First things first… this is my 1000th weblog entry. I started on November 28, 2002, my own birthday. What a gift I gave myself!

I am not tired of this yet, I love having a blog. You guys make it really worth doing! Thanks for tuning in. Last I checked, I was getting over 800 visitors who were actually looking for this blog, each day. I am honored and humbled. You are appreciated.

I am at Michigan Fiber Festival (MFF) and having a great time. Vicki said hi to me yesterday when she recognized me from online. I also ran into a friend of a Mid-Michigan Knitting Guild friend. She recognized me from our mutual friend’s description of me (and my pile of socks on my classroom table, since she knew I was a socknitter).

Yesterday I taught Polymer Clay-Enhanced Fiber Tools. I had six people, two of whom I knew. We had a wonderful time, indeed, and made beautiful things. I took photos but I can not post them from this public library computer, so you will have to see when I return home.

Today I taught a whirlwind toe-up sock class, and the folks were just wonderful. I tell you what, at MFF they call a half day three hours! Four would have been more leisurely but the students said they were quite happy and I am thrilled about that!

We made what I called a “Frankensock” in class. We did the toe, skipped the foot and went directly to the heel flap and heel turn and gusset decreases. We also discussed binding off and optional cuff treatments. We did not have time to knit a foot or a cuff, but they got my nine-page “FirstTime Toe-Up Sock” pattern to take home, with lots and lots of pictures to help them remember what they did in class.

At least one of my students from today will also be in my tomorrow’s Basketweave Rug Class. That class is nearly full, and I had a few folks ask about it in today’s class so maybe it will burst! I hope so. I usually teach that class in 3 hours so that will work out great.

Tonight the vendors are delivering and setting up. I always have such a good time saying hi to all the vendor friends I’ve met in previous years. Kim from Yarn Garden and Joan from Heritage Spinning are the two yarn shops where I teach, which will be represented. I will also look forward to seeing the great folks at Ellen’s Half Pint Farm and Traci Bunkers of Bonkers! Fiber.

My roommate this year is Chad Alice Hagen, a feltmaker with two books under her belt. We met on the feltmakers email list, though we have not corresponded directly before now. What fine work she does!

Today I had a short talk with Beth Brown-Reinsel, she’s so busy after a week at Stitches and now in the middle of a full week. We will hope to talk briefly at lunch perhaps tomorrow.

I’ll try to check in again before I get back to Lansing. Meanwhile know that I ran a special on Socknitters’ email list (which I am also offering to you loyal readers). No shipping fees in the US or Canada, if you order while I’m gone at MFF. I’m shipping out on Monday, anything ordered through midnight Sunday. Check out either patterns, yarn, rovings or ColorJoy Stole Kits for free shipping if you are interested.

Since I can not post new pics today, I’m showing the Norwegian Mitten I knit in Beth Brown-Reinsel’s class in March of this year. It still does not have a partner, but it is a beautiful thing. Funny, I nearly always finish two socks, but this mitten required a full day of being glued to a chart. I just don’t feel I have the leisure to sit for a full second day, so there it sits.