This morning I packed my bags and headed out. I also realized that my blog is three years old today!!! What better way to celebrate than with a full day of fiber!
First, I drove to nearby Centerville and stopped in at Fox Cottage Rug Hooking Shop. I was warmly greeted by Sue Ellen, the owner, and all the ladies busily working on their latest rugs. They were all doing beautiful work and I really enjoyed visiting with them. And, what a cute and cozy studio!!! Very warm and inviting. Sue Ellen is selling the building --- how I would love to restart my rug hooking business in such a vibrant fiber area.
I swear it's kismet. One of them had my last name. I was so surprised because I have never met anyone with my last name that's not related. Then, she told me that she also a
sister-in-law with my first name. She said that she had read my name in Rug Hooking Magazine over the years and had always told her sister-in-law that there was a rug hooker by the same name. Well, that's me! Another rug hooker is from Martinsville, VA which is about an hour and a half from where I live and is within my work area. In fact, I lived there while I was in nursing school.
Next, I headed upstairs from the rug shop and visited Yarn & Needle. Do you see the triangular frames in the picture to the right?? They're very well made by a local man. He's hard at work on a new frame that is adjustable and will enable the weaver to make a triangular shawl of three different sizes on one frame. He'll be demonstrating on these frames at Yarn & Needle this Friday evening.
I enjoyed lunch at Panera's (again) and had their Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (my third one this week!). It's my absolute favorite!!!! The nearest Panera's at home is at least an hour and a half away so I'm going to enjoy that
salad while I can!!
Then, I headed off to Columbus, Ohio for Knitters Connection. I checked into the Hampton Inn right across from the Convention Center where the event is being held. I parked my car and don't expect to move it before I leave here on Saturday.
After unpacking, I crossed the street and picked up my nametag, event tickets, and my goodie bag! (bag and contents pictured to the left), then went to wait for the Knitters Market to open at 5:00 PM. All of a sudden, I heard someone call my name. I looked up and it was Carrie from the River City Knitters guild in Richmond, VA!!!!! What a surprise!! (This trip is just full of little happenings. This one was perhaps to show me that even though I'm in Ohio, Virginia is still within reach.)
This is the first time I've been to a knitting event this far away from my home or normal area. A cool thing about this is that there are a lot of new things to see. Participating in the market were The Alpaca Source, Back to Back Fiber Products, A Beaded Road, Bonnie's
Kozy Knit, Briar Rose Fibers (gorgeous stuff!), Cabin Fever, Castle Fibers, Coloratura Yarns, Creations by Joyce, Dahara Dreaming, Dusty's Vintage Buttons, Fine Points, Fantail Fibres, Arlene Graham's Fiberworks, Frontier Fiber Mill, Gita Maria, Glory-ous Knits, Ivy Brambles, Jennie the Potter, Knitter's Mercantile, Nantucket Bagg Co. (I was able to tell the Bagg man that he needed to put lime green handles on his purple Nantucket bag!), Newton's Yarn Country, River's Edge Weaving Studio, Shelridge Farms, Stich Sisterz, and The Yarn Barn (Pat from Virginia!). Fun, Fun, Fun!!!
Also for our viewing pleasure --- Rowan's 30th Anniversary Exhibition. This featured examples of vintage designer garments representing three decades of Rowan knitting. Beautiful knitted samples!!!
I scooted to North Market quickly for a bite to eat before returning to the convention center for Sandi
Wiseheart's (of Knitting Daily fame) presentation - "Fit to Flatter". She was great!! She talked about proper ways to measure yourself and to do a schematic for your knitted sweaters. She also taught a class today re: making sweaters fit and said that they came up with a great quote -- "Wool has memory, Cotton has imagination." How true! After her talk, we could go up and fondle all the sweaters featured in Knitting Daily's Gallery.
As I looked around the room, there was Sally Melville, Beth
Brown-Reinsel, Clara Parkes (and here), Cat Bordhi, Myrna Stahman, Amy Singer (and here), and more. WOW! That's a lot of knitting
talent in one room.
So much stuff within walking distance here. I walked down the street to Cup O' Joe to go. On the way back to the hotel, I took this picture of one of the huge vases in front of the convention center. Very pretty!
Time to go -- gotta rest up for my class tomorrow with Myrna Stahman! More later!!!