Weren't those amazing discounts? It was as if the vendors were giving it away. It's so helpful in this economy too, when making your own handknits or spinning your own yarn saves you so much money. (Hmm. Why can I can see all the knitters/spinners convulsing with laughter and everyone else who don't buy yarn, knitting needles, looms or spinning wheels nodding sagely?)
The knitting appetite was whetted by the colorway Michelle (Pfeiffer in Tequila Sunrise by Dizzy Blonde Yarn by La, a thoughtful lovely roommie gift from the (in)famous La. Yeah, and not just a skein of her hand dyed yarn. She also gave me a goodie bag with wine charms, darling chocolate lambs (who may or may not have made it home) and more, not to mention the inroom eats she brought - sheep cheese (which amuses me greatly to say because I am a dork), grapes and crackers and possibly some Margaritas.
I didn't even remember to bring toothpaste and shampoo much less thoughtful gifts.
Fickleknitter, the other roommie, FORCED me to buy this. I wanted to save my money for the coming Apocalypse but......you gotta buy what you gotta buy. When you check out her blog, check out her patterns. Castigation caused quite a stir - it's a gorgeous shawl and she needs to write it up the pattern. She's wearing her Crop Circles shawl. 
We took a break between the crush of the Market and classes and had lunch w/JazzDiva. I managed to not have ANY dpn's on me after switching purses so five minutes before my class w/Ann McCauley started, I was braving the crowds at the vendors booths for dpns (and scored some nice Lantern Moons). Her sweaters are just beautiful.
At the Student Banquet Saturday night, I sat next to Debbie New. Did I realize this when I sat down? Noooo. I asked her politely if she made her Tiffany style calf length vest (it did look familiar but c'mon.) Thankfully when I realized she was The Teacher At the Table, I immediately knew who she was. (The link will take you to Laci's in Berkeley for a slideshow exhibit of some of her definitely outside the box knitting. Just amazing.)
The slideshow at the Banquet was a good idea to display all the socks entered into the contest, but honestly I couldn't see the details at all. The student fashion show was much more fun to watch. There were socks, scarves, a sock scarf, an incredible knit lace tablecloth, of course sweaters, a gansey, a top down EZ Percentage system raglan modeled by the husband and recipient. Katherine of Aragon by Jade Starmore. One woman knit a sweater w Tragedy and Comedy masks that Rick Mondragon asked if it was a Perry Ellis design. SKIRTS (this amazes me for some reason). That is my sole picture of the banquet, it's all the teachers up on stage. It turns out while my iPhone takes pretty good pictures outside and close up, it's not so good at long distance and indoors.
After Saturday's crowds, I was amazed that there was anything left on Sunday but a copy of Handknitting With Meg Swanson was still at....The Yarn Barn of Kansas? Village Spinning & Weaving? both vendors that had a knee deep line all day). I also scored Colette from White Lies Designs and I got it signed! The Wagtail yarn might be destined for Colette, or maybe a shawl. AFTER I finish knitting Mary Tudor So I'll start it roughly June 2013. (Oh please no. I don't want her to go another year).
And to top off all that good stuff, there was a nice little package of yarn in the mail for me from a certain Brigitte, along with two Law & Order books and my new favorite coffee mug (pictured: old and new)
I've been swamped at work, and now that I've gone and played for the weekend, it's even worse. Who knew?
Hez, just happy to see me. "I cannot even LOOK at you!" I thought surrounding her w/Wagtail yarn in Mulberry would cheer her up but nooooo.
