Hello, everyone!

Happy Monday! Here's the latest edition of SYAO Creativity. Let's see what's going on in our creative world this week!

STITCH (What I've been working on)

I just got back from H+H Americas in Chicago, where I literally left directly from the Raystown retreat to begin the drive to Chicago.

The hotels/convention center are right next to O'Hare, and I never tired of watching planes and the Chicago skyline from our hotel window. (They weren't noisy, which was surprising.)

It was a whirlwind of a week, where I

(1) was on stage with Patty Lyons one day to talk about hosting shop events in conjunction with other businesses,

(2) had a talk for new shop owners, and

(3) had a talk for the National Needlearts Association. (I'm now president of that association and trying to revive it, which has been an undertaking because of the trade-show crash that happened in 2020.)

That's on top of a number of meetings.

Lots of people at market suddenly knew me because of TNNA! Twenty-one years in business, and overnight fame! Haha!

I did order a few excellent things for you for fall--don't worry! I'll tell you about them as they arrive! (I brought one thing home with me. See below.)

*****

So the talk that Patty moderated was fun! I got to wear a microphone! It was like being on TV.

I have to tell you that Patty was shocked by how many people open and read this newsletter. She said that the industry average is about 20 percent. She says she's amazed when she gets 50 percent.

Guess how many of you consistently open this newsletter? Each week, it's between 71 and 73 percent! Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

Here's a picture of Patty; another shop owner, Laura Rasmussen; and me. The audience was PACKED. Literally standing room only!

I was super-happy that my shawl coordinated with my chair. (It's my pattern Chevron Sandbox.)

I think we're heading toward a fiber-arts resurgence, given the number of shop owners and businesses at this conference. (I know, I know--none of us has stopped!) The convention center was wildly busy! I loved that there were both fabric and yarn there.

YOUR (What you've been working on)

Here is Roni's beautiful version of Radiant.

I wore my own version of this shawl when I was at H+H, and the Circulo yarn company people literally grabbed me and asked me to design for them when I walked by their booth. They fussed over the beads. Then they gave me their yarn. Now I have to think of a design (and I think it'd better have beads)! More on that when it happens!

For right now, I'm thinking about Pacific Coast Tour.

ART (Inspired by art or nature)

When I arrived home from Chicago, the dogwoods were in full bloom!

OUT (What's out on the shelves in the shop)

I brought back these cool beaded row counters for you. You put them over your needle, and simply move them to the next number at the end of each row. Brilliant. They'll be available starting tomorrow. I'm taking today off to recover from traveling. Joyce will be there till 3:00 to help you! Set up a time! She's fun!

As always, make an appointment to shop or browse, or just to show off your stuff! I can't wait to see you!

Make an Appointment

Cynthia

Land Line (call): 814-238-4151

Text: 856-759-3420

Email: cynthia@stitchyourartout.com

P. S. I hope you're stitching every day in May!