Why We’re Not Launching The Maker’s Space – And What’s Coming Instead

I want to be completely transparent with you about The Maker’s Space trial—how it evolved, how people engaged with it, what we learned, and ultimately, why we’ve decided not to launch it.

This trial was never just about testing an idea—it was about truly understanding what empowers creativity, what works in a structured creative community, and what doesn’t. Through this process, we witnessed incredible collaboration, deep engagement, and some powerful learning moments. But we also uncovered challenges that made us rethink what’s sustainable, both for us as a business and for you as members.

So while The Maker’s Space won’t be launching as originally envisioned, that doesn’t mean nothing is changing. Far from it. What we’ve learned has shaped an even stronger vision for The Studio, and I’m excited to share what’s coming next…

In November 2023, we launched our new website—a long-overdue project. Until then, we were still operating on the website I had built myself, which was clunky and limited. One of the most exciting aspects of the launch was the introduction of our journal and The Studio membership. These two areas gave me the opportunity to share more behind-the-scenes insights, sources of inspiration, and build a stronger connection with our audience.

Over the past year, through these two areas of the website, I have not only been able to share more openly about my own creative processes and the challenges that come with them but also gained a much deeper understanding of what we, as a business, are here to offer you. We launched various trial products to see how far we can push you out of your comfort zone, and you have been so willing and trusting to come along on this journey with me. Through meeting so many people, it became abundantly clear that there is a strong need for more creative support and encouragement—especially for those looking to push themselves further in their creative process.

Starting to design your own work can be an uncomfortable process. If you don’t have people around you who make you feel that what you’re doing is worthwhile (hobbies are so often undervalued!), you can easily lose confidence or give up entirely. I wanted to help bridge the gap between those who feel creative and those who don’t, because I firmly believe this difference is rooted in confidence rather than talent.

I felt that our existing Studio Membership was only fulfilling a small part of its potential. While many have enjoyed the writing and access to more complex materials, I didn’t feel that the Studio Membership was working as effectively as it could. It was all too one-way—me broadcasting to you. I wanted to encourage more active involvement from you: more support, more connection, more encouragement, and more accountability. Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you to stop overthinking and get on with it! With that in mind, we decided to take a big step forward and trial a new membership platform: The Maker’s Space.

Through this platform, we built a comprehensive resource hub that explores the entire creative process, curates sources of inspiration, and integrated our virtual courses. I wanted to make it easier for you to revisit different aspects of decorative painting or sewing if that’s your focus. We also wanted to foster a sense of community with features such as monthly creative challenges, drawing exercises, and message boards where you can share your work, seek advice, or spark new ideas. In short, a space that is both vibrant and inspiring.

So, together with some of the team—namely Jen and Meg—we worked for months to develop an incredibly comprehensive platform, creating a wealth of resources and even recording a brand-new virtual course. This course walks through the entire design process in more detail than ever before, making it more accessible (think of it as Finding Inspiration from YouTube, but on steroids—covering every single decision in the design process).

At the start of November, we gave access to 150 people to begin the trial. We invited a mix of individuals we felt the platform could support: some from our existing Studio Membership, some loyal customers, some who had never shopped with us, and even some who had little to no interest in embroidery at all. A wide range of nationalities, ideas, and creative perspectives were included.

We placed no pressure on how participants interacted—we simply wanted to observe how they would naturally use the platform, whether they would use it at all, and what resources they would find most valuable. Based on our observations and their feedback, we would then determine the next steps. And that brings us to where we are now…