Atlas Insider
Live from the Mezzanine
I’m Ashley and I work on the mezzanine level of Atlas World Headquarters. Not only do I scout slipovers, I’m also your Nash Yarn Fest Engineer.
We are halfway through January, which means we are two teeny tiny little months away from our first huge gathering: Nash Yarn Fest on March 14 and 15.
Ashley, with indigo.
Many of you may know me as the freckled arm in some of our photographs, or perhaps the frantic yet oddly serene face at our in-person events, speedwalking with fervor to rebrew coffee, restock Felted Tweed, or track down an obscure sample from 2017.
Last year, we decided to go all-in on an idea we have had brewing for a while: a yarn festival right here in our fair Nashville. Nash Yarn Fest has been my daily focus ever since.
Up until now, it has felt like an unreal event—a lot of details crowd my dreams but never come to life. Except it’s VERY real now that we are two months out. I went from dreaming of which goats I would get to pet to thinking about floorplans, parking access, sales tax forms, permits, and fire marshals—that doesn’t even scratch the surface.
These days I’m either buried in my lavender bullet journal of scribbled to-dos or posted up at my Master Floorplan Board of the Universe, with my Nash Yarn Fest Binder of Truth in hand.
When I say that our team is excited about this, it’s an understatement. If you know nothing else about MDK, you know we love a party with friends old and new.
We have so many incredible things planned for NYF, I can hardly wait to reveal them. Plus let’s not forget this insanely stacked list of vendors from all over the US, Canada, and the UK. I swoon.
If you haven’t had a chance to see what we’re up to, take a peek. We still have $25 General Admission tickets left—you’ll be able to shop, sit-n-knit, listen to some live Nashville music, pet some furry livestock, watch demos, eat delicious food, and hear from some of the industry’s finest as they talk about their passion and expertise.
If you’re looking for a full weekend of NYF, you can still purchase an Opening Night Party ticket for Friday night at $75, where you’ll hear from Arne and Carlos, Norway’s finest, with your beverage in hand. Start your weekend off right!
If you see a flash of red curls and wide eyes on the big day, that’ll be me. I’ll probably be talking on my walkie-talkie, asking for the whereabouts of a volunteer to take over so I can sample the chicken tenders outside and sneak a goat pat—among so many other things.
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Looking forward to this event, it is timely to have a Nash fest! Perfect timing in the world of knitting and fibers.
Unfortunately I can’t make it this year. Looking forward to hearing all about it and definitely putting it on my wish list. Thank you everyone involved with MDK for all you do to inspire creativity.
From a vendor standpoint- you have been AWESOME! Your communication and timing have been spot on! Looking forward to meeting you in person. We. Are. So. Excited!!!!!!
I am so looking forward to this and hope it’s a giant success!
Absolutely cannot wait. Thanks for all you are doing to make this happen. And as someone who has planned live events before, just a friendly reminder that something will not go off exactly as planned and only those of you who have seen the notebook of truth will actually know that. The rest of us will still be enjoying ourselves!
Great advice, Stephanie! I also planned a couple of large live events in my younger years and Ashley is doing an amazing job. The advice I’ll add for her is: be sure and follow through with taking those little moments here and there to catch your breath and enjoy NYF…pet those goats! 🙂
I’m with you Stephanie! My line on that is “No one will know what you wanted to do but didn’t.” Also, things will go wrong. It’s inevitable. But you’re so organized you’ll be ready for it!
I may just have a new destination on my someday/but-not-too-far-in-the-future list! I see room to expand on the floorpan. Good thinking: start with a bang, but a manageable bang, THEN grow. Even better: beer and bar LOL! In the expand range–cocktails and mocktails that involve blenders and tropical fruits LOL. Wishing you all the best, and really good rest once it is done, dusted, packed up and planning for the next one is a week or so into the future! Pet those goats and send us pics!
cannot WAIT!
So excited to come to Nashville!!!! I’ve never been before and we are driving from MPLS for this wonderful event!!! Can’t wait to see all you have planned!!! It’s sure to be a good time!!!
Love that the bar is situated just through the wall of the bathrooms–perfect! I adore the Binder of Truth and the marked up floor-plan–like that for solving a murder. It sounds like so much fun!
What kind of volunteer help do you need? How would someone volunteer?
Cannot wait. Thank you for all of your hard work!
I can’t make it this year, but I hope there is a next year. This looks like so much fun.
You are amazing. Thanks for all of the quick responses
Excited to meet you in person.
Martha
Hudson Valley Fiber Arts
I am so excited! This will be my very first ever yarn festival to attend. I am busy knitting up some wearables and looking at knitting projects for the future so I can buy yarn while at NYF.
Ashley, I am so excited to go to the festival! I hope you are taking time to breathe now, and remember that you don’t have to do it all right this moment!
Love that combination of creativity and tech skills!
It sounds like so much fun! I wish I could be there!
Thanks for all the emails back and forth with answers to my many questions. I look forward to meeting you in person!
I cannot wait to be there and Meet you!
Hi,im a spinner and interested in learning what you could show me in crochet patterns for hand spun ???? Bronn bonnievaleau0@gmail.com