For my own part, I am using it to re-exhibit a selection of my designs. I prefer to support local shops, so am not selling direct during the show. Ok, there are two exceptions to that. One, I am selling hand-painted needlepoint canvas based on my “Ribbons” chart. I have a small amount of these in stock and I have decided that it is not worth the time investment to build up a needlepoint canvas line, so these are being discontinued. Second, when I designed the “Ambigram Alphabet” I thought it would be neat to offer custom ambigram names. These have to be individually designed, so there is a premium on the chart. No, you can’t just take the letters from the alphabet chart and rearrange them – ambigrams don’t work that way! I think it would be neat to stitch an ambigram of my name – I’ve already sketched it, but havent charted it yet.

So I hope everyone takes the time to check out the Needle Show Retail Novemeber 5-8! Maybe you’ll decide that you need a customized ambigram chart!

Compare that to these pictures when I first refurnished the room for the business.

The table against the window is my printing station. The color printer is on top of the table, the black and white laser is below. Also, the computer is on this table (mostly behind the chair) and my very important TARDIS USB hub. To the right of that table is my “Entertainment area”, namely the TV/DVD player. That is sitting on an old sewing machine cabinet. Along the right-hand wall is my working table. This is where matt boards get cut for framing models, colors laid out, needlepoint canvas gets painted, patterns are put together, and many other sundry activities for running the business. I do most of my stitching in the family room, because I can be more social there and the couch is more comfortable.

I had two problems with this setup. One, the color printer tended to shake the desk it was on a bit. Not too much of a problem, except that it also made the monitor on the desk sway. Two, matt board is bigger than the table I was using to cut it. This made the task of framing awkward when using new, full matt board.

I had the great idea of solving both of these problems by putting an old dining room table in the office and using it for the printer/computer desk and then moving the other tables so that they made a U. This worked perfectly in my brain, and was great because I would be reusing the table. Reality is different from my brain, however:

This setup didn’t leave enough room in the middle of the U for me to work.

So, I got out ye olde tape measure and tried to figure out what would work. I needed a table that was at least 24 inches wide to accomodate the printer. I wanted one with some more stability. It needed to be pretty long to extend from the corner to the edge of the window, but not too deep because I would have to move the shelves that currently lived next to the table. Not too many requirements, huh? I dragged DH out to Ikea Saturday night and we ended up picking up two tables; both are 24 inches deep and together they were long enough for the space. These were mix and match table-tops and legs, so I picked out a shelving unit table leg for the side that the printer goes on. I still have to see how it works under stress.
Here’s what the new setup looks like:

Then I had to put the mess back in place:

But I feel that this is a space where I can be creative:

My goal for this weekend is to spend some time deep cleaning the shelves. I need to reorganize my fabric, so that I can find things more easily. I also got another “screw storage” box for floss. The yarn needs to be stored somewhere out of the way, and I need to reorganize all of my patterns (and this time label the groupings so that I can find them more easily). Maybe after all of that, I can tackle the closet!

I did have a break over the weekend, though, as we took a short trip to Austin since some relatives were in town for business. We arrived Friday night and went downtown to check out the action on 6th street:

The husband got us tickets to Esther’s Follies, which was hilarious:

Saturday, I made the husband take me to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center since the bluebonnets were still in bloom:

Of course, we saw lots of wildflowers:

Austin is a good bit dryer than Houston, so we saw plenty of cacti in bloom:

I even caught a bee in the act of pollinating!

We had lunch at an interesting cafe where they serve fresh veggies grown in a garden behind the cafe:

And there was a sleepy cat outside:

The afternoon was spent hitting several bike stores in the area. Our first stop was Mellow Johnny’s which is the shop owned by Lance Armstrong:

There were a bunch of Lance’s racing bikes around the store, including a Tour De France bike:

And a Tour of California bike (I love this paint job):

The cross stitch had to go in for a closer look:

This was our third bicycle shop (I forgot to get a picture of the second):

I just wish we’d had our bicycles to ride between the shops! All that walking was hard on my feet! Finally we made it back to our hotel which was close to the bridge that has all the bats.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to see the bats, so we’ll have to go back!

When we got back, I had to get to work finishing all my printing:

Now, everything has to be sorted and mailed out and then I can get back to stitching!

Right now, I’m trying frantically to get caught up for a few deadlines. The Needlework Show starts next week, which means my virtual booth has to be set up by this weekend. I’m mostly done, but still have to:
1. Sew on 4 beads to the 3rd page of the Briar Rose series
2. Iron, stretch, frame and photograph the 3rd Briar Rose design.
3. Photograph the next three Advent Ornaments
4. Print copies of the fourth Advent Ornament for a shop class
5. Photograph my bookmarks set.
6. Upload pictures to the Needlework Show site.

Notice I didn’t mention printing any other charts! That’s because I don’t have to do that until they get ordered! Yay procrastination!

Last night, I finally did the finishing work on the bookmarks and I like how they turned out.

The white bookmarks are stitched on a banding, so I just folded the top and bottom edges over. I hope to find an approriately sized ribbon for the back. The one with the sword is stitched on a “Clay” hand-dyed Jobelan. I basted along the edges, then folded the edges along the basting line and ironed them into place. I used a floss that matched the fabric to do a double-running stitch along the top and bottom. Finally I unravelled some of the horizontal threads to leave a fringe! Ok, not really that exciting, but I’ve had the stitching done on this one for a few months now and my mind was trying to figure out the finishing.

