Stitches Report, Part II

Anyone who has been to Stitches West knows what an insane, amazing, incredible madhouse it is! For me, it started Thursday afternoon when I walked into the convention center to set up some of my pins at the Foggy Moon Fiber/Royale Hare booth, where I spent a good part of the show. The smell was overpowering: lanolin, wool, silk and vinegar welcomed me, and I knew I was among my people! After stopping by to say hello to Karen and Barbara, I went off to the Ravelry get-together, where I met Jess, Mama Ravelry! I might have gushed a little lot. For me, Ravelry made Stitches an even more enjoyable time. I had my Ravelry Passport (sheer genius!) and I kept looking at people's name tags and met many fellow Ravelers in person! And people stopped by the booth to say hello. Thank you all! Among the people who came by were Gudrun in her lovely black dress, Auntie Ann and her sweet daughter, Ronni (looking a tad overwhelmed by it all), Vivian, and Amy who kindly brought her Muir by for me to see. Alas, I had already escaped back North. But that didn't stop progress! The wonderful women with whom I had been hanging staged a photo shoot, compete with sheet to show off the shawl!

She did a symmetrical version, which she grafted in the center. She is an engineer, after all. ;) And just take a look at that gorgeous Cromarty sweater she is wearing. Mmmmmmmmm. The day I (finally!) met her, she was wearing Inishmore with eye popping perfection in cables.

Kilroy was there too. :g:

And because I know you want to see it, more yarn prØn from Royale Hare. In the wild:

And some yummy laceweight:

I saw friends and acquaintances that I really only see once or twice a year like Jasmin, Patricia, Sandi and Chloe of Purlescence, CJ, Kathy, Cheryl, Janine, Brenda, Lisa, Sheila, Alison and Ann.

And I met people like Maia and her boothmates Kristine and Brooke, Jocelyn, Saloni, Kristi and CookieA, Vickie, Emy, and Janice. And there are others! But with the yarn fumes, I'm afraid I was in something of a fog!

I stayed with my dear friends Nathania and Kevin and their absolutely gorgeous daughter, Elinor. What a sweetie she is! Kevin is the absolute best directions-master there is. Really. He single-handedly kept me from getting totally lost down there. Because I'm sure I would still be driving around looking for Starbucks without him! And Nathania: what can I say? She is really one of the kindest, most centered and wonderful people I have ever known. I feel fortunate to call her my friend. It's a testament to the craziness of Stitches that we really didn't get to spend much time together. I hope to remedy that this summer, though! :)

And in answer to Lorraine's question about what I bought?

:drumroll:

I am almost ashamed to say it: not a thing.