So, in the magic world that exists in my mind, this was going to be three posts. So, how about you pull up a chair and pretend with me?
As I indicated, I spent some time in Australia. First stop was Melbourne, the first time I've been there. After our 16 hour flight from LA to Melbourne and an overall 25.5 hour journey (but who's counting), Beeyore and I landed. After a much needed shower, Beeyore and I set out for the town. First top was a fun little walk from the hotel to city center through Fitzroy Gardens.
I have two regrets from my time in Melbourne. The first was not getting to see Captain Cook's cottage in the Gardens.
Since I haven't been to Melbourne, I got on Ravelry and found the lovely ladies of SnB Melbourne. I asked where a yarn tourist like me ought to go. The awesomeness that is Ravelry and the connections with knitters worldwide deserves a post of it own. Suffice it to say, the ladies of Melbourne were wonderful yarn guides.
First stop was the Handweavers' and Spinner's Guild of Victoria. For those unfamiliar with Australia, large areas are divided into states and territories. Victoria is a large state in the southern area - a center for wool production and wine (Yarra valley, my vino friends).
A few hiccups later on the tram had me at the unassuming door of the Guild, located on Shakespeare Street.
But inside... true contentment. I spent over an hour talking to the many lovely ladies that were there that day. Basically, the Guild seeks to bring weaver's and spinners together and provide a place to teach and socialise. Classes are taught on a variety of topics, materials are available for sale and a store showcases the artistry of its members.
Not only were the ladies lovely, but the atmosphere was great for anyone that loves fiber. I was definitely in the minority, not being a spinner. I enjoyed learning about the history of the Guild and the stories of the individual women I met. I'm sorry to say, I didn't write down the names of the lovely ladies I spoke to while I was there. I thought I'd surely remember and I'm very sorry I didn't. If you read this, thank you.
Check out their website, their "15 minutes of fame" section is a gas and makes me a bit nostalgic for the Greatest Generation.
The spinners store - roving and dyes, oh my!
And the yarn store... yarn spun by members as well as some finished pieces were for sale.
The yarn in the store has been raised (grown?), sheared, and spun in Victoria
A class in session the day I was there
I was struck by the older-than-average age of the attendees. Fiber arts is a diminishing art in Australia for many reasons. The first time I visited, I was disappointed to discover that most yarn is sent to China for processing because it's cheaper. I had an older lady tell me in Nundle that, "[she] used to knit but it's just too expensive now." That is infinitely sad to me, when you consider the rich tradition of Australian wool.
Hanging above the door, a map of Australia, from (I believe) felted wool
As I understand it, this wall hanging includes the ranch symbols from every member of the Guild.
It is constructed entirely of wool.
I know you're all wondering what I got...
In my defense, it's not filled... but it is the only bag that they had that everything would fit in... I thought about buying less and then thought, "this is hand spun in Australia. You will never see this yarn again, anywhere. Stop being a dumbass and buy it." And that is a quote.
silk/merino roving - a gift for a friend. I'd be a liar if I said I haven't thought about keeping this
I don't like purple, but this immediately evoked ideas of flowers in a garden
Everything was listed in grams, which is meaningless to me, a non-spinner. Most of the yarn consisted of single skeins. This is the only yarn I bought that I think is enough to make a scarf. I just liked the bits of color.
I chose a close-up of this yarn because I hope that you can appreciate the blues and greens. And because I've seen some bad spinning (says the girl that has hit herself in the head with a drop spindle), I was impressed with the consistency of the spin.
Also destined as a gift, for a friend who loves pink
This was the first skein I decided to buy. It's a baby hat. I'll find the baby later.
After the Guild, I set out for other yarny spots. I got lost. Without a map. I asked a tram driver if I could get from here to there on his tram. He said no; I got off the tram. He opened the door, told me to get on, and gave me the path to get un-lost. A well-pierced guy on the next bus also helped. I've heard people say that Australians are stand-offish. I suffer from no illusions that they have no losers, but nearly everyone I met was lovely.
Next stop, Lara Downs. The owner raises all her animals - sheep, alpaca, angora, yak, cashmere, silk. And sells her fiber in a rented upstairs space in a fabric store.
