Studio Diaries - Episode 5 - The Fabled Thread

[@LataArtist]

Waiting and watching excitedly for your mega enticing stall at the Trade show. Enjoying the journey along with the Fabled Thread !

[@leeannayager6064]

Your authenticity and vulnerability draw me into your diaries and keeps me coming back for more. It is so interesting to get a glimpse into the behind the scenes of your business and your thought processes. Keep it up - love these!

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that and it’s very reassuring - I often worry I am over sharing but would rather be honest!

[@cynthiawalat325]

I completely agree. It’s fantastic that I find support from you about my own practice. I keeps me coming back for more ❤️

[@KarenK-r4f]

Well said

[@KarenK-r4f]

I love your “flat”!💚💙💜

[@judithfarr]

I would definitely listen to you talking about creativity and business and your amazing ideas for projects for hours if you made long videos or podcasts. Your energy and enthusiasm are a joy to listen to ❤

[@thefabledthread]

Ah you are so kind and I really do appreciate that! I could go on and on for hours - it’s nice having people to talk to about things and to have to vocalise some of the things I am trying to work out! The moment you have explain your thoughts, it’s good for helping to figure them out!

[@judithfarr]

@@thefabledthread ☺️

[@frillyjilly100]

So interesting that I would have watched for even longer. Thank you for your time and enthusiasm.

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you so much!!

[@majalampa268]

Loved this video and the length was great! I got several inches of weaving done while listening and really like the approach of having several sections to the video. It reminded me of the structure of so many knitting podcasts that go from WIPs to FOs to acquisitions. Looking forward to the next! 🧵

[@sjatkins9120]

LOVE the felt product idea - it's like Fuzzy Felt for grown ups! Sign me up!

[@thefabledthread]

@@sjatkins9120 yes!! That’s exactly how I’ve been describing it to the team!

[@brionyrussell4358]

You energy is amazing. I have been splurging on your videos in the past few days, finding them all very inspirational. Thank you x

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you so much!

[@chasgauthier5067]

Keep it up! I love, love love to hear your thoughts! So excited to hear everything!

[@twomoorsquilts3003]

Not too long at all. Love your enthusiasm and passion for your business. Now I’m off to sign up for the Studio membership!

[@KayBarker-p9b]

The world needs more wonderful women like you Eppie. Enthusiasm, creativity, vibrancy in colours and willingness to share - gathering women to join your journey like the Pied Piper, please keep exploring. You are a natural inspiration and we solo stitchers enjoy your company.

[@thefabledthread]

Ahh you are so kind Kay!! I definitely feel I get all the positive energy I put out back 10x more - so I am 100% the lucky one! It can be so solo stitching, but my confidence has grown thanks to people like you and the virtual community around!

[@carolreid9755]

Thank you for your video. It came up on my feed ,have now subscribed. I love your positivity and exclusivity of stitchers of all abilities and age. Having recently retired from 49 years in nursing,midwifery and teaching midwives I can spend more time on my stitching. As a lone stitcher I heavily rely on KZbin for stitchy company. Always wanted to be more creative and not just follow a kit design but never thought it would be possible. You are so positive and encouraging. I have been embracing slow stitch using crewel ,stumpwork,embroider and even use inktense to colour fabric which has been so liberating but by its nature quite random. Your thoughts for future projects are so exciting. Felt kits which I assume we can then embellish with stitches,beads sound amazing. I am off to watch your other videos and have a full catch up.

[@alisonsterndale-bennett535]

Eppie, at the retreat, we were ALL intrigued by the felt horses! We had a discussion about how on earth you managed to produce them…didn’t even consider a laser cutter! I think it’s a FANTASTIC idea! Anyone who loves textiles will love them! I would definitely buy some as would be different and satisfying. Excellent present idea too. (Ali S-B)

[@thefabledthread]

@@alisonsterndale-bennett535 ahhh haha Ali - I love this!! If you didn’t know it was a laser, I am not surprised you were confused. I am a pretty good crafter but even I couldn’t do that with a craft knife 😂 - my dad is the number one fan of the idea and is heading up the R&D team for how we do it at scale!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I found all of this completely fascinating! You're so interesting to listen to, and I love what you do. I'm actually a full-time professional artist (a painter) but I've recently become completely obsessed with needlework! I picked it up only about a month ago, but I'm hooked. I've been working from patterns by other designers, but I'm already working on my own designs and attempting to translate the style of my artwork (which is kind of folk art-ish) to my stitched pieces. I'd love to be a part of your community, so I'm going to be following with interest. It's lovely to be around people who have the same passions and interests!

