It all feels like a dream now; one of those really great dreams that you never want to wake from, and when you do wake, you try desperately hard to fall back into. There was so much hard work in the months beforehand, and I sometimes wondered if it would all be worth it. Let me tell you as adamantly as I can. IT WAS.
Last year was my first trip to Market, and although it was an amazing time, I felt like I barely got my toes wet... this year I may have made it up to my ankles.
I took two new chart designs and decided to try taking a kit as well (SO much work goes into making those kits! I had an idea, but experiencing it for myself makes me have major respect for those designers that kit their charts regularly). And then, as if I didn't already have my hands full enough, I decided three weeks before the show that I needed a completely new look for my charts. I have Crazy Creative Brain Syndrome in combination with another rare disease called Unrealistic Overachieving Optimist.
I pulled it all together in the nick of time. But only with the help of some of my favorite people (thank you again Mama, Angela and Jen!).
I sent ahead nine flat rate boxes stuffed with charts and kits and three very large UPS boxes full of models and other assorted items for my exhibit room, plus one barely-within-the-limits-to-carry-on suitcase and a gigantic carpet bag in place of a purse. Not to mention the items left from last year that the lovely Donna Gabbard stored for me in her attic for the past year.
It really was a lot to calculate and schedule and put into action.
After working feverishly for so long (preceded by the birthday/Christmas/birthday season, don't forget!), I found myself on Monday afternoon before the show with everything done and shipped and just time to wait until my early flight on Thursday. So what did I do? Cleaned and did laundry and shopped so Farmboy wouldn't have to do it while I was gone... then I designed two brand new samplers. Nothing like nervous energy with nowhere to go to fuel the fires of creativity, I guess.
At last, the day was about to dawn, with a 3 am alarm set, and bags packed, I tried desperately to sleep. But of course I was wide awake at 1:30 in the morning. It's so hard to wait sometimes for that silly clock to make its rotations, then other times its all I can do to not cry in despair as it turns way too quickly.
At last, my flight left just as the sun rose, and with a full day of travelling behind me, I touched down in Nashville forty minutes early (when does THAT ever happen?).
My health has been really great for the past year, but I haven't forgotten just how horrible I felt for the long three years preceding. I feel like I've been re-born in so many ways, and I don't want to waste a single day that I've been given. So... instead of going early to bed, I checked into my hotel, then headed back to Nashville to have dinner with a childhood friend that I haven't seen since at least 1989. The original plan was to see a live show as well, but the exhaustion from the long day hit me about the time the music was supposed to start, so I called it a night.
When I texted my Farmboy to let him know that I skipped the show, he couldn't believe his ears. He knows me well, and knew that I would be disappointed with myself. And he's usually right about these kind of things. So when my friend from the night before texted an invitation to go to a writer's round at a cigar bar on Friday night, I decided I had better go for it. This would mean missing out on Early Bird shopping time, but I hadn't planned to have my exhibit room open anyway.
I spent the day Friday trying to figure out how on earth I was going to turn the really badly decorated hotel room into something inviting.
The indispensable Donna Gabbard came to my rescue and helped immensely, especially since my brain only seemed to be operating on half-power.
We shopped for food to eat and lamps to help with the dim lighting and totally forgot to get the hair styling products that I chose to not carry on with me (a curly haired girl's nightmare; I had to improvise with face lotion, which left my hair a bit limp the rest of the weekend). We strategized a timeline and somehow made the room look at least somewhat inviting.
Then, with Paulette Stewart's daughter Sabrina in tow, I headed to Nashville again for a night that was smoky (Uptown's Smoke Shop) but somehow perfect. I absolutely adore live music, and there is something so much more enjoyable and authentic when the music being performed is by those that wrote it. And did I mention that my friend was one of the songwriters in the round? Oh yeah, there is that little detail...
These four have written songs for some pretty big names, so it was surprising that we got a front row table and were treated to what felt like our own personal concert. You really should check each of these men's work out. I know I did, and now that I've seen the evidence of their accomplishments, I am extremely humbled that I got to sit in on their collaborative effort.
