WhiteStar

Estes Park Wool Market 2004

Lucky me, I spent yesterday in the beautiful Colorado mountains at the Estes Park Wool Market. And what did I get at the Estes Park Wool Market? Since I had designated early in the year that it would be one of the "special events" at which I would allow myself to buy yarn, I could have gone crazy purchasing some of the gorgeous and exotic yarns that many of the vendors had. Instead I chose to use almost all my money on **new spindles**!.

My first purchase was at the Woolly Designs booth. Tracy Eichheim is once again making spindles and what wonderful spindles they are. I'd heard good things about them, and the pictures on his web site show them to be quite beautiful... but I'm not one to buy before trying. I'm pleased to report they spin as wonderful as they look. I could not decide on one, so I ended up with two.

left: Sun Moon and Star's low whorl. right: Kokopelli high whorl.

My next purchase was at the Handspun by Stefania booth. I was quite taken by a polymer spindle by Michelle Fox of Fox Den Fiber Arts. The other spindle that immediately caught my eye was one by Steven Kundert. I had been considering one exactly like it that has been on The Bellwethersite for quite some time.

left: Fox Den Fiber Arts Polymer, right: Steven Kundert Zig-Zag in Wenge, Pau Amarillo, Cherry, Maple, Walnut w/Walnut shaft

I was happy with my two purchases when who should arrive at the booth other than Gabe Jaramillo, the maker of Cascabeles Spindles. I have one of the first Cascables that I bought years ago, it is beautiful but not the greatest spinner. But after reading Staisia's recent post about how much she liked her new Cascables, I decided I should take closer look at what Gabe was bringing to the market. Stasia was right, I ended up with two. :)

left: Wormy Alabama Apple on Wormy Alabama Apple w/ freshwater pearls, Mahogany shaft. right:Ebony on Wormy Spalted Maple w/hematite beads and turquoise chips, Maple shaft.

Next stop was the Bountiful booth. As usual, Lois and Bud had dozens of gorgeous Greensleeves Spindles. I have a lot of spindles I really like, but for sheer beauty, variety of size and weight, shape and wood, nothing compares to what is produced by Bart and Elizabeth of Greensleeves. And they spin well too! I found three that had to go home with me. I also brought home a pound of Lois' lovely Alpine Meadow Fiber in Black Lake VI colorway.

left to right: Bountiful Rose in Pau Amarillo, Paduak, Tulipwood and ??? w/Paduak shaft, Fox in Birds Eye Maple and Bolivian Rosewood w/Ebony shaft, Katharines Cup in two kinds of Mahogany w/ Mahogany shaft

Non-spindle related purchases included a Spalted Enlgish Beech lucet from Susan at Susan's Fiber Shop. I also purchased Eileen Hallman's *excellent* charka video. I watched it this morning and I already believe I may someday be able to use that charka I bought on sale last year!

The final purchase was a pattern for a shawl. The designer is Rita O'Connell of Earth Heart Designs presently residing in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, soon to relocate to somehwhere in the northlands. The pattern is called "Eyelet Ridge Shawl Variations" and it's really a bunch of different shawls based on one simple garter/eyelet ridge stitch. The one that really caught my eye was one that had a beaded, twisted fringe knit on to the edge as you go. I've never seen this technique used or described anywhere else.

So that's the story - I bought no yarn at all but lots of other goodies instead.

Next thing on the agenda here at WhiteStar is PUPPIES!!!! Aliy is due anytime after today... my guess is it will be around Wednesday. She was x-rayed on Friday and we saw four puppies in there ready and waiting to come out. If you want to keep up to date on what's happening with her, checkout her blog for all the up to to the date information.

That's all from the high plains today!

Anne at 12:01 PM