The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival took place this year (yeah) and with The Driftless Art fair not happening (sad), a friend and I took off, to spend a day with all things wooly. I have done this fair as a vendor for many years and this was the first time I could just galavant around and take it all in. Â The fibers fumes were strong and the sheep were as cute as ever.
Despite declaring that there was no way that I needed more yarn I only made it to the second both before buying a bags worth of hand dyed yarn for weaving with. Â What can I say…Interlacements had some great sale items. The highlight was being able to watch the birth of the second lamb of twins. Â Pretty sweet to see their wobbly first steps and the search for mamas milk.
My favorite booths were of course hometown favorite Ewetopia. Â It was so wonderful to see their smiling faces surrounded by all their incredible hand dyed yarns. Â We were at the very end of the row and pretty exhausted so I didn’t get much time to look at their goodies. Â Fortunately they are just downtown any time I get a fiber urge.
I also loved all the rugs at Serena’s Heritage Rugs. Â I couldn’t resist a rug mostly because I was so in awe of the lovely aged weaver, the quality and abundance of her work. Â I think she said that she had started weaving at 60. Â She also had an assortment of miniature overshot weavings, one of which I couldn’t resist. Â Maybe this means that I can take this off my to do weaving list. Â Somehow weaving and warping with sewing thread is maybe more cray cray than I need, but then again maybe not. Â Maybe if I’m still weaving at Serena’s age I will get it done.
Lots to see
My favorite purchase was a minature overshot and I included the warp made of sewing thread that came with my Glimakra when I bought it…waiting to see if I’m crazy enough to warp it up for something like this. But now it is at the bottom of my list.
The Soay sheep is a breed of domestic sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the 250-acre island of Soay in the St Kilda Archipelago, about 40 mi from the Western Isles of Scotland. A hardy rare breed sheep that does not need to be sheared.
Serena and her lovely rugs. She weaves on 3 Glimakra’s which will be for sale as she is retiring. / Beautiful quilts exhibited
a little off the top
rug hooking, forever on my to do list
We watched the second twin being born.
the runway
too cute for words
My haul from the show including a rug by Selena / Two friends heading home after a long day.
So lovely! Thanks for the “tour”. I loved seeing the Soay sheep. I stopped to talk to the shepherds of these sheep a few years ago. They are so tiny……tiny like “being able to fit into my car” tiny. I hope I can be there next year.
I think Nan should buy one. She was kind of intrigued by them. Plus we had room in the car. There is always next year:)