Maryland is so much beautiful.
Acck! What a freakin' AWESOME weekend. I am so full of happy right now, even though we didn't roll into Athens until 12:30am.
Here's the last picture I took before we hit the road.
Vibegrrl Lara, HE Jenny, Small Hands Chelsea, me, Anne Marie.
Damn, we just had Bob Evans for breakfast, and it was so good.
Read more in the extended entry! (Warning: this extremely long entry is full of pictures of me, other bloggers, and some farm animals. There is very little knitting involved. If this will bore you, move along, I say! If you are interested, CLICK TO EXPERIENCE THE FUN TIMES! WOO!)
okay. the first thing you should know is that the totally awesome and adorable Frecklegirl was originally planning to come to the festival, but unfortunately she couldn't make it (because she had wonderful wedding things to do) and we were sad. So, HEJ made us a little Frecklegirl doll to bring along so Jess could be there in spirit...
Look! it's Frecklegirl in South Carolina!
So if you see an extra tiny person in some of the pics, it's Frecklegirl. and we love her.
The festival was SO huge. I was not expecting so many people to be at a Sheep and Wool Festival, but these people were NOT messing around. When we were walking in at 10:00 am, people were walking out with ginormously tall bags of yarn, roving, and other stuff, which of course made me want to run in and grab some before it all got bought.
But, really, I wasn't there for the shopping. I was there for the blogger sightings!
Anne Marie, Heather, Kelly
Me and Girl Reaction Carolyn
Anne Marie, me, Knittish Rossana, High Energy Jenny
And this was all in the first hour! It was very overwhelming, actually. The few times I've met bloggers previously, it was in a much smaller situation and there was lots of time to sit and talk, etc. This weekend was complete blogger immersion. Add that to the absolutely INSANE amount of breathtaking yarn that was at every corner and you've got an overwhelmed Carrieoke, fer sure. But that didn't stop me from trucking on...hello, there are people to see! Er, people and animals.
How cute are the cuddly lamb baby schmoos??
I tried on several occasions to pet a sheepy sheep and they hated my guts. One sheep liked this little girl better, even though she was squeezing his neck and pulling his fleece. Clearly, I repel sheep.
And of course, I couldn't miss the working dog demonstration. All my pictures of it suck, but the border collies out there were so smart and cute and totally showing the sheep who is boss. I got to spend some time with these fabulous ladies while we watched the schmoos:
Me, Two Purls Jen, January One Cara
(I always think of Jen's blog as Snoozing Pug because she has a cute little pug named Oscar. So, all day, I'm hanging out with Two Purls Jen, not realizing that Two Purls Jen is actually Snoozing Pug Jen who I've known online for like two years. D'oh!) But either way, she's fabulous and so is Cara, who showed me the evil delciousness of Brooks Farm...oh, the yummy, yummy yarn. I love you, Brooks Farm Harmony.
I totally forgot to snap a picture, but someone (One Stitch Short Sarah? **edited to add**it was actually Pink Monkey Jenna!) spotted Wendy on the grassy knoll and Jenny snagged her so we could all say hi. SO super nice and easy to talk to. And then we got to meet the Harlot. She is witty and gracious and friendly and she was totally chilling on the grass outside the main exhibition, looking at everyone's purchases and laughing with us. In a sad twist of fate that I'm calling the Photo Gods Hate My Guts, here is a picture of me, the Yarn Harlot, and Tiny Frecklegirl.
Hi, my name is Carrie and I look COMPLETELY STONED in my picture with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
At least Frecklegirl looks respectable.
I also randomly ran into two bloggers that I was hoping to see there! I'm hoping neither of them think I'm insane... Elspeth, the extremely funny and nice Wry Punster:
Check out her Audrey!
We recognized each other and I got to chat with Elspeth and her nice companions for a bit before moving on, and then I realized that I didn't take a picture (!) so I actually chased her down in the crowd, yelling her name. I'm glad she didn't run away after that.
Also recognized Kim of Kim's Knitting World while perusing the yarn in the Main Exhibition Hall ...
the bloggers are everywhere!
It was super fun to scan the crowd and try to see familiar faces. I actually had several people say hi, I'm a reader, which was so nice and exciting and strange(in a good way). I think Grape Fanta gave me away a couple of times! It also gave me a really strange sunburn.
Okay, I'm delirious from all the linking and the typing and the fun times, so I'm going to stop this one here. Next installment will include Korean karaoke, large lemony beverages and a windshield cleaning. And more blogger pics. CAN YOU STAND THE FUN TIMES?
Comments (43)
It was so great to get to meet all of you guys...and what a fiber extravaganza! So much to see! and touch...oh the fiber fix!
Now to knit up all the yarn we purchased!
YAY!
