Rhinebeck Rocks!

Last weekend was Rhinebeck! It was the first year that I actually got to go! Jolene, Larissa and Jackie and I headed up for the festivities.

Now don't get me wrong - I love the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival - but this place was magical. Just look at the setting!




The leaves were all changing to golden, orangey, and red balls of fire. It was just amazing.

Once we got over our initial awe and wonder of the place - we soon fell into the rhythm of the festival. Barns and tents of fiber and yarn were everywhere! I did buy some stuff, but I managed to be somewhat restrained... I think! More on what I got in a later post.

Meeting people was definitely the best part of this trip! We went to both Ravelry meetups during the day and also ran into people just walking around the festival. It was a great chance to meet some of the people face to face that I only know from blogland!



I was especially excited to see the awesome sweaters and knitwear on parade around the grounds. There were some amazing things! Click on the mosaic above to get some closer views of the sweaters!


Then there was the sheep and alpaca and llamas!! I love those wooly guys!



One of the missions for the trip was to get some fleeces for Cloverhill. We bought a variety of beauties and then took them to get processed at Zeilinger's.




On Sunday - we went to the authors tent to buy some books. I got the new Mason Dixon book! Here's the lovely Ann and Kay - with a bonus Amy!



I also got the new Yarn Harlot book, but even before we saw her at the book signing - we ran into her in the festival. Everyone knows Stephanie loves babies and she remembered Joe from the book signing we went to this summer!



Besides yarn and fiber...


there was an assortment of felted cuties like these Gnomies...



and there was food! Fresh Apples and sheep cheese and local wine were everywhere!



Can you believe there were still flowers in bloom everywhere too!







A big thank you needs to go out to my girls Larissa and Jolene and Jackie for an awesome weekend! (Jackie didn't join us the second day - so she missed out on these photos)



And we can't forget Joey!



More pictures and stories coming soon - I'll show you the gorgeous Vanderbilt Mansion that we stopped at... stay tuned!

It's better at Bryce

Last weekend was John's birthday weekend! He's old now :)



As a special treat for the long weekend - I took him to the Shanandoah Valley in Virginia. A wonderful co-worker of mine lent us his cabin in the Bryce Resort area for the weekend. It was a fabulous place to stay!



It was a three story cabin with a wood burning stove and a hot tub! There was a huge field next door that the dogs loved running around in. The wood burning stove was heavenly and kept everything toasty warm! Can't you just smell the fire in this picture!



Since we had a big place all to ourselves - we invited some friends to join us! Our friends Tara and Tien decided to fly in for the day! Tien is a pilot - so this is somewhat normal for them :) They flew into the "airport" - which was really just a long landing strip in a field. I was even lucky enough to get a little ride!



The valley looked just amazing from the air. Look at all those colors!

Our other friends Tim and Lisa, and Kim and Payal arrived in time for lunch. After eating a bountiful feast including home made red velvet cake -(thanks Tara) - we went to a few vineyards for some wine tasting.

Here is Shenandoah Winery...


The setting was so beautiful. This was a more established vineyard and had lots of grapes bursting off the vine ready for picking. There were lots of goats frolicking around too! One was just in love with Tim. You can see him getting his hand nibbled on in the mosaic above.

After that windery - we headed to Wolf Gap Vineyard. This was a much newer vineyard and they were still getting their grapes established, but the wine was still tastey!

The best part to me was the view. It was so nice just to sit on their balcony and watch the sun sink into the west.



The next day we went to Mt Jackson and saw the Apple Festival on the main street


There were arts and crafts, antiques, apples (of course) and even a trout fishing pond where you could try your luck for ten minutes! These cute puppies were for sale. I had to keep reminding myself that these Rotties get BIG!!! - or else they would have come with me. Ah how I love puppy breath! I did come home with a Vintage Vogue Sewing book - still in the original orange box from the 60's! I can't wait to try some of the techniques.

We saw this sign there that totally cracked me up:


I think I need one for the yard! ahem...

Anyway - After the festival - we headed out to Shenandoah Caverns.

Caves always fascinate me. The formations here were no exception. On the road leading to the cave - there was a life sized Cootie! Remember that game?



After the caverns - we said goodbye to the rest of our friends and then decided to tool around the area some more enjoying the sights.

We came upon this amazing covered bridge! I was blown away by the craftsmanship of this thing. It was solid! Just look at those beams!



While there - this beautiful antique car rolled by. The perfect addition to the perfect setting.



Everywhere we went - the fall colors were just amazing! The leaves haven't really started to change where we live yet - but at the higher altitudes there - you could really see some amazing color!












A big thank you to our friends for an awesome weekend!



I'll end this extremely long post now and leave you with one of the sunsets we saw.

Spinning up a storm!

I've been busy spinning some awesome Loop batts!

I spun this up from my September club membership Loop batt. This month she let us pick a fiber and made up our batts using mostly that fiber. Mine is mostly angora with some alpaca, silk noils, angelina and cotton thrown in too. I first spun a thin single, then I plied with multicolored thread.

This is my Candy Corn yarn...


I have about 180 yards of this and it's about sport weight.
Doesn't it remind you of candy corn? Sarah things so and I agree!





I core spun this from a Loop batt a bought at MamaE's booth at the Baltimore Artscape back in July.

I'm calling this one Sugar Plum Faeries....



It came out to be a bulky single and I think I have about 80 yards.



I love them! I'm definitely addicted to her batts. I can't wait for October's batt to come. Her themes are all wedding related since she got married in October. Happy Anniversary Steph! I chose Weddding Rings. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Baby Quilt

I made a baby quilt for my friend Theresa's new baby boy Henry. A while back I bought a fat quarters kit with these awesome orange and blue and green fabrics. I loved the colors and knew it had to be mine.

I just started with a basic log cabin design using some of the fat quarters and my inspiration took flight from there! I headed out for some solid colors to tone it down and make it more "boy appropriate".

I am thrilled with the results!







I finished it just in time for my visit with Theresa on Sunday. We had a lovely visit and she even made cake! Yum! I was a spoiled guest :)

Here is Theresa and Henry looking lovely in their sunroom...



I don't know about you - but I think Henry loves his new quilt!

Weekend Light

Saturday night I joined my good friend Jolene and her family at the lakefront for Light the Night - a walk to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. This cause is definitley near and dear to my heart. My Dad is a Lymphoma survivor and Jolene's daughter, Samantha, is a Leukemia survivor. This yearly event is a chance to celebrate their life and remember those who are no longer with us.

It was a beautiful day! We had a wondeful time before the walk looking at the lake and taking pictures.





Here is Samantha getting her banner ready for the big event...


The colors were just amazing that day! The trees were golden and reflected perfectly in the lake.




Samantha looks beautiful next to these golden mums...



Here's Samantha's little sis! Isn't she the cutest!



and her little bro (my boyfriend) was flirting as usual...



At dusk - the walk started!



I just love the glow of the balloons in the darkness.




After the walk - we had hotdogs and chips and then went back to Jolene's place for yummy pumpkin muffins. It was such a great night!

Watercolor days

Growing up, my mom and I always did art together. One of our favorite mediums is watercolor. She was down for a visit last weekend and we decided to have a watercolor day.

Here are some of my painting:

Tilt - A play on perspective...



Tweey Bird II - I loved the pen and ink version of this I did in the sketchbook swap. Since I drew it in someone else's book - I had to send it away! So I wanted to paint something for me!



The Mist



I'm working on another painting right inspired by some photos of Venice. I can't wait to finish it!