Posts Tagged ‘University of Akron’

PiPN 2010 is proud to welcome the largest internship class to date. 

This year, with the new format, close to 40 students registered for PiPN 2010.  More than half have been placed, with several still pending.

Congratulations to the following:

• Bagsmith
  • Ashley Schweikert – University of Akron
• BeSweet
  • Caroline Moore – State University of NY at Geneseo
• Blue Ball Mountain Spindle
  • Amy Church – Western Kentucky University
• CNS Yarns
  • Helen Cosgrove-Davies -  Bryan Mawr
• Coats-N-Clark
  • Samantha Lever – East Tennessee State University
• Crooked Fence Alpacas
  • Alyssa Edlund – University of Utah
  • Kimberly Trusken – Kent State University
• Handworks Studio
  • Trekina Miller – Missouri State University
• Knit Knack
  • Julia Rhoden – Colorado State University
• Knitgrrl
  • Abra Forman – apprentice
  • Sarah Jo Mosbech – apprentice
• Knitting on the Square
  • Alice Koelsch – University of Akron
• Loopy Yarns
  • Jacqueline Shunnara – University of Alabama
• Royal School of Needlework
  • Justin Campbell – University of Akron, graduate student
• SoHo Publishing
  • Claire Kersey – Georgia College & State University   
  • Amanda Montgomery – University of Akron
• Stitches Etc., Beth Gantz Designs   
  • Diane Capuano – apprentice
• Tanglewood Fibers
  • Mariel Snetman – University of Alabama   
  • Emily Sidle – University of Akron, graduate student
• Yarn Designers Boutique
  • Erin Rice – Art Institute of California-SF
• Yellowbird Yarn Room
  • Jennifer Weiland – University of Akron

There are still a number of opportunities available for this summer:

• Barbara Bergsten, Chagrin Falls OH
• City Knits, Detroit MI
• Cowgirl Yarn, Laramie WY
• Fiber Arts Yarn Shop, Cape May NJ
• Fine Points, Cleveland OH
• Kreinik Manufacturing, Parkersburg WV (2)
• Maria’s Knitting & Crochet, Chula Vista CA
• Red Barn Yarn, Pasadena CA
• The Needlepoint Boutique, Collingswood NJ

My time spent working at Knitgrrl Studio this summer with Shannon Okey has been a terrific learning experience. Shannon does a wide variety of things in her business; she is an author, magazine editor, designer, teacher, and more. She recently opened her own studio space, so I got to see firsthand what it takes to start a small business from the ground up. She works with a wide variety of fiber arts; not just knitting but also spinning, felting, dyeing, and sewing.

Shannon has been a great mentor, including me in her meetings and in the general planning of her business so that I could really see what it takes to run a small business in the art and craft world. I’ve gotten to do a little bit of everything while I’ve been here. I’ve worked on knitting patterns and knit samples, and I researched and wrote an article for Yarn Forward, the UK knitting magazine that she edits. I’ve gotten to meet other local artists and business people that she works with on a regular basis. It’s been really useful for me to see what kinds of opportunities, both in business and the arts, are available in this area and might apply to me back home. One of the big projects that I took on this summer was working on her new online store; she sells a wide variety of fiber arts supplies as well as knitting, crochet, embroidery, and cross-stitch patterns from a wide variety of designers. Tech-savviness is not one of my strengths, so it has been really useful for me to learn to work with some of the on-line software that she uses.

It’s been a great summer; I’ve gotten to help Shannon start really interesting several long-term projects in different areas. The hardest part about the internship ending is that I won’t get to see all of these cool projects that we started continue to develop first-hand.

This week was my last week at SoHo Publishing and I can say that I’m going to miss interning here.  I’ve have been able to experience great opportunities here at SoHo that I would have not had anywhere else.  Along with learning so much, I also worked with a group of absolutely amazing people.  Those that I worked with were not only helpful, but also took time to get know me and sometimes laugh at me.  Along with being able to experience more than I thought I would, I also have had the best summer living in New York City.  The places I have gone and the people I have met have made this a once in a lifetime experience that I am so glad I can say that I have done.

At SoHo Publishing I worked on a number of different projects.  Generally, I worked with marketing in our magazines, Vogue Knitting, Knit 1, and Knit Simple, or with our book publishing side of the company.  I have never worked for a magazine company before and I was able to learn such a different side of advertising that I had never learned in classes.  I enjoyed being able to see the issues of each magazine come together piece by piece and it’s really amazing to see it all happen.  Sometimes, it seems like ciaos, but once the copy is finished the pages all make sense together and it is awesome to look through it for the first time.  It has felt like such an accomplishment to say that I was able to be a part of it.

Some of my favorite days during this internship were being able to help at the photo shoots.  I was able to go along to two of them, one for Knit Simple and the other for Vogue Knitting.  The issues that we worked on were for Holiday 2009.  It was at first crazy that we were setting the back grounds to look like winter and dressing the models in sweaters, but we were in a studio overlooking a beautiful view of the New York.   At one point, I even texted my mom to tell her I felt like I was in a movie! Those days I was able to work closer with some people that I generally didn’t get a chance to work with.  The Art Director was really inspiring.  He set the background and still shots and really had a great eye for what would be perfect in the magazine.  I also worked hand in hand with the stylist.  It was amazing being able to help with the outfits and accessories that the models were being photographed in.  I was defiantly on cloud nine.

