Winter TNNA 2014

This past Winter TNNA — just this last weekend! — was my first time having a (half) booth of my own. I exhibited under the auspices of Deep South Fibers, which distributes my hard copy patterns.  I’d post a pic, but the one I took is incredibly blurry.  I didn’t realize that from my phone display!  Anyhow, you can see it here on Facebook.

First off, I have to say how lucky I was to share a booth with the adorable, sweet, funny, smart Toby Roxane. If you’ve not seen her designs, check out her Rav pattern page. She does lovely things with variegated yarns — gorgeous shawls, mostly, but other patterns as well!  (She also has a great sweater pattern in Stitch Mountain.)

Winter TNNA is generally a lot slower and less attended than the summer TNNA show.  This one seemed smaller than last year’s at Long Beach (which in turn seemed smaller than Phoenix).  However, it being close to home means that I go to it.  And, because it’s quieter, it’s sometimes easier to catch up with folks, walk the show floor as a designer, and so on.  Having a booth I was able to meet with LYS owners, which was great.

I brought home yarn from Anzula and Sweet Georgia.

I can’t resist Anzula.  They bring suitcases full of yarn.  I just want to fling myself down and roll in it.

Anyway, much of the yarn is slated for a small collection for later this year.

I also coordinated for yarn for the soon-to- be-published series of eBooks with Anzula and Zen Yarn Garden.

I also was given a really nifty tool, that I’ve already begun using regularly.  It’s a Needle Keeper, which is basically a little anodized aluminum tube with a silicon stopper-like thing on the end with a slit that you insert your circular needle tips through to keep them from getting everywhere (tangled in your yarn or project, poking through the sides of your bag, etc).  I’m not sure what they retail for, but I’m certainly loving mine.  I chatted with the owners of the company, and they were super nice, and very excited about their invention.  I’ve included a pic below using the Needle Keeper and one with the needles out for comparison.

Let me know if you have any questions re: TNNA in the comments!