Stitches West 2007

I know, I know - you are falling out of your chair right about now because this post actually is about knitting. Finally, huh?!?

Fact #1: A convention center chock full of yarn, needles, and related fiber arts paraphernalia = knitting nirvana.

Fact #2: Even a die-hard knitter gets tired after walking 250+ booths looking at skein after skein of handpainted yarn.

Fact #3. Die-hard knitter's husband who also walked 250+ booths without complaining even a little bit deserves a medal.

We had a great time at the convention (and in nearby Monterey), and are already making plans to go back next year. I managed to buy smartly (if a bit indulgently) and to stay (mostly) within the budget I set before I went. The goodies I bought included:

1. A gorgeous limited edition run of handpainted thick & thin spun wool/mohair in shades of purple and red from Brooks Farm. I would have walked out of there having chosen an "earthy" colorway, had two women buying more yarn than I can knit in several years not talked me into the brighter shade. They were right. I could have spent hours and a boatload of cash in this booth - there were so many beautiful yarns. Judging from the way the booth looked when we left for the day, some people did.
2. Handpainted tencel and handspun silk to weave into a scarf. Definitely a luxury item purchase (when will I wear a scarf in Arizona?), but the colors were so beautiful I couldn't pass it up.
3. Handturned rosewood knitting needles from Crown Mountain Farms - these beautiful needles feel as smooth as silk in your hands.
4. A Mama Bear tabletop swift. I've been wanting one of these for the longest time, but just hadn't convinced myself to buy one. My husband made the executive decision that he would rather shell out for the swift AND lug it home on the plane back to Arizona than be the makeshift "swift" for one more project. Problem solved.

Last, but not least, a funny little tidbit from the show .... Because of the disproportionate number of women to men attending, the event coordinators converted nearly every men's bathroom in the convention center into a ladies bathroom to handle the crowd. Which meant my hubby was SOL. It's a good thing he loves me.