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JBW Designs |
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| Designer's Name: Judy Whitman | |
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Location: Kalamazoo, MI
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Thank you for participating in our Friday Feature Judy! How are things at JBW Designs this fall?
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You have been very busy with tons of new releases this past year. Your “French Country” series seems to be extremely popular. Was there a particular influence or inspiration for this beautiful series?
The French Country samplers have been inspired by a love of antique samplers , especially the alphabets and small motifs which are an integral part of those early designs. Years ago I used hidden and interlocking alphabets in a number of my Sweet Nothings and pictorial motifs first appeared in the Christmas Motif Sampler I. French toile fabrics have also influenced this series, since they often use a monochromatic color scheme. I think stitchers enjoy finding the hidden motifs and I love designing them as it is similar to putting together a puzzle. It has been rewarding to hear from shops and individuals who have other suggestions for the series. One shop is using the French Country Pear as a class piece, and each student is working the design in a different colourway, using a variety of finishing techniques.
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Would you give a little background on yourself as far as cross-stitch goes? I began stitching and sewing as a little girl, and was encouraged by an aunt who fostered creativity in all of our sewing endeavors. After taking a needlepoint class many years ago , I joined the Embroiderers Guild of America and participated in their local and regional seminars. Using my teaching background (as a former first grade teacher ) and a love of needlework , I began teaching needlepoint classes to a small group of friends. I quickly realized that a ‘teaching sampler’ would be essential and designed my first piece to use as an instructional tool . Eventually I discovered that the shops needed teaching designs and those samplers became the basis for the business. As cross stitch began to grow in popularity, many of the early needlepoint designs were converted to cross stitch and my first full color leaflet was published in 1987.
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New From JBW Designs... Christmas Keepsakes II JBW Designs presents a beautiful trio of collectible ornaments in "Christmas Keepsakes II". Each ornament finishes to approximately 3" x 3", give or take a little, and the suggested retail price is $4.00. The "Love, Joy, Peace Tree", the "Reindeer" and the "Tiny Mofif Tree" will surely garner their share of attention in your Christmas decor this year. |
What are some of the biggest changes in the industry you’ve seen since you began designing? I began exhibiting at the wholesale markets in 1988 when the popularity of cross stitch was growing dramatically. Trade shows typically covered more than two floors of large convention centers and were filled with needlework vendors and designers. It was an exciting time to be entering the industry as there were many well known designers who were important role models for those of us who were just beginning. The advent of hand-dyed fibers and fabrics and the use of embellishments have added a new and exciting element to the designing process. And finishing techniques have become much more sophisticated and innovative also. In the mid 1980’s I took a course called “Writing a Business Plan” at our local college. I distinctly recall the professor asking me if I had ever considered selling to a larger market than the U.S. My reply was that I didn’t think that would ever be possible! I was completely mistaken as the internet has opened access to international markets. Today orders from New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Japan are not that unusual.
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I understand you had the opportunity to appear on a television show recently. Would you tell about that experience and how we may be able to catch the show? This past Spring I had a wonderful opportunity to appear on a PBS program called the “Needle Arts Studio with Shay Pendray” . It was a fascinating to view the filming process and to see how the segments were produced. Shay asked many questions about the design process , the charting , and the finishing of my models which were on display. The segment number of that show is: #1602-2, and if you blink you may miss it! It is just five minutes long. Shay also used my Simply Love kit to demonstrate how to do cross stitch in segment #1603-1. The show has been purchased by Interweave Press and the program listing can be found at www.knittingdailytv.com. Show times vary by city, and from what I understand are repeated after the season is over.
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How has your website affected your business? Having a web site has enhanced my ability to reach needlework enthusiasts across the world. Both U.S. and international shop owners are able to preview the whole collection and place orders through the distributors. I’ve found the internet to be a powerful marketing and advertising tool for a small business.
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You have an impressive trunk show schedule posted on your site. Do you find these valuable to keep up with consumer input and trends? The trunk shows are a wonderful way to showcase a wider range of my designs. I usually book two trunk shows a month - and ship from 20 - 25 models to each shop. Customers love seeing the models in person. And the exposure to your work is extremely important for long term continuing sales. Trunk shows are great way to advertise your company.
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Would you share a little about your family? My husband and I have been married for 43 years and we have lived in Michigan all of our lives. We have two married children and five grandchildren. Our son Mark and his wife have 4 children: Wyatt (10), Ashton ( 7), Cody ( 3) and Tristan (1). Our daughter Kris and her husband have one little boy named Liam who is almost 4. Our gatherings with our children, their spouses and our grandchildren are fun and a little chaotic ! We feel very lucky to see our grandchildren each week and to be part of their lives. We built a house high on a hill (yes - there are some high points in Michigan!) about five years ago, and we love looking out over the countryside to see the changing seasons. My studio is in our home and was designed as a very large work space, with storage and packing closets, work tables, book cases and collections scattered everywhere. It is one of my favorite rooms in the house . Thank goodness - as I spend a lot of time designing, stitching, and shipping orders.
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What are some non-stitching interests or hobbies you enjoy? I have so many interests and not enough time to pursue them all. I love antiquing - and have several collections that have been building over the years. Plus, I attend a decorative painting class one night each week and find it to be a nice change of pace from work. I’ve painted tables and chairs for the grandchildren, decorative items for friends and family and a number of pieces for my studio. I also love reading, gardening and exercising and several years ago started the Whitman Sampler Book Club. It has been a great way to expand my reading interests and make new friends!
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Would you share a favorite recipe in closing? In closing, I would like to mention the joys of being part of the needlework industry. Meeting shop owners at the trade shows is always a highlight and hearing their feedback is so important as I begin to plan the next set of releases. I’ve made many friends in the industry who are fellow designers and we look forward to seeing one another each year in Nashville and Columbus. My suppliers have become such an integral element in the finishing of the designs. I really owe a debt of gratitude to their creativity in creating frames, pillows, aprons and a host of other products to complement my designs. I cannot think of a better career and am so fortunate to have found a job which I love! Most of the shop owners I have met through the years probably think that the only thing I know how to make is cookies! It has been a tradition at the Nashville Needlework Market that I bring homemade cookies to feed to the shop owners who stop by the room to shop. As a souvenir of the show, I publish a small recipe booklet that I give to each shop owner who attends. I actually do like to cook a wide variety of items and will give you one of my husbands’ favorites - an apple pie with a crumbly topping. He would rather have this dessert than any other, and Fall is a great time for Apple Pie! Apple Crumb Pie 5 - 7 tart apples 1 9” unbaked pie shell (using your favorite recipe) 1/2 C. sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 C. sugar 3/4 C. flour 1/3 C. butter Pare apples; cut in eighths. Arrange in an unbaked pie shell. Mix 1/2 C. sugar with the cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Mix the second 1/2 C. sugar with the flour; cut in butter till crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake in a hot over - 400 degrees - for 40 minutes or until done. Serve with vanilla ice cream or top with whipped cream. Enjoy!
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