Live from TNNA (plus a little contest)

I'm here, and attempting to post from my Palm, since I left my laptop at home. I saw SO MANY COOL THINGS, and met SO MANY COOL PEOPLE, including Amy Singer, Vickie Howell, Louisa Harding, Lexie Barnes, Nicky Epstein, Stephanie, Yahaira, Suss Cousins, Annie Modesitt, Ann and Kay, Jordana of Jordana Paige, everyone I've been designing for, other yarn company people, and saw pretty much anyone else you could name in knitland. Really. Plus I drank too much free wine. More later.

ETA: It's later (and I'm really tired and will ramble). Who would have thought you could have so much fun NOT buying things? The best part was meeting everyone at SWTC (all soooo nice) and seeing their great booth FULL of my designs. There was even a huge poster of the corn yarn sweater! I dropped off the alpaca one at Alpaca Yarn's booth (a huge relief) and spent most of my time chatting with people and waiting in line to get books signed. And they just give you the book too- some are the "real" book, others are uncorrected proof copies of books that aren't out yet. I got signed copies of Mason-Dixon Knitting, Alterknits, Andean Inspired Knitting, and a yet-to-be-published book by Suss Cousins. I got a signed tote bag from Nicky Epstein (her books were gone by the time I got to the front) and missed out on a few others (pout). I saw the Great Wall of Yarn and got to put yarn clippings in a book to take home. I saw my swatches (Chrissy-I saw yours too). I fondled all the needles and bags at Namaste Needles and petted lots of quviut. I went to a meeting with all of the designers from AKD. I had a great class on creativity with Sally Melville, and tasty crab cakes at the Vogue Knitting booth. I felt more yarn than ever before, and saw lots of stuff that isn't out yet (including new prints of Lexie Barnes bags that I totally need, even though I already have TWO of her bags). What else? I got through almost an entire sock and a swatch for Classic Elite while waiting in line for book signings so I'll have a new FO soon. The best part? More than a few people knew me by name- that was weird but really, really nice. And now? I just got home, have to go to work tomorrow (but only 4 more days until school lets out) and I am exhausted from all the sights, excitement, and WALKING. Too bad you can't bring cameras in- I'd love to have lots of pictures to show. Just use your imagination, okay?

As for the contest, I now have 2 copies of Alterknits and Mason-Dixon Knitting. No, you can't have the signed ones (they're signed to me, anyway) but you can have the old ones! Leave a comment if you're interested and Emma will make a random selection on Friday.