This time of year the heart grows lighter as the temps grow warmer.
Suddenly it’s time to leave the confines and go a wandering…
A perfect destination?
Always: a fiber festival!
This last weekend I traveled out to Hood River for the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival.
Now this was no ordinary day!
First of all, the drive from Portland through the Gorge is gorgeous (sorry)! The canyon road meanders along the Columbia River and in no time at all, one can feast their eyes on the Cascades and their outcroppings that come down to meet it.
From cliffs to unexpected waterfalls to some of the most lovely undulating green ever seen, there is a surprise around almost every curve. My friend Abbey, who’d never been this way before, wholeheartedly agreed. Just breathtaking – helped along by a on-again off-again rain shower. This is the land of rainbows, where the sunshine can be softly veiled by a tender mist…
What was waiting for us at the fest was another kind of banquet:
Here, in a lovely high-ceilinged lodge-type room was an incredible assortment of all the types of things that make our little fibery hearts go pitty-patter while in the adjacent main building were workshops.
From yarn (above is the Bumblebirch booth) to everything to make yarn
including this forest of gorgeous drop spindles from Steve and Connie Paulsen of Spindlewood.
The festival was produced by the lovely Sarah Keller, (who I finally got to meet!) who also owns and operates Knot Another Hat on Oak Street in Hood River, one of the loveliest yarn stores I’ve ever been in –
The picture I missed? A homey seating area that has a spectacular view of the river. Can’t wait to visit again and enjoy a little sit’n’knit!
I leave you with two Chic Knits as seen in the wild:
AND some really really wild:
This is a spectacular shot taken by Abbey out of a moving car window while I drove back to Portland – it was raining and making the mountains oh so misty…
Spectacular!
Lots of goodies at the fiber festival. Ahhh, those pictures! You’re making me really miss Portland. My daughter will be there again next month this year for the Bridgeview Comedy festival. Wish I could join her and visit with you.
Looks like you had a grand time! That last shot is stunning, as is the first one. Have you been to Vista House on Crown Point?
I see Sarah’s take on my Rosaria shawl in the Bumblebirch booth!
That last picture is fabulous!
I’ve only seen pics of Vista House – definitely on the must-do list for another excursion –
That is your shawl!!! So beautiful – love those colors too –
Driving back, we had vista then vista unfolding with those misty rain clouds – just magical. I was so happy Abbey was able to capture some of it.