The Newest Needle Addiction

So I know everyone has been on pins and needles awaiting news of my trip to The National NeedleArts Association trade show...

(insert polite applause and mild laughter here as everyone gets the intended pun)

... and far be it for me to disappoint. And for some of my fans friends who seem to be slightly concerned about my fiber-festival attendance, let me assure you that the TNNA trade show was NOT a fiber festival. It was a trade show where wholesalers and fiber companies sell to retailers. It was not a cash and carry show. All the money I spent in Indianapolis related to food, drinks, snacks, or gasoline.

(pause for raucous audience applause, shouting, and whooping)

That's right, folks. You can't say I need an intervention when I didn't spend any money on needlearts related paraphernalia. That's not to say I came away empty handed.

Before I get to the loot complimentary needlearts-related materials, there were some definite highlights to the trip.

I met Amy, the editor of Knitty! There she is, signing a book! (MY book, even.) And look, there I am, grinning like an idiot because I got to meet her.

She also gave me two Knitty pins: i(heart)knitty and Knit Big! Amy wants a big girl version of Reid. I need to get working on that.

I also got to meet Ann and Kay of Mason-Dixon Knitting. They also wrote a book! Shockingly enough, it's called Mason-Dixon Knitting. I spent about 15 minutes talking to the both of them before I realized who they were. It was really great to meet both of them and spend time talking with them.

I also got to meet Frank from Trading Spaces! His wife owns a crafting business and had a booth at the show. He wrote an autograph and drew a self-portrait for my mom. How cool is that?

I really enjoyed the whole weekend. The show was held at the Indianapolis Convention Center and was absolutely massive. It was exhausting yet inspiring to see the vast number of fiber vendors, publishers, notions wholesalers, needlepoint vendors, and other related things (t-shirts, nail files, magnifying glasses, crafting bags, needle holders, oh my goodness).

Goodies anyone?

Like I said, even though it wasn't a cash and carry show and only retailers could place orders with any of the vendors, I didn't come away empty handed.

There were plenty of book signings with authors signing complimentary copies of their books. If you were willing to stand in line for anywhere from 5-45 minutes, and if the booth didn't run out of books, you could walk away with a treasure. There was no way you could get to every signing, but we did our best.

From top to bottom [items marked with an * are signed by the author(s)/ editor(s)}:

1. The Knitting Answer Book*
2. OneSkein*
3. Natural Knits for Babies and Moms*
4. Knitted Flowers
5. Knitting Over the Edge*
6. Vogue Knitting Stitchionary 2*
7. Modular Knits
8. Knitovation*
9. Knitting Nature*
10. Simple Crochet
11. Home Knits* (this is an uncorrected proof copy)
12. Mason-Dixon Knitting*
13. Big Girl Knits*
I also picked up two free magazines: Rebecca Baby and Kids & Creative Knitting.

I also picked up a bunch of gadgets and notions.

In no particular order:

1. Two different tape measures (can you ever have enough?)
2. A scoop of bulk buttons in a bag
3. Knitter's hand balm
4. A yarn daisy (for winding balls of yarn)
5. Regia gummy socks
6. Knitted catnip mouse kit
7. Two how-to CDs
8. Knitty button pins
9. A TNNA conference pen AND pin
10. A knitted flower pin

Then, of course, some yarn. From the left:
1. Kraemer Yarns Summit Hill (100% Merino Superwash)
2. Kraemer Yarns Littls Lehigh (45% Cotton, 55% Acrylic)
3. Dancing Fibers Serendipity (60% Superfine Alpaca, 40% Merino Wool)
4. Same as #3, different color
5. Random fuzzy red yarn with a big sticker over the label.
6. (in front) Diekeito (100% wool)
7. Artyarns Supermerino
8. (underneath) Some crazy white and purple-sparkly fancy eyelash yarn.

Did I enjoy it? Of course. Would I go back again next year? Definitely, if invited. Would I recommend it to anyone else able to go? Most certainly. Thanks again, Lori, for the opportunity!