Well, we had a wonderful time at the fiber fair. We almost didn’t go, because it was so far, but I’m glad we went despite the fact that we came home with probably about $60 less than we left with. After gas, and food and all that, we didn’t quite break even. At first we were a little disappointed, however I have come to realize that it was worth the money we spent after all, and here’s why.

We sold about 25 spindle kits in one day. We sell the spindle, an ounce of fiber and a lesson. So I spun my little CD spindle all day long, and brought over 20 NEW spinners, those that had never tried before into this wonderful craft. Most of them were children, ranging in age from 4 to 14. These are the spinners of tomorrow, and how lucky am I that it got to be me that gave them a new experience, and maybe even influenced their future. Perhaps many of them will go home, and never spin anymore, but one or two really took to it, and who knows what they may contribute and invent in the future.

I taught little kids, just four years old, on up to several elderly ladies in their 80’s and 90’s. They all tried with that same determination and cheerful disposition that spinners just seem to have much of the time. In short I didn’t make any money, but I had the time of my life, sharing something I love very much.

That got me to thinking, (waxing theological for a minute) why do we do things? Why do we do things especially for others. In the services we do, and the acts of love we show to those around us, do we do them for them, or more for ourselves? If we are truly doing it for others, then consolations or gain is irrelevant and doesn’t seem important. I started out thinking that we had “failed” because we came back in the hole, but on the other hand, we came back with much more than a few bucks.

If someone doesn’t give the new people a cheap, easy way to try, then who is going to try it out? Most people aren’t going to spend 20 to 70 dollars for a nice spindle and some fiber. They will spend $5. So how many of the 25 people who learned to spin wouldn’t have if I hadn’t been there? More importantly, how many of those kids would have had the chance? I think I learned that I like to help kids, and I like to teach them something like this. I like it enough, that I don’t think I care anymore if I break even, make money or even come back in the hole. I don’t know if I’ll make a 5.5 hour drive to do this one again though LOL!

So here’s the fun part of the fiber fair, the pictures and goings on.  First of all I was thrilled to meet up with my very first spinning istructor, Mrs Judy Crouch.  Isn’t she beautiful, I have met very few people that are as sweet, kind and patient as she is, and was in the class I took.

And the yarns, fibers and spinning stuff to see, touch and enjoy…. Ah, this could be part of why we came back $60 short of what we should have, look at all the beautfiul stuff.  Still, I was very conservative, and only bought a few things, AND I would like to point out that half of it was for someone else.  sniff  no silk for me.

I also met up with Mr Ron Anderson of Anderson Originals.  He makes custom built drum carders, BEAUTFIUL crochet hooks, and also really neat-o spindles and I wanted one, but I didn’t get one, because I don’t need another spindle, and even though the price was really really good, and he let me try, and I wanted one really really bad, and I didn’t get it right off, and Beau laughed at me because I couldn’t use it, and I hate that, so I wanted to prove I could learn to use it and do really well, I didn’t get one, because I don’t need one, and also because I was already $60 in the hole.  Aren’t you proud of me?  Who says I don’t have strong will power.  Besides, I bought a drum carder from him to review on the site, and I couldn’t really say I NEEDED a spindle, but I DO need a drum carder, so let’s be happy with what we have huh?

Check out those nostepinnes… scuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard.  I did ask him if he would make some that had a nice little wpi tool in between the handle and the nostepinne part and guess what?  HE WILL!  YAY, how cool is that?  All of his stuff is beautiful, and so nicely made.  I love the carder, and already have processed a shetland fleece, mixed with alpaca with it.

I didn’t really get out and about just to look around until later in the day, by then it was hot and everyone was feeling worn out, some of us more than others.

This is Judy’s little dog who was holding the ground down so we could all walk around in safty without it floating away.  He’s a hard working little cuss.  I made a lot of animal friends, and people too.  We got to see some sheep getting worked by sheep dogs, who are very precise, and obeidient to the commands.

And of course there were sheep of all kinds there, since it’s the World Sheep Festival.  I liked this little girl, dispite her lack of wool growing capability, she’s a hair sheep.

LOOK at that face, is it not the sweetest?  Well I thought so, looking at the sheep that this was the cutest one I saw, and I was amazed at the GIANT Columiba ram I saw, it was as big as a small horse.  It’s back was about as high as the middle of my ribcage.  Only a few inches shorter than Candy, my HORSE!!!  I grant you Candy is a short horse, but I kid you not, I could have ridden that fellow.  I took a picture but it just didn’t turn out, and you couldn’t tell how HUGE he was.  But I did snap this little guy, having a walk with his Mama…

Is he not so adorable?  I entered a raffle for a free bunny, telling Beau that if I won, it would have to be a divine intervention, and he would HAVE to let me have a bunny.  Apparently the good Lord agrees with Beau, I didn’t win the sweet little bunny for my own.  I also couldn’t get away from Beau long enough to give the woman $35 bucks, and have her let me win a second “bonus” bunny.  He knows me so well, and kept a close watch… oh well.

The highpoint, was the executive outhouse.  This aint your ordinary porta potty here, this here’s for the sophisticated porta potty user, when closet with a seat just aint gonna do it.

Baby, it just don’t get no better’n that!  Actually it’s made for those people in wheelchairs.  But I enjoyed it immensly, and I promised myself, if I ever host a fiber fair, we will have executive porta potties, cause only the best…

On one last note, I entered three skeins of yarn that have been hanging around waiting to be made into something, and low and behold wouldn’t you know, I won me a ribbin or two…

The left skein won first, and although it isn’t as pretty as the other, it does have a higher technical quality.  The other is three ply, and my plies weren’t as even as desirable.  I thought the judging to be quite good, except that they didn’t give us any feedback.  Judy was nice enough to explain what I should do different for two blue ribbons next time.  One skein didn’t get any ribbon.  The grand Champion skein was a novelty butterfly yarn type thing.  I didn’t like it so much as a beautiful 100% mohair one that was there, I really thought it was better spun.  It could just be my bias against novelty yarns.  I just don’t like them much.  Still, it was very well spun, and quite nice, I just thought there were a few others that were better.  I want to point out here, that none of them were mine, I didn’t deserve that ribbon.  But I didn’t really agree with the choice of Grand Champion.  Oh well.  SO now I need to get some more spun for Warrensburg at the beginning of Oct.  Maybe I will do even better there, now that I got some great pointers on my technique from the spinning expert…