Lambtown 2019
/If you are a fiber lover Lambtown was the place to be last weekend! This event has grown up—well planned and professionally run (thanks Roy and Gynna Clemes and all the other friends who have put in countless hours).
I took last year off as a vendor, focusing on the sheep show and teaching classes, but this year I knew that the vendor hall was where I needed to be. It was well worth the effort.
And a lot of effort it is. I always forget to take a “before” photo. I went around behind my booth and took a photo of the blank space that is how it looked when I arrived (without any other walls up).
This is what my booth looked like when I remembered to take a photo.
This is how it looked about six hours later by the time I left—mostly done but not quite.
The rest of the grounds were also ready for the next day.
Here is the finished booth when the show opened at 9 a.m. I still needed to do some pricing and tweak a few things. The booth looks a big crowded but it worked OK. I have enough things that I could fill two booths but there is only one of me and I wouldn’t have been able to handle anymore people. As it is I would be talking to one person and see another looking at things, maybe pick something up, and then walk away. Usually if I can talk to that person they may buy the item or at least sign up for the mailing list. And that is what this is all about—engaging with new and returning customers and hopefully not bringing as much home as I started with. As much fun as a fiber show is for the attendees its a lot of work as a vendor and you rarely see much beyond your own booth. (That is why I’m going to Rhinebeck in a next week as a visitor, but that will be another story.) I never did get any weaving done on that Cricket loom because I was so busy all day. By the way, every time I go to a show as a vendor I think of when I used to help my good friend, Irene, at her Cotton Clouds booth at Convergence or CNCH. I learned a lot about setting up a booth. I think this is more cluttered than she would have liked, but in trying to include weaving equipment, spinning fiber (all on the left), my own locally grown yarn (middle) and the whole line of Lunatic Fringe cotton yarn and kits (on the right) I think I did OK. Oh, I added a few sheepskins in the front.
The Northern CA Fibershed Coop also had a booth at Lambtown for the first time. Because I was in my own booth I couldn’t help staff it but I provided some items. This is one of my Wild Woolly Wreaths hanging over the fireplace at the front of the booth. Did you know that you can make your own? I have four Wild Woolly Wreath classes listed.
It’s Showtime! This felter let me take a photo of the felted chipmunk friends on her hat.
My 2019 Jacob fiber, just delivered to Lambtown for me. This will be on the website soon.
Here is how the cardigan looks on me. It’s pretty comfortable to wear—maybe I’ll have to break out some knitting needles and try my own yarn.
There is also a Cowl KAL that uses one or two colors.
New for me this year is the Lunatic Fringe American Maid™ naturally colored American grown cotton. I love working with this beautiful yarn. Those woven samples are sett at 10 ad 12 epi and are very soft.
It knits up well also.
Combining one strand of 3/2 cotton with one strand of Timm Ranch wool yarn is a perfect blend.
Lunatic Fringe is known for their brilliant colorways in gamps and other kits and these were a big draw. I don’t have this listed on the website yet but will soon.
Speaking of color and kits. here is another, this one using Meridian Jacobs-produced and naturally dyed yarn. The Lineate hat is very popular and works up great using this yarn. I have designed a woven scarf that uses the same amount of yarn as the Lineate hat kit—another thing that is not quite on the website—I have to write up the instructions first.
Check the next post for Farm Club’s Sheep-to-Shawl Lambtown debut.
