Goal for 2017

Recently, I read an article about setting goals. This got me thinking about what I want to accomplish this year with my Etsy store. Last year, I released ten cross-stitch patterns. This year, my goal is to release at least twelve cross-stitch patterns. I would love to release more, but at this point, this goal feels like one that will keep me on task without overwhelming me. I already have a number of projects in the works. Here is a little about them.

1. Choose Your Own Colors Heart Bookmark: I am currently working on stitching this one. I plan to release it the beginning of February. It will be a free pattern that I will release on this blog.
2. Old Book Spines: I have stitched the wall hanging version of this, and it is currently being framed. I am also stitching two of the book spines as bookmarks. I am working on stitching them right now. I hope to release this pattern sometime in February.
3. Snow Alphabet: This is the next project I plan to start stitching. I am not sure when I will release it.
4. Nutcracker and Clara Ornament: I need to stitch my revised pattern. I will probably release this as part of my Christmas in July Event.
5. Green Nutcracker: Need to stitch. I will probably release this as part of my Christmas in July Event.
6. Red Nutcracker: Need to stitch. I will probably release this as part of my Christmas in July Event.
7. Candy Candy Alphabet: This is already stitched. I need to assemble them into ornaments. I will probably release this as part of my Christmas in July Event.
8. Christmas Star Alphabet: I've been experimenting some to finalize how I want this pattern to look. Once I am satisfied, it will be ready for stitching. I'm not sure when I will release this pattern.
9. Double-sided Ornaments: I started designing these but need to do a lot more design work. I probably won't release this until sometime this fall.

I have other ideas in mind, but this gives me plenty to work on right now. Writing out this list, I realized that a lot of them are Christmas patterns. I definitely want to work on adding in some more non-Christmas designs. 

What's in a Name? Name Origins and Logo

If you have a business, you probably have some story about how you decided on your name and logo. This is my story.

When I was a kid, one of my aunts sent me and each of my siblings a card on our birthdays. She made the card with a computer program, and I liked how she designed the back of the card, kind of like the back of a commercial greeting card.

The back of one of the cards my aunt sent me.

Inspired by this, whenever I made a card, I did a "logo" on the back. For my logo, I put my initials with a cloud around them and then put "cards" or "creations" after it it.

When I was in college, I made a digital version of my logo to use in a book I made for my Computer and Print Publishing class.

When I decided to start an Etsy store a few years ago, I wanted to stay with the same theme of name and logo. I had gotten married, so I planned to use my new initials of KEB. I googled KEB Creations, but found that the name was already in use. I played around with some different ideas. After much thought, I decided to go with the name of KEB Studio Creations. I created a logo. My brother even burned it into the jewelry display board he made for me. I knew that I would eventually update my logo, but I was content with what I had for the time.

After awhile, I began developing a new logo. After working on some ideas I didn't like, I finally came up with an idea I liked.

Logo idea sketch

I used Adobe Illustrator to develop and refine the idea. And now I have a logo I love. The round logo is my main version. But I have horizontal versions for where they work better.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about how I developed my name and logo. And I would love to hear your stories.

Price Drop

With the advent of the new year, I have decided reduce the prices on some of my cross-stitch patterns.

My "Owl Sitting on Books" bookmark cross-stitch patterns are now $4.00 each (down from $5.00 each). The "Owl Sitting on Books" combo pack that includes all five patterns is not $15.00 (down from $20.00).

My Christmas Alphabets are now $5.00 per set (down from $6.00 per set).

All these patterns are available on Etsy!