I am so glad for you!!!!
Coincidentally, yesterday a smaller scale similar thing happened to me. Years ago I contributed a quitl block and some quilting stitches for a comofrt quilt given to the mother of a teen who committed suicide. Her mother, Danessa, started the Tempest Foundation. I was able to meet her for the first time yesterday, and tell her I had made the butterfly block, and give her a hug.
Unbeknownst to me, images of the quilt blocks travel with the foundation’s events, and Danessa asked me to sign my ‘page’ then she told me with tears in her eyes what the quilt has meant to her and her partner. I cried too.

Wow! What a great story. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Congratulations, nice to know you have a large group of friends to hold you up when you need it =;) Plus, you are ROCKING that pink shawl, so many of those are just gorgeous!!

What a wonderful story! Made me tear up and I wasn’t even there. 🙂

What a wonderful story, Alison. It’s only fitting. You touch so many people with your knitting.

such a great evening for a wonderful person!! I am so happy for you!

Oh how nice! What a wonderful way to end such a great weekend. Such an honor!

Woo-hoo!!!!!! I wish I had been there to see it, Alison. As Amy said above, you really do touch so many people with your knitting, and with other things too, like your exquisite kindness and mindfulness. You see beyond the surface in so many situations, and when you write about such things here, you teach all of us something very valuable. Blessings to you as your lovely book continues to take the knitting world by storm. I wish I could find a way to say how special I think you are without sounding goopy, but…oh, well, I sound goopy. You’re wonderful, and a gift to us all. ((((hugs))))

Congratulations! Wish I could have been there. The picture is lovely. What a collection of shawls. So glad to hear you had a wonderful time. Consider Stitches East, I would love to meet you in person. I have your book and am swooning about the Piece of My Mind shawl and I see it in the pic, the pink one third from the left. What is that lovely shade of pink yarn? If it’s pink or orange it really catches my eye.

I just figured out how to link to your book’s page at Amazon, from my blog. I don’t have the most high-traffic blog in the world, but maybe some of my friends who knit and don’t yet have your book will follow the link and maybe buy a copy. And yes, one of your shawls really IS next in my queue, and I think it might be that astoundingly gorgeous red one towards the back…

Well, as one who was there helping Alison, it was definitly well worth the effort. Had to try and get Alison to have a ‘quiet’ time (should have been a nap) in the afternoon to no avail. But, the banquet event was awesome! It was totally fun to be one of the shawls on the stage. Love ya, Alison!!!!!

Hey, that was sooo neat! You have such wonderful friends. Glad that the were able to give the “fashion show” of your designer shawls! It’s great to see how you can use your unique talents and gifts. Love, Bev

You deserved every moment of fuss! Just the photo makes me wish I’d seen it. How wonderful…! Hugs–and here’s to hoping you have a nice quiet day or two to rest now?

That is thrilling! I am so happy this happened for you – I cannot think of anyone more deserving!

I’ve been thinking of suggesting that you get a goat–you know, a nice little goat to pull you around in a cart when you battery dies–as well as provide lovely fibres for you to spin. I figure that since it’s a service animal, it should be allowed in anywhere. On the other hand, it looks like you have plenty of friends who are better behaved and housebroken as well, so I’ll stop worrying about you.

Way To Go and a big Thank You to all your friends who made that happen for Allison! A more deserving person cant be found for the Homor they bestowed upon you! Have a Nice day…And Please Get Some Rest!!

The lady in the Zinnia scraf was my Mother-in-Law from KY. This was her first Stitches and she has been knitting 2 years. I made the scarf for her so if she wanted to, she could model with us and it was her gift from me for coming. She did not want to model, but loves the scarf. It’s made from 100% cashmere, so it’s soft and warm. She left today and I am a bit sad. We had the most wonderful time.

That is beyond awesome, and you deserve every minute of it. *hugs*

Oh Yea for you – what a super duper night – and what great friends to surprise you like that – I sat here with tears running down my face reading this – happy tears are the best 😀

I was there and the shawls were drop dead gorgeous! I’m so glad you got the recognition you deserve because the designs in your book are the most beautiful shawls I have seen anywhere.

So, when was the last time you went to Stitches West and didn’t have a scooter issue? 🙂

When I didn’t use one… And thank you, everyone!

This story made *me* cry and I don’t even know you. Thanks for writing it. One of my favorite things about the internet is the stories like this where people write the story of their first books or their successes. I loved reading the Harlot back in the day for the same reason.

Congratulations. I’m really glad for you.

Oh Alison, if I’d know about this cunning plan I would have come to the banquet! I can’t imagine a more beautiful finale to the knitters’ parade than your friends wearing your fabulous shawls! What an evening to remember! Hugs!

I still can’t believe that you were walking around on Thursday night on that hard concrete floor. I kept doing a double take cuz there were no wheels under your feet! I am so glad that your posse honored you so beautifully at the banquet. You are very blessed and giving of yourself and your talents and it is only right that you had such a sweet evening. I am hoisting a mug of herbal tea. Huzzah!