Fiber Immersion & happy exhaustion: the 2011 LYS Tour!

I just spent the last 3 days attending the full circuit on the LYS (Local Yarn Shop) tour of the greater Puget Sound area.  25 stores participated, and it involved 3 islands and 2 ferry rides!  Each shop provides a unique 1-Skein project pattern that they have created, and they feature a particular yarn to make it, which is offered at 10% off during the tour.  We got our "passport" stamped at each store, and when the passport is full, we turn them in so we can be entered into a drawing for WONDERFUL prizes of generous gift certificates to be used at any of the stores.  There are also daily drawings at each of the stores.  This is my 3rd year participating, and I have never won a daily drawing at any of the stores, nor have I ever won any of the grand prize drawings.  Will this be the year?

Here I am turning in my completed passport at "Cultured Purls" yarn shop in Issaquah, WA - - which is the shop that I consider to be my "home base". With me are my daughter, Carmen (age 17), and my sister, Andrea, who completed the entire tour with me this year. She turned in her passport at a different store...(long story on that one).

I have a binder for each tour, with the featured patterns all collected there. I also have quite a stash of yarn to go with many of the projects.  Now what I need is TIME to work on them!  There's the rub.

Here I am with my friend, Lois, waiting for "ChurchMouse Yarns & Teas" on Bainbridge Island to open. This is my favorite yarn shop EVAH!!