DebBee's Designs

The bread and butter of every needlework designer is thread. Thread is our medium, how we do what we do, our “paint”. We surround ourselves with it, with color cards, floss rings, whole thread lines, and never have enough.

One of the questions that I get asked a lot is how do I decide which threads to use in a design. Some designers are very monogamous, sticking with only one thread line for their designs. I haven’t seen a thread yet that I didn’t love, and want to use in a design somewhere! As a result, I use several different thread lines in my designs, and that can create problems sometimes. So the next few blogs will be about how I choose which threads to use in a design, my process if you will.

When I design a new project, it begins with a concept, that gets fleshed out in black and white lines on the computer. Sometimes I use gray lines as well, just for distinguishing stitch patterns, but for the most part, everything is black and white. I may have in mind a color scheme, but usually I don’t – the color comes later.

Next I start thinking about a color palette. I usually base my color palette on an overdyed or hand-painted thread, except for the Glitz & Glamour series. For the Glitz & Glamour series, the color is selected before the design begins, because the gemstone or precious metal may suggest some of the form of the design (for instance, Glitz & Glamour Gold was suggested by gold ingots stacked together, Glitz & Glamour Opal featured lots of round and oval shapes, and so on).

Once the overdyed or hand-painted thread is selected, I start pulling every thread in every texture that I think I *may* want to use in the design. Lots of metallics, rayons and rayon ribbons, silk/metallic braids, flosses and pearl cottons in differing weights. This is when my thread lines come into play. I pull from several different lines – DMC, Presencia, Kreinik, Caron Collection, Crescent Colours, Rainbow Gallery – anything that I think may be useful for the texture and pattern in the design. I always have way more threads pulled than I will actually use, but I want to have lots of options.

I take all of the threads I have pulled, and do a “floss toss” – all of the threads get laid out on the canvas, to see which would be the best color to use. Sometimes the canvas color is a part of the design, sometimes it isn’t essential. Doing a floss toss helps me determine which color of canvas is going to make the colors work best together, and if the color of canvas I thought would work actually will.

Next – deciding which thread lines to use

I hate making mistakes! Especially in my charts, because usually that means someone has to frog stitches. And I know how much I loathe ripping out!

In my distant past, I studied journalism in college and was editor of the college paper. Part of my job was to correct mistakes in the stories submitted by the reporters. The faculty advisor was a brutally ruthless instructor named Mr. Crum (still burned into my memory after all these years!) I could tell tales of woe about Mr. Crum, but suffice it to say that he did not tolerate mistakes of any kind, and was fond of grading papers with “F to the -17th”, because a mere “F” was not humiliating enough! So I learned to avoid mistakes if I could.

When I’m stitching a model, I write the instructions as I stitch. I calculate how much thread is needed for a particular stitch, record how many strands I used, the colors and thread types, and sometimes tips that make a particular section easier. In my earlier days I stitched the whole model, then tried to remember what I had done when it came time to write the instructions. I think it’s a better process for me now to write the instructions as I go, and less subject to error.

But mistakes still creep in, despite my best efforts to avoid them. And I rely on stitchers to contact me when an error is discovered, so I can correct it. Because we print on demand, we don’t have stacks of books sitting around, and can correct a mistake for the next printing, almost always right away.

That still leaves some books out there with mistakes. So for those, I have an “Ooops” page on the website. It’s under the “About” tab. Some of the corrections are several pages, especially if I’ve had to correct a large diagram. Others aren’t that big. But they are there, because my primary goal as a designer (especially with my journalism/editor background) is to ensure that you have a frustration-free experience when stitching one of DebBee’s Designs.

If you discover a mistake while stitching one of my designs, please let me know! I want to fix it, and please don’t assume someone else has already pointed it out. We have a great community of stitchers, generous and sharing, and I appreciate your efforts in making my products better.

OK, confession time – how many of you have started a project, then lost interest? You were excited when you bought the chart, loved the threads when you pulled them, couldn’t wait to put in the first stitches, then your interest waned and the project got put aside. I know in my conversations with stitchers that it’s not at all unusual for you to have several projects going at once. Some have large projects at home and smaller projects for travel, or different types of projects (an ornament, a sampler, a canvas project, etc.), or just lots of projects because you are serial starters. Not judging here! It’s your hobby, you get to do it however you want!

I’ve almost always had only one project at a time, even when I was just a stitcher and not yet a designer. The year I stitched an entire double afghan, I only stitched that afghan and nothing else until it was done. As a designer working under deadline pressure that has been a good thing, most of the time.

But occasionally, it gets in the way. Case in point – my current design. The concept was relatively simple. I was inspired to design some dimensional flowers, not quite stumpwork, that could be used as individual motifs for home dec or clothing accessories. I designed six flowers, worked out the mechanics of the designs, pulled threads and fabric, even bought finishing materials. And I stitched the first one.

For some reason I haven’t identified, I’m not in love with the project anymore. I don’t want to stitch any more petals. I don’t want to see how they are going to turn out. So I have made the decision to lay this project aside for awhile, and perhaps come back to it later.

This is not an easy decision. When a design is not going well, or I’m not enthusiastic about it, or a problem is not easy to resolve, I am paralyzed and unable to stitch further. I find myself blocked, stifled, strangled, all creativity ceasing. Sometimes I force myself to struggle through, and it pays off. Case in point – Tahiti Triangles. I absolutely hated the design about halfway through the design process, then really struggled when I began stitching it, I think because I started with the yellow band and I really don’t like yellow. To date, Tahiti Triangles is our best-selling design!

