My Day at the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair

I am working in the Chicago area and had the opportunity to go to the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair today July 18, 2010. This was the last day of the three day event. I spent too much, laughed too much, and met some awesome people. As soon as I got out of my car, I ran into Peggy and another lady (sorry I can not remember her name). They were members of the Windy City Knitting Guild. Peggy gave me a bookmark from the guild that had the kitchener stitch on the back. That will come in handy.

I paid my $10 and got my armband. The building was air conditioned with lots of seating to knit when you got tired of shopping. I was among the first 200 to come in today so I had a choice of a teeshirt or a tote bag. I decided on the tee shirt.

I looked around awe struck. The place was packed with vendors, 133 in fact.The Windy City Knitting Guild had Betsy there and invited everyone to sit and knit a piece of her dress. I had meant to do so but got to tired at the end of the day that I did not stop on my way out. Of course, I had to go to the Briar Rose booth because of the podcast, Cast On. I figured that if it was good enough for a podcast, it was good enough for me, plus the colors were spectacular.

There were several demonstrations during the day but the only one I had a chance to go to was the one put on by Rust-Tex. You actually take any white cotton, put stuff that will rust on it like nails, etc. and pour vinegar over that, let it rust and you have cloth to play with. The other amazing thing is that you use shaving cream and a few drops of paint to do your stenciling. If you are using a rubber stamp, you do not add the shaving cream to the paint.

What is a fiber show without alpaca. Yes, they had alpaca indoor.

I guess you want to see my loot. Before you squeal about how much I spent, I was shopping for three. I needed a birthday present for my friend Sue and I always buy things for my daughter when I am out of town. So see....even through I spent too much, it is not all mine...well most of it.Okay TeAntae and Sue, guess which Briar Rose yarn is yours!!!!!

This yarn is from Wolle's Yarn Creations. I have ordered from her Etsy shop but it was great to see it. The blue yarn is so new that she has not had a chance to take a picture for her on-line shop. The pattern I purchased from Sun Valley Fiber Farm. The pattern is a beautiful shawl called the Gingko Shawl by Jo Harris. I will be using the blue yarn for that.

This yarn and pattern is from Yarns by Design. The yarn is laceweight. The model of the pattern is great. You use three colors. My third color will be black but she did not have any and will send it to me when it comes in. I thought that my daughter would love this pattern as well but I will let her pick out her own colors.

This yarn, project bags (one for me and one for my daughter) and pattern came from StitchSisterz. The yarn is 100% merino, I got black and it only cost $5 a skein. It came with a marvelous shawl pattern.

Ignor the card, the yarn is from Huckleberry Knits, I fell so in love with the rich red. I wish I could get a good picture of the color. I wanted a sweaters worth but knew that it would keep me from buying much anything else. She had made a sweater with it using the sport weight, that is what caught my eye, I brought fingering. No project idea for this as yet. Did you think I could watch the Rust-Tex demo and not want to buy the products to try it when I got home. I have the how-to video with a gallery of what others have done, starter kit and paints. I am ready.

On my way home, I stopped to buy caramel corn for my All Things Disney spoilee, I bought me some double cheddar popcorn and a popcorn fork. The popcorn is from The Long Grove Popcorn Shoppe. The purpose of the popcorn fork is to keep you from getting the sticky popcorn or the cheddar all over your fingers. Thought it was a great idea.

Well, that was my day, I arrived when the show opened at 10 and left 15 minutes before it closed at 4.....I really had a fun time and am glad that there is no other fiber show that I know about any time soon.