Lions & Lambs
Snow is forecast as March ends, but it's still SPRING to me!
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My Arms Tired! February and March have had some travel, but large blocks of at-home time, too. Travel means carrying things, lugging, dragging, walking through miles of airports. Being home means knitting, pattern writing, and then that extra stuff that must get done when one is home (parenting...) KNITAPALOOZA was absolutely TREMENDOUS! I was exhausted for much of it - many folks thought that the weird early time change had affected all of us - but I was up and energized for my classes. So were my students - and I've seldom encountered such an eager and skilled bunch of knitters! I'm SO grateful I was part of the event! NJ, NY, CT, and MA have all survived without the Landy family on the East Coast - but it was so great to visit my old stomping grounds, see old friends, and TEACH so many wonderful classes!! On the whole I'm happier to be home - sleep is easier in my own bed - but I enjoy the travel, too! I love meeting knitters, teaching classes and seeing folks making connections in their knitting and their lives. I like making the connections, myself! I love seeing people in person who I've only emailed, and making so many new friends! It's an extra bonus when I get to socialize with other knitting teachers - we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like - so I'll be so sorry to be out of the Twin Cities in April while the Yarn Over is going on - that's when I'll be in Atlanta! Picking Up I'd been feeling a bit adrift, I had avoided scheduling many classes this year so I would have more free time at home, but I began to be afraid that I was relegating myself to a non-teaching year. Fortunately knitting guilds, yarn shops and folks arranging retreats keep calling (emailing, actually...) and I'm glad to see my calendar fleshing out nicely. Not as full as in years past, but perfect for this period in our lives. Solidarity Those of you who read my blog may have seen my efforts to raise the conditions for those of us who teach at the larger venues. I, myself, have promised not to teach at venues that will not offer all teachers a private room, transportation fees and meal allowances. It's a risky position to take, but I feel it's necessary to prevent a 'race to the bottom' in terms of knit & crochet teacher compensation. You may not realize when you take a class at a convention that your teacher has had to cover most of their airfare themselves, has had to share a room (not a burden when on vacation, but when teaching it's necessary to get a full night's sleep) and may be further obligated to attend fashion shows and banquets when they really need to rest. It's something to consider. East Coast / West Coast Atlanta in APRIL! I'll be in Atlanta teaching a three great shops the weekend of 4/11 - 4/13. I've taught before at Main Street Yarns and the Whole Nine Yarns, but this will be my first time at Knitche! Here's what I'm teaching:
Portland in APRIL Then home for a week, and I take off in the opposite direction for Portland, OR! It's my first time in this city, I've heard is quite beautiful, and I'm VERY excited! I'll be teaching at Abundant Yarns and Knit Purl, alternating between the two venues. Here's my Portland schedule
Spring into Summer Moving ahead I have some excellent teaching engagements coming up - I'm very excited about all of them! I'll be heading back to Virginia, Missouri (new ground for me) and returning to a favorite state, Michigan! But - best of all - I'll be teaching at Shepherd's Harvest here in MN in May and plans are being laid for a Minnesota Lakeside Retreat!
C'mon on out and see me knit!
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Some Photo Memories of my Trip to the East Coast, March 2008       |
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©2007, 2008 Annie Modesitt