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Market Report -
Nashville Market i bribed annie out of bed on thursday morning with starbucks, personally delivered at 6:00 a.m. and we headed for the airport in sacramento. huge horrible accident just on the north side of sacramento between us and the airport...and we looked over - and there was kristen in the car with her husband...inching along right next to us. got thru the traffic mess in plenty of time...of course we were first in the A line on southwest after we did coffees (more coffees) and brighton shop while we were waiting. great flight into kansas city (not so great trying to change gates - but we made it in fine style) and then on to nashville arriving a bit ahead of schedule. jumped into our rooms...jumped back out of our rooms and headed for social hour to say hi and greet old and new friends and get ready for our friday. of course we stayed up way too late...and then got up fairly early...the thing about market is - don't plan on doing any sleeping - had breakfast - i went one way - annie and kristen went the other way and all of us met up again on friday night at social hour after we had each done our respective jobs for friends who needed some help. it was a good beginning to market. the doors opened on saturday morning - we were ready - everybody had their assigned jobs...and off we went. these are in no particular order...just as we unloaded and unpacked suitcases when i got home late last night...so...off we go. it's fine-ally finished we are very lucky to have it's fine-ally finished here with us in the shop - and they are just beautiful. we took the models to market and norden will be returning them - one of the most wonderful things we found...and we have the ribbons/silks and fabrics here in the shop and we're putting together little kits to make it easier for you. they are splendid and we are so excited!!! hands to work some lovely samplers to be found at hands to work...it was really nice to see tracy again...it's been awhile...lovely samplers indeed...and a very pretty room and wonderful water when we so needed it!!! a wonderful hostess... weeks dye works the new colors are ready and will be coming from norden crafts - there are three: graphite, citronella and linen and there is also a new baby coming too - come september and we wish all the family at weeks a wonderful spring and summer as they prepare for their new family addition. morris and sophie were there at market too...and like little fishes in the swimming pool. life is good in north carolina and it was such a pleasure to see them.. arachne's silken web we loved this game board...it's just terrific... just another button company patti and cecile and the girls were wonderful as usual - walking into a big huge room with big huge bunches of buttons for us. they are making us a very special button for a very special projects and the buttons are in annie's suitcase which she will be bringing in tomorrow. we filled up little bags and had a terrific time. hillside samplings the charts are delicious, the needlework tray is just absolutely beautiful, lesley was wonderful and we are so pleased to have these gorgeous sampler charts and fun pumpkin man, not to mention the tray here with us. absolutely beautiful!!!!! thread gatherer the new silks are here - beautiful colors - we've had them for some time with another juicy fat order coming in the next few weeks. it was fun to see them. crescent colors www.crescentcolors.com - wonderful new colors in cotton: candy corn, lobsterclaw, onion skin, wild berries and ye olde gold and the wonderful new belle soie in colors: attic tera, baguette, butterscotch, carrot cake, chester's blue, cinnamon stick, collard greens, creme de menthe, elegant eggplant, fern frond, fresh raspberries, kiwi, love dove, mango, mer blue, mudpie, noir, oatmeal scone, plush plum, rose of sharon, sister scarlet, strawberry shortcake, sweet lavender, vanilla pudding and wheatgrass. these are so much fun and we have them and we love them...soft and plump and wonderful coverage...and 25 more colors to come at columbus...it's a good thing and it was very, very much fun to play in threads with sharon and meggie girl. not only is meg a beauty...she does the bestest 'grandma voice' i have ever heard and we got such a giggle listening to her. little house needlework we picked up as many of the special edition kits as we could bring back - they are beautiful and we are delighted with them. but, once these are gone - i can't get any more...so please do not hesitate. mirabilia we got a few of the new fairy ltd. edition kit...it's here in the shop. norden crafts we always have such fun at norden crafts - great people, just a blast to go shopping in the booth - my 'bathroom bag' got filled up pretty well with this and that and supplies and some new books and some punching tools for new rugs...it was very, very good and i just wish that i saw them more than twice a year...they are dear friends and i cherish that beyond measure. olde colonial designs three new little kits from pam and bob...we've ordered some boxes and other things that have to come via ups because we just didn't have room in suitcases...but the new little kits are here and we are just delighted with them. they are getting ready for celebrations and other things going on personally...one of them is total knee replacement for pam on the 22nd...so keep good thoughts for our friends and for her rehab and total recovery...it's going to be a tight go for her and all her preparations to get ready for her retreat...we love them and wish them all the best. indigo rose kate and jim have given us a huge sampler - to see it in person was such a treat - it's truly spectacular and we brought home plenty of them...just outstanding work. carriage house samplings six new charts from carriage house - a "girls" series that is way too nice...and more coming in the girls series as well - kathy said something about 3 on a bicycle which i think will be splendid too!!! lovely samplers - beautiful colors - a pleasure little by little one of the bestest things we found was the counting book. it has pages and pages of charted quaker motifs - perfect for smalls, little bags, needlebooks, fobs... things to make you play with different types of designs and make them your own. it is such a perfect little thing for a library - we got quite a few and we are just delighted with it. it was really good to see cynthia with her own booth - it was pretty and wonderful and classy and we saw that book and just went ga-ga!!! european cross stitch with some really nice designs from papillion creations. it was really good to see kathy and angie and linda and cindy...they were quite busy and we didn't have much time for talking...but busy is good... kelmscott designs mother of pearl hearts, new scissors - things are great coming from canada and it was just terrific to see paula and her husband again...we've got lots in stock and we can get more. the hearts are just wonderful and the thread winder and scissors are pretty spiffy too!!! prairie moon
