*Taptaptap* errr... Is this thing still on??

Well, so much for a post a day in February.  Never mind, eh?
I had *the* most awesome time at Textiles In Focus, and I will definitely be going back next year.  Highlights included:

• About half of the my local spinning group showing up, at various times, saying, "I didn't know you did this!  Wow!!"
• Selling out of drop spindles on the first day, and having to make more that evening.
• Teaching a friend (Lorna!) from the knitting group to use her own, rather lovely, drop spindle.
• Selling out of all my drop spindles for the second time whilst Lorna was grinning and squealing with delight behind the stall.
• Being asked to teach drop spindling at TIF next year!
• Having several people come past and tell me they'd found/been following this blog! Well hey, if you're still here, stop by and comment!
• The hilariously knowledgeable lady who came past on Saturday, and solemnly informed her friend that, "Of course, you can't use these yarns for knitting with".  WTF?!
• Persuading Pauline, the organiser, that the unused space next to my pitch would be perfect for a sociable spinning area next year.

Speaking of comments - I owe an apology to everyone who has commented so far.  I had the configuration of this blog set up wrongly, and they've been disappearing into the ether.  Technically, I suppose, I really owe everyone who commented a *reply*, but that seems sort of silly after a two-week absence. Mea culpa - and I'll try to do better in future.

Meanwhile, I suddenly realised yesterday that I haven't dyed anything for almost a month now.  Given that my next fair is only just a month away, I'd better get moving!!  (April 18th, here we come!)

Hmm.  Given that we woke up to a hard frost again this morning, do you think we'll want spring/summer yarns by mid April, or will we still be in the depths of winter?

Textiles in Focus: teh awesumz

Today has been such a long day.  Twelve hours ago, I was panicking madly, because my (usually very staid and dependable) wallet had gone missing.  That's bank cards, credit card, driver's licence, RAC card, about 50 quid and sundry loyalty cards and other personal items. Vanished.

Twelve hours ago, I was an hour behind schedule.  Half an hour after that, I had found my wallet, told J he could return to work (because he was en route home to look for it himself, bless him), and had actually made it to Textiles in Focus, where I had planned to arrive a full 90 minutes earlier.  I was still pricing goods after the doors opened, but to make up for it, I'd made my first sale before the doors actually opened, so it all balances out. 

I have one photo:

Though I know others took some more!  I look kinda dazed, don't I?  And not just because of the vent grill sticking out of my head. This was taken around mid-afternoon (thank you, Scarlet!) and by that time, I was feeling the hit of the adrenaline, the conversation, the mad fibre-frenzies that happen between and before class sessions...  It was awesome!!  I never feel so alive as when I get to spend a day around other fibre-folk, chatting and listening, inspiring and being inspired.  Sharing knowledge.

Oh!  And I almost sold out of drop spindles, so I've spent the evening making a few more.  Batts and roving are also disappearing fast (I guess that we have both spinners and felters attending, so the market for them is doubled!).  I will try and make up some more batts for tomorrow and Sunday, but when the roving's gone it's gone...  At least for this show!

But now, I'm gonna finish my glass of wine and head to bed.  Because tomorrow, I get to do it all over again.  (Except, I hope, the bit with the wallet).  Sleep well!

Set-up day

No desk for me today - it's set-up day for Textiles In Focus!!  None of my photos capture the joy I feel in this stall, not the ones of the sign (painted this morning, no less):

Nor those featuring the yummy display stands I just *had* to have:

Nor those featuring the 'blue' section:

But this is all because I am still a totally lame photographer.  I am so, so happy with the way this stall looks; I just wish I could capture it in all its glory for those of you who can't make it to the venue!

I'm still slightly worried I won't have enough stock for three days, though.

So near!

Tomorrow is setup day for Textiles In Focus, and I am so near to ready.  Not so near that I can take the night off, of course; all my roving braids still need to be labelled:

Gorgeous, aren't they??  Unfortunately, I still haven't decided on the best way to label these puppies, so it might not be a quick job.

I decided only to create small braids for this fair; 50 g each.  I wanted lots and lots of variety on the stall, and I believe that felters will outnumber spinners by a significant proportion, so: small pieces, many colours. I hope the decision doesn't come back to bite me!