The ABC of Product Invention

We had a very silly Facebook thread going on the other day, after an equally silly conversation between Amanda and I, which went something like this.

"I find it so hard to know what the best products would be for us to make, sometimes..."

"I know, I mean - some are obvious, like the Great British Tea Cosy, but some are less so - I mean, with the demise of plastic bags, would we ever consider making plastic bag holders?"

"Exactly. And also, frankly, I just want to make EVERYTHING out of fabric. Everything in the world."

"Like what?"

"Cake tins, glasses case, cars, walls...."

"I think maybe that's going a bit far. The cakes wouldn't stay moist, silly."

"So let's just get the alphabet to decide what we make."

"Oooh! Yes! And our customers. And Facebook. They will have The Answers We Seek"

And we are delighted to announce the results of our highly professional market research on what products we could viably add to our portfolio, yes, yes....

A: Apron

B: Bag

C: Catamaran. No, cushion cover.

D: Door-Stop, Dotty Something, Door-Pockets

E: Egg-cosy

F: Finger Cloth, Floor Cloth, Fabric Fridge Magnets

G: Grain Storage Bag, Gardening Apron, Garden Kneeler

H: Haberdashery Pockets

I: Ironing Board Cover

J: Jam Jar Covers, Jewellery Roll

K: Kitchen Towel, Key Fob, Kettle Cosy (ok, we just liked the word kettle, ok?) Knitting Needle Case

L: Lampshade Covers

M: Mug-Cosy

N: Needlecase

O: Oven-Gloves, and our Over-Door Storage Pockets

P: Placemats, Patchwork anything! Pillows

Q: Quilts

R: Rag Rugs

S: Shopper, Spectacle Case,

T: Travel Laundry Bag, Tea Cosy of course,

U: Umbrella Holder

V: Vacuum Bag Holder, Violin Case Cover, Votive Candle Holder Mat!

W: Welly Cuffs

X: Hm. Xylophone Case

Y: Yarn, for tassles

Z: Zen Yoga Mat Bag, Zebra Bag (no, you're right, there is no such thing.)

Click here for the whole silly conversation if you like, and rest assured we shall of course launch every single one of these in due course.  Ahem.  Or maybe some of them.

What? What's that you say?  We forgot some?!  Tell us!

Well. It's a given, right?

Coffee & Alpacas: Spinning a Yarn

Alpacas!  And alpaca babies!

Sneak peek at some of their stuff, awaiting new shelves

Unpacking and Alpacas

Works Outing!  We needed to drop by and visit our friend Kirsty, of Moss Stitch Yarns, so we could beg her to lend us her gorgeous home for our new patchwork product range photoshoot, and bribe her with some brand new oven gloves.

Kirsty has recently moved to some new premises, where she shares her workspace with the lovely Liz of Chalkshire Alpacas in Buckinghamshire, who runs workshops and spins, dyes and knits yarns into products for sale.  They grabbed a break from pots of paint and bits of old wood, which they were valiantly wielding to make shelves and display stands for their workspace, so they could show me their wares.

We had a lovely warm half hour, basking in the spring sunshine in their cabin, while Liz untangled a gigantahoosive ball of wool, Kirsty made coffee, and I talked expansively with my hands, panicking when I got very excited that I was going to throw coffee all over their yarns.

Ethical and Fairtrade

A box of Kirsty's yarns

Kirsty, like us, has a keen ethical and environmental basis to her work - she imports and supplies many wools which are fairtrade or ethically produced, and of course, there is nothing better than dyeing and spinning yarns from animals you can actually see from your workshop window.  Liz has been working with the alpacas for years, dyeing their wools, and running knitting groups which include a walk to see the alpacas.

I was desperate to see the various woolly creatures in the fields beyond so I could say hi to them, probably in the voice I use for babies and animals.  It's not pretty, the voice, I'll be honest, but I think you'll find that ALL babies, without exception - including currently my little tiddler nephews - love it, especially when it's teamed with my grinning, gurning, funny-looking face.  Animals also.  Alpacas like a funny-looking face as much as the next ungulate.

A Stroll in a Natural Setting

When I was a kid we had a cavalier King Charles spaniel, so I was pretty pleased to see some clamouring at the gate as we strolled towards the woollier animals.  Kirsty too, apparently, because she has accidentally taken one of the puppies home with her.  That's what you get when you team up with alpacas, Kirsty. Puppies. Just leave it at that for now, eh?  Don't go taking any alpacas home...even babies, coz they DO get a bit bigger.

Kirsty, with her puppy's Mum

And why not? A barge in the yard.

Chook Truck!

Wheely comfy, if you're a chicken.

Kirsty gathers and forages for whisps of fleece, mainly amongst the poo.

Lovely alpacas, who look like they're wearing woolly leggings.

You can catch Kirsty over at her Facebook Page, Moss Stitch and go follow her, @mossy_mosstitch on Twitter too of course; why not go and say hi?  You can talk to her about the Chalkshire alpacas too, while Liz is in the process of getting on board with technology.  

And we'll keep you posted on our imminent photoshoots, in Kirsty's lovely home, where you'll see our new range of patchwork products.  Launching soon!

Why not pop your email address in our newsletter box up top there?  Then you'll be first to know when the new range and the new website are launched.

'Patchwork Colourway' Competition Winners!

