Dot Dot Stitch - Keep up with my Handmade Business

A New Year

2012-01-16T12:37:00.003-05:00

Welcome 2012!

So where am I on that "to do" list?

I finished the quilt in time for Christmas! I failed to get a photo of the whole thing - including the center applique! Doh.

It was really fun to make. I'd love to do a smaller one for a baby.

The new pincushion designs are still on hold.

As far as updating the websites goes. . . I changed my mind. All but my etsy shop are sorely neglected. I decided to consolidate everything there. I closed my Artfire shop and I removed everything except for loose emery from my private website.

I also made some radical decisions to cut down on my computer time.

For the last few years, I've had a blog where I posted tutorials created by others. I posted up to four a day. I passed that blog onto someone else. I did (and do) love that blog. I'm glad that it will continue in capable hands.

For the last year, I was captain of a team on etsy. I loved that baby too, but passed it on to another that will continue it.

I've been going through my emails, unsubscribing from all of these newsletters that suddenly started appearing from single purchases made at some point.

I gotta tell you. . . Waking up to a handful of emails and just a few things to take care of on the computer has been quite refreshing.

I struggled with all of those decisions. I didn't really *want* to let any of them go. I figured that it was better to have fewer things going on and to take care of those well than to have tons going on, half of which are neglected.

That brings me to my twitter and facebook accounts. Those go in the neglected column. I'm pretty sure that I know their fate. It's only a matter of time.

So what do I do with all of this newly found free time? I'm still making my pincushions. I'm still working part time at the cooking school. I'm still a substitute teacher. But now......

I'm a cookie decorator! Ha! Well, a cookie decorator wannabe. It all started at Christmas. I wanted to take my sugar cookies up to the next level. I've been reading tutorials and watching videos. Now I can't stop making cookies. I'm looking for excuses to make them.

To go along with the meal I made for my boss after her hospital stay? Cookies!
Neighbor's Sweet 16 birthday? Cookies!
To go along with the meal I'm making for my co-worker after her foot surgery? Cookies!
Neighbor's daughter's bridal shower coming up? Cookies!

I even started a blog, a diary, to record my learning process. What? Adding more computer time after removing so much? Well, it's just a little blog. And I'll only update it when I make cookies. That's the logic and I'm sticking to it.

Well, happy 2012!

Dotty

To Do List - Fail

2011-10-24T06:42:00.008-04:00

To do list? What to do list? My progress on that list came to a screeching halt.

1. Clean my sewing room. Check!

2. Find more quilt shows. Check!

3. Update my websites. Nope.

4. New packaging. Check!

5. Spool sitters. Nope.

6. New pincushion design. Nope.

Actually I did do a little work on 5 and 6. The emery filled spool sitter was too long and too heavy. The spool of thread tumbled under its weight. The new design of tomatoes in a basket is super cute but the basket part was pretty time consuming.

I've got ideas on how to fix the spool sitter. Not sure about the tomato basket. I have to come up with a faster way to make a basket that's still just as cute. That's the way it always is with new designs. It always takes a few tries to get them just right.

The new designs and the website updates may need to be put on hold for a while. The parts and pieces of the pincushions and scribbled notes are laid out on one of my sewing tables. That's always motivation to get back to them so I can clean it all up. I think that I'll have to clean them up now and get back to them later.

I've been working a whole lot lately at my part time jobs. And now - a quilt request. For Christmas. Yikes.

A very sweet freshman at Salisbury University would like a quilt for Christmas in Salisbury colors and incorporating their mascot - the seagull. My first thought upon hearing the request - I don't have time. But there's no way in the world that I could ever turn down a request for something handmade. There's nothing more special than making something for someone. For someone in my life to ask for something is super sweet. That really means a lot to me. Making a quilt for someone is an act of love. The quilt would be for my son's girlfriend. Making a quilt for her is an act of love for both her and my son. I won't be turning down a request for showing either of them my love.

