Sunday, October 08, 2006

Taos Baby!

It was amazing! Nicol and Bentley and I took off on Friday morning - after an amazing breakfast at The Frontier - on our trip to the Taos Wool Festival.

The festival didn't start until Saturday - but we wanted to go up early and see the sights. We drove on the Turquoise trail from Albuquerque through Sante Fe and finally on to Taos.

New Mexico has such a beautiful countryside - I am so glad I had a chance to see more it. The drive through the mountains was amazing. The sky, the mountains, the rock formations - all of it was so unique.





Before we got to Taos - we stopped in a cool yarn, spinning and weaving shop - The Santa Fe School of Weaving.







The garden outside was full of objects 'd art.







The first thing we did when we go to Taos was go to the Taos Pueblos. I had never seen a Native American town before and it was so beautiful! It was full of turquoise doors and windows, dogs running everywhere and gorgeous handcrafts for sale. I bought some beautiful pieces of turquoise there.
































After the pueblo - we went to La Lana Wools. THE La Lana Wools! I was so overwhelmed I couldn't even buy anything. (at first) We went back the next day and I did manage to make some purchases... hehehe...









And how could I not take a picture of the famous Lady Eleanor shawl...





Check out my skein of yarn being modeled by the lovely sales woman...






The next morning we woke up bright up and early and headed out in the rain to the Taos Wool Festival. We arrived about an hour early and we weren't alone in our "pre-game" expectations - there was lots of people already there. We started the day out right - by playing with the animals - sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas! There was this one little goat that loved me - he kept nibbling on my fingers! Isn't he the cutest!





Who could resist this face....





or this one...





After our petting zoo adventures - we started in on the wool itself. All I can say is wow! There was so much beautiful yarn! There were two vendors that especially caught my attention.

My favorite was Notable Yarns by Brooks Farms of Texas. They know yarn in Texas....





They had the softest most amazing yarn at the festival. I bought about 8 skeins!

Here are some of my finds from Brooks Farm:









Here's a closeup of my favorite...










My other favorite was Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool company... Just look at the richness of their colorways...






I got three different colorways - 2 skeins in each color of 400 yards each! That's 800 yards of wooly goodness!










And ok - I caved.... I bought a spindle.... and some fiber... ok 2 spindles and lots of fiber. I know I know I always said "just keep knitting, just keep knitting..."

But I couldn't resist!!

I got one "regular" spindle - but then I saw this other woman spinning with this tiny spindle and making the most gorgeous lace weight and sock weight yarns... I couldn't resist.






Here is one of the places I got some fiber... Table Rock Llamas Fiber...





(I only bought one of these I swear!)


In the afternoon we headed up to Arroyo Seco and Taos Sunflower yarn shop. (No - we didn't get enough yarn at the festival!)





We ran into Cheryl there too




They had a fantastic sale on Noro - so I got a few skeins.


Finally - after the Sunflower yarn shop - we started back to Albuquerque via the Rio Grande Gorge...






It was an amazing trip!

7 comments:

The Little (Knitting) Hedgehog said...

It looks like you guys had so much fun!!!

Shelby said...

All I can say is WOW! It looks like you had such a great time! I so wish I could have been there! And the yarn...I can't say enough about that. You chose some amazing colorways, I can't wait to see them in person!! I'm still drooling. ;)
I'm off for a shower, and going to head into work for a half day. Still feeling like crap but used my last sick day yesterday. ;(

Giantsknitter said...

Hey you! WOW! I sure wish I had been out there with you. What fabulous pictures. If I remember correctly some of the yarn I brought into work that day was also from Notable Yarns. They have amazing stuff!! Can't wait to see it all in person.

Large Marge said...

Thanks for all the pictures. I wish I could have been there in person, but at least I get to live vicariously!
You got to see the original Lady Eleanor!

Byronicwoman said...

ugh! i'm still recovering!!

Lorena said...

Oh my gosh! What a fantastic, amazing time you had. I did let out a little squeal when I saw that Lady Eleanor photo. You're SO LUCKY! And look at all that new yarn you have! Did I mention how lucky you are?!

Wendy said...

Okey dokey ... too weird. I was in Santa Fe from October 4-7 (left early on the 7th), must have passed you on the road driving back to Albuquerque to fly out on Saturday. While I stalked many a yarn shop on my trip, it wasn't until I got home (I live in Catonsville ... again, WEIRD) that I had managed to miss a huge fiber festival by cutting my trip short. Silly me!!