"We never go on vacation since you opened your shop," complained my husband. "OK, then," I said, " How about we go to Convergence in Grand Rapids (Handweavers Guild of America biennial conference). Ashford Handicrafts is having a Dealer's Day and I'd like to go." Then, miracle of miracles, our 17-year-old son, Andy, agreed to one last family vacation. Even in a Dodge Caravan with a license plate cover that reads "KNITTING...IT TAKES BALLS!" What a guy!
So I close up shop on Saturday and we take off to Menominee for our first night on the road. Then next day a fairly leisurely drive through the Wisconsin Dells (stopping for a family tradition that started when our oldest son was 4 - driving go karts - I always seem to pick the dog!) Made it to Milwaukee where we ate supper at Buca di Beppo (family style Italian restaurant) in the downtown district before we caught the fast ferry across Lake Michigan. It ain't cheap, but it was a new experience and kinda fun even for a 17-year-old.
It was dark when the ferry docked at Muskegon, Michigan. As we approached the shore we could smell the campfires and see the lights in the cottages and houses along the shore. The breeze was fresh and cool on our faces. One of those "I gotta remember this moment" moments.
Grand Rapids was just a 30-mile drive away. We found our motel. It had seen much better days, but the price was right AND it had a real pool! Not one of those namby-pamby "5-foot deep at the deep end" pools, but a nine-footer. No diving board, alas, these are the days of law suits and high insurance rates. (Ask me about the story that the hotel clerk told us about the drunk guy diving into the pool from the second floor window above the pool.)
The next morning, I went to Ashford Dealer Day at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. Very swish place! What a great time! Cindy Howard-Gibbon, the Ashford distributor for the US, organized a great day for us. There were dealers from Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and one of the NE states. Robin Spady stopped in to show us the Inklette loom and and beautiful things she's made on it.
Cindy modeled some lovely things made on the Knitters Loom. Then Richard Ashford and Rowena Hart lead us in a little workshop on the new loom. I am just pumped about the fast, fast warping method that they've perfected to use with this loom (or for any other rigid heddle loom, for that matter). You have so much more creative freedom...at least it feels that way. As you thread your warp directly to the loom, you can immediately see how the colors/warp threads interact, and can change things up right then and there.
Lunch was a sandwich buffet served in the room.
The afternoon was spent learning about the new things Ashford will be introducing - like The Ashford Book of 4-Shaft Weaving and the Ashford Book of Carding. Richard and Rowena were very interested in our experiences as dealers and what we thought our customers were looking for in new or improved Ashford products.
The session ended about 4:30, so I brought out my Joy wheel and spun a bit until supper that evening at the hotel compliments of Richard Ashford. Great ending to a great day.
Tuesday we went to the Gerald R. Ford Museum (very interesting) and then to a beach on Lake Michigan.
Wednesday morning we went out for breakfast at Denny's, and then Don and I went to the Conference Vendor Hall which opened at noon. I wanted to see what new things were coming up for weaving, spinning and dyeing, and also find some sources for products that I hadn't been able to find yet. And I wanted to introduce myself to my suppliers who only knew me as a voice on the end of the telephone line. Met the people from Schacht and Harrisville Designs. Found out that I had basically no hope in he** of becoming a Lendrum dealer. They were shipping last October's orders in June. :-( Met Joanne and Tom Hall, US Glimakra dealers from Montana. Really nice people...she's from Minnesota and comes to Aitkin twice a year to teach workshops. Gotta make it to one.
Thursday we headed north out of Grand Rapids, stopped at the Dutch Oven Bakery and Yarn Shop in Alanson, a little town in NW Michgan, where I had a really nice visit with the owner. My jaw dropped at her inventory! And the stacks and stacks of sweaters she had knitted and folded up on top of the stacks of yarn! I have 2, yes, 2 in my shop. I see I have my work cut out for me. But then again, she has been in business for 20 plus years. (I know, I'm just making excuses) Back on the road, we drove across the Mackinac Bridge, and towards home through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Arrived home Friday so I could open up shop on Saturday.
Next Convergence is in Tampa, Florida, in June 2008. Too far to drive, and my guess is it'll be really hot and humid. Think I'll pass on that one!
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