Thursday, September 26, 2013

FIBER IN 2013

I know that I am a little behind with getting this posted... but I have been trying to re-coop from all the festivities of the Fiber In 2013 :)

I really had no idea what to expect and definitely stressed myself out for nothing, lol. The event was amazing... Everyone was super friendly and no one had a negative thing to say about my booth. So basically, I could have chilled out a little bit... but of course, that is just not who I am :)

On Friday, I made four trips to my car (with a cart) to unload all the product I brought... maybe a little more than was needed, but I think it was perfect. It took until about 10:30pm to finish setting up the table and getting prices put on everything.

Saturday morning came so quickly... I picked up Laurie on the way and we headed north (I make it sound like it was so far away... 45 minutes)... Things kicked off pretty quickly and there were people everywhere... Before I knew it, there was a lady standing in front of me smiling... I wasn't sure who she was at first... you know that split second when you haven't seen someone in a while and then there they are... It was Miss Jayne :)

It had been about 2 1/2 years since I had last seen Miss Jayne... after I had the boys, Aaron and I took a trip back to Naples to visit her... She had definitely changed since I saw her last... her hair was a lot longer, beautifully brunette, and curly... All I could do was hug her... and cry :) She was there for me when my step dad passed away and it hit me really hard... so to see her again made me sad and happy all at the same time. Jayne works up at Central Florida Zoo now and took off work so that she could come visit the Fiber In... You see, she taught herself how to knit about a year or less ago... and the night before, had finished a sweater... full of cables and everything... Talk about a challenge :)

We got to visit til about 3pm, when she had to get home to take care of Tyger (her kitty) and get ready for work on Sunday... there were a bunch of tears and hugs... even if the event would have sucked (which it definitely did not)... it was well worth getting to spend the day with Jayne... we picked up right where we left off, as if the last two years had never even happened :)

So, now that I am good and teary eyed... lets get back to the fiber-y fun! 

I didn't get a chance to see any of the demos... but from what I heard, they were amazing... I did however get to meet a ton of people... Mara, Brooke, Patty, Dawn, Katie, Janet, Tracie, Catherine (Sorry for spelling it with a K), Mandy, Heidi, Lori Ann, and I know there are a ton more that I am not remembering... but trust me, I remember your faces :) 

For the most part, when I wasn't helping anyone in the booth, I was making rolags and doing demonstrations on the blending board... At around 7pm.. we headed over to the restaurant... not really sure what it was called, but its the Brick*** something. Food is always great over there :)

Sunday - Laurie had to stay home and spend her anniversary with her husband... how could I be mad at her for not going with me, when its her anniversary? I was just happy to have her for the day :) So, I asked Tracie (I met her at Four Purls) if she would be willing to help me... of course, she agreed to be my helper... and for the most part, Sunday was very laid back and we just packed up the space and headed home.

Okay, so here are all the pics I took :)




Entering into the Twin Mommy Creations Booth - I think it turned out pretty good for a first timer :)

Side View... Love the rainbow Alpaca Rack

Another Angle

Inside Side

Other side if the booth

Another pic... this one has Dianetoo's spinning wheel... she was selling it :)


I feel like the booth turned out really well... especially since there were so many colors everywhere... Hope you all thought so too :)

Funny Face Farms... Gotta love the Grumpy Bunny!

Four Purls... she had a ton of stuff... but diversity is always great!

I am loving that bag :)

Sunshine Knit Designs/Long Dog Handspun

Long Dog Fiber... Panda :)

Took this pic for you Patty :)

Kathleen's Spin - See the Yarn Bombed Chair she made...

One of my favorite pics... 

Some of Kathleen's Batts

Raspberries... Tons of color

Angelina Tower... How fun is this?

Gorgeous Jewelry... I love the teal

Tower of Color :)

Ewephoric Fibers... I can't wait to master the Takhli I got from them :)

Love this braid rack

HaldeCraft... they made this sign with felt!

Their whole set up was very elegant

OWLS :)

Soap... this pic should be cropped and framed :)

Time Link Forge - Orifice Hook

Personal Favorite Here!


I think that is all the shops... Now onto the People :)


Spinning Circle... along with some knitting and crocheting

Spin, Spin, Spin!

Some new friends... Katherine, Heidi, and Mandy... Mrs. Brenda is in front :)

I love catching people off guard... they are always the most interesting pictures :)

Jane from Ewephoric teaching spindle spinning...


