Dearest Steph
The word thank you, although an excellent word, simply cannot express all that I feel about the love filled gift you gave me on Friday. My dearest friend, every time I look at these lovely dream socks you made for me or think of them and all the thoughtfulness and intention, my eyes brim over with tears. And if I go back and read your post, well… I am just done in, done completely in, a veritable puddle with a heart so full it feels like it just might burst.
There is so much I love here from the color on, and what touches me the deepest is how they embody what we created, together every single stitch of it, but most especially the heart. The heart and soul…you and I.
Look what we have done Steph. I am so proud of the growth that we both had to go through in order to pull this off in the heart-filled, well-intentioned way we envisioned in the beginning. Not once did either one of us back down or give up. Not even when we were so exhausted or scared we did not know how to take that next step we did. We held each other up, supported and fed what was good and right and worked through and let go of what was not.
What I am even more proud of is that we stayed on track with each other. I thinks it speaks volumes about our friendship that it not only endured something so grand and powerful, but was deepened and enriched by it. All those things you said about me Steph are true about you. I love your strength, the strength that comes from an honest self awareness and willingness to grow especially in the middle of the fire. You are the sister of my heart and I am grateful beyond measure for you. I am glad that you are safely home now with Joe and the girls but I miss you already.
I also have pictures of you and the Dream Sock. Again us working together. Even though I had not a clue (and I do believe there were quite a few of these little clues) you would misplace your project bag with said dream sock and I would find it. So funny.
I should have picked up on the distress when you kept misplacing them. I just thought it was how you were grounding yourself and now that I think on it it you were. You were grounding us both in those socks. Holy shit woman, these are one powerful pair of socks.
That Barbara Walker and Judith and Anna and all of those wonderful knitters in our community adding stitches to these warms the cockles of my knitterly heart. That you asked them to do this for me and that you took the sock with us everywhere as a talisman of sorts, well that is the part that leaves me speechless.
As you know I am usually the one that does this sort of gifting and Steph not ever have I received a gift like this…not ever. Just so cherished.
In class even though you are not knitting on it at the time it is there waiting patiently. We searched and searched and found it in the lost and found.
Yes I do also have a picture of you and sock at the opening night reception.
And the luminary panel.
And then at our retreat where everyone knit on them and I took photos of this and still did not catch on. Seriously doubting my powers of observation here. Blaming the tired. Although I was a little suspicious and concerned a few times when I approached a group of our friends and it would get quiet. I just chalked it up to tired and sensitive.
I love that last picture in this row of you sitting there knitting happily away, you look so relaxed and peaceful.
dearest friend, partner in crime and sister of my heart,
Thank you. I like you a lot also!
p.s. I think Betsy is wonderful too, love that Cat knit on dpn’s and that Lucy added her signature hole and that you and Anna got a long visit and that our lovely friends got to shine…just shine.
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Tina,
What a wonderful gift. both yours and Stephanie posts are wonderful.
Thank you, both for sock summit. If sock summit happens again, I am there.
JoLynn
Don’t ya just love friends? They are just the best…especially when the rock the sock!
Aw, I love how you didn’t catch on about the sock. What an awesome pair the two of you make!
Thank you both for letting us see just a little of the great friendship the two of you have.
So cute that it was made for you right under your very eyes and you didn’t even know. Thanks again (and again and again) for putting your entire heart and soul into the Sock Summit. It was simply the most!
Thank you so much for Sock Summit and for all the wonderful friendships made there! The socks from Stephanie just tickles me to no end – I think it truly embodies everything about the Sock Summit!!! Hats off to you and Stephanie!!
I am completely undone with this one – I’ve held it together through all of your and Stephanie’s Sock Summit posts; didn’t cry there, either, although I came close, really close… but this just put me over the edge – thank you both again, very much, for sharing so much of yourselves throughout the process…
One-week since sock summit and I’m still getting all teary-eyed here! I remember thinking that if you had to do something like sock summit, at least you and Steph got to do it together…best friends! You both are an inspiration!! And thank you again for such a wonderful sock summit!!
I hope one of you took pictures of the post-its bonfire….hehehehehe!
You guys so rock.
And can I say, as a wee thing I always felt unbelievably ripped off that I didn’t get to go to Woodstock. My sister had the album; I listened, and I wondered and dreamed about what it was like for those who were there.
Thank you both for my Woodstock moment. Because seriously? That’s what this was. Well, except there were flush toilets, running water, and no dope. But you get my drift.
Tina, I’ve thanked Stephanie several times for the Sock Summit, but I need to thank you as well. Everything that happened during those days was so wonderful, so filled with hope and joy, that I still haven’t come down from the clouds. I can only barely imagine the incredible work and love and fear that went into the planning, and it resulted in something that was beautiful and nigh perfect. Everyone I spoke with was helpful, kind, and caring, whether it required looking for a lost earring or selling some of the most beautiful yarn I’ve ever seen.
