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Wild-Heart Designs |
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| Designer's Name: Pamela Ellis | |
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Location: Springfield, PA
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It’s wonderful to have you as our “Friday Feature” Pam! Would you begin by telling us at what point in your life you began stitching?
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Do you remember when you decided to start designing your own patterns for resale?
I thought about designing in 1997 but things got in the way – a move across the country! I began designing in 2004 having my first design hit the market in January of 2005.
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What influences in your life had the most effect on your design style? My husband was in the military and we traveled around the world for over 22 years, living in Italy for over 6 years and our last assignment was in Okinawa Japan. We were able to travel to many different countries during our 22 years, I loved Spanish textiles and I also love the delicate look of black work as well as loving bright colors, which are very apparent in my designs.
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A Bestseller From Wild-Heart Designs... MG 1838 Reproduction Sampler This gorgeous reproduction sampler is one of the most popular designs from Wild-Heart Designs. The design size is 191w x 277h and is stitched on 35 ct Cafe Au Lait from R & R. As with all of Pamela's top quality designs, the graph is crisp and clean with plenty of clear instructions. Suggested retail is $16.00. |
“Spanish Wine” is a beautiful and impressive piece. Can you share your inspiration for this design and your thoughts on the final piece once you finished? Thank you so much, I am still blown away by the response my first design has received! As I began to put this together I wanted it to have texture with the specialty stitches as well as be colorful as Spanish textiles are. I fell in love with Spanish textiles, the vibrant colors are my palette which is very evident in my house. When I released “Spanish Wine” I wasn’t sure of the response it would receive, I attended my first TNNA tradeshow that June, my husband and I wondered if anyone would find their way to my booth. The show had been opened about 10 minutes when I had a mad rush of shop owners wanting to see Spanish Wine in person, I remember seeing my husband standing outside the booth with wide eyes. I was humbled by the response!
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What are some other interests or hobbies you enjoy when you’re not designing or stitching? My grandchildren are my life, I have four at the moment and we are expecting our 5th in late February. We have many camp Grandma days, when the children will come and we work art projects – one of my most favorite things was when I gave the kids a blank piece of muslin and had them pick a variety of colors in quilters fat quarters, gave them a pair of scissors and had told them to make a picture. It was incredible watching them as they designed their pieces, my grandson Ryan took a piece of printed blue cloth and turn in so the outside showed – he said that made it look like clouds. Once they had completed them I made them into a pillow. We also bake cookies each December when the kids come for a weekend while the parents shop for their gifts. It is so much fun watching them as they are on their knees watching the cookies cook before they can begin to decorate them. I also enjoy bowling, recently I began bowling again and found that I still do it fairly well!
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Would you share a little about your family and are they supportive of your career? I have an absolutely incredible husband – Bob, we have been married for 36 years, I have two adult children my son Bobby and my daughter Brandey. Both of my children are married and have fantastic spouses! My daughter is a stay at home Mom and mother to three of my grandchildren (Kayla age 13, Ryan age 10 and Emily age 6), and her wonderful husband Jon. My son Bobby and his lovely wife Michele have my youngest grandson Robbie who is 18 months, they are expecting their second child in February. My grandchildren, who are my life. We moved to Pennsylvania to live closer after our first granddaughter was born, my husband had retired from the military 3 years earlier and we moved back to our home town of Des Moines, Ia. But after the birth of our first grandchild, I couldn’t see living that far away. We live in the perfect spot now in-between both children so our house becomes the place to visit! My entire family is very supportive of my career in the needle arts. My husband Bob is my second right hand when it comes to putting charts together and he is my “road crew” when we travel to the tradeshows. He also is very active in giving me inspirations for my own designs, as well as the antiques that we purchase and I reproduce. The grandchildren have even worked for me, they have help organize my threads and linen!
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What are a few of your favorite things about being a part of the cross-stitch industry? One of the best things are the friendships that I have made with shop owners, fellow designers and stitchers. It has been a wonderful journey so far! I get many emails from people who are stitching one of my designs the wonderful comments still blow me away!
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What are some of the benefits of shopping at a local needlework shop as opposed to a large chain store? I think one of the best benefit in shopping at a local needlework shop is having the opportunity to discuss any changes you would like to make with a design you are wanting to stitch. A large chain store doesn’t provide that type of personalized service. I love traveling to different local needlework shops when we are out and about. My son teases me that I know a shop in every town and have shopped in it!
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Do you have any thoughts on the state of the needlearts industry and what we can do to strengthen it? I think the needlearts are in a state of decline at the moment, the state of the economy may play a big factor in discretionary spending. One of the things I think we can do to strengthen it would be passing our art down to the younger generation.
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Would you mind sharing a favorite recipe in closing? I love to cook! Although with just hubby and me, we often do smaller meals but during the holidays I am in full glory! One of my favorite recipes I would love to share is a quick and easy dip mix. It has always been the hit of any party we have attended: Mexican Dip Take equal parts of sour crème and cream cheese, blend together and spread in the bottom of a pan. Pour one jar of salsa on top of the first layer. I then add chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions and grated cheese. This recipe is very easy to increase depending on the size of the party. Grab a bag of tortilla chips and enjoy!
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