Saturday, October 10, 2009

Packing It All In


I have to set aside working on the next crochet mystery to get ready for Bouchercon. I love to travel, but hate to pack. This trip is more of a challenge to pack for. Beyond the usual clothes and incidentals, I need to bring along crochet samples, bookmarks, autographed by author stickers and the pens that write on glossy bookmarks.

This year at the big mystery convention in Indianapolis named for Anthony Boucher, there is going to be something new. Since there is a whole niche of cozy mysteries that revolve around different crafts, they are having a craft room. From Thursday through Saturday, different authors will have about an hour to lead an activity. My blog sisters Joanna, Camille and Monica are all taking part along with me and a whole list of other authors.

My project is a Molly Pink Dishcloth, which is pictured at the top. It’s easy to make and hopefully can be made quickly. I sent the directions a while back so they could be copies and the woman I’ve been in contact with assured me they are getting the supplies. Good. If I had to bring 30 balls of cotton yarn, it would either be a clunky suitcase or no room for clothes. Still I want to bring samples of completed dish clothes and one made just to the point of adding the edging.

Then there’s my book. I might have set it aside tonight to get my stuff together, but I will work on it while I’m gone. That means taking along my notes. Notes that hopefully are all together. Thank heavens for laptop computers and flash drives, even though I’ve been known to carry along a hard copy.

Picking my crochet projects to work on during the trip is easy. There is the neck piece I want to finish on the plane so I can wear it at the convention, and the vampire scarf I’m working on for my next book.

Clothes are just an afterthought.

By the way, there is still room (at least last time I looked) in all the craft room activities. So, if you’re going to Bouchercon go to http//www.bouchercon2009.com/specialevents.html to sign up for any of the craft activities. There’s no extra charge.

5 comments:

Terri Thayer said...

Have fun at Bouchercon! Sniff, sniff. I will miss being there with you and the rest of the KH group.

Maybe I'll make a dishcloth to pass the time.

signlady217 said...

Sometimes I think packing to come home from a trip is worse! Nothing ever fits back in the suitcase the way you originally packed it, plus there's all the extra stuff you bought (or were given). But somehow I always seem to manage. I've gotten so good at it, I've had friends ask me to pack for them! Yikes!

Betty Hechtman said...

Terri, we're going to miss you, too.

Signlady, When I expect to come back with more than I left with, I pack a small softsided suitcase in my other one, so I have an extra for the return trip.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Crafting at Bouchercon sounds like a lot of fun, Betty. But I'm staying home with my dogs.

Betty Hechtman said...

We'll miss you, Linda. But I bet your dogs are glad you're not going.