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!

May 31, 2011

Rylee Tomlinson, Mississippi State University, interning with The National NeedleArts Association

Hola mi amigos!

The TNNA trade show is almost here and I cannot tell you how excited I am! We are doing so many things to get ready like calling people and working on displays. Speaking of displays, I think y’all are really going to like what we are working on. It has a past, present, future theme and we have some help from Ohio State University’s Historic Costume and Textile Museum…but I am not giving away any more than that. You will just have to come to the show and see it for yourselves.
By the way, on a more personal note, all of this has been done while battling a medium level case of poison ivy. I would post some pictures but you would be too grossed out. You know, if it stayed concentrated to one area, like my arm, I would be okay. But no! It spread to my stomach, my other arm, and the front and back of both legs. I look just awful. Oh, and the itching is so much worse than the way I look. I have found, for anyone looking to relieve itching, that ice packs work wonders. Benadryl does too but, alas, I am now immune to it.
But I digress. The real point of this update was to let you know what we interns have been working on here at TNNA.  If you’re coming to the show, and I hope all of you are, don’t forget to stop by our display (to be on the show floor, in the “Fashion Show” area) and see what we have accomplished. You will not be disappointed, I promise!

First let me introduce TNNA’s PiPN interns.  Rylee Tomlinson and Crystal Spann are both students at Mississippi State University, our second PiPN hub.  I’ve been lucky enough to have them here, at my home office . . . and have to say, I’m enjoying every moment.  It’s wonderful to have their creative spirits and energy . . . not to mention they are delightful to spend time with . . . and are an  incredible help.

I’ve asked them, as well as our other 2011 summer interns, to send me updates of their experiences, so you can here it from their own mouths.

Here’s the first from each of them:

May 5, 2011
Rylee Tomlinson

Hi everyone!

Just a little update from an intern here at TNNA. My week started off slow, almost to the point where I was not sure this was for me. Boy was I surprised! Things have significantly increased and I now have a healthy amount of projects to work on, which I absolutely love. I have to stay busy or I think too much and go crazy. We had some trouble at the beginning of the week with the technology but Miss Sherry got it all worked out while I busied myself getting display pieces ready to ship to California for Maker Faire (I’ve never done so much sanding or used so much spray paint in my life). Tuesday we spent all morning making our to-do list (it’s very long, you see) for the whole summer. Now I am involved in the PiPN program by calling interns and making sure they are settled in with their host companies, the Stitch N’ Pitch program with the Cincinnati Red’s, and the TNNA Tradeshow in June. Lots and lots to do in a month! This is so exciting, though. I’ve never really done anything like this before but I’m taking it all in strides and doing the best I can.

Stay tuned for more from the interns here at TNNA and also, eventually, some interns from other hosts!

—————–

Hi guys, Crystal Spann here! I just want to fill everyone in on how my first week has been, interning for TNNA. I arrived on Friday, May 13, and I must admit that I was very nervous! Everyone, especially Ms. Sherry Mulne, was very welcoming and kind to me. It took me a while, but I finally started to relax and feel more comfortable, on Monday, after the first day of work.. Rylee and I met with Ms. Sherry that morning and talked about everything that we planned on accomplishing over the course of the next month or so. After the meeting, Rylee and I went out to run errands for TNNA and Ms. Sherry. We ended up being out a lot longer than we expected (five hours to be exact.) For the remainder of the week we worked on a few of our projects that we discussed on Monday and we were very proud to realize that we got a lot done in such a small amount of time! So far, I can honestly say that I love it here and I am really learning a lot about the real world and how to make something out of nothing.
Thanks for listening,
Crystal Spann

Just a quick update . . . the PiPN internship applications have been coming in, with more students having applied this year . . . by this time . . . than ever before.  But, this year, we have more positions than ever before . . . So if you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time.

I’m also happy to announce three new opportunities posted just a few days ago.  Y2Knit, an amazing yarn company located in both Funkstown MD and San Francisco CA is offering a great internship for someone looking to eventually have a full time job. (Who isn’t looking for a full time job!) This company is run by two sisters who have more talent than I can even begin to describe.  They’re looking for help with marketing, as well as design . . .

I’ve also just posted two positions with Misti Alpaca in, of all places, Peru!  They’re offering room and board (but you do have to get there yourself . . .)  These positions require skills in knitting and crochet, as well as a good grasp of Spanish.  The interns who were placed there a few years ago had an incredible experience.  I’m sure this year will be no different.

So, again, if you already haven’t registered . . . or if you have and one of these positions appeals to you, let us know.  We’re getting close to our match date (early April) so you have no time to waste.

If positions aren’t filled after that date, we will continue to accept applications, but you may not be able to get the placement of your choice.