January 29, 2007
Madrona!
There’s no other way to say it except, from the moment we got there, Madrona opened up a big ol’ can of...perfect. The extent of our highly sophisticated, highly tactical plan was to get ourselves from Seattle to Tacoma...and then let the winds of fate have their way. Fortunately, the winds were feeling benevolent. We ran into all the people we were hoping to run into, the usual mischievous troublemakers, including various and sundry Feralites; lovely lurkers, readers and Dulaaners we had never met before (Hi, Cynthia! Hi, Kris and anyone else we met!); and a most charming, almost Norman-Rockwellian young couple, the affianced Erica and David. Their story:
We spent the bulk of Saturday sitting in a large area spinning and knitting with the twins and various and sundry other passersby. Erica was sucked into our group, like a moth into a flame, by her fascination with the spinning. We quickly learned that (a) their presence there was the result of an utterly spontaneous decision to make the five- or six-hour schlep over from Spokane so Erica could meet Stephanie (a trip which makes complete sense to the Stephanie-smitten, if not to poor David); (b) Erica was wearing a pair of my Dublin Bay socks (the first time I’ve met, in person, someone wearing one of my patterns. I was surprised by my over-the-top reaction, which involved goose bumps) (c) David, an engineering major and woodworking hobbyist, is making her a spinning wheel and (d) that morning, at a Seattle wood store, David had bought ebony to make her some ebony knitting needles. I think we all fell a little bit in love with those two.
The winds of fate also decreed that there would be shopping. But only by TMK. See?
And see?
The top photo shows a dark-brown alpaca to go with a brownish slate-gray llama TMK has already spun; an amazing caramel-colored merino-tencel blend; and a white merino-yak blend which is so soft you can’t tell you’re touching it even when you have a death-grip on it. The bottom photo shows a Rooster Rock roving from Blue Moon which, the truth be told, I bought for TMK. But I didn’t buy anything else, Scout’s honor.
Except this:
And this:
Oh, and these:
And did I mention this?
The benevolent winds of fate also decreed that we would sit at a dinner table with, again, the usual mischievous troublemakers, plus, wonderfully, her, her, her and her. Those in the know about TMK’s eating likes and dislikes were thoroughly amused when TMK handed me her plate for me to make sure the sauce on her salmon contained no mayonnaise. I tasted it and declared it cheese sauce but I don’t think she quite believed me until a loud chorus of “IT’S CHEESE SAUCE!” came from the rest of the table. (Side note: The dinner was scrumptious. A mega-thumbs up to the Sheraton. I’m not big on either salmon or carrot cake but there was nary a crumb left of either when I was done.) Our speaker for the banquet was Anita Luvera Mayer, whose talk about “Honoring Women’s Traditions” was funny, inspiring, self-effacing, honest, bold and unifying. Yep, another can a’ perfect.
And how did the heretofore antisocial TMK survive the Madrona madness? Sunday evening she carefully filed away the information about next year’s event. You do the math.
P.S. Pop on over here to see a poem local knitter Marti wrote about Madrona.
And now the question on everyone’s mind: Is “Sam,” who commented on Friday’s post, the person I was referring to who had lunch with me and then disappeared? Was I "caught?" Was I wrong? Did I misinterpret her silence? You betcha. You can imagine my surprise when I found her comments! In her defense, Sam has been busy for the last few months working very hard on an important and complicated UFO. Also in her defense, Sam hasn’t been commenting on anyone’s blog, let alone mine, and hasn't posted on her own blog for a year, and the whole thing was just a coincidence and I just need to get over my own sweet self and stop sniffing my armpits to see if maybe it was my deodorant. Hi, Sam. Declan is beautiful. You do good work.
I have that merino yak, mine was grey but just as soft. It felt like spinning fog. I have used some but I'm keeping most of it for something special for me.
Posted by: Caroline M on January 29, 2007 12:14 PMOooooohhhh Blue Moon fiber!! I made myself a promise that if I finish the Lorna's Laces I have languishing in my stash, I will order STR as a prize for myself. "Finish" being the operative word....Speaking of which...I've glanced about the blog but I can't find a pic of your completed Faina. Point me in the right direction, aye? Now that I'm back in Faina's graces and finally *this* close to half done, I'd love to see yours!! :)
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on January 29, 2007 12:47 PMVery nice! What's the sock yarn in the last picture?
Posted by: stariel on January 29, 2007 12:58 PMStariel: I believe the last photo is of some really bright, fun Koigu (sp?). The picture doesn't do it justice. Ryan and I both fell in love with the combination. The yellow is actually a very sunny, bright goldenrod. TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on January 29, 2007 01:01 PMHi Ryan and TMK. I have nothing whatsoever to say except that it was very nice to meet you properly over the weekend.
