I love the photos of the sheep! I’ll chuckled a bit as I read your post because it sounded like you were too tired to write much, but you kept writing 🙂 I do look at clothing labels, but fortunately I shop for clothes a lot less since I retired. Still, when I do shop, especially online, I do a deep dive into a clothing company’s manufacturing process.
Fox River Socks are made in Osage, Iowa - mostly natural fibers and some poly for diabetic feet plus top notch quality. I also watch clothing labels like a hawk. I'm enjoying all the repurposing fabric ideas on Instagram. The wool for the first hat I knitted for my twin sons was from our pet sheep 'Bathsheepa', very roughly spun as I was a newbie spinner. It doesn't get any more local than that. Still have the hat 40-some years later.
I use to live in Maryland and attended Sheep and Wool just about every time. It was fun, 1980s could afford some fun vendors, 90s got serious about wool and eventually became a customer at a chosen few. I am now in Texas so no MDS&W. If you want tips for next year let me know.
Lately I have been doing some serious looking at fashion, money, yarn, and of course living now I am retired. While I was young, and employed I learned about stashing, various quantity of yarn for items, and quality of good fiber. It is a process. I am now contemplating whether to start blogging here about knitting. How to save money at knitting, and just surviving these times. It seemed in the 1970s when we went through that recession we had more resources available to make ends meet.now we trade yarns, clear out stash, regift or trade for knitted items (socks). Yarn crawls are done for us as we all have so much. Yarn retreats are pricey, once you added items such as airfares, food, man oh man out of my price range. When I go to quilt stores which is almost never, beautiful stuff but do I want to go down that rabbit hole?
Take it easy and write when you can, we are low key here.
More than pictures of sheep with this post Sandi! Though I love them, too! Certainly can understand the need to unwind after your travels.
Great tip about Northern Exposure being available on Prime. It was filmed here in eastern WA and created quite a stir locally with the stars floating through the area, as well as threatening to bail if the show wasn't moved to a less remote area! Lots of international bus tours as well. Such wonderful character actors! I have been waiting for it to be made available somewhere.
Around 2000 I happened to get to know a lady living in the south here in the US. Her husband had been a mill manager for 30 years and had just been let go as the mill was closed down. Their 'take' on this happening was because some US 'movers and shakers' wanted to make people in other countries the workers for making all US goods - we were all going to be computer operators! -LOL Her husband was offered training in computers as part of his compensation. He was very close to retirement age and not interested in computers for a livelihood. - Their town struggled to survive after the mill closure. No one could sell their home, because all of the houses were for sale...etc. This was happening in small factory towns all over the south in the early 2000's. It accounts for why we have such a poor selection of fabric stores, let alone fabric among other things.
I encourage people to take you up on your sweet offer of Myrna Stahman's book of Shawls and Scarves! It is full of pictures and details as well as wonderful pattern stitches! I love my copy!
I, too, am binge watching Northern Exposure and remember the fun, love and honesty that show embodied. I'm not sure it could be made today. You had to be able to accept people's foibles and that is hard to come by these days.
Good morning Sandi! What a week you have had. That book sounds so good. I’m going to look for it although it will take me forever to read. Glad you got to Maryland. My next door neighbor at the farmers market had a booth. Always their biggest show of the year.
So sad about the clothing biz. When I got out of grad school my first job was working in the Empire State Bldg as a merchandiser. Our factory was in TN. So many people think clothing should be inexpensive so that’s where it has gotten us. The crap they sell now is horrible— why I still see my clothes so I get good fabric and things that last.
Rest up. You need it. That’s a long drive for solo.
Thanks, Kristin! The only way I can do that sort of drive is with a good audio book - for this trip, it was "Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner" by Natalie Dykstra. An excellent biography of a fascinating woman.
I just went to see the nasturtiums at the Gardner in Boston last month with Linda Pratt and Cathy Payson. Great day. I got the book and it’s next on my pile next to the bed. Will take me forever. I’ve read two other books about her. So interesting. What a place! Have you ever been?
I went to the Gardner once, many years ago. I was in Boston for business meetings and had a free Sunday before the meetings began. Of course, a Nor'easter blew in that day, so no sightseeing for me. Instead, I spent an enchanting day at the Gardner.
Love the sheep pictures!
They are such beautiful creatures!
They sure are!! Love my bunch wholeheartedly
Me too! :)
I love the photos of the sheep! I’ll chuckled a bit as I read your post because it sounded like you were too tired to write much, but you kept writing 🙂 I do look at clothing labels, but fortunately I shop for clothes a lot less since I retired. Still, when I do shop, especially online, I do a deep dive into a clothing company’s manufacturing process.
