speaker-0: You're listening to O Stitch, the podcast where needlepoint, creativity, and real conversation come together. I'm Natasha Sewell.

speaker-1: And I'm Alansa Riddle. You don't have to be a needle pointer to be here, but you might leave as one.

speaker-0: We are so glad that you're here and today we're getting into something a little bit personal.

speaker-1: Like really personal, we're talking about us.

speaker-0: We are talking about what it actually looks like to build something with someone that you've loved your whole life. The good parts, the complicated parts, the parts that make the whole thing worth it.

speaker-1: Talking about the family business, specifically ours. Okay, but before we get to all of that, we have to talk about what is actually on our frames right now.

speaker-0: Okay, but we don't use frames because we're hand stitchers. We roll. So I realize that we said frames, but we don't use them. So just yeah. Yeah, I we're not fran fans of the stretcher bars. Regardless of what is happening in the business, the stitching must go on. The stitch It is truly the most consistent thing about us. That Yes, for sure. The sister chat is a whole nother episode. Maybe we'll share some of it with you.

speaker-1: And the sister chat.

speaker-0: Maybe we won't because it's a thing. Okay. ⁓ do you want to go first?

speaker-1: Current stitch. I am working on our newest topiary, the lemon topiary.

speaker-0: So if you're not aware, part of Georgie and Lottie and our drops is the topiary. We are huge fans of topiaries. They are classic and beautiful and a lot of designs, really whimsical seasonal designs with the topiaries. They all are a little bit different, which makes them super fun. But

speaker-1: I really am loving the lemon topiary. So it's a really cute blue on well, kind of purpley blue pot with a lemon tree in it. There are six lemons in it and it is on 13 mesh. It is really fun to stitch, beautiful colors, and I'm having a lot of fun with that.

speaker-0: I know. So do you like stitching thirteen better than eighteen or do you have a preference? Hm

speaker-1: really have a preference.

speaker-0: I have to say it's funny. I sometimes am like, ⁓ I only like thirteen. Hmm. Because I feel like it's obviously a faster stitch. Yeah. But then I get on a roll doing basket weave or just a faster stitch on eighteen and I'm like, ⁓ eighteen's fabulous. So it's it's it depends on the day for me. Right? Mm-hmm. Okay, so I have a stitch and a finish. So some of you

speaker-1: I get that.

speaker-0: may or may not be aware that Michaels did a collab with Jonathan Adler. Jonathan Adler is a designer. He also is the designer who did one of my absolutely favorite resorts in Palm Springs, the Parker. He did the whole interior. It's really fun. Look it up online. or if you follow Gray Malin, who is a photographer, he photographed his animal series also at the Parker. And there's some fun pictures you can see the inside of the Parker. Anyway. We digress. But ⁓ they did a collab and I picked up one of the pieces. Now the thing about the needlepoint pieces that they did in this collab is they are all prefinished. So you don't have to do anything. And the genius part of it is the zipper, there's a zipper around it, it unzips on three sides so that it's very easy to stitch. You probably I will probably line. the inside of where the canvas is when I'm finished because otherwise it's not gonna be great. ⁓ I chose to color swap the original colors were it's a very geometric pattern and it's fun and the original colors were black and white. It does have a black velvet backing. I chose to color swap I'm doing sort of a light blue and a navy. I haven't gotten super far with a really

speaker-1: Yeah.

speaker-0: blue. Really, really pale blue. And I'm using silk and I will give you my two cents that it's not a great stitch because the canvas is very inexpensive, hence why this was $20 at Michael's, right? And it's already finished. So you know, but you get what you pay for because it the canvas is is is cheap. It's snags the silk constantly and it's not a lot of fun to stitch. So I am gonna finish it. I'm determined. I'm moving very slowly on it, but I've seen some people's finished products. They're really pretty. It's not my favorite. I will I mean it's

speaker-1: I mean it's nice of him to do some of this thing. You know, needlepoint's usually pricey and so to have a price point where people could try it. But also the thread that came with it was kind

speaker-0: ⁓ the thread that came with it was terrible. Really, really bad. I mean, the minute I opened it up and saw the thread, I was like, No, thank you. So got immediately went to my L and S and picked up some silk to do it. Which maybe silk was the wrong choice, although I think wool would have snagged more.

