Beadless in Seattle

That's what I'm trying for anyway. I realized that I have good taste in picking out beads; but for a person who doesn't wear - or like - jewelry to think that they'll be able to make it for other people? Nah, wasn't working. So I've been selling my stash for a month or so now. The lamp working stash will go next, and after that, extra books, fabric and other things. I was able to sell off Quite a Bit at yesterday's annual St. Distaff Day celebration - put on by the North West Regional Spinning Association (NWRSA). Lots of fiber and tools vendors around the periphery of the auditorium - including me. Many circles of friends sitting together and spinning or knitting. Those of us that spin have talked it up so much that we've gotten our knitting friends to come too. There were at least three "I'll never learn to spin, fuhgeddabouddit!" friends, so you know it has quite a draw.

The lovely Andrea and the Lovely Evanne.

Jessica, someone I don't know, and Rebecca and Peggy of BothTwins.

If you click the picture below to embigify, you'll see she's knitting monkey faces in Fair Isle - too cute!

April, Margarite, Andrea, Evanne, EmBe, and Pat. Seems to be a Schact wheel thang goin' on, doesn't there!

Many lovely things to buy..... Good thing I couldn't leave my post as a vendor.

Devorah found the BEST hat! Doesn't it suit her?

Our hardworking past Guild President, Ann Klinect, wearing her newest spider necklace (she collects them). Still volunteering at any job that needs doing in the Guild.

Really missed our Sandi Jo this year. She's been at every St. Distaff's for ever and ever, but when they were driving back from Henderson, Nevada where they spent the Christmas Holiday, she and husband Don had to make a pit stop in Grants Pass, Oregon after Don had a sudden ruptured appendix - yikes! He's healing up and is in a great hospital there, but they can't wait to be back in their own quiet house and get a full nights sleep!

Sandi on her Pocket Wheel.

The day before the event, I had a lovely New Year's Day at a dear friend's house. Knitting and Knoshing are a great way to celebrate the New Year with friends. I have yet to see knitters show up anywhere with 3 potato salads and 4 sets of cheese and crackers. Instead it's always gourmet fare covering all the food groups. There was one amusing moment when our hostess opened a jar labeled "Strawberry Jam" from one of our award-winning jam-maker attendees, and got quite an odd look on her face. Turns out it was a hot chili chutney-type topping for the black bean soup she brought, and the label just never got taken off the jar. Hostess was obviously trying to find a P.C. way to say to one of her best friends "Uhhhh, this has turned to poison and I can't feed it to 9 people!" Forgot to take pictures of the food... You'd just slobber on your keyboard so I've saved you making a mess.

Deb, Norma and Kathy knitting away.

Margarite working on finishing her felted bag. Margarite is now doing the newsletter for the Seattle Knitters' Guild and doing a fabulous job.

Andrea spinning Pygora and Lisa Spinning BFL. Pygora is incredibly soft and light. Makes you want to line the tub with it and just roll around unclothed for a while.

Suzanne working on a Christmas stocking to be felted for younger Granddaughter for next year.

Kathy and Gail knitting. Gail made that lovely Aran she has on. Looks like we're a quiet bunch but not at all. I think I just scared them with the camera. The decibels got pretty high there at times. The trouble with having fun knitting in a group is all the frogging (rip-it, rip-it) you have to do afterward because you lost your concentration.

Carolyn made that gorgeous Philosopher's Wool sweater on the chair down to her right. I snuck over and made it face front while she was in the kitchen.

Here's a closer look. Aren't those colors lovely!?

Ooooo, (Andrea thinks), this could be my next project!

Suzanne's lovely "Diva," a Bernese Mountain Dog - dog of a thousand pats. We had a Bernese boy years ago named "Browser." Still miss him a lot. The name came from my Uber-Geek husband.

Suzanne's dear one-eyed Joe-the-cat is still very much missed these days by everyone.

Finally after a very full two days, home to Mr. Chirpchatty and my little Trixie dog. She's a pretty cute girl isn't she?