JCS Ornament Issue - A Small Correction

Dear Reader

Deann has just spotted a little mistake in the chart for 'All Hearts Come Home for Christmas' - my ornament design on page 38 in the current issue of Just Cross Stitch's 2010 Christmas Ornaments .


The stitch marked as a square symbol located in the top right hand part of the chart, which is eight rows down and three columns in, shouldn't be there.

I do hope this little mistake hasn't inconvenienced anyone.

In Deann's email she said that she is stitching this ornament design to send to the troops in Afghanistan - what a wonderful way to help them feel a little closer to their home and loved ones during the holiday season.

In other news ... I am beavering away at some new little ornament designs - the first of which should be ready next week. They are quick and easy and best of all they are going to be FREE to download as a thank you for signing up for my new Newsletter. Stay tuned for more information!

Difficult Decision

I have made the difficult decision to stop designing for the WHOLESALE marketplace. I certainly haven't stopped designing - I am just going to be doing it differently from 1 January 2011.

This isn't going to be a popular decision with some people, and I am certainly not making this decision lightly. However, over the last six months I have watched my market share fall well below a line where I can exist as a designer as I currently operate and due to some very frustrating situations over the last few weeks I have had to make some 'brave new world' decisions to ensure that I am going to benefit from my work into the future.

I will certainly continue to promote my current designs on my TCW website until the end of the year, and if there's a design you have on your wishlist - go to your nearest LNS or ONS and buy it now! These designs will only be available until the end of the year, or sooner if we run out of stock. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the shops, both on-line and bricks and mortar who believed in me enough to include me in their inventory over the years. I wish you all well in these uncertain economic times and hope that if you too need to make brave decisions you do so knowing it's the right thing to do for you.

I have certainly enjoyed my time as a wholesale designer - and made many friends within the industry. I will probably lose friends by making this decision. However, in broadening my horizons I hope that I can be of continued benefit to the needlework world as a whole.

I will keep everyone informed of what I'm up to via this blog - so check back regularly.

Koala Convention

Good afternoon dear reader

I spent several hours today down at Koala Convention being held at St Catherine's - one of the University of WA's residential colleges.

I wasn't taking any classes - bit too much on my plate at the moment - but spent a happy couple of hours browsing their shop, meeting Robyn from Cascade House personally after several years of just talking on the phone or by email, and meeting and chatting with Wendy and Andrew - the owners and brains behind this wonderful event.

Koala Convention has never been to Perth before. It's always been a Brisbane-based event prior to this year. I do so hope that Wendy and Andrew decide to include Perth as an additional venue for many years to come.

St Catherine's was buzzing with bright-eyed students, enthusiastic tutors and lots and lots of wonderful projects. The shop was full of scrumptious kits, to die for silk threads and ribbons and delicious notions and doo-dads. Everyone was obviously enjoying themselves immensely.

I did do a wee bit of retail therapy at the KC shop - I defy anyone to walk in to such a treasure trove and not buy anything! Some of Robyn's beautiful stranded silk threads and bias cut ribbon have come home to play. I've used her ribbons before in my Peacock Stitching Chair, but not her silk threads. I'm looking forward to seeing how the silk threads work up - I'll keep you posted.

The KC 2011 Brisbane class projects and schedule is already up on their website - take some time to browse and be inspired and perhaps sign up for a class or two.

It's A Beautiful Day

Good morning dear reader,

The sun is shining, the birds are singing ... it must be Spring here in the Perth Hills!

I went out to feed the budgies this morning and discovered that our water iris have started to flower.

Look at how well the green of the plants behind works with the colour of the iris bloom, and look at the amazing structure of the bloom itself.
Nature is amazing isn't she!

Can you tell I'm starting to look for some inspiration for some new designs? Looking at the colours that Nature puts together on her world palette is often a great starting point for me ...

What kind of designs would you like to see in my 2011 collection? I'd love to hear from you.

Hello and Welcome

To blog or not to blog has been the question on my mind for months. Well, one of the questions anyway. And I've decided that blogging is worth a try.

I try to spend fifteen minutes each morning, whilst drinking my second cup of coffee of the day, reading my favourite blogs. I love reading these blogs - it's a great way to keep up with what other creative minds are doing around the world and I'm always inspired and enthused - a great way to start each day!

So here at 'Tails From The Cat's Whiskers' I intend to share with you my creative undertakings as they happen and keep you to date with what's happening the The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio.