Well Nell e-mailed me and asked how I was recovering. So I thought I would let you all know. I still hurt some. It gets more annoying after lunch. I still have not returned to work, but I probably will go back Thursday.
This break has made me realize some of the freedom that I had teaching. I am definitely going to start taking steps to return. I am more passionate about helping people than engineering. Oh well. Whether or not this means moving back to the Midwest, I do not know. We will have to wait and see.
Okay, time to finish up Stitches even though it has been a month. Bad Mary. On Saturday, I took a day full of fair isle classes. Actually it was two classes. One was more about fair isle information and how to knit it. The afternoon class was about finishing. We even did tiny steeks. We did not use a sewing machine, but used a crochet method. I do not think I would do the method justice if I explained it here. Saturday more shopping ensued. Did I mention that all except one pattern that I purchased was lace? Saturday night was the student fashion show. To get the client to model, I had to model. Well I had finished the Vermont Fibers Trend Pattern for the Fir Cone Shell. I had several compliments on it before going up to walk the runway. The client had a Flirty Ruffles shawl and and knitted top with matching knitted skirt to model. She looked great and received several compliments too. The crowning achievement of the night was that I had to go up and pick up a bag for my table. Everyone received presents and the present you received depend on the location that you sat with respect to the person with the bag. Client received Brown Sheep shampoo. She almost fired me, because I received the new XRX Jackets book. The book is awesome and I am considering my options for which pattern to knit. Dinner was awful. They served pasta primervra and the noodles would not twirl. Of course client was not pleased. I guess that is the problem of being taught to cook Italian by a mother-in-law who only spoke Italian.
On Sunday, the client and I both had an all-day Gansey class with Beth Brown-Reislen. We each had our book signed. I did not finsih my baby Gansey but Caroline of course did finish. Carol N. was also in our class and we had fun. A little more shopping occurred but not as bad as the previous days. Sunday night we discussed designing the lace shawl and ate pizza.
Overall, I enjoyed myself. I was able to pet and look at several yarns that I have not seen in LYS in KS, MO, TN, or NC. How much did I spend? Not sure. Do I care? No. Did I have fun? Yes.
Next year will be a Lace conference in April. (
www.milehighlaceknitting.com) and Stitches East. Both with the client. Camp Stitches will depend on finances and instructors. I will try to update you all more often.
