A Sheep In Wools' Clothing

Abby Finds A Home

Last weekend, while at NETA's SPA 2011 in Freeport, ME I fell in   
love with a character named "Abby" made by the wonderfully talented women at Mountain Fiber Folk in Vermont.  

Some of the women make the clothing for these dolls out of vintage doilies, others wet felt things like vests and embellish them, others contribute animal fleece for hair, and Amy Felske is the doll sewer extraordinaire.   Her dolls have energy and life in them - Abby made friends all over the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday!

Abby has wonderful details like a felted embellished vest, a tail, vintage lace doily overskirt, a Battenberg lace cap, a carved swan staff, a rusty key on her belt, Birkenstock shoes, and a basket of wool in her other hand.

The co-op members all knew the dolls by name, and said goodbye to her when I purchased her.  They even got me a box to put her in for the long ride home - her "car seat".  Then one of my SPA 2011 companions, NH Sara went to the freebie table, found some dark green yarn and knit Abby a blanket to keep her warm on the ride home as well.

Abby wears bloomers, covered by a dark screen gassamer skirt, then the vintage doily overskirt.  She sports a calico blouse and wet felted,
embellished vest.  Her tail is even adorned with ribbon.  Her platform is old barn board found inside the artist's own barn.  Soon, I hope to have some formal modeling pics of her that Amy took after her creation...  AND Amy created Abby especially for coming to SPA!

I've commissioned another creature from Amy - it will remain a secret until he arrives!

Seyon Lodge Knitting Retreat 2011

Last year, a group of 16 knitters and spinners rented out the Seyon Lodge (Vermont State park) for
a weekend of knitting and spinning in the snow, trees and quietude.  The lodge is state run by Vermont, and rents out for incredibly reasonable rates.  The innkeeper, JessieMae and her assistant Emmet, are fabulous and very accommodating chefs.  Their lodge granola is to die for, and I am told (I am gluten free so I can't speak for these) that the scones and muffins are top notch as well.

The fireboxes are kept well stocked with split wood for the fireplace.  Bedrooms aplenty are there, with everything from queen beds to futons and bunks, all with quilts on them.  The lodge rents out snowshoes, and they groom trails for sledding,
snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  We all bring snacks, tea and wine or whatever suits, and share or not - it's all relaxed and comfortable.

Charlton always gives some classes on Saturday - this year his topic was socks and he even had a booklet printed up to go with his classes.  We all came away with autographed copies of his booklet!
 One knitter, Lynne, a Vermont science teacher in the middle schools, is making a tradition of bringing a huge cone of chenille which she winds into cakes of yarn.  Everyone there can take one or more cakes home with them...

Both years, we've had a total of 16 people (the max for the lodge), and this year about half of us were returnees from last year.  We come from all walks of life, span several decades of ages, and have vastly varying years of knitting expertise and we all share and are united through fiber...  I'm looking forward to next year already.

2010 SPA

This weekend was the annual NETA SPA event in Freeport, ME.  A co-worker, Robyne and I have made this an annual event for the past three years.  This time, we stayed at the Harraseeket Inn, which was fabulous.  Jetted tub, fireplace in the room, hot breakfast buffet and afternoon tea included.  This year, the spinning and knitting rooms were at the Harraseeket while the vendors room and spa services were over at the Hilton Garden Inn.    
 

It seems that one night each year, Robyne and I make a late night trek to LL Bean (open 24/7/365), and Robyne has been photographed in the fish tank bubble, sliding down the banisters (with permission), on the LL Bean boot outside the main doors, and this year, saying hi to the musk ox we found in the sporting section.  Robyne scored a down jacket for $25.  I scored some new, smaller jeans and pj's.

This year, both Robyne and I actually did a full day and evening of spinning (I know - shocking!) after visiting the favorites in the vendors' room at the HGI like Heather (Sereknity), Amy King (Spunky Eclectic), Kim Kaslow (The Woolen Rabbit) and others.  It seems about half the vendors return annually, and the other half change over, bringing new faces and new items.  Amy's corner always seems to be the most active.

 The Harraseeket had a small herd of Ladybug wheels in the lobby spinning quietly away, as did the HGI.  We met new people, found awesome sheepy slippers, shared wine, cheese, pizza, stories, laughs and friendship.  Most of all, we got away from our daily   lives and winter with the most awesome folk in the world - fiber people!

I finished spinning some beautiful ice blue merino/bamboo from the Portland Fiber & Weaving Gallery, and getting it plied.  It is destined to become an ear warmer for DD.  DD is now a sophomore in college and a music major.  She is the tuba section leader for marching and pep bands.  The UMO mascot is the black bear, and their colors are sky blue and black.  So, the   ice blue will be the MC, with black as the CC, and I will add in a bear paw print and a stencil shape of a Sousaphone(tuba) on the ear warmer.  

And the parting photo of this post is the moose who joined us at dinner Saturday night (no, I wasn't drinking, but Robyne was).  He was at the Broad Tavern in the Harraseeket Inn - there was lots of character in the tavern, including shotgun shell light strings, canoes hanging from the ceiling, a musket over the mantel, this moose peeking around the column (click for bigger), and tons of other wonderful details and character.

It was an awesome weekend, and it is a great annual tradition.

Fiber Revival 2009

Last weekend, I drove down to Newbury, MA for the Fiber Revival at the  Spencer Peirce Little Farm.  It would appear from past photos of the event that this year was the third year, and the plans are already underway for next year.  Admission to the farm was $5, and there was a very nice trio of young musicians for background music, a few well-selected vendors, and of course the crux of all such events, fiber fanatics.  Knitters, spinners of all ages. 

I met one young lady who was 11 years old.  She's been crocheting since the age of 4 and already spins, knits and is starting to sew as well.  There were vendors with ice cold water and soft drinks, burgers and hot dogs as well, and indoor plumbing to boot!  The location beautiful, the historical buildings a feast of texture in building materials, and the weather cooperated.

I finally met in flesh and blood, Sara of Fabric 'n Fiber Fanatic and Julie of Noolie Knits.  There have been other occasions we'd planned to meet, but they didn't work out, since we all know life happens and others have plans for our time...  We had a wonderful afternoon spinning, lusted after the baby alpacas for sale (pet prices, since there was a large escape of male alpacas, leading to unknown heritage in these babies, who now cannot be registered - can't you see Sam with an alpaca to guard?), got Sara going on taking weaving lessons (she inherited a rigid heddle loom & has never woven), and caught up with Heather of Sereknity.  I was hoping to see  Amy of Spunky Eclectic there (she was there last year apparently) and have her sign her book for me, but alas, it was not to be.

While I went to this event intent not to spend money, but to visit with friends and make more friends, I did manage to spend some anyway.  I bought one sweater kit for a gift sweater (fall birthday), some yarn and some fiber.

Before heading home on the 3 1/2 hr drive, a couple of us had dinner together in "downtown" Newbury.  We ate at the Town Tavern, before the Saturday night crowd.  The food was awesome, the company better, the atmosphere quaint and welcoming, and the extension of a wonderful day was welcome.  This fiber event is definitely on my radar for next year!  Hope to see more of you there!