At one point, having briefly met the other three writers just before the show, Sabrina and I were treated to a little impromptu ode to cross stitch. Good thing I had my phone set to record, because the moment was priceless for those of us in the Cross Stitch Nation:
And should you doubt my claim that one of these talented performers is an old friend of mine, I have solid proof, right here:
The Stewarts and the Whittakers were two town families uprooted and living in a tiny hippy/logger town in the far Pacific Northwest. Look how far we've both come. :)
Back at the Embassy Suites the next morning, the real work began. Two solid days of selling, networking, collaborating, being inspired, laughing until I cried, and eating bacon for breakfast every single morning. It was a dream. A dream that I can't wait to repeat.
Having five floors totally full of designers and suppliers, all related to cross stitch is truly an amazing experience. I still get stars in my eyes as I get to spend time with my own cross stitch heroes. I'm a pretty small fish in a very big pond, and I know it full well. I look forward to the years to come when I might start to feel like a legitimate part of this creative industry.
One of the highlights was getting to meet Karen Veers, who stitched Victoria's Garden for me.
Sunday is always slower as far as selling goes, so that's when the hallway meetings happen between designers and suppliers, and also when those of us with blogs try to take as many pictures as we can. Last year I totally failed in that regard, so I tried to make up for it this year. I still only captured a tiny fragment of all of the talent on display, but here are some of my favorites:
I could go on and on and on, but I won't. Be sure you get out there and support all of the needlework shop owners that attended Market. They really work HARD to get all of that shopping done for you, and I for one, greatly appreciate the energy and drive that they bring to the world of cross stitch. I can sit here in my house and crank out designs all day long, but the brick and mortar shop owners are a tenacious and brave lot, daring to make it work in an increasingly difficult economy. If you need help finding a shop near you, my best friend Google will be glad to help, or you can send me an email and I'll try to do the legwork for you. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate those of you that have faithfully purchased directly from me for all of these years; I wouldn't have had a start without you, but especially at this time of year, I would almost prefer that you go support the shop owners as a way of thanking them for all that they do.
The turnout of new designs this year was stellar, and I only showed you a tiny peek. You must be absolutely overwhelmed trying to decide what to buy! But do take the plunge... you won't regret it. This industry is full of some of the most kind and creative people I've ever met, and I'm proud to be counted as part of the Cross Stitch Nation (no one better use that term, I'm already plotting a way to fit it into a design).
Monday morning rolled around, with all my boxes packed and on their way, and a flight that didn't leave until 1:00. I was stuck sitting in the hotel lobby drinking bad coffee and watching election coverage (seriously... ugh!), and I decided that I had to seize the day. So I spent some time searching the internet for things to do on Monday mornings in Nashville.
Lo, and behold, the Johnny Cash museum was open, and by golly, I do love that man's music, so I loaded up the rental car and saw a bit of downtown Nashville before catching my flight home.
Tennessee is nice in its own way, but nothing can ever comfort my heart like my home state, Oregon. And being greeted at sunset by the lovely Mt. Hood shrouded in pink clouds couldn't have been a better way to arrive.
I guess my nose was too close to the grindstone, getting ready for Market, to stop and document the world around me. It could also be that February is the most difficult month for me to take pictures of. Here in the Oregon foothills, it is so dark and damp and not much outside my window shows signs of life until the very last few weeks, when most of the following photos were taken.
We get excited about the smallest things in February, like a big display of hot cocoa, produced by our very own Boyd's Coffee Company, or a rare peek of sunbeams. Forced blooms, baby sheep, Valentine bouquets, and smiles hidden in the bubbles of a freshly brewed mug of coffee. It really is the simple things, that can make this life transcend ordinary, as long as we aren't too busy to notice.
Are you counting down the days until March 5th? I know I sure am! In just eight days I'll be boarding a plane to take me far away from my little country home. My kids aren't very happy with me for leaving them for so many days, but all of that time with their Daddy will do them good.
I've been super busy getting two new designs and one limited edition kit ready to release at the Needlework Retailer Nashville Market, and I hope you’ll be as excited about them as I am!
