I know – it seems like Spring Fling was ages ago! (April 21-25). And here we are, just getting to the recap and contest. Life has been a little a lot crazy for the past few months. But we loved having so many of you here for the Fling and we sure appreciate all of the lovely notes and emails you have sent since you arrived back home! Here’s a little recap, with a contest (and a reminder) at the end:
Although the Fling starts on Thursday, quite a few Flingers arrive a day earlier. We had Franklin Habit do his B is for Purl talk about historic knitting patterns on Wednesday night for anyone (Flingers or locals) who wanted to attend. I left wondering why anyone in their right mind would want to tackle knitting an antique knitting pattern. (Seriously. ????)
Both Wednesday and Thursday during the day we had fun hosting some of the Flingers for shopping and knitting on the red couches. (And I had fun doing color consults for several people!)
Thursday evening we had a lovely lovely dessert reception with delicious choices and no photos. sigh. And Franklin did his Five Women, Five Shawls talk, about shawls he had designed in honor of five women in his life. Interesting talk and beautiful shawls.
Friday brought the beginning of classes and shopping trips to Loopy. We had Franklin, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Joanna Johnson and Marilyn King as our Fling teachers this year, and had great feedback from all of the classes. They did an amazing job.
I like to go on the Loopy trips (even though I am always sorely tempted to sign up for the great classes that are going on at the hotel.) It’s SO fun to have everyone wandering the aisles, helping each other with color choices, and then hanging out and knitting on the red couches until the shuttle bus returns.
Friday night is dinner on your own and then knitting in the knitting lounge – always fun! And at the end of that evening, that’s where my part of the story ends. I woke up during the night with such a pain in my lower back that I thought I must have kidney stones. (I have never had them, but I have heard they “are more painful than anything else” and that’s what this felt like. I could barely get out of bed.) A quick trip to the ER on Saturday morning showed no kidney stones, but my sciatic nerve causing the pain and numbness down one leg. (Never had that before either. Never ever ever want it again.) Since I couldn’t sit up or walk, I was sidelined for the rest of the weekend. And I was SO SAD!!!! But the fun went on just fine without me. 🙂 More classes and Loopy shopping trips on Saturday during the day.
Loopy Elf Michael went above and beyond the call of duty by heading to the hotel to take the group photo on Saturday late afternoon. It looks like almost everyone made it to the photo shoot. It’s always hard to get everyone looking up at the same time, though.
Fortunately, Web Guy and Knitting Daughter did a grand job (from what you all tell me) with the doorprizes and wrapup on Saturday night, with a little help from Claudia for prize distribution to the different winners. (That means running the prizes to the different tables. She’s quick!) We had such lovely donations from many wonderful companies, and it was fun to give all of that away.
A huge shout-out and thank you to Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Dream in Color, Cascade, Malabrigo, Soak, Lorna’s Laces, Shalimar, HiyaHiya, George Sichterman Woodwork, Atenti, Appalachian Baby, Kelbourne Woolens and Blue Sky Alpacas for their generous donations! And to my friends Sheryl (who takes off work to help at the Fling) and Janice (who flies in from Iowa to help at the Fling) for being on-location at the hotel, making sure everyone was happy and everything ran smoothly each day! And to my friends Claudia and Maria for popping over from Germany to help and hang out with us all weekend as well. So wonderful to have them all here!
And that brings us to the contest. I have one Goody Bag that I saved for a blog drawing. It even includes the special Loopy coffee mug that we gave out to all in attendance on Saturday night. Who would like it? Leave a comment below and we’ll do the drawing next week and will ship the whole thing off to some lucky person!
Our next Fling is scheduled for October 5-8, 2017. (All of the September weekends are already booked there for 2017. FPS.) We will have more wonderful teachers, fun classes, happy shopping trips, and another great goody bag for you, and we hope you all can attend!
One last thing – Camp Store Week One ends tomorrow (Wednesday, May 18th) so if you’d like a discount on Project One Yarn or Fabric, get those final orders in. And if you signed up for Camp Club, be sure to check out with your first month’s kit, which is in your shopping cart.
Sheri anxiousforthenextFlingtoarrivesinceImissedoutonhalfofthisone!
The Spring Fling was my first knitting retreat but it will not be my last. I am already hoping to win the lottery for the fall fling in 2017.
Much appreciation for all of you involved with Fling. So glad you are feeling better. It was so much fun meeting everyone and learning from each other. I learned from great teachers and fellow Flingers. The Loopy Ewe has a huge heart and generously shares with all of us who love to knit, crochet, spin, and sew. There is plenty of joyful love packed with this Goody Bag.
Since I couldn’t go to the Spring Fling, I would love to have a little bit of the fun!
Sorry to hear about the sciatica. Keep moving; walking & hiking help me when it flairs up. Plus a standing desk. What a great fling-sorry I missed it this year. The Stars were not aligned.
Hoping to make the next fling. Whee!
One of these years i will get to Fling! Fingers crossed! What a great group of teachers you had!
The Fling sounds like a great time! I hope your sciatica resolves very soon! The goody bag looks fabulous!
