Convergence!

Okay, now it's time for a real update.

I left my corner of Orlando to go to Mass with a few lovely friends of the family over at Our Lady Queen of the Universe. They hold daily Mass in a chapel decorated with blue stained glass windows depicting the night sky. The Shrine itself is absolutely gorgeous and hearkens back to the days of great cathedrals in Europe. If you're in Orlando visiting I highly recommend a trip over there - even if you are not particularly religious it is a sight to behold. My favorite thing about it in particular is the statue of St. Joseph and Jesus as a child.

Then we had lunch, chatted, and caught up. It was such a blessing to have a little bit of hometown up here, as sometimes I really do miss the friends of family that are pretty much extended family.

I hit the road with a satisfied and full stomach and arrived in Tampa in a bit of a rainstorm. After handing off my car to the valet, I stepped into the gorgeous hotel that the local HGA (Hand Weavers Guild of America) had picked for Convergence. I felt somewhat like royalty being greeted by at least four people and having the help of a bellman to carry up my bags.

That evening was spent having dinner with my boyfriend's Mom and her friends from where she's from. We went to the Columbia in Ybor City - a Cuban restaurant that had been there for just over 100 years! What great food, and an atmosphere that was a visual feast. Our table was in the courtyard, which looked to me like a miniature version of Vizcaya in Miami. I couldn't stop looking up at the porticoes and the elaborate decorations.

I hit the sack early and woke up early the next day to start shopping! After a hearty breakfast at the hotel I registered and was off to the vendor hall. Bought some raw merino wool to practice on as well as some butterscotch colored alpaca. The merino wool will mix nicely with the angora I've got, and the alpaca would likely be good on its own. Alpaca, by the way, is hypoallergenic, something I learned while chatting with one of the owners of Alpaca Junction - really nice couple!

Convergence also had these little one hour things called Art Sparks, so I took the Viking Knitting class to see what that was all about. Well, as it turns out, I am not so handy with jewelry wire. Perhaps one day I will undo the work I did (not so very well) and try my hand at it again. Good thing I've got some needle nose pliers on hand at home.

All in all, it was a great couple days! I'm really glad I had the chance to go and meet such great people. I found myself striking up conversations with people around me quite easily - though the fact that I was wearing my hat of many colors helped!