Maryland Report: quick & dirty

Quick and dirty is a good way to describe my trip to Maryland since I drove down with my co-author Laura and kick-ass lace knitter and tat diva Jen, and they have quick wits AND dirty mouths. In other words, it was hilarious.

The day started out overcast and kind of cool, but by the afternoon, the sun came out and it got warm. In the morning I bought my first fleece (and my second, too) and handed them over for processing into roving. If all goes well, I shall have some Rambouillet and some Romney rovings for sale at BBF later in the summer.

The festival seemed less crowded in the morning and late afternoon, but really crowded midday. The Socks That Rock line again was lo-o-o-ng, stretching out for quite a ways out the door of the building and into the midway. Although the Koigu ladies, alas, did not come, there was a mini-frenzy as Koigu millends were available at another booth.

I ran into many, many wonderful people, like Knitty D and her mom (Knitty D, I want your mom's address so I can send her something, 'kay?)



and Knitty D and Alison:



and once I got Knitty D to move out of the viewfinder of my camera, I met some blogreaders, like Anne from NJ and Alerievay, and BJ the M&M lady who ROCKS.

The Ravelry get-together was huge:



but I got to meet Noel and see Joann again:



and I also got to meet Turtlegirl and her amazing vest, but forgot to take a photo of her. (She's rather beautiful, so it's a shame I didn't get a picture.)

I saw unique objets d'art like this spinning wheel chair

and what appeared to be felted fetus, which I confess that I found rather disturbing even though it was masterfully done,



and I saw way more of this sheep's personal parts than I cared to,



and some inexplicably-clad guy dressed like, um, a guy in a sampan hat,



and some handspun that incorporated shredded Sweet-N-Low bags:

And now I am exhausted, and must go to sleep, and dream about my excellent day. More tomorrow. . .