we have patriotic charts...and we've got a spooky tree club starting that
is just soooo clever and so cute we can barely stand it. i have made annie
a promise that i will stitch and finish each ornament as it comes in and we are
just going to love watching our tree grow over the next few months... teresa layman designs we love teresa...and her husband and her daughter...what a talented woman she is...and continues to be. and, she's taken two of her tiny knotty rugs and made them into counted thread charts too!!! we hope she continues to do this...we love the rugs and we just love the counted thread...we just love everything from this very kind and gentle soul... cross eyed cricket the new charts are coming later on this month - they are just great...and we'll have them up on the web site when our automatic arrrives :) milady's needle gloria came and it was terrific...three new charts and each of them just great. charland designs one of the cutest things we found at market is the garden needle house. and, everything and i do mean everything is included in the package - sterling charm, fabric, thread, lining fabric...the whole thing. charland has done an amazing job and it is just the cutest thing in the world...we were so excited and what a project when you are all finished...wow!!! just nan we brought back the limited edition daffodil chart as well as the cherub whimz...and we have ordered lady scarlet's journey - the lady bug that it sits in is just gorgeous...enamel and twinkles...with a little tiny needlebook that fits in the inside - they will be coming later on. it was good to see nan and john and word has it they are coming to columbus...so that will be just too fun as well. mosey 'n me punch needle, a line drawing book for you to do anything wonderful you feel inclined to do - the pictures are just delightful and ms. judy and frank are doing wool work (needle felting) and the results are easy and just spectacular...we love it all. it was just amazing to see what can happen to a pile of roving with a little needle!!! i have my roving and i'm going to play as soon as i get two minutes to do so. this is the newest thing and it's just wonderful. imagine, easter eggs, flowers, all kinds of things...and it's quick and easy and way, way too fun!!! jeanette douglas designs some beautiful charts with some beautiful thread packs...and a little one as well. these are absolutely spectacular in person - pictures don't do them justice and not only are they gorgeous in the boxes from olde colonial but would be absolutely gorgeous as framed pieces as well. and we love the little smalls - very dear indeed. lizzie kate too cute...too springy...too fun...new things, green eggs (and ham) and a wonderful "think pink" that i think i bought 2 million of them...we love them...and it's a pretty cute pillow too mona :) the workbasket candy, mary and nicky keep the displays just beautiful, it was wonderful to walk into the booth and see the terrific finishing ideas and just plain wonderful new designs they brought to market. we loved every one of them and here they are. sheepish designs dawn was at market again - looking just terrific after her breast cancer battle. she has three new ones - we love them all...it was just terrific to see her and her new designs are just 'sheepish' chessie & me kitties, kitties everywhere...chessie came to market and linda came too. the new kits and charts are here with us - we love each and every one of them and annie already has dibbies on a couple of these...she is as much a chessie fan as i am :) the trilogy
new charts, a new 'take-along' and some cute sterling charms...spring and
bright colors and fun things. ewe and eye and friends new, new charts from ee&f (thru our friend ruth sparrow gendron) and they are toooooooooooooooooooooo cute. if you like ee&f - these are just the ticket. easter and hearts and flowers...just love them to bits. heart in hand needleart new little kits, the 2007 collector's heart...and a new series of 'inspirations' from heart in hand. lakeside linens it was good to pat and violet too...busy as usual...lots to do and lots of fabric to dye... olde willow stitchery robin and greg were there - always so good to see them. we ordered lots of threads and finishing kits and we'll see robin in april - i'm glad they came. gentle art sampler threads are here with some fun and new colors: 5 new limited edition colors as well as 7 new colors for the regular line. kiwi, tutti fruiti, huckleberry, marmalade, bubblegum, punch berry and lemon drops. they are fun and punchy and very spring/summery and we love them!!! with my needle ellen and liz were there...actually 2 doors from our 'home' for the weekend. the pieces in person are just lovely and it was very much fun to see them in person. of course we have them all here already so that was just too easy. bright needle i love these...they are beautiful and although we were dealing with our on-line class stuff while we were at market - and ann and liz were three doors down...how fun and how beautiful the new things are...it's such a pleasure to work with them...and we got some scheduling stuff almost ready for lady's collection class and for ghosties and goulies again...it was a good visit. they are sweet and kind and gentle...and are