Posted by: Sarah on January 29, 2007 01:22 PMI got to go Friday for all of 2 hours! I had never seen Socks That Rock in person before and I was overcome by the fumes and my credit card fell out of my purse, and, well, you know.
I had to click on the link, that was so not what I thought you meant by "the twins".
Posted by: Patti on January 29, 2007 02:14 PMDoes this mean I'm forgiven?? If so, I'm glad. :)
And I'll be around now pestering (or commenting, whichever you'd prefer) more. My brain is slowly starting to resume function, which is a very good thing indeed.
I got some of the same fibers...they were irresistable. Even the hubby's wallet thought so!
Posted by: Sam on January 29, 2007 02:59 PMI'm so glad that I got a chance to meet you.
Posted by: Kris on January 29, 2007 03:42 PMGoodness, a whole story about me-I feel so special:) I read it to David and he is shaking his head...He actually started working on the needles today and is having technical difficulties with the equipment but I think he has got it all figured out. Spoiled me. Oh, and tell TMK that I also refuse to eat anything that has been in the same room as mayonnaise-gross!
Posted by: EricaLynn on January 29, 2007 05:04 PMWahhhh!!!! I had to choose to go to Portland for the Dog Show or Madrona. I chose the dog show, sniff, and got the damn flu for my efforts. Next year it's Madrona. As much as I love my Corgis, they have gotta get their fix when it does *not* go up against a Knitting Retreat.
So, where's the next NorthWest retreat? Your house, right?
Anna M
princessofpink.typepad.com
Your post made me laugh numerous times. Thank you, and thanks also for the lovely photos of the yarn you purchased. It was a bummer of a Monday, (one sick child, one tired and overworked hubby arriving home late) but your post really brightened my day.
Posted by: Lydia on January 29, 2007 06:15 PMHi there! I was hoping to see you at Madrona, and for some strange reason, I didn't until the very end. You were surrounded by a zillion people and very involved in a conversation, so I didn't get to say hi. So I'll say it now. Hi!
Madrona was fabulous. I'm glad you had a good time, too.
Posted by: LauraA on January 30, 2007 06:38 AMGreat fun at Madrona! You two are such a hoot to hang out with, and it was so fun to watch the people you collected/drew/called-out-to. Now I know what it's like to have a popular blog! And thanks for the 'twins' mention and link. You're sweet!
Peggy
i feel honored that you linked my poem. seriously, it was so much fun to see and spend time with both of you.
Posted by: marti on January 30, 2007 09:06 AMMan, that Scout's not very honorable, is she... ;-)
Good job :-)
Posted by: Lee Ann on January 30, 2007 10:00 AMIt was great meeting you and TMK on Saturday. As a Canadian, I struggled with whether I should introduce myself. We tend not to bother celebrities. Glad I did.
Had I known it was important, I would have told you that was wearing my Dublin Bay socks the day before. Great pattern, fun to knit.
Thanks for coordinating Dulaan.
Catherine from Alberta
Posted by: Catherine on January 30, 2007 02:17 PMwhoohoo! we fnally get to meet :-)
Posted by: vanessa on January 30, 2007 05:05 PMIt was a big ol' can of perfect, wasn't it?
From dinner to the lobby to the market (I'll buy any colours I like, thank you very much) to TMK offering to show me the laptop fix (I'm back home, Joe fixed it with ImageReady, if it makes her feel better.) and the only thing I regret, the only thing, is the human need for sleep and restoration and what a waste of time it is when you know you have better things you could be doing.
It was fantastic to spend time with you two. Fantastic.
Posted by: Stephanie on January 30, 2007 06:57 PMOH! I just heard you probably met Shelia, one of my bestest friends through KR. *sigh. I wanna go next yr.
Posted by: anj on January 31, 2007 09:49 AMHi Ryan and TMK! I'm delurking to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you both at Madrona. It was a wonderful weekend, indeed, and yes, some lovely fibers/yarns followed me home, too. I had to fill that incredible knitting bag I won, after all. :)
Posted by: Cynthia (Cindy) on January 31, 2007 04:58 PMSo I wasn't gone nearly as long as Sam was and we never even got to have lunch yet so there's hope I can get back in your good graces? Hehe
Now I have an absolute butt load of posts of yours to catch up on if you'll excuse me.
The yarn is lovely. Also, drool is bad for the keyboard.
Missed ya.
Posted by: Stalker Angie on January 31, 2007 08:58 PMIt was lovely meeting both of you at lunch Saturday!
I'm really hoping that this doesn't post twice (or god forbid more than that). I've tried several times (waiting the requisite time between attempts) and it doesn't seem to be posting. The comments page seems to be eating my comment without posting it. But I'm not taking it personally, well much anyway...
Posted by: Denise on February 1, 2007 07:57 PMI'm suffering from severe yarn envy. I need a yarn source nearer to me...
Posted by: Kim in Turkland on February 1, 2007 11:14 PM