You've got me! Sometimes I start out thinking "this wil be a short one", but I always have more to say that I thought I would!
Fox River Socks are made in Osage, Iowa - mostly natural fibers and some poly for diabetic feet plus top notch quality. I also watch clothing labels like a hawk. I'm enjoying all the repurposing fabric ideas on Instagram. The wool for the first hat I knitted for my twin sons was from our pet sheep 'Bathsheepa', very roughly spun as I was a newbie spinner. It doesn't get any more local than that. Still have the hat 40-some years later.
Thanks for the tip! I'll check out Fox River Socks. And such a sweet story about Bathsheepa!
I use to live in Maryland and attended Sheep and Wool just about every time. It was fun, 1980s could afford some fun vendors, 90s got serious about wool and eventually became a customer at a chosen few. I am now in Texas so no MDS&W. If you want tips for next year let me know.
Lately I have been doing some serious looking at fashion, money, yarn, and of course living now I am retired. While I was young, and employed I learned about stashing, various quantity of yarn for items, and quality of good fiber. It is a process. I am now contemplating whether to start blogging here about knitting. How to save money at knitting, and just surviving these times. It seemed in the 1970s when we went through that recession we had more resources available to make ends meet.now we trade yarns, clear out stash, regift or trade for knitted items (socks). Yarn crawls are done for us as we all have so much. Yarn retreats are pricey, once you added items such as airfares, food, man oh man out of my price range. When I go to quilt stores which is almost never, beautiful stuff but do I want to go down that rabbit hole?
Take it easy and write when you can, we are low key here.
Since you're in Texas, I've heard that DFW Fiber Fest is a great event, though I've never been.
More than pictures of sheep with this post Sandi! Though I love them, too! Certainly can understand the need to unwind after your travels.
Great tip about Northern Exposure being available on Prime. It was filmed here in eastern WA and created quite a stir locally with the stars floating through the area, as well as threatening to bail if the show wasn't moved to a less remote area! Lots of international bus tours as well. Such wonderful character actors! I have been waiting for it to be made available somewhere.
Around 2000 I happened to get to know a lady living in the south here in the US. Her husband had been a mill manager for 30 years and had just been let go as the mill was closed down. Their 'take' on this happening was because some US 'movers and shakers' wanted to make people in other countries the workers for making all US goods - we were all going to be computer operators! -LOL Her husband was offered training in computers as part of his compensation. He was very close to retirement age and not interested in computers for a livelihood. - Their town struggled to survive after the mill closure. No one could sell their home, because all of the houses were for sale...etc. This was happening in small factory towns all over the south in the early 2000's. It accounts for why we have such a poor selection of fabric stores, let alone fabric among other things.
I encourage people to take you up on your sweet offer of Myrna Stahman's book of Shawls and Scarves! It is full of pictures and details as well as wonderful pattern stitches! I love my copy!
How cool that Northern Exposure was filmed in your neighborhood! Enjoy reliving that time in your life as you re-watch the series.
I, too, am binge watching Northern Exposure and remember the fun, love and honesty that show embodied. I'm not sure it could be made today. You had to be able to accept people's foibles and that is hard to come by these days.
So true - I love the way the show embraces all the quirkiness of the characters.
Good morning Sandi! What a week you have had. That book sounds so good. I’m going to look for it although it will take me forever to read. Glad you got to Maryland. My next door neighbor at the farmers market had a booth. Always their biggest show of the year.
So sad about the clothing biz. When I got out of grad school my first job was working in the Empire State Bldg as a merchandiser. Our factory was in TN. So many people think clothing should be inexpensive so that’s where it has gotten us. The crap they sell now is horrible— why I still see my clothes so I get good fabric and things that last.
Rest up. You need it. That’s a long drive for solo.
Thanks, Kristin! The only way I can do that sort of drive is with a good audio book - for this trip, it was "Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner" by Natalie Dykstra. An excellent biography of a fascinating woman.
I just went to see the nasturtiums at the Gardner in Boston last month with Linda Pratt and Cathy Payson. Great day. I got the book and it’s next on my pile next to the bed. Will take me forever. I’ve read two other books about her. So interesting. What a place! Have you ever been?
I went to the Gardner once, many years ago. I was in Boston for business meetings and had a free Sunday before the meetings began. Of course, a Nor'easter blew in that day, so no sightseeing for me. Instead, I spent an enchanting day at the Gardner.