took a couple classes with last year, Melanie Koenig, and I picked up a couple of pairs of birch DPNs and also, after being convinced that I should try out the Denise interchangeables - which she had me do then and there, handing me some yarn and letting me walk off with them - I purchased the pink Denise set. Later on at other booths I found the larger cables for the pink Denise's, so now I'm all set with those, and also got some Lantern Moon ebony DPNs, and the Knit Cards set I've been eyeing for a while... just to have them.

The only other yarn I got was some angora, which I'm going to, along with the angora I bought last year from the same people, make some hand-warmers out of; and some alpaca, one skein from a pinto and it's been spun and plied so that it'll stripe perfectly, and a couple of skeins of some beautiful cream-colored Suri alpaca, from New Era Fiber, I'm probably going to make into a lace shawl.

The really -big- purchase of the day though was Jason's. He went ahead and purchased himself a Kromsky rigid heddle harp loom. It's a big purchase, but it's a beautiful loom, a lot nicer than the Ashfords, aesthetically, and since he already has a Kromsky wheel, it was only fitting. I'm a little frustrated, because the stand was the wrong size, so we'll have to send it back and get a replacement. But I'm sure that won't be a problem. It looks like it came from the manufacturer that way, so we may have to go to them directly .. dunno though. He also got enough gorgeous alpaca to make me a pretty beautiful shawl, once he feels confident with the loom and stuff, so I'm pretty excited about that.

In which she discovers a new obsession.

Jason bought Brandon and myself a gift certificate to the Local LYS for 1 weaving class and 1-week's rental of an Ashford Knitters Loom. The class, because he of course wanted to learn as well, was scheduled for his day off .. which so happened to be yesterday. Two great things in one week ... I'm spoiled, dontcha know!

So yesterday, after I worked my morning complete with surprise visit from my boss (who said my store looks great and I'm doing a great job) and Jason working the first half of the day (because the salesmen won't stop selling cars, the fools. I mean, what do they think this is, a car dealership or something?) we headed up to Pineville to The Yarn Shop. After some creative 3-point-parallel-parking (so dubbed by Brandon) I headed in, to find my beloved already there, and we got started.

I don't think it counts as cheating on one's yarn diet if one -had- to buy yarn for a class she already had planned, does it? Anyway, we all picked out our yarn, and I got myself some gorgeous Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a heathered forest green (6276 - Woodland Forest), and some Noro Silver Thaw in a beautiful green/purple/pink/grey combination. I used the alpaca, of course, for the warp, being as it's smooth and lends itself to such, and the Noro for the weft. And it's weaving beautifully. Jason picked a black/white combination of beautiful soft alpaca and I believe alpaca/silk, but don't hold me to it. And Brandon's weaving with a pair of Berroco Ultra Alpaca varieties - Light Grey (6206) and Prune Mix (6284). My scarf, being as it has a non-solid yarn, looks wholly different than theirs, but it's a nice difference for me.




So, I got a bit done before we even left the store .. which was three hours later. Brandon actually got to learn how to tie in after refilling the shuttle before we left .. Jason and I hadn't gotten to that point. We also learned how to fold the looms for travelling with them and off we went. We decided to go to dinner at Monsoon, a local Thai place we love, and as usual were not disappointed. After a brief trip to Brandon's momma's house to drop off the deep fryer they gave us which quit working somewhere around the third or fourth use, so she could have it replaced, we headed home for honey to finish his homework and then I stayed up after everyone had gone to bed, weaving. I got quite a bit done .. had to fill the shuttle twice while I watched NCIS.

Don't mind the tv in the background playing Rent. I'm a bit obsessed at the moment.

I forgot to post about my finished Red Scaf Projects scarves!

*yawn*

I'm -so- tired. And, why yes, it is 5:00am. And yes, I've been up already for hours, tossing, turning and flopping in the bed. And disturbing Isis. (Jason sleeps through anything, luckily!) Who granted was a sweet kitty and tried grooming me to help me get to sleep. It didn't work. I finally just roused myself, and came down to discover that the thing that had been on my mind all night was true, and I found my blue pattern/color-card binder. Yeah. I think that's what kept me up all night. Whee.

That and dreading going to Weight Watcher's this morning. And now I want to go even less, because all I want to do is friggen sleep. I'm annoyed now, growly and grumpy and not in the mood to deal with the yuppy moms at the meeting, and certainly not in the mood to deal with the too-cheerful new leader, Lucie. Who is Canadian. And I like her, normally. She knits, in fact. But today .. right now .. I don't want to deal.

Random knitting sidenote: I started my very first Mason Dixon Ballband washcloth, and I'm as hooked as everyone else. This knits so fast! I'm going to take ti back to bed with me as I wait for Jason to wake up so I can tell him I'm not going to the meeting because I need to friggen sleep. Oh yeah, and who else loves the fact that Knit Picks now lets you pay 70-cents less and download their patterns, rather than buying them and having to wait for the pattern?

In other non-knitting news, because I've no desire to try to post coherently about my knitting at this ungodly hour, we have not one but two delightful outings planned this week. First, Sunday we're going to see a production of Rent in Charlotte. Jason and I saw the show on Broadway and I loved it, so when I saw it was coming here I had to get tickets. And then on Tuesday we're going to a weaving class at the LYS we love to shop at, creatively named The Yarn Shop, by Rainy Day Creations. That's the whole name, yes. But the ladies are very sweet, and Jason got us all a lesson and we're going Tuesday. I'm so thrilled! I think the class includes rental of a loom too, which will be interesting. I may not get much knitting done!

One more side note: About the picture in the previous post; it's not snow, nor is it from the wintertime. I took that picture on our trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway last OCtober. The reason the trees are covered in ice is because of what's called a hoar frist, where moisture in the air/fog/clouds freezes on contact with the trees/grass/ground. Cool, isn't it?

I'm going back to bed now, aided by a little blue pill. (Tylenol Sleep - no painkiller, just sleep-aid. My hero!)