Archive for the 'Trips' Category
Back from CHA.
Friday, February 2nd, 2007
I’m back to “normal” life after the big whirlwind of the Craft and Hobby Association convention. They were billing it as the World’s Fair of Craft. I did hear lots of different accents. I didn’t meet Martha Stewart, who gave the Keynote Address. People had expected her to give tips about business and marketing, but I guess she pretty much just talked about her new craft line. Which is also interesting, I guess.
I found it *really* interesting to meet everyone who works at my publisher. I met the president of the books division at F&W, the Marketing Director, Editorial Director, PR guru, all the sales reps…it was fascinating. Amazon says the book is shipping…so all the wheels are in motion. I’m anxious to hear what people think of it. Really freaking terrified, actually.
I have a LOT to do right now. I’m just going over my big list of To Dos, and some are fun, some are totally lame. Taxes. Hire accountant. Take cats to vet. Consolidate Student Loans. New patterns for the site. New kits for the site. CRAFT podcast pattern (if you’re a reader, you’ve seen the free pattern that I’m doing before.) And (as usual) other knitting stuff that either isn’t finalized into bloggability yet or is just on a wait-and-see timeframe.
I think I’m just so tired that everything today seems like a big TASK. Even the fun stuff is overwhelming me today. I just want a loooooooong nap.
I’ve been trying to drink less coffee…I’m sure that contributes to this tiredness in a big way. Instead, I’ve been drinking tea. Even black tea is less strong than the way I make coffee. I found (through my mom via my sister) the Adagio Teas website recently. They have the yummiest stuff. I love their black tea with ginger. It has actual ginger root pieces in it. I also really like the Christmas one. I brought a little hot pot with me to work, so I can drink yummy tea all day.
I’m in town today and tomorrow, then Sunday fly out again to DC. This time for work. Until Wednesday. SIGH. I never thought that I would ever ever be tired of traveling! I think I just need a few weeks at home, then I’ll be all rested up and it’ll sound better.
Tonight, I’m going to a couple of art openings with Nate and my parents, then we’re going to Mom and Dad’s for dinner.
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C.H.A
Monday, January 29th, 2007
Hello from Anaheim.
I got here last night at about 7, and the computers at the Hilton were not working, so didn’t actually get IN the room until about 10. My booth time wasn’t till 9:30 this morning, so it was ok. But you know how it is when you travel…all day is focused on just getting to the hotel. At frist, it was just a bunch of people in line. Then, they brought out drinks. Then a buffet. Then CHAIRS. When they brought out the chairs, everyone sort of gave up hope. I’m glad I had a book to read!
I’m reading “Running with Scissors.” If you need a book that isn’t stupid, but still makes you laugh…give it a try. I forgot my booK (”Women in Love” D.H. Lawrence) at home on the nightstand, so bought this in the airport. I was so relieved to see it among the Stephen Kings and all the Romances. It’s really compelling.
This is the view from my hotel room. That’s Disneyland…or Disneyworld…(I’m not a fan)…at night.
CHA is a lot bigger than TNNA. Walking around the show floor, it looks like all of the little displays at Michaels or Hobby Lobby blew up to jumbo size. This is where the craft shops come to order stuff to stock their shelves.
It’s interesting, as a crafy gal, because I get to see all this stuff and watch demos…but I’m not really into very many of these crafts. There’s a whole lot of scrap-booking stuff. Probably more than any other craft. I mean, I make books, and keep tickets to shows and art exhibitions, and put photos in there…but I don’t have a bunch of pre-made gear for it…I guess I’m pretty low-fi.
I’m sitting in the F&W booth for an hour and half every day, talking to passersby about my book.
After my ‘demo’ today, I stopped by the booth of a particular company that makes knitting needles and other fibery equipment. I specifically told the guy who came over to talk to me that I’m not a buyer, I’m just gawking at new stuff while I’m in between book-promo stints at the booth. (I don’t want anyone to waste time going through their whole spiel when I’m definitely NOT going to place the $1000 minimum order.) He asked me for my card, and asked me about me book, and then gave me a catalog and told me to contact them for samples to use, etc.. Then…as I was walking away, I heard his colleague say, “If she’s a designer, she’s not even supposed to BE at this show!” Huh. News to ME. I’m not walking around trying to get free stuff…just killing time, looking at pretty things. Oh well. Some people are just natural ‘enforcers.’
I *did* see/touch the new Organic Cotton yarn from Lion Brand. It’s really nice! They had a few garments knit up, and it really looks good and has a nice hand. The new Lion Cotton Ease colors are nice, too.
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Knitters’ and Crocheters’ (etc.) Travel Guide
Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007
My TNNA booth was “in the nosebleed section” right next to Michelle and Bruce of Direction Press. Michelle is the mastermind behind “The Knitters’, Crocheters’ [etc.] Travel Guide.” (And Bruce is the smiling, friendly guy you’ll find wherever you find Michelle.) We had a LOT of time to talk there on the show floor, and I’m fully convinced that this book is a must-have for me.
Aside from the fact that I do travel a lot (it seems like I’m gone almost as much as I’m home) this book will be great when it’s time to organize book signings. I’ve got the contact info of every shop in the country in this one book!
