I have loved watching your videos and following your progress. I have especially enjoyed what felt like more of a conversation without interruptions. I was so sorry to watch today as ads interfered with the flow. The monetization through ads I am not a fan of and feel it goes against so many things I ,maybe naively, felt made you stand out. Our work is very different but there is something that keeps drawing me to your work, especially your ‘philosophizing’ about your choices. At one point you had asked for feedback, we are so bombarded by ads everywhere else, this was such a pleasant spot to come for thought, it’s too bad that apparently has changed.

Roger is a key feature as doggos make every video better. 😊 Eppie, this is excellent. I am a professional photographer who has enjoyed the business side of what I do but am also primarily drawn to the technical side of creating the art. I have been stitching since May and of course was quickly thinking about how to create a business from it, but am so hesitant because it‘s my hobby and I don‘t want to mess it up by creating another business. (I currently have my photography business and also own a magazine.) I relate to you a lot and appreciate your thoughts on all of this. Thank you for taking the time to walk us through your thoughts.

So inspiring, so generous, so smart, so fresh. THANK YOU. 🐉

Hi Eppie, For whatever reason, as I was watching your video I had an idea for your business. First let me set the context of where I'm coming from... I have been looking for embroidery designs that inspire and excite me to want to put in the work to embroider and I've never found anything until I came across your work. I absolutely LOVE your designs and color choices. If I could I would purchase several of your embroidery kits and, even though I've never done needlepoint, I would also purchase some of your needlepoint cushion kits. I recently placed my first order with the Fabled Thread and purchased your Limited Edition: The Sable kit and decided to go all in and also purchased the frame/paints. I live in the US, so the shipping and custom fees added an additional $53 to my kit price. I ended up paying $272.00 dollars for it. And even with the additional cost, I still think it's worth every penny because of the quality of the kit. However, my bank account can't afford it more than once a year. Here's my crazy idea: Please consider selling your designs digitally. By this I mean: . Sell designs that are NOT being used in kits. . Maybe consider selling designs that you've already done but you thought would not make good kits. . This is where you could also sell and test some of your 'wilder' designs. You might be surprised to find that we do love them! . I would recommend you don't include suggested embroidery thread colors or stitches. For that matter, don't even show the design embroidered. This is where we can infuse our creativity into the design to make it our own. . Selling your designs digitally would allow more customers access to your design work and because we don't have to pay shipping/custom costs, the design would be more affordable. Here's the big reason why I came up with this idea: A couple of years ago I had been given as a gift a Zenbroidery pattern [which you can find on Amazon], which is a piece of cloth with an embroidery pattern printed on it. It includes no embroidery floss or what stitches to use. I put a kit together with the pattern, a hoop, needles, snips, and a bunch of random embroidery floss for later use. Then I became the caregiver for a loved one going thru cancer. Last minute I decided to dump the embroidery kit in my go-to bag and found it was the one thing that kept me sane [as I spent days with them in chemo treatments, ICU and hospital rooms] because all I had to do was pick a floss color and stitch. The experience rekindled my love of embroidery. By the way, I love the idea of coming up with my own designs and even purchased your 'Freestyle Embroidery' course and have watched it, however I'm not in the headspace to be able to come up with my own designs because I have too much other stuff to worry about. So the thought of just being able to download one of your designs sounds like heaven to my currently over stressed brain. Thank you for what you do ❤

I admire your abilities so much Eppie, I wish I had them. I am an artist but I am not a practical or numerical person. I’m a big ball of creative chaos bursting in all directions. I can’t do anything but surrender to it although it IS scary every day. I just know myself. Sometimes you have to just let yourself be unconventional and untamable 😅. I don’t expect fame or money out of this madness I really just want some peace. I admit this video has made me feel emotional 😭 there’s a very sad and frustrated part of me that wishes we could be safe and in control. But I think that’s a wounded part. My eternal child has total faith in the process 🙏😅so… onward 🖌️🎨

Very interesting, I like that phrase 'serial hobbyist' and that you debunk the myth about business turning you off your art. (I also found it hilarious that your dog completely ignored you for at least two thirds of this video, you obviously do a lot of talking to yourself on a regular basis and he/she remains unimpressed 🤣)

