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New England Fiber Festival Recap

This is going to be picture-heavy, but it’s worth it!

I spent this last weekend in Springfield, MA.  I was teaching at the Fiber Festival of New England

My grandmother and I, early in the morning before I head to NEFF.

(sometimes called New England Fiber Festival, or NEFF).  I grew up in Massachusetts.  My family lived outside of Boston when I was little, and we often visited family in other parts of the state.  Even when we moved to other states, I returned back to MA for summer camp at Chimney Corners YMCA Camp each summer.  Going to NEFF, in some ways, was a little bit like coming home… especially because I crashed with my grandmother, who lives nearby.  It meant that both my mother and grandmother could send me off on Saturday morning.

NEFF is an incredibly well-run event, and I can say that both as a teacher and the support I received, and as a participant, when I returned on Sunday to browse and network.

NEFF, Classroom Space
I got to NEFF early, so I could check out my classroom. Aren’t they nice?

One of the highlights of the trip was my second class, Hairpin Lace Scarf.  Our group had a bit of some adverse conditions – there was a fashion show and another class with a miked instructor just adjacent, but everyone kept a great attitude.

I had two great experiences happen during the class.  The first was when an old family camp friend walked in (Sue B!) and informed me she was one of my students.  I was so happy and excited to see her – I had not been expecting her to be there!  It took me a moment to recover myself I was so startled, but in a wonderful, wonderful way.

Then, nearly an hour into my class, as we’re making great progress I look up, and in the doorway is my Aunt Sue!  She had stopped in with her sisters to say hello.  It’s thanks to my Aunt Sue that I have the only picture of myself teaching from the weekend.

Tinking Turtle, Teaching, Hairpin Lace
Shot from my Aunt’s Camera-phone, I’m talking about Hairpin Crochet.

Having both camp friends and family stop by was SO incredible.  Living in Washington, DC, I have a wonderful network of people that support me in my endeavors.  Being able to have an opportunity to teach at a venue located so near my family and camp friends meant that my childhood support network could roll out the carpet to support me.

On Sunday I returned to the event with my mother and my best friend (again, from Camp, I’ve known her since we were both 8 years old!), Becca.  Both my mother and Becca coped well as I dragged them from one booth to the next telling them about what I loved.  It’s such a rare opportunity to share with people I love the things I love.

I’ll close out with some pictures of the event, with captions.

Melissa Jean, Buttons, Ceramic, Camera, NEFF
Melissa Jean‘s fabulous buttons, each one signed on the back and absolutely lovely.
Decadent Fibers, Sample, Cap Sleeve Top, Irina Poludenko
A fabulous stall by Decadent Fibers.
Pattern Is #15 Multidirectional Cap Sleeve Top by Irina Poludenko
Felt Pumpkins, Decadent Fibers, November, Fall
Also by Decadent Fibers, these cute pumpkins!

Wandering Wool, Rainbow Yarn, Gradient Skeins
Pretty Gradient Skeins by Wandering Wool.  I kept admiring her stall and samples –
turns out she’s from DC, pretty close to me!
Wandering Wool, Rainbow Yarn, Shawl, Cowl, Samples, NEFF
A few different samples in Wandering Wool‘s Stall.
Alpaca, Mustache, NEFF
This (girl) alpaca looked like she was rocking the mustache for November.

German Angora, Rabbit, Fiber, NEFF
German Angora Rabbit.  Nearly took it home.

I love the Northeast – and soon I’ll be there Teaching at The New England Fiber Festival!

I was talking with my sister, Rosemary, the other day.  Rosemary and I are six years apart, and in many ways that is no time at all, but when it comes to childhood memories factors in quite a bit.  She had few memories of the years we lived in Leominster, MA, or Vincent, OH.  Since the time she was five or six, we’ve lived in New York, just outside of Albany, and for her, she will always have come from New York.

Either a function of being the oldest, or just having a better memory, I have many more memories of my time living in Massachusetts.  And even after we moved away, I considered myself from there, as each year I’d go to camp in the summer in the Berkshires.  In many ways, my heart still is that of a New England-er, and each year about this time, when I know that the hills of the Berkshires are on fire with the leaves.  Now, Maryland has some decent trees that turn color, but it isn’t the same.  The varieties of apples available are a different breed, and the air just feels different.

Hairpin Lace Scarf we’ll be working on!

I guess everyone has to have something they are crotchety about.

It’s for that reason I’m so excited that, in two short weeks, I’ll be teaching at the New England Fiber Festival.  It is almost like returning home.  I’ll be a stone’s throw away from one of the first LYS’s I was ever exposed to, Webs and Northampton Wool, and a couple of miles away from my grandmother and my cousins.  I’ll be teaching 2 classes: “Hairpin Lace Scarf in a Day” and “Crazy Mixed-Up Slipped Stitches.”

I am SO excited.

If you are from the area, I hope to see you there.  And if you aren’t, share the news with someone you know!  The more the merrier!

Exciting News for New England Crafters

Did you know that I’m originally from Massachusetts?  This fall I’ll be returning to my roots at the 4th Annual Fall Fiber Festival of New England!  Hosted at the Big E fairgounds in Springfield, Massachusetts, I’ll be teaching two half-day classes.

The First, Crazy Mixed Up Slipped Stitches, will be in the morning, starting at 9:30 am.  The second, Hairpin Lace Scarf in a Day will be starting at 1 pm.

I am so pleased and excited to be teaching at the The Fall Fiber Festival, and I hope to see many of you there!  Aside from the classes, there’s quite a selection of vendors, and plenty to do around the area.  The New England area has a rich history with the fiber arts, and I’m pleased to be participating in this event.

Details, as more come, will be posted on the blog.

Whoooooo!