Would be interested to hear folks opinions of CATS in Nashville this year. I was disappointed in the merchandise mall......... only found two classes I was interested in taking.........heard that it won't be back on the east coast.....
What's happening with it?
I enjoyed the Stitcher's Lounge. Wish the merchadise mall had been a bit bigger, but still found plenty to spend my money on. Took no classes, because frankly, there were none that interested me. Overall, I had a good time, and I hope it comes back to Nashville, because I'd love to go again, and I can't really afford to travel somewhere I'd have to fly rather than drive.
Cris
L>Would be interested to hear folks opinions of CATS in Nashville this year.
Linda F wrote:
Well, I have gone to every show held in the south east since I moved here in January 2000. IMNSHO, compared to last year in Charleston, the merchandise mall was much improved. I thought there were more vendors (not a lot more but still more) and a lot more people shopping. Scuttlebutt was that the hotel had sold more than twice the number of rooms for people who were "attending" the festival. Scuttlebutt was also that, while there were a LOT of people staying at the hotel and likely shopping at the merchandise mall, they WERE NOT taking classes. It's something of a Catch 22 problem. The teachers can't afford to keep repeatedly offering "different" classes that don't have attendees. If they offer the same old stuff, they won't get attendees either. It's very difficult for them to find the right "mix" of classes that will be appealing to folks at ALL of the venues. Even more scuttlebutt is that there will only be 3 shows in the future -- Hershey, some where in the South West and somewhere in the South East -- perhaps Nashville if the returns were adequate from this show. It's difficult to find a facility that has a large area for the market, adequate classroom facilities, suitable rooms and eateries AND will offer all of the above at an acceptable price! The teachers and vendors have been losing money for at least three years here in the South East. I know a lot of us complain that the classes offered are not what we want. How many of us who don't attend the Stitching Festival have bothered to let the organizers know about this? The other side of the coin is that we can WANT specific classes but if there's not a teacher out there with the skill to actually
*teach* the class, then it won't be offered! I desperately want to take a nice long class in Brazilian Embroidery and I write that on the critique form each and every time I fill one out. I have been writing that for three years and there hasn't been a Brazilian Embroidery class offered :-(. Also, I think there is a need for a class in how to finish your needlework -- make a pillow, stocking, bell pull, etc. I would love to teach such a class as it is one of the few areas I feel qualified in. The problem is that it would be extremely difficult to get this type of class organized. The work involved in teaching a class is tremendous and you never know if you will recoup your financial outlay. Like I said -- Catch 22 for everyone involved including us, the consumers. I just hope that we have a venue in the South East next year! CiaoMeow >^;;^<
I'm reading all of this with interest, both here and other online communities of stitchers. I also looked at the website for CSNF in Toronto, where they offer two 'conventions' one in the spring and one in the fall. I was looking at the spring show (and I'm sure the information was for last spring), but if they offer the same next year, I'll be interested. A wide variety of classes, not just needlework, which I thought would be great. I don't just do needlework and to go to presentations on other subjects will be kinda cool. Also it helps to widen your client base, for example I have a dear friend who cross stitches, as I do, but she also sews and talks about learning to quilt, I on the other hand knit and scrapbook and this show had stuff for all five areas (plus more). To check it out goto:
Beverly,
I, too, hope they keep the Hershey show for many years to come. I travel from the Seattle area to Hershey for the show even though there are shows closer to me. This will be my fourth year in Hershey, where my buddy from San Francisco and I meet up for our special weekend. Another friend from Seattle also attends.
In fact, my Seattle friend and I met through this news group before attending a Heart of Cross Stitch show in Sacramento, CA. She sent in a message asking a question about Heart and signed it "Janet, in Bellevue, WA". I responded that I didn't know the answer to her question, but I was in Issaquah. We discovered that we were only a few miles from each other and met for coffee. We now live about 1/8 of a mile from each other and are good buddies with lots in common in addition to stitching!!!
It was her idea to go to Hershey in 2002, and since I have a daughter who at the time was in school at UMASS Amherst, I was game. My daughter now lives in CT, so I combine a mother/daughter visit with CATS in Hershey.
You should also contact CATS or fill out your comment sheet telling them of your desires. I know they look at the comments and I have spoken to Lilas from GripIt, who is on the Board of Directors, and they want to know what we want.
I agree that it is difficult for shop owners to go to all of the shows, and many of them cannot come to the west coast becuase the cost is prohibitive. We also need to remember that allow this is a hobby(obsession?) for most of us, it is their livelihood.
If there is a CATS or other seminar/festival near you, or that you can travel to, by all means try, try, try. If it is expensive for you, ask everyone for gift certificates or money for all gift giving occasions. I know CATS has gift certificates.
If you cannot travel to one of these festivals, then join your local EGA (The Embroiderer's Guild of America) and ANG (American Needlepoint Guild). You will meet wonderful stitchers, and most chapters have local workshops. Both of these guilds also have regional and national seminars.
Just throwing in my two cents and not intending to offend anyone.
Happy Stitching.
Marianne T. (counting the days until Hershey!!!!!)
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