Tuesday 1 May 2012

Scotch Eggs, Strawberry Tarts and Frostbite

A Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep
Well I'm back from Wonderwool Wales. It was my first time at the show so I wasn't too sure what to expect. When I walked into the building I felt overwhelmed by the shear scale of the show. Wonderwool Wales takes place at the Royal Welsh Showground in a huge building which is usually used for cattle. The stalls are based on a shell system, I had a 3x3 metre space with high partitions on three sides. There are wide walkways in between the stalls so it never gets too crowded. I haven't done a show before using the shell systems, another time I will need to work out how to make the most of the space and decorate the walls somehow. But hey, it's all a learning curve. 

I was warned in advance standing on concrete for two days is tough on your feet, I'm glad I wore my walking boots, they kept my feet warm and comfortable. We were also warned by the organisers to bring warm clothes, it hasn't been too cold here so as I packed wooly jumpers I did wonder if I'd be too hot. Too hot? No chance. Saturday was so cold my breath steamed as I spoke to people. Sunday was even worse, with the addition of horizontal rain, falling trees and floods. Fortunately we stayed dry inside the cattle barn. I did ask the first aid crew if they had any experience of treating hyperthermia and frostbite. Trying to do basic maths and work out change with cold hands and a brain which feels like it has been cryogenically frozen is no easy matter. Still the customers were very patient and forgiving. In the end I unrolled a batt and used it as a knee rug, my legs felt instantly warmer.

I had heard through Ravelry Wonderwool is known not only for the fibre but also the food. Scotch eggs and pastries specifically. I had to sample both. The scotch eggs come from The Handmade Scotch Egg Co, they are a lunch in themselves. The pastries are made by Love Patisserie. I bought the most extravagant one I could see, white chocolate and strawberry - mmmm. 


After all, when you're burning a thousand calories an hour keeping warm you have to replace a few.

It was lovely to meet people face to face I had met online, either through Ravelry or blogs and to catch up with fellow stallholders from other events. I met Elizabeth from Secret Sheep and Sara from Sara's Texture Crafts. For the first time I met Dot, the editor of YarnMaker, who I have spoken to many times on the phone. I had a great show, I would definitely go again.  

Tomorrow I start shearing so I will let you know how I get on.


8 comments:

  1. Great to hear it from a trader's point of view. It certainly is an experience. I wonder if I can wangle a trip to Fibre East next? Good luck with your shearing. I'll be watching!

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    1. Thank you. Fibre East was lovely last year, very well organised, definitely worth a visit!

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  2. I've never known WW be sooooo coooooooold, I do hope it hasn't put you off (but hopefully the patisserie made up for it). At least we punters could move about... but a good show, nonetheless!

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    1. The cold hasn't put me off, there was such a good atmosphere. I would worry if my stock got wet and muddy but the cold wasn't a problem and the place was dry. I'd go again.

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  3. I am stumbling around blogger much better this week. I found (reliably) where the reading list went!
    I think the stumbling is because the hyperlinks do not look like links.
    Go to your blog, click 'new post'. In the left hand corner is the name of your blog - click on this. This takes you to your list of posts. Look up at the upper left-hand corner (again). Look for "My Blogs"- click on it. Your reading list is at the bottom of the page --after the "welcome to the new blogger (crap)".
    Oh boy!
    Sorry your show almost succumbed to the storm of the century. At least you had plenty of wool to keep warm with.
    I am also glad you discovered which vendors had the treats.
    "cause the treats might be one of the reasons you were able to stand on your feet for two days straight."
    I hope you did well at the show.

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    1. You're so right,the links don't look like links, thanks for that, I'll try to find my way round. The treats definitely kept me going!

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  4. I'm determined to make it to Wonderwool next year! Cold seems to be the common theme this year, but glad you had a good time.

    Look forward to hearing about shearing x

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    1. It's well worth the journey, Fibre East is good too, coming up in July.

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