Why, yes. As a matter of fact, I DID go to Rhinebeck
The rule going in was that I wouldn’t buy anything I could get from my usual yarn sources. I would only buy really special yarns that were new to me. Well, I stuck to that rule and still came home with a tableful (AND didn’t break the bank, believe it or not. There were some amazing bargains to be had).
Mindy, Iris, Em, and I made the trek up to Rhinebeck yesterday along with Mindy’s son Martin and Iris’s daughter Cheb. The kids were both delightful in a way kids can’t always be counted on to be on long car trips. Apparently knitbloggers raise superior children.
We ran into a number of knitbloggers, though I didn’t see everyone I was looking forward to seeing, like Norma, Claudia, and Carolyn. I had no cell phone reception up there and that got in the way of finding people…
Here are Em and the lovely fellow yarn-hair Amber. I was especially looking forward to meeting Amber, so I was really happy that we ran into her:
There were a number of other yarnhairs around, including Jenn and Rose. I wished I’d taken a photo of all our heads together. Ah well. They’re both here in the city so we’ll have another chance for that.
Here I am with Jenn, Jackie, and Alison.
It was wonderful to pet the sheep and profess my undying love to the alpacas. It was great to fondle the yarn and walk away with a good bit of it. Fantastic to meet knitbloggers and reunite with those I’d met before… What made the day even more special was that I was able to meet up with two men who’ve had and continue to have a huge influence on me. Robert Kelly was my mentor/advisor in my undergrad days at Bard. Carey Harrison is one of my professors in the MFA program at Brooklyn College (the Proust prof, if you remember that whole adventure last semester). Both are inspiring, insightful, and way too generous with their time. Both are readers for my novel-in-progress, which tells you exactly how trusted they are. I love them both, and they were recently introduced and have become friends. I can’t tell you how much that thrills me, because from the moment I met Carey I thought he really should meet Robert. Luckily, a mutual friend of theirs agreed.
They both live up near Rhinebeck, so we made plans to all meet up at the festival. Here they are, and a not-so-great shot of me, but I’ll share it anyway because this photo means so much to me. That’s Carey on the left, Robert in the middle. You know which one’s me, I assume:
I also picked up a few surprises, not pictured in the haul above, for a special someone in Australia.
Em, Iris, and Mindy all picked up roving and drop spindles. If I have my way it won’t be too long before I have them trying out my Louet… Yes, I am a fiber enabler. (By the way…I didn’t need more roving, but that bag of it you see in the first photo? There was no way I was leaving without it.)
Wow, you got so much that I am totally jealous even though I love what I bought! I’m glad I ran into you, too bad we couldn’t hang longer but I’ll see ya soon anyway!
Posted by: Jackie
I am seething with jealousy.
Seethe, seethe, seethe.
Hopefully our local Kid ‘n Ewe fair will be a good furry critter fix.
Posted by: David
Wow…you got some great yarn purchases there. Looks like it was so much fun. Wish I could have gone. 🙂
Posted by: Eilene
I looked for your yarn head EVERYWHERE. very disappointing…..
But, I’m glad to see you found great yarn there!
Posted by: claudia
Can I just come and sleep in your haul……. Fabulous!! Your colour selections are divine, and Lara looks very much at home on you.
Posted by: Secret Pal
I forgot to tell you: Cheb was raving about your hair (and Em’s). All that curly hair! But she wants Jenn’s color. It’s a pink thing, I guess.
She told Peony all about meeting you.
Posted by: Iris
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
My girls… and all that yarn. Sigh. Good-ness.
Posted by: Rachael
BOO HOO!!! Me too — no rotten cell phone reception. Someone told me they saw you from a distance, but I kept looking, like Claudia, and didn’t find you. And nope, there was no tofu. But they did have soymilk at the coffee concession. I think that’s a start. 😉
Posted by: Norma
Oh. My. WORD. How fabulous are your new stash additions??? Can I please, please, please come over and play with them?
I’m so glad that you had a good time at Rhinebeck. It looks like you met all of my favorite bloggers. Lucky you! And lucky them for getting to meet you, too!
Posted by: Becky
Wait, *Cheb* was raving about our hair? Has she looked in a mirror? Girl’s got awesome hair.
I had a fantastic time with you, doll.
Posted by: Em
You do have the best hair EVER. Always have. And I’m glad to see that time has not tamed Robert Kelly’s eyebrows. I’m so going to Rhinebeck next year. That’s all there is to it.
Posted by: melanie
Wow, you got so much that I am totally jealous even though I love what I bought! I’m glad I ran into you, too bad we couldn’t hang longer but I’ll see ya soon anyway!
Posted by: Jackie
I am seething with jealousy.
Seethe, seethe, seethe.
Hopefully our local Kid ‘n Ewe fair will be a good furry critter fix.
Posted by: David
Wow…you got some great yarn purchases there. Looks like it was so much fun. Wish I could have gone. 🙂
Posted by: Eilene
I looked for your yarn head EVERYWHERE. very disappointing…..
But, I’m glad to see you found great yarn there!
Posted by: claudia
Can I just come and sleep in your haul……. Fabulous!! Your colour selections are divine, and Lara looks very much at home on you.
Posted by: Secret Pal
I forgot to tell you: Cheb was raving about your hair (and Em’s). All that curly hair! But she wants Jenn’s color. It’s a pink thing, I guess.