So I've been obsessed with coming up with a design. I've made a whole lot of quilts in my day - lots of baby quilts, one queen size, 4 twin sizes, 3 quillows, and a few whole fabric lap quilts. I'm so not into tiny squares and triangles. Cutting and sewing with precision and perfection isn't my thing. Machine quilting isn't my thing either. I love to hand quilt. I often do embroidery and appliques on my quilts.

So with all of that - what to do? My son suggested the idea of a whole fabric quilt in burgundy with one big ol' appliqued seagull. I'm not liking that. Maybe with lots of appliqued seagulls? Still sounds rather boring.

I've been wanting to make a rag quilt for quite some time. I love the idea of working on each square separately. I really love the idea of not trying to get the backing on there wrinkle-free. I really, really love the idea that I don't have to bind it.

Is a rag quilt too young though? Would a young lady in college like that design? Maybe if I make the raggy part shorter, it would be more sophisticated?

What if I made large squares, 8 - 12 inches, in burgundy, gold, and white, then hand quilted seagulls on the white squares in burgundy thread?

That's my idea for now.

What a crazy, busy life. I'll be working the part time jobs, filling pincushion orders, taking care of the family and house, AND working on this quilt. Thanksgiving is coming. Lots of preparation for that. A weekend away in November. Then Christmas. Christmas season means lots of orders and lots of preparation for the family celebration. (That last sentence bothers me. Christmas REALLY means something very different. For now I'm thinking of the *stuff* that needs to be done because of the holiday.)

I have to remember my priorities when things get overwhelming. Family first. Never pass up an opportunity to show love to my family.

The rest will get done. It always does.

As always, thanks for visiting!

Dotty

New Product Packaging, Business Cards, etc.

2011-10-04T13:09:00.005-04:00

Still working on that to do list. To go with my new shop banner, avatar and business cards, I made new thank you notes, address labels, and packaging for my pincushions. It's only been what? Six years since I started selling online? I'd say it's time to finally have some cohesive branding.

I love the look of the business cards! So cute!

Have you noticed the whole new "Pincushion Boutique" thing that I'm going with? I want people to get the feeling that when they're shopping my site online that they're actually shopping in a bright, fun, beautiful boutique. Once the pincushions arrive, I want them to feel as though the pincushions really did come from that boutique - hence the cute packaging, labels and notes.

I'm really quite pleased with how it all came together!

You can see my new banner and avatar in my etsy shop.
Just the banner on my personal site.

So, two items on that to do list. Check.

Later!
Dotty

A "Clean" Sewing Room

2011-09-29T07:41:00.004-04:00

It's clean! And beautiful! Well, maybe not quite beautiful. But it is clean and somewhat organized. See my lovely tables? Plenty of room to work. I find it difficult to work there when things start piling up.

Pincushion rings on the front wall. Finished and unfinished pincushions on the wall to the left - all organized by fabric. Supplies in the drawers to the left and along the table.

My room is a model for tidiness right?

Maybe not....

This is the other side of the room. What can I say? I've got a lot of stuff! The middle section is mostly finished pincushions. The section to the right is mostly pincushion supplies. See those manila envelopes? They wouldn't fit into my shipping cabinet on the opposite side of the room. (Who's the dummy that ordered 1,000 envelopes instead of 500?) The section to the left? That makes me cringe. That's embroidery patterns, jewelry supplies, lots of papers, and half-baked ideas for pincushions that I've started but not gotten back to. That side needs to be tackled some week when I have nothing better to do. Wonder when that will be.

I'm so glad that you can't see what's behind the doors on the bottom! Yarn on the left. Books in the middle. Supplies to the right.

Fabric hangs on hangers in a closet that you can't see. Maybe I'll show you that sometime.

The room may not meet a husband's standards (ahem) but it's feeling pretty good to me especially when I'm working at my table and not able to see the jumbled mess that are my shelving units.

So, item one on my to do list. Check.

Later!
Dotty

Quilt Show Results and a List

2011-09-27T07:34:00.006-04:00

The quilt show that I worked over the weekend was fabulous! The quilts! Hundreds of them. Every single one was incredible. The quilters. They were incredible too. So friendly!

