We have reached the Summit

Wow, just wow. This really is an experience of a lifetime. There is so much to relay.

Wednesday morning Susan & I started the day walking about 3 miles in search of Voodoo Donuts, which was only about a mile from where we were. Unfortunately we started walking the first mile in the wrong direction. Thankfully the weather here is beautiful, and after the long drive it was really nice to walk around.

After our second mile, we decided to check out the convention center. St-1 & St-2 were buzzing around, we introduced ourselves & Stephanie Pearl-McPhee showed us into the Market.

Once we made it to Voodoo Donuts we met up with Wendy and had a fab lunch, not at Voodoo Donuts. After lunch Wendy dropped us off at the convention center so we could set up the booth. The booth went up so fast, it helped that there were 4 wonderful volunteers. A little later I met Cat Bordhi and Silvia Sterling in the Sock Museum.

Then Wednesday evening Susan, Sue and I went to the Lantern Moon dinner. Regina was supposed to join us, but was still laid over in Salt Lake City. Thankfully she got a flight first thing the next morning & made it here safely. The Lantern Moon dinner was wonderful, there was great music, we met vendors from all over & I met Jess, Casey & Mary-Heather. The bus ride home (I always call the hotel I’m staying at home when I’m out of town) was hilarious. A bunch of knitters on a yellow school bus, reminded us all of school.

Sue, Suzanne & I had class with Barbara Walker Thursday morning. It was an honor to be there & I learned to do mosaic knitting. I also relayed everyone's messages to her. She has an excellent eye for detail, and is a very patient instructor. One quick glance at our work & she could tell us whether it was right or wrong.

After class I went back to the booth, and the other vendors ribbed me for being set up already. I'm telling you, our team was wicked fast. I sat & spun, waiting until the market opened. Once it did, we were swamped. It was such a wonderful feeling seeing the knitters so excited about our Dye For Glory colors. Beer O'Clock almost sold out that first evening. We only have one left now.

When market closed we went to the Opening Reception. Tina & Stephanie gave an incredibly moving speech. It was amazing hearing all the trials they went through to bring us Sock Summit. Every step of the way businesses tried to tell them they didn't need to do as much as they were doing. They upgraded the size of the convention center three times! And each time they were treated as though they were nuts. Whether it was ordering fliers, making reservations, getting a server, or getting cake for EZ's birthday celebration.

They told us how thirty thousand people hit the website the moment the classes opened, causing the server to crash. They have a code amongst themselves, nobody goes down alone. When ever a decision is made, there are always two people present. That way no one person is ever to blame if something goes wrong. They shared that they believed they could do an event that valued the person and didn't have to compromise their morals. I love them for that. As a vendor I have noticed & appreciated everything they have done to honor us. It is invaluable having someone behind the scenes who has been there & done that. Knowing the ways in which she wished to be treated at past events and making it so here.

Friday morning I had class with Cat Bordhi, she gave us the tools to engineer new stitches. I created two new techniques while in class. There were a few really great moments during class. The best was when she noticed Back Mountain Studio's ABC stitch markers. She was really impressed with them, and said she had never seen any so pretty.

After class I went back to the booth and it was one great experience after another. I met a bunch of the people I know on Twitter. Had some teachers buy my yarn. Helped calm down overwhelmed knitters. Served people Beer O'Clock. My favorite moments were when knitters came up to the booth with a shout of glee, saying that they had been looking for me and needed something in my booth. So cool!

After the market Susan, Sue, Regina & I went into downtown and had Chinese food. Now we are back at the hotel resting and preparing to start all over tomorrow. Really looking forward to the Ravelry meet-up tomorrow evening.

Sock Summit Or Bust

Tomorrow we leave for the Sock Summit, a 753.11 miles and 12 hours 3 minutes journey. In preparation for this trip I have knit socks.















Starting clockwise from the top we have aran weight superfine alpaca & merino, fingering weight silk & superwash merino knit & designed by Sue, sport weight yak & merino, dk weight corriedale, sport weight cashmere/superwash merino/nylon knit & designed by Regina, sport weight soybean & alpaca, fingering weight cashmere/superwash merino/nylon, fingering weight sea cell & superwash merino, and fingering weight camel & silk. All others were knit by me. The socks designed by Sue, Regina and the sea cell & silk one designed by me are all part of our Head Over Heels sock club. Sock Club memberships will be available at the Sock Summit. When you purchase your membership, you will get the two patterns that are already out to our current members and the advanced released kit that will get shipped out in September. Current members can also pick up their kit.

We will have lots of wonderful knit & crocheted samples. Amazing patterns by designers from all over the Central Valley.

The spectacular buttons by Victoria:






















































Fantastic stitch markers from Susan:























And of course the wonderful & amazing yarn by Anzula:















See you at the Summit!

Knitting Dyeing & Massaging Oh My!

This has been quite a week. I have put off knitting on Beatrice, yup we have a name congratulations Ikkinlala!, to create a bunch of sock samples for Sock Summit. In the last 8 days I have knit 5 socks in my spare time: sea cell & merino, superfine alpaca & merino, corriedale, camel & silk, soybean & alpaca.

I have also dyed a few hundred skeins for Sock Summit. Including our submitions for Dye for Glory. I am super proud of the entries, they came out so beautifully.

