I have been doing the TNNA shows for many years now, both as a buyer and now as a vendor and for me it just doesn’t get old! I love the excitement of seeing familiar faces, renewing friendships, meeting new shop owners and seeing new vendors. It is really like being a kid in the candy store with all these new canvases, threads, accessories, books and just everything else imaginable.

Team Deeva has been arriving from all points, Chip the Road-y and the Deeva herself from Denver, Robin from the steamy south and myself from southwest corner of the US. Setup will begin in a few short hours in the convention center, as we head to our assigned aisles and booth numbers. Trunks and crates that were shipped ages ago will hopefully be waiting for us so we can begin to turn a big empty convention hall into a magical wonderland of all things needlepoint and knitting.

I will be sneaking away for a few hours during setup for my class with Sharon G “Underwater; Part of 11th Hour Triptych” I am so looking forward to it as there is always so much to learn!

This is one of the three canvases from Needle Deeva available for sale at Sample It! This is a few hours of fast and furious cash and carry shopping. What could be better than that? I am hoping that there will be a little time for me to shop too before they open the doors! It is normal to see the shop owners start lining up at least a few hours before the 5pm start. Immediately following will be the Needlepoint Showcase with the debut of the Creepy Characters! Will Robin model her apron for us tonight?

Sylvester was thinking that maybe if he slept on my suitcase, that I wouldn’t leave him behind. At least he was good and didn’t sleep on my clothes, covering them with cat hair!

Now AlleyCat is being difficult as I am trying to finish up the last of my work, print postage and print  my boarding pass. Notice where her paws are?! and until next time…keep on stitching