Back From The Fling!

Well, I am home from The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling and I hardly know where to begin to describe what a wonderful weekend it was. Sheri did an AMAZING job with putting this together (which is not a surprise!) and I think everyone had a wonderful time. I'm ready to go again...





The group of knitters that gathered together for the weekend came from all over the world (literally!) Many had 'met' via Ravelry, but what fun to spend time getting to know each other in person. One could always hear sounds of laughing at any given moment!!! Here is MOST of the group. (I've heard tell that at least one flinger missed the group photo because she was busy admiring her purchases from her trip to Loopy Central!) We were quite the group. Claudia agreed to be in the photo and is strategically hiding behind the Spring Fling sign.


The Fling started Thursday with knitters trickling in all day and taking over the hotel lobby. It also ended the same way (with knitters taking over the hotel lobby) as people spent Sunday waiting for their departure time to arrive. We got quite the looks and comments from other guests at the hotel. (Who always had a comment of having a grandmother or great grandmother who knit...... sigh.)




In between, we spent the majority of our knitting time in this ballroom. There were also classes taught by Cookie and Wendy and trips taken to Loopy Central (Where I hear that credit cards actually burst into flames !) Let's just say lots of yarny goodness (and fabulous bags!) were had by all.






Everyone who came to the Fling signed the oversized sock blocker that Sheri's husband had made which will hang at Loopy Central to commemorate the event. It's hard to see the size, but this sock blocker is almost taller than I am. (so REALLY tall!) I can't wait to see a photo of it hanging on the wall.





Everyone who came also got a fabulous goody bag put together especially for the Spring Fling. (Again, one of the many special touches that Sheri and her elves put so much time and effort into). It was a great bag with two patterns (one designed by Cookie; one by Wendy), a Loopy Ewe ceramic coffee mug; a sock pattern with some yarn samples in a 'sample bag' from Cherry Tree Hill, ' Everything Balm' from Goodies Unlimited and a skein of Wollmeise yarn dyed especially by Claudia for the Spring Fling.



As promised and expected, the eating was constant and wonderful, with trips to Starbucks; Coldstone and even Chipotles. (And that was on top of a food/snack bar that was stocked and available with snacks and beverages the whole time we were knitting!). No, we didn't go hungry! An eating highlight was dinner at Kobe Steak House Friday night with Kellie, Cookie, Capi, Wendy and Sharon. Not pictured - Claudia and Sheri. The food was fantastic and the chef cooking the meal for us was hilarious. We ate most of our food, but had some trouble with the flying shrimp! (Right, Claudia??)

I had a wonderful time meeting everybody and wish I had photos of everyone. (Which I hope to collect via email and Flickr). Here I am with Jessica, who was my swap partner before the Fling. It was so fun to be able to meet her in person. One of many kindred spirits I met this weekend. I know our paths will cross again, and hopefully soon!! I know I will leave names out if I try to list all of the wonderful people I had a chance to spend time with and get to know this weekend. But I have come to the conclusion that knitters are amongst my favorite kinds of people :-)


Speaking of knitting, I have to admit that the whole suitcase I packed of projects and yarn was never even opened while I was there. (Neither were my exercise clothes, but I won't talk about that....) Claudia showed me this scarf that was made from her wonderful yarn and I knew I had to make one for myself. (Little did I know that Claudia would GIVE me this scarf later in the weekend. It still has me speechless! Such a beautiful gift from a beautiful person!!) Meeting and spending time with Claudia was probably one of the biggest highlights for me and I hope to someday visit her in Germany!! (I mean, I am practically fluent in German!)








So here is how much I have done on my scarf which is the sum total of the knitting I did this weekend. (It may not look like much, but I did spend much of my time playing Loopy Elf and helping Sheri out here and there).














Sheri also started on a Wollmeise scarf and I think that it is quite impressive that she was able to do any knitting at all with as busy as she was putting on The Spring Fling! She did an incredible amount of work and I don't think it could have been any better!! I can't wait for round 2! (Which some of us thought might be fun to have a Spring Fling Beauty pageant as a part of it.. what do you think Fellow Flinger??)











Well, I know there is so much more I could write (and probably will in future posts) but it is time to get back to reality and start some laundry and head to the grocery store. Plus I think Sumo would really like to go for a walk. He did great while we were gone, but is quite happy to have us home. And REALLY likes the hat I brought him back. Isn't he just so handsome?








Until Next Time....