Another Chain Link

Once again I have discovered I am absolutely horrible at remembering to take pictures when I am at Chain Link.

I am generally having way too much fun:  making new friends and re-uniting with old friends that the days go zipping past and I only realize how lax I’ve been with the camera once I’m back at the airport heading home.

The pool room was my place to go warm-up as the air-conditioning was brutal, I didn’t actually swim…just stood out there for a bit to get the chill off. Next conference I shall bring some warmer crochet accessories…like a cardigan!

Since my chronicling of Chain Link was so shoddy, I’ll instead share with you photos of the results of my limited retail therapy time at the show.

Looking at the amount of loot I came home with, I’m thinking it is a good thing I had “limited” time for retail therapy.

The most expensive purchase of the week was my new set of Cabled Tunisian hooks from the Tulip Company being sold at the Buy Caron booth. I had to pick up a few more Etimo hooks, though by Sunday they were nearly all gone.

Then of course, there was YARN.  Yes, I know I have likely reached SABLE (Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy), but I seem to always need more yarn. This gorgeous silky soft and sparkly alpaca yarn had to come home with me.  My friend Pam had purchased some and shown it to me, I went to the market on Sunday especially to find it.

Of course, whilst searching out the sparkly alpaca, some yummy hand-dyed loveliness at Miss Babs‘ booth begged me to take it home as well.  The colors at their booth were truly drool-worthy, and the staff was very helpful in picking out 2 skeins of close matches in the colorways I fell in love with. 

My conference roommate, Janet, didn’t help matters when she came back to our room one day with some lovely silk from Vijay Fibers. So I needed a few hanks of that too.

Since the first ever Knit and Crochet Show I attended and where I met her (Portland, September 2008), Janet has been a dangerous influence when it comes to my budget.  So it was my turn this conference.  Janet decided to try a new color for something for herself. I can hardly wait to see what she creates from this gorgeous yarn. She is a wizard with the hooks and makes lovely lace goodies.

I didn’t escape that booth (The Yarn and Fiber Company out of Derry, NH) without some purchases of my own though.  Couldn’t resist the T-shirt as it made me giggle and the little felting template looked like a great (safer) way to do some needle felting with my kiddos.

After feeling a bit under-dressed in the jewelry department at the banquet Friday evening I decided I needed some “bling” for future conferences. So I made a stop by the Cookie Lee booth for this lovely necklace.  The ring was just too fun as well, so it hopped into my hand to be purchased as well.  I shall glitter brilliantly at future events.

Sassafras Creations drew me in as well. Lots of beautiful jewelry and accessories that have all been made from old knitting needles and crochet hooks. I purchased a few goodies, though she was just about cleared out of her crochet hook items….she said she will know to bring more to the next Chain Link she attends.

Before all was done, I had to make a stop at Newtons Yarn Country, where the bargain priced yarns were getting loads of attention from many conference attendees. The choices were limited by Sunday but I managed to do some damage to the yarn budget.

Well, now I know why I was so tired Sunday evening.  And this isn’t even counting all the events I attended, the classes I took, and the volunteer duties I helped with. Wheeeee! Can hardly wait til next year.