This message is a tiny expression of my gratitude, but I hope the bottle of beer I gave you in Colorful Stitches gave a clue to my happiness.
Thank you, Tina, for being Stephanie’s partner in all of this madness that became Sock Summit. The warmth in your posts are simply wonderful and show what deep love and respect you have for each other. Would that each of us finds another with whom to share that bond.
My heart is busted right open… thank you, thank you, for every little tiny bit of the strength and honesty and sensitivity, caring, feeling, and courage… bless you Tina.
What great friends you are! What a beautiful post. And I love that you had no clue, absolutely no clue, that those socks were for you.
I adore the both of you, even though you both routinely make me cry when I read what you have written. How very special you are, to each other, and to us. Thank you (both) for sharing your friendship with us. (How appropriate… my word to type in to verify this comment? “wo39man” Love it!)
Both of you ladies are awesome!
Thanks again for a fantabulous event.
My thanks to you and Stephanie for being so generous and sharing your dreams, your process and your thoughts with us all.
Sock Summit was one of the most fantastic experiences of my life because of the love and camaraderie that suffused every part of it. I had expected it to be a great knitting event, I hadn’t expected it to be an emotional epiphany – but it was, and you guys continue to inspire me.
Many, many times, thank you.
Hi Tina. First Stephanie and now you.
My eyeliner is all smudged again and I didn’t bring my make-up kit to work.
Seriously. You are both amazing women and perfect role models for knitters of all ages. My knitting dream would be to run up to you and Steph and give you each a great big Thank-You hug. And then grin while I get escorted away by men in white coats.
Tina, I just knew that the Sock Summit would only be the beginning to something more wonderful..both Steph and you have what it take…LOVE..
I have been to many shows.etc..none would have held a candle..to The Sock Summit..many new friendships were launched..businesses..receieved a good boost..my heart has been so full..yes, some new future Luminaries were born..Wow, I looked at the luminaries, thinking to myself..I was there when they all started..It was so nice to talk with them again, after the years had past..
Yes, now I have been re-charged, excited, to see the excitement, we are going to have for the future…young people moving in a great direction.
Thank you Tina and Steph..you have been the Fire and Air to make this happen..keep burning..
Tina,
I noticed Steph knitting on that sock and wondered who was going to be the lucky recipient! I should have guessed that it was you! I want to also thank you for a “once in a lifetime” experience known as Sock Summit. My most memorable moment came at the Sock Hop when you took the time to stop by my table to just say hello. You didn’t know me or anyone else at the table but you took the time to be a most gracious hostess. My mother always said that we should always put people above all the other things in life…no matter how busy we are. You did that at the Sock Hop and also throughout the entire Summit. You never ceased to realize that it’s all about people and relationships. Bless you for that. Now go take a nap!
You two are just the best.
Thank you both for an experience beyond explanation – and believe me I’ve tried!
((((Hugs))))
Tina ((((Hugs))))) to you and a HUGE Thank You to both of you! What a wonderful time we all had! My head is still full of all the Love that was there. Hope to see you again soon.
What a wonderful gift for a wonderful person. Tina, you and Steph make quite a pair. (Quite appropriate when you think about socks. They aren’t complete until you’ve made both. Unless you’re a pirate.) Thank you for making the Sock Summit for us. We loved it and it fit like a dream. I learned so much, and met so many people. It was great to finally meet you in person. I look forward to seeing you again. =)
A friend is someone who likes you.
thanks for sharing, you and steph.
now where are the tissues…
to have the friendship that you have is truly wonderful; one can only hope to have one in a life time.
I am inspired by the friendship you and Steph share. There is something about a friendship, a sister-hood ness, and incredible trust and love that transcends stress , lack of sleep, pressures(and then more pressure)!! It speaks volumes about who you are as individuals!!! Do you know I crack up internally every time you call me ms. bang!???
Damn Tina. Now YOU’VE made me cry. You and Steph have to stop this.
.
Congratulations my dear. SS09 was fantastic and you should be bursting with pride at making it all happen. I am impressed beyond words by the event, by the work, by the fact that the teams did not poke each other’s eyes out over the stress, that you still love each other now that it’s all over with. You guys are amazing. I wanna be you and Stephanie when I grow up.
Dear Tina:
I either have to stop reading blogs or buy more kleenex. And if I can expend this many tears on an event that I didn’t even have the good fortune to attend, I hate to think of what a sorry mess I’d have been if I HAD been at Sock Summit. With much love, may I say that you and Stephanie deserve one another. How lucky you both are that you found each other. What a lovely tribute you wrote. What fantastic pictures you’ve shared. Cheers, Hazel.
I was glad to finally meet you at the Summit! (I was the one you took a photo of with the handspun Dragon Shawl…) Just wanted to say that my friends and I had an absolutely fantastic time – thank you for coming up with this grand concept and gathering such a wonderful team of people to make it a reality… Those socks are a beautiful, deeply-moving gift… and I think you most certainly deserve them. Congrats!