And lastly some pics of the custom ordered rolags from the show :)

I didn't catch her name... but she was the young lady helping out Billie at Funny Face Farms... she wanted some rolags to match her yarn... and I must say they turned out great :)

These were for Tracie

Here is a sample, spun from the above rolags... I love the way it turned out!

Another set for Tracie.


And of course, I didn't take a pic of the set for Mara... Unicorn Toots... 
Hopefully everyone was happy with their custom orders and has a ton of fun spinning!

The 10th Annual Fiber In was an awesome event.. and for those of you who missed it, hopefully next year will work out better for you :)

Thank you to everyone who purchased from me, and was willing to give me a shot as an indie dyer and spinner, I really appreciate it... To all the new friends, I hope to see you all again... and may everyone's fiber love grow and grow! Huge Hugs, Ann












































































Thursday, September 19, 2013

Tomorrow, Tomorrow... I'm Not Ready For Tomorrow!

With all of the freaking out and stressing out about the Fiber In... I got a cold sore yesterday... which is super embarrassing... I know that over 1/2 the population in the US gets them... but I still hate when I have "something" on my face :-( The Abreva does seem to be helping... so hopefully I will look a little more normal tomorrow...

Dylan has what looks like a bite (from some sort of bug) on his arm, and I feel really guilty leaving him for the weekend... I am still driving home at night... but for this over protective mommy... all day is a long time. When I think about it too long, I start crying... so I have been trying to block out everything that has been going on this week... It just seems like the universe keeps stacking things against me... but I will prevail... just you wait and see :)

So, enough of my babbling... 


The Drying Rack last night

Alpaca Lace - Deep Red - 880 Yards

Alpaca Lace - Gray - 880 Yards (this one is my favorite)

Alpaca Lace - Yellow - 880 Yards - There is just something about yellow that makes me smile :)

Bag of Multi Colored Sari Silk

As promised, I will have bags of cotton... this is ginned cotton 

What was on the stove this morning... Can't wait to see the results :)


Thank you for following me along on this crazy, fun journey into preparing for the Fiber In 2013... I can not guarantee that I will be able to write a post tomorrow with everything going on... but if not, there will definitely be a post-fiber in post for you to see all the pretties and fun that will be going on this weekend :)

Hope to see you at the Fiber In!!!









Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Really... Only 3 more days...

I AM FREAKING OUT!

I can not believe I only have 3 more days to prepare... where has the time gone? I am super excited... but at the same time, I feel so unprepared... it is crazy.

Well, last night, Mom and Laurie came over to help me figure out table set up and displays... Mom had to leave for Wisconsin this morning... so she will only be with me in spirit... but she has really been a driving force behind me with all the encouragement and support. I know that without her support, I would have never been able to accomplish what I have so far. (I just thought you should all know that)

Anyway... Here is what happened last night :)

Drying Rack 9-17-13

Alpaca Lace - Blue - 880 Yards

Alpaca Lace - Purple - 880 Yards

Alpaca Lace - Dark Pink/Red - 880 Yards

Costa Rica Roving - Because it reminds me of when I was in Tortuguero :)

SARI SILK - I love this stuff - 1 ounce packs


So, didn't get much done last night... so I am going to really have to get my head in the game tonight... 
Hope you come back tomorrow :)






Tuesday, September 17, 2013

4 days to the Main Day (Technically only 3 left!)

I'm sure most everyone has noticed that my days are off... by one :-)

I wasn't sure how many people were going to be at the Fiber In on Friday (20th)... so I have been doing the count down based on Saturday... but technically speaking... we have only 3 more days!!!

I have been pulling some long nights to make sure I have enough product... with enough variety to appeal to many different groups of people. But last night, I stayed up to watch Bones (which I had recorded on the DVR) and make rolags :)

I am not going to show you all the rolags... some things need to be a surprise :-) But, I do have a pic of one of the rolags that I am spinning a sample of... that way people can see what they can make with the set.

Here you go :-)

Spinning a "Unicorn Kisses" Rolag... It is turning out great :)


Alpaca Lace (880 Yards) in the Dye Pot


The Gray one is actually a lot darker and then fades into a gray/white... The other is "Plum Delight"


"Sun Burst:... Enough Said :)


These are the ones from yesterday... all ready to be labelled :)


Hope that I did not disappoint today... Lets see what tonight holds :)