Can you see the tear drops on the page?  It's taken me a while to buck up and write about my last Fall Fiber Expo with Linda.  She's says it's not the last that she'll come back for the Fall Fiber Expo but I'm preparing myself just in case.  Even though it was the last, it was the best.  We had a ball!

This is Humphrey, an 18 year old camel.  He was very social and liked to get his picture taken.  By looking at Humphrey you would never know that. . . 

Camel hair produces one the softest, most luxurious, yummiest yarns you'll ever touch.  If you've never knit with camel, you really must.  Some day when I complete "The Most Luxurious Yarns I've Ever Knit With" post I will compare camel, qivit, cashmere and all of the other exquisite animal fibers.  One of the things I've learned, "Everything feels better with a touch silk in it."

Right next door to Humphrey was my favorite LYS Spun.  It's always great to see Peter and Carol.  I wanted to start the day off right so I bought 2 knitting books I have been searching for.  On to the hunt for beautiful yarn.

I took my Jan Bag along preparing myself for many purchases.  Though I must admit, I went into Fall Fiber Expo 2016 feeling I pretty much had everything I could possibly want as far as fiber is concerned.  But you can guess "The Rest Of The Story."  This is the bag I use as a carry-on when flying because it expands indefinitely.  It seems to be a magic bag that you can fill with more and more.  Every time you unpack it you think, "How did I ever get all of that in there?"  

Linda and I were prepared for a great day of fiber and friendship.  We went on Sunday because Linda had a garage sale to get rid of stuff before the move. (Which is just about a month away!) As we walked around, I asked people how business was.  They all said Saturday was slow.  Well, of course!  It was a Michigan home football game.  Nobody goes into Ann Arbor on home football game day!  The Fall Fiber Expo was in the fair grounds just north of Saline not quite to Ann Arbor.  In addition, some of the 110,000 people who went to the game might have gone to the Fall Fiber Expo.  The dates for the 2017 Fall Fiber Expo have been announced.  Keep your fingers crossed that the Wolverines play out of state.  That way all of the vendors will sell lots and lots. (or I could just come and make up for everybody who's at the game.)

Right after Humphrey came the adorable bunnies.  I am a sucker for a baby bunny.  Then I saw this gorgeous girl.

After taking this picture I said, "Wait! Did you used to have long hair?"  She said "yes" and I found this.

Time marches on!  A cute girl has turned into a beautiful young woman!  This is the bunny I wanted to get for my sister one Christmas but her husband said "no."  Boo! Hiss!  Well, at least I asked first rather than just getting it.  Now on to the yarn!

Is this me, or what?!?!?!?!

I discovered a couple new vendors and visited several old friends.

There was Kellie from Knitting On The Fringe.  Kellie used to have a LYS but a couple of years ago she went to totally online and shows.  She is doing well and I think there is much less stress.

Just as I always found something at Knitting On The Fringe LYS, I always find something at Knitting On The Fringe Fiber Expo.  Kellie does the best job of finding unusual pattern then kitting them with the perfect, exquisite Yarn.  

I purchased my first Freia Ombre yarn from Knitting On The Fringe so I felt I really should buy this adorable kit.  Kellie made a unique change in the pattern using YO which makes this shawl even cuter.

​On to more discoveries!

Next came a a new discovery Knitter's Journey.  The fiber was yummy and the patterns were adorable.  I could not get away from here without a purchase.  Oh, by the way, that's Linda in the blue.

These were two adorable hats.  I want to tackle them sometime but for now, they go into the queue.  Then I saw this. . . 

This is an Interlacement yarn.  It is sparkley and beautiful.  I saw my first Interlacement at the marvelous Mary Hoffman's Yarn Quest in Traverse  City.  I got sad for a minute thinking about Mary, Yarn Quest and all of the fiber I will not be discovering and buying there.  I bought this from Knitter's Journey in honor of Mary.  I feel that I have discovered a new, regular stop at Fall Fiber Expo.  I'll have to go online and see what else I can learn about this great little shop.

Here are the adorable alpacas.  They just look so cute, friendly and inquisitive.  Oh, WOW!  Just look at that amazing sweater behind the alpacas!  I never even saw it when we were there.  I feel like a detective who just discovered a clue in a photo.  

Speaking of alpaca.  This is my amazing purchase from Why Knot Fiber.  It is so yummy.  I thought I knew exactly what I was going to do with it when I bought it, only to find a more appropriate (notice I didn't say better) yarn.  I entered the Why Knot Fiber booth and said, "You probably don't remember me but I was at the Spring Fiber Expo and bought. . "  "You bought the rainbow of Starlit yarn," said the delightful woman behind the cash box.  "We were just talking about you last night hoping you would come in and show us what you made."  Luckily, I'd brought my project to show them.  It will be its own post.  On July 1, I assigned colors to temperature ranges.  Each day until December 31, I will knit two rows of the high temperature and two rows of the low temperature.  It was inspired by my Knit The Sky project.  Why Knot Fiber was amazed.  They want me to send a picture when it is done.  It is pretty neat, if I do say so myself.  

