designing

I especially like this one

Can't help you there!

Cheryl

Don't tell me that!!! I don't need an excuse to try new things! :)

Addie

Enable, enable, enable

Both Micheals and AC Moore carry them at a "reasonable" price

Cheryl

Addie Otto said

Like I've asked our friend Lula, please consider making the designs available for non-cross stitch embroidery. I'd love to stitch all or part of The Pink Tea

I love her people too! She's quite a talented artist and runs her own studio. I consider myself very lucky to have access to someone with her skill. We recently took a 1500km road trip with her and our DHs so I was able to see her in action with her sketch book. What an experience to see images come together so quickly!

So if I understand you right, Anne, you would like the design printed in black and white on fabric? So you could do your thing with it? I sure wish I could do that...

Addie

Addie Otto said

Yes, yes, yes to both questions!!!!!!!!

If you can't or won't do it, I'm sure you could find someone to do a sample, to prepare a stitching guide, and to suggest threads and embellishments ;-)

Sounds like I have a willing volunteer for that part. ;)

I'll talk to my cousin and see if she would be interested in going that route with some of her pieces (and I will mention that there's already a market for the Pink Tea). Any idea how one would go about getting things printed on fabric?

Would she consider the grape leaves piece too?

Cheryl

Addie Otto said

maybe, maybe not ;-)

Actually, there's probably a market for more than Pink Tea. There are alot of Dolly Mommas kits on the shelves of local craft stores which indicates to me that I'm not the only one who likes whimiscal women. If you could figure out how to create what is essentially the same as the linens with stamped designs produced by Dimensions, then the sky is the limit!!!

OK! I've just heard from my cousin and she's open to the idea for the designs for which she hasn't sold the rights - and Pink Tea is one of them! :) She's going to think more on the idea, but she's swamped with contract work right now so it can't be for a while. Will INSs and LNSs carry printed designs like these? I haven't seen many of them and I've never stitched them...

Addie Otto said

Wow -- you're thinking big about this venture by asking if shops would be interested I don't have a clue how shops decide what they carry or how designers connect with shops or other outlets.

I'm *really* starting from scratch here...I've never even considered starting my own business before! As I think more about it I don't even know how I would start! I suppose there is eBay and the like, but I don't know if I would reach the people that would be most interested. Maybe I need my own 'store'? I'm almost thinking that custom orders might be the way to go, at least until I get going...

Addie Otto said

Even if I had a viable produce, the primary reason I've never been intrigued to go into business is the fear factor -- not knowing how to get started. That's followed closely by not being willing to sink wads of money into a huge inventory that could languish on shelves or in drawers. Perhaps you could place an ad or two in the local paper or a stitching magazine.

Nowadays, it is possible to print your own patterns at home, rather than having to buy a minimum print run from a print shop. So, you don't have to sink wads of money in a huge inventory at first. Print up 5 and peddle them to your LNS (or NSLNS) as "hometown designer". Be sure to put your e-mail address or website on them.

Then hand out a few as birthday and Christmas gifts to your friends, and beg them to mention them in their e-groups with reference to your contact information.

No matter how unusual your topic, there's likely to be someone out there in InternetLand who will be intrigued and want to buy one, and get the ball rolling.