Archive for the ‘PiPN Student Blogs 2011’ Category

Alice Faye Huff-Idom and the Yarn Resource Catalog

Alice Faye Huff-Idom, a student at University of Akron, recently completed her Pathways into Professional Needlearts (PiPN) internship with my company Business Directions inc.  As part of her responsibilities, Alice has helped create the Yarn Resource Catalog.  Thanks to her, Barry Klein of Trendsetter Yarns, TNNA’s Yarn Group, as well as one of TNNA’s PiPN interns Rylee Tomlinson, the catalog is near completion.  I’ve now contracted with Alice to complete the mock-up.  So good-bye to Alice the intern. Hello to Alice the sub-contractor!

Here’s what she had to say:

Working as a PiPN intern this summer far exceeded my expectations. I not only learned   about the characteristics of unfamiliar yarns, but I learned more about the creative side of marketing and how to create a yarn catalog.

Creating a catalog allowed me to become more comfortable with Excel and how to collaborate with a professional such as Sherry Mulne. The experience with Sherry gave me a preview of what it would be like having a career as a creative marketing consultant and made me recognize my strengths and weaknesses.

I also learned that it is important to meet deadlines for clients including Sherry, to have an open mind and to show that I was willing and able to get the task done no matter how hard I had to work.

Finally, I would like to thank Sherry for welcoming me into her home and sharing her knowledge with me throughout the summer.

As I was just about to email all our 2011 summer interns and host companies, when I received this wonderful letter from Sarah Jo Mosbeck, an apprentice from PiPN 2010.  I felt I had to share it with you.  It’s great to know PiPN is making a real impact.

Sarah Jo Mosbeck modeling original knit skirt

Hi Sherry,
I was in the PiPN program last year, as an apprentice, and you were a tremendous help to me in the application process, and while I was in Columbus for TNNA. You had me give a talk on how adding the apprenticeship option had helped me, and as a result I was approached by Trisha Malcolm the next day, and she gave me a copy of Vogue Knitting’s Lace Stitchtionary to aid my designing dream.

My summer with Shannon Okey was amazing – informative and fun, and I came away having learned a lot and made a great friend. She wrote me a glowing reference letter for the job I have now.

I am currently filling Renee Lorion’s place as yarn editor here at SOHO Publishing in New York City while she’s on maternity leave for 3 months, and I feel that my participation in the PiPN program is responsible for me having the job I’ve wanted since I learned to knit. I’m also doing a couple of designs for them (one for Knit Simple Winter and one for Vogue Knitting Winter), which has been a long-held desire of mine.

So, thank you – the PiPN program, the addition of the apprenticeship option, and all of your kind council and advice has helped me to achieve my dream.

Sincerely-
Sarah Jo Mosbeck

As a senior majoring in Fashion Merchandising at the University of Akron and only two semesters left before graduation, I was not exactly sure where I would complete my internship. Becoming more nervous about finding an internship in the retail industry I began to search elsewhere, so this summer I decided to take a fiber arts class that teaches embroidery, crochet, knitting, cross-stitch and needlepoint. Learning these techniques helped open my eyes to a skill and profession that could benefit me in the future and prepare me for a PiPN internship with Sherry Mulne. Sherry Mulne has a marketing and creative services business called BDi (Business Directions inc), and acts as TNNA’s marketing consultant as well.
Although I have only assisted Sherry for a week, my experience has been fun, interesting and educational. It has also allowed me to use the skills I have learned in the past as a Fashion Merchandising major. So far, this internship is focusing on creating a yarn resource catalog to help professors recognize the elements of the yarns created by the wholesalers within this industry. Besides assisting Sherry with the resource catalog, I will also assist her with other BDi activities.  I may also be able to attend Maker Fair in Detroit at the end of July 2011, where I’ll gain even more knowledge in the world of needle arts.

Hi everyone! I’m Kelly Kleidon, and I’m apprenticing for Helen Hamann. I’m telecommuting while I help with her marketing, build a social media presence for her company, and work on the website.
I was lucky enough to get to come to the TNNA June show and help out in her booth. I had an amazing time while I was there, I learned so much more than I could have expected. I had the opportunity to network with many awesome industry folks and Helen had me working on everything from customer service, processing invoices, to fetching coffee like a good intern.
The accommodations at Sherry’s house were cozy and stocked with good company. I enjoyed my fellow interns immensely and I left with an impression that all of the people involved in TNNA, as well as the general public of Columbus, are all incredibly nice.
Before the show I was actually honest-to-god, bored. So much so that now I find myself referring to things in a before-and-after sense. Like, “before I went to Ohio I would have done xyz, but now I’m doing zyx.” Since I got home I have had plenty of tasks to keep me busy and I am greatly enjoying working with Helen. Before TNNA I had barely spoken with her yet, so it felt as if I was on the outside looking in. Since I was able to help out in Helen’s booth, she has put her trust in me, and my internship duties have exploded. She has been cramming my brain with requests for marketing and administrative help, and ideas for finding inspiration and building skills to become a designer.
I am ecstatic to have an apprenticeship with potential for a more permanent position, as well as being an amazing learning opportunity. I’m also looking forward to my future with the organization; I hope to take advantage of all the opportunities that PiPN has to offer, like attending TNNA shows in the future!

A quick look back at the life of our intern Rylee Tomlinson, just before TNNA’s recent NeedleArts Market

— June 3, 2011
— Rylee Tomlinson, Mississippi State University, Interning with The National NeedleArts Association

Want to know how to avoid a monstrous headache?? Communication is the key. I have learned a lot about communication this week. Mostly that if it is not present, the big picture is lost.  I have learned to ask tons of questions and to paraphrase what I have heard just to make sure that I understand. Believe me, doing lots of work for the wrong end result is not fun. One will save time and energy simply by asking preliminary questions.
With that said, this week was very productive for me. Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time probably did not help my eyesight… but it helped with the project. I am using a program that I had never heard of until 3 weeks ago for the biggest project I’ve ever been involved in and, surprisingly, we’re on schedule and everything is working out. Of course, now that I say that something will undoubtedly go wrong, but such is life. The signs for the display are almost done. All we need is a little more information, another few rounds of editing, to mount them on the foam board and then we’re done. Then I can move on to other small, final details for the show.
Oh, and I want to put in a good word in for Joann Fabrics. The people there are so very nice. They don’t even sound angry when you call multiple times to check the sizes of foam board they have in stock, to make sure they have easel backs, and then call again because you are in Staples checking their price for foam board and forgot to ask the person at Joann’s how much their foam board was. If it weren’t for Joann’s and their wonderful craft section and fabulous staff we would not have accomplished as much as we have. There are at least three in this area, in case anyone was wondering. I think they all know my face by now.
Don’t forget to stop by the PiPN Display at the TNNA Trade Show next weekend. Cannot wait for y’all to see it!