When I was in Portland at the Knit and Crochet Conference , I met a kindred spirit who is doing fabulous work with silk, wool and other natural fibers: Lisa Horner of Purple Lotus Fiber Design. (doesn’t click through yet, sorry)

Lisa dyes ‘Gourmet Art Yarn’.

Rats…. a picture does NOT do it justice….. ah well… imagine great lusciousness!

Lisa doesn’t have her website up yet, but her yarns are available at the most wonderful store:

Abundant Yarns in Portland OR. Wonderful wonderful wonderful!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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Here are her websites: elegant crochet and elegant crochet freeform

On the friday evening of the conference, Bonnie and I got giddy and disolved into giggles as I was showing her the basics of shuttle tatting:

Her students were cracking us up, and we decided that a busy table full of laughing women (at the end of a lonnnnng day) is not exactly the best place to learn something as odd as tatting.  (Tatting’s not odd, really, but there’s this weird little flip thingie that can be baffling at the best of times, and to try to catch it while in the middle of a very active social situation – well….. ahem….. )

But it was fun…..

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay

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Over the years, lots of great friendships have been formed because of a neat list on yahoo-

the International Freeform group….

Usually on the Friday evening of a conference, the freeformers will get together and it’s always fun….

There’s Bubbly Bonnie and me and darlin’ Pirk!

And gorgeous Myra and wonderful Jorel in her galaxy vest and marvelous Mel wearing colors that she doesn’t usually work with (but it turned out great)

And then we grabbed Margaret and said, “Get into this picture!”

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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One of the people on the freeform list is Beth Boshears. Beth’s bundle of joy and a real sweetie.  It was great fun to finally get to meet her…. and oh no! I didn’t get a pic of her!

Beth blew me right out of the water when she handed me ‘an apple for the teacher’ when she was taking one of my workshops.

It’s wonderful! Look at this…..

It began it’s life as a glasses case, but Beth has re-purposed it by embellishing it with gorgeous crochet, beadwork and embroidery.

And, she’s done the smartest thing inside it:

Isn’t that clever? she’s attached the scissors and needles and bobbins with magnets.

I love it. Thank you Beth!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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I arrived in Portland on Wed night (Sept 10th) and took the light rail transit into the city from the airport.

I managed to get myself turned totally around, so got completely and frazzlingly lost.

Everyone I asked for directions sent me in a different direction.

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……… dragging 2 suitcases around Portland at night is not fun!

Eventually, 3 very wonderful young Goth teenagers got me going in the right direction, and then a lovely young woman who was attempting to sign up voters helped

(come on people! You gotta VOTE!)

(I’m Canadian, and we’re in the middle of our own election, and you bet I’ll be voting…. people ~died~ so we can vote!)

um, please excuse that rant…. (but DO vote, ok?)

Anyhow, I FINALLY arrived at the hotel, thank heavens!

On Thursday, I took a workshop-

usually I am teaching in all the slots, so never get to take workshops, so this was a huge treat for me.

The workshop was Myra Wood’s self publishing class, and it was brilliant.

Myra is a genius and a delight and totally fabulous.  Here’s her website: Myra Wood

I taught a workshop in the afternoon, and had camnesia the whole day, so didn’t get pics. Sigh.

On Friday, I met up with my friend, Karen Whooley  (Karen’s blog).

I showed Karen how easy it is to spin with tiny support spindles:

It was such a treat to see Karen really Get It……

Wheeeeeeeeeee! and she took home yarn she had spun.

It’s a pity that the gentleman who took the pics for us didn’t stick around to capture the look of joy on Karen’s face as everthing clicked into place for her.

YAY  Karen!

The thing about spindle spinning, especially spinning with tiny support spindles is that you can get so much spinning done when you have a couple of wee little spindles in your bag.

Bring them out any old time, and away you spin!

Bliss.

This is one of the joyous and serrendipity moments of going to conferences.

Trading knowledge with your friends, and keeping  traditions and heritage crafts alive.

Bliss.

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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