Unraveled

This blog post is VERY overdue but, finally, here it is!

Casey and I had the pleasure of attending the first German Ravelry Meeting in Backnang, Germany in September.  It was organized by the (knittingcouple) Annette and Alexander and they did a really great job!

(mmm bretzel!)

There were amazing little touches everywhere- like these decorations for the nametags!  I had a little sweater and Casey had a sock.

We also got to meet Jeannette, one of our incredible site moderators- was so nice to meet her in person!

In the evening, we got to hang out in the beautiful fall weather next to Backnang’s Wollstube- isn’t that the prettiest yarn store ever?!

After the lovely day in Backnang, we had a little vacation with our friends Julie and Adam and traveled into Alsace, France. We couldn’t help ourselves though and had to have a little Ravelry meetup in Strasbourg with the Tricoteuses d’Alsace while we were there.

They were very kind about my horrible French and we had a really fun time. :)

After Strasbourg, we saw some more beautiful vineyards and gorgeous Alsatian towns:

Then it was back to Heidelberg, where Julie helped to organize a meetup with the Heidelberg Knitters group at a great restaurant!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to see us in Germany and France!  It was so thrilling for us to meet some European Ravelers. I took tons more photos of our trip- too many to fit in this blog post! So much fun!

Now over to Mary-Heather about her travels in September and October! :)

::Mary-Heather here… thanks, Jess!::

Here in the mountains in New Mexico, the smell of roasting green chile and pinon is in the air… along with loads and loads of hot air balloons! Fall is here, and yarn lovers are out in force taking advantage of the newly crisp air.

In September, just as the heat was starting to turn, New Mexico Ravelers got together for a meetup at Oodles Yarns and Beads in Santa Fe. The meetup was held in conjunction with a workshop by Jane Thornley (color4texture) and you can read more about the day and her adventures in New Mexico in her articles in This Week in Ravelry: Fiber Foraging in Santa Fe and Ravelry Meetup in Santa Fe. It was a wonderful day – those of us from Albuquerque and points south took the train up north to walk to the shop (after nabbing some sopapillas at a restaurant near the depot first, of course). It was wonderful to meet so many other Ravelers from the Land of Enchantment – thank you to everyone who came! It was great to hang out with you!

The first weekend in October is the much anticipated Wool Festival at Taos. This festival, held in a park in the beautiful mountain town of Taos, features a rich variety of wool and animal fibers from the states of New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. There is music playing, dogs frolicking, the sweet smell from the cinnamon almonds booth blankets the whole festival, and if you are overwhelmed by all of the beautiful wool and need a break, the town of Taos is a lovely destination in its own right, packed with art galleries, fantastic restaurants, and beautiful mountain views. It’s a truly wonderful weekend!

The organizers generously donated a big tent for Ravelers to have a home base right in the middle of the festival grounds! The weather was absolutely perfect – sunny and crisp – and it was so nice to have a place to gather, talk, craft, and rest if we happened to be tired from carrying around big bags of wool or fleece. Ahem.

Thank you so much to the organizers of the festival for providing such a wonderful space for us to gather and meet, and thank you to everyone who came by, said hello, shared some Ravelry love, and baked or ate cupcakes with us. (If you ever get the chance to eat one of Deltafine’s cider cupcakes… take it!!) I’m already looking forward to next year!

Now, we’re off again! We’re headed to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend, and we’ll be posting more information about that very soon! Look for the news about our daytime meetups, Saturday night party, and awesome party sponsors in the next couple of days!

The fall is promising to be another busy season here at Ravelry!  We are finalizing our plans for October and in the meantime are preparing for some really fun events in September.

First up, Mary-Heather is teaming with Oodles Yarn and Bead Gallery and Jane Thornley to host a meetup in  Santa Fe, New Mexico this Saturday, September 5th.

It will take place after the workshop that Jane is teaching at the store.  Here is the Ravelry Event listing for this meetup where you can RSVP and see more information!  Come by and meet some NM Ravelers and get a Ravelry button from Mary-Heather!

Next, Casey and I will be traveling to Germany to attend the Germany Ravelry Meetup on September 12th in Backnang, Baden-Wurttemberg. We will be around all day on Saturday and I will be participating in one of the classes with my friend Julie, who is living in Heidelberg.  I can’t wait to check out the market and see some German yarn!  For more information, check out the group and RSVP here!

