White Threads

Embroidery stitch dictionary app

Yesterday I introduced the idea of a smartphone app based on my two books The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion and The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. I also put it on my personal Facebook page (to which anyone can subscribe to my public updates), and my Vetty Creations Facebook page. Because of this, I’ve had feedback streaming in from everywhere.

Thank you to everyone who has commented, offered suggestions, and just generally encouraged me with this idea. You’ve convinced me that now is the time to do this, and because of that I will now put this app into development!

However I realise that there is a good chunk of my readership who are not interested in any smartphone app – its a whole other world for you?! – so I don’t want to keep banging on about it and boring you to tears. Therefore I’d like to return to “regular programming” as soon as possible. 🙂

So that I can do this, I’d like to ask if any of those who ARE interested in my app would like to join an email focus group for the app? I’d like the opportunity to bounce ideas off you, and you’d get the opportunity to have input into the app (though I can’t guarantee that your particular ideas will be adopted) to make it what you want it to be.

If you’re interested in joining this email focus group list, please drop me a line at yvette at vettycreations dot com dot au (changing the words to symbols where appropriate). Thanks!

I won’t be bombarding the email list with messages. Just occasionally there might be something I’d like to ask others about. And if it all becomes too much you can simply let me know at any point that you’d like to be removed from the list. I won’t be offended at all!

I’d also like to assure everyone that Vetty Creations will not be going all brave new worldish. I will STILL be writing and publishing real hard copy books, and not moving completely into the digital world. I love books, and I will keep publishing books with real paper!

a little something I’m working on

One afternoon a couple of months ago, I was sitting in traffic in the car, listening to the radio. For some reason I suddenly had a flash of brilliance: why not make my stitch dictionaries into apps for smartphones?

I don’t even know that they were talking about apps on the radio. I don’t think they were, but for some reason whatever they were saying sparked something in my mind.

When I was at Maitland Embroiderers Group and at Beating Around the Bush, I did some market research, asking my classes whether those who had smartphones would be interested in such a thing. The answer was a resounding “YES!” I figured that when people go out, they have their phones with them. If they’re at stitching group, or in a class, they’ll have their phone with them. They may not want to carry a book with them, but they could certainly carry a phone with a stitch dictionary app on it, giving them ready access to all that lovely information.

And so, ever since, I’ve been doing little bits of research on this idea. Part of the reason for buying my own mobile (cell) phone was because I’d never even seen an app before, let alone knew what they could do. I figured that if I was going to have my own app, then I probably needed to try out some myself!

Yesterday I spent some time thinking through how it could work, and working on how it *might* look. You have to understand, this idea is only in its very infancy, so things could change a lot before it comes to fruition! And just because I can make it look like this in a mock up doesn’t mean I can make it look like this in the real thing! I have no idea how to create an app, and it will be a bit of a learning journey in consultation with my app developer!
(If you click on the picture it should take you to a larger version.)

So, what do you think? If you were to purchase such an app, what would you want it to do? If you could have a wish list for such an app, what would be on it? Thanks! I really look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible!

stepping into the 21st century

I have never had a mobile (cell) phone before, until about 2 weeks ago. I have always resisted, feeling that I did not need one. About a month ago though, I decided that the time had come, and that it might now be useful. And so I am now the owner of an Android smartphone.

I realise that for some, today’s post is going to be gobbledegook to you. And until a few weeks ago, it probably would have been for me too! I apologise if this post boggles your brain or completely bamboozles you.

Having a smartphone means that I can now investigate some things that might be useful for me to use with my business. Things like apps and QR codes.

I have looked at QR codes (2 dimensional barcodes that can be read with certain phone apps – there’s one shown on the right), and wondered if they can be useful to me for Vetty Creations. I think the answer is yes, but only in some circumstances.

If you are not reading this on your phone, and have your smartphone handy, you might want to see if the QR code shown works for you. If you can let me know what happened when you did, that would be great (and whether you have an iphone, ipad, android phone or windows phone or something else…?) You’ll need a QR code reader app to do this. The one I have is Google Goggles. I’m not saying its the best one or recommending it particularly, its just the one I have.

If you’re reading this blog post on your phone, then I have no idea how you’re going to use that phone to scan a QR code that is on its screen! (You can’t!) If you are reading this on your phone though, then that would be very interesting for me to know too.