[@thefabledthread]

@@NatashaNewtonArt love this and I love that you’ve gone straight into translating your own designs into needlework - would love to see these!! I have so so loved how engaged and exciting all the comments are on KZbin - it’s definitely been the trigger for thinking I can do the community piece better! You just don’t get the same kind of comments on instagram - it’s all more reserved!!

[@sitastigner6119]

Absolutely LOVED the video and ALL your ideas for the future projects. And you feeling so passionate about older creative people has juts made my day. I look so forward to watching your videos with so many colourful things and ideas and inspirations. I am one of those older creative people, and I have learnt so much from your videos. One can never stop learning at any age!! Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge, you are very generous!! Keep up the good work. ❤️

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you so much and its such a pleasure. Honestly I think you probably fall into a category of people all too often overlooked, and I just really hate that! There are so many unusual and varied creative activities out there to cater to children and young adults, but then it falls a bit flat! So I want to change that as I think the second half of life is for creativity!!

[@chasgauthier5067]

I’m so glad that you are going to keep doing the retreats. I am determined to come to one ❤

[@m.macdonald]

I’m doubly invested because I’ve watched this video twice so far. As a fellow creative small business owner i appreciate your sharing your thought processes so much. And LOVE the long format! Looking forward to your next post!

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you so much - helping my youtube stats there haha! I really enjoy making these and sharing thoughts - its great to be able to say it out loud as its almost a bit like therapy. Get it off my chest, tell you all, and then we can move forward!!

[@m.macdonald]

I’m here for it! Keep on sharing 🙂

[@marthapage4756]

Fabulous! Loved every minute..thanks!

[@lesleygoodall-page8035]

I’m an artist and use a variety of media mostly ink and paper and I have been an embroiderer too. I love the idea of your physical shop ethos! That would be an amazing experience. There is a shop in London (Loop) that has a wonderful array of embroidery kits and supplies but it’s tiny and couldn’t support your idea really. I would love to be able to handle the products for embroidery and get back into the craft. I love the idea of frames that are a setting for the art. I upcycle old frames for my art and I never thought of painting them to be part of the work inside the frame! Lightbulb moment!

[@godslittlestidiot2984]

I am glad you updated us on the Japanese color palette book, i was so intrigued by it!

[@heathersnyder785]

Yet again Eppie, you produced a wonderful, informative and engaging Studio Diary! Absolutely loved it. Not too long at all, I’ve watched much longer ones that were not as interesting.😊 love the felt idea a lot. I can see creating these, and adding embroidered embellishments! This would tie together my love for fabric and embroidery! Looking forward to more exciting news!❤

[@angelahenderson5597]

Ahhhh, my weekly update. Love it! I so agree about workshops. I did one in the summer, really enjoyed my day sitting sewing with friends, but came away a little empty as I hadn’t learned anything new. Thank y.ou really informative and inspiring as always xx

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you! I would be totally the same - I am glad I am not the only one who needs a slightly manic workshop!

[@cyndifouquette5288]

once again, I am so inspired by your videos and ideas thank you for sharing your creative energy with us!!

[@norinev6744]

I could and would absolutely watch a longer video! So much fantastic information. As far as sharing potential future projects, even if someone tries to copy, it’ll never come near your unique, creative ideas. Plus it takes a generosity of spirit to share ideas that inspire people to create. So thank you!

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you - I really appreciate this! I do every so often get worried thats it's oversharing but I really think its important to subtly test out how ideas land with everyone before investing a lot! Also honestly - it's so hard setting up a product business, so I also often think "be my guest and give it a go"!

