Delightful Stitches

Prime Time Emmy The Beginning

2011-04-20T20:43:00.030-04:00

I know I promised to keep everyone updated on each step while I'm getting everything completed for the Prime Time Emmy's in September. So this week I've been working on designs and ideas for what I'll be sending.

It's scary and so exciting at the same time. My creations will be in the GBK Productions Gift Lounge at THE PRIME TIME EMMYS!! It's all fun and games thinking about it but it is so totally different sitting down and doing it. GBK Productions is top shelf, the A list will be invited there. Think about it for a minute, THE Gift Lounge of the year. Celebrities, Fashion Editors, walking around looking at my stuff?

The Artisan Group have put their faith in me, they trust me to create something wonderful for this event. Believe me they put no pressure on anyone in the group, I am doing this to myself. Valerie and Nikki (the founders of the group) are both wonderful, supportive women. Well, everyone in The Artisan Group are wonderful and supportive!! I can't find enough words to explain to you how happy I am to be part of this amazing group. I am so excited to be given this platform to hopefully create some buzz about my creations but also The Artisan Group and all the members.

You all know how picky I am about things I make. Well, multiply that by about one million and that's how picky I'm being. I've never considered myself an anal person until now. Well maybe not anal but extra picky for sure.

This week I've gone through three different design ideas. Yes, that's what I said three different designs. First I thought nice little Padded Zipper travel bags with a matching coin purse would be something useful. I'm making things for the Press Bags, I'm sure the Press that will be attending travel a lot right? So I made some Padded Zipper Bags with box bottoms, matching coin purses with a handy dandy vinyl window. Here's a picture of some of them.

Practical but no dazzle. Some dazzle is what I want, so back my sewing room I went. Blue Brocade with gold metallic threads, satin band and bow accented with Swarovski Crystals sounded good.

After I got it done, all I could think of was a Prom Purse. Still not even close to what I want to send to such an important event. This is a nice design but not the classic, elegant, tasteful, design I know I am perfectly capable of making.

Whatever I make will be given to the Press, it has to grab their attention. I want press for The Artisan Group, for all Artisans who put their heart, soul and creative talents into everything they make. Artisans don't have a huge advertising budget. There is no Ad Agency creating TV commercials and magazine layouts promoting our brand to consumers. We survive by word of mouth. This is our chance to get more mouths working for us!!So where did I turn? Lace is very much in fashion this year. I slept on it until about 2am. Yes, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about what I will make. Okay so I'm anal, I'm a big girl I can admit it. Not a problem.
From two in the morning until my eyes crossed about 10am, I was in my sewing room. I'm way too old to go very far on three hours sleep but I had a design crashing around in my head that just had to find it's way out. This is what I have come up with so far and now I'm happy. The final design finally is taking shape. This picture is the very beginning of the Clutch Bags so bear with me.These Clutch Purses are going to be about eight inches wide and five inches tall with a one inch box bottom. I'm making them out of Micro Suede, I love the soft feel of that fabric. The lace is imported from Germany since I have never found any lace made in the US. sigh.
They will have a low profile magnetic snap closure so I'm thinking a beautiful multi pearl button for decoration on the front flap, and Swarovski Crystals kind of scattered around the lace to add just a subtle touch of sparkle. I did get some of the outer body fabic sewn together and now when I look at them I can picture the finished design in my head.

After I get the outer body sewn up I can start stressing about the lining fabric and what the inner pocket should be like? Swivel clip to clip a key ring to? Matching coin purse type thing with a pocket to hold credit card and drivers license? Or maybe a quilted suede Key Fob. Should they have detachable chain straps? So many things to work out.

The Artisan Group

2011-04-13T21:55:00.009-04:00

We all know how very difficult it can be to promote and market our handcrafted creations. Blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, creating, taking pictures, writing the listing, SEO the list just goes on and on. Finding the correct platform to promote our wonderful creations can be so very frustrating. The time all these things take can be a serious drain on our creative spirit right?

I've decided to take a totally new direction to market my creations. Maybe it isn't for everyone, but I want to share The Artisan Group with you. It is a wonder, supportive group of Artisans and I am thrilled to be a member.

I am creating special Clutch Purses that will be included in a Celebrity Gift Lounge at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Beverly Hills this September. I am excited about having such wonderful exposure for my products!! It is a totally different group of people that will be seeing Delightful Stitches products. Of course, I will keep you all updated as I go through this process.

Thank God for Valerie and Nikki, the founders of The Artisan Group, they are always right there to help in anyway they can. All the members of this group are just super supportive.

