TNNA/Columbus 2012 - wrap up - part 1

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Back home from an exciting TNNA/Columbus Market and teaching at
What's The Point? Needlepoint in Dublin, OH.

Step with me into the Way-Back Machine as I recap this wonderful experience...

Most of my time was spent working in the NeedleDeeva booth. Here is what the
Fab Firs looked like all together. The 6-foot Fab Firs banner was a nice beacon to draw people towards them.

Join the next Retailer's Club by NeedleDeeva
Fab Firs • Stitch Guides by Vicky De Angelis

The new NeedleDeeva designs were well received, too:  13 Christmas Cupcakes,
3 Cats and the Sugar Skulls that I am stitching (stitch guides available).

Can you guess which Skull goes with this preview? They are so much fun to stitch. Bring on the bling!

NeedleDeeva
0453-C • Stitch Guide by Robin King

I finally took the time to walk the floor and visit friends/designers. How exciting is it to call them by their first names... and, for them to know mine! Here are some of the new canvases which caught my eye at the Maggie Co / Ewe & Eye booths. I love anything mid-century modern so these really spoke to me.

Maggie Co
Blue Bird •  M-1488
In the Pink •  M-1487

Maggie Co
Mod Holiday Dove • M-1597

You know I had to include a cat canvas...

Ewe & Eye
EWE 391KB • Brown Cat

and my usual and customary fondness for anything Santa...

Ewe & Eye
EWE 390KB • Fat Santa

and Pumpkins, too...

Ewe & Eye
EWE 373KB • Pumpkin in Vase

I really enjoyed seeing the artwork by Lisa Krause from Deuxbijouxbijoux. Lisa lives in Arkansas with her husband, Jim, and designs hand-painted frames to coordinate with the Maggie Co and Ewe & Eye canvases. Just look at this frame for Sheep Quilt. I love it. Your local needlepoint shop can order these.

Hand-painted Frame by Lisa Krause
EWE-359 • Sheep Quilt

The class I taught at TNNA (Lotus Squared • ZE 134 by Zecca) for the shop owners was a success. Originally, I was told there were 10 who signed up... and then 14... and finally 15. How exciting to see all of their faces. Shop owners from Alabama, Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, Baltimore, Arizona, Indiana, Texas, Pittsburgh, and Hawaii were in attendance.

One of those dry eraser boards was brought in for my demonstrations and illustrations. A picture is worth 1,000 words, right?

Early plans were also made with some designers and shop owners for future stitching and teaching events. I will keep you in the loop as those materialize. Perhaps you could join me? Here's the schedule for the next upcoming markets. Whew! Who knew the needlepoint industry worked at such a fast pace?

On Monday afternoon, the Market came to an end... and it was time to pack up the NeedleDeeva booth. Soon after that, I was whisked away for my teaching of the Sunflower and Berries (ND 309) canvas at What's The Point? Needlepoint.

Sounds like a good stopping point for now. Next time we will pick up from here...  Until then...

Hugs, Robin

TNNA/Columbus – day two

Hi everybody… Robin here.

Day two at market was really fun.

The pace picked up in the NeedleDeeva booth. Shop owners were signing up for the Fab Firs, and were placing orders for the new canvases including the sugar skulls and the cats. I am torn to which new cat canvas to stitch. So far #322 and #324 are both speaking to me... I wonder why?

I took some time to visit some of my favorite designers. I will post those photos when I am back in front of the computer.

Doors are opening for wonderful opportunities. Need to stitch faster. LOL.

Walking back to the hotel I took this photo. I see skulls... all the time. Thought it was fun. (Again, sorry of the photos are out of sequence.)

Tomorrow is the last day. Time to wrap up loose ends. Then it is off to teach at What's The Point.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

TNNA/Columbus 2012 – day one

Hi everybody… Robin here.

Today was my first official day at market. This was set up day for all of the designers.

I took a few photos showing the progress of the NeedleDeeva booth. The first thing up was the walls, and then the lights, and then the Fab Firs banner.

This year Team Deeva can consists of Judee (the Deeva herself), Chip (her son), Vicky and myself. Chip did an excellent job of setting up the walls, the lights, and the canvases.

At 5 PM this evening was Sample It. So many shoppers. It was fun to see Barbara Bergsten and her Lily Pulitzer inspired canvases. I saw Mindy: love her new buttons for her new canvases. Associated Talents had new Halloween canvases with adorable spider leg stands. The Collection had new sequins and beads; I will be showing you them later.

Tomorrow is the first full day of shopping for the store owners. It will be very exciting for them. Also, early in the morning, I will be teaching the Lotus Squared canvas by Zecca.

Guess I better put this day in the records book and call it a night. Until tomorrow… Hugs, Robin

Hello Columbus!

Hi everybody… Robin here... In Columbus, Ohio.

