The Knitting Screw Guy

I can't believe it's almost 2 weeks since Stitches. I meant to post this story right away, but didn't get around to it.

When setting up my booth at Stitches, I was helped immeasurably by my neighbors at Mind Your Knitting. I'm forever indebted to the husband of this family business team. Since he may want to remain somewhat anonymous, I'll just call him "Screw Guy." Screw Guy saved my sales for the weekend.

As mentioned in a previous post, Stitches was my first retail venture. (I only sold wholesale to yarn shops prior to this.) Besides packing 500 Knitter's Journey Knit with Wire Kits, I had to get display fixtures and get a merchant number so that I could accept credit cards in order to do the show. My credit card validator and my merchant number arrived just in time as I was packing for Stitches. I knew I had to swap the new merchant number plate for the generic one that came with my validator. I packed a screwdriver and figured I'd take care of it in Chicago.

Well, guess what? One of the screws just wouldn't budge. It looked like the head of the screw was stripped. Panic set in. No Validation plate = no credit card sales.
Screw Guy to the rescue! Not only did he have a better screw driver, he had an arsenol of tools that had no business being at a knitting show. And am I thankful that he did! Screw Guy loosened the screwed up screw with a few quick twists of his superior Philips head. But we weren't out of the woods yet! When I swapped the plates it was evident that the new plate was larger than the old plate- it covered the numbers of the date. But never fear, Screw Guy was here! He had a sharp little cutting tool handy. He expertly cut the plate down to size. I breathed a sigh of relief. Thanks to Screw Guy, credit cards of Stitches attendees were now free to lay themselves down on my validator bed.

Thanks again to my superhero, Screw Guy, fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way . . . CHARGE!

Will work for food

Sorry, there is no picture. I tried to get my friend Carolyn to wear a sign, "Will Work For Food" but she wouldn't go for it. Carolyn is retired from working as a wholesale sales rep in the gift industry, and as you can imagine, she was a great help to me. She has great sales skills and a keen eye for merchandising. She was the one who suggested I turn the baskets on their sides for a cornucopia effect, which made a great difference. We had many positive comments from both vendors and customers about the booth and the baskets in particular. Obviously, it worked, since sales were good.

Boy did we work! We arrived Wednesday to check in and drop off our stuff and we spent all day Thursday setting up. Showtime was Thurday night, when we were open for business for 2 hours. Friday and Saturday we were on our feet selling from 10 - 6, and Sunday we worked 10-4. Our evenings were busy with paperwork, and I had to make samples for the demonstrations I did every day. Our only compensation was food -We enjoyed 2 great meals at the Hilton Garden O'Hare. Am I following my bliss or going crazy? I may not be rich, but I am happy.

Stitches Midwest 2007 Thank Yous

Well, this is it! This is what I worked all summer for. Here is my booth at Stitches. I was so pleased with the comments from customers and vendors that they liked my booth. Not bad for a first time, do it yourself on the cheap venture. I'm especially proud of my logo and banner. I designed it myself with the help of my knitting buddy Melissa.

This mammoth undertaking could not have been tackled without the help of my knitting buddies. Special thanks go to:

Melissa - for help with the logo and packing kits in the 11th hour.

Lauren - for her savy retail merchandising advice -especially her suggestion to use glass block to create shelves and risers.

Karen - for her enthusiasm for my product and support with her pocketbook by being my first Stitches customer.

Kathy - whose appearance on the other side of the booth on Saturday was a welcome surprise

Lynn - for her willingness to listen to me going on and on about this venture on our morning walks.

and most importantly,

Carolynn- who volunteered her van and came to Chicago with me as my unpaid employee. An entire post shall be devoted to this wonderful lady, but I have to talk her into letting me take her picture first.

I was also helped considerably by new friends - my vendor neigbors at Mind Your Knitting.

From what I understand, the attendance at Stitches was down almost 40%. Was it poor promotion? Is knitting that much on the decline? Or is it that the Rosemont convention center is cavernous, dirty, and ugly with far too much walking required for elderly or out of shape knitters? Still, I had very good sales and I have made contacts with several guilds and yarn shops to do presentations and sales.

I'll write more later....

Busy Girl

I can't believe I blogged only once in the month of July. Can I really be so busy? It's summer, I should have lots of time. I was teaching summer school the first 2 weeks of July, but it was only 1 90 minute class.

My husband and I enjoyed a mini-vacation to Austin, TX. I was surprised at how much there is to do there. There are lots of good restaurants and bars/clubs with live entertainment. I enjoyed the LBJ library and the Lady Bird Wildflower Center.
I actually got hubby to go out dancing!

