After some trials and tribulations...

After a couple weeks of waiting and some tribulations, as of late this afternoon, Carla's Victorian Heirlooms has a web page under construction. We have also obtained the domain for the .com address to make sure everyone can find us on the net. Plans are for the website to be up and running for late spring 2012, with a full-color online catalog of product and ordering information. We will keep you updated with the progress as it comes together... and we can always be found on Facebook

In the meantime, our talented photographer from S. D. Jackson Photography will be busy building a supply of product shots to fill the catalog with... including detail shots of the embroidery or beadwork or other hand-worked embellishment that make each and every item created in our studio unique.

Tomorrow is a production day in the studio to build inventory for the upcoming market in December... good thing we have a steady supply of green tea around here...

Until next time... stay safe, be happy.

Updates from the Studio...

The last couple of days here in the studio have been full of internet wanderings and discussions about the upcoming Christmas craft market season. Today, the itineraries were planned and the budgets set for 3 markets for us to visit in November. (which, of course, means a couple of road trips *gosh, darn*)

The markets are in Nanaimo, Parksville, and Vancouver... the links to the web pages are below if you wish to check out some more information. It will be hard not to shop but it will still be fun to look. We're going for business-related purposes instead of as shoppers. The preparations for market season 2012 are underway with plans to participate as vendors in our first show as early as spring... very exciting! More on that subject down the road... back to the current upcoming markets...

First stop is Nanaimo Professional Craft Fair tomorrow (Saturday November 5). The show runs from 10am to 5 pm at Beban Park. An early ferry sailing and a short bus ride will get us there and home. A Serious Coffee stop in between is definitely in order. As always, my handsome roustabout will be accompanying me on the expedition. (Must remember to check the weather forecast too...)

Some new photos of our product gallery are on their way as well... keep checking back to see those and to see some of the hand-embroidered artistry created in the studio. We are also on Facebook with regular updates on the studio events and musings... we’d love to hear from you so feel free to stop by there and say hello or reply to a post... 

Until next time... have a great weekend... be safe, be happy

I learned something new today...

It is said we should make an attempt to learn something every day that we did not know yesterday. In my internet travels today, I found some interesting information that was unknown to me yesterday... I located a local chapter of an embroidery guild here in Nanaimo... the Island Stitchery Guild. They meet once a month from September to June.

The Guild is part of the Embroiderers' Association of Canada Inc. whose aim is "to preserve traditional techniques and promote new challenges in the Art of Embroidery through education and networking". The Association came into official existence in Winnipeg, MB, in 1974, and to date has almost 2500 members in Canada and other countries throughout the world, making up 46 chapters and 17 youth groups. Through membership, correspondence classes are available for various stitching techniques at all levels of knowledge. Certification may also be obtained upon completion of individual courses, ranging in length from 12 months for the beginners and 18 months for the intermediate and advanced stitchers. There is even a 5 day seminar coming up in May of 2012, in Victoria, BC, (just down Vancouver Island from us...) for members of the EAC~all about embroidery and stitching!

I am most certainly going to contact the Island Guild to find out more details about the Nanaimo chapter. Great Grandma S. and Grandma S. would both be so proud to know that I am choosing to carry on with the disciplined stitching they taught me as a little girl before I could even print my full name.

Until next time... keep your needle threaded... be safe, be happy.

Exciting news in the studio...

The internet is full of amazing resources for anyone's mind wanderings. Hours worth of information is absorbed with time flying past and making you wonder what you did all day.

From our wanderings these past few days, we are very excited to have been accepted to a network strictly for embroidery stitchers. The Hand Embroidery Network (or HEN) is a site that showcases talented thread work from beginner to advanced level, from traditional to contemporary, from all over the world. It is both an honor and a privilege to be included in such a gifted group of skilled artisans.

Wander over to the site by clicking on the membership badge below... See for yourself some of the amazing creations and beauty that are the result of a few threads and a plethora of stitches... an art form dating back to ancient times...

Cheers! to our new friends on HEN and to our old friends that have known us for many years... be safe, be happy.

Gearing up...

Good morning,

Preparing for our first craft show... It has been a virtual tour of Vancouver Island and the Mainland craft circuit as we check out each show and talk over the pros and cons of each. Some are too localized, farmers markets and the like, where vendors are accepted only from a specific area. Some allow imported products and third person sales, too much like the mall. Juried or unjuried, swag bag or no swag bag. How many years in operation, number of vendors, last year’s attendance. Who is promoting the event and how. These are just some of the parameters to look at as we finalize next year’s show.

Counted Cross Stitch

 For us, our first show is about time and availability. Time~we are coming in too late for the juried shows and availability, many of the big shows are booked. That leaves us with waiting lists and regional shows. Perfect!  Just what we need to fine tune booth displays and product.

The product line is finalized and inventory purchased, check. Next is completing our booth presentation. Our education starts with touring the big Christmas shows on the Island like the NanaimoProfessional Craft Fair, Parksville’s Kris Kringle Craft Market, and James Bay’s Dickens Fair then over to the mainland and the Vancouver Make It! show in the spring. We will bring you pictures of the markets as we check out the other vendors, better understand traffic flow, and view booth presentations. Oh! And assemble and finish our stock, sew a dress and did I mention...I am taking business courses too, lol.

Sixteen weeks to show the demand of our product; a daunting task for a hardened business person, but a challenge we are up for. With assistance from my happy roustabout, we are going to show them we are a triple threat of artistic talent, business know how, and sales sense.

How can you help? Private message me to pre-order for this Christmas gift-giving season (watch this Blog for items as they become available), a “Like” of the Facebook page or a “Hello!” all contribute as you share our adventure.

Until next time be safe, be happy.

a Work In Progress...

shades of purple & grey

New adventures...

After a long summer of business plan writing and workshops, I am about to embark on a new journey... with tons of love & support from my photographer husband, SJ, I will be offering treasures created in our home-based studio. My specialty is hand-stitched embroidery & bead work embellishments on items that will add a finishing touch to your home decor... indulge your castle or your cave. Stay tuned as the pages unfold and the creativity flows forth...