Thursday, March 10, 2016

Celebrating 20 years at L*K!

Another Needlework Market is under our belt (literally...these gatherings are FULL of food!). Three new L*K kits are on their way to your favorite shops and we're moving on to new stuff (see previous posts for all the info). Here's a pic of Alan and I in the hallway outside L*K showroom with our L*K 20th birthday cake, which disappeared in a flash when market opened.


Funny story...I called ahead to Sam's in Franklin, TN to order cake. I spelled Lizzie Kate about 20 times, but I still wasn't sure we were communicating (charming Southern accent vs. Kansas twang). Alan went to pick up our cake, which cheerfully proclaimed "Happy Birthday Lizzie Cape". A little scraped frosting later (it took 2 tries), but we finally got our name right. It was a close contest to see which side of the cake disappeared faster...the chocolate or the white. Chocolate won by a slice or two!

Here's a pic of our "showroom" door at Needlework Market. We use the living area of our Embassy Suite for our showroom, and turn the bedroom into our warehouse for extra inventory, orders waiting to be picked up, Alan's checkout desk, and oh yes, sleeping. It's always amusing when I direct ladies to the backroom to pay for their market orders, saying something like "Go to the back room (bedroom), and Alan will be there to take your money!".


I began L*K in March 1996 on a lark, and somehow the 20 years have slid by. Our namesake daughters, Sarah "Lizzie" and Ali "Kate" have grown up, and L*K has grown into a full time job for both Alan and I.

When I had the idea to try designing cross stitch, I scheduled some time to chat with my local shop owner, Janice. I was a loyal customer in her lovely shop, and she was a little surprised I had the design bug. We chatted about how I would sell designs, should I come up with something. I think she was more than a little doubtful about my possible future in the needlework biz.

Long story short, I worked hard for 6 months and took 20 designs to the late July Needlework Market in Charlotte, NC. I hastily named my company Lizzie*Kate (which, for the record, my Mother did not recommend). Nonetheless, she traveled with me to Charlotte and helped at my first market. Of course, her handwritten orders were the neatest.


After our first few hours at market, I knew my life was headed in a different direction. I called my husband that night and told him we were going to be BUSY!!! I spent my first day at home totalling orders...figuring out exactly how many of each chartpak I needed to print. I had printed 50 each before I left, and my best selling chart (#001 Hats Off to Halloween) had 1000+ orders. YIKES!

After a few days I picked up a car full of covers and insides at the printer. Then I wheeled a grocery cart FULL of photos from the grocery photo lab. We began collating charts, gluing on photos and sacking, with the help of our family and some neighborhood kids. I know...child labor...but I contributed to their "clubhouse" fund and fed them.

A few years after we began...miss you Lucky dog

We would do assembly all day, then Alan and I would pack orders all evening. Then start again the next day. The most unexpected part, though, were the orders flowing in the very day we arrived home from market. Even without the internet, somehow the word was spreading and the order pile was getting larger. Thank goodness I was 20 years younger and could burn the candle at both ends and still function.

Blah, blah, blah...don't want to to bore all of you faithful readers...but it's been a fun ride for 20 years!

I've been trying to think how to celebrate. With that in mind, I have some fun projects coming your way soon. Here are a couple things to look for in 2016.

* New Double Flip series - yet unnamed - but we had sneak peeks at market. I decided to do another monthly series, because it's been a LONG time. I'm feeling very nostalgic, so am using the same 12 charms I used on our original Year with Charm Flip-it series (F1-F12). It was a fun design challenge and I'm super excited about this series...really!  I'm also using a little L*K motif each month that has previously appeared in another L*K design. See if you can recognize them, and where they originally appeared...hide and seek in stitches. Coming in April.

* Halloween Mystery Sampler - also unnamed - but in progress! I just started designing this 2 days ago, and I can hardly pull myself away from the computer, or sleep. I hope to have it ready for you this summer. The mystery will unfold in 3 parts, and we'll have fabric, threads, and embellishment packs available, along with the charts. Mysteries are so much fun for us, and I'm loving this one! My house is full of bunnies and eggs, but my brain is full of pumpkins, bats and cats.

* L*K Website Facelift - I know, I know. Our site has looked the same forever. We update it regularly, but it needs some cosmetic work. I'm crafting a new look with my graphic designer pal, Janice. Then we'll work with our webmaster, Mary, to make it happen. Can't wait to show you a new, improved L*K. Don't know when...this project always gets set aside for new releases.