If you have a book, or are a yarn dyer, knitting bag manufacturer, or whatEVER…this is a great resource! They do list all of the shops that are in the book on their website, but how often when you’re on vacation do you have unlimited free internet? Not if you camp, or stay in MO-tels, rather than HO-tels!
Check out the website, leave reviews of your LYS, and update the database of Knitting Guilds.
I’ve been reading blogs the last few days, and it’s so fun to read peoples’ posts about TNNA. I had a great time, met a LOT of bloggers that I hadn’t met before, met people from all the big publications, and got to hang out with some of my favorite crafters…there were just too many…so I won’t go through the whole list with links.
Here’s the general rundown of what happened:
Got into San Diego at about noon on Friday, and turned in my Fashion Show sweater first thing. The time deadline was 3:30, and I had this awful feeling that if I didn’t turn it in RIGHT AWAY, some unforseen event would make me miss the deadline. Then, mom and I unloaded all of the stuff from the car and set up the booth. We just had a tabletop booth, so we brought small stands and those flat half-mannequins to dress. I numbered all the pattern garments and laid those out, and put out business cards, postcards, etc.
After we got the table set up, we went to an early dinner and then met up with my fellow “Yarn Group Membership Committee” members. At 6, there was an appetizer/cash bar party and at 7 was the Fashion Show! I didn’t take many photos, but there are some on Flickr, just search “TNNA.” I didn’t win the fashion show, a wedding dress in Lorna’s Laces won. If there are regular sweaters competing against a full-on wedding dress…with a room full of ladies voting…the wedding dress is *always* going to kick butt. (Not that I’m sour-grapey at ALL…I loved the wedding dress, too.)
THEN, we went to dinner with the Fiber League at the same place Mom and I had our earlier dinner. We went home early, because we were so tired.
Saturday we got up bright and early to sit/stand at the booth. That day was pretty uneventful, except for getting to meet lots of knitters and shop owners and talk about my book and patterns, and new freelance design opportunities. Saturday night was the Interweave party. They have a party every year for their authors/contributors with food and an open bar. It was really nice. Interweave is poised for world domination. In a very GOOD way. Aquiring television shows, publishing TONS of new books and magazines, etc.
After that was the Potter Craft party. I didn’t know anyone at Potter, but Vickie, Jonelle, and Kat smuggled Mom and me in. They had a raffle, open bar, snacks, and gave everyone a gift bag with Erica Knight’s “Casual Knits” and a book on CD, an inspirational notebook…I don’t know what all else…We got home from that evening pretty late.
Sunday, more of the same with the booth sitting/standing….Sunday night we went to dinner with some of the members of the Knit_Design yahoo group. I enjoyed that TOO much. When we got there, there were no tables, so we had drinks waiting for the table. I think a table fiinally opened up for us at around 10:30! So…too much time sitting and drinking. The table was full of Very Cool Women, and we had a blast. Again, got home waaaay too late. Mom woke up that morning, thinking it was 7 am, took her shower, etc., then tried to get me up (GET UP! GET UP! You’re going to be LATE to the BOOTH~!!) She opened the curtains and looked out and it was STILL DARK. Somehow, one of us had mis-set the clock when came home…it was only 5am. So she got back in bed and let me sleep for a few more hours.
Monday was more sitting/standing at the booth, and then we picked everything up and left at about 3:30.
I think this is a great convention. It’s such a great way to meet in person the people that I’ve been working with over the internet. Plans were hatched, decisions made, collaborations decided upon. I highly recommend it. Even without a table, just going to walk around and meet people is worth it. Just to see what’s out there, the new yarns and tools, new publications, meet the editors of your favorite mags, authors of your favorite books, creators of your favorite yarns. SIGH. Six more months till the next one.
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Dream in Color Handpaints
Friday, January 19th, 2007
While manning my booth at TNNA, I received a lovely yarn to sample from Dream in Color Handpaints.
The yarn is dyed in a process called “veil dyeing” which produces an even undertone with deeper tones over the top in a veil of color. It’s really pretty in the hank. I love the color selection from this company. They don’t focus only on the cheery bright colors (which I sometimes really do *LOVE,* just am not always in the mood for) but also have some really great deep, mottled, dark colors.
My sample hank is in the colorway “deep sea flower” which is a dark aqua base with deep purples and greens over the top. The color is dark and delicate, verigated without pooling, and will be a dream to work with, I’m sure. (Mom is a big fan of this one, too.) The needles in my mind are clicking just looking at the photo!!
(Yes, I have needles in my mind. They’re constantly knitting while I get stuck doing the more mundane things that the rest of me has to do all day.)
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We’re Back!
Thursday, January 18th, 2007
The blog is back…and Mom and I are back from TNNA.
We had a great time. We met lots of new people, connected with old friends, and even sold some patterns. This was our first time time having a table, and it was good.
I don’t have a TON of new stuff to review, since we were pretty much static…standing/sitting at the table, showing off the new book, taking orders. But there are a few new yarns to mention over the next few days, and an awesome book that every road-trippin’ knitter and crocheter needs.
OK…More later. For now, I need SLEEP.