Celebrate '13

It's fun to look back and see where we were and just how far we have come. Raven's Haven Folk Art Patterns have officially turned 10 years old.  The sewing journey started 5 years earlier though. I had 
no sewing experience. A "D" on my sewing attempt of a shirt in Home Economics, in 7th grade. Talk about being self taught!

Although I giggle about having a pattern company and not knowing how to sew~ it certainly made my success. I kept it simplified because I didn't know how to sew.I admit, that it was daunting at first and not many doll makers would share. My Mentor simply told me to draw it out on fabric, stitch it up and stuff it. Sometimes it will work out and sometimes it won't. She is a Vermonter to the core, but with her words, she gave me wings. While I watched others switch a bunch of pattern parts around from other designers and call it theirs; I was using my gift of drawing. I could truly go to a show and say, these are my own designs.....and that I did.

Until the economy got wobbly. With the help and a huge shove of an Internet friend, he walked me through the scary parts. I took a 8 week course in my county for how to start your own business and still my knees were just as wobbly as the economy. In order to make a living, I needed to do more than just local shows and patterns were an answer. My designs were good sellers and when shared with other doll makers, they did do pretty good. ....but a pattern?

I approach my designs as a problem to solve and with not much experience, it was all about simple and straightforward  Primitives have a simplicity to them. Clean lines and technique. A seasoned seamstress may wince, but most seem to just have fun.

As I have grown, so have the patterns. Most are simple, but none are difficult. I try to keep them fun and make sure that they don't take too long. It works....10 years, yes, that is something to celebrate!

My patterns will be on sale until Sunday, May 12th at midnight. We are celebrating Mother's Day too! This is the last weekend. You can click on any pattern and you will find yourself there.

Enjoy

Create

Thank you so much for a successful sale. Happy stitching, everyone !