...the time of our lives...

I know that I owe you a huge post on Sock Summit but I am madly packing my bags to head to Oakland and A Verb for Keeping Warm. I am taking a class from one of my favorite people on the planet, Anne Hanson! She is teaching a Sweater Fitness Class and I can't wait. It's been a long time since I've had the chance to take a class and I know this one is going to be great. the weekend starts with a gathering at the shop on Friday night with both Anne and Cookie A, who is also teaching there this weekend. I know I will have a bunch to report on when I get home! Rest assured that you will be getting the blow by blow on this and Sock Summit next week!

In the meantime, I leave you with what undoubtedly will be the best memory I have from Sock Summit 2011. Thank you Stephen! It really was the time of our lives!

video credit: Clara Parkes

...radio silence...

Sock Summit + not enough hours in the day = radio silence. That's the way things have been rolling here lately. We've all be working really hard to make Sock Summit the best it can possibly be. With that said, it hasn't left much room for anything else.

But there are wonderful new and exciting things on the horizon! Here's a sneak at something that is coming soon....

Yes, a new design is waiting in the wings for it's debut! Soon my friends, soon!

And along with this new design I will be unveiling my brand new website! I've been working on this for quite a while now and I can't wait to share it with all of you!!

Stay tuned...

...Betsy...

I know I owe you a post regarding Stitches and all the fun we had, but this morning this was on the Today Show and I really needed to share it with you.

Betsy McCarthy is not only a friend of mine I am proud to say, but she is a fantastic teacher as well. If fact, 6 years ago I learned to knit my first sock ever in her class at Black Sheep Gathering. I had just started knitting again and decided I needed to try something new. I signed up for Betsy's class and it was just perfect. I'm sure that after having me in class all day Betsy probably had to go immediately back to her hotel and lay down with a cold cloth on her head. I can sometimes be a "special" student.

Betsy was great and since that time we have become friends, meeting up at other events, i.e Madrona and Sock Summit. Each time I am fortunate enough to see Betsy it's like we just saw each other yesterday. She is one terrific person!

I am really proud of the segment on the Today Show and even more proud of Betsy! If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from her, do it. It will be one of the best things you've ever done.

Congrats, Betsy! Way to go!

p.s. Stitches report coming soon!

...and the silence is broken....sort of....

Well it's been exactly 2 weeks since the ride of a lifetime, a.k.a. Sock Summit 2009 ended and I am finally getting around to posting. WHEW! What a spectacular event. It was so great, with so much going on that I took very few pictures. Fortunately, I do have some photos coming my way from various locations that I hope to be posting soon. In the mean time here is what I have:

Knitters patiently waiting for the Marketplace to open...

Debra and I at the info desk. See the marketplace behind us? (that's really a small a tiny portion of the whole beautiful thing!)

I snagged this next pic from my bff irishgirlieknits. She was a rockstar with her help! I love her more than she can know.....

That is the pile of lanyards we had to give out to the vendors as they checked in. More on our fantastic vendors in a later post....

This is irishgirlieknits and me with our Queen Bee bags. Aren't they cute?

If you don't know about Queen Bee you should! It's a great local Portland company that has the cutest bags! Go look here ....I'll wait........

Cute, right?

Well that is the extent of the pictures I have or have stolen from my bff. More photos and more about the Summit later........

...just another day at the office...

So, I've been spend some serious time at Sock Summit World Headquarters lately. What? How many sleeps? That's right......2! Anywho, I thought I'd give you a look see at what a typical day at the office might look like.

This is the entrance to Tina's office.....lots of top secret stuff going on in there.

Note the sign that says "closed"....yeah right......

When things get a bit sticky she sometimes calls on Nigel to help her out. He's pretty smart and a little bit stubborn.

...but JoAnn knows how to put him in his place...don't mess with her.

You've heard of the infamous post-its? Well, I'm here to tell you that all of what you have heard is true. As Steph said today regarding post-its, "3-M owes us big time". Here's why.

Everything you see sticking to a wall is a post-it of some variety. And those things hanging from those clothespins.....post-its...And believe me, we've seen them all.

Sometimes we need a beverage while working. It's important to stay hydrated.

And here is my little corner of the Sock Summit world....(if you see me in the Marketplace, I better have this book in my hand. It has my life in it.

I only have one question left...if I don't go to sleep tonight....do I still have 2 sleeps left? just sayin'.....