Posted by heather | May 11, 2005 11:04 AM
I LOVE your lilac tank top! Its Orangina, right? Now I've gotta make it! So cute. Maybe next year I can finagle my way to MDSW...
Posted by mia | May 11, 2005 6:44 AM
LOL! Lucky Freckle Girl, she got to go after all! Looks like a seriously great time :)
Posted by amy | May 11, 2005 12:01 AM
I'm happy that so many of the girls in our group got to meet up, but so very envious of the fun times you guys had without the rest of us! I'm enjoying the pictures that everyone is posting on their blogs. Wanting to see more! Glad you guys had so much fun!
Posted by Teresa | May 10, 2005 10:53 PM
Nice to meet you too Carrie. :) Looks like you all had a fabulous time at Kareoke too. I admit, I am no good at it but it was a regular weekly thing at the Moose Lodge that I attended when I lived in Alaska. New York, New York was my song. :)
Posted by Kathleen | May 10, 2005 4:51 PM
Carrie...I'm so glad I got to meet you. You are so cute! I love your photo poses. I'm so mad that I was too tired to party with you guys! It sounds like you had so much fun! Next year...definitely! ;-)
Posted by Eilene | May 10, 2005 2:57 PM
Good times! Love all the pics, love the cute little lambies. Did you buy anything fabulous?
Posted by Mary-Heather | May 10, 2005 12:13 PM
Nice to see you there, Carrie... sorry I missed that breakfast! Very cute Grape Fanta.
Posted by Lolly | May 10, 2005 11:06 AM
oh, it looks like you all had so much fun. i love the blogger celebrity sightings! how fantastic.i'll have to make it down that way at some point.
btw, if you do try the ribbon xback, be weary! a lot of us over at the ribbon xback knit-a-long are finding that they end up HUGE. lots of frogging!
Posted by carrie m | May 10, 2005 10:47 AM
I read every word! It seems like you had an awesome time, that's great! I wish I could have been there!
I've been reading your blog for the last month or so but now I finally have my own :] heh. I totally enjoy reading yours!
Posted by CraftyVixen | May 10, 2005 12:44 AM
Hi Carrie! Nice to meetcha, and that tank looked extremely cute on you.
Posted by claudia | May 9, 2005 11:27 PM
I can't stand the fun! It looks like you had a total blast this weekend. HEJ says that you have a story for me, so I want to hear it!
Posted by molly! | May 9, 2005 9:49 PM
Great post - and I loved perusing all the other blogs you linked to! Your Fanta looks like it had a fabulous time!
Posted by gaile | May 9, 2005 8:48 PM
You guys are the AWESOMEST! I got to do everything! :)
I am even with the Harlot! That picture is priceless! hehehe
I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures...
Posted by frecklegirl | May 9, 2005 8:40 PM
need pics of the border collies!!! even if they are bad.
it's pretty apparent that you had a WONDERFUL time!
Posted by Valerie | May 9, 2005 7:26 PM
Glad you had a good time! I am jonesing for more pictures of MDSW and you've provided a lot of links. Wow, it sounds like a knitbloggers' convention!
Posted by MJ | May 9, 2005 7:17 PM
Why don't we have something like that here down under? It looks like you had an absolute blast! Cant wait to read the next installment. AM said you'd be so jealous of my Mother's Day pressie I got (photos on my blog)
Posted by shell james | May 9, 2005 6:12 PM
Run away? Are you kidding? With your new found gym skillz, you'd chase me down in a second.... Great to meet you! :)
Posted by Elspeth | May 9, 2005 5:10 PM
super good times! freckledoll! drunken Korean karaoke!
um, about the windshield pictures...
Posted by jenny | May 9, 2005 4:48 PM
:( boo, i should have come with you guys. but my mommy would have been sad if i hadn't gone to visit her instead. next year? glad you had such a good time.
Posted by jenna | May 9, 2005 4:44 PM
I'm so glad I got to meet you guys!
Posted by Wendy | May 9, 2005 4:35 PM
There is a VERRRY SHAD knitgirl as well... I was hoping to get to meet y'all, but unfortunately I couldn't go on Saturday. :( At least Rossana got to meet you guys - she can fill me in on all the dirty little details, lmao! ;) Maybe next year, though!
Posted by Holly | May 9, 2005 4:30 PM
Grape Fanta looks amazing on you! So many bloggers, so jealous. Soo, besides the Brooks Farm yarn (which I have wanted to try forever) did you get anything?
Posted by Vicki | May 9, 2005 3:47 PM
I was so glad that I got to meet you! I was semi-flattered when you knew my blog, too. Hopefully next time we meet, I won't sound like a phone sex operator. Next year in MD!
Oh, and thanks to Sarah, I was indeed the Wendy spotter.
