Chain Link 2011 Minneapolis

Minneapolis was a beautiful host city for the 2011 CGOA conference. I had never been before and  I hear it is quite a different city in the winter.  Oh look, here comes Haley Zimmerman walking toward me...

The few restaurants outside of the hotel we tried were excellent.  Above was a fantastic Sundried tomato, chicken pasta Alfredo from the Newsroom.

Haley's husband Jay sent us a platter of fruit from the hotel's service.  That was our breakfast for like 3 days! Thank you, Jay!

We ate a gorgeous little luxurious Mexican restaurant for lunch one day, MASA.  I had a Hibiscus Iced Tea with my lunch (fancy!)

As I stated before, we also visited the Minneapolis Textile Center. Here's Tammy posing in front.  When I go to these conferences, I rarely get outside the conference center because I pack my days and evenings so full with classes and meetings. But it was great to get a few meetings "off campus" this year, and I'm always up for good food. 

Chain Link 2011

Here I am with Crochet! and Crochet World editor, Carol Alexander.

Here is the book signing I did with my retail partner, Glory-ous Knits.  Their booth was big and had a great location on the end of the aisle. They had yarn and books and notions.

Designers: Brenda Bourg, Kimberly McAlindin, me, Tammy Hildebrand

Here I am with Haley Zimmerman (tech editor). She is wearing my Shifting Skies Mock-Turtleneck design.

Red Heart Ambassador, Kathleen Sams, me and designer Karen Ratto-Whooley. (I credit Kathleen with 'discovering me' back in 2006 when I thought no one was noticing my work)

Fashion Show emcee, designer, personality, spokesperson, and face of Sheepish yarns, Vickie Howell.

Chain Link 2011 More!

 Here's a few photos from the Chain Link Fashion Show. They were taken by tech editor from DRG Susanna Tobias. (I'm sorry Susanna, I'm not sure what your official title is...) Susanna works full-time on-site at DRG. Above, I'm modeling Margaret Hubert's cardigan design.  I found Margaret in the crowd and blew her a kiss for letting me wear her design.

Here I am wearing Pauline Turner's dress from her book, Finishing Techniques for Crochet. 

Here's my beautiful roommate, Haley Zimmerman (tech editor) modeling a lovely shawl that was on the last cover of Crochet! 

There are many more Chain Link photos to come... scenes from Minneapolis, Minneapolis food, hanging out, the book signing... stay tuned.

Chain Link 2011

Here's some of the highlights from last Thursday...

 Here I am with Zontee Hou, host of the Lion Brand Podcast, Yarn Craft, we did a little snippet interview which should air soon.

 Caron yarns sponsored a party Thursday night. Left to right: Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby, me, Amy Shelton (CGOA President, co-owner of Crochetville) and Karen Whooley.

 Me with my dear friend, awesome designer, Tammy Hildebrand

 Me with designer, author, Myra Wood.  (This was the first time we'd met!)

 I took a class with the exuberant, Joan Davis.

 L-R: Joan Davis, Cari Clement, Tammy Hildebrand, Kimberly McAlindin

 I took a knitting class with Binka Schwan. It just so happens that Binka was sitting in front of a reproduction of one of my all-time favorite paintings, Blue Horses by Franz Marc.

Me with Kimberly :)

Chain Link 2011

I arrived in Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon.  Immediately I was put to work!  I was glad to help set-up for Professional Development Day with the other helpers.  Then we got a late dinner. Here are L-R Cari Clement (Creative Director of Caron yarns), designer Kimberly McAlindin, designer Marty Miller, and designer Renee Barnes.

 Here's my view from the stage on Wednesday as people were still arriving.  On the tables was donations from Lion Brand Yarns, and literature from Knots of Love.  During the day, participants were encouraged to crochet hats for Knots of Love. I was able to make a hat with a flower while Margaret Hubert spoke.

Here I am at the podium after I finished speaking. (See the happy, relieved look I have?) LOL.  Really it was great fun!  I talked about elements of great design and how to take an average pattern and ask questions to push it to an extraordinary design.  People offered great feedback about the presentation throughout the weekend.

I got to meet many friends who I generally only see on Twitter and Facebook and Ravelry.  Here I am with designer, April Garwood.

Wednesday night our group traveled to the Minneapolis Textile Center (on buses provided by Caron Yarn). At the center we visited a lovely gift shop (all local handmade fiber related artwork). They have a library of past and current fiber books.  Gorgeous artwork on the wall.  At the center was the presentation to induct the late Jean Leinhauser as the first ever recipient of the CGOA's Hall of Fame.  Her business partner and dear friend, Rita Weiss accepted the honor on Jean's behalf.  Rita did a fascinating presentation of Jean's life from her early days creating a knitting and crochet curriculum for home economics programs around the country to Jean's founding of Leisure Arts, to Jean "holding court" at the last few Chain Link conferences. Rita and Jean's company, Creative Partners, offered raffle prizes to the Professional Development Day and I have TWO prizes from them to giveaway on the blog. Maybe tomorrow, maybe Thursday. 

Kimberly is holding Jean's award, a beautiful hand-blown glass vase, while Rita was talking with others.

Here I am with another legend, Margaret Hubert.

And that was Wednesday!

Chain Link 2011

Stay tuned!  Today is administrative day. I got home from Minneapolis yesterday. I was at the Knit & Crochet Show and the CGOA's national conference.  Today I'm sorting through notes and business cards, organizing all my information.

Here I am crocheting at the airport while I waited for my flight to Minneapolis.  That was BEFORE all the exciting, fun things that I only guessed was ahead of me.  I'll be writing about Chain Link all week. Also, there is at least one Giveaway this week...stay tuned!  Also ahead is a few book reviews... Brett Bara's new book, Sewing in a Straight Line, and a crochet book later in the month.

Did you catch my article on Broomstick in the new issue of Crochet Today? Check it out!

Crochet Insider

Thanks to Kathy North for the review of my book in the newest issue of the Crochet Insider. 
Here's the link in case you missed it.

Also in the Crochet Insider, catch the article on how I designed the motifs for the book, here. 

The crochet world is spinning so fast right now!  As usual, I'm juggling projects, working toward deadlines.  Always present in my mind is my upcoming trip with the Crochet Guild of America in Minneapolis, MN.  I'll be speaking on July 27, Wed at Professional Development Day.  You don't have to be a professional already to attend. Check out the KnitandCrochetShow.com
Right now, I'm ironing out the details on a book signing for the event. I'll let you know the details when they are confirmed. Anybody going who still needs a book? I have no idea how many to bring with me. 

If you can't make Minneapolis in two weeks, there will be a Fall Show in Greensboro, NC in September. I will not be able to attend the fall show, though.