Sheep and Wool and Toys

How do you like this face?

What about this one?

Personally I like this one with the hair hanging in it's face.

This year was my third going to MDS&W. The first year I was like a kid in a candy shop and I just bought whatever caught my eye. I'm not even sure I had a shopping list. It was great fun but you can only be a goggle-eyed newbie once so the second year I had purpose and a plan. My wheel was new so I focused on the fiber. Much of the purchases made in those first 2 years is still in my stash so I didn't need anything this year. Looking at my queue on Ravelry, I actually have the yarn for most of my to do list.

This year I went with a short wish list and a plan not to bring home too much because I'm running out of places to put it. There was so much gorgeous stuff there - wonderful colors and soft yarns - but much of it is similar to stuff that's already in my stash so it wasn't so hard to put it down. I did buy some top from Cloverleaf Farm. This is 50/50 silk/merino blend and it is sinfully soft and has an amazing lustre. Doesn't it look golden or coppery? I cannot wait to spin it up.

Since DQ claimed the socks I made with my first skein from Dancing Leaf Farm, I checked out their booth to see if Dalis had anything fun. Boy did she ever! She has such beautiful colors and this one called my name loud and clear. It's hard to see in this picture but there are blues, greens and soft browns in there. It looks like a day in the park to me. I'd tell you the name of the color but Dalis said it's one of a kind and unnamed. She's playing with a new shade of blue.

That is all of the prepared yarn and fiber I bought. I was so proud of my restraint. I resisted Tess, Brooks Farm, and Shelridge Farm. I resisted alpaca and Koigu. I even resisted an amazingly gorgeous skein of sock yarn from Ellen's Half Pint Farm even though Risa was right there, very helpfully pointing out that need was not an issue when buying sock yarn.

There was one thing that I Just. Could. Not. Resist. I bought a drum carder.

Here's my new toy. It's a Strauch Petite. Once I bought this I did have to go get a little bit of fiber to break it in with. I got a little angora, some Tussah silk, a gorgeous garnet batt, a little shiny stuff to add sparkle. I am going to have so much fun playing with this and hubbo is happy because it's relatively small and easily stored.

So much for not spending too much at MDS&W! I'll try again next year.