8:34 pm
I’m home now. I can’t smell a thing, due to the dust that’s lodged in my nose and throat – although my daughter kindly informed me that I stink to High Heaven. I’m exhausted… but so, so happy. Many, many thanks to the teams, the judges, the spectators, Joanne Evans and Tom Knisely, and of course, you, Dear Reader, for making this day so incredibly amazing. I can’t wait to see what happens next… !
6:55 pm
… and that’s all she wrote, folks. Gotta pack up now… I’ll try to update a few things when I get home later. Hope you had as much fun as I did today… see ya soon!
6:53 pm
$1,300 – Time Warp
$1,850 – Friends Thru Fiber
$1,400 – Fort Freeland Flickers
$1,000 – Just A Little Twisted
$900 – Dream Weavers
$700 – Butler County Pedalers
6:39 pm
Auction time!!!
$550 – Treadling Lambs and a Ram
$600 – Surfin’ Ewe S. A.
$400 – Bountiful Bobbins
$275 – Fibering Five
$325 – Sugar Valley Shepherds
6:25 pm
I’m getting cold again. Ironically, no one has a shawl that I can borrow.
6:23 pm
Ok… get ready for the shawl auction, coming up next… !
6:22 pm
Here they are… Team Time Warp, our 2012 Sheep To Shawl champs!
6:15 pm
Champion Shearer Award – Time Warp’s Carl Geisinger
Fleece Award – Just A Little Twisted
Team’s Choice Award – Dream Weavers
Weaver’s Award – Friends Thru Fiber’s Michelle Lushbaugh
Spinning Award – Friends Thru Fiber
7th Place – 2 Rams, 2 Lambs, Ewe & Me
6th Place – Butler County Pedalers
5th Place – Dream Weavers
4th Place – Just A Little Twisted
3rd Place – Fort Freeland Flickers
2nd Place – Friends Thru Fiber
1st Place – Time Warp
6:05 pm
We’re about to start announcing the winners… keep it here!
6:00 pm
Faces in the crowd… I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
5:54 pm
A sheep in sheep’s clothing… ? A sheep in people’s clothing… ?
5:51 pm
Francie Appleman just brought me 3 mini 3 Musketeer bars. I think it’s safe to say that everyone from Loganton, PA is as awesome as her… wouldn’t you agree?
5:48 pm
Finished shawls… and an unfinished milkshake.
5:45 pm
Knitting and jewelry-making going on… it’s not live yet, but check out Arline Janison‘s beaded jewelry website soon. Just Google her – she’ll be there!
5:39 pm
Not that he’ll see this, but let me stop to give a happy birthday shout-out to my brother Gary, who unbelievably turned 39 today. I still see him as a little kid… I think I always will.
5:36 pm
Ok… the judges are now tallying up the scores, the teams are starting to pack up their gear, and everyone’s goin’ for milkshakes. Everyone except me. I’m here typing. Why am I here typing when I could be goin’ for milkshakes… ?
5:34 pm
Team 2R2LU&M delivered their shawl to the judges… only to find that it wasn’t long enough. I believe that’s a disqualification… 😦
5:32 pm
… and the 2012 Sheep To Shawl Contest is OVER!!!
5:30 pm
Butler County Pedalers, almost done…
Team 2R2Lu&M, off the loom:
5:24 pm
Dream Weavers are finished!
5:22 pm
Dream Weavers are off the loom:
5:21 pm
Fort Freeland Flickers are finished!
5:16 pm
Here’s Just A Little Twisted’s finished shawl:
5:13 pm
Dream Weavers are almost off the loom… !
5:10 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted is off the loom and finishing up… !
5:08 pm
Team 2R2LU&M:
Team Dream Weavers:
5:03 pm
And here it is… Friends Thru Fiber‘s finished shawl!
4:59 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted will be off the loom shortly:
Team Friends Thru Fiber is off the loom and sooooooo close to done…
… and Team Fort Freeland Flickers is at the beginning of the end…
4:53 pm
Hey! Where’s the Fleece and Wool Princess this year??? Anyone seen her?
4:52 pm
Closeup of Time Warp’s shawl… how gorgeous is this???
4:50 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted:
David Weaver and his huge pile ‘o fleece:
The ladies of Friends Thru Fiber are almost done…
4:46 pm
Team Time Warp has delivered their shawl to the judges!
4:43 pm
Finishing the shawl…
4:41 pm
Team Dream Weavers:
Team Butler County Pedalers:
4:37 pm
Whoa… Team Time Warp‘s almost off the loom!
4:34 pm
I’ve been fleeced!!! Get it???? Fleeced??? *wince* Yeah, I know… it’s been a long day.
