T minus 4 days

I leave Tuesday for Chain Link. I am so excited about this! It seems like just yesterday it was months away and now it's less than a week!

All my work-related stuff is done. Portfolio put together, design concepts sketched, swatched, and assembled. Now I just need to finish this one top and start and finish another one. No pressure. Oh, and make a gift for the gift exchange. :) But that's okay, my idea for it is really fast so if nothing else, it'll get done while we're waiting for our connecting flight.

I've got a busy couple of days ahead of me. Today I need to finish this top. Tomorrow we need to do our running around that we typically do on Sunday because I'm going to Stitch n Pitch with my parents, my brother, and my niece. I'm really excited about this because even though I taught her to crochet years ago, she's finally expressing an interest in really learning. So she'll get to learn how while we're at the game. And I'll get to spend an afternoon with her.

Monday will be last minute laundry, packing, and cleaning the studio (I want to come home to it nice and clean). We leave for the airport early on Tuesday and our flight is around 10:30. Margarita's mom will be flying out about an hour prior to us, so we want to make sure we're there to see her off as well.

I will be trying to post each day while at Chain Link. I cannot guarantee I will be able to do it (who knows what kind of fun things will be happening each night!). However, I will be Twittering the entire time, so feel free to either follow me (@TracieCrochets) or read the side bar here for details. :) I do promise a follow up post with photos and such if I don't get to it while I'm there. Granted, I won't tell you everything 'cause, well, what happens at conference stays at conference. :) I've learned well already!

Oh, and CLF members, or those interested in being CLF members....find me at Chain Link for some nifty things from Fearless Leader. I am her faithful minion and ringleader at this event since she won't be there.

I will try to post again on Monday to show off my latest project and Stitch n Pitch, if I have time. Have a great weekend!

Getting ready for Chain Link

The first thing I'm super excited about is I just got a new pair of shoes. I spent a bit more than I typically would have on shoes, but John and I agreed that it's worth it to get a good pair. So I went through Clarks (he shops from them for work shoes and loves them). Picked up a pair of their Un.Structured line called Un.Whirl. I picked them because they're Mary Jane style and I wanted shoes that would show off my crocheted socks. Why yes, I am buying these specifically for wearing at Chain Link to show off socks. :)

Wanna see?



See how well they show off my socks? And they're super comfortable right out of the box. I read so many reviews to find a pair that would be comfortable for walking. And these are. The socks I have on are my thickest crocheted socks, and so while they're a bit snug, I know they'll be fine with the rest of them.

Today has been spent putting the finishing touches on my notebook for Chain Link. I learned from Dee at Crochet With Dee, that having a notebook prepared and ready is really great. Here is her post explaining it. I thought I'd show you mine.

This is the front of my notebook. I created a schedule for both Margarita and I that shows where each of us will be for the week. Makes it easy to figure out if we'll be available if the other wants to do something.



In the inside pocket I currently have my credentials, my travel info, and an envelope to put $5 in for a commemorative pin. The travel info and credentials will move to my planner so I have it in my carry on while traveling. :) The binder is a bit heavy and I don't know yet if it'll go in the carry on or not. My design concepts book and portfolio are going in my carry on because I don't want to lose them. :)



I like having spiral notebooks rather than just loose leaf paper. So I bought 3. Okay, maybe a bit of overkill, but I can carry one around at a time. I didn't want to just do one in case I ended up taking a bunch of notes at Professional Development Day. I have dividers for each section of things that I'm going to (PDD, PDD lunch, PDD afternoon breakout sessions, my Thursday class, and my Friday class).

Here's a shot of my spiral notebook in there:



And the dividers I'm using have pockets. In the ones for my classes, I've got the graph paper I need and an envelope for my materials fee. Now I won't have to scramble the day of to make sure I have cash.



And the first page under each class divider is the printout of the class description. I also have a post-it with a list of what I need to pack for the class.



I also got a pencil pouch because I need my colored pencils for one of my classes. This seemed the easiest way to carry them.



I also have these magazine holders. I'm going to take a few along with extra sheet protectors.




So, that's my tour of my conference notebook. :) I also printed my portfolio today and got it all ready. It's neat to see all my work in one location. I also started swatching today for the designs I'm taking to show.

I also had ordered a shirt and tote bag with the commemorative logo on them. I'm stealing another of Dee's ideas (hey, she comes up with great ideas!), and I'm going to get some pens to write on the bag. It's going to look like yearbook day while we're at Chain Link, many of us are going to run around and grab signatures from our fellow members on our bags.



I love the bag as it's wider and not quite as deep as my other one I got from Cafe Press. So this will be my carry bag while I'm there. I'll likely roll it up and put it in my suitcase or my carry on for traveling. It'll all depend on where it fits best. I thought of taking my rolling yarn tote for my carry on, but I don't want to have to fight with it and my suitcase. So instead, I'm looking to take John's old laptop backpack (it's too small for his current laptop) so I can carry my laptop and two notebooks. I'll carry a sock in my "personal" bag I'm allowed. And yes, I do have my packing list started. :)

Have a good weekend everyone! Mine will blissfully be spent here at home as we don't have anywhere we have to go. The last two weekends were tied up with family things. So I'll be crocheting away while home.

It's here!

Today I got a nice surprise via UPS. My copy of Granny Square Wear!!!

See, here's the cover:



And let me just say how excited I am about this book. See, to me, it's a book because it has a spine. An actual spine! :D Yes, it's the little things that thrill me!

Look, here's my name:



And here are the beautiful pics that are in the book:



There are another 8 patterns in the book and they're all fabulous! I'm among great designers and that makes me happy.

Hooray!

Hey, remember this?



Well, I can now tell you what it turned out to be....




It's in the new book out by Annie's Attic called Granny Square Wear. Now I will be stalking the mailbox for my copy to show up.

This is a fun project and I'll be wearing one at the Fashion Show at the CGOA conference. And for an idea of how long it took me to make it, I did the sample in a day and a half while at a "grownup slumber party".

Okay, I have to get back to work. Another project due to go out the door by the end of the week. Later....