Visiting Martha
This has been an especially busy month at Kanine Knits. To begin with, there was the annual Dreamers Into Doers event that is held annually by the wonderful people at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and sponsored by Deluxe. This year 80 female entrepreneurs (and one guy - a guest) came together in NYC to learn from the experts different methods of growing our businesses. The event also includes a chance to see the Martha Stewart Show and ask questions when it was over. 
For most of the participants this was their first chance to visit the home of the Martha Stewart media empire and ask questions of the people who make the magazines, television and online aspects of the business. We learned about creating product and marketing it. Many of those who attended were following in Martha's early career steps as party planners though there was a business diversity throughout those attending. For me it was fun to meet up with five other dreamers who first met at this conference three years ago and to see how far our business have come. The friendships and bonds that have been formed within this group are still going strong.
Talks by visiting speakers ranged from Deluxe, to The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck developers, to Diane Winston from Score who stressed the many services that are available free to business owners through this arm of the Small Business Administration.
Martha wasn't able to be at the meeting where she was scheduled because she was rushing off to meet her newest grandson who was born on the first day of the conference. The baby, a boy, was named Truman. We all shared in her joy.
It was also a great chance for me to get together and catch up with my friend Hannah Milman who is the SVP Exec. Editorial Director for Holiday and Crafts at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Hannah is not only a wonderful person but a very talented and creative crafter.
My TV Interview
This week I did my own thing on television. I was interviewed Jason Alster about my knitting books and patterns on the Meet The Author show. It was a lively half hour where I gave Jason (a non-knitter) insights into the world of knitting, yarn, books & patterns the reasons why I write about dogs, cats, llamas and alpacas. It was enjoyable since I love to talk about what I do.
I am slowly (24 hr days are too short) getting more patterns with many new breeds up on the website, so be sure to check it often.
Next month I will be having a booth showing my books, patterns and samples of what you can knit at the Connecticut Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival on April 28th in Vernon, Connecticut. Come and visit plus you can see the animals and watch the sheepdogs work.
