Well, Weronika... Are I.O.L.I. Conventions worth it? I don't know if I can add anything to Alice's lovely and thorough dissertation, but here is another perspective.
The first time I attended a convention it was in New Jersey in 1991. I had very recently moved from Texas to Massachusetts and missed my Texas friends horribly. We would see each other at the convention, so I was looking forward to it. I don't think I got any of the classes I signed up for, but I was so new, that didn't matter much. I stayed with a roommate they matched me with and even though we were completely different and would not have met otherwise, we had lace in common. I can remember: walking around in shock to see lacers lacing in common areas, going to lunch and joining a big table of lacemakers two of whom were debating the open or closed method (what is the open method, I wondered, what is the closed method? seeing my face, one lacemaker pantomimed the methods to me so I could follow the conversation (such kindnesses are simply the rule not the exception at these conventions)), the vending room(!) where I spent HOURS, the display room (how many hours of work are displayed? Must be thousands!), meeting teachers (I was in awe), going to the I.O.L.I. meeting, and, well, it was a very full week. It was such a positive experience I've gone to each and every one I could possibly attend since then and I have very good friends that I see only 1 -2 times a year at conventions and other lace gatherings. Lacers are such an interesting group, every year I'm amazed at all the things I learn about and hear about at convention. My little palm pilot runneth over with names of websites to visit, shops to see, places to go, books to read, teachers to take, laces to try. I find I immediately have many things in common with lacemakers; love of history, love of home, strength of conviction, a certain geekiness.... My husband asks what goes on at the conventions and I have told him we walk into the hotel and start talking and don't close our mouths until the ride home. It feels like we are talking the entire time. I never laugh so hard as I do at conventions. These women are FUNNY! To cut costs, I usually eat breakfast in the room as well as lunch some days, and probably eat dinner out only a couple times. Cheese and crackers are enough most nights. I room with at least one other person, I have shared with 4 other people (we had a cot in the room) but as my most favored roomie and I get older, we rather like to get in the bathroom when we want to, so we limit to 3 in the room now. It's really cool to get two rooms that adjoin and have 3 in each room. That way you can have a quiet room and a loud room. So, is it worth it? For me it has been. It's like walking into a world where everyone is instantly connected to you, friendships are bound to be formed. Who can put a price on friendship? Hope to see you in Denver! Lace in Peace, Laurie - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
