It was crazy.  Here’s a few pics (click to enlarge):

Jodie, of Charmed Alpacas, with her herd’s fleece.

The room in general.  This was taken before it got crowded.

Another vendor: Rosemary of Uncommon Threads, in Tampa (short curly hair).

There was some typical conference silliness.  That’s Blue Cow costumes they’re wearing, to sing about Mooood Indigo.  And fiber.

Yours truly, grinning like a fool, over Midnight-the-Alpaca’s fleece.

All my loot.

Clockwise from the upper left: A niddy-noddy, for winding skeins.  Collapsible, made by old man in Bluewater Bay out of cherry, I think.  $20.  Some of Midnight’s fleece, 1 lb, $35.  Doorprize: Pound of offwhite mohair, and assorted wools and acrylics.  Free.  Natural dying book, with samples of naturally colored toffee cotton and some flax stricks to try – gifts from TJ, my new best fiber friend, and new Leader of the local Spinner’s Guild.*  Paperwork: Contact info for all the participants*** and vendors, newsletter from the local Weaver’s Guild.*  Braid: Second merino roving in that colorway dyed by the darling and generous Sara Gruber.**  Cowbell: Rung by participants in lieu of applause, since it’s difficult to clap with only one hand.  Packet of pre-reduced indigo, from Uncommon Threads, $5.  Blue notepad with notes on about replacement spiky fabric for carding paddles.  Card loom cards, apparently a Bona Fide ancient weaving technique, good for straps, belts, etc, $5.

*The local Spinner’s Guild meets the second Saturday of each month.  The local Weaver’s Guild meets the last Saturday of each month.  Darn convenient staggering, since many of the members belong to both.  Very cool.

**Gruber, I’m so glad you came, and I hope you have lunch money left over.  I’m nearly nearly done with your Firefly set – you might actually get it back this week.

***Must remember Ann Durham’s name: she teaches historic textiles at FSU and is familiar with SCA.

I’m exhausted – and there’s so much to follow up on, it’ll take me all year.  The Spin-In will be at the same place next year (the 29th Annual!  can you believe it!), and the theme is "Pig-ment Party".  I hope my natural dyeing is well along by then.

And I haven’t even explained how Greet’s Hungarian cap was a huge hit, or my Pumpkin Shrug (see the photo album) either, or how three people thought my wheel is Hungarian, or how I learned that a treadle-powered spinning wheel is probably only barely in period, and how a hand-cranked spindle wheel works…just overwhelming.  That’ll be the next month of posts, I think.