Fall Fiber Festival of Virginia 2007

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Yesterday I drove to beautiful Orange County, Virginia:


to James Madison's Montpelier estate:


to attend the 2007 Fall Fiber Festival of Virginia:



Where I ran into a few friends:

Patsy & Deb
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Tami & Cathy
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And saw lots of pretty things:

item knit from locks
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watermelon-colored yarn
(I couldn't resist this!)
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pretty sweaters
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honeysuckle vine baskets
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colorful yarn and knitting
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pretty socks
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lovely needle-felted designs
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beautiful lace shawl
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fibery Santas
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I ran into more friends:

Spirit Trail Fiberworks gang, including Jennifer and Bess

and saw Bess' lovely sock patterns available from Spirit Trail:

Mother-Daughter Lace socks
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Great Falls Ribbed socks
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Other friends I saw there, (but inexplicably didn't photograph), include Sangeeta and Robin F. Hi guys! Sorry I didn't get your picture! And other blogger-friends I know attended but I missed altogether were Krista, Margaret and Nikki. Sorry guys -- maybe next year! And today I believe Jane attended with her cousin Patty, and Emmy & Pam also attended. Hope you guys had fun!

Anyway, here are some pretty items entered in the Skein & Garment competition:

Liz' pretty prize-winning novice handspun (Congratulations, Liz!)
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love these socks
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pretty fair isle tote (I believe that's the Berroco Doll Bag)

Also, some lovely hooked rugs on display:



And of course, there were the obligatory adorable alpacas:

That white one was particularly sweet -- allowing folks (like me) to pet her head, while she uttered her little "mmmmm" every now and then. They belong to the folks at Rivanna River Farm, and I chatted with the owner a bit, about what it's like to live on an alpaca farm, which sounds like an idyllic life to me. I'd jump at the chance to raise alpacas; I just need to find a someone, (let's be honest - a husband), who'd want to raise alpacas with me. Know anyone who qualifies? ;-)

The weather at this year's fiber festival was hot and humid, dry and dusty -- not ideal conditions under which to fondle woolly fibers. I'll still take it over last year's mud bowl, but, is it too much to ask for normal brisk, cool, sunny October weather? Maybe next year....

Driving home, I stopped at a few places along the way to take pictures of interesting architecture, including this freedman's cabin adjacent to Montpelier estate:


This winery, which looks incredibly inviting:

Note to self: must stop here with friends sometime
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And these dilapidated houses along the drive through Gordonsville:

Ruins fascinate me -- oh, the stories they could tell....

Here is my modest haul from the festival:

Clockwise from left:

• 2007 FFF t-shirt
• Plymouth Sara Superwash (for a baby item I have in mind for someone)
• Claudia Hand Painted Short Sport 100% Merino in "Watermelon" (told you I couldn't resist!)

With all the upcoming opportunities for yarn and fiber shopping, I restrained myself at this particular event, although there were temptations under every tent. The uncomfortable temperatures inside the tents helped me resist.

I wonder how well I'll fight temptation next weekend at Stitches East? ;-)

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