Austin is a nice town but way too hot and muggy at this time of year.

I actually relaxed and read Harry Potter while on vacation. I was surprised how I really was instantly in vacation mode. I forgot all about Stitches for a while. In fact, I kind of forgot about knitting. I didn't seek out any yarn shops while I was in Austin, although I did spot one by chance when we went out to dinner.

Speaking of Stitches, I've got 500 kits packed and I'd like to pack 100 more since I've got the supplies. I really have to crank things up. I have lots of details to take care of. I've only been able to work on Knitter's Journey in the evenings because I've been taking a 2 credit podcasting class this week.

Well, busy girl has to get going.....bye!

Packing for Stitches Midwest

Okay, it's about time I updated this blog. Where have I been?

Well, mostly in my basement studio/bead factory, but also right here at my computer, working, working, working because I'M GOING TO BE A VENDOR AT STITCHES MIDWEST!!!!!

I've been going a little crazy buying beads and wire. My goal is to have at least 500 kits at the show, which shouldn't be too hard because I've already packed 250. Because I need so many kits, I've been branching out into more gemstone and wire color combos and I'm really excited about them. I can't wait to knit a few of these for myself.

I've also been busy with business organization and getting my website launched. At this point, it's an informational site, but the store is coming soon. I'm rather pleased with myself for getting my site up and running. I did everything myself, including the logo design. Please, please, please, check it out at http://www.knittersjourney.com

I hope I'll see some of you at Stitches. The teachers are great, the market is super, and the multitude of knitters is awe inspiring. (Go to the Stitches link at right for more information about classes, etc.)

Knitting Camp

It's Knitting Camp time, and I won't be there. Sigh! It's not in the budget this year. It has gotten more expensive while my income went down due to job change. I've only been twice to the one and only original Meg Swanson's knitting camp and that was in 1998 and 2000, so it's not like I'm an oft-timer, but I aspire to be.

What is the allure of knitting camp? Well, it isn't the Best Western hotel or the great nightlife of Marshfield, WI. (Although, contrary to popular pre-conception north central Wisconsin is scenic and the summer weather can be quite lovely.) No, what brings me back to knitting camp is Meg herself and the company of fellow campers.

Meg is one of the original knitting goddesses, descended from a knitting Saint, Elizabeth Zimmerman. Being Elizabeth's daughter and protege, Meg has a wealth of knitting knowledge to share. It isn't simply Meg's knitting know-how that I admire. I'm charmed by her wit, her humour and her slightly British manner. (Obviously Elizabeth's influence, but something that seems quite odd to me since I live in the same suburb of Milwaukee where Meg was raised and I know that hers is certainly not the local accent.) Although Meg has an incredible knitting pedigree, she is unpretentious and patient with even the newest knitter. Meg's classes are packed with knowledge and well presented. I know of no other knitting retreat that uses technology to such great advantage. With close circuit TV and large monitors around the room, there is never a struggle to see the teacher's knitting.

Of course, I'm not the only member of the Meg Swanson fan club. Meg's camp draws knitters from across the country and even from around the world. The camps I attended included a handful of Canadians, a Brazilian, and an American living in London who flew in just for knitting camp. Yarn shop owners and knitting designers were common in the crowd. Show and tell was inspiring, if not breath taking at times.

I find the fellowship of knitters to be rejuvenating. Among my fellow campers I've found community. At the 2000 knitting camp, I discovered two campmates lived within 5 miles of me. We enjoyed the camp experience so much that we decided to continue to meet when camp was over. I now knit at the local bookstore every Monday night with these ladies and a few other knitters that we've picked up along the way. They have become my best friends and have given me much emotional support over the years.

Yes, I'm missing knitting camp. I shall just have to sing the knitting camp theme song to get over it: (sung to the tune of Koom-by-yah,)

"Come buy yarn, my Lord, Come buy yarn, Come buy yarn my Lord, Come buy yarn . . ."

Knitted Jewelry

It's the end of the school year, which explains why I haven't been doing much blogging. I was doing a little bit of knitting, of which I'm most proud. I made some lovely knit with wire necklaces and bracelets, and I've decided these are worthy of adding to my Knitter's Journey product line. I hope to be a vendor at Stitches, but being the creative and unorganized person that I am, I have yet to get the application in. It's really putting the cart before the horse, but I'm eager to go the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee this weekend, where I will buy oodles of beads for my kits. With summer here, I can KNIT, KNIT, KNIT. I hope to finally finish my website, knittersjourney.com this coming week! From educator to entrepreneur--that's the goal for this summer.