~ Kindness & Customer Appreciation ~

Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the blossoms,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
~19th century rhyme used in primary schools

Hello Friends & Folk ~
Please take a moment to read my story below...

...I began designing needlework as a profession back in 2000,
at the gentle nudging of my hubby.

After years of giving my finished needlework as gifts to friends & family,
Peter suggested that I try and see if anyone would be interested
 in purchasing a pattern of one of my designs...

so I purchased a vendors' spot at a local farmers market in Guilford, CT
and brought along some finished models and some very crudely packaged paper patterns
that went with them.

~ there I sat among tables of fresh veggies, flowers and handmade crochet items,
artisan jewelry and local potters & soapmakers ~ feeling rather out of place.
{{ ... but hey, the sun was shining, people were happy and I made new friends! }}

I smiled at everyone and shy-ly waited for someone {anyone} to come take a look at my table.
Two very sweet & kind older ladies came over to my table and one picked up
one of my finished models...  since they were not for sale, they were not priced ~
but the other lady asked if it was for sale and I politely said no, it was a model for a pattern
that they could purchase, to make one for themselves...

They were thrilled to purchase some patterns, and I asked them if they would like me to contact them when I made more ~ {I had no business cards, just a small notebook and pencil...I didn't even have bags for my 'customers' to put their things in...I have learned a lot since then}

Happily {and thankfully} they gave me their info,
I thanked them a thousand times over,
 and they left me beaming at my small table.

About five minutes later, they were back...but this time they brought friends!
My little table was now surrounded by a group of lovely, kind women
who actually seemed to be interested in what I was offering.

Little did I know, these women were members of the local Historical Society ~
with a very voracious appetite for needlework!

Due to the gentle persuasion of my sweet husband,
and because of these ever-encouraging women,
I was asked to teach Rug Hooking, Embroidery & Cross Stitch
at the Guilford Handcrafts Center in Guilford, CT.,
the Dudley Farm {also in Guilford and was where the little farmers market was},
and numerous other locales on the East Coast/New England.

 At one of my classes, a student asked me if I sold my patterns on the Internet.
{I had NO clue what that even was at the time} So my dear hubby stepped in again,
purchased our first computer and I sat for hours upon hours learning everything I could,
finding venues to sell my things.

Ebay was just a baby then, and with trepidation, gave it a try.
I offered finished items like dolls, bears & the like...
then took the plunge and listed some cross stitch patterns.

To my surprise, I was contacted by a sweet woman who suggested I contact a distributor
 to help me sell my cross stitch patterns...that woman was none other than Kathy Barrick!

Opening doors of opportunity to me beyond my wildest dreams,
I went about designing more & more for my distributor...
then saw my first pattern in a needlework shop in CT and almost fainted.
 
This Internet, Etsy, and this blog has been nothing but a blessing for us, too.
Allowing us connect with and make friends worldwide,
~ friends who have encouraged us, supported us and help us earn a living.

This year, 2018 ~
marks my 10th year as a seller on Etsy, with 19,000 sales as-to-date.
~ this year also marks my 12th year being partnered with a dear friend,
Kris Miller of
www.Spruceridgestudios.com
with whom and thankfully,
I have branched out more into the crazy and fun rug hooking world.

and the rest they say....
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

In appreciation for your continued Friendship
an support of what Peter & I do ~

... we extend this token of gratitude to you:

If I could give you all a big hug for your kindness I would!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori