The 2008 IOLI Convention in Rockford last year was my fourth; but great though it was, I've enjoyed others more.  That's because, in addition to being a student, I was also a vendor.  During the winter of 2007, I decided to take a stab at starting a jewelry making business and aimed at the convention vendor's room as my first selling goal.  The jewelry I make involves leather cord, Chinese knots and semi precious stones, and grew out of the Chinese knot course I took at the 2007 IOLI convention.  It seemed a natural fit.  And I know people are always wandering around the vendor's room looking for something to buy because I'm usually one of them.

I learned there's a difference, though, between spending hours in the vendor's room because you want to and spending hours in the vendor's room because you have to.  I also learned you don't want to be on your own as a vendor.  You miss many meals or eat them real late after everything is over, usually by yourself.  Eventually, I just left the table when I needed to and hoped for the best.  Fortunately, we lacemakers are a fairly close and honest community. 

It was fun being in the vendor's room and getting to know some of the vendors better, but I felt I missed out on the learning part of the convention.  I only took one half day class because I thought taking two would be an overload.  (It would have been).  And at night, instead of working on a class project, I made necklaces and earrings that had been ordered.  Don't get me wrong, I was happy that I was selling something.  It just didn't seem like convention.

And I missed one of the best parts of going to convention.... hanging out and lacing with friends in the evenings.  My usual convention companions, those Land of Lincoln Lacers, were all hard at work putting together a really terrific convention. But enough of this whining!  I didn't make lots of money, but I did make some.  I learned some people do like my jewelry enough top spend money on it.  And I learned more technical details about vending, packaging and marketing.  So, all in all, it was a really worthwhile experience.  But I don't know if I'll repeat it. 

I had to be convinced to go to the 55th IOLI convention.  I have only been doing bobbin lace for one year.  It seemed intimidating to go to a convention with experienced lacers from all over the country and abroad.  I still have a hedgehog on my pillow to help remind me of the difference between a half stitch, a cloth stitch and a whole stitch.  I would be found out immediately.  However, I gathered my courage and signed up for two classes: Brugge and Hungarian Tape Lace.