spring fling

Just got back from the Spring Fling in St Louis and I am still trying to catch up on my sleep, when I say just I meant 3 days ago.  It was AMAZING of course! 

The weekend began with the Gray Ladies showing up at my house at 5:30am Thursday morning, I was supposed to be ready to go but.... I wasn't, Del hasn't forgiven me yet.  We drove out of my driveway at 6:03am and began the Big weekend.  As we drove we all commented that it will only seem like a second and we would be driving home again, and that is exactly what it seemed like.  We ended up at Panera/St. Louis Bread Company for dinner, with a very large group, including Wendy Johnson, Anne Hanson, Gryphon from Sanguine Gryphon, Leslie, Laura, Aimee, Dani and several others.  Then it was on to the Desert Reception.. I just realized that I totally forgot about the amazing goody bag and the cupcakes.  Really I realize I am going to leave a ton out, so how about a bunch of pictures.

  did get to hang out with Leslie and Laura of KnitGirllls video cast fame, and I might have even done a little interview with them on the Video cast and boy was I in good company.  They interviewed Sarah from Perfect Day yarns, Wendy Johnson of WendyKnits, and me.  I have known Leslie and Laura since 2008 and the Gray Ladies really love Laura, she helped them through Wendy's class way back in 2008.  They are both amazing and a whole lot more fun then should be legal.

I also got to hang out with Carin of Round the Twist.  Yes, I really am that short.   Carin was totally wonderful, in fact I don't think anyone at the Fling were anything but wonderful.  I actually got to spend quite a lot of time with her and I hope I get to do it again sometime.  

The one thing I totally regret is that I didn't get a picture of all the Stacy Shawls, wow there were a whole bunch of them in a rainbow of colors.  I thought about asking everyone to get together for a picture but just didn't get it done. Dang it.

 Lobby Knitting

Oh and there was some shopping.

I have missed so much, got to spend time with some many wonderful people and I just can't get it all in here.  Tracee, Sara, Jessica, Sarah, Lulynn, Karen, Lynn, Aimee, Dani, Tammy, Janice, Kate..... and so so so many others Thank you so much for making this such a wonderful trip.

Thought I would show you some of the AWESOME knitters I got to visit with at the Spring Fling.  Let me warn you now if you see the group of women here, you have officially met trouble.  I tell you these girls can knit anything and know how to have a great time doing it.  One of the women in the photo is a fellow dyer Sarah from Perfect Day yarns, go check her stuff out, very pretty.

This is Martha Kaye and Martha Angie. Kinda funny story.... we went to lunch Fri. and while there every time the guy would call a name to pick up their food he would say "Martha ___" in our case it was Martha Stacy, Martha Keri, Martha Kaye and Martha Angie.  Of course for the rest of the weekend we went around calling each other Martha.

Now doesn't this look super cozy!  Yes this is one of the knitting areas at The Loopy Ewe.  It was wonderful shopping there and it was more then twice the size it was last year. 

I have a lot of more pictures of my fling weekend  and I had an amazing time while in St. Louis.  I got to visit with a lot of very interesting people and really got my inspiration back.  I think I had begun to feel a little ... uninspired or maybe just tired.  While in St.Louis with all these amazing knitters I remembered why I love doing what I do.  I love to knit!!!  I love to spin, and I love to spend time with knitters who share my passion.

Now on to the Knit Out '09!!!!  Tomorrow I will be leaving for Guthrie OK the home of SWAK.  Lucky for me my Baby Sis lives in Guthrie and I will get to take Em with me and stay with her.  So although I will be super busy I will get to see my Sis and Niece at least a little.  I have a bunch of yarn in box ready for the store and since I am going to be at the Knit Out and Wendy will be there too, I really dyed all the yarn with Lacy stuff in mind.  Lots of Semi-solids in the Good Grrl base and Lacy Grrl.  I did throw in a little Glam but not a whole lot so if you are wanting Glam better get there early.   Speaking of Wendy I am going to get the honor of picking her up at the airport and unless I am mistaken it is her first trip to OK so I am going to take her to lunch and the OKC Memorial, should make it a memorable trip.

I will do my best to come home with some good pics and a lot more inspiration.  Hope I get to see some of you in Guthrie this weekend.

Oh my, can you believe it 3 in a row.  I must be on a roll, or I may be avoiding other business that needs to be taken care of.  Nah, surely not. LOL

I wanted to share the pics I took of the 2 socks that Wendy sent for me to show off at the Trunk Show. 

This is the Einkorn sock, in the Emergency colorway, which was one of the first colorways to sell out at the trunk show.  This is really a beautiful sock and I can't tell you what an honor it is to have such an accomplished designer use Tempted's Good Grrl.  

Surely you are aware that Wendy's second book "Socks from the Toe Up"  will be released next month.  She posted some pictures from the book today on her blog and WOW!  I can't wait to get mine, it is scheduled to be delivered on April 16, I will be stalking the UPS lady.

You may remember that my Gray Ladies and I took a trip to The Loopy Ewe's Spring fling last April.  It was fantastic getting to meet Wendy and even get to take her out for a drink.  Lucky for me I will get the blessing of getting to meet up with her two times this year, first at the Spring Fling '09 and then again at the SWAK Knit Out '09. 

This sock is the Sign of Spring.  Once again knit and designed by Wendy, in the Iris Good Grrl colorway.  This colorway sold out too.  I still can't believe how wonderful my knitting friends are.

Speaking of the Gray Ladies I am happy to report that Kaye is doing well after her recent knee replacement.  We have been meeting at Kaye's during her recuperation and I was able to get one picture of from left to right of Kaye, (Taylor the Doberman, Kaye's guardian)  Keri, and Del.   Aren't they all so pretty!  I love my buddies.  

Yes, Keri came for another visit and we almost have everything together for the Tempted @ 3AM yarn and bag club done.  If it hadn't been for a family emergency everything would have been mailed out this week.  Still I have no doubt that everyone will get their packages earlier then planned originally. 

Speaking of Keri coming to visit, she insisted that we have a spa day.  The sacrifices I make for my friends, seriously.  She got us scheduled for facials and massages at a wonderful Spa in Bartlesville called Fusion Massage and Spa Therapies.  We were scheduled close together but there was going to be a little down time in between so of course we took our knitting, like we wouldn't have anyway. LOL   We were greeted by Julie, a very warm and endearing woman.  She kinda looked at us funny for a minute, then quickly apologized for having to schedule us with some down time.  Keri quickly told her not to worry we would be fine, "we brought our knitting".  Julie then got a great big smile on her face and said "I knew I had seen you before"  looking straight at me.  She actually recognized me... Keri got a big laugh out of that.  Come to find out that several of the women that work there including the owner, Nancy, are knitters and have seen my yarn before.   Seriously how amazing is that??  After getting to talk about yarn, which I never get tired of, I had an incredible facial and a soothing massage, followed by a little more yarn chat.  I then I bought a massage for Bob and went back on Monday for his massage and got to sit in the waiting room and talk yarn a bit more with Julie and Nancy.  We also discussed aromatherapy, I have a lot learn about that.  We might even get a knitting group together, I love to meet other knitters, we are an amazing group of people.  Don't you think?