Dog Days of Summer

So what is happening in the wilds of Wisconsin? We are catching our breath from the Summer TNNA show in June. It was a great show, but boy do we have a lot to do yet. We are soooo grateful for all the support and orders. We met a lot of new friends and customers and as usual that is the best part.

This time for the first time EVER we took a bit of time for ourselves. On the way there we stopped over at Boonsboro WV. Kath is a HUGE Nora Roberts fan and she has written a series of books about the town. It was great fun to see the town and the businesses she writes about and actually own. We even got a little tour of the Inn Boonsboro. We also hit a super cute shop named The Robin's Nest.







 Eye candy everywhere and got our juices and ideas flowing for new products and our Vintage show we are doing in September.  After a yummy lunch we finished the trip to DC.



The show set up went smoothly thank goodness because we also had volunteered to spearhead the group theme window at the show.
 It went really well and there was a great team that made it all happen.

As usual I never take enough pictures....

After a great show we drove to the Chesapeake Shore near where Molly used to live. How beautiful! We splurged and booked a night a charming B & B. Then we walked down to the bay for an amazing crab dinner. How fun and messy!

Next morning we took the short drive to Molly's old hood. Very small, on the water and charming. After another crab lunch we started the drive home. 8 hours later (or maybe 9) we were in Cleveland! Early the next morning we hit the road for home. So we actually took almost 2 whole days vacation! Shocker!!!!


It was fun and much needed but we are full steam ahead now.

Re:craft and Relic

Just wanted to pop a quick note to let you know what we are up to. Between having a crazy September (thanks to a couple of very successful on-line and hotel shows in the Stitching world, we moved into our new digs at the Farm. Pics to come soon I promise!

Now we are gearing up for our first Retail Craft Show. It is in Milwaukee November 14-15. We are so excited. The team putting the show on is so upbeat and seems to really have some great things planned. Here's the link to their blog so you can read all about it.http://www.recraftandrelic.com/blog.

There will be everything from folks with every kind of craft you can think of, vintage, food trucks, craft beers, music and demonstrations. Check it all out and if you are within a few hours drive we think you will not be disappointed.

Harvest Hop & All Things Spooky

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes...

With vestiges of summer fading, falling leaves indicate autumn is set for an early show, and the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting yet another season of flurry-ous activity. At Retromantic we’ve been a midst tremendous activity, balancing order fulfillment and designing new products, all the while setting up our new studio and production facilities. It’s a tricky act filled with adapting to the unexpected (Secret No. 1: Retro-fitting a 100-year old structure promises precious little will be in a straight line). So we keep our humor (and humility) in check as we traverse this and other transitions, for what would life be without surprises: Winter in Wisconsin? Sun in California? Rain in Seattle? Kudzu in my native South? Same menu. In response we twist and stitch, go against the grain where possible, but still with an appreciation for anything that inspires the good of the work. 

Our debut Hallows Tied Collection is where the mischievous and whimsical converge and conjure.

Just in time for the season, our Hallows Tied and SteamPunk products are seeking new perspectives (they love hanging around the shop but are ready to travel places far and wide). Below is a sneak peek. For the complete show please visit us at retromanticfripperies.com.   

Every great thing deserves a sequel and our Hallows Tied II products continue the fun. 

And speaking of Shows, Retromantic will be part of Harvest Hop 2015, Thursday, September 10 thru Sunday, September 13. While this is a Stitching show, all pieces are also crafted for Knitters and Crocheters.

As fans of all things SteamPunk it was a natural fit to pay homage to this venerable hybrid genre with our very own tags.

Lastly, Retromantic is always pleased and honored to find its products featured as favorites in various print and on-line publications. Most recently, three of our products garnered accolades in Issue No. 53 of Knitty-Grassroots Knitting at http://knitty.com/ISSUEdf15/FEATdf15stuff.php. Scroll down a bit for the title, “Fripperies Vintage-style Needle Gauges by Retromantic.” Enjoy their descriptive wordsmithing, then give these fine products a try... from here you’re just a click away.

Making a List...

Santa's workshop has been very busy as Christmas rapidly approaches and so has ours! We want to make sure that everyone on your list is accounted for this year. Here are a few Retromantic holiday favorites to consider for those special knitters, stitchers, and crocheters. All designs are available as a thread organizer, needle gauge, crochet hook gauge, needle minder, or gift tag/ornament.

Contact us via our website should have any questions or like to give these great pieces a new home.

 

 Santa will keep a watchful eye on your list to see who has been good this year....

  

                                                                                                                                

 

Tied up with a bow...

 Stocking (shown as a thread organizer)

 

Our very charming tree tag is the perfect way to wrap any of your handmade pieces.  

 

No holiday is complete without Santa's sleigh.