where do I begin? MDSW 2008

Have you ever read about an event for years, and imagined it in every detail - how much fun it must be, how many people are there, ooh the lovely yarn. Sheep to pet! Just how smooshy is cormo, anyway? So many questions.  And then maybe you get the chance to go, for work, because you work for the best company in all the land, and it was way better than you even thought it could possibly be? Like, to the point where you can't even believe what an amazing weekend you had - busy, fun, and overwhelming? And maybe you meet tons of people, and take tons of pictures and keep thinking, "great! I will totally have the best blog entry in all the land!"  And then three whole weeks pass and you don't even log in to your blog to look at the stats, much less try and write anything...  does that ring a bell?

 Um. Yeah.  Welcome to my belated 2008 Maryland Sheep and Wool recap.

 First, for all the official Ravelry MDSW Funtimes, please check out the Ravelry blog entry... that was written as a team, so - I have sort of blogged MDSW already. ;) But reading the Ravelry blog post gives an idea of the "holy cow this is just amazing oh my gosh I'm overwhelmed and happy" feeling that stayed with me the whole weekend.  I've helped out at two past events/tradeshows in which Ravelry has participated: TNNA Long Beach and Stitches West - but as a volunteer.  This was my first official Ravelry event, and it was delicious madness.  The Ravelry blog gives the details about the meetups (fun! crazy! crowded!) and the party (it seriously was a great party)... but of course, there were so many great moments! 

Some personal highlights, in no particular order:

People!!  Oh my gosh.  Such nice people.  People who accept me and my arms-length-picture-taking ways (seriously - I clearly have a problem). 

I got to meet so many bloggers I've read and emailed for years (Lolly! Carrioke! I have been emailing them forever!), Ravelry Helpers I've spend bajillions of hours chatting with in Help chat, nice Ravelers I know from the forums, and there were awesome knitters and spinners everywhere, high on wool fumes (well, most of the actual fumes were from the lamb-b-ques, but let's pretend).  Nothing like meeting My People, seriously.

The service at the Bob Evans in Columbia.  I'm not kidding.  They were super nice!

Naturally, sneaking in some family time with my aunt and uncle and two cousins - I stayed with them because they live in Howard County (same county as MDSW).  It would have been great to go out a little earlier and see my Viriginia relatives (I really wish I'd gotten to see them!) but it was great to travel for work and get in some quality family time, too.

The Ravelry Party - we recapped the party already on the Ravelry blog - but I just gotta say, again: it was a blast!!  Lots of work, and worth every second.  It was so much fun!  Ravelers, fantastic sponsors, lots of drinks flowing, yummy snacks to munch on. I completely had a teary, emotional moment (in other words, I cried in front of well over 400 people!! Ack, I'm a sap) when Jess and Casey and I were standing up on the chairs, looking around the room, and thanking everyone.  It's quite something to have smiles and positive energy from hundreds of people beaming up at you.

Getting to hang out with Jess and Casey - it's fun, we talk to each other so much, but from opposite ends of the country.  Always nice that we get along so well in person, too. 

Fair food!  Cheese fries, corndogs, lemonade.  The stuff of dreams. 

An amazing weekend, a blur, a whirlwind. So many moments I want to hang on to!  Naturally I bought yarn and fiber (to be blogged in a separate entry, because I am milking it), and of course, I can't wait to spin and knit it up.  But thinking back over the weekend, what sticks out most are just the little moments, meeting people, laughing.  I barely slept, I walked until my feet hurt, and I had a great time.

Next up: I go to Boston with Jess and Casey, and learn that the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed's Hill!  Stay tuned! 

Comments

[turtlegirl76]

It was fantastic meeting you! MDSW is such a great event, having Ravelry there this year just made it that much better. I'm glad you had such a great time!

[frecklegirl jess]

hehe- yay! Was so much fun. :)

[Gudrun]

Looks like you had a blast...you and Lolly kind of look like sisters!

[Lara]

So nice to meet you, girlie!!! :) YAY S$W!!! :)

[bunnysquirrel]

love(1)

[mamie]

it looks like it was amazing. i actually fantasize about going someday then heading north to morehouse farms. is that weird?

[vismajor]

I had such a fantastic time at this year's MDS&W festival, entirely due to the meetups. It was so great to meet you in person - you're just as charming and fun in person as you are online!

[LittleWit]

It was so great to meet you in person! And I am also well acquainted with the arms length picture taking (the boy does this constantly while I am forbidden because I am too short). I hope that I get to see you again soon! :)

[GirlMeetsNeedle]

Don't feel bad. It took me forever to post a recap of my S&W too. I think it's basically because I'm a procrastinator when it comes to just about anything. Anyway, it was great meeting you at the festival and I can't wait till the next wool gathering. ;)

[Brianna]

Love your blog! You are so interesting and creative! Just wanted to say hello!

[Kristine]

MH! What a great adventure! I love all of the photos!

I tagged you for a meme, details are on my blog, if you are up for that kind of thing.

You were just at TNNA too, right?