Rather than write a chronological convention report, I'm going to write my memories of the con over a few LJ entries triggered by some of the photos I took.



Earlier this year I helped to do some cross-stitch for a Tolkien-inspired quilt to be auctioned off for pro-literacy charities at "The Gathering". The quilt was on display in the dealer's room and it really was impressive. I was very proud to have been part of the project. I got to meet Crystal Seed from Switzerland, who spear-headed the project, as well as Tarina and other stitchers who worked on the quilt. Unfortunately, I still don't know who won the quilt, though I talked to both Crystal and Tarina within hours of the draw and they didn't mention it, so I know it wasn't me :).

I had signed up to work two shifts selling tickets on the quilt and just before the con began Deb and Jodi said they would come and sit at the table with me. I asked Crystal if it would be OK if I brought my guitar down so UT could do some singing, as well, to help attract attention to the booth. Crystal's response was that if we'd do that -she'd- sell the tickets and we could stay near the booth and sing. So we did that and as a result instead of working two ticket shifts during the con UT did two impromptu concerts in the dealer's room, instead.

Giving concerts in the dealer's room allowed us to bond with some of the vendors and we teased Morwen at the calligraphy booth next to the quilt booth that she was our "sigh-o-meter", because if she sighed after we sang we knew we must have sounded good :). By the end of the con I was bartering UT CDs for some of the lovely craftwork near the quilt table- a calligraphy print of Sam's LOTR poem, "In Western Lands" and a hand-made bronze Celtic pin (see above). The cross-stitch photo above is a picture I stitched for my friend Donna (Calaquendii) to thank her for making the velvet gown I wore to the Masquerade Banquet Tuesday night. She likes horses and she likes LOTR, so the design seemed appropriate. She was very, very busy at the con shuttling the actor guests around and I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet, so I hope she liked it.

Urban Tapestry would also like to extend a special thank you to Trish, who ran the dealer's room, for being so helpful to us, helping us track down program books and movie tickets and other concom members during the con. Thanks so much, Trish!

Speaking of crafts, John did some special crafting for Jodi and me during the con, too. He designed, made and applied the Elf ears that we both wore at the Masquerade Ball Tuesday night. He made a mold of my ear here at the apartment, made a plaster impression of my ear, sculpted the point onto the plaster ear and then made several rubber ear tips which he applied and coloured in the hotel room. Jodi and I had a lot of fun wearing them! The photo above was taken by John and is one of my favorite photos from the con.

Tomorrow- Music, dancing and merry-making at "The Gathering". Today I'm heading back down to the Sheridan Hotel to meet my Alaskan pen-pal friend, Robin Russell. We're going to go somewhere to talk and catch up for a few hours and then likely off to see "Return of the King" again. You can never see a new LOTR movie too many times in the first week...