Monday, August 13, 2007

Thud

That's the sound of my mood hitting the concrete floor of the bunker I work in after a really lovely weekend.

I haven't much time this morning, so this is less a post than a teaser. My apologies.

The second public shooting day for 1,000 Knitters, at the Stitches Midwest 2007 Market, was a rousing success. Between 10 am and 3:30 pm (I was having such a good time I forgot to stop at three o'clock) about sixty knitters added their stitches to the scarf, including a few folks whose names you will likely recognize.

More on that tonight or tomorrow, but one thing can't wait: several thank-yous.

A tip of the lens to:
  • XRX, the fine folks who run Stitches, for allowing me to wield my camera in the Market. Lisa from Marketing, you totally did not have to spend time working on my behalf with the legal department; but you did, so your name goes on the project honor roll.

  • The dear people of Jimmy Beans Wool, who sponsored the shoot and went above and beyond by keeping me well-watered while I worked. They also allotted me the invaluable services of the wonderful Jeanne, who not only kept things running smoothly during busy moments but persuaded timid, yarn-crazed knitters who'd never heard of me to stop shopping so I could photograph them.

  • Jan, who I believe is blogless (if you're not, honey, send me the link) who sat for her portrait early in the day and went back to work at Leslye Solomon's booth, but continued to proselytize. If I heard "Jan sent me" once, I heard it a dozen times.

  • My buddy Stash Haus who sat for a portrait, came by periodically to see how I was doing, and then hung around until the very end and drove the exhausted photographer and his sink-the-Titanic load of equipment back to Boystown.

  • All of you who sat. You are making it happen. How can I ever thank you?
And no...I didn't get away without buying something. Almost, but not quite. It was a very small something. I'll show you tomorrow. For now, it's back to making bricks without straw.

46 comments:

canknitian said...

Hurray! So glad it went well this weekend!

Karen said...

The 1000 knitters project sounds awesome. If you should find yourself in the Boston area, give a shout - i would love to join in:

karen dot KVL at verizon dot net

Anonymous said...

Glad it went so well!

Anonymous said...

Keep your mood up, dear. You are doing a lovely thing. It was a pleasure and an honor to sit for you yesterday.

I may not have sent Jan's dozen people to you, but I did send several, and I'll take credit for a couple of the bigger names. (I'll let you drop them...but it was fun to send them over.)

Anonymous said...

Excellent! Now, start sniffling and coughing and go home sick. You need a little re-entry time.

Anonymous said...

It certainly was GRAND! (and so much fun!)

Carol said...

Sounds like you had your very own support team. I knew it would be a complete success!

Anonymous said...

So glad the shoot went well and so sorry I missed it....
My visit to see my daughter in Lakeview was a week too early :-(
Maybe next time....
Patty in MI ppozolo at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

This project is so cool. And I can tell it is doing great things for your state of mind (though the contrast with the rest of your life might be counteracting the positive effect somewhat). I can't wait to see more photos.

Helen said...

Thank YOU Franklin!
That was the best time I've ever had having my picture taken (though I'm curious as to why my hands were nervous on the needles). I can't wait to see the result.
At some point, you'll need to find someone whose photography you trust to photograph YOU working on that scarf!
(oh, and btw, I'd like to suggest something for your shop -- I now crave a 1,000 knitters t-shirt. Though I'd love to have it available to only those of us who've sat, that seems unfair. Perhaps a pair of knitting hands? But I'm so proud to be one of the 1,000 that I want a shirt! (or tote, or mug or....)
Just a thought for one more thing for you to do with your copious free time. LOL

Anonymous said...

Oh, you tease! Just the thought of being teased by you gets me feeling all ... oh, what's the word? I hope you can lug that big lens of yours up my way sometime soon.

Kristen said...

I'm very glad to hear the shoot went well! And sorry to hear you're struggling with your mood. I understand that one only too well. Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

If the project is still going come Stitches West next year, and you come out for it, I am so totally wanting to sit for it :)

dpaste said...

Where is your Moses now?

Wily Jeneric said...

Glad to hear it went so well this weekend. Wish I could have been there. Heck, wish I could be a part of this amazing project, but between moving from NJ to Michigan, I'm betting I'll miss any chance I might have had. Best wishes for continued success.

Anonymous said...

There's always that letdown when getting back to real life. Dang, you need a grant so you can afford to take off a year or two, travel, and work on 1,000 Knitters full time. Then a good job to come back to. That you'll enjoy. (Anyone out there write grant proposals?)

Hurray for all the wonderful helpers, sitters, and another successful bunch of sittings!

Anonymous said...

I'm so hoping that you'll make it to NYC so I can join the party. Or howabout Rhinebeck, that would be a fun place to do it. I wish I had a booth, I'd invite you!! In any case, if you need any help with an NYC location, let us know.

Unknown said...