speaker-1: Yeah, probably anything would snag in that.

speaker-0: So anyway, that is what I'm working on right now. That is my whip. And I have a finish to share with you. I did our dirty martini. So cute. And I had so much fun doing it. ⁓ for those of you that are listening, it is a darling small dirty martini with two olives. I decided to bead the olives and it was so much fun. I've actually never done beading before, but it was it was fun.

speaker-1: She did a great job.

speaker-0: It was a really fun thing and Alansa finished it, as she does for me, with darling green and cream cording and it's Latouche fabric that I had a sample of that she put on the back. And this is so cute to dress up your bar cart or your bar or to give as a gift around a bottle of alcohol if you're going to a party and bringing a hostess gift. There's so many things you can do with it. Also, cute ornaments. Honestly, be darling on a tree. I also did the bow in very velvet. So had some fun. And what is that? Radiance. Did radiance for the glass. So we still have some of these dirty martinis on our website. So go check it out. Super fun. Okay, we are at ⁓ Did We Say That. And today we are going in on something people say all the time that we just don't agree with.

speaker-1: Mm. I'm sure you've heard it. Everyone has an opinion about it the second you mention working with family. And the opinion is almost always a warning.

speaker-0: Yep, be careful, that's risky. Never mix business and family. Like it's a rule. But we have a different opinion.

speaker-1: And we are here to respectfully, lovingly, but firmly disagree.

speaker-0: As we do best. So when we hear never mix business and family, I think that there are probably situations where that's not a great idea. But starting a business with my sister has been one of my greatest joys and such a fun thing to do. And I also think one of the reasons it works so well is we really balance each other out. We each have different strengths that we bring to the table.

speaker-1: Mm. I agree with that. I think a lot of times fam when you think family business, you think about a s child taking over a family business or working with a parent, maybe in a profession or a job that they don't necessarily want to do. Maybe. And that's maybe where some of that negativity comes from. When you start a business with your sister who you love and you're do both doing something that you really enjoy doing, I don't know. There's it's

speaker-0: It's fun. It's been really, really fun. ⁓ we also don't really fight a lot. I mean, we both know each other so well.

speaker-1: We also are good at disagreeing without it being a fight. Like we don't have to fight. Like I'm I'm happy to say like mm, then I'm looking. Yeah. Or it's

speaker-0: Good idea. We we don't take it personally. Right. Especially, you know, we can sort of compartmentalize the business and our sisterhood and relationship. And so, you know, when she sends me a canvas design and I give feedback, I occasionally, after the feedback, is like, take it or leave it, because I feel bad. No. Giving ⁓ giving ⁓ feedback, but also

speaker-1: But sometimes she'll give me a suggestion and I'm like, You try to put that on Needle Plant King.

speaker-0: I don't design them. So I don't design them and I don't paint them and there are limitations to what you can do. And so I you know, I I under

speaker-1: I think because we're sisters, we can be honest with each other in a way that maybe you couldn't be with somebody else.

speaker-0: I agree. And I think we know each other well enough. You know, I we know when we're getting overwhelmed, we know when it's too much for for each other, or we kind of swoop in and can fix something or change something or help each other out. And I think that that is the magic of it is that we have s a relationship that we've had for a really long time. Right. Very well. And so

speaker-1: Help each other out. We know each other very

speaker-0: That is ⁓ honestly a little bit helpful. Not perfect for sure, but as no relationship's perfect, no business is perfect, there are growing pains, there are things that you know we don't know, but we are both willing to share ideas and collaborate on things.

speaker-1: Yes, definitely. It's not Yes. And I also think we work really well together because we both have very different strengths. So that really works well.

speaker-0: For sure. There's a definite division in the business of what what we do. Yes. ⁓ and in case you don't know exactly what that is, Alansa.

speaker-1: I am the artistic side of this business, the design, I create the canvases, I paint the cam some of the canvases, now we're getting some painted, but I am more that side, the artistic side of it.

