We rented a Silver PT Cruiser (I love those) with only 64 miles on it. We stayed at the Linden House Bed & Breakfast, just ten minutes or so from Market. Since our stay was brief (we arrived Friday around 5 and left Sunday at 1), we had time to eat, drive, get a little lost, drive some more, sleep and shop, and that's about it. I had figured on us spending all day Saturday at the Embassy Suites and finishing up with my purchases in the afternoon. Ha! We ended up having to go back Sunday morning, because I just couldn't get it all done in one day. Yet, our battle cry for the weekend, from the Broadway show The Producers was "We can do it!"
To say Nashville Market is like a stitcher's heaven would be an understatement. Five floors of today's top designers and manufacturers, hundreds, probably thousands of models, hand-dyed fabrics and flosses, and buttons up to your eyeballs (Just Another Button Company's suite had gobs and gobs of them all laid out to choose from.) And of course, most of what was there was the absolute latest, the newest of the new. Some of the suites were transformed from the suites' living rooms into miniature shops with fantastic displays, quilts, shelves, and needlework products displayed so cleverly. It's really almost too much to take in, and I know I probably missed over half of it because of that.
Some said market was kind of mediocre in terms of attendance, and others said it seemed up from last year. I think shops are still watching their nickels and dimes, and I did see a lot of conservative shopping (many shops go with cash, which is a very smart way to keep track of expenses.) I tried to bring back a breadth of what I saw, but then just a small handful of everything I liked, to give everyone a good selection to choose from. I thought people seemed enthused in general about what was there, and the companies with booths are always so grateful for kind comments and purchases.
Some trends I noticed in Nashville were the continuing popularity of Punchneedle in various parts of the country. Charlotte Dudney of Designs from the Pep'r Pot was just as chipper as she could be. She has a wonderful new DVD to teach this technique. (She told me that after getting a manicure for the video, she developed a new habit of nice nails.) I've been ordering the videos in for people -- I can get you one, too. They're a clear way to learn this fun little craft. No, it's not counting, and it's not cross stitch, but it is something you can pick up easily, and some of the designs are darling. Like I said above, a lot of the Punchneedle is being done finer now than before, and I love that velvety look.
Another continuing trend is series: monthly series, seasonal series, theme series. Don't forget that I'm offering autos for just about anything, but especially monthly series (you can find this information on my site at www.shakespearespeddler.com/auto2005.html).
Hand-dyed fabrics and fibers have really taken over the industry as well. Almost everything is done on hand-dyed fabrics these days, with over-dyed flosses and silks. More designers are using some of the patterned fabrics as well (like the gingham linens). I saw one shop owner making a huge pile of mottled fabrics at Picture This Plus, who went to market with over 400 yards of hand-dyed fabric, and came back with a few dozen. This isn't necessarily a new trend, but one that seems firmer and firmer each year.
Market was a lot of fun, was over too fast, but it was a great reminder to me of why I'm in this industry. The people are great, there's always something new, and at the end of it all is a needle and thread and a few moments of peace.
I turn 35 this month (on the 12th!) Half-way to 70 is what we're saying at our house. Goodness gracious! I sat next to a high school senior on the way back from Nashville, and she was telling me about her college plans and her little brothers. And then I thought...oh my gosh, I'm TWICE your age, honey. Good thing I don't feel it (or act it, usually). Have a great month!
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com