I had an amazing time at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck), and at the Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival (aka SAFF) this year!
Warning — photo heavy post ahead!!!
Rhinebeck was wonderful — I stayed at a nearby rental house that was just perfect. Two good friends (and fellow teachers) Varian and Jolie stayed with me and we had a lovely time. (Jolie was asked to be photographed for the New York Times article about the festival that was published shortly afterwards!! So look for her photo. How cool is that?!)
I taught 6 classes at Rhinebeck – and had amazing students in every single one! I was really bad and took very few pictures of my classes. But here are a few:
My free day was Sunday, and I took full advantage and got to the festival at opening (9am) and stayed until close (4pm). I attempted to do a livestream, but those of you able to join know that it was a bust — it was horribly pixelated. I’m guessing my connection wasn’t strong enough to handle it. Oh well!
I only bought a *few* things, and no yarn (gasp!) (Buttons from Dusty’s Vintage Buttons, hand cream and salve from Utopia, a felted gnome kit from Going Gnome, a pink ivory fountain pen from Suffolk Shaker Shop (I splurged!), and some millinery supplies from D’Auria Designs.
I did get an apple cider donut (plus one on Saturday as a generous gift from a knitter on the hill during my very quick lunch break!) And for late lunch on Sunday I get some kielbasa and pierogis – so yummy! I had dinner in Rhinebeck at Fosters a couple of times over the weekend, and at Bia once (OMG so good!) I got the steak and ale pie there and it was divine (see photo).
And I saw the Leaping Llamas this year — my first time seeing them! It was so much FUN!
BUT the BEST part was friends!!
And of course the fall colors were amazing:
I drove the whole 12.5 hours home on Monday, then turned around and drove to Asheville on Wednesday for SAFF! I wasn’t teaching, so it was nice to hang out with friends and be able to relax. We were in another rental house up a mountain road – but it was pretty comfortable for the 7 of us and the views were amazing! (We had wild turkeys visit us, too!)
We played Wingspan and Exploding Kittens, and drank wine and beer and had just a very fun girls weekend! (This is just the red wines, we had several whites in the fridge too, lol.)
I visited SAFF on Friday and Saturday, and I actually bought yarn at SAFF, along with a few other things… Miss Babs SAFF colorway (“Orchid Fantasia”) in 2 bases (along with a blue to go with the one cashmere skein to make a cowl), The Fibre Studio SAFF colorway (“Wine Country”), two sock sets from Rock and String Creations, some Lantern Moon cable needles and yarn needles, notions pouches, and a needle felting kit and mat from Felted Sky. (I’ve already made the kit and I LOVE it.)
We had yummy homemade meals, including a delicious apple pie, and we had an amazing meal in Hendersonville at Postero. (I got the roasted chicken, and the bread pudding dessert.)
We went for a walk at the Arboretum one morning – I had never been – it was lovely. The “quilt garden” was neat!
It was a whirlwind 2 weeks, but so much fun! If you came up to me and said hi at either festival, I thank you!! I loved meeting you all! And if you were in one of my classes – thank you! You were great students and it’s all because of you that I get to do what I do!! <3
Did you make it to either of these festivals? What was your favorite part?