Hi Eppie, I am a dabbler and I feel fulfilled in my day job, so I am happy to continue my life as a hobbyist. What I do want to optimise is how to carve out longer chunks of time for my creative interests. I look forward to your Sunday posts - it's perfect for breakfast! Today you kept me company as I enjoyed my toasts and tea, followed by crocheting one granny square :)

Your story gives the ordinary people like me, hope. Thank you ❤

Hi Eppie, I'm an artist in the first year of my art business but I've been an artist all my life. I have sold paintings before but never enough to sustain me. So I thought it was time to get serious! I'm just about to launch my website and my first collection of paintings. I realise it's not going to be easy to get my work out there and sell enough to make a living but I'm determined and it's so much easier nowadays to sell without a gallery and therefore take the business side into your own hands. I've sold several paintings on Instagram this year even before my launch so fingers crossed my audience will grow and also my collectors. I've spent the year doing a marketing course and have an email list as well. I think it's really important to educate myself on business, marketing and sales. I'm a bookkeeper to earn a living so at least I understand the numbers! I think the things you said about being an artist are right and I was suprised how vulnerable I felt when I sent out my first couple of emails. It is very personal and excruciating sometimes!!

My struggle is financial when it comes to creating a business. I know exactly what I want to do and offer. I’d love opening a textile center. Think of a folk school mixed with research and community outreach. I need to somehow get to know officials and investors. Dreaming is good for the mind! Hugs, Adrien

Thank you so much Eppie for sharing ❤ Couldn’t agree more re long form content. There is so much true value in it. As you said it is not about volumes, but real connections built with people who resonate and will invest their time into watching and engaging in various forms. So happy KZbin recommended your channel to me. Can’t wait to catch up on past videos as well as to see what else you create in the future

Just found you tonight and have watched 4 videos already!! I love the idea of community - for creativity. I am not a sewer but crochet, paint collage, sketch (well lots of things really). I have found you to be very inspirational. Thankyou.

So much color and beauty!

I'm very excited for this! I am an artist suffering from burn out and looking for a reason to keep going. This could be just what I need 🎉❤

Thank you, thank you!!

This was excellent. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I truly (truly) hope you achieve your business goals. I’d like to add, I get Molly Mahon’s email subscription. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of her, but I recommend checking out her website. I can imagine both of you getting along and maybe, possibly, (hopefully) collaborating on a project. You both seem to, like me (and many others), love colour and pattern. Spreading joy and happiness. My goal is to, first, buy one of your kits, then go from there. I really like the whole idea around your kits and why they are priced the way they are. It makes me want to buy one even more because of this authenticity in your products and that you’re supporting local UK businesses. I’ve been binge watching your videos. I’ve enjoyed everyone. The retreat day looked amazing. It seems like you have a supportive team around you. I thought I’d share a name of a book, I came across, from another KZbinr, called, Company of One: Why Staying small is the next big thing for business, by Paul Jarvis. After your discussion about going to the fair and commenting you’d like to stay small, I thought this book may resonate with your business values. This is all. Best go and watch another of your videos 🧵🪡

Fascinating and really useful. Many thanks.

buy a a womb chair by Eero Saarinen for yourself.

Love them. Thank you for sharing how to create them. Off to get my pack

Oh my!

😮

What a lovely idea.😊Thank you.

Cool!

always enjoy visiting. Have heard people disappointed in Instagram. KZbin I'm debating getting back at it. This helped with better understanding search. Thank you.

I found you when i was looking for bargello. I tripped over your website and love love love what you do.

I really enjoyed this video, Eppie. I think it is because it feels so much like community and I, too, feel meditative when stitching. I think you are definitely going a good direction thin with this!

Thank you for the suggestion in Part 1 to revisit auction catalogues and books. I took a trip to the library and revisited "Surf Culture" and "Fungarium", both with fabulous graphics, without the "envy" that comes with Instagram. It was a refreshing way to revisit my own inspiration. Great tip!