In the evening on Saturday, we will be hanging out from about 6:30 pm at Kunberger Aura in Backnang.  We are not able to come back for the 2nd day of the Meetup on Sunday so we thought we’d take some time that night to meet everyone we missed during the day on Saturday.  The event page for the after hours meetup is here, where you can find the address and other information!

(Backnang photos by Christian Heindel)

After the meetup in Backnang, we are doing some travel around Germany and into Alsace, France with Julie and Adam- I think we will be stopping for a few nights.  We will probably organize a meetup while we are in France if there is any interest and I will edit this post if we have more information about that!  (UPDATE! Here is the event page for the Ravelry Meetup in Strasbourg, Alsace!)

Once we have exhausted Alsace’s supply of cheese, wine and onion tarts, we will be heading back to Heidelberg and will have a meetup on September 19th around 6pm. You can see more details and RSVP here!

Thank you so much to all the organizers of these events for being so welcoming to us and for working so hard on these meetups!  We can’t wait!!

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It has been a little over a year since we introduced Ravelry’s mini mart and to celebrate we are doing our first sale!

We’d like to clear out some of our old inventory so that we can bring out some new merchandise- and we have some things that we are really excited about coming up!

Starting now get 20% off overstocked and discontinued items if you buy anything at regular price!  This could be your last chance as some of these sale items will not be re-stocked!

Crazy Bob’s Super Sale ends August 10th.

I don’t know about the other Sock Summit attendees, but here at Ravelry, we can’t wait to get out to Portland!  I have been busily working on my homework for my classes, assembling class materials and figuring out what comfy shoes to wear. Casey, of course, has been making lists of local beers he wants to try. :)

We also have been working hard on pulling together a party where Ravelers in town for Sock Summit and locals can get together and have some fun!  I know we will all be busy having a great time meeting the amazing teachers and speakers and learning new techniques but I hope you can spare the evening to come by our Ravelry meetup!

Where: Central Plaza and Cheatham Hall at the World Forestry Center in Washington Park, Portland (more info including directions below)

When: Saturday, August 8 from 7 – 11 pm (please oh please! arrive no earlier than 7pm)

RSVP on the Ravelry Events page!

We’re going to have finger food (not full dinner but some yummy snacks!), music, cash bar with good local beer and wine, amazing prize giveaways from our Sponsors, plenty of Hello! username buttons so that we can identify each other, and a really fun time.

It just would not be possible for us to host this event without the help of our Sponsors:

Lantern Moon’s Sox Stix and Namaste

Berroco, Bijou Basin Ranch, Buffalo Gold, Gardiner Yarn Works, & Zealana

Thank you so much to our generous Sponsors!!

Getting to the party:

The World Forestry Center (google maps link) is accessible via the MAX light rail line so it should be very easy for us all to make our way over there from the convention center.  Here’s a map with the two stations highlighted. (For more information on public transit options, call TRI­MET at 503-­238-­RIDE or visit their website.)

We don’t recommend driving since we cannot guarantee parking although there is a shared lot with the Oregon Zoo and the Children’s Museum.

Address for the World Forestry Center: 4033 SW Canyon Rd Portland, OR 97221-2798

Once you arrive at Washington Park, we will have signs directing you to our party at Central Plaza and Cheatham Hall but you may find these maps handy: Washington Park map and World Forestry Center map

We will also be attending classes and shopping at the market at Sock Summit so make sure you come say hello! Can’t wait to see you there!

RSVP for the party!

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 Last week, Casey and I spent a few lovely days up in New Hampshire at Squam Art Workshops. (Ravelry event page!)  I am sure you have heard about it if you know anyone who attended- we all can‘t stop talking about how wonderful it was!  We were so blessed to be invited by Elizabeth, one of my longtime blog friends and organizer of SAW, to attend.

So what was it like? Sort of like combining all the things you love about summer camp: the woods and nature, cabins, beautiful lake views, friendly camaraderie and then adding in all the things that we adults need to have fun: thoughtful organizers, good warm beverages in the morning, amazing food and cozy beds! (Take a look at other peoples’ photos on flickr if you want to see what I mean- they say it all better than I ever could!)

Then, of course, there were the incredibly creative and friendly people- I spent a lot of my time there just being happily overwhelmed by genius- Jonatha Brooke singing,  an impromptu hooping session with handmade hula hoops, inspiring teachers and enthusiastic fellow students!

