If you're a designer and you'd love to go to The National Needle Arts Trade Show, but you aren't sure what to expect, listen in to today's show, with Kara's guest, Meghan Jones, to get her take on what happens there and to get some great advice and tips for newbies on how you can make your visit to the show really worthwhile.

Meghan, who lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband, three kids, two dogs, one cat and six chickens, works full time as a knitwear designer and also nurtures obsessions with sharks, gardening, cooking, and chickens- though not necessarily in that order. She is a prolific designer, with a BFA in fiber and textiles. Meghan got on the cover of Creative Knitting Magazine in 2011 and she's still with them today, creating designs and tutorials and she was recently named the Creative Knitting Newsletter Editor. Listen in today and find out what first brought her to the two pointy sticks and also all about her recent experience at The National Needle Arts Trade Show, in San Jose California.

Today, Meghan talks to Kara about:

• Meghan's recent visit to The National Needle Arts Trade Show- What she experienced there and how it was for her.
• The printed booklet, her unique business cards and a booklet of printed patterns, which she handed out to relevant people at the TNNA Trade Show.
• The companies she spoke to at the trade show and what she learned about how to approach them effectively, as a designer.
• The fun and unexpected relationships that came as a spin-off from the show.
• How Meghan got turned on to knitting, while pregnant and with her husband in Iraq.
• Meghan's really hard time during 2006, as a new mom with her husband suffering from PTSD and how knitting really helped her.
• How Meghan got started with designing- and making money from it.
• How Meghan developed her professional approach to her work.
• How Instagram helps Meghan to remain accountable and how that came about.
• How Meghan sees Instagram as a great tool to assist people wanting to uplevel their careers.
• Meghan's biggest struggles, working solo.
• Going through “the dip” and what Meghan does to break out of it.
• Meghan elaborates on her quote: “I believe you can manifest anything with hard work. The more you work, the better you get and the more opportunities you will create for yourself. Be tenacious, do what you love and the path will open before you.”
• Meghan's funny knitting story.

Links:

Meghan's website: www.littlenutmegproductions.com

Meghan on Pinterest: @meghanjoneslnmp

Meghan on Twitter: @meghanjoneslnmp

Meghan on Instagram: @meghanjoneslnmp

Meghan on Facebook: Little Nutmeg Productions: Knitwear Design By Meghan Jones

Recommended book: The Dip by Seth Godin

Chelsea Fitch was drawn to yarn as a child - the colors just sucked her in and mesmerized her from her youth. Fast forward years later, when Chelsea was living in Japan and she learned how to knit. She started with continental knitting and she could not get enough of it. She quickly consumed everything she could about knitting and learned all she could. Something told her to start making videos of her knitting and that was the catalyst for what has turned into Chelsea’s knitting empire. Although she’s only been knitting for 3 years, she’s taken action on her ideas along the way and she’s made herself and integral part of the knitting industry. She’s currently pouring all her efforts into KnitFitch.com and she also has courses available at FiberBoss.com. Chelsea's not done yet, because she also might revive her podcast as some point. I can’t wait for you to hear the story of her foray into the knitting world and I hope that it will inspire you to jump in and be a part of the knitting industry! 

• Learn how Chelsea learned to knit
• Why Chelsea turned down her dream job offer
• New baby, new hobby - continental knitting
• 3 years into knitting, she’s considered an expert
• Knitting, a great anti-depressant
• Falling in love with Ravelry
• The desire to be part of the industry, rather than just around the industry was overwhelming
• How being a “fly on the wall” helped birth her business idea
• See a need; fill the need
• The MCN formula 
• Chelsea’s biggest struggle in business
• Your logo isn’t as important as you think it is
• Just start. That’s the most important thing you can do for your business
• Test before you invest
• Knitting time is meditation time
• The role having an accountability partner has played in her success

Chelsea’s Courses are available at the Fiber Boss Campus at fiberboss.com

www.voxer.com

Instagram @knitfitch

FiberBoss.com