Knitting and Stitching Show

WHEW. I thought I was excited about the Knitting and Stitching show before I arrived, but that was nothing compared to the actual excitement of being there. So many things to buy! And I wanted it all! From the moment we entered the main hall to the second I left, my brain was screaming.
‘AHHHHHHHHHH!!!’ it said, with short bursts of, ‘EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!’ Now it’s settled down and is trying to recover and sounds more like, ‘Wom, wom, wom, wom.’
I didn’t even mind that there were too many hundreds of people, which would usually set me on edge. I waited patiently for my turn to look at things and then leapt when I got the chance. My loot:

Fat quarters were the way forward for me — more variety for money spent. Click the image to enlarge, because there’s a lot there. Eight fat quarters of Liberty prints (I couldn’t stop once I’d found them — such lovely prints), four fat quarters of reproduction-esque prints, and twenty squares for patchwork, which are all lovely. A half metre of a corduroy print, a half metre of excellent green/gold Indian silk, as well as a fat quarter of blue/magenta. Two squares of hand-dyed felt, ten ‘tops’ of wool for felting, and a bag of silk threads, for use in said felting.
After I’d spent what I decided was my limit, I wandered around, exhausted, clutching a two pound coin. Once I spent that, I had to leave. I found the little cloisonne jointed fish, just like I’d been looking for a couple weeks ago. I dug another coin out of my purse, bought it, and left. Eventually.
I went with three excellent friends, though we split up as soon as we got into the main hall. It was immediately obvious that solitary prowling was the only way to shop. We met up again after an hour and a half and spent the same chatting over tea. I’m so glad I was able to go with them, as it just wouldn’t have been the same if I had nobody to share the experience with (and it would have been a disaster to take a non-crafty person).
I had been planning to leave after we had our tea, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to take another twenty pounds from the ATM to do just a little bit more shopping (resulting in the Liberty prints and the fish). I felt like a gambler — I didn’t really want to spend the money, but I wanted the rush that came with buying such desirable things.
In fact, it all seemed a little bit too good. Once or twice, I was truly afraid I would wake up (Do other people have shopping spree dreams? What does it say about me that I do?). I didn’t want to leave, and I really wish I could go every weekend. On the other hand, thank GOD I can’t — I’d quickly be in poverty.
So that was the show. . . . also, all I’ve had to eat today are cakes and cookies. Eeeee!