4:30 pm
More knitting goin’ on…
4:20 pm
Team Butler County Pedalers with their moonshine… just in case I have more technical difficulties. They must’ve read my Rules of Engagement last night…
Jeff Johnstonbaugh, carder for Team Time Warp:
4:09 pm
Fort Freeland Flickers:
4:04 pm
Wayne Appleman of Team Dream Weavers:
Team Friends Thru Fiber and I compared our knitted socks and remarked about how warm it’s gotten in the arena. Michelle Lushbaugh is busy at the loom:
3:57 pm
Whenever I look up from my laptop, I can see a haze of dust over the arena. Dust that’s getting all up in my nose and throat now. Not one of my favorite things about spending 15 hours at The Farm Show… but it’s worth it, right? Right? Right???
3:55 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted…
… and Team Fort Freeland Flickers:
3:51 pm
My once-fuzzy neighbors are quite silent now…
3:48 pm
Butler County Pedalers‘ weaver, Donna Fike… not weaving yet, but will be soon.
3:41 pm
3:35 pm
3:29 pm
Dream Weaver women…
3:24 pm
Butler County Pedalers carding away…
And here’s Two Rams, Two Lambs, Ewe & Me, which will now be known as 2R2LU&M. Actually, I don’t think that’s any easier to type.
3:19 pm
The teams are being introduced to the audience while the teams get started carding…
3:12 pm
Heh… look at my neighbor now… !
3:09 pm
More shearing…
3:05 pm
The crowd counts it down… and off we go! The sheep are being shorn:
2:56 pm
5 minutes ’til start time… tons of people are lining up now around the perimeter of the arena. We’ll be starting with the shearing of my neighbors. The sheep, that is. What did you think I meant?
2:54 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted‘s warp…
2:52 pm
Oh goody, my absolutely favorite part of the contest is starting – photographers and other press people are taking over the arena. You know, I’m a big fan of the press, but not when they think they’re so much better than everyone else that they can put their gear wherever they want… like right in front of my work station.
2:49 pm
2:38 pm
The teams are milling about as the first 2 stands of seats fill with spectators. I see PCN‘s camera at the top of one of the stands, unsupervised, just capturing everything in front of it, I suppose…
2:33 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted‘s shawl display:
2:30 pm
More neighbors move in…
2:24 pm
More shawl displays:
2:18 pm
Here are some of the team shawl displays:
2:02 pm
The Sheep To Shawl teams are setting up and a larger crowd is gathering in the arena stands. And my sheepy neighbor will not stop bahhhhhh-ing.
1:59 pm
Oh glorious batter-dipped vegetables, fried to within an inch of your lives and served with horseradish sauce… I am not worthy. No one is. But I’ll eat you anyway.
1:42 pm
FOOD!!!!! Be back soon…
1:41 pm
And here they are… Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram!
1:35 pm
Time to announce the winners!
Fleece Award – Treadling Lambs and a Ram
Team’s Choice Award – Surfin’ Ewe S. A.
Weaver’s Award – Bountiful Bobbins
Spinning Award – Treadling Lambs and a Ram
5th Place – Sugar Valley Shepherds
4th Place – The Fibering Five
3rd Place – Bountiful Bobbins
2nd Place – Surfin’ Ewe S. A.
1st Place – Treadling Lambs and a Ram
1:30 pm
The Fleece to Shawl teams are beginning to gather… it’s almost time for the awards ceremony. I want to mention, Team Wooly Workers didn’t finish their shawl within the 3-hour time period, so I think they’ve been disqualified. But the fact that they made it here to the Farm Show competition in the first place is a big deal… well, there’s always next year. Great effort from a great team!
1:21 pm
1:14 pm
I’m… so… hungry. Need… fried… vegetables…
1:11 pm
… and this one’s part of the Just A Little Twisted team…
1:08 pm
Look at this face! This beauty belongs to Team Dream Weavers:
1:04 pm
Donovan’s in da HOUSE! This is Team Time Warp‘s sheep.
1:02 pm
And the contest is OVER! Awards will be given in just a bit… stay tuned… !
12:57 pm
12:48 pm
12:40 pm
12:33 pm
Down to the wire now… Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A.‘s off the loom, while Team Fibering Five delivers their shawl to the judges.
12:31 pm
Team Fibering Five‘s off the loom… almost there…
12:27 pm
And it’s official… Team Sugar Valley Shepherds are DONE! Their shawl is in the judges hands now…
12:21 pm
Team Fibering Five is very close now…
So is Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A.…
12:19 pm
Nope… it’s Team Sugar Valley Shepherds, 2nd off the loom! Go go go!!!