The non-stop trip from Memphis to Columbus was wonderful. The person sitting next to me was a food inspector for the pet care company which makes dog food and cat food in Columbus, Ohio. I told her I have some cats who eat her company's food; it's a small world.

The taxi ride from the Columbus airport to the Crowne Plaza was very fast without any traffic drama.

I saw Vicky de Angelis/Team Deeva in the lobby, and we had a lovely dinner at Martinis.

Tomorrow all of the fun begins: assembling the NeedleDeeva booth and attending Sample It.

This evening I'm going to "chill out" and work on my blue Sugar Skull. He is my travel companion for the week.

Like I said, I am blogging via phone, so please excuse any typos, non-labeling, or if the photos are out of sync..

Have a good night and I will talk with you again tomorrow from Columbus!

Until then… Hugs, Robin.

Blogging by phone

Hi everybody... Robin here.

This is a test to see if I can blog without using my computer.

I am still packing getting ready to go to Columbus.

Jules the cat is very curious about the suitcase.

I'm going to hit Publish and see what happens. See you in Columbus.

Hugs, Robin

Fab Firs by NeedleDeeva and Vicky de Angelis

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

I enjoy working with Judee/NeedleDeeva and being a part of Team Deeva.  I have updated the NeedleDeeva website with previews of new designs coming to TNNA/Columbus. Take a look when you can.

After photographing the finished Fab Firs for her website, Judee asked me to make a 6-foot banner which would be on display in the NeedleDeeva booth for both TNNA/Columbus and TNNA/Baltimore. I was thrilled for the opportunity.

You've heard about the Fab Firs, haven't you? The Fab Firs are beautifully stitched by Vicky de Angelis, and will be the newest Retailer's Club offered by NeedleDeeva in September. Vicky's stitch guides are wonderful and this is an awesome opportunity for all stitchers. All shop owners can contact NeedleDeeva to sign up for this club either in person at Market (Booths 803-805) or from the online information form on the NeedleDeeva website. All triangles are the same size as The Creeps: 4.5" width and 4.5" height; on 18 mesh.

I had just created the magazine ad about the Fab Firs for the upcoming
Needlepoint Now July/August 2012 issue, and decided to keep the same theme going. After all, that's what any ad agency would do, right? So now, we have the Fab Firs ad, the Fab Firs sell sheet, the Fab Firs page on the NeedleDeeva website, and... wait for it... the Fab Firs 6-foot banner.

Ever have a 6-foot banner printed? 72" width by 24" height, to be exact. There was a slight learning curve involved but I did not give up. (The Deeva was counting on me.) Finally, the computer recognized the file, and then, the printer started printing. Oh, happy day!!!!

I snapped this picture with my Phone and emailed to Judee about the blessed event... a banner is born.

The Creeps are excited for their upcoming trip to Columbus. They love to travel and show off. I will take some photos of the trip and post them on the blog. Can't wait to show you this banner in all its glory.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin

Have Teaching Manual - Will Travel

Hi Everybody... Robin here.

Happy Father's Day to all reading this blog. I credit my dad for many of my creative talents. Sure do miss him.

This week is the "gotta get it done" week because I will be heading to Columbus, Ohio to teach the Lotus Squared class at TNNA, work the NeedleDeeva booth, and then to teach at What's the Point? Needlepoint shop in Dublin, OH. Exciting times are ahead, for sure.

Thread Kits for Lotus Squared • Zecca •  ZE 134

The Thread Kits for the Lotus Squared are kitted and ready to travel. All threads for the TNNA class were donated from these following wonderful companies. Be sure to patronize them when possible. Their generosity is greatly appreciated:

• DMC Corp. - Embroidery Floss and DMC Memory Thread
• Gloriana - Silk Ribbon Floss
• Kreinik - Kreinik Braid size 8
• Rainbow Gallery - Flair, Neon Rays, Splendor
• River Silks Ribbon - 4MM
• Wichelt Imports - Mill Hill size 6〫Glass Beads and Antique Glass Beads

Then, I printed and bagged the stitch guides. Zecca did the artwork for the cover sheet. I love her style. There are a few more seats available in the Saturday morning class. If you are a shop owner going to Market, be sure to consider spending 8AM - 10AM with me.

I also made my Lotus Squared Teaching Manual. It is a tradition I do for each teaching event. It is the same text as the stitch guides with large print and one design element printed per page. The charted stitch with a behind-the-scene photo are also printed as a reminder of what I did and when/how I did it.

Each page is then put into a sleeve protector and into a binder which has a place for front cover and binder edge information.

Blog readers who have been with me from the beginning may remember my earlier teaching manuals.

I also have the Sunflower and Berries Teaching Manual ready to go with me because I will be teaching the class at What's the Point? Needlepoint in Dublin, OH right after Market on Tuesday, June 26th.

My collection of Teaching Manuals is a reminder of the commercial stitch guides I have written. Looking forward to more opportunities... beginning in Columbus.

Until the next time... Hugs, Robin