I had most of my bookmarks on a board for display at the craft show a few weeks ago. A lady looked them over and requested two of the same pattern, one in Oklahoma State colors and one in Bethel College colors. She wasn’t in a big rush but would like them before Christmas. I said “sure, no problem!”
Bethel College is a local college whose colors are maroon and grey. I’m thinking that shouldn’t be much of a problem. I didn’t have a clue what the colors are for Oklahoma State University until the buyer told me but I didn’t think it should be that hard to find them. For Bethel I planned on going to the school store and checking out the colors; for OSU I thought I’d check on-line or maybe a sports store.
On-line I found that OSU’s colors are orange, light orange, silver and black. No, that’s OSU orange, OSU light orange, OSU silver and black. On their website they tell you specifically the colors and how to achieve them when printing. Oh. My.
The Burgundy turned out to be the closest of the colors. The hat is from the school store so it must be the accepted color, right? The spool of thread is the maroon I found at the store, regular sewing thread, and the ball is the Burgundy. It is still a little bright but as close as I’m going to find any time soon I think. I have started the bookmark in Burgundy and silver – okay, it should be grey but I think it will work.
I took a special order without asking enough questions and agreed without knowing enough! And now I’m worried that I should have done the bookmarks in one color instead of two – the one at the show was one color. I guess I should call the buyer and ask. Or maybe make one of each in two colors and one of each in a single color and let the buyer choose????
I sure hope they like them!
“The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.”
James Yorke
I am not affiliated with either OSU or Bethel, I was given no compensation for mentioning them or linking to them.
Your bookmark looks awesome ! I'm sure the next one will turn out great too. It does look good in 2 colours.
You could have also tried to use multiple skeins of the sewing thread (3-4), such that their thickness would be similar to the one you are using (#20). Saves a lot of time, money, & fretting ;-))
Thanks for the suggestion! Funny thing – I twisted to strands of the sewing thread together and gave that a try but I wasn't happy with it. Though I didn't use it this time it doesn't mean I won't try again another time.
Lovely bookmark. You've gone to a lot of trouble to fulfil the brief, I'm sure the buyer will be delighted.
Wow, that is a lot for two bookmarks! A fun learning experience though. It's a lovely pattern!
Great bookmark!! 🙂
I think it looks terrific in two colors! I would just make them both that way, then send photos to the buyer to check.
I really like that design. I hope you do publish it someday!
Thanks! I thought about this – very seriously. But the buyer is local so I just tried the two-colored ones. If they weren't liked I had plenty of time to do them again.
I think the two color bookmark looks great and I'm sure the buyer will be happy with them. When someone asks for school colors, I always think of two colors, it one.
That was my thought, too – until I over-thought the situation!
Anyone who sells to the public knows they always ask for sonething that you have either not thought of or something that not only is impossible but takes your brain cells a lot of thinking on how to do it.
You have managed to find the right colours and do a wonderful job on the bookmark, well done. I am sure the other one will look just as lovely. Next problem you have made nothing on the bookmarks because you had to buy extra cotton to make them still you gave new colours to play with
Margaret
Next time I need to ask more questions before taking the order! But I did get new thread out of it 🙂
Ai, you have difficult clients! I admire the fact that you go through so much trouble to please them!
But you are right! Any excuse is good to buy thread!
Stick with your first impulse and don't second guess on this. Two colors convey the idea of school colors and your bookmark looks great. Don't make extras for the buyers to choose from unless you really have a use for the leftover ones. I'm sure they are going to like what you've got.
I took your advice and only offered the original ones. I'm sure I could use those other bookmarks another time, but I didn't really want to take time to make them right now. Glad they were liked the way they were!
I can so sense your feeling of inital delight to be asked to tat something to order, but then reality steps in and finding the colours kills all the joy. Well done though the bookmark design is lovely and I am sure the client will be delighted with the bookmarks and thanks for sharing the story. We tatters don't always have it that easy!
This is exactly right! And the client loved them!
This is a great pattern! I think you're being too much of a perfectionist! It's one thing for corporations and schools to 'specify' the exact shades for printed logos and licensed products, but in this instance I'm sure the recipients would be happy with anything resembling the colors! I have a feeling you're going to get more orders – possibly for other schools! This is the 'danger' of coming up with a clever idea!
Oh, I wasn't going to try matching the color exactly, just try to get close. I was surprised I even had an orange thread – not my personal color of choice – but I had one so close to the actual school colors! Made me happy!
Love the Yorke quote!. Your tatting is beautiful!
p.s. What kind of shuttle is that?
Thanks, Fox! It's a wooden shuttle I bought through the mail many years ago from a person in Washington State (I think) Blue Bird shuttles or some such. I still have the box it came in somewhere but not handy. It was the first wooden shuttle I ever owned.
Gorgeous bookmark :).