For the sixth straight year my distributor in the UK, GMC invited me to book signings at the incredible Knitting & Stitching Show, at the Alexandra Palace just ouside of London, to promote my new book “Knitting In Circles”. This year there was a new twist to the visit. They booked me for two show on the QVC Television Network, to do 2 shows. I was nervous , but excited. The QVC Television Studio,  is an enourmous complex in Chiswick, London. I was ushedred into my private dessing/makeup room and was briefed by the producers. I was to do a 5 minute show in the morning and a 10 minute show in the afternoon. Everyone was very friendly and helpful and the first show went very smoothly, and then the afternoon show went very well including an on camera model who looked beautiful wearing the ” Eternity Dress” from the book. After the show we were lead to the computer room which quickly calculates the sales of the book, and to our surprise and joy the book was a complete sellout (600 copies) less than 5 minutes after the show ended. The QVC people said they had never had a knitting book that had ever done as well and they invited me back–It was very exciting 

We then headed out to the great Knitting & Stitching show at the Alexandra Palace. It’s a beautiful venue and over 45,00 people attend this great all crafts show–I saw many old friends and made made new ones, and signed lots of books.

The big sellers were “Knitting In Circles”, “The Essential Edgings Collection” and “Knitting Block by Block”. the British knitters are lovely and enthusiastic and made me feel right at home again. I was also asked to be a judge in the new/student designer contest and love the creativity displayed by these youngsters.  The gang(Chandra, Neil and of course, Tony) at GMC could not have been more helpful, and it is always a joy to see Lady Emma, The pubs are still wonderful too. I had a great time.

Next Stop–Paris!

NEXT BLOG!

HAPPY KNITTING, NICKY

Eleni’s Mom Lina and her relatives especially Uncle George took us all over Crete to incredible locations, and we could not stop her from cooking wonderful meals for us although we were dining out at wonderful restaurants.

Crete was amazingly beautiful from rugged majestic mountains to beautiful luxurious beaches. The people are incredibly friendly(even though finacial time are tough, the people of Cret remain charming and hopeful)…the restaurants and hotels are wonderful(and reasonable)…the shopping is fun(beautiful handmade lace), and all in all in was beyond our expectations, which were high. We want to return(hopefully not in summer), and that’s the mark of a good time. We also took a daytrip cruise to the breathtaking island of Santorini.. I also found, naturally, a couple of lovely yarn shops in Rethymnom and I helped a local woman pick out buttons for her knitted sweater. Here’s just a bunch of photos that may give you a feeling of the wonderful wedding and vacation we had.

               Yassou!

I had a fantastic time in Santa Fe, all orchestrated by the gacious  Bev of the charming OOdles Yarn & Bead shop. Great food, great margharitas, great knitting and great people. Women from all over the Southwest..New Mexico, Texas, etc. (we even had one woman who came all the way down from Oregon) bonded, learned and had fun in my classes and at my power point presentation.

I got to have one day of relaxation, enjoying beautiful Santa Fe with it’s great museums, Native American market, and wondeful architecture. For the first 3 days the weather was in the mid 70′s, but as we came out of lunch on my day off we walked into an incredible snowstorm…but it was beautiful.

Back from beautiful but unpredictable Santa Fe for 2 days and off to wild and wondeful West Vriginia for an Easter visit with my Dad, family and friends. I particularly enjoyed my neice & nephews Tristan,Scott, and the non-stop active Mason(we had an impromptu Easter egg hunt for him at my Dad’s house). I was hopelfully  going to get some rest, but I never stopped running…still it was great!

Back to New York for a couple of days and then tomorrow I am gone with the wind to Atlanta, Georgia for Stitches South, fried chicken and mint juleps. Here’s a picture of Howie and myself, the last time we were in Atlanta.

Happy Knitting, Nicky

Just got back from 4 wonderful days at the VK Live Show at the New York Hilton–It was a great success and there were even more people attending than last year–As always, got to see many old friends and make new ones–There were over 70 vendors selling all kinds  of knitwear products, a gala dinner/ fashion show and non-stop events.Two of the many products that I liked were “Fix-A-Stitch”, a two ended crochet hook that helps you fix stitches that need to be (www.FixAStitch.com) and Jazz Turtles Creations yarn, beautiful handspun yarn incorporating metallics and georgeous feathers etc, (www.jazzturtle.etsy.com).

I signed lots and lots of books, had filled classes, and my new power point presentation drew over 200 enthusuastic knitters–

VK held a classy charitable auction at a gallery downtown, for the Women”s Heart Association, with personal items contributed by various designers–My sheep painting sold for an amazing $2,800 for the charity–I’m thinking of changing careers!

