A Hundred Small Beginnings

Have you ever set a big goal only to realize that you have a hundred small beginnings happening all at once? Lately, I've been juggling so many things that I needed to pause, take a breath, and share the messy reality behind it all. Whether you're new here or have been following me for a while, welcome! I hope this update provides some clarity about the changes you’ve been noticing and what’s coming next.

When I started WFC, my primary goal was to share my love for embroidery. However, over the years, many factors beyond my control have influenced my journey. The pandemic, tax laws, advancements in AI, and family commitments are just a few things that have significantly impacted my dreams and my business. It wasn’t one major event; instead, little by little, I began to drift away from my original vision of creating a space to connect and share my passion for embroidery, art, and creative living.

Late last year, I realized that if I wanted to continue on this journey, I needed to make some significant changes. One of the reasons I started this blog was to have a platform to share everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Below, you’ll find a little bit of each, but I hope you'll see that all these small beginnings can lead to something great.

Here are a few of my small beginnings.

1. Branding

   If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that I changed my accounts to reflect my name instead of my business name, Wildflower Fox Crafts. While I love the WFC name, I want to connect with my community more personally and avoid feeling like just another faceless business. It's just me here; I handle everything from pattern design to packing and shipping orders. I am my brand. A little piece of me is in everything I create, and I want to embrace that. Additionally, I decided to update the overall feel and colors of my brand. I am more of an earthy person, and I wanted my brand to reflect that.

2. A new website.

   I loved my previous website, but it didn’t quite meet my needs. Since I am rebranding, now seems like the right time to make this change. My priority is to make my patterns and tutorials available online again. For the time being, physical products, such as embroidery supplies, are only available in my Etsy shop.  If you can't find what you're looking for in my Etsy shop, please reach out to me. I may have items on hand that aren't listed. If you purchased a digital product from my old website and need to download it again, please contact me, and I will email it to you.

3. Embroidery designs and patterns

   I have to confess that I stopped creating new embroidery patterns when AI-generated patterns began flooding Etsy. This left me feeling completely defeated. It takes me days, or even weeks, to draw, stitch, and write a pattern with a full tutorial, and there was no way I could compete with AI-produced patterns in terms of quantity or price. I started to feel like there was no point in continuing my work, so I removed all my patterns and focused solely on selling supplies. After some time, I realized that my embroidery patterns are not in the same category as those generated by AI. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. Both can be used to create finished embroidery pieces, but my patterns come with detailed instructions. I write instructions as I stitch the design, offering tips for better embroidery and simple ways to customize the pattern. While AI may eventually be able to write accurate instructions for craft projects, it is not there yet. Until then, I plan to keep stitching and sharing my love for embroidery.

   All of the designs, patterns, and tutorials I have created in the past will be available again soon. After reviewing some of them, I felt they could be improved, so I'm making updates and enhancements. If you'd like to be notified when they become available, you can sign up for my email list.

4. Free Hand Embroidery Beginners Course

   I am really excited about this project. Years ago, I wrote a beginner’s guide to hand embroidery, which was included in all of my embroidery starter kits. I received a lot of positive feedback, and the guide even became required reading for a few college-level sewing and costume design courses. While it contained plenty of information, it didn’t have enough photos because I was trying to save ink. I printed each book myself, as I was too scared to have them professionally printed. I worried that if I invested in professional printing, something would go wrong and no one would want them. Now, I have the opportunity to build this course and share all of this information for free. Although it requires a lot of work, I believe it will be so worth it when it is complete.

5. Videos

   I should have started making videos years ago, but I don’t like being in front of the camera. I enjoy being behind the camera and have all the tools I need to create decent instructional videos, but I’m still struggling to put myself out there. Many people have told me I only need to show my hands, but I’m a farm girl, and my hands are proof of that. This is something I’m still working through. Since the instructional course will include videos, I need to address this issue quickly. Wish me luck!

   That’s my top five, but there’s much more in the works. I don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going, but you’re welcome to come along. The journey is half the fun!