Thursday, January 20, 2011

E.S.E., The Big E, New England Sheep Breeders Assn. Show Review (Blated)

The booth before people.
Mary with center pull bumps from Singleton fiber.

The view, vendors as far as you can see.

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With regard to this show, I couldn't have more nice things to say.

It is very accessible from major freeways and there is plenty of parking, nearby hotels and restaurants.  Coming in, you walk into a large exhibition room.  In this room are special fiber animal exhibits, a fleece sale and a great fashion show.  Then you pass through a large indoor hall into an adjoining building.  (A building large enough for you and several friends to park your jet airplanes inside.  Seriously!)  The adjoining building opens up immediately to your left and right with food vendors and classroom areas, then as far as the eye can see are several hundred fiber art & craft vendors.  Both structures are completely indoors, very good lighting, climate controlled, and handicap accessible.

I was there with my new friend who opened a new fiber mill in Md., Mary Singleton, Singleton Fiber.  Next to me was my dear friend and true mentor, Greta Dise of Persimmon Tree.  However, I saw many other fiber comrades - Lidya from Gurdy Run, Anita from Rose Spring, and Kate Bostic were there; I also met for the first time some folks I know through Phatfiber - so "Phun!".... but there were hundreds of us.  You could buy everything from buttons, notions, and needles to yarn of every flavor imaginable, to larger things like wheels and looms.  The place was a visual and kinesthetic wonderland.

The festival was extremely well attended - amazing in fact, for its' first year, several thousand.  However, I must say... whether it was because of really nice wide isles, big enough space, people spread out time-wise over the weekend, it retained a calm, friendly, community atmosphere.  So pleasant to shop, chat, enjoy.  Can't wait to go back.