Stitches Midwest was this past weekend here in Chicagoland. My last two years at Stitches have been “full on fiber” excursions for me – this year was different. Within the last month I received an email from the Debbie Macomber site that included a coupon for free admission to Stitches on Sunday when Debbie would be signing books. Friends wouldn’t be able to join me at Stitches this year – so Sunday seemed like the perfect day to go. On Saturday evening, I printed out the marketplace map & plotted out the few booths I wanted to visit.
My purchases this year were few – many of them can’t be shown because I’m already in a gift buying mode. For me, a new mug to wrap my hands around in the coming weeks and months as the weather turns cooler – it was time to pick up an adorable knitting sheep mug from Jennie the Potter – thanks Jennie for the personalized sheep on the bag! A skein of sky blue wool from Black Water Abbey Yarns where I once again caught up with a swap pal, Judy. A rubber stamp. Another great stash of vintage czech glass buttons from Color in Stitches.
As Debbie was signing books she was dating her inscription – how appropriate that she was signing Knit Together for me on August 24th – the birthday of my Grandma/Knitting Teacher.
I was in and out of the marketplace in under 2 hours. It was just the right amount of time for me this year – going on Sunday it wasn’t nearly as crowded & didn’t seem overwhelming, this might be the way to do it in future years. Since I was out in the western ‘burbs I met up with a friend for a late lunch & catching up. After blocking my Olympic knitting on Friday evening & gifting some knitting on Saturday (post to follow…) this was a great way to end the weekend. Several times this week the sky has had the look & the breeze has had the whisper of fall – before long it will be time to keep my new mug filled as I knit!
August 28, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Great to see you Sunday. I got a mug too and look forward to cooler days to use it. We got home Monday after a good show.
August 29, 2008 at 7:39 am
I am a bit bummed I missed it this year….but my wallet’s probably all the better for it!
See you Saturday for our “knitting date!”
August 30, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Color coordinated purchases! Two hours is about what I average at Stitches. Any more and it just gets overwhelming. That mug is darling!
August 30, 2008 at 9:22 pm
those buttons are beautiful! And the sheep mug is adorable. I have the same one but my yarn ball is pink. It makes for the perfect cup of morning coffee! How neat is this? My birthday is also Aug. 24!