Wednesday 24 May 2017

Something Old, Something New

I have a new look, a new logo and a new attitude. Hello! Welcome to the brand new Heart & Sew. Recently I've made a very scary decision to get serious about designing patterns. Until now I have treated crochet as a simple hobby and have maintained this blog sporadically purely for my own love of designing and writing.

I decided (with a little encouragement from Tom) to really try to follow my dreams and turn Heart & Sew into a name in the crochet world. To even think about doing this I had to sort some things that were bugging me about this blog, first and foremost being the design. My old layout was made on the cheap by a very talented and very kind website designer from Etsy who was wonderfully flexible in customising the template to suit my (then) needs. I had just started designing and wanted a simple but pretty layout - somewhere I could just shove my first pattern out into cyberspace with everything crossed and hope for the best. The design was made and the pattern posted thinking "What the hell? I have nothing to lose."

I couldn't have asked for a better response. That first pattern has a quarter of a million views, the second one is closing in on half a million. Could this be my calling? Have I finally found something I am good at? With my confidence and design skills growing, this blog was the perfect, simple place to publish my creativity and share it with the world. Recently though, as my hopes and aspirations of what this blog could be has changed, so have my design needs.


I felt I needed a proper logo, a proper sense of identity where people would recognise a Heart & Sew design straight away. Now I have this cute but simple yarn like text logo with an adorable heart shaped yarn ball. My old design was also too plain, too straight. With the help of my wonderful, supportive Tom I've brightened things up to reflect more of who I am as a person. No more plain white, just soothing but fun pastel shades that quite honestly reflect the shades of my personality and of my home. The pastel yellow main colour is pretty much the exact shade of my living room walls. The blue tones? My kitchen. That lovely peach? My hallway! I love my new identity and I hope you do too.

Out with the old!
Not gonna lie to you (I never do) but I am so scared of my designs leading to nothing. As many, if not all, of you are crafters yourselves I'm sure you have all felt the anxiety of sharing something so personal with the world for critique. "What if I fail? What if no one buys anything? What if I'm not good enough?" are probably some of the questions that have run through your head at some point if you sell your handmade crafts. While I don't plan to directly sell what I make (I hope to start selling some patterns) attempting to make money through something that is 100% my creativity and vision is scary as hell. That added with the fact that I am one of those people that is always doubting themselves, that isn't good with any sort of lime light, is why it has taken me nearly 2 years to get to this point in my Heart & Sew journey. Now I have decided (much like the attitude I had when I published my first pattern 2 years ago) that I have nothing to lose by trying. Even if I don't get any recognition, big brand endorsements or magazine deals I will keep creating because that's what I love to do. I will stop feeling inferior to bigger, more established designers because my style is unique to me... what's the point in comparing myself to anyone else?



Hopefully there are big things in store for my little blog but I must stress that this isn't the end of free patterns. My mission remains the same as it always has: To create, simple, accessible patterns and bring more crocheters to the amigurumi world. As long as I have this blog, there will always be free content on it specially for those who have followed and supported me from day 1. For those who used my first pattern, encouraged me and built up my confidence as an unknown. To those people (probably you!) I am forever grateful. For helping me find meaning and purpose in this crazy, scary world.

Peace, love & lots & lots of yarn!

♥ 
 Julie xxx 

19 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Try no 2. I have loved each of your designs. You definitely have a talent for "the cuteness factor". I hope you have great success in your new ventures.

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    1. Thank you so much, your support means the world to me :) xx

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  3. Congratulations on your new venture, I wish you all the luck in the world. Love your patterns. I look forward to seeing what comes next. Hugs......

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    1. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Kerry! I'm so glad you enjoy my patterns xxx

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  4. Fortune favours the bold Julie! Good luck in your brave venture, I look forward to seeing your new creations. I crocheted the little monkey and gave him to one of my nephews, he loves it 😻

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    1. I'm so glad your nephew loves the monkey! Would love to see pics sometime! Thanks for your support xx

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  5. And you have poured your heart and sewl into this message; takes guts and you've got them. Made that darling ballerina mouse and want to make monkey too. Looking forward to what your creative mind envisions next!

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoy my patterns Heidi, I hope you will enjoy the next one too! Please send pics of your monkey if you make one! xx

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  6. Hi Julie , your new blog is lovely! I adore your patterns. I got an awesome response when I made the elf and the hippo! Keep designing, you have a special talent �� And a kind heart. Looking forward to seeing what comes next ! Xxx

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    1. Hi Lauren! I'm so glad you like the new blog and my patterns! Thank you for your extremely kind and supportive words, I think you've just made my day. Much love xxx

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  7. Very nice.Wishing you nothing but the best .

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  8. Well done Julie,you deserve lots of success I love your patterns and the new logo. Big hugs Denise xx

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    1. Thanks Denise! Hope the crochet biz is going good for you! xx

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  9. Hi, Julie :) New look and new logo are beautiful :) You have a big talent! Your patterns are adorable (I've made a ballerina and a hippo;) ) :)
    Wish you everything what is the best! :*

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  10. Congratulations!👍Best wishes to you!👏👏👏

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  11. Hi Julie, I have only just discovered your site but it is perfect, l can relate to your self doubts as I am the same. A friend said to me 'just be who you want to be' and by the sounds of it that is just what your doing. Congrats on your Heart and Sew I know you will succeed!!! Xx���� �� �� �� Kaz

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  12. This site was... how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Thanks a lot! capital one credit card login

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I'm a 27 year old pattern designer from Scotland! I love designing cute, crocheted toys. This blog documents my journey in pattern design, come follow me and pick up every new pattern I design for free along the way!

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