...just like waiting for Christmas....

I can't even believe that I am about to say this......

only 11 more sleeps until Sock Summit begins. Yep, only 11. Actually, it's 12 for those of you taking classes and participating in the rest of the events. But for me, it's 11. That's when the Vendors start their move in process at the Convention Center. And what a fabulous group they are. And the stuff they are bringing! And I get to be in the middle of it all! I can't wait to meet these people that I have been conversing with via email. I feel like I already know them.

I also am getting that feeling I used to get when I was getting my kids ready for the first day of school....

Me: "Do you have your backpack?"

Daughter 1: "yep"

Me: "Where is your lunch money?"

Daughter 2: "In my backpack."

Me: "Did you brush your teeth?"

Daughter 1: "yep"

Me: "Where are your shoes/"

Daughter 2: "duh! on my feet."

Me: "You need a jacket."

Daughter 1&2: "MOM!"

The questions have been and will be different, I assure you. But even so, I have been preparing a spreadsheet, just to make sure......

I hope I don't ask anyone if they brushed their teeth.

11 more sleeps (if i can).....just sayin'.......

...soap box at the ready...

I had a completely different post planned for today. I have some great photos and stories to tell about my Memorial Day Weekend. That was the plan...until this morning.

This morning the Sock Summit Class registration opened up at 10:00 am. And the madness began. Imagine thousands of people trying to register for classes all at the same time. Yep, you guessed it. Server crash. Many people not able to get what they wanted. But this is not the bad part of the story.

I have pretty much my whole life looked on the bright side of things. My mom always told me that things happen for a reason. What goes around, comes around. Well, I am really counting on this.

The sad part of this story is not the server crashing, not the people not getting what they wanted, not the disappointment. It's the reaction that these people had that was immediate. It was the straight away anger, rage, and venom directed at the organizers of this amazing event. It was the "I am not getting what i WANT, and it's clear that you pretty much don't care". It's the "I am so upset that I didn't get the classes I wanted that I am not going to come". And this was all in the span of about 10 minutes. That's right, within 10 minutes of the registration going live.

The part that upsets me the most is that many people haven't witnessed all that has gone into this Sock Summit. They don't have any concept how hard Tina and Stephanie have worked, are working and will continue to work to make this event happen. And mind you, this is happening alongside their day jobs. They have no notion of what goes on behind the scenes, nor do they seem to care. It really reinforced for me, just how greedy and selfish our society has become. I am sorry to see this.

I was glad to see that after the server overload was remedied, classes opened up and people were able to get into classes they thought were previously full. This just seemed to take a little patience. Something, it seems, some people don't possess. Oh, well.

I am very proud of what Tina and Steph have accomplished. They are two of the most hardworking, honest and fair women I have ever known. I am honored to call these people my friends. Keep up the good work ladies. People really do appreciate it.

And for the complaining, angry, petty people out there....what goes around comes around....just sayin'.....

...and we're live...

The Sock Summit Vendor List is up and live. Check it out and see the wonderful people that will have their beautiful wares there!

Go there now.....I'll wait......

I know, right? Pretty great line up. Really looking forward to August......90 days and counting.....

...blueprint...

Yesterday, the Sock Summit 09 Vendor Team had a meeting and started working on the booth floor plan. WOW! We have some really awesome vendors coming. The website should be updated soon with a list of these great people. I'll post here when it goes live. But just know that you are going to be even more crazy excited (if that's even possible) than you already are. And what a job......here's what we have to go through to work through the floor plan efficiently. Note the hi-lighters, yes the floor plan will be color coded (and why wouldn't it be?).

Rosemary Garlic French Fries - serious brain food....

Yes, it does take several spreadsheets to manage this beast. (I am dreaming about excel lately, is that wrong?)

We really do have a great "office" for these strategy sessions.

And when we finished, we looked at each other and said,

...I mean, "job well done".....

...and counting.....

I am the kind of person that loves to have something to look forward to. I love the anticipation of a birthday or Christmas, can't wait to get to the airport to really start a trip, can't wait for the first bite of a wonderfully prepared meal....(again with the food thing) BUT THIS........



is only 100 days away. That's right, 100 days. I am thrilled and anxious, all at the same time. Each time I venture out to BMFA to work on the Summit, I get a rush. This is actually coming together. And there is SO much involved with this. I'm not sure how Tina or Steph even get any sleep. My little brain is working overtime with the small part I am working on, I can't even imagine what they are going through. But every time I turn around, something else fantastic has happened with regards to this enormous event. They are making it happen. I'm not sure if we all realize what a wonderful thing they are doing for all of us. All I know is that in 100 days we will be at the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH....and I don't mean Disneyland.......

