While this post is a little about The SF Pen Show, its mostly about how even the shyest, most introverted, awkward people* can find true, lifetime friends.
The San Francisco Pen Show is probably the show I’ve attended the most and have developed some of my best, closest friendships. Years ago, I needed a room share for the show and found a willing person to share a hotel room with a complete stranger. It turned out, we had more in common than we could have expected. Since that weekend so long ago, we have become even closer friends, chatting at least once a week, sometimes even more. And her friends have become my friends too.
I also get to spend time with other friends who I feel like I have known forever. I don’t remember when or how we met anymore. I’m sure it was at a show but when and where, I can’t remember. Now, we always make plans to go out for dinner at any show we both attend and bring others along with us. Its often the only time I even leave the hotel.
I arrived at the show on Wednesday night because I was scheduled to teach a class on Thursday morning. The SF Pen Show has added activities and workshops on Thursday creating the first 4-day pen show. The show floor marketplace is not open on Thursday so Thursday was all about hanging out, seminars and workshops. It has officially become my favorite day of the show. I was able to wake at a reasonable hour, go out for a long walk along the bay with friends and then actually attend a bookbinding workshop hosted by Cheryl Ball (and assisted by her sister). I learned a new binding technique called the Buttonhole Binding with exposed stitches. Such fun. Then I scooted off to the Aloft to teach my Carve Your Own Rubber Stamps which is such a fun workshop.
I am an absolutely useless blogger/social media person. I didn’t take another photo of the show until Sunday and mostly because I was shocked at how busy Sunday was at the show. It was as busy as most shows are on Friday.
I taught four workshops and two free seminars plus I helped out at the Vanness Pen Shop booth. I hardly had time to breath, let alone eat lunch or take pictures. But what made it all worthwhile was how lovely and friendly and kind everyone I came into contact with.
I made new friends and got to spend time with those friends that I’ve made over the years. And once again, its the friends that make SF one of my favorite pen shows. Yes, yes, its overcrowded now and like all the pen shows, there are problems that still persist. But the people make it easier to overlook the issues.
Of course, the sheer volume of people and the crowdedness can also be stressful so I am glad to be home now with my cats and my headphones. If you attend a show, be sure to take care of yourself. Take breaks, be sure to eat, and just sit and write or sketch. It’s why we love pens.
As I left the hotel on Monday morning, I discovered that I had lost my most beloved handknit rainbow shawl. I left information with hotel (including the photo above) but I think its gone for good. If anyone happens to find it, I would be so happy to be reunited with it.
(*for the record, the introverted, awkward person mentioned above is me.)