12:13 pm
Will Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A. be next off the loom… ?
12:08 pm
A few final touches, and it’s off to the Judges’ Table…
12:03 pm
Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram are first off the loom!
12:00 pm
I feel like I can’t move fast enough to grab pictures and upload them to the website, and the Wi-Fi is slow… how am I doing? Need some encouragement right around now… !
11:58 am
11:50 am
Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A. are sporting tails today…
11:43 am
Wow, Farm Show Wi-Fi really isn’t very reliable. Back up network engaged…
11:32 am
If I weren’t a blogger, I’d still be here today, doing this:
11:30 am
Want to join The Bountiful Bobbins team? See below…
11:25 am
11:18 am
Another sheep has arrived – this is Team Fort Freeland Flickers‘ sheep, who absolutely refused to stay still.
11:10 am
11:04 am
10:59 am
These offices overlook the arena. I bet it’s warm in there. I bet they have a coffee machine, too. Just sayin’.
10:51 am
Closeup of Team Fibering Five‘s shawl:
10:47 am
And here come the sheep! This is Sajani (sai -AH- nee), of Team Friends Thru Fiber, for the Sheep To Shawl competition later today. “Sajani” means “beloved”, or “well-loved”.
10:43 am
The other teams are starting to weave now…
10:34 am
The crowds are starting to gather around the perimeter of the arena…
10:26 am
The weaving begins… remember, these teams have 3 hours to complete their shawl. Sounds like a lot of time, but it’s really not.
10:20 am
I gotta say, watching these kids spin and card, and in a little while, weave, is really amazing. What do you think?
10:13 am
Bacon. I smell bacon. I already ate 2 potato donuts… but now I want bacon.
10:12 am
10:07 am
The teams are being introduced to the spectators as they all begin carding their fleeces…
10:02 am
“5… 4… 3… 2… 1… GO FOR IT!” And they’re off!
10:01 am
The judges are making the rounds to the team displays…
9:55 am
A view from the top:
A view from the bottom:
9:48 am
14 minutes to go until the competition starts. If these kids are nervous at all, you wouldn’t know it by watching them. They’re mingling with each other, chatting, viewing each other’s displays, laughing. A very friendly atmosphere in the Small Arena today.
9:45 am
Ooooooooohhh… fleecy goodness…
A Mardi Gras spinning wheel:
9:38 am
The team captains have been called to the judges’ area for the Team Meeting. This is when they get their last-minute instructions and all.
A few spectators have taken up the first rows of seats here in the arena… 20 minutes until show time!
9:35 am
The Bountiful Bobbins‘ theme is well realized in their display:
A closeup of their shawl:
And here’s Team Wooly Workers… ready for bed!
9:30 am
The Sugar Valley Shepherds with their display:
9:16 am
How about some Breakfast in Bed with the Wooly Workers? Gotta love that theme!
9:14 am
Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram‘s display is dedicated to their mentor Tina, who’s battling bladder cancer. The shawl they’re weaving today is gorgeous, isn’t it?
And here’s their display – hard to get the whole thing, it’s so tall!
More of their display:
8:59 am
8:52 am
AAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH… I’m having serious issues with video. I may not be able to post what I’m getting during the contests, but I’ll do what I can to load them tomorrow. My apologies. More pictures on the way…
8:48 am
8:34 am
Just spoke to Tom Knisely, co-coordinator of today’s events. He is truly one of Central PA’s MVPs when it comes to fiber arts – visit him and/or take his classes at The Mannings. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
8:28 am
Welcome the 4-H Wooly Workers of Lebanon County! Set up begins…
8:20 am
Team Fibering Five‘s warp – in Mardi Gras colors:
Surfin’ Ewe S. A.’s shawl display is almost ready:
8:11 am
I’m experiencing some technical difficulties with my pictures and videos… but meanwhile, The Sugar Valley Shepherds have arrived:
7:47 am
Team Fibering Five warms up with some balloon volleyball. The team is wearing shorts. Shorts. I’ll stop complaining now about the cold.
7:36 am
Well, here I am, in the Small Arena (it used to be the Sale Arena… when did that change?), setting up for the Fleece and Sheep To Shawl contests. F2S team The Fibering Five are already here with their spinning wheels and looms. And… I’m freezing. As usual, the garage door directly in front of me is wide open and blowing cold air all over me. Please, someone take pity on a poor blogger and have The Powers That Be close that door… please!!!
Remember, keep it here all day and hit that Refresh button every few minutes for the latest in F/S2S action. It’s gonna be a great day!