[@susanjohnson7854]

A few thoughts from a serial workshop attendee: people seem to fit in 3 categories Social (a pleasant experience with friend(s); Followers(admirers of teacher or product) and Technique driven(as much learning as possible, don't have time to chat). You can't satisfy everyone with the same product. Consider grading workshop/retreats as adventure companies grade activities. eg "Relaxed" would present simpler projects at slower pace etc. Also your retail space might piggy back on another complimentary business benefitting both with increased clientele. As to colour (my favourite design element), I have used palettes selected by my daughter when I wanted to introduce variety. You have an in-house resource with your employees, who would select colours in their personal palettes that would probably cover a broader spectrum of tastes. Love your videos, which I watch to the end.❤

[@alittlebitofshiny]

Love your videos, found you a couple of weeks ago on youtube through the two video’s on finding and handling inspiration that were so good , thank you. The fuzzy felt style idea is usually done by multi media dies and a die cutting machine, such as Sizzix bigshot or Gemini machine. Crafters companion in the uk regularly release these multi media die sets, for cutting felt, fabric or card. It looks like your laser cutter can cut a more intricate shape, but I tend to cut card and occasionally more basic felt shapes for felt flowers so i don’t know the limits of the dies with regard for how detailed they can successfully cut felt using metal dies and the pressure of the rollers in the die cutting machines, so if you haven’t looked at this side of the industry yet that already do this by selling dies to cut these sort of projects please do look and see what your potential competitors already do. Sizzix do a Tim Holtz die series called colorise, which is very similar and I’ve made them out of card and thin felt. I can see your kits would be unique and a different experience with having a kit and not having to buy all the components separately, Crafters Companion do felt kits as well but they cover more generic themes, christmas characters etc. The horses you showed are beautiful though and your designs will be unique. I just wondered if you’ve looked at the possibility of die cutting your designs instead if that makes the project more affordably accessible to get you started. I know Crafters Companion and Sizzix have their dies manufactured in china. If i ever get back into tapestry making again I would definitely buy from you. Thank you so much for making your youtube videos, you’re like a breath of fresh air in the uk creative industry. Xx

[@diannecousins2321]

Great interesting and inspiring video x

[@amychin9071]

I enjoy chatty videos that are long. They're like podcasts with visual! I started breakfast while watching this. Then I felt inspired and started renewing my pinboard in my creative corner. Thank you for keeping me company. Seeing your dog on and off screen is hilarious! I used to have a Jack Russell as well :)

[@thefabledthread]

@@amychin9071 love this!! haha I know - he doesn’t like it when I talk passionately or have any kind of heightened emotions so you’ll notice he leaves when I get excited haha! Ridiculous dogs!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Hi Amy! Lovely to see you here. :) This was such an inspiring video, wasn't it?

[@karenhillam4433]

Only found you a couple of days ago. Been binge watching since. Just love your videos and find them so inspiring. Thank-you 😊

[@thefabledthread]

❤️❤️❤️ thank you!!! You are fab!

[@cressie2595]

I loved this! watched it while sewing a banner for a friend's wedding. I've bought a few kits from you - they were my gateway into embroidery and now have started doing my own designs - although I've had a few rubbish ones recently due to not being selective about my colour pallet and trying to just use up old thread which is a real false economy! I'd definitely be interested in a community going forward. Would say that although they're beautiful, for me the swiftness of the felt horses would be a negative - for me the kits are a bit of a stretch financially (but entirely worth it!) and so I can only justify buying one by thinking of how long it will occupy me for. Am sure that that is not the case for all your customers, or that others might think of them more in terms of being able to display them, just wanted to give my feedback. Or perhaps they could also have some embroidery elements for people who want a longer project? anyway, so glad you've set up this channel

[@dianecooke2885]

Sorry Eppie but this video wasn't long enough !!!. I absolutely love your work and your enthusiasm and videos are so inspiring. Im learning so much from your videos and have actually been more creative in my little studio since I found you. Even the backgrounds for your videos are beautiful. I have found the inspiration videos especially exciting and when I get paid on Friday 27th I will be enrolling on your online embroidery course and will be ordering my first kit and cannot wait. Your are a very special creator because you care and are really passionate and I wish you every success and look forward to following you. On the note about Independent stores I totally agree that we as creative people should really give our support to them. I used to love going to Chelsea Craft Fair in London and this was an amazing showcase for independent designer makers, and I miss this event very much. I want to come to your next retreat it looks amazing. Thank you thank you thank you for the best utube channel xxx

[@thefabledthread]

Thanks so much Diane - so pleased the videos are useful - I’ve been really enjoying making them!