I’ll be having a prize drawing during the Needlework show, so check out my page to get details. Also, this trade show is really driven by the end customers, so let your favorite shop know what you like in the show!

The first thing that has to happen is booth setup. Since this is a hotel show, the front room of the suite has to be transformed from a sitting room/kitchen/dining area to a display room.
Before:

And after:

Here are all the charts ready to be sold (since this is a cash and carry market):

We all advertise by hanging banners off the balcony so that they can be seen across the central atrium:

Sometimes I do a little song and dance for the shopowners:

Market is work: prep work, production work, advertising, networking, travel, accounting, shipping and more. Luckily, we have occasional breaks – here are the Dinky Dyes ladies taking a much needed rest:

And here I am with Elizabeth Talledo of Dames of the Needle:

It is possible to sell wholesale to shops without attending market, but it is even more work because out medium is very visual (think about how much better a stitched piece always looks when compared to the chart cover).

This year, I decided to approach designing from a different mindset than I think I had prieviously. I alluded to this in my Market post, but this blog post about 1000 True Fans (and this one) really sums it up better. What I’m striving to do this year is really concentrate my designs on things that are “Kat” and don’t have to approach market trends. What I’m hoping this will do is serve both my artistic sense and please my “True Fans” who really like what “Kat” does in cross stitch. I know I’m not mainstream and I’m not likely to become mainstream, but when I stitch something I like, it makes me happy and I hope it makes some percentage of Susie Consumers happy, too. If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already a “True Fan” and I thank you! Let’s all keep stitching!

This is a set of three ornaments. The ornaments are four squares made up of a single motif; the sides are then folded in and stitched together to make a three-dimensional ornament. Easy finishing!
Origami Ornaments

Here is proof of my Celtic kick that started this spring. This tree goes with the Celtic Biscornu, but shows the whole tree.
Celtic Tree

This design has been in my head for a long time and evolved a bit over that time. I love how it came out though. The design uses two layers of blackwork to provide shading effects. It is also kind of a yin-yang design. Since I used an overdyed silk, I stitched this using a backstitching technique rather than traditional blackwork techniques.
Cuddly Cats

If you like them, please request them from your favorite needlework shop!

Unfortunately, I don’t have a whole lot of “new” stuff for the show, although there is something new to check out in my booth. It is hard because this show falls in between the winter trade show and the summer one, and I’m always gearing up more stuff for the summer. Bad planning on my part mostly.

I have been stitching, stitching, stitching lately. I’m working on some demo pieces for my Thursday class as well as trying to finish up a biscornu project. I still have a list of designs that are all clamboring to be worked on as well as trying to get some more canvases painted. Tonight is a Halo 3 night, so I should be able to get some painting done.

Did you get your taxes done? I did, although I didn’t meet my goal of filing earlier this year than last year.

I still need to finalize my “booth” for the online show.

I’m working on some new designs, but not quite on the roll that I was earlier. I don’t know if it is a creative slump or a lull. Hopefully I’ll get back in the swing soon. I did get a new canvas painted over the weekend, and I really like it. This one already has a cross-stitch version in progress, so that is good as well.

It is time to start really crunching down for the June trade show. Any “extras” I need for the show have to be ordered soon, so I better make a list. I can tell I’m about to get really busy!

On a good note, the azalea I planted is still doing well!

Other than that, I’m having a bit of stitching slump. I’ve done all the hard stuff in my current project, and just have the easy part left. Somehow, that makes it harder to do. To make up for it, I’ve started working on a new sketch. Not what I need to do, of course, but diverting nonetheless.

I even pulled out my knitting last night – how’s that for project avoidance?

Here’s the scoop:
Three designs out at model stitchers (well, one might be hung up at the Canadian Border, but hopefully it will reach its destination soon)
One design about to go out to a model stitcher
Two projects I’m working on (one complimentary design, so small, and another small design)
One design done in the computer, just need to find a stitcher for it.
One design partially completed in the computer.
One design on graph paper that needs to get into the computer, be colorized, tested, then a model stitcher found for.
Another design drawn, but not graphed.
A couple of other designs in an intermediary stage
Taxes to be worked on.
Canvases to be painted
Needlework Show virtual booth to set up.

So that’s over 10 new designs in progress. Wow, that’s the first time I counted it up. Plus I have to wrap up one more for a class I’m teaching in April. Also, I wanted to get something done for the Needle and ThREAD 2008 Bookmark Challenge, but I may have it for the 2009 challenge. Needless to say, I am busy around here and that doesn’t count my “day” job, the laundry, eating, and reading (I have to read). Still, I am happy about it and it is better than having no designs up and coming. I’m hoping a good chunk will be ready to go by the June TNNA Market. I sent my registration off for that today (yes, it was due today, my middle name is procrastination).

Tonight is stitch night, so I hope to get some serious progress on the pieces I am stitching. I was making good progress last night until I realized that I had two colors reversed. It took about 10 minutes to frog 45 minutes (or more) of work. Hopefully, those frogs won’t come back for a while.