Along with the marketing projects and photo shoots, I also learned so much about the Textile and Knitting industries. I myself am not a great knitter… (at all), but I try and I loved to see the editorial staff knit some of the most beautiful garments I have ever seen.  During the lunch hour a group of people would hang out at the table to knit and talk.  I would ask what they were working on, and they were knitting the designs created by the designers, which were going to be in the Vogue Knitting magazine.  SoHo Publishing employees a group of very talented knitters. Being that I worked in the Marketing Dept. we spent a good amount of time working with Yarn companies all over the U.S. and it was nice to get to know more about the Yarn Industry and all the companies involved in so many different ways.

Overall, I’m so happy that I was able to not only be a part of a great internship, but also the experiences I gained through both The University of Akron and PiPN.  AkronU. and PiPN has brought me great opportunities, but also more importantly I have met so many people who really inspire me. As my final days of being an undergrad student at Akron come, it makes me excited and confident to use these experiences and what I have learned while taking my step into the professional world.

We are proud to announce our 2009 student interns:

• Justin Campbell, University of Akron; hosted by Dr. Susan Kay-Williams, Royal School of Needlework, London
• Kari Capone, University of Akron; hosted by Jessica Cepek and Doreen Connors, SoHo Publishing, New York
• Kathleen Guanciale, University of Akron; hosted by Becca Smith, Bagsmith, Shaker Heights, O
• Cynthia Hartline, University of Akron; hosted by Nancy Thomas, Coats & Clark, Charlotte, N
• Lori Henry, University of Akron; hosted by Liz Tekus, Fine Points Inc., Cleveland
• Jennifer Lynn Kennedy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh; hosted by Francis Cester and Joann Walus, Cestari, Ltd., Churchville, VA, in partnership with Hand Painted Knitting Yarns
• Erin Scheiner, University of Akron; hosted by Ann Forquer, Wool and Willow Needlepoint and designer Barbara Bergsten, Shaker Heights OH
• Kristi Schwechheimer, University of Akron; hosted by Jessica Cepek and Doreen Connors, SoHo Publishing, New York
• Sothea Soum, University of Akron; hosted by Heidi Massengill, Stitch Cleveland, Lakewood, OH
• Zoe Valette, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI; hosted by Shannon Oakey, Knitgrrl, Cleveland

The newest class has already been immersed in needlepoint, embroidery and counted thread, and are loving it!  Their first week was capped off with a study tour . . . or what we used to call a “field trip” . . . Whatever the name, it was a wonderful opportunity for our students to visit some of the local host companies, as well as enjoy the amazing exhibits at both Kent State and Stan Hywet.  Check out the slide show at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRPY7R58-SQ

This week, the students will be attending The National NeedleArts Association’s June Needlearts Market in Columbus OH.  They’ll get a chance to meet the people who make up our industry, attend the Teacher Meet & Greet, Needlepoint Premier and Yarn Group Fashion Show.  Then they’ll be able to roam the floor of the show . . . something only open to the professionals in the field.

Some of the students will also be offering their own products for a Chinese Auction to help raise funds for their summer internships.

Natalie Dugan
University of Akron, OH
interning at CNS Yarns, Montreal Canada

Natalie Dugan - 2008 PiPN Intern

Bonjour!

Montreal is quite an interesting city…filled with the old and the new. I am starting my third week now, and both the city and CNS Yarns are treating me very well! The language barrier has been challenging, but certainly manageable.

I am learning a bit of French. I am living in a more English speaking side of town, and also a corner block away from a popular street called “Sherbrooke,” filled with great one-of-a-kind shopping and quaint french eateries.

It takes me about 25 minutes to get to and from work, between walking and the subway. I am in the “textile district,” and on the 12th floor of my building, which provides an amazing view of the mountain and the city. CNS Yarns Inc. is a manufacturer/wholesaler/distributor of specialty knitwear yarns.

I am extremely happy with the experience I am getting thus far. I am learning so much about business practices in general, CNS Yarns’ industry and operations, as well as international trade and operations. 75% of CNS Yarns’ customers are in the U.S., leaving about 15% throughout Canada, and about 10% in Europe and South America.

My team has been so welcoming and certainly teaching me a lot. I have been meeting many nice people here. I play soccer on a recreational team every Thursday, which is so much fun.

The mosquitoes here are INSANE! Bug repellent has been my “best-friend.”

Some people I met here took me “up-north” over this past weekend, and I was able to see the country side of Montreal…beautiful!

I also got the chance to go through my first ever Zip-Line Course. It was so challenging, and so much fun! This summer’s journey has kick-started a growing experience for me, both educational and personal. I hope everyone is enjoying their internships so far. I am anxious to hear about them.

Take care and God Bless!!

Natalie Dugan