[@OldGothGranny]

I watched to the end! I ‘ve been thinking about joining the studio but haven’t yet. I’d love to see more online meetings, guest talks or even a virtual retreat for those of us who live a long, long way from London and Yorkshire. And yes, the opportunity to share work and comments woud be brilliant. How about a virual exhibition of work inspired by your freestyle thread? That would provide community accountability and provide a goal for the end of your trial year?

[@thefabledthread]

Absolutely LOVE that idea!! Thank you!! This is exactly what thoughts I am keen to get as I do think accountability to finish projects is the most valuable way to learn and improve! Thank you!! We will be building something over the next few months to launch next year!

[@dawnstockley5701]

Brilliant video. Love, love,love the freestyle idea. That may just give me the push to get confident to design.

[@thefabledthread]

@@dawnstockley5701 fab!! They are quite hard to part with as I really want to keep them all for my own designs 😅😂😅

[@juliawilbey7561]

Loved the ideas and the thought of an accessible shop very much chimes with me and that also then feeds into the community aspect as well as circling new ideas. Being able to unashamedly admit to having embroidery/textiles as a hobby is hard. It has given me so much joy in life. I started aged 7-ish with little cross-stitch butterfly motives my mum gave me. She embroidered and my god-mother lectured in textile art. I grew up in Germany and we had an hour of textile tuition a week (girls and boys). That stretched crotchet projects, knitting, sowing your own plushy to needlework. I loved it and think it would be so nice if kids still learned that, just as another art form. Thanks for your rambles, they are a great reminder that we’re not alone!

[@thefabledthread]

@@juliawilbey7561 totally totally agree with this! People can be quite judgemental about embroidery (I get a lot of people who don’t know what I am doing making slightly snide remarks - not intentionally to put me down but more just because that is how people think of embroidery!) - I think people don’t tend to give hobbies the respect they deserve!!

[@christinenewell2679]

I remember, one time when I said that my hobbies were knitting,crochet, embroidery etc (and baking), I got the reply, “oh dear me, Life,s too, too short to sit embroidering wee flowers or knitting mittens “. My memory of that is me , sort of melting into my chair….. I was too young to respond assertively . In my latter years , all those hobbies save my brain from melting into my recliner 😱.

[@wensylvestre]

I love your creative energy and passion, Eppie! So many great ideas and beautiful art pieces, it's inspiring for me as an illustrator. I'm only creating kidsbooks at the moment and you inspire me to expand on that. Actually, I could see your designs in a beautiful and quirky kidbook as well and would definitely buy it! 💯🧡✨

[@Karen-jk1fv]

I love your long video! I feel so inspired after listening to you talk!

[@emmatudhope1769]

Loved this video and not too long for me! Really cool to hear about new projects in the pipeline ❤

[@thefabledthread]

Thanks Emma! Hope you were stitching Circe whilst watching!!

[@emmatudhope1769]

@@thefabledthread lol I watched it in bed but I’m working hard on my Circe in the evenings!

[@fionahoughton924]

Loved the whole video and it wasn’t too long at all! I will definitely go and find your talk on the Japanese colour charts (I’m rubbish at colour choosing). Really interesting idea on the felt (reminds me of my childhood with Fuzzy Felt). One idea to think about would be to glue them on but then do certain sections edged in running stitch or blanket stitch). Just a thought…. It wouldn’t take too long to add a small amount of sewing and stays true to your brand. Xx

[@thefabledthread]

Exactly !! I’ve been calling it adult fuzzy felt to the team when I talk about it haha - agreed on stitching parts and that’s actually what I have done on the tester one I’ll be trying with the group this week!

[@fionahoughton924]

@@thefabledthread Glad we are on the same wave length. I think I might be one of your volunteers....

