Knit Fire With Spitfire: Classes and Events for August 2013!

2 big events have happened. I went to Stitches Midwest and I went on vacation.

Stitches has not disappointed me. A couple of my classes there, a little, but this year I took no classes but went to all the evening events. I was very happy and excited.

I worked in the Zen Yarn Garden Booth, my LYS Fuzzy Wuzzy Yarns will start carrying their yarns this fall and we hosted their yarn at Stitches. I spent Thursday's market preview learning about their yarns and talking up their cashmere blends. It was so pretty, I came home with some (not these ... they were already gone)

I came after work on Friday, but missed the podcaster meet-up due to yoga. I did meet up with some folks from the Fox Valley area in WI, HI! It was good to see my Yarn School Buddy Ann. I got my books signed by Antje Gillingham and Melissa Leapman. Both were very nice but honestly Antje changed my knitting life. The 2 at a time on 2 circulars method made socks more achievable and more likely to be the same size! I couldn't thank her enough, she might have gotten teary. I know I did :)

The fashion show put on by the yarn sponsors and vendors was that night. I got to sit with Jen Lucas of Sock Yarn Shawls & Knitting Like Crazy, Laura (who won the student banquet editor's choice), Christine and Pam that I all know through my time at Fuzzy Wuzzy. The Fashion Show was very cool, lots of great things going on, Lion Brand's LB collection has some real nice stuff in it! I was really impressed with Laura Bryant's Artful Color, Mindful Knits collection from the book. I wish I had more time to check out those garments.

Then the PJ party. I packed up my sidekick spinning wheel and had it in the car for the PJ party. I knew that after work, shopping the market and the fashion show, I would be fried. I took it as an opportunity to spin. I was the only spinner, but I did get to teach a little about the wheel and what I was doing. It was a lovely night.

On Saturday I was back in the afternoon after mowing the lawn, house work and some laundry. I came in around 1, dropped off some noms for the ladies working the Zen Yarn Gardens Booth, because I knew they wouldn't stop to eat. Then did a little walking the market place and shopping and then did a 2 hr volunteering at Halos of Hope. Man I love Pam, Alex and that whole organization. They do a lot to make sure people fighting for their lives have some comfort and love around their heads. Do check out the drawing for a FREE RIDE to your next stitches event for a $5 donation!

In the evening on Saturday I finished the day with the Student Banquet and Fashion show. I just love that event. The peak at what the industry is presenting is great, but seeing what the others at the show are doing is the best! Fantastic work and great workmanship. Oh, I loved it. So proud of the other stitchers there!

I came home with a few goodies from the dinner and then came home to pack for a week of vacation in MI! There was very little fiber fun on the road. I knit a lot of my Camp Loopy Project, some socks, and taught my friend to spin!

She should be very proud! And she is so enthusiastic that when she got back to California, she signed up for a drop spindle class. Woo hoo!

I saw cool things and ate lots of great food. Ann Arbor MI is a wonderful town, even for a Buckeye.

I wish I had had the time to take a class at Stitches, but I pooled my money into SOAR. And it's good I did, because it's the last one :-( I am thrilled to be going and to sleep in my own bed while attending.

On the teaching front I have several classes that are new to me. Design Your Own Christmas Stocking. Like this one I made for my sig other.