Islandshire's First Annual Wool Show was turning out to be a big success (with a lot of visitors). Throughout the day, there was a steady stream of people coming into the shop. Most were there to pick up a few souvenirs, get out of the sun for a bit, sample the sheep cheese, and even do a little Christmas shopping. I was positively quivering with excitement until the first shoppers came in, after which time it seemed like I barely had time to draw breath!
Kelly and Lori showed up first and spent a long time browsing through everything. No surprise here, because they love to shop! Lori is getting ready to open a thrift store on Islandshire, so she took some posters to tack up around her shop and offered to advertise any future wool events. She also really enjoyed the sheep cheese samples. Kelly wouldn't give the cheese a try, because she only eats cheese that's been melted, but she bought the first jar of my new lanolin cream!
Kelly and Lori showed up first and spent a long time browsing through everything. No surprise here, because they love to shop! Lori is getting ready to open a thrift store on Islandshire, so she took some posters to tack up around her shop and offered to advertise any future wool events. She also really enjoyed the sheep cheese samples. Kelly wouldn't give the cheese a try, because she only eats cheese that's been melted, but she bought the first jar of my new lanolin cream!
The next customers to arrive were Jacqui and Toni, my newest "dear" friends. They just arrived on the Island and have gone into partnership with Lori at the new thrift store, where they plan to have a whole area dedicated to "High Fashion on a Budget" shopping. We had a long conversation about the benefits of wool and natural fibres versus artificial man-made materials. They were so impressed that they have decided to offer only clothes and fashion accessories made of all-natural fibres!
The shop was beginning to fill up with other buyers, so we decided to continue our conversation after Wool Week (I think I'll have them for tea and some homemade Devonshire Apple Cake). Before they left, though, they did have to buy a few things -- including a gorgeous wool fashion doll and a "Keep Calm and Choose Wool" poster to decorate their store.
As they left, I noticed Jacqui and Toni stopping just outside to talk to Natalya and Brighton (everyone was making the three special visitors so welcome). When Jacqui held up her shopping bag, the strange look on Brighton's face as she glared at the bag grabbed my attention. I thought she'd seen something she hadn't noticed before; perhaps the little wool doll.
When I turned my attention away from the window and back to the shop, there was Eydie waiting to purchase some sheep cheese -- without even sampling it! As you know, she's our very own Islandshire gourmet cook. Eydie loves learning and creating new recipes with different ingredients, just like Julia Child! Isn't that beret absolutely adorable on her?
It's awfully hard to come into a shop and purchase just one thing . . . and Eydie spied a little wool kitty that she just needed to take home with her. Reminded her of Steviekins. Steviekins, her own smoky-coloured cat, is the most renowned feline on Islandshire. Probably because he's the only cat who eats Eggs Benedict (sans muffin) for breakfast every day . . .
As she left the shop, I saw Eydie pause to speak to Brighton and show off her bag of goodies. Oddly enough, Brighton seemed very preoccupied and spent most of the conversation staring over her shoulder at the shop (still with an odd sort of worried look on her face) . . .
The next visitor (you can't exactly call her a shopper) was a person very precious to me -- my very own goddaughter, Truannie. Since Harold, Eliot and I were all so busy with the show, Gabriela was doing the honour of babysitting (if it had been for anything less than the Wool Show, I would have been oh-so-jealous). Truannie truly is the most wonderful baby ever! (Can you see the hearts floating over my head???)
I'm not sure if I was supposed to turn into a shopper (being the only person manning the shop), but I just had to pick out something special for Truannie. (It's very important to instill a love of wool in them at this tender young age, you know!) I knew just the thing! A lovely little baby-sized afghan and hat set knitted (by me, of course) with a beautiful deep purple yarn. I was sure she'd love it . . .
For some odd reason, though, Truannie seemed to prefer sucking on one of the wool socks from the sales counter (discount offered to anyone willing to purchase a soggy sock). I don't think I understand babies . . .
For some odd reason, though, Truannie seemed to prefer sucking on one of the wool socks from the sales counter (discount offered to anyone willing to purchase a soggy sock). I don't think I understand babies . . .
Wait a minute! I knew what would change her mind! Look, Truannie, look at the cute pompom on the little hat. Harumph. Even the pompom didn't distract her; she just wiggled and said "googy gaga".
Click photos to enlarge.
Okay, so there was no turning back now. She just had to have this set from her godmother. It was such a perfect match for her romper and stroller. Besides which, what does a little baby (regardless of how cute she is) know about shopping? Look at her down there (I cleaned the brown wool off her mouth before the photo was taken) . . . doesn't she look like a little angel?