Casey and I were able to take some great classes!  I took ‘Combination Knitting’ with Annie Modesitt and ‘Knit to Flatter and Fit’ with Sally Melville– both were really excellent. (My first knitting classes actually!)  Casey took the Color Class with Lizzie House, which he said was awesome.  Next year, we will be taking more!

There also was the gorgeous location of the Rockywold- Deephaven Camps.  I love getting out of the city in the summer and, really, it is impossible to not relax at Squam.

And on Saturday night, we got to participate in the great art fair!  Here we are getting hugs from Elizabeth next to our booth:

We brought some beer and waaaaaay too much pizza- I spent most of the time making sure that everyone was fed. ;)

We were so lucky to have great vendors that joined us:

Shepherd Susie and Erin from Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm:

Lisa from Tsarina of Tsocks, Jennifer from Holiday Yarns and Heather from Sereknity Yarn and Fiber.

Caro from Splityarn and Debbie from Stitchy McYarnpants (or if you prefer, Splityarnpants- haha)

   
Kim from The Woolen Rabbit and Jessamyn from Jesh’s Spindles:

Thank you so much to everyone who planned and participated at Squam this year- we’ll see you next year!

May is just flying by and we are almost to June and our festivities at Squam Art Workshops!

Casey and I will be participating in the Workshops as well- I am so excited about the classes that I am taking!  After our very busy spring, relaxing by the lake and being creative sounds like a perfect way to start off the summer.

And YES!  There are still spaces available to attend the Workshops- please come play with us!

(This June is the first fiber- focused SAW so they’ll have more fiber photos for their video next year! ;)

The registration info is here but Elizabeth says that if you have any questions to not hesitate to contact her! ( elizabethATsquamartworkshopsDOTcom or call 603.677.2157)

Also, we are going to have our very first Ravelry party in New England up at Squam on Saturday, June 6th.  The party is open to all Ravelers and friends, not only those attending the Workshops!

We are very excited to have some amazing vendors help us kick it off:

• Caro from Splityarn
• Debbie from Stitchy McYarnpants
• Jessamyn from Jesh’s Spindles
• Kim from The Woolen Rabbit
• Jennifer from Holiday Yarns
• Lisa from Tsarina of Tsocks
• Susan from Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm
• Heather from Sereknity Yarn and Fiber

Please help us get a headcount by RSVPing attending on our Ravelry Events page for this event!

There is also a Ravelry group for SAW here if you are attending and would like to get planning for the fun!

Casey, Mary-Heather and I traveled down to rainy Maryland for the awesome Sheep and Wool Festival this past weekend!

We met up with my mom, Ysolda and Laura and had some lime fizzes!

Saw, and were kissed, by some cute animals!

Had two great meetups, on Saturday and Sunday, with tons of friendly Ravelers!

  ‘

Gave out some special MDS&W buttons:

Enjoyed Guido’s After Party!

… and we ended the weekend sleepy and muddy but very happy!

(Like the Ysolda Teague / Laura Chau / Mary-Heather Cogar traveling trunk show? We were warm goshdarnit!)

Thanks to everyone who came out to say hello!

If you have photos from this weekend or any other Ravelry meetup or event, be sure to add it to our Flickr Events Pool!

(Edited to add details of knitwear, since we are being flooded with emails!)
Mary-Heather is wearing Ysolda’s Verity:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/verity

Ysolda is wearing her Ishbel beret and shawl:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel-beret
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel

Casey’s hat is Ysolda’s Cairn:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cairn

Laura is wearing Mary-Heather’s Simple Things shawl (pattern coming soon to Ravelry!)
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/rainydaygoods/simple-things

She also has her Lucy in the Sky Cardigan:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lucy-in-the-sky

I am wearing Ysolda’s Ishbel shawl knit in Fyberspates laceweight silk. It is scrumptious.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel

Comment!

 Peanut butter + chocolate, wool + needles, coffee + cream and now? Ravelry + Squam.  Woohoo!

Come see us up in one of our favorite parts of the world, Squam Lake in New Hampshire.

One of my longtime blog friends, Elizabeth (of bluepoppy) has organized a incredible textile retreat running June 3-7, 2009.  Casey and I will be there and I seriously can’t wait to take some of these classes!  (Summer at Squam Lake pretty much sounds like heaven to me just now, with the snow coming down here in Boston!)

