Weebug Knits

I'm back. I had a wonderful time. It will take a while to process, plus an amount of time where I am actually at home longer than 12 hours to be able to blog about the classes that I took. One of the things that are in process in my poor tired brain is the incredible feeling of community that was well evident this year. Madrona Fiber Arts Winter retreat has grown from a small local event, to something much larger due to the the power of sharing over the internet. Fiber folk from all over now attend and it is an opportunity to meet and connect with fellow bloggers and ravelry members as well as friends from home.

As I flitted from group to group, spending time with many people, I found myself reflecting on the warm sense of community and friendship that this annual retreat brings me. Every year I room with the same person, a wonderful friend that I first met when I was newly pregnant with Fiona and she was about to give birth to her second daughter. At the time neither of us knew that the other knit, we were busy with babies and the care and feeding of them. As our children grew older we would meet at swimming and watch as our offspring splashed in the pool and we began to realize that we had other connections besides our children. This winter retreat has become an annual event that we both look forward to for a time to reconnect and take time from our busy lives for the care and feeding of ourselves and our artistic muse. And it is truly wonderful to spend time with a friend, catch up with other friends, then check back without feeling the least bit guilty for having done so. I am already looking forward to next year. Loren, (sadly blogless) you are a fantastic roommate and a treasured friend.

This year, after hearing Syne Mitchell's voice on Quirky Nomads numerous times, and knowing that she would be teaching, I really wanted to meet her. At the teacher's gallery I did so and wandered off feeling a bit more connected with the cyber world that I live in. The next day, she came up to me, and commented on my sweater. I had forgotten that we were both in a spinning class a few years ago, and I had given her my sweater (that I had knit) to try on. Up until that time she had been intimidated by the thought of actually knitting a sweater. Somehow that event convinced her that she could indeed knit a sweater and off she embarked to further her own knitting adventures.

The favor turned full circle this year. She had the opportunity to thank me for the inspiration and I had the opportunity to try my hand at some weaving. Needless to say, I suspect that I will be embarking on a bit of weaving myself.