As all good things must come to an end, it was time to get back to servicing other, more obliging, customers. Gabriela took Truannie to see the animals, and I was sorry to see them go, but Audie arrived in time to distract me from the stroller rolling away from me. He was trying to beat the lunchtime rush at his Tex-Mex stand and do some quick shopping. He isn't much of a knitter or spinner, but he knew exactly what he wanted . . .
Did you guess what it was that he saw on that top shelf? Audie was so excited with his new cowboy doll that he had to let out a bit of a Texas cheer as he left the shop. Once again, as I glanced out of the window, there was Brighton sitting just outside. She looked quite happy, until Audie stopped to show off his new doll. She just stared really hard into the bag, and then sat there staring at the shop once he left.
In the back of my mind, I was starting to wonder what was wrong with Brighton. Harold showed up just then, though, and wanted to do some serious shopping. Fortunately, I didn't need to help him very much, since he knew most of the stock inside out (having packed a lot of it himself). He was particularly excited to find a bag of wool from the British Milk Sheep (one of his favorite breeds). His purchases really started to stack up, so we got a shopping tub for him, instead of the usual bag. (To his credit, he bought the soggy wool socks without asking for a discount. What a good friend he is. Or is it just a boy thing? I certainly wouldn't pay out good money for a wet sock, even if it had been my baby sister who did it.)
While Harold was still shopping, Mabel came in to look around. Very keen on sewing and needlecrafts, she was excited to pick out some new yarn for future projects. She even splurged a bit and bought a pair of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald dolls for her bedroom shelf. (She's quite partial to singers like Nelson Eddy, Ezio Pinza and Mario Lanza.)
As she left, Mabel almost ran into Brighton, who was now standing just outside the door (even with her glasses, Mabel is a little nearsighted). Brighton apologized for bumping into her but couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Mabel's shopping bag. That same worried look was still on her face, but it was starting to look kind of serious. Just then, Harold called me over to help him finish his purchase, so I couldn't go out to have a word with poor Brighton. I sincerely hoped that she wasn't coming down with something.
Harold had filled his tub and was overjoyed to discover that there was a set of Robin Hood dolls for sale on the top shelf. It's a good thing that Harold is so tall, because he didn't even need a stool to get them down and into his shopping basket.
Harold had filled his tub and was overjoyed to discover that there was a set of Robin Hood dolls for sale on the top shelf. It's a good thing that Harold is so tall, because he didn't even need a stool to get them down and into his shopping basket.
I peeked outside and saw Mabel sitting down with Eydie and Jerri, showing off her new dolls.
Brighton was nowhere to be seen. I hoped she was finally off enjoying herself. (As a matter of fact, she was. She'd gotten a little distracted by Harold's announcement over the loudspeaker that anyone who could list off the Campaign for Wool's official 10 reasons to love wool would win a free lemonade from Sun-Ho's stall. Brighton had that flyer memorized inside out, so she won the lemonade!)
Following the lunch rush, there was a little quiet time for me to straighten things up before Mariamne and Kitty arrived to do some Christmas shopping. I didn't notice that Brighton showed up at the door with a rather horrified expression on her face, threw her hands in the air and breathed with difficulty . . .
Mariamne had a lot of shopping to do, because she comes from a large family with a lot of cousins. It took us a while to find the perfect gift for everyone, and we needed a tub to hold everything!
Kitty didn't need quite so many things, but she wanted to get a few things for her brother, Henry. He likes adventure and travelling and is particularly fond of two things -- sailing and eating. She picked out a sailor doll, a poster and a piece of sheep cheese.
I noticed while we were getting the cheese that Brighton was actually peering inside Kitty's bag with that same odd look on her face.
I don't think that Kitty noticed Brighton staring at her bag as she left the shop, but it suddenly dawned on me! Maybe this wasn't all worry on Brighton's face. Maybe she was geeking a bit over the fibre! But that didn't explain the creams and cheese. I wondered if she'd eaten something that gave her a bit of a sick tummy. Just then, Harold's voice came over the loudspeaker announcing that all entries for the animal competition would need to be turned in within the hour.
The crowd seemed to be concentrating on Harold's announcement, so I finally had a chance to call Brighton into the shop to find out just what was wrong. (It wouldn't do to have your out-of-town friend being sick on her vacation.) Alas! Eliot had managed to get his goddaughter to himself for a few minutes and rolled her pram in right behind Brighton. (In case you haven't gone back to look at the earlier picture in a while, please note that Truannie certainly looked beautiful in her new hat and tucked under her new blanket.)