Sneak peek: Tea Cosy loop in Mermaid

As you probably know, we make all sorts of lovely kitchen, laundry and kids' gifts, but we only use recycled and vintage fabrics, so it can be quite tricky telling you what colour your products are going to be...

The perfect answer to this, and frankly to any question you might ask, ever, including:

• What's the best way to use up old fabrics?
• What's the nicest and most attractive way to turn scraps into something gorgeous?
• What's a nice quirky British look for a big year in Britain's sporting calendar?
• What's the capital of Peru?

....is, Patchwork Fabric Colourways!  Ok, so maybe not the Peru one, but I'm not kidding when I say we feel patchwork is the answer to all the Puzzlements in the Known Universe. 

Brand New Colourways for 2012!

We've come up with 4 lovely Colourways, which will feature in ALL our products (except the Kids' Collection which has its own simpler Colourways) and although we just about managed to name the first one we put together - 'Jellybean' - we could not narrow down the others, despite innumerable cups of tea and some expert head-scratching.  So we came to you, and you helped by voting for, or suggesting a load of fabulous names.

So without further ado, and accompanied by a small drum roll, we give you..... 

Mermaid

Flameberry

Jellybean

Dolly Mixture

 
Thanks so much to Eve Miller, whose suggestion 'Mermaid' we chose instead of our offerings!  Eve will get a little surprise pressie from us in the post soon.  Thanks Eve!

When it came to drawing a prizewinner, we were a bit bored of putting names in a hat; so we decided to find a new way of getting the winner's name, via Elefun.  Yes, that's right. When in doubt, raid your children's games cupboard, take a shockingly poor quality video, and job done.  I can confirm it WAS more fun.  As soon as the video is edited, we'll shove it up here so you can see how extremely professional we are.

And the winner was.........Sharon Wells!

Sharon will be able to choose an OriginalStitch product from the website as soon as we launch them in about a month, in one of our new Colourways.  Lucky lady.  She'll be practically the very first customer!

Thanks for your support...

We'd like to thank you all very much for your inspiration, your time in voting or suggesting, and your interest in our happy little company, where we strive to be ethical and eco-friendly in all we do.  If we could kiss you we would, mwah, mwahhhhh.

Right now we're busy making and photographing the products, ready for launch soon.  We'll keep you all posted about the launch of these colourways here on the blog, on Facebook, Twitter and by newsletter (pop yer email in at box up at left, see it?) 

Exciteds! 

Sneak Peek: New apron design in Mermaid

New Patchwork Colourway Name: Part 2!

Done the blues, now on to the pinks and reds and oranges...

Well, you gorgeous lot, you responded in force to help us choose a new name for our blues, greens and purples vintage patchwork colourway - thank you!  Hooorah and have a big kiss from us.

The most thumbs up out of our choices went to Seabreeze, but we had loads of really stonking name suggestions, which we then further struggled into narrowing down to.....

Aqua Flora
Azure Bloom
Blue Abandon
Cerulean Blue
Teal Appeal

Thanks to Karen, Sally, James and Valerie for those!

We didn't choose the name 'Steve' which was one of the suggestions, although I nearly fell off my chair laughing.  I should point out that the person who suggested it is a friend of mine, and it's a man-person; so clearly he had a little moment of fun in his day there, bless him.  Another man-person, James, was amongst our shortlist suggestees, so come on you man-persons, if you think you're 'ard enough, and have a crack at this competition.

Anyway, we will add these lovely names to Seabreeze now, and mull them over...

Patchwork Fabric Colourway: Reds, Pinks and Oranges

But in the meantime....you didn't think that was all did you?!  Oh no, no, no....you have shown yourselves to have such brilliant minds that we're going to get you to do it all again!  Check out this gorgeous feast for the eyes - it's our second brand new colourway - and again this patchwork fabric will be available in all our products.  Pretty patchwork apron anyone?!  Or a patchwork pegbag, ooh, imagine that....

So come on over to the survey, and tell us what you think.  Again, don't forget to include your email address because we'll be adding all the names to the Prize Hat (if you vote twice, we'll add your name in twice, so you get another chance to win!)


We cannot wait to hear your ideas, it's been such a thrill, you gorgeous devils you.


So come on over to the survey now, and vote for your favourite, or make a suggestion!

Help us Choose a Name for our new Colourway!

Well, Amanda and I, between us, and friends and family, have thought of 15 names for this, one of the upcoming colourways for our 2012 vintage patchwork look. You'll be able to choose any of our eco-friendly products to be made in it (nice tea cosy for summer tea parties, anyone?).

Which is all very well, but we are going to have to decide on ONE name.  Which apparently we can't do. Which is a bit silly. 

So please, would you do us the honour of helping us choose a name?  We've scribbled down the 10 names that made it onto the shortlist, and we'd like you to plump for one.
And in return for your hallowed opinion, we'll lob your name in a hat, and pull out a lucky winner, who will be able to choose one of our OriginalStitch eco-friendly products to be made in our new patchwork styles, with our usual love and happiness, and sent to you!

Also, if you think of a waaaaay better name than any of the ones that are there, you can add your suggestion and others can vote for it too.  Of course, if your suggestion wins the day, not only will we pull a random name out of the hat - but you'll get something too!

Get your thinking caps on - and come and vote!  Keep your eyes peeled for more too - you didn't think we just had ONE colourway we couldn't decide on, did you?

Click here to take survey

Which bit of fabric grabs you? For me - the teal flowery!