From: mouse@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.misc
Subject: Nancy's booth: update
Date: 20 Aug 92 09:47:15 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

I wanted to thank everyone for the many responses which I received.
I appreciate the time you took to write and to share ideas.

I thought you might like to know the sorts of things which people
were interested in finding:
1.  Buttons:  probably the most frequently mentionned item.  There
was great interest in old buttons (not surprising), but also several
requests for modern-but-unusual/interesting buttons.  That encourages
me to keep an eye for them, even if they are not vintage.
2.  Beads:  esp. drop-shaped crystals, pearls, trade beads, old
glass beads, cloisonne, ethnic beads from other countries and cultures, 
and period-looking beads & trims; these were all mentionned specifically.
By the way, there is a bead shop in Lawrence already, as well as two 
large hobby outlets.  I dropped in to the specialty bead shop yesterday 
afternoon in order to look the place over and know what to avoid. They 
had a large stock, but mostly plastic beads and "basic" beads in all 
sizes.  None of what I would call "unusual".  Nothing to use as a center 
piece in a necklace, some rough-tumbled turquoise, but nothing really 
special, no pearls at all, no crystals.  So that again tells me that I 
might be on the right track.
3.  Fibers:  requests for combed fleeces, cotton sliver (what's
that??? I forgot to ask you, Barrie), silk/cotton blends, fibers 
for spinning, rayon or linen fibers, handspun local yarn, blending
filament (for x-stitch).  At the moment, I have quite a lot of rayon
and wool yarns as a start-up stock, but I'll look for more of these.
4.  Fabrics:  millinery, specialty fabric (esp. gold net for Jill!
8-)  ), nice linen, openweave Lugana, Aida cloth, antique fabrics,
linens, doilies, lace (yes, I have some lace I intended to put out),
embroidery (ditto here), handworked fabrics and textiles (yup, I like
that one a lot),  "historical fabrics", prints.  
5.  Tools & accessories:  lace-making bobbins (well, my daughter may
snap those up before they even get into the shop... she says you
NEVER have enough bobbins!  8-) ), beautiful wood accessories like
knitting needles, drop spindles, niddy-noddies (WHAT _is_ a niddy-
noddy, Barrie????!!!!  8-)  I probably should know, but I don't), 
tapestry beaters, shuttles, cone winders, ball winders, nice carry
bags.  And I like the sound of all of this, so you may be sure I'll
look for them.
6.  Baskets:  Everybody loves them to hold all those other craft
things!  And I've got bunches, and they fit a harvest-time and rural
theme very well.
7.  Patterns:  Folkwear (I only have a few... hope I can find more),
and historical patterns which museums might have were mentionned.
Also books on drafting patterns.
8.  Odd-ball stuff (but intriguing):  corset stays, lobsters of all
kinds (a very big seller in the East, I'm told... thanks, Nancy!...
I was thinking... since this is the midwest... chickens, ducks, pigs,
and hearts do well out here... so I might take your idea and use
adapt it for out here.  Sounded good to me.).

Well, that was the first round, and VERY valuable and helpful it
was, too.  Tonight I'm working late at the mall on the booth.  I've
got some shelves up on the wall, some modular display cubes for
fiber stuff, and it's almost time to move in the looms and set them
up.  I also have 3 BEAUTIFUL period quilts, from 1890-1930s,but I'm 
bringing them in at the last minute.  Also... a really special item... 
a spectacular handwoven linsey-woolsey coverlet, circa 1830, in linen 
black and red check, museum quality.  That should give the place some 
class!  My business cards are printed and ready.  Now I'm trying to
get all the tools organized and priced, the buttons and beads in
little packages/jars, etc.

Wish I had you all here to ask questions, but we've got the net and
you're only a message away.

Forgive me if I cross-post to 3 groups: alt.sewing, rec.crafts.misc.,
and rec.crafts.textiles, but my booth sort of cuts across those
interest areas.  Please do ignore it if you're read it... and if it's
a problem, please tell me, and I'll stop.

That's it for now though.  Please feel free to continue to feed in
whatever you're thinking about.  It's all grist for the decision-
making mill.

Nancy








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