Would you mind telling us about the materials you use? I’m especially curious about how you choose the ground fabric. What are you looking for in fabric that would make it a good choice for this kind of work? Also what kind of needles do you like? I’ve done tons of needlepoint but I’m newer to embroidery so not as familiar with the tools & materials.

I found you on you tube and I really love your content - you’ve become one of my favorite channels. Your authenticity is so obvious and much appreciated. And I love the diversity of what you talk about. When I went to your website, it would look like an organic search, but I got there 100% because of your videos here and I plan on being a lifetime customer! Thank you for sharing yourself with us! ❤

Your How to Find Inspiration video popped up in my YT feed and then led me to your links in your profile. Looking forward to checking out your membership in January. Do you have a page of your favorite supplies along with your reference art/textile books on your website? Being in the US, shipping costs make purchases cost prohibited so maybe we can source things in other avenues.

So thoughtful and helpful💛

What I like about you is that you talk from your heart and head not from a script. You share what you are truly thinking. That is so refreshing. You are being your true self and honest about your goals , not just about making money.

I'd love to know more about that lucky break - getting picked up by the Financial TImes. Do you chalk that up to good luck or where are you doing something that you feel really got their attention? I do a lot of "manifesting", so I find this very interesting on a cosmic level. Thanks so much for all the good vibes you bring to the creative community!

Long form content is so appreciated. It goes against all technological trends and that goes hand in hand with fiber crafts. I particularly enjoy reading ‘the gusset’ for instance. The Long thread media podcast and Haptic and Hues are also two of my recommendations. There’s also a community and belonging aspect I’m craving for especially so in my case since I don’t have any family or friends who do crafts and I am the only person around who speaks foreign languages. Hugs, Adrien

This is such an important message. Thank you for sharing your experience and insights.

Wow wow so much energy and the glimpse of your work! I'll have to dig further. Just came across you now. I have my images screen shot . I've never known how Pinterest worked! I do mixed media . 💛💙💚❤️💜🖤

I loved the color tangent!

Your enthusiasm is inspiring. I am grateful for what you, your team, and family do. ❤🎉

As a child of the 60s/70s the cutouts are giving me big Fuzzy Felt vibes, oh how I loved my Fuzzy Felt! When I gave some to my own children in the 2000s sadly they were not at all captured by it perhaps because the modern day electronic toys were more seductive...

Two fantastically informative and inspiring videos about inspiration! Thank you again. I love the idea of strewing the table with images to come up with interesting combinations. As for the colour aspect, interesting how you separate that out, I'm not sure if that would work for me or not but it would be interesting to try that approach.

Bloody hell you're good! So much information clearly presented in 20 minutes - for free! Seriously one of the best videos I've seen on "inspiration". Thank you. Also loving your work. Edit : I've just visited your website and now I'm even more blown away to see that you haven't come to this through an art degree and started your stitching career such a short time ago leaving the corporate world of finance! Wow! Insane!

I've just serendipitously found your channel.... o joy! I feel like it's a gift from the universe in this post-election period of uncertainty and disheartenment (U.S. presidential). So comforting and creative and beautiful and slow. 🙂 Keep it up! 🌺🍃🐸

I found this so helpful and, inspiring! Thank you so much!

Can you use a regular frame with foam to mount pieces? My daughter has made some beautiful embroideries that deserve to be framed, not I know how to mount them, thank you!

Did you say Granny is 101?!! She’s AMAZING and I love her! ❤

I love your wooden ornaments. I make embroidered ornaments on wool felt stuffed, they’re easy to make and they look great. Feel free to use that idea. I promise it’s accessible, I’m not an advanced stitcher by any means.

WHAAAAAT!!! Where do you get those huge spools of embroidery thread?!!!! I’ve only ever seen the tiny skeins, I’m in the U.S.

Oh my gosh! I made a whole video for my child students on searching for inspiration, it’s a topic I talk about a lot. I think I clicked on your video BECAUSE of the colors behind you, not thinking you’d have anything to offer as advice I hadn’t thought of, but this was great! I work in all mediums and I never try to sell embroidery or slow stitching because I figured no one would pay anywhere near what the work is worth. Am I totally off base about this? I would love to see more of your beautiful work and see your pricing. ❤

Perfect amount of time