Here is our wool.  Looks like this guy has been rolling in the hay.  Is that why sometimes I get wool skeins which have little pieces of hay/straw in them ??????

Fall Fiber Expo wouldn't be complete without a stop at Twisted Fiber Art.  That's Annie, mother to Meg and grandmother to Hazel.  Since The Stash Studio could easily be called Twisted Fiber Art South, I didn't buy any this time.  That might be because I'd just received a delivery from TFA and had already bought  my heart's desire from them.  Their booth is so fabulous. Every colorway is knit so you can see what it looks like on the needles and every fiber is knitted so you can feel the yumminess.  

Linda and I stopped to say "goodbye" to Humphrey on our way out.  What a great day.  We went out to lunch at Salt one of our favorites and probably another last time event.  As the time gets closer my mood becomes more melancholy.  But for now, this was a fabulous day of lasts.  

This has been a week filled with "boo/yeas."  I spent lots of time with Linda but I have just a little over a month until Linda moves to Washington to be closer to her boys.  So this was a week filled with lasts.  On Tuesday Linda and I made a visit to Barbara Hooberman, our gynecologist.  For years and years, Linda and I have been making this trip together.  We go see Barbara then we go out to lunch and go shopping.  This will be our last trip like this for two reasons; 1) Linda is leaving and 2) Barbara is retiring.  Barbara is the most patient-oriented doctor I've ever had.  She gives you her fill attention for as long as you need.  She even calls personally to give test results.  She's the best.  

Linda and I each knitted a gift for Barbara.  I gave her this wonderful necklace and Linda gave her a Shibui scarf.  There were tears.  Linda has gone to Barbara for probably thirty-five years.  Barbara delivered the boys and helped Linda through some difficult times.  Barbara removed my football sized ovarian cyst and was the recipient of the "Under The Influence Scarf."  Remember that story?  You can read the story on the May 29, 2014 post.  It is a hoot.  At 11:45, we finished the first of our lasts for the week, our appointment with Barbara.

Next we went to Spun that fabulous yarn shop in Ann Arbor.  This won't be a last as I am sure we will visit once more before Linda leaves.  I wanted to see if Spun would carry the new Knitter's Pride Melodies Of Life limited edition, interchangeable circular needles set.  This set is something else.  It has two pair of earrings in it.  If that doesn't have "Jan" written all over it, I don't know what does.  There are three things I can't resist: books, anything to do with knitting and earrings.  If this had a book included it would be the absolutely, most perfect gift ever!  Well, Spun won't be carrying them, but I wanted to check first before I bought them any place else.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE SPUN.  Linda and I bought very little yarn since our plans were to go to the Fall Fiber Expo on Sunday.  Next we had lunch at Zingerman's which is right across the street from Spun.  Unfortunately, this may be the last time Linda and I go to Zingerman's.  Tuesday wrapped up with us having a great, happy/sad day.  Any day spent with Linda is a great day.  

​I was going to write about our trip to The Fall Fiber Expo, but I have way too much to say about that and I think writing about this has made me sad enough for one day.  I will post about FFE next time.  It was a great time and I got some great  stuff.  See you then.

(You may wonder two things: 1) Why haven't I posted in so long? and 2) Why did I post twice in two day?  My last post was supposed to be published on October 8.  I always leave  a draft for a day or so and come back to proof it with fresh eyes.  Well, I forgot to go back.  Sorry!  Here I am back and ready to get on schedule again.)

Fall is my favorite season.  I believe that September 1 is really the New Year rather than January 1.  In Michigan, Fall means football, cool nights, leaves changing color, cider being made, apple festivals and changing your closet from hot weather to cold weather clothes.  I recently did that fall indicator.  It gave me a chance to get reacquainted with my exquisite, hand-knitted garments .  I love it! Some I remembered but some I had forgotten.  

This is my Sally Melville designed Einstein Jacket.  I loved making this.  When I started it, I had recently taken a class from Sally Melville and I was still under the spell of her fabulous teaching.  I think I have mentioned before that Sally Melville changed my life by teaching me two handed/two color knitting.  After Sally, I was no longer intimidated by "drop the first yarn and pick up the second; drop the second yarn and pick up the first; drop the first and pick up the second, etc." She is an amazing teacher.  This pattern came out of her book The Knit Stitch.  The yarn was in my stash, something I loved and bought but didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with it.  The Sally Melville series "The Knit Stitch," "The Purl Stitch" and "Color Knitting" should be in every knitters library.  