There will be a Ravelry event on Saturday night, June 6th (more details to follow)

Registration opened on the 2nd- so check it out!  18 knitting classes with simply fabulous teachers, gorgeous location, and yummy food!  To get a feel for what it’s all about, go here to the “raves” section and watch a slideshow.

Teacher descriptions here– lots of familiar faces!

We also have a Squam Art Workshops group set up here on Ravelry- come by and ask questions or you can email info AT squamartworkshops DOT com

[Update!] Elizabeth has provided 4 books for us to give away! So comment on this post and we will pull 4 winners! Deadline for submitting your comment is tomorrow, 2/5 at 5pm EST.

There are two books for the giveaway: Ordinary Sparkling Moments (ONE copy) and Roots and Recollections: A Century of Rockywold-Deephaven Camps (THREE copies).

Ordinary Sparkling Moments by Christine Mason Miller (www.christinemasonmiller.com) was launched at Squam Art Workshops in 2008. It is a beautiful book that explores the ways in which we can find and celebrate creative inspiration in our daily lives.

Roots and Recollections: A Century of Rockywold-Deephaven Camps by Megan Thorn recounts the extraordinary creation of the RDC camps that was founded in 1897 by two amazing visionaries: Alice Mabel Bacon and Mary Alice Armstrong. Published in 1997 to commemorate a century of stewardship and continued success, the book features stunning, archival photographs of the people, the distinctive architecture of the camps and above all the dramatic beauty of the Squam Lakes region. Naturally, the book is also replete with stories and anecdotes about this unique family camp that is steeped in rich tradition.

Comment!

We had an amazing time at New York Sheep and Wool this year- there really aren’t even words!  I think all of us that attended are still recovering… I know I am!  Thanks to everyone who participated in our meetups and party- we had so much fun!

It was definitely the coldest Rhinebeck that I have ever attended- there were warm handmade objects everywhere you looked and the fall colors couldn’t have been more beautiful.

1. Checking in!, 2. Ravelry’s awesome party sponsors, 3. Nichole’s pretty sweater & scarf, 4. The garland, 5. Whole Group, 6. Cosmicpluto & Gleek, 7. prize drawing, 8. Casey in the VLT, 9. Bob cupcakes!, 10. maryheather, 11. Ann, Kay & Nancy, 12. She looks warm!, 13. Spinnin’, 14. Kinnearing!, 15. Fire!, 16. Bev, MH and Scout. Um yeah- that is all I have to say about that., 17. Sunday Ravelry Meetup, 18. Welcome table, 19. So are Nichole & Erica, 20. time to head home!, 21. Us Three, 22. Stephen gets a bit carried away, 23. Maryse blew up a lot of ballons. A LOT., 24. SO many prizes!, 25. Team Rav! Ready for the party!, 26. No-raffle Ravelry winners, 27. Pied Piper MH, 28. Caro and Minty, 29. Bobcakes!, 30. Raffle hopefuls

(These photos and more can be found on our Ravelry Events flickr pool!)

The party on Saturday night was a huge success!  Even HUGER than we ever expected!  :)  Our estimation is that around 650 Ravelers and their families joined us at the Elks Lodge.  Everyone was so cheerful and respectful of each other- even when we had to move cars from the street.  The Elks Lodge is even excited to host us again next year and are thinking of ways we can improve the party!

Again, we’d like to say a big thank you to our wonderful sponsors:

Quiviut Sponsor: Yarnmarket.com

Cashmere Sponsors: Namaste, Fabulous Yarn, Socktopus, Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm, and WEBS

Merino Sponsors:  Bijou Basin Ranch, Schaefer Yarn, Dodge Creations, Knitch, Knitting Out Loud, Creatively Dyed Yarn, The Loopy Ewe, Sixth & Spring Books, and the Tsock Flock Club 2009.

We couldn’t have hosted this awesome party without you guys!  (Visit those links and support our sponsors!)

We had some fun project bags printed up, designed by my friend Julie at symposi.com.  The sponsors provided some coupons and and goodies.  The reaction from Ravelers at the party was so positive that I think we will print some up for the regular Ravelry store!