This time, though, I’m calling a halt to the flowers, at least for the moment. And when I made the decision, though difficult, it was like opening a door. Over the last few hours I was able to design the next Bon Bon. And I feel at least another design or two percolating in the background, so as soon as I get home from Nashville I’ll get busy on those. I’ll keep the flowers supplies out, and may play around with them since they’re small and portable. Who knows? The flowers may bloom this summer!

New Year’s resolutions. Did you make any? Do you make the same ones every year? I’ve decided I’m really too old to make resolutions, or to wait for the turn of the year to start something new. I did decide to tackle the holiday pounds right after the start of the year, got waylaid by a cold, but am somewhat better and will head back to the gym – tomorrow!

I think we make resolutions because we enjoy the feeling of doing something good. Watching the pounds come off, quitting smoking, the endorphin rush of exercise (which I’ve never experienced, by the way), all give us a sense of accomplishment. Even working our way through those unfinished stitching projects – the joy of finishing leads to the happiness of pulling threads to start something new!

Several years ago I started a partnership with Arkansas CARES, a partnership that allows DebBee’s Designs and needleworkers to do good all year long. The partnership came about because their director, Dr. Rita Galloway, wanted to help me with my work and provide occupational therapy for her program. Dr. Galloway is herself an accomplished stitcher, always thinking of ways to make stitching easier and to benefit her program at the same time. She is also a caring friend, who saw a way to help me at a time when I really needed the help, by transferring the making of DebBee’s Designs needlework accessories to Arkansas CARES.

Arkansas CARES is a residential substance abuse treatment facility for women, where they live on campus with their children for 6 months. During their time there they receive treatment for substance abuse but also learn parenting techniques, life skills, and by partnering with DebBee’s Designs, occupational training. They were responsible for their time, quality control, meeting quotas, and other job training. In return, DebBee’s Designs distributed their own needlework accessories and returned the proceeds to them to pay for their dental co-pays not covered by Medicaid.

Drug abuse takes a terrible toll on teeth. Many of these women were in constant pain from their teeth. As a result of our partnership, several women have gotten crowns, bridges and dentures, and are no longer in pain. New smiles, new confidence, and a new start in life!

When you buy Needle Valets, Bar Buddies, Itty Bitties and Ginormous magnets, you are participating in the “doing good”. Of all the things I’ve done with DebBee’s Designs, I’m proudest of my association with Arkansas CARES and the women who have been helped as a result.

Next year DebBee’s Designs will be 10 years old! So much has happened in the first ten years, and I wish I could say that I had planned it all. We have met many of our goals, most of them set on those long drives to trade shows. Where do we want to be next year? In two years? In five years? One huge marker on the path that I did not plan was to the Counted Thread and Embroidery Group Chair for The National Needle Arts Association. As my term draws to a close in 2013, I can focus more on DebBee’s Designs, and that leads to this ambitious plan.

My designing up to now has been somewhat random. I know when trade shows are coming up and try to always have new designs for the shows; I know that I always have a new ornament for the Just Cross Stitch annual ornament issue, and I always have my part of the Needle Arts Mystery Retreat annual project. But beyond that loose framework, I’ve kind of stumbled around with my designing, with no real structure. The result is sometimes a few days (or weeks) of down time after a show, then a couple of ramp up weeks getting ready for a show, then three or four weeks of absolute panic leading up to show time. It’s not healthy, and a lot of added stress on me (and Rod). And sometimes opportunities for other design work come up that I have to turn down, because I’m in that panic mode rather than being disciplined in my work.

I have almost 6 months before the next show, so I decided to do something I should have been doing all along – prepare a design calendar, to keep me focused and working throughout the year, so I can take advantage of other opportunities and work toward a new goal (more about that later). So here’s what I’ve put on my design plate leading up to the Winter Show the first weekend of February 2013.

Design three new Bon Bons between now and Oct. 18

Bon Bon 1 Dark Chocolate with Raspberries

Design three new Glitz & Glamours (Gold, Silver & Copper) before Jan. 15

Design two new pieces in the beginner counted canvas series by Jan. 3

Design two large counted canvas pieces by Dec. 10

Design JCS Ornament issue ornament by Jan. 28

Design NAMR Retreat 2013 design by Oct. 4

If you haven’t counted, I have – that’s 12 designs by the end of January. That’s not threads pulled and stitched, just designed. And I think it’s doable. It will help to keep me on track, not frittering away my time on social media (and my Facebook friends know who you are!). Thank goodness I haven’t fallen into the Pinterest timesink yet!

The main reason I want to be more intentional in my designing, is to allow myself time to develop class proposals for American Needlepoint Guild National Seminar. Yes, I’m finally ready to think about that leap. The process of developing classes for seminar is wholly different from that of a wholesale design business. There are similarities, but the places where they intersect are very few. Being intentional in my designing for my business will hopefully free up some time to develop teaching projects, still release 3 or 4 new projects at each trade show AND contribute designs as magazines ask for them.

An ambitious plan, I know. I’m making my New Year’s resolution early this year, and with some discipline I think I can manage it.