...new site is up.....

Check this out!

The new web site is up and ready for your enjoyment! GO NOW!

...the faculty...

Check it out, peeps! The teachers are up on the Sock Summit 2009 web site. They read like a who's who of knitting and spinning fame. Go here to have a look, I'll wait.............

Seriously, anybody that might have been a doubter or nay-sayer regarding this event, just check out the teachers that will be here with us in August. These people are rarely in the same hemisphere together, let alone in the same city and state! Let your imaginations run wild with all of the possibilities of classes that could be taught by these superstars......OMG.......

...many things...

Well, this post may be a little disjointed, but I have many things to talk about.

First, one of my very favorite events is taking place as I type...

The 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show!

I love this show and always watch it. Last year Uno, the 15" Beagle was best in show. Of course this was perfect in my opinion, being the owner of Jake. We'll see what happens this year.

Second, I have resurrected my spinning wheel and have taken this.......

and started this.....




It is some lovely silk from my friend Tina. I'll keep you posted on what it ends up like. I figured that since I will be in an all day class on Thursday with Judith, (I know!!!!!) I should really get my act together and at least get some spinning time under my belt before I get to class. Just a little rusty........

Third, and speaking of Tina, we got together to work on Sock Summit vendor stuff and all I can say is..........

Each time we get together the plans just get better and better! I can't wait for this event to get here! As we get the vendors firmed up I will post a list here for you temptation, oops, enjoyment.

And finally, I will leave you with a sign of things to come..........could it be spring?

...a tale of two knitters...

Okay, so if you know me very well, you know that I never, ever go anywhere without knitting. My husband has been known to ask, "Is there ever a time or place that you won't knit?" Answer, really. I have been known to knit in traffic jams, at sporting events, in bars, at restaurants, etc.....you get the idea.
Anyway, so I have this friend that owns her own yarn company. She hand dyes yarn and is incredible with color. She is a genius. You know who she is......that's right. Go here if you have any doubts about who I am talking about.
Well, we had several meetings yesterday involving the Sock Summit planning. After these meetings we went over to Twisted to visit with Shannon and Emily. We were to go to knit night after our visit to Twisted. On the way to see Shannon and Emily, my friend (you know who she is) confesses to me that she is without yarn, needles and/or pattern for said knit night. (dude, seriously, she has her own yarn company, just saying.....) Anyway, she says maybe she could just buy something at Twisted to work on at knit night. Okay, that was not going to happen. First, buying back your own yarn? Dude.......
We left Twisted, having had a lovely time with Shannon and Emily, but alas with no yarn or needles for you know who.
We arrived at our fav pub to start the fun that is knit night. (we were early, but it's 5 o'clock somewhere...) I suggested that my friend knit on something of mine. I offered her one of the two projects I had with me; Charlotte's web or Mr Greenjeans Sweater (both, I might add, were being knit in her yarn.) She turned me down, not wanting to knit on a shawl or sweater.
My next thought was to call hotflash, find out where she was and if she could please, please, please bring some yarn (anything) and some needles for the yarnless one. She calmly told me that she had no extra yarn. At that point, my yarn lacking friend grabbed the phone out of my hand and demanded that hotflash get serious, this after all was a crisis. Hotflash said she would be right over and would indeed have yarn and needles. She arrived a few minutes later with some, and here's a surprise, sock yarn (STR) and dpns.
The evening went very well after that. (well, the yarn and the beer and wine helped.........)
Tina, oops ..... my friend had finally gotten some yarn and checked out Wally's knitting......


...Wally finished another toe cover....

...we had tator tots....

....tina started a sock....

Well, that's my story. If you would like to read Tina's version......go here.....but really, I have witnesses.....

...the meeting of great minds...

Just when you thought that everything had been done in the name of socks...........

I give you Sock Summit, 2009. Hang onto your hats folks, the ultimate in everything socks is going to happen in August of 2009. Run, don't walk to the web site and check it out! I promise you on all things that are holy, you will not be disappointed. I'm just going to say.......sponsored by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Let your imagination run wild...........