Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The End of January

Well, I don't have much time left to finish Winter Banner before February, but at least I came close! And the day's not over here yet.

A couple of weeks ago, I almost drove off the road after seeing a little sign, "The Stitching Bug" in a little group of stores tucked behind a Taco Bell on the main highway through town. I was in that neighborhood again today and thought I'd drop in and see what kind of stitching is going on in there! The owner was busy behind two embroidery sewing machines and there were several shelves full of flat fold fabric. She has a decent classroom in the back and in her front window, one cross-stitched sampler. I asked her if she had any supplies for hand embroidery and she replied that she had just taken over a little more space to begin stocking cross-stitch designs and supplies. However, as the conversation continued it became plain, and she freely admitted, that she has no experience with xs and is relying on some friends who are willing to teach some classes in her shop once she's up and running.

The poor woman told me she was having a terrible time making connections with a wholesale distributor to get started and showed me the Nordic Needle wholesale catalog she did get. But for someone who really doesn't understand handwork, it's very user unfriendly. And to top it off, she doesn't like using the internet. I told her she really needed to get comfortable with the computer! I gave her a few ideas and I'll drop in on her again when I have some more time and see how she's doing.

Now for some more VS designs!


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Me gustan las fotos.

Cathy B said...

Oh how I love those VS designs. Thanks for taking time to share all of them with us.

I wish the lady at the Stitching Bug the best of luck. She may have a difficult time making a go of it if she doesn't understand the art firsthand!

Leeland said...

Your Winter Banner is so beautiful and classy! I'll have to go back in your posts to see who designed it: I love it!
The Stitching Bug lady story looks so much like you! She needs help, so there you are! You're such a nice person, Von!
Thanks again for sharing the VS trunk!
Take care!

Sylvie said...

Winter banner is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

I love the winter banner. I want to try another needletechnique, but I'm always thinking I don't have time to do that.
Maybe you can teach the shopowner some techniques! It's to bad she knows so little and doesn't like to use the computer...

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what others of the banners that you've done, but want to do a SAL of at least one of the others? I haven't managed to actually finish any of them, since I abandoned my Spring banner during the cyberclass last summer in favor of stitching one up for my intern.

Katrina said...

Hi Von, your winter banner is so pretty, and thanks for sharing the photos of all the gorgeous Victoria Sampler goodies - makes me want to get one of their patterns out and get going on it, lol.

mainely stitching said...

It sounds to me like the Stitching Bug owner should hire you as a manager for the new xs part of her business!

Winter Banner is so pretty!!!

What is the bookmark pattern in the last VS picture? What a gorgeous design.