In addition to the new designs, I'm rolling out my new cover layout, which I am over-the-moon happy about! No more labor-intensive homespun chart covers… I will slowly begin to convert my older designs to the new look, but for now, just the recent and brand new charts will have this appearance.
If you're itching to get your hands on any or all of these new designs, be sure to let your local needlework shop owner know! Send them up to my suite (619) to stock up for you. I won't be listing them in my etsy shop for direct sale until up to a week after the show; it will depend on how long it takes me to recover from all of the excitement.
Without further ado, I give you…
The Bird Collection, Part I
Featuring American Goldfinch, Blackheaded Grosbeak, and Mourning Dove
This is the first in a collection that will number at least 12 individual birds (released in groups of 3 or 4) by the time I'm done.
Retail: $12
Feniscowles Hall 1824
A True Story of Happily Ever After… inspired by the unconventional love story of my very own Great- (repeat a few more times) Grandparents.
Includes a full alphabet and number set so that it can be personalized.
Retail: $10
Fruit Basket Pendant Kit (Limited Edition)
Kit includes everything needed to finish the pendant: silk gauze, cotton backing fabric, threads, wooden pendant frame, and black seam binding. Silk gauze pieces measure 5x5 inches. All you will need in order to finish it is time, patience, a needle and scissors.
Please note that 4 weeks after all of the limited kits have been sold, I will be making this design available for purchase as a pattern only (without kit).
My mom was born on Valentine's Day. She therefore loves everything that is pink and heart-shaped. But most of all, she loves her family, and the gigantic crop of grandkids that is mostly growing within an hour's drive of her front door.
I'm the second of five children and we are all married with at least two kids of our own (my 10 year old being the oldest, but only by a month and a half). So when we all get together, you can imagine the chaos.
One brother and one sister are currently living too far away for more than occasional visits, so when the local siblings decided to surprise my Mama with a birthday tea party for her and her grandkids, the numbers were a little smaller than usual, but still substantial enough for good fun times.
There were tea sandwiches and finger-grabbable fruits and veggies, and even individual mini-cakes.
And I set up a photo booth complete with a few props. Here is a selection of photos from the event that I thought you might enjoy. All photos not taken in the photo booth are by my baby sister Joann (click on her name to go see her beautiful images).
Last year at this time, the members of Dyeing to Stitch's Ladies' Prim Society club received the kit for this design and started posting photos of their progress and finishes online. I have been getting requests from you all ever since, and now that the one-year exclusive status is past, get to offer it to you along with my other charts that are available for anyone to purchase.
Some people enter our lives for a short time, but leave a lasting impression. Others stay with us for a long time, but are taken from life too soon, and we hold onto the memory of times we shared. I imagine that the day when my babies move out of the house will be hard, and they certainly have left a handprint on my heart (as well as a few other places around the house).
With Valentine’s Day approaching, my thoughts turn to love, but not always romantic love. I wanted to create a design to fit the season, that could commemorate a lost love or be a reminder of someone still in our lives that had moved to a far away place, just as easily as it could be made to celebrate romance.
As I browsed for ideas, I came across the song “For Good” from the musical “Wicked”. It has a line that reads, “You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart”. I added the word “always”, some simple motifs and patterns, and stitched it with red thread, the color of strength and joy.
Pattern chart includes a full Initial-in-a-Heart alphabet so that you can customize your pincushion and scissor fob, as well as a full set of capital letters and numbers for customizing the back with your own initials and date.
Stitch Count: 114 x 64 (each side)
Model stitched with one thread over two on R&R Reproductions’ 32ct. Winter Brew
Using thread from Classic Colorworks: Cherry Cobbler, English Ivy
Recommended Additional Materials:
Green Wool: 2 ½ by 3 ½
½” Hug Snug Rayon Seam Binding “Tropic Wine”: 1 ½ yards
Pincushion filling of your choice
This design is now available in my etsy shop, and will be going out to my distributors and the shops on my automatic shipments list soon. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com