My book “Knitting In Circles” goes to press in two weeks and I’m feverishly making minor editorial changes–I’m thrilled with the way it turned out and hope you will be too.

A SERIOUS NOTE ABOUT KNITWEAR PLAGIARISM AND PIRACY–Recently, a prestigious craft company (I will not reveal details) sponsored a cash award afghan design contest–The winner was awarded a generous cash prize, the design was published in a book, and the design was put on the market in a kit with the amateur “designer’s” name on it, along with royalties for her–The only problem was…the design was entirely MINE. It turns out, that a number of women (bless them) recognized that it was my design that had been published in a magazine, some years ago, and informed the unknowing craft company about it. The company, being an honorable institution, contacted me, explained the situation, apologized and made restitution. MY POINT IS:In our internet world, knitwear plagiarism and piracy goes on all the time…Knitwear designers work very hard, for modest compensation, and too many times their work is compromised by the untalented and the unprincipled. The individdual who took my design was not only unfair to me and to the craft company, but also to the talented knitters who created original designs for the afghan contest–Plagiarism and piracy on the internet is hard to police, so if you come across any example of it (patterns, kits, books, etc) for ANY designer’s work…SHOUT IT OUT, as the good samaritans did, in my case–Thanks for listening.

I’m setting up my traveling/teaching/book signings schedule for 2012 and fielding request from many yarn shops and organizations–So many wonderful invitations… So little time!

Gung Hay Fat Choi–Happy Chinese New Year–Year Of The Dragon.

Happy Knitting, Nicky

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Started off the year at the TNNA Show in Long Beach California, with a series of book signings and catching up with knitting industry products and trends. Then back to New York for the first annual Vogue Knitting  Live Show at the New York Hilton, that was a smashing success. I taught, and gave a power point presentation to an audience of over 200 knitters. I also had my own booth selling my buttons, books, patterns etc. but it was a lot of work, even with the help of some dedicated friends.

In February I was the featured designer at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival, where they had a Barbie Doll Retrospective of designs from my 3 Barbie Doll books. It was great fun.

In April spent a lovely weekend in Kent, Connecticut teaching at the wonderful Black Sheep Yarns and met some interesting people.

May in Minneapolis at Steven Be’s Knitting Event at his incredible Yarn Garage. Lots of lovely people including my pal Mary Taylor who is halfway through with knitting all the pieces from my “Knitting On Top Of The World” book.

If it’s June…it must be TNNA in Columbus Ohio. Great turnout with “Knitting Block by Block” getting rave reviews. I also taught classes at the Knitting Connection event, visited my alma mater Columbus College of Art & Design with old friends and got to spend time with my Aunt Angie & Uncle Anthony and family

In July I threw out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game for “Stitch & Pitch” night. It was great and I pitched a perfect strike (thank goodness it didn’t bounce). Also got to spend some time with my soulmate Debbie Macomber, who was kind enough to throw a get together barbecue at her lovely home. She is an amazing person!

In September we sailed away on the Nicky Epstein Knitting Cruise to New England and Canada with a great group of knitters with old and new friends and delicious lobster rolls.

October?…Off to Vogue Knitting Live in Los Angeles where I taught and gave a power point presntation to overflowing and enthusiastic west coast knitters.

In October I finally launched the Nicky Epstein Knitting Club which is now in full swing. So, off to London and  London’s fabulous Knitting and Stitching Show ( over 40,000 attended) at the beautiful Alexandra Palace. Taught classes and signed countless copies of my books which the Brits have embraced.

And being so close to Paris, Mr H and I hopped the chunnel train for a week of wining, dining, and an unexpected chance for me to participate in a charitable knitting event with hundreds of Parisian knitters–A dream week!

Our  last and perhaps, most lovely trip, was to Edmonton, Canada, where the gracious sisters, Barb Barone and Cynthia Hyslop, who run the beautiful River City Yarn shops had me host their Wool, Wine and Wheels Tour. Sixty talented and fun-loving Canadian knitters and myself took an elegant train trip to  the amazingly beautiful Jasper National Park for a 4 day marathon of great dining, sightseeing,  joyful knitting classes and bonding (they’ve invited me back again next year, so come and join us)–I had an incredible time and it was an incredible ending to an incredible year.

Got to go home to West Vriginia for Xmas and enjoyed my nephew Mason opening his presents, celebrating my cousin Jennifer’s baby shower (I knitted her 5 baby hats on the drive down to WV), and then enjoying my niece Tristan’s 16th birthday back in NY.

2011–Oh What a Year!!!! I want to thank you all for your ongoing support and wish you a Healthy and Happy New Year and hope, in 2012, you have a ball!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Nicky