No, the ships don’t go through the tunnel!!!!
Today I drove from Hampton, VA down across the CBBT (yes, that 17 mile long bridge and tunnel!) up through the Eastern Shore of VA into Maryland. I met Karen, my oldest friend (who I’ve known the longest – since elementary school)!! She is always willing to go to wool and fiber festivals with me even though she doesn’t knit, crochet or work with fiber in any way :)!
We met at her in-laws beach house in Ocean City, then headed over to the Convention Center for the Expo. The Convention Center was hosting two other shows besides the Wool and Fiber Expo but there were plenty of signs to follow and a big alpaca to greet us at the door!
Can I just live here?!?!!
We went in and paid the very nominal fee for the weekend and filled out our raffle tickets. Depending on the size of a festival or show, I like to look over everything and then go back and decide what to purchase. If you buy the first time through, you never know if you might see something you like more towards the end! {ED. NOTE – She tends to just go ahead and buy that stuff too!!} There were around 40 vendors filling the space, everything from crafted items, wooden accessories, quilts, rabbits, and of course, yarn!
I went ahead and picked up a few goodies (I call them household items) felted coasters, quilted bowl holders, and a felted potholder. The potholder was made from recycled sweaters. They were soft and easy to grip and were made of lovely colors. {ED. NOTE – You know the rule, now something’s gotta go}
Run, rabbit, run!!!
There 
were also about 8 angora rabbits! I always forget how BIG they look even though most of it is fur. They were in crates and for sale – wonder how my dogs would like one of those living with us?! The vendor with most of the rabbits had one on her lap that she was pulling the fur to spin and of course, everything in that booth felt like touching air! {ED.NOTE – I have no idea what that means}
Under the Boardwalk!!!
After a couple of hours, we decided that was it for day one and headed out. Karen took me down to the boardwalk to see what it was like. All the shops, restaurants and rides were closed but it was still my chance to see a REAL eastern shore boardwalk!
It was sprinkling a little but not enough to stop us from walking around. Karen described what it was like in the summer (crowded, kids riding the rides all day long, ice cream, donuts, t-shirt shops) and a very full beach! After the boardwalk, we went to a fabulous restaurant on the water called Fager’s Island and sat out back on the glassed-in porch. We were hoping to see a sunset but again, rain. The food was delicious and the drinks quite yummy!
To sleep, perchance to dream!
After a late night of talking and laughing (and a little sleep), we headed back to the Expo. I thought I was ready and knew exactly what I wanted to go back to see (purchase) but….
And now to buy!
One of my favorite booths was Create Yarnworks with Elise Koch. I fell madly in love with a skei
n of yarn dyed in yellow, blue and red, called Mountain Sunset, after the sunsets in North Carolina. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one because it was sold out by the second day. She was the first “knitting” professional I told about this blog – she was GREAT! Very excited and encouraging to me – thanks, Elise!
Another one I liked was Baad Mom Yarns, fun hand-dyed yarns and great names too! Haute Boheme Fibers was pretty amazing. She has a line of yarns for Women’s History month named for strong women and had some great samples showing the colors and combinations. EweKnitSew, Sheepish Creations, Spinning Loft, twig and Unplanned Peacock Studio were just a few of the others! You can find a full vendor list at http://www.woolandfiber.com/vendors-2019/.
I bet on the gray mare, I bet on the bay!!!!
For one more little treat, Karen took me to Assateague Island, just about 15 miles down the road. This is a barrier island that is 2/3 part of Maryland and 1/3 of Virginia. (Cape Charles from our visit of a month ago was in Virginia.) Assateague is a National Seashore and State Park that is inhabited by wild ponies! In my mind, they would be running down the beach with their manes flying in the wind…they were actually just eating a lot of grass and leaving quite a lot of poop behind. Still a new experience!
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig!!!
After another enjoyable day, we packed up and headed our separate ways – me back to Hampton, Virginia and Karen back to Olney, Maryland. Can’t wait to see her again and there’s always the Maryland Wood and Fiber Festival every May! She’s been with me before and I know she’ll go with me again :)! Thanks, Karen!
Ships don’t go through tunnels??? What does that even mean? Someone must not have had their brain with them that day! Haha!
I love you and will look at wool and pet rabbits (and talk a LOT after all it’s my super power) ANYTIME!