Her sister, Nancy was in the store the day I stopped by. While I was very tempted by the $86 skein of cashmere/merino/yak - gasp! soft! - in the end I "nearly" walked away. 
In an as-yet-unblogged event, I've learned to drop spindle. In the end, I decided to buy roving for a yarn I'd never pay for in the U.S. - 100% cashmere roving. Who knows when - or if - I'll ever be able to spin this. Keep you fingers crossed, my spinning friends.
Now we go to the only negative Melbourne experience. It was suggested that I go to Beautiful Silks. I won't give you a link, because I don't think they deserve one. When I arrived at their (always locked) door, I rang the bell. A guy let me in, then disappeared. They had lovely silk and some hand-dyed yarn, though the labeling was inconsistent - grams, but no price; price, but no grams/meterage.
While I looked around in vain for someone to talk to, I took pictures for this blog. THEN someone showed up. A man that claimed to be an owner (and a lawyer, as he quite enjoyed mentioning... numerous times). He rudely asked if i was taking pictures. I said yes, and explained it was to document my yarn tour of Melbourne. He condescendingly told me about international treaties regarding pictures. I offered to delete the pictures, which he wanted me to do. I did so and reached down to put my camera in my bag. When I stood up, he was gone. Apparently, he could only bother to show up to be rude, but not to help a customer. I tried to look around, but the interaction left a bad taste in my mouth. I left, never seeing another person. I briefly considered leaving the door open, since I had a hard time closing it. In the end, I chose to be a better person.
I am told the true owner (a woman) is quite wonderful. And the range of their silk was impressive. But I won't go back. In my yarn tourism of Melbourne, this is a miss. And I don't need pictures to tell people what I thought of the people that were working that day.
In my final stop, I went to the only wool store that is a chain store. I'd been in the Morris and Sons in Sydney. As last year, I was drawn to the same colorway. But it is spun in China, as is all their namebrand yarn. I basically justified this purchase by saying I can't get it in the U.S. But it's an oppression offset, and one I'm not happy to admit to, since I don't need yarn.
Despite my best efforts, this image will not save in a rotated format. And it's late, so I give up.
Morris & Sons, 4-ply, colorway: Plummage
As you might imagine, after four stores, shops were closing. My last day in Melbourne, I had a choice. My second regret is that I didn't get to SunSpun. They stock EVERY COLOR of Collinette. And at a cheaper price than in the U.S. I really wanted to get here, especially since the Melbourne crowd so highly endorsed it. But, I chose, and I chose this:
that's me, feeding a kangaroo
But that story will have to wait. And, as the clock approaches midnight, so will the rest of my Melbourne adventure.
I must skip ahead a little bit in the story. Because, you see, today is an important day. As no doubt none of you are aware - because I had to look it up myself - today (November 17th) is my one year blogiversary. I knew when I went to Australia that this day was approaching.
I wanted to mark this day in both normal and different ways. Giveway - normal, check. Something different and special (at least, if you're in the U.S., like me) - hmmm.
Later in my trip, I found the answer. I saw this yarn and thought, colorwork. Which, given I've never completed a colorwork pattern, is a bit ironic.
A standard, soft cream, 100% merino yarn, DK weight. Heirloom is a smaller, but well-established Australian company. I think they offer more heathers and rustic colors than Cleckheaton or Patons. This yarn is grown (raised?) and spun in Australia.
I tried to capture the colors, a navy blue and grey heather. A knitterly, spinnerly, awesome-y friend was in town last week and she felt this yarn. She said, "Oh, soft!" Trust her.
So, leave a comment, and next Wednesday, I'll randomly pick someone to receive both skeins. I'm thinking these two skeins will make some lovely colorwork, but hey, it will be yours, so it doesn't matter what I think.
I really didn't know where this would go when I started blogging. And I really don't know where it's heading. But I cherish the friends I've have made. I appreciate your encouragement and postive thoughts on my projects and whatever else I blog about. I'm glad for the people and blogs I've discovered - for your inspiration and the beauty of your work and the thoughtfulness of the words you share. Thank you for a wonderful first year.