I could be blue

     This is the first time in years I am not spending this gorgeous May Saturday at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival with other fiber-loving friends.  And these past 2 weeks I have, finally, been feeling the emotional strain of moving so far from friends and family.  So, in a moment of self-pity, I took a picture of Bam and thought of MDSW.

     But, ya know, it is Saturday, and gorgeous, and I am quite happy.  Why? Last night I went to Yarnivore.  I was feeling kind of sorry for myself, no one to play with, go to dinner, go to a movie, go to hear music, on a Friday night.  I thought, well, a knitting group is not really what I had in mind.  But I went over to Yarnivore, figuring time spent in a yarn shop is never a downer.

    Wow.  I love the shop.  The owner, Melanie, is great.  And the knitting group rocks.  I left 3 hours later, full of hummus and pita chips, a bit of rose, and lots of rollicking fun, laughter, knitting and new friends.  Kate (rockharder81 on Ravelry) invited me to the knitting potluck happening at her house later this month.  Anne (haashausknits on Ravelry) said, "Girl, I was mad at you!  Why didn't you tell us you had arrived in San Antonio!"  Birdy agreed.  All on the Alamo City Knitters group on Ravelry.  Stacy immediately gave me her phone number.  Keyla sat next to me and chatted.  More and more folks came, chatted, knit, planned... It was great.  Felt like home.  Especially when Diana gave me hug as we left.

     The cherry on top?  A former colleague, Lisa, had given me a gift certificate to Yarnivore at my going away party.  So I came home from the party with loot and a renewed focus on knitting and spinning.  Here's the loot.  First, some Sockotta, part wool, part cotton, part nylon sock yarn.  In the past I have knit only one pair of socks from this kind of yarn.  My hands felt the lack of elasticity, but my feet love wearing the socks.  These colors really grabbed my attention.

     The other loot/gift from Lisa?  Some to-die-for, merino and silk roving in a colorway called Jacaranda.  (Yes, it is purple, and teal, and green.  Why do you ask?)

     The experience blew away my blues. 

     Now, to the house.  Now in place, at the entrance to the studio, a gift from my State college next door neighbor (pic on the left).

Also about the studio:  I realized I had been so focused on putting away wool, fiber, fabric, etc., that I had not established places to work.  No wonder I can't get started.  So I am off to remedy that.  But... I still want to hear all the Maryland Sheep and Wool stories. 

Comments

[Leigh]

I love your color choices! So glad you're finding good resources in your new part of the world. Yarn and fiber are such great unifiers.

[Robbyn]

Oh - I adore the cello switchplate! That's awesome!

Okay, so MDSW isn't in the offing this year. Sounds like you found a dynamite way of dealing with things. And who knows? Maybe next year you'll go. Or, perhaps, there's a wool soiree somewhere in Texas just waiting to make your acquaintance :)

I like your sock yarn :) I was looking at the pattern for Primavera Socks (see the Panopticon blog for the link). I just might give these a shot. I even have some Lorna's Laces to try it with!

[Martha]

It was a great MSWF; my 8th, I think. I got there around 1pm with my friend Barbara, who you met in DC. The crowds, and therefore lines, were crazy, though I'd say they were about the same as the last two years. I really did think of you while we were sitting down taking a break. In fact, I mentioned your story about the goat?sheep? on the bus. I bought too much and I'll post the pix of my haul on Ravelry. We also went to the Ravelry party, which is my second, having gone to the one at Rhinebeck last year. It's wild to see all the knitters together and match the ravatars and names to faces. Hopefully I can get many projects completed before June so that I can buy something in Anaheim!

[Kim B.]

Missed you dreadfully on Saturday. There will always be another time...maybe next year. I am so glad you are making fiber friends in SA and are getting organized. In fact, you are inspiring me to organize my house...all in time for the townwide yard sale at the end of June.

[Dorothy]

What a lovely story of how common interests bring people together - hope things will go well now with your new home and friends. It's really lonely when you move somewhere new like this, but I think if you go out to be friendly you generally get back what you give. Keep knitting!

[Ev]

I'm so happy to hear that you're fitting in so well and making lots of new friends. SA sounds like a wonderful place!