Now that the long preparation is over, I've got quite a to-do list.

1. Clean my sewing room! It was pretty much torn apart packing up for the show so putting everything away presents the perfect opportunity to reorganize.

2. Find more quilt shows! How fabulous is it that there are shows where nearly everyone there is part of my target audience? These quilt shows are such huge undertakings that the guilds that put them on only do so every other year. I'm on the hunt.

3. Update my website and my etsy shop. I've been wanting to do this for a long time. Now that the show is over, it's time. Update photos, edit descriptions, add new products to my personal site.

4. Finish up prepping my new packaging. With my new shop banner, avatar, and business cards, I made some matching address labels, thank you notes, and packaging. I need to make copies of those and cut them all out.

4. New pincushion designs! One very sweet quilter gave me an idea for a pincushion. She said, "You should make spool sitters". "Yeah, I should!" I've seen them before but have to come up with a way to make them my own. During quiet times at the show I was scribbling design ideas. To make them different than others out there, I'd like them to be emery filled. As always, the emery creates its own challenges. Because there's a golf tee attached to the bottom, the opening of the pincushion has to be on the bottom. That opening is where emery could escape. Opening on the bottom. Gravity. Emery. Not great. I have a few ideas on how to solve that problem though. I can't wait to get started.

5. Another new pincushion design. I love the large pea pod emery pincushion that I have. I actually made the first one as a custom design. I was asked to make a larger version of my small pea pod. I adore the results. It's huge and the different peas are perfect for organizing pins. A different type pin or needle in each pea. Unfortunately I only had two of those at the quilt show. Fortunately both sold. One very kind quilter told me of another advantage to this design that I hadn't thought of. She said that the long, thin, rectangular shape was perfect for placing right in front of her sewing machine. Yes! She's so right. So that got me thinking of what other designs I could make that have the separate sections for organizing and have the same rectangular shape. For some reason, my first thought goes to vegetables. Go figure. A basket of tomatoes? I've got to think about that.

So much to do. So excited to get going.

As always, thanks for visiting!

Dotty

Fabric Ring "Business Cards"

2011-09-22T11:52:00.005-04:00

Two days until the quilt show. I've been busy getting ready. My latest task....fabric ring "business cards". Pretty cute, huh? I saw these on Upcycle Your Life on Aisle 3.

I made 120 in three different sizes, adding buttons to some. Those that come to my booth will be welcome to help themselves. Would you pick one up? I would!

Strawberry Emery Pincushions

2011-09-12T11:55:00.003-04:00

Strawberries! Lots of strawberries! I'm stocking up for a quilt show that I'm doing in two weeks and for the Christmas shopping season.

I wonder how long these will last?

Strawberry Emery Pincushion on Etsy

Mushroom Emery Pincushion

2011-09-11T14:16:00.007-04:00

I have a new design to show you today. This one's been on my mind probably for a year. A few weeks ago, I decided to finally see how I could make it. As usual, it took a few tries to get it just right. Here's the final design....

It's made from red and white fleece. The red top is filled with emery. The stem is wood covered in white fleece. After getting that far in the design, I felt like it needed a base because the emery top is so heavy. I added a base of wood covered in cork. I love how it all came together!

Handmade Mushroom Emery Pincushion

As always - thanks for visiting and thanks for supporting my handmade business! Feel free to write anytime!

Dotty

I'm still here. Really!

2011-06-28T09:33:00.010-04:00

Almost a year! I can't believe that it's been nearly that long since I've posted here. That's embarrassing. I wonder if people visit my website, click to the blog, see that I haven't posted updates in forever, so assume that the website isn't even bothered with. I hope not but I can see that would be a natural assumption.

I'm here. Really I am! Posting to the blog is at the bottom of a long priority list. Keeping up with my pincushions is at the top.

Now that it's summer, as always, my priority is to stock up on my pincushions for the Christmas season and possibly come up with a new design or two.