[@Sewmesue]

Lovely to hear all your latest ideas, Eppie, and I'm definitely here for the longer videos - you're always very inspiring to listen to. I often rewatch your previous content, just to enjoy that buzz of feeling totally on the same page - may your phone batttery always remain fully charged! Just as an aside, have you come across design seeds as a way of developing a colour palette? Looking forward to being part of your creative community going forward. Best wishes xx

[@thefabledthread]

@@Sewmesue thank you!! Yes - lesson learnt on having the phone plugged in haha. This was the second take for the entire video but actually i think was better the second time round!! No I haven’t come across that - is it a concept or more of book? I’ll look into it!

[@Sewmesue]

​@thefabledthread I came across design seeds a few years ago from a crochet site, I think and found it really interesting as it gives you some ideas for putting colours together. I guess it's a design resource really, with lots of palettes based on pictures - from nature or elsewhere... I don't think you can create your own palettes from your own pictures (another one for your 'not now' list, maybe? 😁) ... but I love colour, so it's always fun to have a scroll through! xx

[@willywonka1854]

Hello from Berlin :) good you took it to heart! I love your longer Videos.

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you!

[@heathervaughn6508]

I was just binging on The Fabled Threads videos and was so excited to see this video uploaded ❤. I’m not an embroidery artist, but I grew up doing it with my mom who was brilliant at all needle work. You looped me in with the videos on inspiration and I am inspired! I found your channel about a week ago and already have project swimming in my brain 😀💕

[@heathervaughn6508]

And, not too long. Super engaging 🎉

[@wendymuir1570]

Never too long! Creativity is a commitment best expressed when the viewer senses the unbridled joy projected by the presenter. You did that brilliantly.

[@thefabledthread]

Ahh yay - thank you!! So glad you found me and this is exactly what I hope the videos do!!

[@thefabledthread]

Oh fab!! Thank you Wendy! I feel like I have lots I want to talk about but inevitably the video becomes long - however I would rather include it all and let you choose how much you want to watch!

[@godslittlestidiot2984]

I would love to access a community in some way of other embroiderers. I don't have that here, though my partner supports me a lot I am the only one who does embroidery. I was considering asking you at some point if you'd ever open a patreon, but the studio members seems the way to go for you. Being in America of course means I can't go to the events, but just seeing comments from other people who share the hobby would be lovely. I would love to support the business, but kits aren't for me, so things like after your focus group finishes and perhaps studio members change in 2025 are things im most interested in! Seeing a community form, and getting extra perks like articles or perhaps even prints or printable designs.

[@dianecooke2885]

Also one other thing!!! I dont know if you have seen a book called Natures Palette by Patrick Baty. I think you might like it x

[@thefabledthread]

Oh I’ve never heard of this! Will definitely look into this!!

[@rosalbalucero486]

YES, to this longer video format. Keep them coming! I love your content 🙂 I don't have a small business but I still find your thought processes on the 'behind the scenes' things you have to deal with fascinating. I discovered THE FABLED THREAD a couple of months ago and as soon as I found your website I was hooked with your desings and colors. I have to say that your felt idea is brilliant and if somebody were to try and copy your idea it would still be lacking your design asthetics and color palette, in other words, it would still not be THE FABLED THREAD. I recently placed my 1st order with THE FABLED THREAD for your latest LIMITED EDITION and I'm excited to received it. I don't have a membership but I understand your reasoning behind only selling your refill kits to membership members but I think you are missing revenue by not allowing non-membership customers who have purchase in the past to buy refill kits. Your members should still have special access to one-off items or specialty items, but I really do hope you allow previous customers to purchase your refill kits.

[@thefabledthread]

Thank you so so much - I so appreciate this comment and your enthusiasm for the felt is hugely encouraging!! Can’t wait to get your first kit to you and see what you think! Totally agree on the refill kit and ideally that is what we would do - we would just have existing customers be able to buy them but it’s not possible technically on the website. We worked with developers and basically couldn’t find a way to make certain products only available to existing, so we had to instead put it behind a paywall. But aimed to price the refills low and the membership low so that you would basically cover the cost of the membership easily with a refill kit purchase. What you say is what I really wanted but it’s not something we could do technically. Not yet anyway!