Rhinebeck 3

...or "the long, slippery slope".

It started off innocently. I petted yarn. I petted fiber. I made mental notes so I could decide on my favourites, and spend my dollars wisely.

Then I found this excellent purchase:

A niddy noddy. Original price was $25, but they were marked down to $10 because they were the "old models"... the maker had switched to a different style. However, this one was even cheaper... $5, because one piece was broken. A piece that can easily be fixed with a bit of wood glue. I have wood glue. :) Even better, after I bought it, I discovered it disassembles to be quite small!

A niddy noddy to go with my lovely nostepinne!

Then another inexpensive purchase, washed BFL locks that will be perfect for needle-felting little sheep for Christmas presents:

Only $1.50 and ounce! I restrained myself from buying more of those perfect little curls... but only with difficulty.

However, I totally fell apart when I saw this:

A Maggie spindle. Made from satiny smooth cherry wood. Love at first sight! I have admired other pretty spindles, but nothing has dug it's way into my heart like this one. Should I? It's $32! I still basically don't know how to spin! But ooooo! Sooooo pretty! And smooth. It *wants* to spin! I had a feeling that I'd regret it if I walked away from it. But would I regret it if I bought it? Then the sales lady told me that the maker wasn't making any more, since he had been injured. I bought it. I don't regret it. :)

Of course, then I needed some roving, since I only had a wee little bit with me. (It takes up lots of space in luggage, so I thought I'd let myself buy a bit at Rhinebeck if I got a chance to spin there.) BFL, colour "Dragon":

John found me shortly thereafter, so I took a break to eat. I offered to make him a hat from this roving, but he said that he tends to lose hats. I'm thinking perhaps I'll either give him the alpaca-silk hat I'm mildly allergic to, or make him a hat out of non-handspun fiber. At least until I get more prolific with the spinning. ;)

After lunch, the spending spree continued. It's geometry:

(or a $10 Christmas ornament.)

For a friend:

It's inexpensive, and she brought me something back from Maryland Sheep and Wool.

Pencil roving:

Only $3, and I need something to put the BFL locks on!

And why not some pretty knitting needles:

I really wanted some of the Lantern Moon ebonies, but these were only about a third of the price, and rather nice. I wanted to get myself some nice little straights for knitting dishcloths, since I seem to be making those, and my 8s are busy with the lace scarf.

Well, by this point I was pretty shopped out. I didn't manage to see the sheepdog trials or the pumpkin chucking contest (J enjoyed them, though), but I enjoyed the shopping, and got to pet some sheep and goats. We plodded through the last few barns just to see what was there, and then headed home.

It was *soooooooo* nice! Next time, however, I think I need to bring less cash. Either that, or improve my income. ;)