They're looking for unique, talented Artisans to join the group. They are exclusive, and don't accept everyone that applies. If you feel your creations are the best of the best then why not apply to join the group? I'd love to see some of my Artfire friends join this group.

Creative Quote January 2

2011-01-02T09:49:00.001-05:00

“Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.”
— Theodore Levitt

Creative Quote January 1

2011-01-02T09:47:00.002-05:00

“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.” — Martha Graham

Creative Quote December 31

2010-12-31T12:44:00.000-05:00

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” — Edward de Bono

Creative Quote December 30

2010-12-30T23:13:00.001-05:00

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”
— John F. Kennedy

Creative Quote of the Day

2010-11-17T23:24:00.001-05:00

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. ~Jack London

Now I have to go find my club.

2010-11-15T21:51:00.000-05:00

Getting Around wi...

Curated By: Delightful_St...

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Pink Flamingo Collection on Artfire

2010-11-08T07:09:00.001-05:00

Pretty in Pink Fl...

Curated By: bitspeaces

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Barbie Furniture Gift Ideas

2010-11-02T18:34:00.007-04:00

Okay so I am going back to my second childhood. I admit it. It's just too much fun!!!

I started designing Barbie Fashion Doll Furniture for my Artfire Shop and it just brought back so many memories of making Barbie Furniture for my daughter when she was young. That was 30 years ago, but the memories are so wonderful. Waiting until she was sound asleep then dragging out all my supplies to work on more fun things for Barbie.

Yes, I did usually stay up too late trying to finish another piece. But it was all worth it on Christmas Day when she saw her Barbie House with all the furniture.

The image of my daughter falling to her knees in front of her new Barbie house, screaming with delight when she first saw that doll house. Her excitement soared when I showed her how to turn on all the lights. Those are the moments we cherish, the moments that matter the most.

2010-11-01T10:22:00.008-04:00

I am excited to introduce you to the new line of Collectible Crocheted Fashion Dolls available in my Artfire Shop. Each doll is designed and hand crocheted with lots of love and attention to detail. These fashion dolls are Whimsical Amigurumi Dolls that will delight any doll collector on your gift ideas Christmas shopping list.

I have crocheted for many years, so I felt brave enough to design these one of a kind Collector Fashion Dolls. Crocheting one from a pattern would be easy. Unfortunately there are no written patterns available for this style doll. Creating my own design was the only answer. I spent many hours of trial and error until finally I was finally satisfied with the design.

The wonderful thing about this new line of Collector Dolls I am creating is they do not require a special doll stand. I designed these dolls to be easily displayed sitting on an empty soft drink or water bottle. Also the Dolls are fully posable.

It does take time to create each Doll but stop by my Artfire Shop often to see the new Dolls that I will be offering.

Big Cat Artfire Collection

2010-10-31T14:29:00.000-04:00

Big Cats

Curated By: CalliopeCreat...

ArtFire.com

Craft Tutorials

Artfire Day. Let's Trend ourselves.

2010-10-30T08:50:00.005-04:00

Artfire Day. Thursday November 4th, 2010. Artfire isn't just a website for artisans. Artfire is a wonderful community of energetic, creative, talented artisans that are always looking for creative ways to promote their fellow artisans.

November 4th Artfire artisans will begin a promotional campaign to capture the attention of online shoppers. The participating artisans will select 1 item from 10 shops on Artfire to share on Twitter, Facebook, or their personal blogs.

Be sure to search #artfire on Twitter to discover some of the incredible handmade gift ideas we will discover. There are so many wonderful gift ideas on Artfire you won't want to miss out on any of our great finds.

If you're an Artfire artisan make sure you join our Twitter campaign. Wouldn't it be great to see Artfire trending on Twitter??? I think it would. You can read all about it here.

We've lost Santa !!! Get a big reward for finding him...: Win a shopping spree on Artfire !

2010-10-26T21:33:00.010-04:00

WIN a shopping spree in Santa's Handmade workshop !

Artfire is a site where artisans from all over our planet get together and sell their beautiful handmade items.

We are now running a contest so you can go do some serious Holiday shopping FOR FREE !
Help us find Santa and win some great prizes !

2010-10-21T16:13:00.002-04:00

If you're having trouble finding the perfect gift this holiday season, take a look at the beautiful, unique selection of handmade gifts available on Artfire. I'm sure you'll be able to find something special for everyone on your list.

2010-10-21T16:01:00.002-04:00

Delightful_Stitches

Handmade Unique Gifts

I am showing off a little, well okay alot!! I just received my Certified Handmade Artifact for my Artfire shop
So I just had to get it posted on my blog. Artfire has been busy adding many new tools for the Artfire Artisans to use. It makes running an on line shop very easy and enjoyable.