Destination Columbus - Part Deux (again)
Note from Andrea - You may have noticed an earlier posting with a similar title. I spent 2 hours working on that post and the photos embedded in the text. When I went to save it in the blogging software, it magically disappeared thanks to my own error. It was traumatic, to say the least. Thanks for your patience as I got my ducks in a row.
Saturday at the TNNA NeedleArts Market dawned with great promise. After the previous day’s challenging journey (little did we know that it was only a dress rehearsal) we decided that we’d earned the right to sleep in and avoid the crowds that would be streaming through the doors at 10 a.m. We mosied downstairs, had our requisite morning beverages and made our plan for the coming days. There are hundreds of exhibitors at this event and a person without a plan could easily get distracted by all the pretty colors, gadgets and things that have nothing to do with your reasons for being there in the first place. Over Starbucks and fresh fruit we made a list of the items our customers had requested, new lines and items we thought would compliment the current stock, and then, made a plan on how we would “attack the floor” - start at one end and walk each aisle, stopping to get information at booths that were on our list or caught our fancy. There would be no purchases on Saturday, this was strictly reconnaissance.
This is us arriving on the floor at 11:00 a.m. and true to our plan, we walked through the doors, turned right and started down the first aisle. The trade show floor can be dizzying with all the color, texture and and activity. Since all needle arts and related supplies are represented at this show, there are many needlepoint canvas/supplies exhibitors in among the yarn folks. We moved quickly, lured in by the siren song of a beautifully crafted garment, a fabulous bag display or a new line of yarn or bag handles.
There is also a great deal of knowledge to be gained if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. We had a great chat with the boys from Laurel Hill Needles in Oregon. Not only do they carry beautiful handcrafted rosewood knitting and crochet needles but they recommended one of the great restaurants we visited (Betty’s). They also taught us the Yiddish word “ungaposh” (def. too much, excessive). We immediately thought of our dear friend Diana’s felted purse (we’re so sorry, Diana) and a certain entry in last year’s Kansas State Fair.
Since this is theplace to be if you’re at all connected with the knitting world, we a great time spotting and visiting with some of our favorite writers and designers. Deb got to meet Stephanie Pearl McPhee, “The Yarn Harlot” and she not only graciously consented to having her picture taken (that one’s for you, Shannon) but she even offered to share her ice cream with Deb - another affirmation that knitters are generous people of good taste. That taste, in fact, drove us to our own jenni’s ice cream excursions (two) in the next 36 hours.
Here’s Deb with Sally Melville (author of “The Knitting Experience” books and more)
and Andrea with Nora Bellows, the designer of all of those fabulous Noni Bags and Flowers. They’re modeling her oven mitts and her new felted hat pattern.
And then there’s one of our favorite yarn reps, Thomas. We wanted a photo of him with Debbie and who asked to join us but someone who’s yarn and patterns have been such a hit at the shop - Louisa Harding. She’s there on the right and we think she’d fit right in around here.
As you would expect, there are fabulous hand knits on display among the attendees. Our Debbie had on her recent sweaters from Berroco patterns and yarns on both days. We were walking past one booth where a video crew was taping a television interview between a host and a famous designer. The designer saw Debbie in the crowd and smiled. We later learned that it was Norah Gaughan who had designed the sweater that Debbie was wearing! She said it was the first time she’d seen it “out in public” and seemed very pleased with the results and the model.
Then there are lovely surprises that you not only don’t expect but exceed your wildest dreams. We’d spent a long time lingering in the Lexie Barnes Bags booth - these pieces are fabulous and we saw several of them in use on the trade show floor. As we were leaving, the salesperson handed us an invitation to a chocolate dessert reception later in the afternoon. We thought we might be ready for a treat by 4 p.m. (by that time we would have been on the floor for five hours) and as it happened, we were more than ready. We were thinking cake, a truffle or two but no, Lexie Barnes Bags put out a huge spread and we proceeded to sample enough to put ourselves into a chocolate coma.
In Ohio, no chocolate affair is complete without a plate of homemade buckeyes - a peanut butter, chocolate confection that is a state tradition. They’re lovely, they’re sweet and a little goes a long way. Trust us. As you can see, we all sampled but we could have gotten by with splitting one three ways.
By 4:30 we were only 3/4’s of the way through the floor and we were determined to make it through one time by the 6:00 closing. We pushed, stopping to discuss the merits of specific items, make notes and start to formlate our Sunday purchasing strategy. We were six booths from the end when the lights in the hall dimmed. We’d made it!
Dropping our copious piles of fliers, books and loot in the hotel room, we were ready for food and adult beverages. Fortunately, we were a few blocks from the North Market area and a restaurant called “Spice” which had a great outdoor courtyard, fabulous appetizers and a perfectly nice bar and bartender! Andrea has a travel philosophy - if you’re in an exotic location you need to try drinks with exotic names. Here she is with Debbie sampling a “Thong Panty” martini. It gets two thumbs up!
Saturday we came, we saw and Sunday we conquered! We visited with yarn reps like our pals from Cascade (don’t forget the Kansas State Fair Cascade Design Contest, y’all!) . . .
. . . and we met Maggie Price of Pick Up Sticks Designs. You may not know her name but if you come to knit on Tuesday nights you will have seen our young Cindy working on her felted rings bag (obviously an overachiever in training) - that’s Maggie’s design. She was thrilled to hear that we had someone working on the pattern and asked if we’d send her a photo when it’s finished. Will do Maggie! You’ll also be glad to know that we’re going to be carrying Maggie’s kits at yarn very soon!
We ordered like drunken sailors (at least it felt like it) on Sunday and can assure our loyal customers that we’re going to have some great additions to our fabulous inventory in the coming months. Check out this slightly fuzzy photo of an amazing shawl pin, part of a new designer accessory/knitting jewelry line we’re adding.
By 4 p.m. we’d done the damage we came to do and had to go and lay down in a dark motel room while we contemplated our behavior that day. We celebrated with a nice meal and a final trip to jennie’s for ice cream and prepared to depart for the Columbus airport at 5:45 a.m. (eastern time) the next day.
We’d go into more detail on the trip home but doubt that anyone would enjoy reading about the seven shades of hell that travel day was. Andrea called her mom to report where she was (and because she thought she had eight more hours of airport wait ahead of her) and explained the cancelled flight situation. Her mother, with obvious concern in her voice, asked if we all had enough yarn on hand to get us through the day. She was assured that we had done an inventory early on and we thought there would be just enough to see us through the challenge.
In the end, we were grateful for the safe - if extended - travel, a productive trade show and the chance to enjoy time together. We can’t wait till you all see the new stuff - we hope you’ll like it as much as we do!