I love this jacket.  It is a Lisa Daniels design.  I was into knitting a sweater called Northern Lights and needed some technical assistance on color.  I called Lisa at her shop in California.  She was very helpful and I felt the need to remember the experience by knitting something of Lisa's.  I saw this kit and fell in love.  It has all of the elements of Roy G Biv only not in spectrum form.  I seldom wear a coat in the fall and most of the winter so this and the Einstein Coat are perfect to get me through.

Here it is, my Crayon Box jacket.  What great memories this conjures up! Linda and I knit Crayon Box jackets together.  We got together once a week and before we knew it they were done.  We drank coffee, told stories, laughed and, well, knit.  I learned so much about mitered squares from the Crayon Box and about putting colors and textures together.  I could be 90 years old, and I would still bring this out in the fall to wear as a jacket.  Linda made her's waist length and I made mine hip length.  It looked great both ways. 

Linda and I took a class at Crafty Lady in Macomb on Using Your Yarn Stash.  I became addicted to the Magic Ball and Linda made this sweater out of odds and ends; one for her and one for me.  What a great birthday surprise!

Well, I won't be wearing this this year, but I will be making something fabulous from the yarn.

This is my Magic Ball sweater that I wear as a jacket. I've made this pattern many times to give away.  I even knit one for charity to be auctioned off.  I couldn't be there to watch the auction.  I was afraid no body would bid on it or it would go for $5.00.  That would have made me sad.   

The sweater that brought me to Linda. I haven't worn this sweater for a while because I really don't wear slip over sweaters very much.  You know, that getting too hot thing again.  I will always keep this sweater and remember the day this woman came up to me in an inservice I was giving and said, "I love your sweater and want to make it."  That was Linda and the rest is history.

This is the Sally Melville shawl I knit when my Mom was living with us recovering from a stroke.  I love everything about this shawl especially the the memories of what my Mom and I shared together.

This is one I'd forgotten.  I haven't worn it in years but I think I'm going to wear it this year.  The yarn is so beautiful and it's a cardigan.  This is probably around thirty years old.  It is one of the first things I knit after I rediscovered knitting 80's.  I bought the yarn at Yarn Expression in the Kerrytown section of Ann Arbor.  Don't you think it's beautiful, too?

This and the next two sweaters I get out every fall and put away every spring but never wear any more.  Now that I am a hot person, my wardrobe has changed greatly.  This yarn is really beautiful.  It just may have the same future as my Yokohama Jacket.  This is also yarn from Yarn Expressions.

I feel so empowered.  I love this yarn.  Should I frog this, too?  Also, from Yarn Expressions.

I just like to look at this even though I don't wear it any more.  

This has been so much fun.  Every knitted garment holds so many memories.  Shopping for yarn, learning from mistakes, trying new things, music I listened to while knitting, friends I knit with.  They're all there in every sweater. I love everyone of the sweaters I unpacked as part of my fall ritual.  

Does this look familiar? It's part of  my fabulous, pink yarn stash.  Back in April (I think) when I was organizing the Stash Studio, I realized I had TEN TUBS OF PINK YARN.  I do love pink, but that even overwhelmed me.  I decided I would do two things;  1) I would use my pink yarn for a chair for the Artalicious Chairity Auction and 2) I would use the yarn in a class on the Survivor Shawl.  I sorted my pink yarn and had a tub for the chair and three tubs for the Survivor Shawl class.  

There it is.  Isn't it beautiful?!?!?! Three tubs of pink yarn.  Participants in the class got to "go shopping" in my tubs of pink yarn as part of their class fee.  Each participant got to choose 10-15 balls of pink yarn to make the magic ball for the Survivor Shawl.  Yarn for eight shawls was pulled from the tubs AND THIS IS WHAT IS LEFT!  .  

Classes are always great.  You get to see old friends and meet new ones.  Across the table is my dear friend, Kay Reeves.  I wrote about Kay and the shawl she is wearing in my May 22 post.  Wasn't I right?!?! Wasn't that yarn just made for her!?!?! Across the table in the front is Patience, one of my favorite knitters at Ann's By Design.  I just love to see Patience's name on a class list or see her smiling face come to Friday Social Knitting.  She is the nicest person.  Sitting behind Patience is Jean.  Jean is new to classes at Ann's By Design.  It is always great to meet a new knitter.  On the table you see all of the yarn each of them chose.  Isn't it beautiful!?!?!  Have I ever mentioned I LOVE PINK YARN.  

