TNNA Summer 2013: Recap

The radio silence on the blog is mainly due to this past weekend's very exciting and absolutely wonderful TNNA.

Hotel lobby. Squee! TNNA!

What that is, technically, is the National Needle Arts annual trade show. While the summer show is the "big one", they have others throughout the year.

This is where yarnny people connect.

I can't tell you all how much fun I had!
(well, I'll try...)

Picture it: Columbus Ohio, June 2013. It's hot outside and freeeeezing in the packed-full Convention Center. People's eyes are dazzled by yarn and patterns and all other sorts of goods and exciting news. Their bellies full of delicious ice cream.

While my ability to take photos was drastically reduced by this state of overwhelmed-stupor, I do have some to share.

I got to meet so many wonderful people!

Photo courtesy of Allyson Dykhuizen.

Here's me and the ADORABLE Allyson Dykhuizen from Holla Knits and the Sweatshop of Love. We were roomies. She rules. Seriously, running Holla Knits and the Sweatshop of Love?

She sported a whole bunch of great knits (and crochet!) over the weekend. Check out her TNNA recap.

We also roomed with the very talented Alison Green. See her great patterns here. I'm really keen on her latest, the Budding Garden Pullover. She's also got a bunch of pretty new designs with Juniper Moon Farm yarns.

MarlyBird Designer Dinner swag.

I was lucky enough to score an invite to MarlyBird's Designer Dinner. She has a great podcast. If you dig listening to them, check it out. She's so upbeat and delightful!

Each of us had a packed-full loot bag. Some of the contents:

-cute gift tags from the knit- and graphics-designer Jill Zielinski
-two cute Chic-A bags
-some new Eucalan Wrapture
-the new issue of the Love of Knitting, with a beautiful duster pattern from MarlyBird herself

I got to meet freshstitches, rock and purl, Carina Spencer, Lee Meredith, Amy Palmer, Andrea Rangel, Stacey Winklepleck, Rohn Strong, Cirilia Rose, Carol Feller, Chris Church, Shannon Okey, Elizabeth Green Musselman, Knitterella, Mari Knits, Jean Chung, Angela Tong and many others. Designer Dinner WIN!
 

The show floor.

Spud and Chloë swag!

Cute pin from Lee Meredith.

mmmm.... Jeni's....

Photo courtesy of Allyson Dykhuizen.

 Yay ice cream! Here's me, Rohn Strong and Alison Green enjoying some Jeni's.

Lucania, in Zen Yarn Garden's booth.

I was super stoked that Roxanne, the creative director of Zen Yarn Garden, entered my new pattern Lucania into the fashion show! Gah!

Yay! Lucania was in the fashion show.

Me and Hilary!

And I finally got to meet a long-time internet bud, Hilary Smith Callis. She is such a sweet and kind person!

Her booth was fantastic (which she shared with Irish Girlie Knits). Check out those mini Citrons-as-bunting! Very cute, eh?
And just because it makes me smile: Hilary, me, AND Alison all have the same birthday? Cool beans!

(ps: mini pattern preview! I just might be wearing a very-soon-to-be-released design here!)

Pretty Anzula.

I got me some absolutely beautiful Anzula yarn. Swatching will commence soon. I can't wait!
Ok, so a run down on some of the nummy yarn and other goodies:

-lots of exciting bright yarns! Malabrigo, Anzula, Manos and many others are all jumping on neon like it's HAWT! (which it is, btw).
-got to check out the new issue of Knitscene, and a sneak peek at some upcoming Knit Picks collections (which I'm glad to say I'll be a part of!) as well as the VERY COOL Doomsday Knits.  Cooperative Press does such awesome and interesting things!
-got to see the new madtosh colours (and yeah, if you're not a fan of the neon, there's nothing to worry about. Madtosh has you covered with lovely soft shades).
-got to see some great new (to me) yarns from Red Barn Yarn and Baah Yarn.


So, I have returned from the whirlwind (wherein I drove 7 hours each way. Yah, I totes did it. Car did not explode into flames with the flaming hot heat flames of late June). I consider that a victory.
Amongst all the other awesomeness of this weekend.

Home.