* Design 101 Blog Series - I'm always getting questions about my design process, so I want to share some tips on "cross stitch design how-to". Or at least, how I do new designs. I know from reading designer profiles in magazines that everyone approaches the design process differently. I'll share a few things that work for me, and challenge you to DIY...or at least appreciate what goes on behind the scenes at L*K.

Ready to celebrate with us???


















23 comments:

  1. Love all of your work! But have you ever thought about instant download patterns, like you can find on Etsy? I would love to be able to pursue, pay, print and start stitching. Would love if you would consider adding that function to your new website!

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  2. I can't even tell you how much I love your designs. I recently organized all my charts by Designer and my biggest folder was Lizzie Kate! It amazes me that after 20 years you can still come up with new things to keep us coming back. Congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for all the wonderful projects I have stitched!!

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  3. I cannot wait to see all the new designs! I am especially waiting for the monthly's!! I stitch them for our Church Bazaar and the ladies love them. Very interested in your Design 101 Blog series. I sometimes design a project for family and could use any pointers you can give. Thanks for all the beautiful designs!

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  4. Yes,yes,yes I'm ready. Love all of your designs. Congrats on your 20 years and may you have at least another 20 years of designing ahead of you!

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  5. I have been a loyal stitcher for many years - although your designs always end up as gifts for someone else! They have welcomed new babies, celebrated marriages, and served as EXCELLENT Christmas gifts! Thank you!!!!

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  6. Congrats on 20 years! You deserve the success because your designs are fabulous!

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  7. Huge congratulations!! Can't wait to see the new offerings too, especially the Halloween one.

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  8. Congratulations on 20 years, an awesome feat. My grandmother taught me to embroidery kitchen towels and pillow cases as a child (about 70 years ago). Many years ago, I discovered counted cross stitching (self taught) at either Wal-Mart or JoAnn's. Once I discovered a real needle arts store, I knew I had found my #1 hobby, and then I discovered Lizzie*Kate charts. They were small and fun to stitch, and so I began collecting. Now, all the chartpaks, Snippets, Flip-its, and some Boxers and Kits are in my stash. I know I will never stitch them all, but enjoy any time I can sit down and look at each one. Looking forward to many more great designs.

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  9. Congratulations and a wish fot another 20 years. I hope you would consider downloadable charts. Being from another country that would help me save on postage so I could buy more of your charts. I love all of your designs.

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  10. Congratulations on your 20 years and best wishes to you on the next 20! Looking forward to seeing the new monthly series.

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  11. Happy 20th Anniversary! While stitching is my passion, I absolutely love stitching Lizzie*Kate! I truly look forward to seeing what you come up with next. We are very blessed by your designing talents...thanks for sharing the with us! Congratulations and Best Wishes!

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  12. Happy 20 year designing Anniversary Linda. I so love your colorful designs. I am so excited that your doing a new monthly series. I love them. PLEASE do more.

    Linda

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  13. Happy 20th anniversary! Wishing you many, many more years ahead!

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  14. What a fabulous story.
    Happy 20th birthday

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  15. Congrats on 20 years! LizzieKate was some of the first real stitching I had ever done besides kits on Aida that were so easy to find. Happy to hear of another Halloween mystery coming up. Hope for 20 more!

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  16. Congratulations on your anniversary!

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  17. Congratulations! Enjoy your anniversary year. Looking forward to all the new fun things to stitch!

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  18. Took a class with at the strawberry sampler and have loved your designs ever since. Congrats on 20 years.

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  19. Happy Anniversary. Many more happy to come I'm sure!
    From a stitcher in Portugal
    Paula Lima
    http://pontoaquipontoacola.blogspot.pt/

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  20. Happy birthday. Congratulations for the 20th anniversary.
    I love your designs.

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  21. Congrats on your 20th anniversary!!!!! Such an intense story! Lots of love from Italy... I can't wait for the new monthly series...

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  22. So nice to read your wonderful story and of course Congratulations on 20 years of making such a beautiful and fun designs!
    XXX Hetti

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  23. Oh my! I stitched your Hats Off To Halloween and I still put it out every year. I love that piece! Congratulations on 20 years. I remember when your designs first came out as I was so excited to stitch them. 20 years later and I am still stitching your designs. Such fun and happy designs.

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