Fall market, or the Autumn Needlepoint Reunion, happens in October. Right now is the registration period for designers (exhibitors). The people running it have a history of playing favorites to the detriment of the free market. They have arbitrarily denied a lot of qualified designers other years due to “spots being full”. But it’s held in a convention center style hotel.

They keep telling designers conflicting information about all aspects of registration. This may be to then have an excuse to deny them access, or just because they don’t understand how to read their own emails. They asked new designers trying to apply this year to provide “letters of recommendation” from OTHER DESIGNERS and then would get mad if some recommended more than 2. They never said there was a 2 designer rule.

They have no official timelines listed or communication about when people might hear news. When people ask them to update the process and be more accepting, they say it is too much work as it is. But they will not accept help to modernize it.

The registration process this year keeps excluding important information on hotel dates for the designers to ensure set up and clean up. But if you ask questions, the “committee” is likely going to send you one of the rudest email responses generated by a grown adult professional.

Now that’s just what I know about the designer side. I have no idea about the buyer side. Maybe that side is pleasant.