My goal to stock up over the summer is usually thwarted. I stock up a bit but never as much as I should. I vow (as always again!) to REALLY stock up this time. When I'm in the middle of the Christmas rush I always wish I had made it easier on myself by taking advantage of the slower months.

And those new designs? I've got to rethink that. I was watching good old Gordon Ramsay the other night and his advice to a failing restaurant spoke to me. He told them that their menu was too large. That the kitchen staff couldn't work efficiently to get that wide variety of dishes out in a timely manner. That they needed to scale back on the number of dishes offered. Hmmmmm. Am I offering too many "dishes"? My business isn't failing mind you. I always get my pincushions shipped out the next day. But.....this whole stocking up thing is difficult. I like to have at least five of each pincushion ready to go. I'd love to have ten of the most popular designs. Trying to keep up with that is like being on a treadmill. As soon as I stock up on one design, two more are down to the last one.

Should I scale back? Should I discontinue the less popular designs? That's so hard to do! *Some* people buy them. I've done a little of that before. Not enough? I love having a variety. I love coming up with new designs.

Well, I'll be thinking about all of that.

In the meantime, I have been making some new pincushions. About a year ago, I started making emery pincushions from beautiful vintage handkerchiefs. I've almost run out of them so I'm making more. I adore these! They remind me of my grandmothers. I always put pincushions that are one or two of a kind in my etsy shop instead of on my website. They seem to do better there. Here they are if you'd like to take a look. More to come too!

Wow. I haven't posted in nearly a year and now I can't seem to stop typing. Should I vow to do better about posting here? Ha! I better not. Life and pincushions may get in the way.

Rest assured that I'm still here. I'm answering your emails and shipping out those pincushions.

As always - thanks for visiting and thanks for supporting my handmade business! Feel free to write anytime!

Dotty

Sale on Emery Pincushions, Scrap Bags and Pincushion Gift Sets

2010-08-04T11:52:00.005-04:00

Out with the old and in with the new at dottyral on etsy.

I'm discontinuing a few things and getting ready to add some new items.

When I first started making emery pincushions, I made them rather small and rectangular. I've since added square ones and then larger square ones. I'm discontinuing the rectangular pincushions so I've put them on sale. They were $9 each. Now they're just $5! Some of these will be returning to my shop in the form of Wrist Pincushions.

I'm also discontinuing my Scrap Bags. These are fabulous! They have a large emery pincushion attached to keep your pins handy but also to weight the bag. The bag will keep your work area tidy. Just drop in your fabric, thread, yarn scraps. These were $26 each. Now they're just $16!

My Pincushion Gift Sets are also making their last debut. An emery pincushion and pincushion ring are enclosed in a pincushion jar - all wrapped up and ready to give as a gift. These were $25. Now they're just $15.

I have very limited quantities of all of my sale items, so please check them out!

I'll let you know when the new items are ready!

Thanks as always for visiting!

My Pincushions on "Haute & Bothered"

2010-05-26T11:41:00.006-04:00

Have you been watching? Three episodes of Season 2 have aired so far. My pincushions have been seen in the opening of each episode. You can see them scattered throughout the first two episodes also. No sign of them in the third episode because there weren't any classroom scenes. Clay and Alexander haven't been seen sporting their custom wrist pincushions yet. I'll be watching for them!

Here are a few screenshots....
(The links below to my pincushions all lead to my etsy shop, not my personal site. I'm able to have many more available on etsy.)

She's wearing one of my black white pincushion rings on her left hand. Can you see it?

and a cupcake wrist pincushion.....

Here's the cupcake wrist and the pincushion ring hard at work....The brunette's wearing the ring on her left hand. Just squint. :)

The cupcake wrist in action....

A blue square emery pincushion on the right side of his desk....

and what a nice close up!

The cupcake and ring together again...

This is my favorite shot. A monogrammed cup of latte pincushion serving its purpose in life....And the blue square is over on the right. It's there. Look closer.

A new episode airs every Tuesday. Be sure to watch "Haute & Bothered" Season 2 on teen.com!

Here are the first three episodes. Enjoy!

