Rhinebeck!
What marks the beginning of autumn for you?
For me, it would be the New York Sheep and Wool festival in Rhinebeck New York.
This year did not disappoint. I had so much fun!
The party started on Thursday when my friend Lindsay came in from Cincinnati. She and Layla bonded
From DC, we picked up Kira and headed to NYC to Darsana’s place. Then on Saturday we headed to Rhinebeck.
There is something so inspirational just merely seeing all the handknits and being surrounded by yarn to make them! I go to these fesitvals for the inspiration, some yummy fiber and for the social aspect of meeting Ravelry buddies for the first time. There is alllllllllllllllllsssssssssssoooooooooooooo
yummy whoopie pies. Yes I know I probably got my days worth of caloric intake in one of these things but you live only once. It was so damn yummy!
I also went to Rhinebeck with a mission to get some yarn for some Christmas presents. I think I succeeded.
There were some gorgeous yarns, trust me. I had to control myself. But I still got some yummy things. Feelin’ pretty green. Don’t know why! I got some Wild Apple Farm yarn, Socks that Rock, Brooks Farm Solo and Solo Silk and some lovely Spirit Fibertrail Fiberworks.
Another reason Rhinebeck is loads of fun? The Ravelry Meetup
Lindsay and Jess met for the first time. Like I said on the Flickr page, I like the candidness of this shot
You talk so much with folks on Ravelry through boards or when you have common patterns or just like each others projects. Then you finally meet them. It’s wonderful
I met Kristen, author of Vintage Baby Knits, Knitters for Obama Mod and fellow LSGer KFO & LSG are the boards I spend most of my time on so it was finally nice to put a voice to all the board messages.
And speaking of KFO….
I met Carol, author of Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn, and Knit So Fine: Designs with Skinny Yarn KFO Mod and fellow LSGer
Wanna hear something funny? Veronique Avery was right next to us, but I was so excited to meet Carol finally. Teehee. I heart Veronique’s patterns and even told her so, though, so I wasn’t rude but it still made me giggle a little.
And here was our sign. Ever so subtle.
Bob even made it to Rhinebeck thanks to Ysolda Teague
Onto the cute animals. This lil guy almost came home with me. How cute!
It was such a great time. I can not wait till next year. So inspirational. So wonderful to meet and hang out with people you’ve been chatting with for months. The inspiration and excitement wears off on you. And it’s wonderful. 
For more pics, check them out.
Looks like you had a great time! I’m sad I haven’t been to a fiber fest in like two years! Oh well, living vicariously through others.
On a serious note – I know you love your kitties, so I’m hoping to get more animal lovers on board with me. I adopted some bunnies this year and have learned a ton about them in the process … and now I’m starting to actively dissuade people from buying bunnies at fiber fests. I’ve read some posts on ravelry written by people who bought angoras pretty impulsively, and it makes me really sad. They write things like bunnies are dumb and think fingers in cages look like carrots (no, the bunny just doesn’t like being poked!) and how they are keeping the bunny in the garage because “people” told them bunnies smell (you wouldn’t keep a kitten a cage in the garage!). And worst of all, that they aren’t going to spay or neuter because they think breeding would be fun! There are plenty of lionheads, jersey woolies, and angoras in shelters right now (in fact, there’s on at a shelter in Alexandria that’s been there for more than 6 months!) Trust me – the fiber from the bunny at the festival is no softer just because he has papers than the fur on Horton who needs home.
I know you’re a good kitty servant, so I’m not saying that the cute picture is bad or anything. I’m just hoping to get more people spreading the word that you wouldn’t impulsively buy an alpaca (or a dog), so don’t impulsively buy bunnies at festivals. (Don’t buy bunnies, period, adopt (…for a much higher fee) from a shelter or rescue group!) And don’t get me wrong – I think more people who are thinking about cats should look into bunnies. They’re super awesome pets! But, just like people mostly don’t buy dogs and cats from backyard breeders or pet stores anymore, I don’t think backyard breeding of bunnies should be encouraged.
Sorry for the comment-jack, but some of the posts on ravelry made me so sad, so I’m going on my own little mission and trying to recruit people to help me spread the word!
Looks like an absolutely fabulous time!! You look awesome wearing your handknits and looks like some gorgeous yarns there too!!
it looks like you had a great time! i’m glad i got a chance to see you even though it was for a very short period of time!