Ode to the sock was inspired by the colors in the Sock Summit logo, and I don't believe it could have come out more perfectly.

The people putting on the Sock Summit have put their heart and souls into this event and I am so proud to be a part of it.

My next submission is in honor of all of the knitting beer drinkers, and especially Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Some days beer o'clock just can't come fast enough!


My final submission is in honor of the pursuit of the true red. 1 red shoe is named after my friend Becky's little red Miata. A true red is quite difficult to create, and I am happy to announce I have done it. If you think red is hard to dye, it is even harder to photograph. You will have to come out to the Sock Summit to see just how fab this red really is.

In between all of the dyeing and knitting I also need to pay attention to my other business. I saw more massage clients this week than I have in a long time. I guess when it rains it pours. I am so lucky to have two wonderful businesses that I absolutely love doing. I think the best part of my massage side of life is helping people function better. The majority of people that see me have chronic headaches, numbness issues, or loss of strength. It is incredibly rewarding to watch their symptoms slowly vanish.

Have a wonderful weekend!

eta: Oh & I forgot to mention, Go Vote!

http://www.ravelry.com/socksummit

There are over 200 wonderful submittions. You can find the Anzula submissions in the Kettled, Dipped and Random Stripes categories.

Sale Sale Sale!!!

all yarn in our sale yarn category on hyena cart is 20 percent off. we are clearing it out do to being discontinued. use the discount code 4 sale at checkout. we have 41 skeins currently on the site, and another 41 skeins will be going up soon. happy knitting

Jolene

I have had this song stuck in my head for a few days now and decided to share it with you. Here are a few of the renditions I found on http://www.last.fm/

Enjoy!











And not the same song, but still a good one.

Say My Name

The Anzula superwash merino/cashmere/nylon sweater is almost complete & it needs a name. So we are going to have a little competition. Who ever comes up with the best name for this sweater will win a skein of Anzula yarn. To participate please leave your name idea in the comments below. Only names left in the comments will be considered.

So... What's my name?

Sock Hop

Tomorrow is the Fresno Sock Hop. All three of our shops have come together it bring us really wonder sock yarn & events. Lots of local talent will be at each shop. Anzula sock yarn will be available at Ancient Pathways & Janna's. You will be able to check out our traditional wool, silk & superwash merino, silk & camel, superwash merino & nylon, bamboo, and superwash merino cashmere & nylon sock yarns.

Here are the deets:

Summer Sock Hop 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009

Because the projects you make with sock yarns tend to be small enough to stay clear of your lap, they are comfortable to knit with during these warm summer days.

Ancient Pathways, Janna’s Needle Art and Swatches are all participating in Sock Hop, another three-shop tour of Fresno. Each will feature different classes and or demonstrations
featuring sock yarn.

Plan to make the rounds; addresses, hours and other details provided below.

Janna’s Needle Art – 5091 N. Fresno St. (NW corner of Fresno and Shaw)
559-227-6333
Open Tuesday through Friday 9:30-5:30, Saturday 9:30-3:00
We feature sock yarns from Noro, Opal, Berocco, Crystal Palace, and locally dyed skeins from French 75 and Barking Dog Yarns.
Janna is not a dedicated sock knitter, so she will be demonstrating the short row technique used in the Mini Mochi Multi Directional Scarf. This great looking scarf works in any yarn, but looks and feels extra nice in lightweight sock yarns, especially self-stripers. You will also find sock needles, sock needle holders, and a fine selection of sock patterns. 10% discount on sock yarns all day Sock Hop day, demonstrations from 12:00 – 3:00. We look forward to seeing you!

Ancient Pathways – 1294 N. Wishon Ave – 559-264-1874
Open Tuesday 11:00am to 8:00pm and Wednesday through Saturday 11:00am to 5:30pm
ancientpathways@sbcglobal.net
www.ancientpathwaysyarnandfiber.blogspot.com
I stock sock yarns from two local dyers, French 75 and Anzula as well as yarns from Crystal Palace, Knit One Crochet Too, Cascade and Universal Yarns.
Meg and her volunteers will be demonstrating how to add beads to your socks and anything else using sock weight yarn. There are some lovely sock patterns already written to include beads and we will be discussing how to add them to any other project. Beads from Bead Artistry will be available for purchase. Pre-stringing and using a crochet hook will be covered.
Demonstrations will be ongoing between 11:00am to 3:00pm
10% off all sock yarns all day on Sock Hop Day

SWATCHES – 3204 N Van Ness Blvd @ Shields 559-230-2813
Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday 11- 5:30; Sunday 11 – 4
Sock Hop at Swatches includes:
Sock knitting classes and demos thru out the day.
Dr Sox will be here to help those stuck on their sock projects.
A Trunk Show featuring
TRUE LOVE FIBER hand dyed locally by Angela Johnson
LAVA Designs sock patterns by Lisa Van de Water
& baby items knit from sock yarns.
You will find us fully stocked with sock needles, patterns, and the following yarns:
Cascade, Berroco, Malabrigo, Noro, OPAL,
K1-C2 Tye Dye, and Rio de la Plata sock yarns at SWATCHES.
A 10% discount is offered on sock yarns in stock.
And of course, refreshments will be served.

THANKS TO MEG OF ANCIENT PATHWAYS FOR SUGGESTING THIS FUN EVENT!

See ya there!