The SS adventure proves to me (once again) that *anything* can be accomplished by strong women, with much love and cooperation!
You and Steph are living role models of how to work together, do great things, and conduct responsible business. Thank you so much!
Now please please do it all again so I can come
Darn it, you made me cry too. Thank you so much for the work that you and Stephanie and ST-2 put into your “little adventure”. It was one of the best run events I think I’ve ever been to, and I’m still amazed that such a fabulous event was organized by a small group of dedicated women and not a big organization. You and Stephanie are truly lucky to have each other as friends, and I think the socks are a wonderful gift celebrating that friendship.
~sniff~
You and Steph have the most amazing friendship. And your recent posts have me in tears. If these are the feelings in your heart that you are willing to share with us, your knitting and reading public, the beautiful sentiments you chose to express in private to those closest to you must be simply awe-inspiring. Thank you for sharing with us, and creating SS09. Hopefully I can go to the next SS!
How very lovely. Thank you so much for taking us to the summit so graciously and with such spirit. You and that fabulous little Harlot person, what can I say. Just thanks and more thanks.
Bless you
Nan
Darn it, you guys did it again! Well, this wee weepy knitter would like to thank you once more, from the bottom of her heart, for the incredible experience that was SS09. All that intention, awareness, love, care, integrity and passion – were woven through the entire event. That’s what made it so special. I am so very grateful I was able to be part of it. Many fuzzy thanks!
It is so heart warming and down right encouraging to know that people like you exist. Whenever the
crap all over the media gets me down I think of people who create beauty. I may never get to a Sock
Summit, or meet you, et.al, but I am glad you are there. Your successes give me courage, your art
gives me pleasure. I thank you again and again. In your own small way you make our world good.
Can’t get much better than that, can it?
Carole
Thank you thank you thank you—for sharing, for SS09, for BMFA, it’s been such a joy to be able to be a part of what you have created. SS09 was a fabulous event, and judging by all the folks who didn’t make it, it could have been 4 times as big! You and Steph are so lucky to have your friendship and thank you for sharing it with us. We all should be so lucky to have such a “sole mate”. Every time I go to my stash and pull out a skein of your yarn I’ll remember SS09 and your special sox.
HA…
That really sums up while I do knit now with some of my fellow North Shore Knitters: the friendship, the complete understanding of yarn love… Nothing can beat that. And no one can understand who has gone through the yarn fumes !
Oh Tina.
My biggest regret from Sock Summit was that we couldn’t chat a bit. But, then again, I probably would have just cried anyway. Your and Steph’s energies combined into something so exponentially bigger that it is honestly hard to describe – sort of like trying to describe how large the universe is. I am so so so happy to have been included as part of it. And when I came home, I gave a dear dear friend of mine a pair of my freshly handknit socks. With love. Passing it on…
Merike
Thank you for sharing your joy.
Even when you don’t know people personally, friendship and love shines, blessing the strangers that just happen to be nearby to share the glow.
Thanks for the gift of a smile with this post and for the reminder of the anticipated pleasure of the gift of socks that I’m working on for my best friend and heart-sister, Joyce.
My thanks to you also for the Sock Summit. What a gift.
Best gift EVER and best thank EVER. You and Stephanie rock.
The love in those socks have lifted a great many hearts, and I am so glad to know about them. What a gift you two gave everyone.
I am sorry for the delay in this heart felt Thank you, but I wanted to just drop a quick line to all of you who made the Sock Summit such a wonderful experience for all of us who attended the classes and learned so much. Also who had the opportunity to purchase yarn of exquisite beauty all in one location and to to meet wonderful people. I’m sure that you have heard this all before, but it was an amazing event that we should kiss the ground you walk on for putting your hearts and sole’s (pun intended) into.
Thanks again.
Pamela Langley
Oh my goodness woman, as if you haven’t caused me to cry with joy over this Sock Summit journey!!
Here I am all teary to know I was a small part of this joyful experience. I feel as if I grew along with you and found strenght in my own endevers knowing you and Steph have managed to find your way gracefully through so many testing moments.
Cheers to the humble, albeit powerful sock. That is quite a sock!
Oh and…..the photo there of your work space is just grand!
Thank you (and YH) for letting your readers share in this exchange . . . I was not in attendance at SS09; however, hearing from those who were–nothing but knitting enjoyment (and a whole bunch of whoop-learning) was had by all!
Exceeding expectations once again! Congratulations!
It is so obvious the great frienship that you and Stephanie share. Your post brought tears to my eyes. It made me relive the wonderful SS09 event through fabulous memories
Words can never clearly articulate the thanks to you, Stephanie and your fantastic team for bringing this event to life – and so amazingly well! You all rock!