Making New Friends at the Train...

Every Saturday this past June and July I have been meeting people from all over the world while waiting for the train...the Snoqualmie Railroad Train. The farmers' market sat alongside the historic train depot in Snoqualmie, WA and as passengers arrived to see the depot, built in the 1800's, they spent time with me watching me spin yarn and sell my textile art. I have met people from as close as Snoqualmie, WA and as far away as Poland. Many people left with a little bit of Duvall, WA to take home and share.

It is wonderful knowing my yarn is on its way to Poland to be knitted by a young woman who is excited to be able to take home hand-dyed merino/bamboo yarn ("we have nothing like this is Poland" she quietly shared). Ten women in California will be receiving my hand-poured goats-milk soap for Christmas from their girlfriend who has been to every state in the union as well as all over the world ("every year I make the wash cloths and add the soap, but this year their gifts are coming from you", she whispered through a big hug.)

A fun couple traveling from Florida asked if they could give my name to friends back home so that they, too, could buy the purse hangers ("we won't be home until September, for we are cruising up to Alaska, but then we'll reconnect so start making more", the husband thoughtfully said with a smile).

An encouraging woman, while waiting for Thomas the Train, purchased a sunset hued handbag made from my handspun yarn trimmed with a vintage silver handle and emailed me the following day to share that she was so enjoying the purse and was carrying it around while watering her plants. We made arrangements for another handbag for her daughter, and a private showing of all my textile work.

I could go on and on...the woman with the San Francisco art gallery, the lady who's mother has a Palm Beach art studio, the home decor store owner who wanted custom bedding, the fabulous local knitter who will be making several Christmas gifts from my handspun and handdyed yarns who is passing on her skill to her lovely granddaughters...

So many wonderful, supportive, imaginative, friendly people from across our country and around the world!

Catherine