I'm back from the IOLI Lace Convention. I have to say, anybody who didn't go missed a wonderful time. It was great being able to have a single class all day instead of having to bring twice as much equipment and switch between techniques every day.
I agree with Robin that the convention did mostly go well and was enjoyed by everyone who went, from all reports. I also enjoyed having only one class on a given day, as I could leave my pillow and equipment in the room during lunch break and not have to lug everything back and forth for each half day session. I actually took a single 24-hour class (6 hours on 4 days), so this would have been the case under the other format, but if I had taken two different 2-day classes, I would have liked having them run for 2 full days each without switching between the different classes each day.
Sure, there were a few glitches, but no more than any other convention I've been to (IOLI or other). I hope the Denver (and future) committees are able to duplicate the mailboxes and newsletters--they were so handy, both to get info and to contact each other.
I was able to get a notice in the newsletter for the Tuesday evening (after the teacher's showcase) Arachne gathering, so having this was a good idea from my perspective, too. We had about 10 or so folks show up, and had a good time conversing -- two of the Arachnes discovered that they had grown up in the same town in England, Wimbledon.
We were well fed with an opening reception/dinner, the Taste of PA dinner, afternoon breaks with fresh-baked cookies and fresh fruit, breakfast buffet two mornings, pie and cake at the Thursday night "IOLI-O" (aka Bingo) games, and of course the banquet. Another innovation was having music before and, for a short while, during the banquet. The banquet show (Amazing Amos, the world's foremost Amish illusionist) was the most entertaining entertainment in a long time. However, he was upstaged by Liz Bartlett and Greet. IOLI-O was a lot of fun, too, but I'm biased--I won 4 games.
Another innovation that was really appreciated was the Tuesday night Teacher's Showcase, to have a chance to see all the different laces that the faculty were teaching this year, and for program chairmen to take home ideas for teachers to come to their guilds. This is something that has long been a staple of various embroidery/needlework seminars, but I believe it was a first for IOLI convention. IOLI-O was a fun evening, but it would have been even more fun if certain people hadn't hogged all the prizes! :-)
I can't speak for anyone else, but I sure had a good time and I'm so glad I was able to go.
Ditto!!
-- Mary, in Baltimore, MD [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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