I hope you are feeling better!! The goody bag looks wonderful!
So sorry I missed the retreat – I was depressed about it all week! But family needs had to come first. Hopefully will get a lottery spot in 2017!
I missed putting my name in for the lottery this time around but since I got to go to the one before this, I am OK but I missed it tremendously Hopefully I will get to go in Oct of 2017.
Fling sounds wonderful! So happy that you feeling better now.
Glad you are feeling better! What a great time it looks like by everyone!
Sounds like everyone had a great weekend! So sorry you missed it. One day maybe I’ll be able to commit and make the lottery. Would love to win the bag!
It sounds like a good time was had by all (except for you, after your sciatica-boo!).
Thanks for saving a goody bag! Fingers crossed!
Farflegirl
I would adore it!
Looks like fun – I hope to be able to go one of these years!
One Fling ago in 2014 and what fun I had. I will put my name in the hat the next time because this is a top notch weekend.
It’s wonderful reading about the highlights from Fling — I truly miss not being able to attend. Maybe next year?…
Could use a little fling this spring lol
First the fires Now the rain and possibly snow this Victoria Day long weekend
Spring in the Canadian North hahaha
I love you, The Loopy Ewe!!!!
Sorry you had to miss half of your own party! Hope I can make it one year myself. Sure sounds like fun!
I would love to go to the Fling some year. We get to “know” each other through but it would be great to talk to each other in person. Getting a gift from Fling would be the second best to attending Fling in person
What a good Goody Bag! Maybe someday I’ll get to be a Flinger, too!
Would love to make it to fling. Maybe someday.
A trip to the Fling is still on my to-do list. But I’d settle for just a visit to TLE 🙂
I would love a fling parcel! How fab!
I would love to be a Flinger at an upcoming conference. After hanging around Loopy Groupies on Ravelry, it would be great to meet some of them in person.
Looking forward to October 2017!
Fling looks like such fun, I hope to attend some day. In the meantime, I’d love a spare goody bag. Hope the sciatic trouble calms down!
I couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable time. My first Fling. Awesome job , from sign up to arriving and getting those wonderful gift bags, to meeting you, meeting so many talented women. The comfy feel of the Venue , the food, and the classes. Great teachers and information shared. Then, the trip to Loopy Ewe, beyond my imagination. So many great yarns to choose from. Your staff or elves as you say we’re so helpful and kind. . A experience i will never forget. I have to say I hope I am chosen back in fall. Thank you
Spring Fling looks like it was tons of fun. And so does that goody bag. Include me in the drawing.
One day, I’ll make it out there 🙂 Looks like everyone had a blast.
Oh, what fun. And thanks for sharing with those of us that couldn’t attend.
Hope that your sciatica has responded to whatever treatment you had. Please be sure to lift safely, and watch those “twists” with heavy packages. I have been there; I have done that…and it gives you a whole new appreciation to the pain of sciatica!
I wish I could make it to a fling! They sound soooooo fun!!
Sorry I missed Fling this year. It’s going on my calendar for 2017 so I don’t double/triple book again!
Oh the fling sounds soooo fun!
3 of us will be heading to Estes Park Wool Festival from Arizona next month, but we ALWAYS make a detour to Loopy Ewe first! It is the start of our vacation to walk though your door, talk about setting the mood!
Would love to wind the goody bag.
I visited the store when in town over Christmas holidays, and it was amazing. I hope to make it to a Fling one of these years and experience even more Loopy Ewe magic.
Wow! Fling sounds like so much fun! I will have to consider coming from Iowa to attend next year. I would love to have the goody bag. So sorry you were sidelined–sounds painful–hope you are on the mend.
Take care of yourself!
Sounds like so much fun. Wish I could have been there!
Who wouldn’t want that goody bag! Hopefully next fall I’ll be able to come to the Fling!
Sounds like a wonderful event. Wish I could have been there. But, definitely putting it on my bucket list!
Mahalo.
I had a wonderful time at Spring Fling with my friend, Linda. Loved the classes, the visit to the store and especially meeting Ravelry friends. The more I reminisce, the better it gets. Hope to do it again in 2017.
I would love to come to the fling one year!
Had a really marvelous time in Colorado with my good friend, Carol and all the other “Flingers”. Always impressed by women from all around the world coming together to enjoy their craft. Wonderful. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Fling 2017 and promise, Carol and I won’t miss the picture next time!!!
Linda D.
I would love to attend Fling! So sad I need to wait soooooo long for the next opportunity. I love all my treasures from the Loopy Ewe…and would welcome this Goody Bag!
One year I’ll make it to Fling! Maybe Spring 2018?
Would love to visit TLE in the fall of 2017. So until then this goody bag will have to do!!!!
Ooooh, prizes! (And ouch on the sciatic nerve! Have you tried a chiropractor? I had the same thing happen on a vacation to Canada years ago and started going to the chiropractor. She saved me! No more sciatic pain.)
Hope your back is feeling better. Hoping to make a Spring Fling one day! Thanks for the chance to win a goodie bag anyway…
Some year, I WILL get to Fling!! It looks like it would be so much fun!