fter a seemingly endless winter, the buds are beginning to pop and I’m finally ready to get out into my garden. But each time I set aside a few hours to putter around, the weather takes a turn for the worse—either it rains, or I wake up to a wintry chill. Sounds a bit like the economy, doesn’t it? Every time we think we’ve hit rock bottom and that things will surely start turning around, a new spate of dire reports sends the sky crashing in—again. Taking the long view helps me deal with the day-to-day roller coaster. That and some well-placed craftiness.

Those who know me well know that I’m a shameless punster, which is why I’m so taken with the idea of creating visual puns for the cover of every issue of Yarn Market News. I’m lucky to have an art director who indulges this predilection, providing inspiration and helping bring these wacky concepts to life—even individually wrapping the luscious yarn grapes featured on this edition’s cover. The ideal occurs when a cover looks good, includes a double entendre in the headline and ties in with the theme of the issue. This one is filled with ways to help you “Make This a Vintage Year” despite an uncertain economy. (No wine-ing, please.

In a seesaw economy like this one, it would be easy to see the proverbial glass as half empty. Well, at March’s YMN Smart Business Conference I was thrilled to be surrounded by a roomful of retailers and industry folk who see the yarn business as a glass half full and a panel of speakers who provided inspiration and tools for keeping it filled. One of the best aspects of the conference for me was seeing the exchange of ideas and support among the retailers and the relationships that were established and renewed. The conference was deemed to be such a success that we are already planning next year’s event. One of our goals is to make it possible for more of you to attend, and we are working on ideas for ways to do that. Please drop by the SoHo Publishing booth (#1037) at TNNA Columbus for details on next year’s venue, our new payment plan and more. If you won’t be at TNNA but are interested in learning more about the 2010 conference, please e-mail me at karin@yarnmarketnews.com or YMN Marketing Manager Jessica Cepek at jessica@sohopublishing.com.

YMN looks forward to taking the long view together with our readers and advertisers for many years to come. Here’s hoping it won’t be long before we can toast—with a brimming glass—the return of steady prosperity.