Pincushion Giveaway

2010-05-11T06:42:00.002-04:00

I'm giving away a pincushion today! Meet me over on facebook. Watch Season 2, Episode 1 of "Haute & Bothered" with me and you just might win!

(Do you notice one of my pincushions in this screenshot? Yay!)

Cupcake Pincushions for the Wrist

2010-05-06T08:05:00.003-04:00

I've got some new pincushions in my etsy shop! (They might find their way over to my personal site sometime.) These are the same cupcake pincushions with emery cherries that I've had for quite some time. Now they're for the wrist! I added cotton web straps. So cute and practical!
These actually came about for the "Haute & Bothered" series. (You can read about the series in my previous post.) A pink one was custom made especially for them.

These wrist pincushions are available in pink, green, blue and yellow.

There's just one more to come - slightly different, equally cute!

Don't forget - if you'd like to win a free pincushion, meet me on facebook this Tuesday, May 11th!

Haute & Bothered, Season 2, Coming Soon

2010-04-27T09:40:00.012-04:00

My last post hinted at a project that I was working on. I'm ready to reveal the full details.

Teen.com hosts a very popular web series called "Haute & Bothered". It's about young fashion students in NYC. It's been described as a mix of "Gossip Girls" and "Project Runway". You can watch all 11 episodes of Season 1. It's quite entertaining! (Each episode is only a few minutes long.)

Season 2 will begin May 11th with a new episode airing each Tuesday. Fashion students need pincushions, right? Well, guess whose pincushions they'll be using? That's right! Mine!

Join me on Facebook every Tuesday, beginning May 11th, to watch the new season with me. Spot my pincushions and you just might win a free pincushion or receive other special deals.

So, you might want to get caught up on Season 1. Go to Teen.com to watch it and view some teaser videos introducing Season 2.

See you on Facebook May 11th. Can't wait!

Emery Pincushions for Men!

2010-03-26T07:04:00.008-04:00

Men who sew, these are for you! You've been left out for far too long.

I've been working on a really interesting project. I can't reveal all of the details quite yet, but here's just a teaser.....

A web series contacted me to provide pincushions for their characters. A web series is like a television series only it's posted to the web. A new episode will air each week. The series is about design students in NYC, hence the need for pincushions.

They needed pincushions for men. They wanted them to be hip and stylish, perfect for the young metrosexual. So here's what I came up with.....It's an interpretation of a man's suit. Like that lime green, polka dotted tie? I do!

It's made to wear on the wrist.
After completing those, I decided to make a simpler emery pincushion for the guys that's a little less expensive. Here it is....These emery pincushions for men are available in my etsy shop.

I sent a few other pincushions and made some custom pincushions for the girls in the series. I'll be showing you those soon.

The web series will air in May. I hope you'll watch it each week with me! I'll be posting about it each week right here and on my Facebook Fan Page. My eyes will be peeled, hoping to catch glimpses of my pincushions. I hope you'll be on the hunt with me!

Vintage Handkerchief Emery Pincushions

2010-02-23T07:36:00.008-05:00

Hi everyone! I've got a new line of Emery Pincushions. This idea has been floating around in my head for quite some time.

These pincushion are covered with beautiful Vintage Handkerchiefs. I love them!

My grandmother gave me several of her handkerchiefs when I was a young girl. I've always loved them. I remember taking them out and admiring them frequently in my childhood bedroom. My grandmother's handkerchiefs and my fondness for them inspired these new pincushions.

Look at the back of the yellow one. It was signed by "Helen" - the lovely lady that must have done the embroidery many years ago! For some reason, her signature makes me ridiculously happy.

I hope you love these new pincushions as much as I do. I'm looking forward to hunting for more gorgeous vintage handkerchiefs for the next set.

These pincushions are available in my etsy shop.

Thanks for visiting!
Dotty

Quilters Newsletter Magazine Feature!

2010-01-27T15:49:00.007-05:00

I'm thrilled with this feature! My pincushions are a "Staff Pick" in the Feb/Mar issue of Quilters Newsletter Magazine. They took a beautiful photo and wrote up a nice little paragraph.