speaker-0: Creative. She's the creative queen. And I am more on the business side. I ran a photography business for 13 plus years and built that from the ground up. And so I am website, social media. I also do photograph our products because I am a photographer. So, you know, that's kind of where things go. I also do the ordering, which sometimes I do really well and sometimes I don't. Like I ordered a whole we were kidding canvases that were supposed to be with these essentials and I ordered all Milan thread. So you might see some designs coming up that around those colors because we ordered a whole I ordered a whole lot of them. So you know there's there's groin paints. There are things that we are learning. We are not we are great at communicating but our communication pathways I would say are not stellar.

speaker-1: Around that.

speaker-0: We have not really figured out how to communicate back and forth unless it's like text, phone, like we we need to find some sort of system, I guess is what I'm trying to say. Because it is hard to go back in our text chain because in our text, we're talking about our kids. We're talking about our parents. We're talking about various things. And then I'm like, shoot, she sent me something and I have to scroll and scroll and scroll and scroll. So We are not great about separating, I guess I should say, our business chat and our personal chats. And that is something that hopefully we'll be able to work on and fix so that it's a little easier going forward.

speaker-1: That is true. I also think you are I am a little bit of a procrastinator. ⁓ and you are a let's get it done right now. So we are different, very different in that aspect.

speaker-0: I'm a very type A. But I also think that that's kind of great in some respects. Because I think that again, if we were both the same, right. I think there would be some more conflict. So so that is our experience with running a business. Ask us again in a year. Maybe we'll do an update on this and say how it's doing. Maybe we'll actually at that point in time have some systems in place for communicating. I mean, I think it will. We're just having fun.

speaker-1: Input.

speaker-0: You know what? Life is short. Do the things that that make you happy. That's

speaker-1: That's figure it out along the way. That's what we're doing.

speaker-0: For sure. Okay, and off the frame today, we're actually gonna do a little sort of newlywed game, but we're gonna do it between sisters. So we have some questions that we're gonna try to answer about the other person and we'll just see how this goes. It could be a complete fail. We won't lie. But I think we know each other pretty well at this point. So I think we can probably do this. Okay, do you wanna ask me first and I'll answer for you? Like what I think you go for it. Sure.

speaker-1: Okay, what would she put on a needlepoint canvas just for her?

speaker-0: So I Alonsa is an amazing artist. Yes, she is the artistic director of Georgie and Lottie for sure, but she is also an amazing artist. She has beautiful paintings that she's painted and just she's she's so talented. And I really think for herself, she would love to put one of her favorite paintings that she's done on a needlepoint campus for either a pillow or something like that. Am I right on it?

speaker-1: Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I think that's

speaker-0: Right. Okay. Okay. So what do you think for me? What would I

speaker-1: ⁓ anything Taylor Swift. Yeah. Like maybe a lyric or something, yeah, definitely something Taylor Swift.

speaker-0: Yeah, pretty much. That would be it. I enjoy Taylor Swift. I enjoy her songs. I enjoy her all of the things. So yes, I think that's absolutely true. Okay. Okay. Yep. Next question.

speaker-1: What's my go to drink? I do love a dirty martini with gin, not vodka. Yeah. I'm a gin, dirty martini girl.

speaker-0: A dirty martini. So so so this finish uhhuh was was a fun one. Yeah, you know, for her. Definitely. For sure. For sure.

speaker-1: Definitely. And you don't drink alcohol, but you do love a good mocktail. Mm-hmm. And you also well, you love a Cerbux drink. That's a certain drink we get. And I do feel like you also like an iced tea. And then I just introduced her to a London fog and she is enjoying the

speaker-0: I do really like an ice tape. I'm obsessed. I really do. I love Earl Grey tea a lot. It's really delicious. So a London fog has like rocked my world. ⁓ and also I've done better with my coffee intake going down because of the London fog. I do drink half co calf when I drink coffee. So, you know, try to keep it a little less caffeine. And obviously tea has less caffeine. So ⁓ but yeah, I don't drink alcohol, so I'm not super fun in that department. But give me a good mocktail. I'm here for it. I love it. For sure.