ready to help at any time we need it. la-d-da four new charts from la-d-da...all of them very, very nice...and the rabbits - gee whizzy...they are pretty stunning. we have the needlepoint inc silks and the cottons, but two of these charts were stitched with fibers that we don't carry in the shop...so please call if you have any questions. hoffman distributing - little house needleworks, www.hoffmandis.com will let you explore part of market as far as the charts made available are concerned. patricia ann designs a ltd. edition that we brought home...and a new regular chart - both very nice and it was good to see patricia again - very good indeed. m designs lots and lots of new designs from ms. mary...bright, springy and lots and lots of very special trees. the kids are growing like weeds - i didn't recognize them at first...and ms. mary has quite a bit on her plate...we love her kindness and generosity... cat's whiskers design studio we love these...we just do and janie and roz made us laugh so many times at market...and they had the very, very bestest cookies - i think had lunch there on saturday - munching on cookies that jo from dinky dyes had brought. they did a beautiful special kit and we have those and we have fatter hips from those cookies. i didn't get a chance to wish them safe journeys yesterday - i was flying around and the girls went to say goodbye for me...it was wonderful to see them...and we so enjoyed the opportunity for the chat over drinks on saturday night...bless you both!! blackbird designs what a truly wonderful book they brought to market...a truly wonderful book and we were so excited. i told alma and barb it was like eye candy...you just wanted to look and look and look and play and drool and reach out and touch the pictures in the book. we brought home all we could carry and we'll be getting more. if you love blackbird - you will adore this newest book from them. r&r reproductions dyeing fabric and more fabric and more fabric...we had a great visit with ann & pat and made arrangements for more pink fabric for our special projects that essy is doing...and ordered our spooky fabric for the prarie moon spooky tree club...it was great to see them...i so enjoy spending time with them. plum street samplers beautiful samplers - dead man's chess just blew me away - it is gorgeous...we saw it in person not only in the room but at meet & greet on friday night - the colors are glorious and it is quite the piece... lilybet designs got some sweet things from lilybet...but some of them i just can't put up because the chart is right on the front...happy b'day and love cards that just won't scan - so those go into the shop for our locals...if i scan - the whole thing is given away...that makes me sad...but there are some cute spooky things...and some nice designs that did scan the proper way...so here we go. fancy work we got the witnan's vintage red tin sewing set. we have 20 tins coming from jane when she gets home and we are going to sell the charts with the tins until we run out of tins and then we are selling the charts without the tins when the supply runs out. it's just beautiful..and the box of tins will be coming very shortly from georgia.... yes, there were other designers at market and yes, i know there were other things too...but these are the things that we picked up and brought home. there are more boxes coming and since we've been shut down for 3 days - i hesitate to even begin to guess what the ups and the usps is going to dump on our door tomorrow morning - it will be a surprise for us all...or a nightmare (not really sure at this point :)) we're all very tired here...it was a rough trip this year...or we're all getting older and so it seems like a tougher trip. we never get enough sleep and getting everything sorted, priced and packed on saturday night is especially difficult...and i'm wondering in my heart if market in nashville is worth the long trip, especially when i can get everything i need without ever leaving the comfort of my shop. i do enjoy the networking and seeing my friends...but it costs a lot to indulge myself in that. i was looking for spring and bright colors and new ideas and fun and with the exceptions of my purchases, i found those things at a minimum. i also really don't feel good about spending the $$ to go all the way across the country and back only to come home to the fact that those who have received their automatics from the designers have already posted them to the web sites or have opened boxes and put them in their stores while we are at market trying to bring everything back for you all. kind of takes the fun out of it i'm afraid. i hear it over and over again from shops - they don't go to the summer market because they go to the nashville market and yet the halls were empty, there were very few of us there and i wonder why? it hurts the designers who make the long trip with the expenses they incur and it hurts the shops who do show up because we're not at home opening boxes and doing web updates and we're not the first and we should be - we came - we paid big dollars to get there and came to support our designers and our friends and the others did not - for whatever reason. it's a difficult question and one i will think about very carefully over the course of the next year. the industry is definitely changing - having been on the internet for almost 10 years, i can certainly tell you that it is. shops are closing right and left and i wonder how much of that is driven in part by the industry that seems to be having trouble supporting those changes. i love going to market - i really do - it's an integral part of my shop and my customers - but in the end - is it necessary??? anyway...thanks for visiting with us...i'll feel much better when i get these massive piles of stuff off the floor...i'm literally having to hop over piles...and piles of invoices and piles of other things...and i'm sure tomorrow will be easier and it will all make perfect sense then - it just doesn't make perfect sense right now. with that - we will close the doors on nashville 2007 and see what columbus 2007 brings our way.
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