Here's a close up so you can read it....

Thanks so much QNM!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T09:57:00.010-05:00

Happy New Year! I'd like to thank all of my buyers in 2009. What a great year it's been!

Just before Christmas this year, I came up with a new line of emery pincushions for those that love their hot beverages - Coffee? Tea? Latte?

I couldn't believe the response they received! I was stitching double time to keep up with the orders. I never even had a chance to upload them to my personal site. For now, they can only be found in my etsy shop. They'll find their way here eventually.

I decided to design a cup for Valentine's Day. Wouldn't that make a nice gift from your sweetie?

Wishing you a Happy New Year, lots of stitching and sharp pins! :)

Dotty

Edit: I've now added three of my Hot Beverage Emery Pincushions to my personal site available for purchase. You can see the complete collection in my etsy shop.

Happy End of Summer!

2009-08-18T09:27:00.004-04:00

The summer is drawing to a close. I had many goals that I wanted to accomplish this summer. Looking back, I've done quite well.

I've gotten my embroidered items going online. They're even in two gallery gift shops! They're in the National Museum of the Arts for Women Gift Shop in Washington, DC and the Washington County Arts Council Gallery Shop in Hagerstown, MD.

I've created several things for upcoming craft shows - my cute embroidered apron, displays for my wrist cuffs and embroidered towels, and an embroidered banner.

I'm working on stocking up on my pincushions for the Christmas season. I've made a whole bunch of tomato rings, bunny rings, and kitty rings. I've made many strawberry, egg, and peapod pincushions. I still want to stock up on tomatoes, cupcakes, and magnetic tins. Those are next on the list.

After that, I'll be ready to start on new embroidered jewelry items for the winter. I have many ideas for new pendants and wrist cuffs. I'm really anxious to get to work on them! I'm forcing myself to wait until the pincushion stock-up is complete. That's my motivation to get these done!

One more exciting thing happened this summer. I was contacted by a national magazine interested in featuring my pincushions in their holiday gift guide!! I am more than thrilled about this opportunity. I sent them the pincushions that they requested. Now I just have to wait to see if they're going to feature them. My fingers are crossed. If I do get into the magazine, I think I'll need to stock up a bit more. Yikes! I should find out sometime in September. That should give me plenty of time (I think).

There was one goal that I didn't accomplish. I had planned to seek out more wholesale accounts. I was going to create a beautiful, color brochure to mail out. That never happened. It would have been good timing to get into more shops for the Christmas season. If I don't get into the magazine, maybe I'll make time to work on getting new wholesale accounts in September and October.

I hope you all have had a pleasant, relaxing summer. Thank you all for visiting and for your purchases! Feel free to drop me a line anytime!

Back to stitching.
Dotty

New Additions - Hand Embroidered Pendants

2009-07-05T19:43:00.005-04:00

I've been adding some new hand embroidered pendants to the shop. They're in silver-plated settings.

Stitched Craft Show Apron

2009-06-27T11:41:00.008-04:00

I just finished stitching up an apron to use for craft shows. I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. The lovely lady featured on the apron is a design from Jenny at Sublime Stitching. Isn't she sweet?

I recently made a banner for my next craft show too.

Those Fall shows will be here before I know it. I'm getting ready!

Machine Embroidered Wrist Cuffs Added

2009-06-25T08:00:00.006-04:00

I've added a few machine embroidered wrist cuffs to the shop. No hand stitching on these (except in the construction). I used my much loved embroidery machine.

Hand Embroidered Wrist Cuffs Added

2009-06-24T13:54:00.004-04:00

I've added quite a few Hand Embroidered Wrist Cuffs to the shop.

More Ribbon Rose Pendants Added

2009-06-20T14:00:00.003-04:00

This is the last of the ribbon roses for now. Coming soon - embroidered wrist cuffs.

