From big brands to boutique makers to fellow bloggers and designers, it's my privilege to be a part of The National Needlearts Association. And my most recent yarny trip was to Washington D.C., for the Summer 2016 TNNA Show! Grab a cuppa and settle in, I've got a lot of pictures to share!
This year's show was a lot of fun, though it seemed a little bit smaller than last year! I got a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones, and came home with lots of goodies - many of which you'll see a lot more of in months to come! (hint hint!)
Above you can see some of the lovely items I picked up on the show floor, from companies including Gleener, Tulip, Unicorn Fibers, Going Gnome, and Artfil - a new boutique handpainted yarn company!
I also picked up a Handy Caddy - how great is this?! It has a strap for carrying, it stands on it's own, it has a ton of pockets - you may have picked up that I'm addicted to organizational stuff... Because I'm so organized! Yeah, that's it. This will help though! And it comes in several sizes and colors!
I splurged on a set of Denise Interchangeable Tunisian Hooks, knowing that part of the cost will be donated to Cast Off Chemo. And to further support Cast Off Chemo I plan on using this yarn to create a pattern for their pattern drive!
And one of my very favorite booths is always the one manned (and womanned) by the couple behind LickinFlames! Brenda and Jim are so fun (and funny), and their shawl pins, buttons, dishes, and yarn bowls are all just gorgeous. The techniques they use are amazing - I talked about it a little bit in a shawl pin giveaway I did with them last year! Which might hint at something coming later this year...
Oh! And be careful, because you're going to drool even more. I met the lovely ladies at Bead Biz and "Oooo, shiny," might have escaped my lips once or twice. So sparkly... and I know just where they're going to pop up next, so stay tuned on that one!
They also had a demo going of how to spin beads into yarn! I might need a spinning wheel now. They even have kits for it! The Bead Biz will also be at the Knit and Crochet Show in Charleston SC next month, and I can't wait to see them again!
Speaking of CGOA, the Crochet Guild of America had a booth there too! I can't wait til the show next month! I got to hang out with a few of the board members while at TNNA, including my lovely friend Linda Dean! Together we've been working on making the CGOA Facebook page better than ever, so stop by and check it out!
A photo posted by Tamara Kelly (@mooglyblog) on
After 4 whirlwind days of TNNA show floor, I had a scant 24 hours to recover before flying home. First on the list was a very overdue lunch, followed by a very very long nap.
The next morning my friend Jessie (of Jessie At Home) and I packed up our things, stashed them at the front desk, and headed out to see a few sites before it was time to head to the airport. Although I'd been to DC before, the White House was one sight I'd never seen, so it was wonderful being there in person! And for the record, getting a selfie with two people and a large national monument is easier said than done!
After all the walking we'd done on the show floor, we weren't up for too much hiking, but walking down Pennsylvania Avenue the gorgeous architecture kept us moving. This building, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Offices, was breathtaking! And HUGE! And I thought it was rather inspiring too - anyone else see a crochet design in there?
A little further down the street was the Renwick Gallery, part of the Smithsonian system of museums in DC. Beautiful on the outside, and the exhibits on the inside were stunning! We got to see the WONDER exhibits, some of which I've highlighted below. From towers of index cards, to thread rainbows, handknotted fibers, and woven willow branches, it seems like the perfect exhibit for those of us drawn to the art of crafting. Starting in July their permanent Contemporary Craft exhibit will return, and while I was sad to miss it, I did splurge on the book - more inspiration!
After all that, it was time for a quick lunch at the restaurant on the corner, then back to the hotel to grab our bags and head to the airport. It was a fun, inspiring, and exhausting 5 days, and I was gifted a head cold in the plane on the way home. So be glad you're reading this from your computer and I'm not telling you about it in person!
My next yarny trip this year will be the Knit and Crochet Show, July 13-16 in Charleston, South Carolina. Unlike TNNA, which is only for industry professionals, the Knit and Crochet Show is open to the public, with classes, shopping, and more - I hope to see you there! And if you see me, please say hi!
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