'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!

Christen-Me Fabric Competition

We come across some amazing fabrics in our work here; not just because we rummage and scavenge and hunt and scour, but because of course now friends and relatives belch up their attics and cupboards into our laps.

This is a bright, full, tangerine - with a gentle patterned weave in it

We'll soon be launching Material World - a new section on the website with this month's selection of 3 gorgeous fabrics - order any of our products to be made in those fabrics and you're entitled to get a big fat discount of 30% off usual prices, while stocks last of course. But first, we want a name for the collection!

What's the prize?

Enter our competition and you could win either

a) 3 fat quarters, one in each of these fabrics (a fat quarter is 18" x 22", or approx 46cm x 56cm) so you can run up summink fancy all by yourself
b) A wha-hopping 50% discount off any product from the website you like, which we'll make ourselves, personally using those fabrics.  *A-curtsey-to-you*

So, if you fancy yourself in an Apron of those colours, or you'd like a Laundry Bag to brighten up washday, here's your chance.

Capturing an era - this fantastic floral is gentle yellows and dusky oranges

Christen Me!

First up for August Material World are these 3 brights - we think they're just perfect for jellybean interiors and picnic colours!  They would certainly brighten up any room you put them in.

But what's their story?  My sister often turns up, says "All right Sis?" and heads straight for the workroom with old shirts, remnants and scraps of fabric.  There's many a Mairi blouse in our makes!  But this time she and husband turned up with mighty great bags of the stuff.

Mairi's husb is helping gradually de-fabrickise (yes, that is a word, I think you'll find. In my land.) his lovely old grandma's house; she used to do a lot of dressmaking.  Some of the fabric, like many of our groaning cupboards of stash, never got round to being made into anything, however, and so we have virgin vintage - and even the receipt!

Look closely - yes, you're right, that says 7/6! I literally don't even know what that means, coz it's old money, folks!  It was bought in Albert Street in Birmingham, in a store called the Beehive Warehouse.  The date there, is the 11th July 1963.  So, how fitting that this lovely bunch of beautiful, zany, vintage fabrics kicks of our Christen Me Competition.

Christen-Me Competition for August 2011 Material World

So, what do you think this collection should be called?  What springs to mind when you drink in the colours and patterns?  

Answers below in the comments, or over at the OriginalStitch Facebook page - scroll till you see the related post on this topic.  Or at Twitter, using hashtag #mwaugust - we don't mind where you find us!  But please add something in your entry that relates in some way to this competition, or we'll be all, eh? Do what? Hm? Pardon?

How about "I think you should call the Material World August fabrics Zippity Dippity Doo Dah"

Oh, darn it. Sorry, have I stolen your idea?! Do make sure also we can trace you, wherever you leave your comment.

And how about this for a crazy, zany, fabulously contrasting checked greens?!

 We'll choose a winner on Monday 25th July, so stay tuned!  The fabrics will then be featured in Material World during the whole of August, where you can order any product to be made in them, and get a 30% discount.

We can't wait to hear your ideas!