CGOA Fashion Show: Kodak Moments

Mr. Dee was in charge of taking video clips, I was in charge of taking stills and keeping all of the children models on track (Mary Beth's daughter, Kim's son, and my own two kids -- the MOST amount of children EVER appearing on the CGOA's catwalk during the Fashion Show).

The evening started out fine ... kids were good to go, and I was taking fun pictures of people at various tables when my Kodak camera started getting hot.  Very hot.  Granted it is a few years old, but "hot" is not something I've experienced with this camera before.  So, as you look at the pictures today, you'll see they start out fairly good and then start getting darker (yes, I've spent a lot of time lightening them!) and they'll start to appear a bit blury too.  The photos that were the worst I've decided not to upload at all.  (If blur and darkness excites you, I do believe AOL has an option where you can order prints; you will need to click onto the "View Larger" option which leads to their Print Store.  I've never used it so I can't say exactly how it works.)

I do need help in identifying many of the designers ... so if you know, please share that information with me.   I'm off to see what pictures are on the Cannon.

CGOA Fashion Show: "What a Hoot!"

We arrived safely home last night and have spent the day unpacking ... and many hours later, we're still unpacking.  But why should that prevent you from getting another little taste of the CGOA's Fashion Show?  It doesn't!  I have another little sample for you all to enjoy!!

But, first, let me set the scene.  Months ago, Melanie Gill, member of the International Free Form Crochet Guild put out the call for scrumbles.  The plan: to create for Brian, of Brainsbarn.com,  a freeform vest and surprise him with it at the Conference.  I contributed these pieces:

The last piece pictured on the right I had created to resemble an ice cream cone because Brian is such a sweet~heart!  (And so is his wife, Anne!) 

The plan worked!  Mel presented/surprised him with the vest at the Freeform Dinner on Friday night (I wasn't able to attend the dinner this year) and he wore it -- rather, he modeled it! -- at the CGOA's Fashion Show the next evening.

Sit back and enjoy Brian's hamming it up on the catwalk! ...

Not to be outdone by her husband, Anne wore the pink-theme freeform bra I had created two years ago for the Bravo Auction in 2006 when the Conference was in Pennsylvania -- she looked fantastic wearing it!!!   To Anne's right is her husband, Brian -- pre-vest hysteria!  {VBG}

There were a total of 29 contributors from around the world, under the vision of Melanie Gill, and the assistance of Barbara H. Van Elsen, that made this project possible.  As I receive permission to post contributors names, I will add them here:

* Bonnie Pierce, United States. Website: elegantcrochet.com & elegantcrochetfreeform.com
* Melanie Gill, United States. Contributor and Coordinator
* Barbara H. Van Elsen, United States. Website: playingwithstring.com
* Maven, United States. Website: fiberpron.blogspot.com
* Jorel Thomson, United States.
* Diane Moyer, United States. 
* Myself, Dee Stanziano, United States.

"Crochet Recovery Retreat"

I still have not returned home from the Conference. We spent yesterday touring around in Maine, requiring me to call the
"Getting Loopy Show" from a restaurant parking lot last night! (see pic below on left)
 

At this moment I'm not sure where I am other than it being a Holiday Inn hotel, possibly in Massachusetts. My sweet Mr. Dee is calling this place an oasis; a "crochet recovery retreat" for me to recharge my batteries after a very fun week of taking classes, teaching classes, spending time with my old and new friends, and so on.  I'm looking at this as an opportunity to explore the world around me -- and possibly for arranging a pit stop at WEBs (a really, really huge yarn shop) on the way home. More conferece details coming soon! :)

The 2008 CGOA Fashion Show: National Conference

This year I thought I would offer a little video from a few of the wonderful items modeled on the catwalk.  Drew, The Crochet Dude, was the emcee.  Modeling are Doris Chan, Melanie Mays, and Lily Chin:

(Hey, this took me all morning to put together rather than packing luggage; I hope you all like it!)