The proud godfather wanted to get her a special gift of his own. There weren't anymore hats, but he seemed intent on buying a couple of sheep toys for her. Brighton was staring at them, but she didn't say anything. I think she liked the little sheep toys.
Truannie seemed very pleased with her gift. She said "googy gaga" and started sucking on one of them. I wonder if it tasted as good as the brown sock . . .
As Eliot pushed the pram back out to the midway, Georgiana and Natalya walked in. They seemed to be having a wonderful time and not worried at all, so I took them aside to give them shopping bags and ask if they had noticed anything peculiar about Brighton. They just laughed and said that she was on fibre overload.
"She'll be okay! She's geeking over wool," said Natalya.
"Yep," agreed Georgiana. "She's worried that everything will sell out before she has a chance to do her shopping, but we keep telling her that there's still a ton of stuff to buy in here."
"She'll be okay! She's geeking over wool," said Natalya.
"Yep," agreed Georgiana. "She's worried that everything will sell out before she has a chance to do her shopping, but we keep telling her that there's still a ton of stuff to buy in here."
While we were talking, they picked out some things to take home -- being careful to make sure they could fit everything into their luggage for the return trip. Some Lanolin Cream, a poster, a bag of Leicester Longwool locks and some postcards would fit just fine . . .
Finally, the shop was quiet. Brighton emerged from the corner with her hands above her head and a very frazzled expression. I tried to comfort her, but nothing seemed to get through until I said, "Why don't you do your shopping before the animal competition starts?"
That seemed to bring her back to her senses, and her features relaxed. "You mean, it's okay for me to do my shopping now? Everything is so beautiful! I've been sick with worry that there wouldn't be anything left for me to buy! Oh, how am I ever going to choose?"
I assured her that she was the last customer for the day, since the shop would close before the animal competition. (I couldn't very well run the shop and show my sheep in the competition, now could I? Besides, she couldn't possibly buy that much -- she only brought one suitcase with her, and it's a long trip home to Wisconsin. I knew we were in trouble, though, when she picked up a whole basket of Leicester Longwool locks and did not fish out a handful or two. Time to call in the backup help.
I assured her that she was the last customer for the day, since the shop would close before the animal competition. (I couldn't very well run the shop and show my sheep in the competition, now could I? Besides, she couldn't possibly buy that much -- she only brought one suitcase with her, and it's a long trip home to Wisconsin. I knew we were in trouble, though, when she picked up a whole basket of Leicester Longwool locks and did not fish out a handful or two. Time to call in the backup help.
Brighton immediately started loading Eliot's arms with posters and balls of roving . . .
. . . and more roving. Eliot couldn't even see over the pile. Brighton suggested that if he stood up a little straighter she could get another ball or two on there. I don't think he could hear her clearly, what with all that wool around his head . . . it's a good thing he doesn't mind the smell of sheep that close up . . .
This wasn't working at all. Eliot and I came up with a plan and pulled over all the remaining tubs and baskets and put them at Brighton's feet.
She kept filling them up and piling in more wool and more wool. I think Eliot was planning on bringing his scooter over to haul everything home!
Brighton was so excited that she couldn't stop talking about her fibre studio back home and all the friends she was going to share everything with when she got back (not to mention how much fun her dog, Truro, would have helping to unpack). Her studio is under remodeling right now, and she'll soon have a beautiful station to use for wool dyeing, so she picked out a lot of natural wools to use when it was ready. Until then, she needed some coloured wool to turn into yarn on her spinning wheel. She was back to her usual cheery, relaxed self, and I knew I'd never forget what sheer panic looks like on a friend's face. It's so nice to have a friend who shares your fibre passion . . . I mean obsession . . . I mean "more than geeking" . . .
It was almost time for the animal competition to begin, so Eliot hauled all of the bins and baskets out to his scooter, and Brighton and I put up the "Gone to Tea" sign and closed the shop.
Check back tomorrow to read about the Animal Competition and cast your very own vote for the People's Choice award. There's also a tour of the Wool Shop coming, so that you can see how it looked before there were any customers to take things off the shelves.
It's so late tonight that this will be the last entry for the day. I'll just have to post two of them tomorrow!
It's so late tonight that this will be the last entry for the day. I'll just have to post two of them tomorrow!