Market,  New Designs,  Serial Bowl Collection,  Sneak Peeks,  Stitching

B.Y.O.F.

February 2, 2015

Oh my, the countdown to the Nashville market is on, and I barely feel ready!

This market is a special one to me because I'll be releasing my very first Bring-Your-Own-Fabric kit. I've always loved kits because they take the challenge out of pulling everything together, and they're easy to grab-and-start when I need something new to work on. And while I've always toyed with the idea of releasing a kit myself, I've held back because of the simple fact that not everyone may like the same linen color or count I choose to work on.

So I lamented a bit about it to my good friend Pat, and she suggested this: "Why don't you just do the chart and threads?" And I thought, "Of course! The chart, the threads, and the finishing trim!" And that's how my very first B.Y.O.F. kit came into my imagination.

Tp 2

As a stitcher, one of the things that I find so appealing is a bowl full of pin cushions or other "smalls" that I stumble across online (or better yet, in person!). I suddenly get this extreme urge to hunt down every design I see represented in that bowl so that I can have one of my own collections – Patriotic cushions, Christmas cushions, Halloween cushions – I want them all! (Isn't that one of the best parts of this wonderful hobby of ours – to find something that makes our hearts sing? Or all-out bellow, like mine does?)

With that in mind, I've decided to release a series of small designs, in various themes, to satisfy that part of me that needs to just put stuff in bowls. Which brings me back to my first-ever chart-and-threads-and-trim kit, which will release at market.

I'm calling this endeavor the Serial Bowl Collection. There will be different themes in this collection in the coming months, but the first theme is going to be titled Sampler Lessons, which are designs bearing some of the honest and valuable teachings that young girls stitched onto their samplers long ago.

The photo above shows the luscious threads from Classic Colorworks that will be carded up and included in the chart pack, and below you'll see a peek at the finished design.

Tp

Also included in this pack will be the chenille trim from R&R Reproductions for the finished cushion. As for fabric, I've got listed on the chart what the model uses, but of course you can go smaller, bigger, brighter, or more neutral, if you'd like. There are so many beautiful fabrics that your shop owner can get for you, so pull out the thread card and do a few floss-tosses onto different colors of fabric to see what suits your eye the best.

Remember, our stitching is for our fancy, so whatever you find beautiful will go beautifully in your home. Don't worry about  "what looks right."  If it is lovely to you, it will make you happy to stitch it!

I hope you like my first go at this… I will be bringing a limited number of these packs to market, but I haven't decided yet if, after market, I'll continue them in their packaged form or if I'll go forward with just the chart. Since I've never done this before, I have no idea what to expect, so I really don't know what my plan is after this first run.

Please let your shop owner know if you are interested in one of these packs, and hopefully she or he will find me at market! It's going to be an exciting one!

31 Comments

  • Pam hoerner

    February 2, 2015 at 1:17 pm Reply

    Love this idea! We all have lots of stash fabrics to pick from! This tease sure does make me smile! I want it! Ha! I am sure there was no doubt! Love your style my friend! Good luck at market! Better take lots to share!

  • Brita

    February 2, 2015 at 2:00 pm Reply

    Great idea, but… I’ve never heard of Classic Colorworks so I’m pretty certain I won’t get that here, at least not without paying a lot of p&p. So what would I do if I ran out of thread? I prefer 14ct aida because of eye trouble and I’m regularly visited by The Frog.
    Perhaps you could do a line of kits for those who want them and give an option to just buy the chart, giving DMC numbers for reference?

  • Connie Adrian

    February 2, 2015 at 2:37 pm Reply

    Can’t wait to see it and you at market!! If you need any help between now and then let me know…I’d love to help out…..no charge!

  • Vanessa

    February 2, 2015 at 4:34 pm Reply

    I love that idea! The included fabric is precisely why I always stay away from kits. When it comes to fabric, to each his own. I look forward to seeing all you come up with.

  • Sandy

    February 2, 2015 at 4:53 pm Reply

    I can hardly wait! I think it’s a great idea to do the BYOF. I skip a lot of kits because they have larger fabric than what I prefer. I like 40-ct best.

  • Cynde Marschner

    February 2, 2015 at 5:25 pm Reply

    I can’t wait for this. I love the idea of not having to buy a skein of this and a skein of that cause it’s included.!!

  • Kristen from MA

    February 2, 2015 at 6:52 pm Reply

    Very exciting Paulette! The colors are gorgeous!
    I did a Lakeside Linens fabric of the month plan a couple of years ago, and still have plenty of luscious colors to choose from. This is going to be fun. 🙂

  • Robin in Virginia

    February 2, 2015 at 7:43 pm Reply

    I really like your BYOF idea! I would rather provide my own fabric so many times I don’t get a kit. Thank you for providing this option!

  • Terri

    February 3, 2015 at 11:20 am Reply

    Well, this looks like it will go beutifully with “Hurt not the Earth” so that’ll be two for a bowl, right away. I think the BYOF idea is a great one and that you’ll be very successful with it! Can’t wait to see what else you come up with, you clever girl!

  • Drusilla Pendlebury

    February 4, 2015 at 8:20 am Reply

    Hi Paulette I just wanted to say all of your designs are outstanding !!!!!! I can hardly wait to see serial bowl collection 😀 I also must say my MOST favorite is the doxies I am Happy to say I have finally completed all 3 of designs & in fact can’t bare to put my winter wienerland away 😞… I have asked before & sure you are a busy designer but hope in the future you will consider adding other holidays or seasons to daschund designs . Thank you soo much Drusilla

  • Alice

    February 4, 2015 at 3:50 pm Reply

    I think your Serial Bowl Collection ill be very popular. Stitchers vary so much when it comes to fabric preferences, and part of the fun is seeing a design on different fabrics. Thanks for doing it. I can’t wait to add to my collection. Great teaser-now the tough part, waiting!

  • Ana Roat

    February 4, 2015 at 9:22 pm Reply

    “If it is lovely to you, it will make you happy to stitch it!” Can I just tell you how incredibly comforting this is to me. I had someone tell me that the pattern I was stitching was “too cutsie” and although I loved it I’m now not able to finish it because of that comment. I am a stitcher of 30 years and know that such comments shouldn’t make a difference but it did. I’m so excited about your kit idea. Count me in…I’ll be speaking to my local shop about ordering. The little sneak peek…oh so lovely!
    Thanks again for reminding me of what truly counts!

  • Helen Welsh

    February 5, 2015 at 5:15 pm Reply

    Love this idea! Can’t wait to see these collections but am hoping they might at some point be available to buy in the UK?

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