Now, what that QR code is supposed to do is to take you to the Vetty Creations website. Hopefully that is what it did do! However, it is the full website. If I do anything (like really try to implement them, rather than playing around with them like this) I’ll need to have at least some or all of the Vetty Creations website converted into a mobile version, so that it doesn’t eat up all your download capability in one hungry go!

Would a mobile version of the Vetty Creations website be of interest to you? I’m not entirely sure how necessary it might be. Those of you with smartphones, are you likely to want to order Vetty Creations products on your phone? Or would you just wait until you got to your laptop or desktop computer to do it?

Lots of new things to think about – things I had never considered before…

Guimarães: European Capital of Culture 2012

Guimarães is the town from which the style of embroidery that is featured in my new book Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães comes. It is in the north of Portugal, and if you know where Porto is on the coast, Guimarães is inland from there. It is not a tourist area, though actually all of the parts of Portugal that we went to weren’t overly crowded with tourists. (We didn’t go to the southern coastal areas!)

It is known as the birthplace of Portugal, as in the twelfth century the region was given to the family that created the country, with Afonso I as the first king of the new kingdom. The historic centre of Guimarães is a Unesco World Heritage Listed site (the list is something my husband uses to plan our holidays. I think he has a personal goal to visit as many of them as possible!)

When we visited Guimarães, I wanted to take some photos of the old town. As my parents used to be in a camera club, I know that dawn and dusk are excellent times of the day to take photos. So one morning during our stay, I rose very early, and set out on the short walk to the walled part of the old town. It was very quiet, and hardly anyone was around. As is my custom, I tried to look as little like a tourist as possible, but I probably stuck out like a sore thumb!

It was magical, making my way through the streets of a town waking to a new day. Seeing the sun catching on the facades of the beautiful old buildings in the town square for the first time that day was something I’m not likely to forget in a hurry. It was a lovely experience.

This year, Guimarães has been designated a European Capital of Culture. Throughout the year there will be cultural events in and around Guimarães. What better way to celebrate the rich culture of such a beautiful city, than by learning the exquisite embroidery that originates from Guimarães?

Darling Harbour Craft Show coming soon

As with the last two years, this year I will be again exhibiting at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair at Darling Harbour in June. This time I will not be sharing, but will have my own stand just for Vetty Creations. I would actually love to be sharing again, because I have really enjoyed sharing with friends’ businesses in the past. The friendship makes it a fun week. However, circumstances with those friends’ businesses have changed and this time they were unable to do the show.

Therefore, onwards and upwards to my very own stand!

I’ll be over near the entry to the quilt show, and will have all my books on display and a great range of embroidery supplies including Mountmellick embroidery supplies and Portuguese Whitework supplies. I’ve just received a big order of sitting stands and 8 inch hoops, so I will have them with me as well.

On display will be all of the projects from “Portuguese Whitework” so that you can see them all up close and personal.

The last two years I have taught a left-handed beginners embroidery class. Unfortunately I won’t be able to teach it this year as there is no opportunity for me to escape to a class – I won’t have anyone to cover for me on the stand! (How I am going to manage toilet breaks, I am not entirely sure!) But in the quiet periods, you might be able to come and see me doing a little Portuguese embroidery stitching demo at the stand.

Now, because I won’t have the camaraderie of someone to share my stand with, I’m going to be relying on all of you who are local to visit me and say hello. So please come and make yourself known to me! I look forward to sharing “Portuguese Whitework” and all my other products with you at the show, and meeting you!

cueing new projects

Its getting colder here, though you wouldn’t know it, with yesterday being about 29 degrees Celcius in May. But that is an aberration. Its not supposed to be that warm at this time of year!

So with the cooler weather approaching, and with the prompting of Bendigo Woollen Mills who keep sending me things in the mail and suggesting to me that I’d like to buy their wool (yes, please!) its time to cue some knitting projects. (Very successful marketing, that!)

I like to knit at least one garment a year, though this year it seems that I will be extending myself a little further. With the purchases I have just made, I have just committed myself to a jumper (sweater) for myself, a dress for Rainbow Girl, and a shrug for The Reader.

I have chosen Yoke Detail Pullover in Stone.
The Reader will have this drapey bolero (with long sleeves) in Rich Jade.
Rainbow Girl will have Oriental Lily in Neon Berry.

So anytime you come near me in the next little while, you’re likely to hear the clicking of needles. I need to get as much done on them before Luzine’s gorgeous Schwalm project turns up in my letterbox!