My hotel check-out time is quickly approaching; so photos will be added later. For a post-conference review, I'll be on the Getting Loopy show tonight with Mary Beth Temple. Be sure to tune in!!  :)

Chain Link: Day Four

Before I go into details about Day Four, I want to answer the question of what "Chain Link" is.  Chain Link is the original name for the Crochet Guild of America's conferences.  It was changed to "Knit and Crochet Show" when the conference was combined with the Knitting Guild's regional conference.  Those that have been members of the Crochet Guild of America before the merge still refer to the conference as "Chain Link."  :)

So, how was day four; my second day of teaching at the conference?  My second day teaching was another accomplished milestone for me -- teaching my first six hour class at the conference -- and I enjoyed every minute of it!  This class was called "Crochet Your Knit" and I had a great bunch of students willing to rethink concepts about crochet, about hook placement, yarn overs, and more.  We discussed crochet hooks, and even adored Margaret's beautiful crochet hook collection! 

During our lunch break I ran into Anne and Brian of Brainsbarn.com, and knowing my students' passion for hooks, I invited Brian to stop by the classroom.  (Brian was the creator of the Commemorative Crochet Hook for this year. When our class resumed, I showed my students the special Giraffe crochet hooks Brian had worked on for me -- it was fun showing them these huge hooks from my collection.  Brian later stopped by and answered a few questions about crochet hooks for Tunisian crochet; my students were delighted he did!

After class it was time for everyone to get ready for the Fashion Show ... details for that coming soon ...

Chain Link: Day Three

Wow.  How do I start describing how I felt the minute I woke up?  Thrilled, nervous, excited, jubilee ... this was the day, my first day of having a dream come true, teaching at the Crochet Guild of America's National Convention.  And today was that day!

The first class I taught was Crochet 101.  And I had the best students!  They all progressed quickly and confidently from chaining to making various stitches.  We covered keeping stitches straight, increasing, decreasing, joining yarn on, ending off, abbreviations -- they were great!  One of my students spent some 31 hours in an airport waiting to come to Chain Link; the wait was caused by the severe weather New Hampshire had been experiencing.  She said at the end of my class that the wait was worth it!  That was such a compliment!

Teaching my second class, Pushmi Pullyu, went well too!   Later in the evening, while attending the Annual Members Meeting several people came up to me and said they heard good things about this class and wanted more information about it.   The positive second-hand feedback put me on cloud nine as that means that not only did my students enjoy this new concept, but they're telling other people about it.  Awesome!

After teaching my second class and attending the Annual Members Meeting, I attending the Chapter's Coffee meeting.  It was great hearing about what other Chapters do.  Very inspirational, and I will be bringing some of their ideas back to my Chapter when I return home.

And now it's time for Day Four to begin ...

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

Chain Link: Day Two, cont.

 I am experiencing some technical difficulties this morning with my blog -- the Day Two blog entry was much, much longer, complete with pictures.  I will edit this space later with more information.  For now, I've got to get ready to teach my first --ever-- class here at the Conference!  :)

OK, where did I leave off? Ah, yes, Mary Beth had helped me with the Crochetville sound byte ...

Soon afterwards I met my family in the hotel lobby -- they were soaked! While I was having fun in class and in the lobby, my husband and kids went to see a local baseball game. They got to watch seven innings before the rain came -- and boy! did it ever! The hotel had to move guests to different rooms because it was coming through windows, even leaking through the bottom floor where the corridor is that leads to the Vendors Market (they had huge towels rolled up to absorb the water coming in from out side).  There were even funnel clouds and tornadoes reported.

I missed the majority of the meeting where they announced the winners of the Design Contest, but I did make it to the opening of the Vendors Market where Mary Beth did a live Getting Loopy show from the CGOA's booth.  ((I was her first guest!))  There are lots of yummy items to buy, which is where I bummed into Kim Guzman -- she had that glow about her, you know, the one where you just purchased the world's yummiest yarn ...

There was another "after hours" gathering in my hotel room ...

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_5