Dear Bully,

I had a really great experience, recently.  Like all great experiences, it was accomplished with a fair bit of nerves, a lot of mental swearing, and the need for a cold beer and an enchilada afterwards, but that’s the price you pay, you know?

I just taught my first class.  I know!  It was the Grrlfriend Market Bag (Ravelry link).  I’m not going to lie to you, the first hour of the first class was one of the most (as my mother always puts it) character building experiences of my life.  There were a lot of DPNs hitting the floor, is all I’m saying, and a lot of curses muttered under people’s breath. My students were incredibly patient with me, and I did my best to live up to their patience.  I am, shall we say, frequently opinionated about some things.  I had to learn to take a step back and remember to say "well, this is how I did it, but if that’s the way that works for you, then that’s the way you should do it."  I had to rip back some truly impressive tangles.

But you know what?  By the second class, everything was coming together.

It might have helped that the air conditioning was working again, but all of a sudden?  People were actually having fun.  We remembered that we actually like knitting, that we do it because we enjoy it.  That they were taking the class because they wanted to learn something new, and that I actually was there because I wanted to teach it.   Um.  And Marianne was definitely having more fun than most.

These pictures were of the bags that were actually finished that evening, and I hope to get some more to add as some of my other (fantastic) students complete theirs.

(I love how Carol looks like she has the ultimate knitting halo here.)

(Kim looks really proud here, doesn’t she?)

Thanks to all of my wonderful students, who were more patient with me and themselves than I had any right to expect. 

Love,

Emily

Dear Bully,

     I should explain something.  I am not the woman you might think I am.  I bet you were expecting someone….taller, someone…cheerier, someone…… Erica, right?  Well, unfortunately, I have a shocking secret to unburden upon you.  I am only impersonating Erica today.  I’m actually Emily.

    You might know me as that librarian girl?  Cascade enthusiast?  Reluctant, recalcitrant crocheter?  Chelsea is usually telling me that I’ve gone too far?  I’m there all the time.  Nevermind, it’s okay if you don’t really know me yet.  I’m going to be working to change that in the future. 

     I have some more bad news.  I know, bad to worse, right?  Shhh, it’s okay to be scared.  I’m scared too (it’s been a very long time since I wrote in public).  I promise I’ll be gentle for our first time.  See, Erica is a busy woman.  It’s sort of your fault, for being so gosh-darned successful.  So, keeping in mind that you are the very best Bully you could possibly be, we’ve stepped in to tell you you’re not alone.  Oh, did I mention I’ve brought friends?  There are going to be a few of us dropping by to keep you company.  I won’t tell you who yet, let’s keep some of the mystery in our relationship (also, I don’t have all of them lined up just yet).  But I can promise you that, while they’re not Erica, they are all unparalleled awesome. 

     We’re going to get you some really shiny accessories too.  Pictures, contests, polls, giveaways, until you will just not be able to handle anymore.  Prepare to be ravished with shinies, is what I’m trying to say, Bully dear.

With love and tenderness (and a little bit of trepidation),

Emily