May 15, 2005
Maryland Sheep & Wool, Post the Third
OK, where was I... oh yes, finishing up Saturday at the festival.
Last year I did most of my monetary damage at the Woolstock booth. Not on exquisite hand dyed one of a kind wonders, no sir, but on the bargain bin. A giant playpen contraption which had bags of yarn for 50% off. Not crap yarn, either, but good stuff - Rowan, Jo Sharp, Noro, etc. This year, I was trying to stay away, to convince myself that I should stick with the things I can't find in a LYS or on the web. Did it work?
Not entirely. Turns out I'm a sucker for a bargain. Or thrifty. Or cheap. But the fact was, there was some pretty cool stuff in there that I couldn't pass up for 50% off. It turns out my friends couldn't, either. Yep, I pulled them into the dark side with me. Just check out the crazed look on Carrie and Anne Marie as they practically dive in:
Mostly, though, we were very well-behaved. Jenny did score some fabulous Rowan, and I think just about everybody got some Regia sock yarn. (Well, everybody between this trip and the one on Sunday... of course I went back - are you crazy?)
After that, things started winding down at the fest. A last trip to Brooks, a last trip to Tess, and then I went to the gate to meet Cheryl & Stacy and wait for the stragglers. But then, who should I see walking by with the most ginormous bag of roving I've ever seen? Rachel and Lala! (In Lala's defense, it was Rachel with most of the roving). I sprang up to say hello, and convinced them to hang out for a few seconds while I rounded up my peeps (several of whom wanted to say hello). The next thing you know, it's a meet-up at the front gate!
The best part was when the man on the microphone in the front tent asked us where our group was from (since we obviously knew each other and all), and we said "The Internet." When he said, "No, I mean where are you from?" we replied with "Everywhere - we're from the Internet!" Yay for the blogosphere!
OK, so then it was home for some downtime and Subway, but then the call we were waiting for came... it was off to Korean karaoke!!!
[ASIDE: For those who have been curious (well, probably mostly those in our group), I found an article posted here that does have an explanation regarding the meaning of the phrase "1.7th Generation" - Jenny, the "th" is actually supposed to be there. Read and learn...]
The evening has been well chronicled elsewhere, thanks to the karaoke paparazzi, but I was no exception, so here are some photos for your enjoyment:
The all-important task of picking the right song:
Serenading the very willing local Koreans:
Doesn't every girl bring her own back-up dancers?
Seriously, because this one did too...
The beauty of blue soju:
And the whole (exhausted) crowd... click to make bigger:
Happiness.
But the night had to end, and we had to say good bye to our Georgia peaches. The next day a smaller crew returned to the festival for an all-around calmer, quieter day. If you were turned off by the crowds and insanity of Saturday, you should definitely try it on Sunday. Just don't expect there to be any Koigu left.
Yarn was purchased (another trip back to Woolstock for yet more sock yarn, another trip to Brooks Farm looking for some black - "Does this yarn match my coloring?" "Sarah, it's black. It matches everyone." "Good, I'll buy it then.") Funnel cakes and corn dogs were eaten. Sheep were admired.
The highlight of Sunday, though, was something I haven't done since I was much smaller, and I had completely forgotten what a thrill it was. When it was done, I laid on my back and laughed out loud for a long time. That's right... we rolled down a hill:
That's me, Sarah B. and Lara. Chelsea was our partner in crime photographer.
And that was the end. The only thing left was to take our yarn home and fondle it. Repeatedly. And take pictures of it, but that will have to wait until the next post - the Sheep & Wool Haul (or, how many feet do you have? or, how many skeins of sock yarn does one intrepid knitter need?)
You got a great picture of Soju! Oh, and the beauty which was the bargain bin :-) Happiness.
HEY! How do WE get to go to the secret Karaoke room?!?!?!? I thought the name had something to do with Koreans that were somewhere between fFrst generation Americans and Second. I guess that's sorrrrrrta right, but then again, totally not.
LOVE THE PICS!!! Especially the one of us rolling down the hill!! YAAY! It WAS soo very fun!
Posted by: Lara on May 16, 2005 02:04 AMrolling down hills = awesome!
Great link to the info about the bar! LOVE IT. That's what I get for mocking. ;-)
Posted by: Jenny on May 16, 2005 05:10 AMLook at all those fabulous knitters! Someday I'm gonna make it to one of these festivals and sing some wild karaoke and dive into the yarn bins like a maniac. That is my kinda fun!
Posted by: Becky on May 16, 2005 05:10 AMI have the sudden urge to go outside and roll down the hill next to my apartment! Cool pic!
Posted by: Jill on May 16, 2005 02:02 PMI've said it before, but that bargain bin was fun! You got some very cute pics--thanks for sharing them :)
Posted by: Lolly on May 16, 2005 06:20 PMThat bargain bin was almost the end of me. Thank goodness I backed away..
Posted by: Carrie on May 25, 2005 09:21 AM