11 to 2 pm
Sunday I let myself take my time getting into the day, by posting to the blog and taking care of other things on my list, so I arrived at the Phoenix TNNA floor just in time to do my volunteer hour at the Yarn Group Lounge. While there I got to listen to the discussion with the two guys from LoveKnitting.com about VAT. I took the opportunity to give them my personal thanks for getting us covered on Ravelry patterns–and making it as painless as possible! In my two hours at the Lounge I got three companies signed up to be Yarn Group member, despite the fact that I’m not a great sales person. The photos in here are the sponsors of the Yarn Group lounge.
After doing my volunteer thing Sara Lucas (knitting book author and former owner/continuing designer of Yarn of the Month Club) and I went off together to make some contacts. I actually had no agenda, so we went where she needed to go. First stop: Knit Wit magazine. Lovely chat with Zinzi and Gigi. The magazine is lovely and I subscribed. The price reflects the cost of production, so I’ll be reporting back. 
On to Moving Mud, where I tried out a shawl pin. I would have bought one–but I wasn’t sure I should. Will think more about that. Kind of afraid I might break it. While Sara talked to Frederikka at Aurora Yarns I snuck across the aisle to chat with Dorinda at Crystalettes. I’ve been using the stitch markers since I saw them at the May show. I like that they are locking pins and regular stitch markers, but thin. I have also used them to pin my key to my running pants! I decided to try out one of their knitting needle cases too, but I will more likely use it for a giveaway through my newsletter next month.
On to Tahki Stacy Charles to chat with Stacy Charles. Their yarn is so pretty, but I haven’t ever designed for them because I’ve always been too shy to talk to them. Stacy and I have talked a bit in the past year because he likes some of my pieces. So we checked in for both of us and talked about what the possibilities might be for each of us.
On to say hello to Jeanne Carver at Imperial Stock Ranch. Again, someone I am in awe of, but never talk to about work because she has a creative director and I don’t like to step on anyone’s toes. Jeanne is a faithful fashion show volunteer. She is one of those busy women who somehow finds the time to do everything! She was in deep chat with Karin Strom, formerly with Interweave Press. So we ate a piece of chocolate and went to talk to Beth Casey at Lorna’s Laces/Mrs. Crosby. Beth has just moved from being Yarn Group President to TNNA President. I have had the pleasure of working with her behind the scenes for the past couple of years and admire what she does–with her company and as a TNNA Volunteer. She is funny and fun and another person I’m in awe of.
We eventually traded places with Karin and got to talk to Jeanne at Imperial Stock Ranch. She and I had a little sidebar about designing and working in this industry which was really great. The two younger women in the booth were both lovely, and I wish I could remember their names. I should have been writing things down. I also admired the yarn, of course!
When I am at the show my base is Freia Handpaint Yarn and Elemental Affects. Sara works in the Freia booth with Tina Whitmore. Jeane deCoster is Elemental Affects and the two companies are always next to each other or across the aisle. So it is where I go when I need to reorient myself. I can man Jeane’s booth if she wants to step away, or I can chat with Sara if she isn’t busy. I tried to get StevenBe to talk to Tina while she was free, but I was more successful in the Yarn Group Lounge.
Leave a Reply