I Was Away at PLY Away

So, I was one of the lucky ones who participated in the First Annual PLY Away spinning retreat. I taught workshops on Saturday and Sunday. What a delightful experience.

Of course I took advantage of the vendor hall, purchasing a lovely support spindle, some hemp (which I plan to spin/weave/knit into kitchen curtains), some silk to spin just for me, some merino for a future project inspired by Lake Michigan, and some supplies that I’ll be using in workshops this summer.

Other highlights: the goody bag awaiting me upon arrival (t-shirt, snacks, and more!); gifts from attendees (Thanks, Terri, for the beaded threader. And thanks, Maja, for the sea salt and toffee.); Chris Pappas’s talk at the banquet about the first spinners (she’s an archeologist); and the amazing lightning storm that I watched on the last leg of my flight home.

But the most wonderful thing about this particular adventure was that I connected with so many pleasant, cheerful, happy, generous, delightful people. The folks who took my workshops were amazing, wonderful, attentive, full of good questions. I couldn’t have asked for better company. So, thank you: Kandys, Andrea, Marte, Catherine, Marci, Teresa, Barbara, Brian, Rachael, Robbin, Susan, Leanna, Patsy, Tove, Becky, Grace, Janine, Karen, Lynn, Joan, Teresa, Pamela, Joan, Karen, Laura, Susan, Deborah (and thanks for the book recommend), Kathleen, Karen, Tara, Rachel, Kris, Suzanne, Laura, Jamie, Evelyn, Natasha, Maja, Irene, Barbara, Barbara, and Janette.

I also had some authentic conversations with other airline passengers, with hotel employees, with other instructors, with vendors, and with friends old and new.

This was truly an event made especially special by the people who were there. Fiber Folks Rock!

I failed to take any photos while I was there. So, here are some photos I took of the garden when I returned home. Notice that there are no pictures of snow.