Posted by Jenna Pink Monkey | May 9, 2005 3:34 PM
SHO SHAD here in the house of snargle as well. Work has been a complete downer, but after that high of a weekend it would be hard to compare.
And ditto Sarah B re: the photos. I shudder to think of the karaoke...
RHINEBECK next!
Posted by Sarah W. | May 9, 2005 3:06 PM
hehe, Umm I felt the same way Isel did. I have been a quiet viewer of your site for months. I saw you so many times in Maryland and wanted to say hi, but I didn't want to interupt your good times. I promise next time to not be silly and introduce myself. MS&W was so awesome.
Posted by Kitty Kitty | May 9, 2005 2:57 PM
chant with me now...
RHINEBECK! RHINEBECK! RHINEBECK!!!
We have very much a saaad girl situation over here in house of vibegrrl :(
You guys were the awesomest and I can't wait to see you all again!!! I LOVVE
Posted by Lara | May 9, 2005 2:02 PM
i was so glad when you called my name and came over to say hi. i'm typically so shy that if i'd seen you first, i probably would have hid behind some yarn thinking "oh my god, that's carrie... what do i say... oh my god!" hahaha... i wish there was another festival/gathering soon so that we could meet again and hang out more!
Posted by kim | May 9, 2005 1:58 PM
I had a FABULOUS time hanging with you and Brooks Farm is definitely the devil...you know I went back for seconds. Glad you had a great second day!
PS - Please make sure people know that my head is not twice the size of yours and Jens. I forgive you for posting that picture of me because I love you so!
Posted by Cara | May 9, 2005 1:45 PM
Yep, slap me silly and call me jealous. Okay don't slap me silly, but I am jealous. Looks like you all had such a faboo time, dang my parents for raising me in the Midwest, and dang my husband for being a midwestern as well, I knew I should have moved East.
Posted by Rebekah | May 9, 2005 1:45 PM
Love the pictures, and your Grape Fanta.
You mention that both Wendy and Stephanie Pearl McPhee were seen on the grassy knoll. Do you know if they actually met? Neither mentions the other, on their blogs. Just askin'
Posted by Judith | May 9, 2005 1:35 PM
I had a great time hanging with you fellow Georgians - come on back to Maryland anytime!
Posted by natalie | May 9, 2005 1:31 PM
PS You are so much beautiful and fun to travel with...I LOWE!
Posted by Anne Marie | May 9, 2005 1:25 PM
Yay! So glad you and Grape Fanta had a good time. And how photogenic are you??? Sooo! :)
Posted by Karma | May 9, 2005 1:18 PM
Oh my lord that was fun :)
It's almost too overwhelming for words!
Posted by Anne Marie | May 9, 2005 1:17 PM
Yeah, actually Jenna from Pink Monkey spotted her first and I ran over to tell Jenny because I knew you guys would want to at least see her. Glad you made it home okay! Oh, and, by the way, I'm going to look like a total stalker when I post because I think you are in all of my pictures and I have somehow dodged the bullet here so far, I am sure I won't be so lucky in the next installment. :-)
Posted by sarah b. | May 9, 2005 12:41 PM
Wowza, it looks like you had an amazing time! Wish I could've met everyone (it's like celebs sightings!), but since I haven't knit a thing in months, it would've been weird to be all around such mavens of fab knitting. Thanks for sharing the pics and the fun! So glad you enjoyed yourselves!!
Posted by Giao | May 9, 2005 12:21 PM
Thanks for posting so many pics and stories!!!! I (almost) feel like I was there!
Posted by Jill | May 9, 2005 12:02 PM
the pictures.... they are... the fabulous! (One would never guess that there is an editing process)
I had a super fun time with y'all. I can't wait to do it again. (But, next time SOMEone has to try the Looks like Milk.)
And, on a melancholy note: We were SHO SHAD on Sunday... You have no idea. I mean, hello? Work?? drag-ola.
Posted by chelsea | May 9, 2005 11:55 AM
jealous. jealous. jealous. that looks like so much fun!
Posted by elizabeth | May 9, 2005 11:53 AM
Wish I could have hung out with you all more. So sad about that. First I miss breakfast cause we got lost, then we were so lost after dinner we didn't dare venture out of our hotel. You'll be there next year though... right!
Posted by Kate | May 9, 2005 11:51 AM
You're as energetic and completely adorable in person as you are on your blog! So very glad to meet you finally! Same place next year? Please say yes or else I'll cry cry cry!
Posted by Rossana | May 9, 2005 11:43 AM
I saw you so many times and wanted to say hi, but didn't know how to!
It looks like you guys had a great time.
Next time I won't be so silly.
Posted by isel | May 9, 2005 11:08 AM