(no subject)
(This is pretty much verbatim from an entry at my regular blog, but I want to share and I know y'all don't go over there so much.)
The competition at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festivalwasn't real anonymous--the judge had mostly made her decisions, but then talked personally to each person that was there about their yarn. I asked about the alpaca first, and she sort of looked me up and down and said "and *how* long have you been spinning?" Except for one child, I was the youngest entrant by a good 15 years, I think. She really liked the alpaca, said "blue" to a notetaker, who wrote that on the judging card before crossing it off and putting "2nd" later (not remotely upset about that; the fiber from the winner in that class looked hand-prepped, though I think my spinning was a little more even).
ohsochewy and another friend of mine were with me, and were sort of hepping me up more than I thought I'd be, so when she got out the best in show ribbon for my little laceweight I believe I jumped up and down and clapped my hands like the foolish child I am. Chewy can certainly verify that.
Mostly, it was just neat to talk to some other spinners. Except for online, I don't get much of that. So I grinned like a fool for a while and answered questions, and got to be a big fiber geek (in fact, I'd planned on wearing my shirt that says "Dorkiest Girl Alive", but it was in the laundry). There were some beautiful yarns, to look at, too--a spindle-spun two ply that the spinner had dyed herself, gorgeous oranges, pinks, and purples all through. There was the winner in the wheelspun multi-ply class that I mentioned, that was dark blue alpaca and (I think) lighter and darker blue silk noily bits. There were some deliciously springy natural-colored wools. And, there was me. The person with the big frickin' ribbon.
It was all a lot of fun. My jaw is tired from all the smiling.
ETA: I'm trying to remember exactly, I think there were about 30 submissions. 6 or 7 singles, about 15 wheelspun multi-plies, 5 or 6 spindle-spun multi-plies, one kid's, a few novelties.
The competition at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festivalwasn't real anonymous--the judge had mostly made her decisions, but then talked personally to each person that was there about their yarn. I asked about the alpaca first, and she sort of looked me up and down and said "and *how* long have you been spinning?" Except for one child, I was the youngest entrant by a good 15 years, I think. She really liked the alpaca, said "blue" to a notetaker, who wrote that on the judging card before crossing it off and putting "2nd" later (not remotely upset about that; the fiber from the winner in that class looked hand-prepped, though I think my spinning was a little more even).
ohsochewy and another friend of mine were with me, and were sort of hepping me up more than I thought I'd be, so when she got out the best in show ribbon for my little laceweight I believe I jumped up and down and clapped my hands like the foolish child I am. Chewy can certainly verify that.
Mostly, it was just neat to talk to some other spinners. Except for online, I don't get much of that. So I grinned like a fool for a while and answered questions, and got to be a big fiber geek (in fact, I'd planned on wearing my shirt that says "Dorkiest Girl Alive", but it was in the laundry). There were some beautiful yarns, to look at, too--a spindle-spun two ply that the spinner had dyed herself, gorgeous oranges, pinks, and purples all through. There was the winner in the wheelspun multi-ply class that I mentioned, that was dark blue alpaca and (I think) lighter and darker blue silk noily bits. There were some deliciously springy natural-colored wools. And, there was me. The person with the big frickin' ribbon.
It was all a lot of fun. My jaw is tired from all the smiling.
ETA: I'm trying to remember exactly, I think there were about 30 submissions. 6 or 7 singles, about 15 wheelspun multi-plies, 5 or 6 spindle-spun multi-plies, one kid's, a few novelties.