Ok.....so I've noticed as I move from festival to festival, that festival vendors like to have sheep accessories in their booths. Of course they do, us knitters also like to have sheep accessories. However, these are not always accessories to purchase, they are often useful items or decoration. So I bring you....the OTHER sheep of the festival.
Ok....so Jan and I have made our annual (looks like it's trending this way) pilgrimage to the Michigan Fibre Festival. Jan mentioned that she thought it might be a fluke that she liked it so much, but then returned the comment Sunday, that it is a good festival and not a fluke. I am in agreement. 
This is a smallish festival with all the bang of it's bigger siblings....great vendors, lots of sheep and border collies, oodles of classes, a great grilled cheese sandwich and plenty to see and do. 
This year we missed seeing Carol from Chicago, but we did get a wonderful visit with Tara (now from Ohio...Hicksville that is). And....we purchases some gorgeous Jacob roving....I can't wait to spin.
We also took a drafting workshop from Beth Smith of The Spinning Loft in Howell, MI. I enjoyed spinning with so many different types of fibre....Beth loves wool...and I even got a little better at my supported and unsupported long draw. Also....now I'm jonesing to spin every moment.....oh, wait....I said that right? Eeekkk!!!!
We were able to track down every Starbucks and even were lucky enough to get to Biggby Coffee for a wonderful latte treat. The trip wound down with a day on the beach, then stroll through Grand Haven, MI. Ahhhhhhh.......
 |
| Three happy gals. |
Ok...so after a little bit of a knitting break, I've started spinning again. 
The first is a merino/silk/BFL blend. This is a three ply of a Kermit green batt, a wine and black batt and a Daily Fibers BFL handpainted burgundy and olive. The result is interesting to look at and so very soft.
The second turned out much better than I thought it would. This is BFL Violet Rags & Bone from Three Waters Farm plied with a merino/soysilk Gray from River's Edge Fiber Arts. 
I did bead it very monochromatic, and am so pleased with the result. 
Ok.....so I LOVE cherries. I have them sitting on the kitchen table and grab one every time I walk by. So, I thought a little photo expression was due to illustrate my love of the cherry.
Ok.....just finished this for a friend. It turned out ok, not 100% happy, but not completely horrified as I thought I would be. It's 33" x 35", a pretty good size and the little bear is a Berroco pattern that I love. You can get the pattern and chart for there Michigan M here.
.jpg)
Ok....so if you're Canadian, or a frequent traveller to Canada or maybe just someone I've talked with, you will know the phenomenon known as 'The Chip Truck'. These trucks, VW buses, trailers...wonders of the Canadian road....offer chips (fries), burgers, dogs, pea meal sandwiches and poutine...all with gravy or vinegar...all about Canada. Coming upon a chip truck or intentionally returning to a favorite corner is something I look forward to each time I cross our northern border. 
If you ever get up into Canada, look for the signs, ask around....the chip truck is the taco stand of the north. Great flavors, great people and a fun treat for this northern girl gone south.
I couldn't help but get a few shots of this place that made me so happy. The fresh bread looked amazing and yes, I bought garlic scapes....lots of garlic scapes. Happy moment in a day of happy moments...
Ok....so I had several wonderful days with my family and a little piece of that was my little man, Mitchell, who is talking up a storm and made this Chicky smile every moment. Here are just a few of the Mitchell faces and of course, a couple of lake shots. I wish I'd have gotten the first thing in the morning face...the sweet, still sleepy face....but I was too busy squishing him to remember I own a camera.
Ok....so it's been a while since I've written, which is unusual, but here goes. I was in Canada....I know...shocker...but over the Canada Day holiday I was visiting my family in the northern regions. It was a wonderful visit! 
On the 30th of June, Uncle Nick and I got out for a little visit into town, which resulted in the material for this post. Imagine my delight to get into Colborne and see that it had been bombed, yarn bombed that is. 
Each tree lining the downtown street, bombed. Each tree in Victoria Station park, bombed. It was amazing. And the townies were so proud. It was frightening to Kathy...not sure why, but creepy to here none-the-less.
