Things I Have Learned While Traveling.

This past week, I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for TNNA (It's a Needle Arts Association meet-up) to sign books and see other designers and yarnies and pretty much anyone else who is interested in making a living in these-type arts/businesses. I always know what to expect at these things--well I used to not know what to expect but now I do--and it is actually a lot of fun but tiring too, especially if you're someone like me who doesn't enjoy traveling alone.

First and foremost: The event was great. I got to see some designer friends who I only get to see at these meetings and I loved talking with literally hundreds of shop owners and other attendees for whom I signed books.

Second and most top of mind, to quell my fear of flying and being in situations that make me scared, I decided from the get-go that I'd take a mental note of the things that amuse me while I did whatever it was that I had to do. Not necessarily knit-related, either. Sorry. Knitting is a biggie for me but other things are more interesting sometimes. I mean, really: All we have is knit, purl, knit through back loop, purl through back loop, knit one below, purl one below, twist to the left, twist to the right, ssk, k2tog (the hardest one to type), make one, knit front and back . . .

Oh Wait: Maybe I should take my last assertion back. We have plenty to think about beyond knit and purl. Probably at least as much as an Olympic diver has to worry about while standing on that really high platform wearing teeny tiny Speedos. Har. Please don't get me started.

If you go to the Burbank Airport it is best to have wine before you go through security. Otherwise, you may not get the opportunity to talk up two friendly strangers from north of Bakersfield picking up a niece. Not such an unusual thing, except they hadn't traveled and were both carrying luggage. She ordered a Singapore Sling.


If you're in the window seat on the second leg of a long journey don't fall for the guy smushed in the middle of you and the guy on the isle who claims he's starving. I fell for it and handed him a packet of the black pepper crackers that came with my eight-dollar "fruit and cheese plate." He proceeded to pass wind to the tune of black pepper for the next hour. When he grumbled how hungry he was again, I again handed him the other packet of crackers that came with the "meal." This time a nice buttery flavor. Take a wild guess what happened for the next two hours.


Wait a day before you exclaim to the bartender "Wow! Those Garden Association Folks are really rowdy!" until after the next night, when the knitters actually arrive and settle in. The knitters totally blow the gardeners away. And I'm serious when I write this.


Hide your iPad in your dirty pajamas when you leave your room at the Hyatt Regency, Columbus.


If you happen to be in Columbus during the the local festival ComFest, you might want to skip it. People go semi-naked. And let me tell ya, I'm pretty sure Megan Fox and/or Levi Johnson don't attend ComFest. I confess I was warned by the locals.


On the way home, specifically on the first leg and longest of your journey, pray that you don't get stuck sitting next to the gal reading "50 Shades of Grey." (Bold and italic intentional. Really, really intentional.)

The End.

Here's me signing books at the Unicorn Booth. In total Wendy Fashion, I forgot to ask anyone to take pics until the thing had ended. So, after everyone left, I found my tech editor, Sue McCain, and asked her to look interested in what I was doing.

BTW: Head on over to Jimmy Beans Wool. They're having a book giveaway of Custom Knits 2.