Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge

I am a yarn junkie. I can admit this. I can also admit that I have restraint. It’s become abundantly clear to me that I have too much yarn. Showing my apartment to a new friend always makes me hesitate, not because I’m a mess, but because they will see my plastic storage tubs. The see-through ones have crafty supplies, i.e. lots and lots of yarn. Heck the opaque ones do too, crammed in with some rock climbing gear.

This year I made a promise to a new friend of mine (the girlfriend of an old friend) that I would take her to shop for special yarn for some projects. She had never been to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival before. It’s the largest in the US. Most of the hardcore yarn junkies I know attend on Saturday, but I had a prior commitment. Sunday was the best day for me. It would be less crazy and most of the good stuff will have been gone, thus limiting temptation. (Oh but there is always something, isn’t there?) It was a pretty great day for bringing us closer as friends.

As a multi-year attendee, I’m much more selective about what I buy and what intrigues me. I like to catch up a bit on yarn news and gossip. I was sad, yet glad, to hear that Jolene is the new proprietess at Cloverhill Yarns in Baltimore. It was one of the first places to pique my interest in handspinning. The previous owner was an older woman and I was glad to hear she sold to Jolene so she could retire. Good for her! Isn’t retirement what we’re all about?

The thing that tempted me most was a hand-carved ebony distaff for $45. A long-time vendor was going out of business for retirement and selling off all his wares. I was mighty, mighty tempted, but I hardly need such a lovely item. Gorgeous though it was. I simply do not use a drop spindle very much anymore so the distaff would basically be a really pretty stick, too valuable to use to bop someone on the head.

The last thing notable about this year was noticing a new yarn called 1855 Yarn from New Jersey. It came in pretty colors and handspun. I like to keep my eye out for new stuff, otherwise, I could go to MDSW every other year while I cut back on my craft spending.

And that was that. No really. I didn’t buy any yarn or fiber material whatsoever.

I spent nothing but money for gas and for lunch. I make a point of getting pit lamb BBQ at sheep and wool events because I don’t cook lamb at home. Round trip was about 1/4 tank and lunch was $10. I packed my own can of Coke for my morning caffeine kick.

I just wanted to add a post since I’ve been blogging about my yarn festival trips since I started this blog. I wouldn’t have wanted to skip it.