Stitches South

I'm here in Atlanta for Stitches South, a knitting conference. I am signed up for two classes: one on steeks and one on double knitting. I'm looking forward to learning these two (new to me) techniques. My friends Liz and Michelle are here. Steeks is this afternoon and Double Knitting is tomorrow.

The hotel is nice. It is a converted apartment complex. Our windows look out into a wooded area with a little creek running through it. It is easy to forget where you are. A hot breakfast is included in the room so we took advantage of that after the run this morning. I was amazed that nearly everyone there opted for plastic cutlery and styrofoam bowls and plates rather than the silverware and china that was out right next to it. And these people were eating in the dining room. I can understand if you want to take your meal back to your room to eat, but to sit there? Come on! Un-stinking-believable. That makes me want to scream.

Last night we went to the Market preview. There did not seem to be as many people there as last year. Sanguine Griffon's booth is usually hit first and hard. If you don't get there in the first 15 minutes, you've lost out on some of the best yarn. Her yarns are rare and popular. This year I wasn't sure I was in the right booth. There were only three people in it. I picked up a really pretty color in the Irregular bin (at 50% off!) for Angela, as she is watching the cats this weekend, next weekend, and for a week in May. I looked at the yarn made from recycled jeans and I am in debate on getting some. It's a little pricey, but it is nice and I know exactly what I'd make with it. However, I'm going to stew on that for a while.

I also bought a small handmade project bag. I really liked the design of the bag as well as the fabric. The vendor is a mother-daughter team. The daughter had her iPhone with a credit card swipe attached. She ran my card, I signed the phone, and she emailed me the receipt. Incredible! If I ever go to a show to sell my inventory off I think that is something I would pursue. The company is paypro.com I think she said.

I ran into Sarah Peasley at the market last night. I had to thank her for teaching me Cut and Paste last year. I have used that technique several times with incredible results and I am very appreciative. That knowledge won me accolades from customers who didn't have to rip out a whole project and reknit it. Awesome!

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Here are a few things I forgot to blog. Wednesday was the last day in the shop. I turned in the keys late Wednesday afternoon. It was weird. Dale said we did a great job with the place and he was very happy to have us as tenants. He is holding on to the security deposit for the moment. He's working on getting estimates to fix the floor where there is a little mold from the dog's bowl. Michelle mentioned that Hal can lay flooring and he is willing to do so (if that's OK with Dale, and if Dale has the material). Hal wants to get in there and take a look at the section. I'll try to do that Monday evening if it works for all of us. It would be great to do it that way.

Am I sad about the shop closing? Yes and no. I am a little sad because it was something I put a lot into. I enjoyed what I did and I feel like I accomplished a lot. On the other hand, I was starting to get tired of doing it all and I feel like I lost the enjoyment I got from knitting. I hope that will come back soon. I've got too much yarn in my stash now to give up knitting and crocheting. I am not worried about not being busy, as I have more than enough to keep me going for a while. It won't be stuff I enjoy, but it is stuff that needs to be done. If I wasn't so crazy about recycling, I'd rent a dumpster for two weeks and just chuck half the house into it! But no, I will take my time and carefully go through it all.