I could have sworn it was heaven. (LAP* - or Long Ass Post, ahead)
So much has happened this past weekend that my mind is a blur! TNNA was so much fun and now I'm extremely impatient for the fall and it's promise of beautiful yarns and designs.
It's such a funny feeling to be in a place where all of your Favorite Designers, the people you want to be when you grow up, are All in the Same Room. Everywhere I looked... I would see someone and try my best to hold back the "OMG. I love you and your patterns and OMG OMG OMG everything about you!" teenager inside of me. Of course, I let a few gushes fly when I saw Norah Gaughan. (How can you not??) And had the great fortune of bumping into Kate Gilbert at least a half dozen times.... I was like a kid in a Wonderful Knitty Wonderland.
I was a bystander to the Yarn Harlot's magical mystical Dry Ice Spectacle in the hotel lobby. (If you scroll down to see her pictures I'm actually IN one trying to get a good shot of the Dry Ice homage myself!) It's like where's Waldo! ;-)
Patricia and I also had the grand pleasure of meeting the Ravelry Trio - Jess, Casey and Mary Heather. (Yes they are that Tall and I am not standing in a ditch. Or maybe I'm that Short?) You've heard it before and I'll say it again: They are all wonderful and warm people! I am so excited for them and so grateful for all that they do to inspire and help the fiber arts community!! You guys Rock! The fact that I'm sure there were well over 300 people who wanted to say HI! and take their picture with them and all the while they were gracious with each and everyone of us is truly a testament to how awesome they are!! Speaking of wonderful... Beth and Peter from Lorna's Laces, and Taiu and Rhichard from Koigu are the NICEST people ever. To know that these two wonderful yarn companies are being lead by such caring and just down to earth people is amazing. I will never hesitate to increase my stash with those two beautiful yarns (as if I did That before!! ;-)).
I also cannot forget to shout out the Philly People!! Craig, Mark and Laura, the creative minds behind Loop and Spool... hi hi hi hi!
You can see here that Laura thinks I'm Crazy. Why yes I am. ;-) Above us is Mark and Craig! Thanks for the fabulous weekend! It was so nice to really talk to another LYS and see how they do things vs. how we do things and share ideas and inspiration. Craig seemed to know Everyone! I think he should be awarded Class Best Friend at TNNA!
One other MAJOR highlight and I'm so pisssssed I don't have a picture is meeting Cathi from In the PINK!!! Cathi, I was so so happy to meet you!! Getting to meet the people behind the blogs is so fun. We didn't have to go through the whole intro-conversation, we went straight to the, "how's your family and life!" She was totally holding it down at the TNNA in the Alchemy booth.
Needle Arts is such a wonderful industry. It's a BUSINESS and not just people getting together to SnB. To think you can make money (dare I say a Living) doing what you love is so in tune to my morals of doing work. And realizing that a lot of these beautiful yarns and designers are small businesses and that feedback whether positive or negative can be very influential. It reminds me to mind what I say - to give good and beneficial criticism and to absolutely neutralize any Negativity that's thrown anyone's way. These people aren't Wal-Marts or Targets who can bounce back if people make a stink about this or that. They depend on Us. (ok enough of that soap box talk)
Lastly, but most importantly, I need to thank Patricia (seen above with Rhichard from Koigu) for being so wonderful and giving me this opportunity to help her business and to just be a part of a weekend I will remember for the rest of my life! I would not have been able to go or get back to NJ without her! (Literally... yours truly, dropped her wallet in the taxi on the way over. I'm brilliant! Trish was In control, getting me through security in one piece - although frisked!) I kept calling her my superhero and I her sidekick. Watch out knitty world here we come!
That whole knitting mojo lost?? HAH! It's Back baby!
wow. that is one amazing experience! you are lucky!!!! you'll have to show us all the loot!
Posted by: stacey | June 10, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Yay- pictues! Well I must say I envy the fun you had, but thanks for taking me along in spirit. ;) How freaking fabulous!! xo-s.
Posted by: Nonnahs | June 10, 2008 at 02:18 PM
it's like you got to meet movie stars! I think Jess and Casey should get the Nobel Prize for changing the world of craft.
Posted by: Denise | June 10, 2008 at 03:40 PM
whoo! looks like a super fun weekend! maybe i should try to go next year!
Posted by: mai | June 10, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Girl... I knew you were gonna post those pix- now you definitely owe me a trip to Philly! Thanks for making the weekend even more fun!
Posted by: Laura | June 10, 2008 at 07:11 PM
it was so nice to meet you and patricia!
Posted by: irene | June 11, 2008 at 01:50 PM
so fabulous! lucky you!
Posted by: lolly | June 12, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Wow, you had quite a time! Looks like so much fun!!
Posted by: Heather | June 13, 2008 at 02:21 PM
So jealous that you had so much fun and got to go. But I'll be nice and be glad for you. :)
Posted by: tiennie | June 14, 2008 at 07:40 PM
When I grow up, can I be you?
Posted by: nova | June 16, 2008 at 11:12 AM
It was such a highlight for *me* to meet *you*- I was so glad to see your smiling face and cheery personality. I'm glad that you had so much fun and hope that you'll be able to go in the future (hopefully I'll be able to go in the future as well!).
xo
Posted by: Cathi | June 23, 2008 at 01:35 PM