Yellow Ribbon Rose Pendant

Purple Ribbon Rose Pendant

Pink Ribbon Rose Pendant

Orange Ribbon Rose Pendant

Ivory Ribbon Rose Pendant

New Additions - Ribbon Rose Pendants

2009-06-19T09:24:00.008-04:00

I've been working a lot on updating the site to now include my embroidered jewelry. The home page and "about me" page have been updated. I also created and added a new banner as well as some new mosaics of my items.

I've been a tad worried about how the site would look having two very different types of products. I think it's looking pretty good so far. I think that my new banner helps with letting visitors know right away what kinds of items I create. Hopefully they're not saying to themselves, "Pincushions and embroidered jewelry? Huh? Why? That's an odd combo." Hopefully they'll read my little explanation about the reasons behind the merge.

I've been also working a lot on SEO improvements. I don't know a whole lot about it but I'm learning a lot so hopefully that will help with gaining more traffic.

Now for the good stuff....
I've started adding my pendants.....

Blue Ribbon Rose Pendant

Grey Ribbon Rose Pendant

Red Ribbon Rose Pendant

Hot Pink Ribbon Rose Pendant

Thanks so much for checking in on my progress!

Dotty

Trade Links with Dot Dot Stitch by dottyral

2009-06-18T19:52:00.012-04:00

Do you have your own Indie Site for handmade? Or maybe a blog geared toward women? I'd love to trade links with you. All I need is a photo/logo 125 x 125, your site name, and a short description. Then you can grab one of the images below using the code. Please choose the one that better suits your audience - pincushions or embroidered jewelry.

If just the text works better for your site, that's fine.

Your link will be posted on my "Shop Handmade" page.

Just email your information to me and we'll get to trading.
dottyral at gmail dot com.
Family friendly sites only please.

Thanks!

For just a text link.... site address - http://dottyral.bigcartel.com/
dottyral - Handmade Emery Pincushions and Pincushion Rings.
OR
Dot Dot Stitch - Handmade Embroidered Jewelry

(If you're reading this on my site, you'll see two of each photo. You'll have to go to the blog to see the codes.)

<a href="http://dottyral.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank"></a>

<a href="http://dottyral.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank"></a>

dottyral and Dot Dot Stitch join forces

2009-06-17T16:51:00.010-04:00

My business has come to a cross-roads. For the past three years I've been concentrating on designing, creating, and selling my pincushions under the name "dottyral". I've loved every minute of it and am so pleased with the progress I've made. My pincushions can be found on several online sites as well as quite a few brick and mortar shops.

Last year I began to realize how much I missed hand-stitching. I used to do a lot of embroidery, hand-quilting and rug hooking before pincushions took over my life. I decided to get back into it and began by making some embroidered pendants. Most of those sold and the rest went off to a shop on consignment. I so enjoyed making those pendants that I started embroidering other things - tea towels and aprons. That led to more pendants and then wrist cuffs. I'm having a ball! There's nothing more enjoyable to me than sitting in my comfy chair taking tiny stitches by hand to create something beautiful.

So instead of just creating pincushions for people that sew, I'm back to being one of those people! Yay!

Don't you worry though - I haven't abandoned my pincushions. I'll continue to make them and come up with new designs. They're still a great joy to me.

The embroidered jewelry may end up on my big cartel site and my etsy shop. Mostly though I think I'll be bringing it along to craft shows.

I've been selling my embroidered items under the name "Dot Dot Stitch". I have to confess something - I hate the name "dottyral"! That was my biggest business mistake so far. I chose it as a username when I began selling on etsy.com in 2006. It's my first name and the beginning of my last name. I had no idea that I would become known as dottyral from then on. Because that name was gaining recognition, I decided to embrace it and continued on with it.

So here I am today, still "dottyral" but also "Dot Dot Stitch". I'll be putting a little more emphasis on the Dot Dot Stitch name from now on if you don't mind!

Shew. I hope you followed all of that. I hope you'll follow my progress on this blog.

Thank you so very much to all of you that have purchased my pincushions and supported my business over the last few years! I'm so excited for the future!

Dotty