The Survivor Shawl starts with making a Magic Ball, another one of my favorite things.  Just as a reminder of how to make a Magic Ball;  1) Cut your yarn into 5 to 25 yard pieces equal to about 400 yards.  2) Organize you pieces into a color blend you love, making sure you don't have very fine yarns touching. 3) Tie the pieces together with an over hand knot leaving about a 4 inch tail.  4) Wind the yarn into a ball and you're ready to go.  For a more detailed explanation go to my March 27, 2014 post.  

Cast on 120 or 125 or 130 or however many stitches you want on size 15 needles and knit every row until it is the desired width.  I loved people "ooing and ahing" when the pink changed yarns and they had a new color to work with.  I had forgotten the "I'll just work one more color," "I want to see what the next color is." or "WOW!  Look at this! I didn't realize how beautiful it would be."  Oh, the wonder and the beauty of a Magic Ball.  It is, well, magic!  

I just wanted to make sure you saw my size 15 Swaroski crystal needles.  Aren't they just the bomb!  I love them and really only get to use them for Survivor Shawls and Jan Bags.  They match my sparkly yarn.  

I am toying with the idea of knitting Survivor Shawls for our Hickman Cancer Center.  Participants can make a trip to my yarn tubs, then knit a shawl for the brave women who suffer through and survive breast cancer.  I guess I'll bring that up to Ann and see what she thinks.  Just writing about pink yarn, Magic Balls and Survivor Shawls has put me in a great mood.  I guess I'll go work on my shawl.

One of my favorite stops on our visits to Traverse City has always been my stop at Yarn Quest.  I have shared my feelings about and purchases from Yarn Quest several times.  It saddens me to share with you the email I received from Mary Hoffman the wonderful owner. 

Dick and I were in Traverse City August 3 through the 6 waiting for Dick's poison ivy to clear up so we could get on with his heart surgery.  I didn't go to Yarn Quest thinking there would always be a next time.  Little did I know, there wasn't even a "this time" as the car had already smashed through that amazing little shop.  Take a peak at the picture above again.  This is what Yarn Quest looked liked after the accident. . .

I get teary every time I look at these pictures.  So much was lost on July 29 for patrons, staff and the marvelous Mary.  After working at Ann's By Design, I know that a yarn shop is more than a a job or a business for the owner.  It is a labor of love.  It is your vision put into practice.  I remember the first time I met Mary.  I was in the middle of my Survivor Shawl addiction.  I came up to the counter with this basket filled with beautiful, exquisite, yummy, high end pink yarns.  This little lady behind the counter asked me what I was doing since I had just one ball of each yarn.  I told her about my Survival Shawl project and she gave me a discount.  She also said she would never forget me because I wasn't picking out cheap yarns for my project but the very best.  Many stores asked me about my purchase of pink yarn but nobody gave a me discount like Mary.  After that when I would go to the store or call, Mary always knew it was me.  Here are a couple of the beautiful pink yarns I bought at Yarn Quest.

Yarn Quest was also instrumental in coloring my sky in my Knit The Sky project.  One of the wonderful things about Knit the Sky is looking at it and remembering with fondness the LYS who helped me Knit the Sky.

These were my first yarns for Knit The Sky but they weren't the last Knit The Sky yarns I bought at Yarn Quest.  These beautiful yarn ultimately became this. . . 

Every time I went to Yarn Quest, I felt like Mary had filled the store just for me.  All of my favorite yarns were there AND some new ones I had never seen before.  Yarn Quest introduced me in Interlacement yarn.  I love them so much, they are part of my collection and might never be used.  Because "what if I use them, can't replace them, and then find the perfect pattern."  That's in quotes because I know you've heard it before.  

These are my first Interlacement yarns.  They are much more beautiful than they photographed.  SOMEDAY I will knit a Knit Swirl sweater for me using this fabulous yarn.

This is a fabulous Blue Heron Yarn I bought at Yarn Quest.  It sparkles and shines and I love it.  Whenever I was in Yarn Quest, I would also see a colorway of Blue Heron I had never seen before.  Of course, I had to buy it because Blue Heron is the perfect yarn for the Olga Jazzy pleated scarf.  

I do believe a good share of my button collections originated at Yarn Quest.  I can make something, go to the Stash Studio and pick out the perfect button thanks to Yarn Quest.

I am very sad about the closure of Yarn Quest for many reasons.  If this was paper, I think you could see my tear drops on the page.  I am sad I will never be greeted by the friendly staff of Yarn Quest again.  I am sad that I will never find the "most beautiful yarn I've ever seen" at Yarn Quest again.  I am sad I will never squeal with delight when I see a button that is beyond description.  But most of all I am sad I will never see Mary Hoffman again who's vision brought so much joy into my life.  Mary, thank you for all of the delight you brought to me.  I wish you the best.