September and October were very busy months for me.  I had 4 opportunities to spend time immersed in yarn and knitting.  Each experience was unique and allowed me to meet new knitters and learn new skills.  Here’s a few highlights from each of my trips.

Starting in early September, I attended the Garden State Sheep and Wool Festival for the first time.  It’s only a short trip from my new home and I’m adding it to my yearly schedule.  It’s a small festival and I met some lovely people.  First, I discovered Wee one Creations.  Their stitch markers are so cute that I came home with these lovely little sheep.  This photo also shows my new Katrinkles wooden cards.  I do love her products and it was so nice to meet her at the festival.  I bought several handy tools.

I also discovered CeCe’s wool.  CeCe also carries wonderful pillow forms and she and I collaborated on a pillow cover that I designed and she sold as part of a kit at Rhinebeck.  The pattern is in my Ravelry shop.

 

The following week, I was off to Block Island for my second retreat hosted by North Light Fibers.  This was a design retreat with Deb Newton.  I learned a lot about designing and will be putting some of those lessons into my future design projects.  Of course, I brought home several skeins of yarn from North Light Fibers along with this lovely hat kit for myself.

 

The weather was stormy on the island as the hurricane went through.  Look at these waves along the jetty.

The ferry didn’t run for two days and it was debatable if we’d get off the island on the fourth day.  It was a rocky ride back on the ferry to the mainland but we made it.  Here’s a photo of the view as the ferry pulled into the dock on the mainland.

 

Three weeks later was Rhinebeck, the NY Sheep and Wool Festival.  I was at the author’s table signing copies of A Hug from Henry on both Saturday and Sunday.  I met so many delightful people and Henry was received with enthusiasm.  A Hug from Henry is available on my website.

I did have time to shop early in the day and purchased yarn for about 6 projects.  Here’s my favorite Wonder Woman Sock Yarn! I need Wonder Woman socks right now as I adjust to a changing family situation as my Mom gets older and needs my help.

I couldn’t walk past this colorful yarn by Spirited Fibers.  I Dream in Technicolor came with the pattern for a Zig Zag stitch scarf.  It will be such fun to knit this on the upcoming cold, dreary days of winter.

My final trip of the season was a Vogue Destination trip to Koigu Wool and a stay at the Cobble Beach Inn on the Georgian Bay in Ontario.  It was a wonderful experience.  20 knitters were on the trip and we had an opportunity to visit the Koigu studio and dye our own yarn along with meeting the Landra family.  They made us feel right at home and I’m so inspired by the brand that they have created.

 

A highlight for me was winning the kit for the Dark Night Rose sweater at dinner on the first evening.  I just ordered Kollage square DP needles to knit this lovely sweater and I’m looking forward to getting started.

Here’s the yarn that I dyed with their help.  It is the colors of Autumn and I’m really pleased with it.

 

So now it’s time to settle in for the holidays.  I’m knitting my mini stockings and Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Helper Dishcloth Dress along with a few Christmas stockings.

                                 

 

Once, December 26th gets here, I’ll be able to concentrate on some of my wonderful new projects as the winter months keep me indoors.  Maybe the cold weather isn’t so bad after all.  It’s ideal for staying in and binge watching Netflix and knitting for hours at a time.