We also had some wonderful items for the door prizes from Applelaine, Bijou Basin Ranch, Briar Rose Fibers, Classic Elite, Cocoknits, Crochet Today, Debby Ware, Designs by Romi, Dodge Creations, Knit Picks, Knitspot (with Briar Rose Fibers, Shivaya Naturals, Woolen Rabbit, and Knitting Notions), Knitting Out Loud, Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm, Material Whirled, njstacie’s etsy shop, Namaste, Philosopher’s Wool, Sassafras Creations, Schaefer Yarn, Sixth & Spring Books, Splityarn, Spunky Eclectic, Storm Moon Knits, Tactile Travel, The Painted Sheep, Tsock Flock Club 2009, and WEBS.  (I hope I didn’t forget anyone!)

DellaQ also donated 400 zip pouches and Soak gave us hundreds of mini soak wash samples!

We also had two great meetups during the day on Saturday and Sunday- here are two group shots!

People even brought cupcakes and cookies!  It was really fun to get everyone together- we even shocked the festival organizer that MH and I had worked with before the festival.  He was very surprised at how many people we assembled- glad we got a nice big space this year!

Finally, I would also like to personally thank our friends and family for helping us throughout the weekend- Team Rav worked tirelessly to hand out buttons and sharpies, running errands, set up for the party, breaking down the party, welcoming everyone and generally keeping Casey, Mary-Heather and me sane.  Thank you so much, Cheryl, Danielle, Caro, Erica, Chelsea, Nichole, Lara, Maryse, Maya, Steve, my brother, Kyle, and my Mom, Judy!

If you have photos from Rhinebeck this weekend or any other Ravelry event or meetup, please add it to our Ravelry Events pool on flickr!  It is really fun to go through those pictures!

Comments!

Here in the northeast U.S., the leaves are turning, the weather is crisp and everyone is pulling out their scarves and mittens.  Just in time too… this weekend is New York Sheep & Wool Festival!

We are jumping in our big rental van on Friday to head out to NY.  Now is the big rush to prepare for the fun events we have planned for Saturday and Sunday.  We really hope to see you there!

The big event is our 2nd annual Ravelry Rhinebeck Party!   We upgraded our location this year so that we can actually fit all of us. ;)

Where: The Elks Lodge (outside pavilion) in Red Hook, NY

When: Saturday, October 18 from 6:30 – 11 pm

The address is: 7711 Albany Post Rd/ Route 9  Red Hook, NY 12571

Google Maps Link!  (5 miles from the fairgrounds)

We’re going to have food (not full dinner but lots of yummy snacks!), drinks, music, LOTS of really amazing prize giveaways, plenty of Hello! username buttons so that we can identify each other, and a really, really great time.  Families are welcome!  (After 2 hours, there will be a cash bar.)

It is going to be chilly on Saturday night and this is an outdoor party so make sure you bring your woolies!  We are going to have heaters and tents but please come prepared!  Think of it as a way to show of your latest FO. ;)

All of this fun would really not be possible without the help from our generous sponsors!

Quiviut Sponsor: Yarnmarket.com

Cashmere Sponsors: Namaste, Fabulous Yarn, Socktopus, Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm, and WEBS

Merino Sponsors:  Bijou Basin Ranch, Schaefer Yarn, Dodge Creations, Knitch, Knitting Out Loud, Creatively Dyed Yarn, The Loopy Ewe, Sixth & Spring Books, and the Tsock Flock Club 2009.

We are so thrilled to team up with these great people this year!  Thank you so much, sponsors!

For the first 400 attendees, we will have special Ravelry Rhinebeck party giveaway bags, with some goodies from our sponsors.  We’ll also have some DellaQ zip pouches and mini Soak wash samples.

Lunchtime Ravelry Meetups:

We also have 2 meetups planned during the day on both Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 1 pm.

The location for the meetups is shown on the map below- it is a shaded field up the walkway from the author’s tent.  If it is raining, we do have a backup – we’ll meet in building D, on the end of the building opposite the haunted house. (Doesn’t look like we’ll need to worry, but please do note the backup location!)  Come and meet your fellow Ravelers and get a Hello! username button.

For more information about the Ravelry festivities at Rhinebeck this year, check out this thread in the New York Sheep and Wool group.

Be sure to wear your Ravelry shirts, bags and pins around the festival, some vendors are offering a discount to Ravelers!  (Every little bit helps, right?)

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