Store opened on Oregon Patchworks

Ever since winning the full Embroidery Studio by Sierra in 2004, I dabbled with digitizing designs as well as wanting to open an online store.  Last month I did just that.  So, besides getting everything that I have so far loaded onto the website, I haven't had time for anything else.  But I don't complain.  It's about time I stopped dreaming and took action although it is a daunting task whilst still working nearly fulltime.

It is a heap of admin before the designs can be loaded - getting all the different formats made, changing all the instruction sheets by removing any personal websites and email addresses to include only Oregon Patchworks contact details and copywrite info as well as photos and lastly the necessary pdf and zip files.

This is my what my store's thumbnail looks like and by clicking here you can visit the Embroidery Girl's online store.

Spit cloths

I received an order for eight spit cloths about a month ago and finally finished the order earlier this week after friend Magda du Plessis had trouble with her machine embroidering it.

Little Ellie font from Stitchdelight

Magda luckily stitched all the braids.

Most of the lettering done with Embird. 
My favorite editing program to use.

Yet again embroidered some of the Bountiful Bunny's available here.

I unfortunately experienced major problems with the Mickey Mouse spit cloth and had to buy another nappy to re-do it completely.  Filling in small areas with Sharpie's as well as removing an oil drop with a very strong detergent didn't go well at all with the Sharpie's bleeding into the fabric.

After various attempts cleaning it up there were still substantial bleeding left.  Re-doing was the only option left.

Four Patch Posie (2)

This was an extremely fast quilt to stitch, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The top with all borders is done and ready for the quilting process.

I used up all four pattern repeats with the 9 posies with no blocks left for the four corners, so I had to figure out a solution.

Back to our local Elna dealer I went for an additional piece of the red hibiscus fabric.  Continuing with the green and black fabric through the corners and adding the hibiscus fabric to each outside corner, I was able to overcome the problem without it looking strange.

Tea Towels

When my son started his kitchen linen business, I bought some blanks to embroider and sell as well.  

Blooming Beauty by Embroidery Library

It offers me the opportunity to embroider some of the beautiful designs I amassed over the years.

I added a little butterfly and dragonfly button to two of these towels.

Jacobean pumpkins from Embroidery Library

When I embroidered this tea cloth, the design looked rather small, so I enlarged it a bit and embroidered it on either side.  Another design by Embroidery Library which can be purchased here.

I just love this cheeky hen with attitude from Embroidery Library.

Betty chicken is available here.

I thought about finishing all the kitchen towels and then post all the photos, but I just don't seem to get all done.  It's been over a month since I started writing this post and I manage to finish only 3 additional towels.  Eish.  So much to do, so little time.

Four patch posy

Last year when our quilting group discussed projects for 2024, the Four Patch Posy was one of the possibilities mentioned. So off to the shops to find 4 repeats of a floral fabric with large motifs and a dark background.  One would have thought it is a rather simple task, but I rather struggled to find a piece that met all the requirements.  I finally settled on red hibiscus flowers printed on a black background.

Under the guidance of one of our members, Elsa, we all got cutting our fabrics.  With Elsa's help I was able to use the whole one meter piece I bought with minimum waste. As the flowers are so big and prominent, I cut 6" blocks whereas the other ladies cut 4" blocks.  The pattern is a simplified kaleidoscope with four identical blocks making up one posy.

I wasn't really happy with my choice of fabric when I initially started laying out the blocks as it didn't have the prominent kaleidoscope effect, but I do think the 9 blocks turned out quite beautiful in the end.

Orders

After renewing the adverts on Facebook Marketplace, I received a few orders.  First was a 3d chicken stuffie ordered in the same colors as the sample.

Design from Embroidery Library

I also received orders for baby statistic bears.  The first was ordered in grey with black and white.  As the baby's room decor is done with panda's, I put a bow with pandas around his neck.

Available at Ofnah

Then I received an order for another two, but the lady didn't like the Ofnah bear, so she picked Tiny Ted.

These ones are a lot shorter, but I managed to fit all the wording.

Tiny Ted from Bee Stitchin

Stitchdelight

A few weeks ago, Daleen Lubbe, of Stitchdelight expressed her intend to clear out space for new projects in her cupboards by offering all items and projects previously embroidered, stitched and/or quilted for sale.  In order to be able to sell embroidery designs, they have to be embroidered and being in the business for about 25 years, the samples quickly stacked up.  Upping the sales of her designs by making complete bags, quilts, cushions, placemats etc. to give prospective buyers an idea what the designs can be used for, took up a lot of space.  Daleen offered it at ridiculously low prices with the idea to just recover the input cost of the fabrics, lace, batting etc. she used.

So, shopping I went.  Being an avid buyer of Daleen's designs, I mainly focused on items for which I don't have the designs, large designs and complex items.  Below is my stash (thus far)...

Dream Big for small hoops

I bought all the different embroidery sizes for these panels and did embroider a medium size one thus far on an Amafu print in 2020.  This post refers.  However, to embroider one panel like this, take 50 hoopings, so buying a completed one is a huge bargain.

Plain fabric leafy panel

Another huge bargain, 38 different key fobs.

Majestic Lion

A beautiful masterpiece of 85cm to which I will add blocks to convert it into a quilt.  I collected twelve patchwork quilt blocks as and when they were on sale and think they will make a gorgeous addition to this already masterful piece.  So, watch this space.

A beautiful 40cm quilted circle.

Quilted Mandala

Elegant horses

I received all the fonts below for free which I will convert into some useful items.

Matching Jurassic Font

Scratch Font

Swirly Swan Font

Elegant Renaissance Font

Hunter Font

Boho-baby-font

Little Blossom Font

Perfection Font

Little Ellie

Little cloud nine font

Montery Font

Little Stance Font

This cross stitch Christmas bauble sneaked its way into the package.

That's all for now.  As promised another sale will be held this week for the articles left over as well as fabric she also wants to clear out.  I just hope I will get a few pieces, as its fastest fingers first on that Whatsapp group.  Do ccome back regularly to see what was done with these pieces.