Catching up (part 2) -- loopy yarns and the K-W Knitters' Guild

Jillian and I are getting ready for Austin -- we leave tomorrow at an ungodly hour -- but I wanted to leave you all caught up. Because I have pictures burning a hole in my Flickr and that can hurt.


So...when last we left our unintrepid [sporadically intrepid?] author, she had to physically lift her chin off the pavement outside The Fold. The next day, a signing at Chicago's Loopy Yarns!

This store is right in the Loop proper, and conveniently located seconds off one of the highways [94, I think]. Chicago is a confusing city to drive, but this was a piece of cake!

Look, they were expecting me! I love the sheep:




This shop was a great choice for a No Sheep event...these guys totally love all fibers, sheepy and non, and go out of their way to mark their yarn bins with labels so people know what's inside before they reach in! Look:






wait...what's that?

Damn straight I bought the skein. How could I not?

Meet the facilitator of the evening's event, Kristen (on the left) and the shop's owner, Vicki (right, wearing one of my favorite sweaters ever -- that gorgeous pink cabled thing from Knitter's Magazine a few years back...and does it ever look more beautiful in blue Manos? Yes, it does.)


Kristen is adorable, but my two photos of her are less than. I'm sorry, Kristen. I failed you.


At least you look happy in the Sweet Indulgence!


They were ready for the onslaught! And here it comes!




Oy! Such a beautiful Mermaid. I wept aloud. Hi, Linda! I found you!


Look at this gorgeous Kyoto from miss luscious luka!

Kris brought me a really cool t-shirt -- see her blog for pics. I'm proud to have joined your Knit-On movement!






And then some sweet surprises:

Meet Nancy's travel knitting. Dear lord.


Meet Nancy! Nancy does a lot of things, including reading physics texts for fun [what is UP with that?], and here is evidence of my favorite thing she does:


Yes, that is my new Sheepy. Sheepy is a wee handmade glass bead, with devilish eyes and a dopey face. Sheepy is going with me everywhere lately, including on the tee-vee [did you spot that, Nancy? also notice my mad wire-bending skillz].


This is our model for the evening, Cyd:


Cyd and Nancy [I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried] are best buds and co-enablers.



Sorry again for the crap pictures -- but these guys are cute enough to overcome my lack of photography skills.

What does Cyd do for fun? She pours metal.


No, really.


Recognize the bag? It's from the Knitty shop. But did you know whose hand that is in that loteria card?


Yes, it's Hub's hand [my Hub!] and here he is, signing his first autograph ever. With the same hand, even!

Here are my favorite photographers of the evening:



These adorable girls are knitters, too. Way cool.


Cozy!


Look -- what a clever use for a photo bag. Put swatches in instead!


This is Zoe, killer photog, wearing a sweater designed by another Zoe. Small woild.


A gorgeous scarf on a gorgeous knitter. Of course, the scarf was knit in merino, so I could only look longingly.


Kristen baked cupcakes. That's how I knew I was in the right place.

Loopy Yarns is a fabulous store and I can't wait to go back. It's full of great, enthusiastic knitters and a killer selection of yarns and accessories. Thanks for having me!

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Last Tuesday night, I got to speak at the K-W Knitters' Guild for the 2nd time. My first appearance there in 2004 was my first appearance in front of any group, and they were welcoming and kind, so I was excited to go back.



A full house once again.

We talked with the aid of technology [my laptop and my neato Keynote presentation] until all of a sudden, technology failed me:

What's that red light mean? Low Battery. In other words, big-mouthed me had to speak loud enough to be heard by all those people. I couldn't do it, so we adjourned for a short break where I signed books and talked to the lovely KW knitters. The exec found us a battery and soon we were back in business! I took few pictures because I was working and had no Hub to act as photographer this time -- but it was a good, busy night, and we got to talk all sorts of sheeplessness. And this time, the presence of Debbie New and Sally Melville in the audience [this is their guild, after all!] didn't derail me. I just tried to keep my head and do well in front of two of my knitting idols.

One thing you must see: a gift from Lynne, she of the faultless KW directions:

My very own No Sheep for You customized tape measure. The outside is knit from cotton and sewn to the sheepy tape measure. Lynne, you are cool beyond words.

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Man, that was a mouthful. I've now got to get ready for the No Sheep class[es?] I'm giving in Austin. Jillian is doing likewise for the Knit to Fit class. I have freshly pedi'd toes and a pile of new t-shirts for the 80+F weather we've been told to expect. I hear the classes are all full, but they may be adding a 2nd No Sheep class to accommodate those who were interested, so it looks like a busy weekend!

Have fun at LK tonight for me, guys. I'll be busy packing!