What to take to SOAR

hollycj wrote

on Sep 8, 2009 10:13 AM

This will be my first SOAR and I am so very excited.  I was wondering if some of you wouldn't mind giving a newbie some suggestions as to what to take.  I am lucky enough to drive.  Thanks in advance for any help.

Tactilespirit wrote

on Sep 8, 2009 5:37 PM

Hi Holly-This may be a second post that goes through for me.  I'm so glad you will be experiencing SOAR.  And it is an experience.  Mostly, bring lots of slack as in "cut yourself some slack."  You won't see it, do it, buy it, finish it all so don't worry.  You will experience a lot of fiber, techniques and people.  Bring an open mind.  I've been going to SOAR over 20 years or so and I stopped bringing the fiber I thought I was going to work on.  Bring a little bit because you'll see a lot you'll want to try.  Bring a spindle and a non-thinky knitting project so you can be portable and you will be able to spin or knit on the dinner lines and in the open meetings that we have.  Bring a camera to take pictures of people and things you want to remember.  Bring a bottle of wine or chocolate to share with new friends and bring a credit card or money so you can buy wonderful things in the market.  Don't forget the silent auction.  I like to bring little things like back issues of Spin Off, Threads or Handwoven.  Someone without a lot of money may be looking for those magazines.

Again, bring an open mind and open it to new experiences and people.  Even though I've been to SOAR many times I like to sit and eat with new people.  There are always new ideas and new opinions that I get while talking to other fiber nuts.

Look for me, Holly!  I'd love to meet you.  As I said in the last post you can't miss seeing me-I'm the slightly overweight middle aged lady with grey hair, glasses and Birkenstocks.

Take care-Mariellen

MyraR wrote

on Sep 8, 2009 6:51 PM

holly will have trouble finding you among the rest of us who fit that description.  seriously, your advice is priceless, i am also going to soar for the first time and wondered about the experience.

Vickie@45 wrote

on Sep 9, 2009 7:36 AM

My first time too!  Does anyone have any advice about shipping your spinning wheel? Just the idea makes me freak out a bit.

Thx!

Vickie

Amy Clarke Moore wrote

on Sep 16, 2009 1:07 PM

We're going to have a great time at SOAR!

Office supplies: Bring packing tape, plastic baggies, tags with strings, post-it notes, notebook, pens, saftey pins, and scissors for labeling small bits of fiber, etc and making notes. Bring cards with your info to hand to new friends (moo cards are great fun--small with photos of your handspun!).

Change of clothes and shoes.

Snacks--granola bars, chocolate, tea/coffee, fruit in case you're too busy talking at lunch to eat.

Spinning supplies--it is handy to have a sample niddy noddy, if you can pack a small swift and a ballwinder, more power to you. Spindle or wheel. A bit of fiber, and a small knitting project.

Extra cloth bags for carrying things.

For shipping your wheel--pack it yourself--don't rely on companies that package things--they don't understand spinning wheels. I've seen spinning wheels arrive damaged because they were put into a huge box with insufficient peanuts to cushion them. They need to be secure and padded. If you have the box your wheel came in, that's the best thing to pack it in--it was designed for shipping a wheel safely. If you don't have the original box, perhaps the store you bought it from will have an extra one they can give you.

Vickie@45 wrote

on Sep 16, 2009 2:56 PM

Thanks Amy!   I will see if my LYS has a box I can use, then I am off to the packing stores to see what types of cushioning I can get other than peanuts.  I am so looking forward to this, I get to induge my habit with a bunch of like minded ladies and visit my parents who live in Bend at the same time. Way cool!

Vickie

Tactilespirit wrote

on Sep 16, 2009 5:52 PM

What's a "moo" card? 

Take care-msb

hollycj wrote

on Sep 22, 2009 4:16 PM

Thank you for your advice.  I am getting so excited it is like a kid waiting for Christmas.  How can time move so slowly?

geeksdoitbetter wrote

on May 7, 2010 11:47 AM

i'll be taking the color blending on a hackle class

do you happen to know if the tables in the workshop rooms will allow for a hackle to be clamped on them?

i can imagine a table that's too thick or too delicate or ... mebbe the workshop room has no tables at all ~grin~

Tactilespirit wrote

on May 7, 2010 12:24 PM

Figure the meeting rooms will have the usual white topped banquet/classroom tables.  I'd bring chocolate, too :-)

LindaS@40 wrote

on May 11, 2010 7:06 PM

Bring layers of clothes.  My main advice is to rest up before you get there because SOAR is so stimulating you come home TIRED.  I'm going for the first time in a few years and very excited to be taking the natural dyeing class.  Linda in Montana

KarinP wrote

on May 19, 2010 5:18 PM

Hi Amy,

I'm glad I went to the forums. I probably would have forgotten most of the stuff on your list, being as excited as I am about having SOAR in my neighborhood, where I actually can afford to go. This is my first time and I can't wait to meet all you spinaholics.

Karin from Wisconsin

galwaygirl2 wrote

on Jun 7, 2012 2:08 PM

Mariellen- your wonderful, you sound so friendly and nice. I havent been to SOAR yet either but can't wait to go. I dont know if its too late for this year but I hope your there in 2013!! Info was great.

Michele