Why I love Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

I can't remember the first Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

that I attended

I only know that it was at least 25 years ago!

This year the festival celebrated

it's 40th Anniversary

and it didn't disappoint!

It is so worth the travel time to get there.

It is located in West Friendship, MD

about 5 hours from my home

in Virginia Beach.

This year I was able to attend with

my best friend in life . . . Minna!

This was her second year attending

and I love experiencing this festival

with new eyes!

There are so many wonderful barns

full of yarn vendors,

knitting and spinning supplies,

demonstrations and artwork,

and stunning hand crafted items.

Thousands of people pass through the fairground

during this traditional

"First Weekend in May"

My favorite part of all is the

time I spend with the sheep.

Barn after barn with

hundreds of sheep breeds on display.

Here I watercolor sketch them,

take pics of them 

and of course

love on them.
You can view my entire
photo collection on my
flicker site here . . . 

I bought some wonderful fibers

I loved on the sheep

Got to see weaving again on a loom

Yes and I ate a Lamb Taco!

Reconnected with the sheep

Purchased wool for spinning and felting

Took unusual photos (A shepherds brush)

Watched shearing

... and a sheep to shawl event

I came home renewed, restored

and totally in love with the idea of

why I became a fiber artist

so many years ago!

Maryland Sheep and Wool

instills such an appreciation of hard work,

 shepherding and the fiber arts.

(Amazing work is being done out there!)

From seeing the sheep on display, 

to watching the sheep dog trials, 

to the spinning and knitting, 

to hearing folk music being played 

all over the fairgrounds

I will never forget this weekend.

I certainly bought plenty of

one of a kind fibers

to get me through till the

next first weekend in May!

I can hardly wait to get there again!