She told Peony all about meeting you.
Posted by: Iris
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
My girls… and all that yarn. Sigh. Good-ness.
Posted by: Rachael
BOO HOO!!! Me too — no rotten cell phone reception. Someone told me they saw you from a distance, but I kept looking, like Claudia, and didn’t find you. And nope, there was no tofu. But they did have soymilk at the coffee concession. I think that’s a start. 😉
Posted by: Norma
Oh. My. WORD. How fabulous are your new stash additions??? Can I please, please, please come over and play with them?
I’m so glad that you had a good time at Rhinebeck. It looks like you met all of my favorite bloggers. Lucky you! And lucky them for getting to meet you, too!
Posted by: Becky
Wait, *Cheb* was raving about our hair? Has she looked in a mirror? Girl’s got awesome hair.
I had a fantastic time with you, doll.
Posted by: Em
You do have the best hair EVER. Always have. And I’m glad to see that time has not tamed Robert Kelly’s eyebrows. I’m so going to Rhinebeck next year. That’s all there is to it.
Posted by: melanie
I knew all the Rhinebeck posts were going to hurt me. Your haul is *fabulous*. Sigh…Lara is just beautiful, too.
I’ve been reading your blog for a little while now, and I always look forward to your updates.
Posted by: Elisa
One time I was in the elevator in Olin and Robert Kelly got in with me. I didn’t know who he was, but his eyebrows freaked me out. The elevator was illuminated from by this light that covered the ceiling, with a weird plastic grate underneath. “Uh,” he said in his deep, loud voice, “It’s, uh, kind of like a spaceship in here.” As soon as the doors opened I bolted, wondering who that weird old guy was. Sometimes I see his books around or something and I think, “oh look, elevator guy.”
Posted by: susan
The yarn looks gorgeous! I’m so jealous. The masses demand more pictures of the yarn and explanations/stories about it! 🙂
Posted by: kristi
lara looks lovely. as do you. 🙁 since i was mostly with claudia i obviously didn’t manage to catch sight of you (or em) either. altho a couple other people told me they did. i yelled NO! NO FAIR! ah well. next time i guess…
Posted by: carolyn
Oooooh! Ahhhhh!
(I love Susan’s story up there.)
Posted by: alison
Looks like you and Lara had a great time. And that haul looks like you took the cake!
Posted by: Margene
Wow! What an awesome S.E.X. booty-haul! Jealousy mounting…
Posted by: La
It was nice to meet you in person at the fair. How many people just walked up to you and introduced themselves like I did? I only bought one skein of yarn (I think I must have had a touch of the flu…) and am now somewhat repentant after seeing the beautiful yarns everyone purchased. I can hardly wait to see what you make with your new purchases.
Posted by: Jennifer
Your haul is awesome! I’m so jealous. I could barely find one thing I loved. Next year, serious shopping.
Posted by: Jenn
Can’t believe I didn’t leave a comment here – yours was the first Rhinebeck report I read! Great pics. I especially like the one of Amber. Don’t you just love her hair?! Great meeting you (and Lara!). 🙂
Posted by: alison
what a stash. great pics. and you look fabulous in lara!
Posted by: froggy
I knew all the Rhinebeck posts were going to hurt me. Your haul is *fabulous*. Sigh…Lara is just beautiful, too.
I’ve been reading your blog for a little while now, and I always look forward to your updates.
Posted by: Elisa
One time I was in the elevator in Olin and Robert Kelly got in with me. I didn’t know who he was, but his eyebrows freaked me out. The elevator was illuminated from by this light that covered the ceiling, with a weird plastic grate underneath. “Uh,” he said in his deep, loud voice, “It’s, uh, kind of like a spaceship in here.” As soon as the doors opened I bolted, wondering who that weird old guy was. Sometimes I see his books around or something and I think, “oh look, elevator guy.”
Posted by: susan
The yarn looks gorgeous! I’m so jealous. The masses demand more pictures of the yarn and explanations/stories about it! 🙂
Posted by: kristi
lara looks lovely. as do you. 🙁 since i was mostly with claudia i obviously didn’t manage to catch sight of you (or em) either. altho a couple other people told me they did. i yelled NO! NO FAIR! ah well. next time i guess…
Posted by: carolyn
Oooooh! Ahhhhh!
(I love Susan’s story up there.)
Posted by: alison
Looks like you and Lara had a great time. And that haul looks like you took the cake!
Posted by: Margene
Wow! What an awesome S.E.X. booty-haul! Jealousy mounting…
Posted by: La
It was nice to meet you in person at the fair. How many people just walked up to you and introduced themselves like I did? I only bought one skein of yarn (I think I must have had a touch of the flu…) and am now somewhat repentant after seeing the beautiful yarns everyone purchased. I can hardly wait to see what you make with your new purchases.
Posted by: Jennifer
Your haul is awesome! I’m so jealous. I could barely find one thing I loved. Next year, serious shopping.
Posted by: Jenn
Can’t believe I didn’t leave a comment here – yours was the first Rhinebeck report I read! Great pics. I especially like the one of Amber. Don’t you just love her hair?! Great meeting you (and Lara!). 🙂
Posted by: alison
what a stash. great pics. and you look fabulous in lara!
Posted by: froggy