Bricks w/o straw??? Hey. Do you with me somewhere in the hospital? Glad to hear you had a great time. I can't wait to see the end result. It's an amazing project and it boggles my mind.

Unknown said...

And that would be "do you work with me" Sorry about the typo. Thats what I get for commenting before I fly out the door to work.

sheila said...

Glad to hear that all went well yesterday! I wanted to get out to Stitches yesterday to see you and the 1000 knitters project, but couldn't, due to a family party. I had to settle with going on Saturday! Maybe I will be able to catch you at your next shoot!

katerina said...

Yeah! I'm also super pleased that you're getting so many great shots and people! I know you mentioned after the first shoot that work was not.. how to say this, meeting your expectations, but with your talent (and growing popularity) I just know the perfect thing will drop in your lap at any time! Good luck and I hope to see you at the next 1000 Knitters event! (sorry I missed this one, I went on Saturday - but I'm surprised you mentioned nothing about the other conference going on - I'm sure it provided you with some amusement!)

Anonymous said...

(sending the cyberequivalent of palaak paneer over brown basmati rice, nan, a nice hot cup o' chai, crystalized ginger covered in organic dark chocolate, and a veritable herd o' smart, good-looking men dancing)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I came to your first shoot (#49), and have been meaning to write to thank you for it... because it was a really great experience! It was a pleasure to meet you and be part of your project. THANKS!

Abigail said...

you've probably answered this somewhere already, but will you be coming to Rhinebeck in the fall, or will that be too much of a haul?

Anonymous said...

"the wonderful Jeanne, who not only kept things running smoothly during busy moments but persuaded timid, yarn-crazed knitters who'd never heard of me to stop shopping so I could photograph them."

There are knitters who've never heard of you? How sad for them.

BrownBerry said...

Franklin, the pleasure was ours! What a treat to meet you, thanks for adding us to the 1,000.

Angela said...

So glad it went well. Sorry I missed a shoot again.

bobbi said...

I was there, it was a great Event. I'm glad it worked out for you. XRX people are the best.

Tracey, in MI said...

So are you thinking about kicking it up to 10,000 knitters?



ps- my word verification is "swbut"
I prefer no reminders of my butt after a week on the beach, thank you very much.

FiberQat said...

Do you think your boss will let you take the weekend of Sept 22nd off to attend the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival? It's not as huge as Rhinebeck or Maryland S & W and has that lovely country feel to it. You would be coddled by a lovely group of men and women knitters and spinners who would attend to most of your needs, and get to sample lovely wines from the area.

Anonymous said...

The east coast knitters want a chance to be in your 1,000 knitters, so, now you have to travel to Baltimore, MD for the Stitches East event in October.

Liz in DC

Knitterary said...

Sitting for you Sunday was a real pleasure. You made it easy and relaxing. Thank you!

Theresa S.,
proud to be one of the one thousand. (Yes, we need t-shirts!)

Nana Sadie said...

YEAH!!!!
(((hugs)))

Gagi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gagi said...

Hi, Franklin! I was one of the very fortunate knitters to sit for you this weekend. I was the one who had just taken a continental stitch class and was showing off my backwards version of a Peruvian pearl. (The yarn was going the wrong way around my neck because I was doing a garter stitch.) :-)

This was a great way to memorialize my first Stitches event. I hate having my picture taken, but you made it a LOT of fun!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see the 1000 knitters project when it's done.

Anonymous said...

I sat for you on Sunday and had a great time. It was so nice to meet you! I can't wait to see all the photos.

Anonymous said...

Huzzah! So, you're coming to Flock and Fiber in Oregon, right? Right? 'Cause the queer knitter contingent from Portland would love to see ya'!

Who knows, we might even convince you to stay.

Anonymous said...

Hi Franklin!! You are too kind to mention me (Jeanne) in your notes on Jimmy Beans. I really feel like so much of the time I abandoned you, to make sure the shoppers at our booth were cared for too! You are just a great person to work with and I hope to do so again in the future. Hugs and Happy Knitting Jeanne

Freaky Knitter said...

Hi Franklin!

You are too kind to mention me (Jeanne of Jimmy Beans Wool) in you blog on the Stitches shoot! I felt like I abandoned you regularly to look in on the shoppers in the booth. It was fiber overload for sure!

I look forward to working with you again in the future! It was a pleasure.

Hugs and Happy Knitting!

Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Don't tell anyone else, but I have this secret desire to learn how to knit. Wanna show me how?

Auntie Pudentaine said...

Jeanne rocks and she said great things about you and Stitches and the whole thing. Color me jealous for the photo shoot, but if you ever make it out West.....

Flea-Bites said...

Okay, Franklin - no excuses - your next holiday WILL be in Australia - you can stay at our place and I'll help you round up the knitters, and the venues - I'll even ask my neighbours (fondly known as "the boys") to help with some matchmaking for you.

Flea-Bites said...

PS you can even bring Dolores and the sock yarn, if you like.

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