I've been attending NETA's SPA since the last year it was held at the Doubletree in Portland, ME. Since that year, it has been held at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Harrasseeket Inn in Freeport. The Hampton Inn runs a free shuttle from their hotel to the other two. The vendor's room is at the HGI, the fashion show Saturday night at the Harrasseeket. All the hotels open up conference rooms and lobbies for knitters and spinners (and their pelvic affiliates) to sit, chat and be in the company of understanding fiber addicts like themselves. For those who aren't aware, there is no registration. No fees. No structure. Just show up and enjoy the company of like minded fiber folk.
Some of the vendors are annual icons - Amy King of Spunky Eclectic, Dave of The Merlin Tree (Hitchiker, Hyacinth, etc), Jacqueline Fee, Kim Kaslow of The Woolen Rabbit, The Elegant Knitter at Goose Pond and others change each year, or intermittently are there.
The HGI opens up the Town Hall building next door as a spinners' room. One can see just about any sort of wheel made in that room, and most spinners welcome talking about their wheels, and are sometimes known to allow others to touch them and even spin on them.
If one keeps their eyes open, Adrian Bizilia of Hello Yarn is always there (usually seen near Amy King's booth), Jesse of Ravelry (aka frecklegirl or Rav mom) is there (now preggers), Chris Morgan of Woolybuns (think angora rabbits and color genetics), Josette of Enchanted Knoll Farm and many many others can be found there. And Dave always wears his kilts.... and
is rumored to have fun nights with Scarlett, but they aren't talking ....


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