Left-handed Schwalm project

Exciting news! I was one of the three readers of Mary Corbet’s Needle’nThread selected to test Luzine Happel‘s left-handed schwalm embroidery instructions. I’m thrilled!

This comes at the perfect time for me, as I am between books, and haven’t got any embroidery projects on the go at the moment.

If you’re one of the other three embroiderers also chosen, please do not feel intimidated by me being one of the other testers. I am just like you – I have never done this style of embroidery either. We will each come up with different feedback for Luzine, and that is exactly the idea – to help her in any way we can with improving and correcting her instructions.

What fun! Thanks Luzine and Mary!

Another lovely review of Portuguese Whitework

Just in case you haven’t seen it yet, there’s another wonderful review of Portuguese Whitework today over at Pintangle.

Sharon says she spent the weekend drooling over the book. I hope it didn’t get too soggy!

A little excerpt from the review:
“Everything is clearly explained. The acid test for me is how well an author explains the dreaded bullion knot as many stitchers really fear this stitch. Not only does Yvette Stanton explain how to work them clearly she also trouble shoots problems like lumpy bullions and tapered bullions. I can’t stress enough how well explained everything is.” Sharon Boggon, pintangle.com

So head on over to Pintangle and read the whole review for yourself. Sharon also likes the sampler project – it seems to be a bit of a favourite with people!

I am still plugging away on the tax stuff here. As it has to go off to my tax-man this morning, I’m looking forward to being free of it this afternoon!

Win a copy of Portuguese Whitework

If you haven’t yet been caught up in the excitement of my new book, head on over to the website of one of my biggest US fans – that would be Mary Corbet’s Needle’nThread! – and get yourself on the list to possibly win a copy of my new book “Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães”!

I’ve just had a lovely little while reading through all the comments from all the people who want to win the book, and why they want to win it.

I’ve been intrigued by the fact that at least one woman remembers her grandmother doing something like it. I’ve been greatly encouraged by people who say that on the basis of the excellence of other books by me that they own, that they know this one will also be excellent.

I seem to have given some people the horrors by putting cupcakes on one of the pieces of needlework in one of the photos! Many people love the small projects – particularly the ornaments. Can you remember when I was thinking through those ornaments and wondered here on the blog whether to present them as single ornaments or as a swag? Just think – if you commented on that post, YOU had a hand in helping me to create the book! (Thank you!)

And then others love the fact that there are large projects such as the tablecloth. Do you think we should let them know that that particular project nearly killed me?! (Only because I thought it was never going to end!)

It is wonderfully gratifying to think that there are so many people who would love to win the book. I am so pleased that my book has introduced them to something new, and inspired so many to try it. Many seem to be particularly taken by the image on the front of the book – for which I am glad, because the cover of a book *should* attract people!

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement of me. So much affirmation first thing in the morning should make for a great start to the day, especially as I am working on the drudge of preparing my tax for the tax-man…

I spent yesterday cleaning out my office searching for any bits of paperwork that I might need for my tax, and actually found it to be not such a bad experience as I had expected. You see, I kept finding skeins of thread throughout, underneath, on top of and behind all the mess! As soon as I’ve finished preparing the tax stuff, I’ll hopefully be able to get started on a project utilising some of those threads!

incidental book reviews

In the comments sections of Mary Corbet’s last two posts, one a review of my Portuguese Whitework book, and the other about left-handed Schwalm embroidery, there have been lots of lovely things said about my books.

For years I had a hard time embroidering and set it aside because it was confusing & frustrating to embroider right handed. I bought Yvette Stantons Left Handed Embroiderers Companion and fell in love again with embroidery. Now I don’t feel frustrated. Joy Smith

I own Yvette’s amazing book on Mountmellick. Her instructions are amazing as are her designs. I am working on adapting her amazing florals to a 16 x 16 inch cushion design right now. Her books really are lovely. Anastasia

Yvette Stanton’s leftie stitch dictionary goes everywhere with me when I’m stitching. Julia Wild

Yvette’s book looks great. As well as being beautifully presented this compilation about Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães as a traditional needlework style, with information on its origin and instructional details on stitch techniques, is an important preservation of history. As time passes more of the intended original expression and knowledge of early needleworkers, and other information about the art style is lost, then sadly, remaining historical examples are misidentified or just lumped as whitework. Yvette brought us back to Mountmellick embroidery and now another whitework treasure. Lots of work done with love. Well done. I love it too. Thanks! Louisa

Thank you for saying such lovely things about my books! 🙂