speaker-1: Alright, what is my favorite version of a perfect Tuesday night?

speaker-0: Perfect Tuesday night. I think having dinner with your boys, the an a meal that you have fixed for them because that is a little bit of Alanta's love language. She really loves preparing and fixing amazing meals for the people she loves. Mm-hmm. So an amazing meal and then probably getting into bed early with Lottie. And maybe stitching and putting on maybe Murder She Wrote or Love House or ⁓ a good cheesy Netflix show. Yeah. Accurate.

speaker-1: That's probably I feel like for you it is maybe ⁓ later Pilates class, maybe a sauna and you she does the infrared saunas and she loves the and then maybe Merc getting some takeout ⁓ bringing that home and you guys having takeout and then a needle point and a law and order.

speaker-0: I love ⁓ I don't cook. ⁓ for sure. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ huh. Law and order. Although I will say I have had trouble recently watching Law and Order. I used to watch it like all the time. And I I don't know if it's something with getting older that I'm like it disturbs. It disturbs me a little bit. So there's certain Law and Orders I can watch and certain I can't. I have a lot of trouble with SVU. That really like triggers me. So okay. Yep. Those are good Tuesday nights. I'll sign sign me up. Okay.

speaker-1: ⁓ what am I low key obsessed with right now?

speaker-0: I would say her kids. And I mean that in the best possible way. Everybody's home for she's all three under one roof for the summer, which is good end but I think it's really special. And it's a fun time. So I would say your kids.

speaker-1: Okay. I think you are low key obsessed ⁓ I don't know. I feel like you have a couple things. Pilates, you do love some Pilates. You love a travel. Mm-hmm. You love Palm Springs, you're low key obsessed.

speaker-0: I mean I'm really it's not even low-key with Palm Springs. I agree. Pilates right now and Palm Springs for sure. Yeah. Definitely, definitely.

speaker-1: I feel like those are your What is my most iconic quality? Kind of tricky.

speaker-0: Yeah, it's a little tricky. I would say that your most iconic quality is that you are the best friend through and through. ⁓ when Alansa gave herself a birthday party two years ago. Yes, I did. Which was the best. It was the best. And all of her people showed up and any person I talked to said that she was their best friend. And that is really an amazing quality in a person to have so many people that think of you as a best friend because you pour into your friendships. You really do. And I would say that's your most iconic quality.

speaker-1: My friends. Okay, I love that. ⁓

speaker-0: Mm. Mine might be a little more tricky.

speaker-1: Yours is tricky. But you're so good at so many things. So but iconic quality. I feel like okay. This is a good one because I feel like you've grown in this a lot. Okay, good. Okay. So this is a good one. I feel like you are very good now at speaking your mind in a kind and positive. Most of the time now. It didn't used to be most Really ⁓

speaker-0: Sometimes. No, it did not. But she's re I'm more Zen. Yeah.

speaker-1: Yes, and so but she also doesn't keep it in. She's so good about relaying her her feelings and getting that across, which I think is so important. Good way.

speaker-0: My feelings. In a better way than I used to. Really good. I've I've really I have worked on that. I appreciate that. That was Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Okay. Biggest flex, which maybe is kind of the same as what we just talked about, iconic quality, but Alan's biggest flex is literally she can do anything. no. Anything you mentioned, she's like, ⁓ I can do that, ⁓ I can make that, ⁓ I can

speaker-1: Think it's really impressive. Don't give me an accounting thing though. No.

speaker-0: But things like home related Okay Okay, we'll say home related things. Okay. You that is your biggest flex. You are willing to like figure it out, do it, whatever. Okay. That's a

speaker-1: Your biggest flex is ideas. This woman can come up with some ideas.

speaker-0: I'm really good at the idea department. I don't always know how to

speaker-1: And there are a lot of them. ⁓

speaker-0: I love it. It's it's ⁓ that's good you love it because since we have a business together, you better love it. Or we're in big, big trouble, right? It's great. It's great. Okay, we did pretty well. Hopefully you guys learned little something about us, ⁓ So just so that you know, we do have some restocks that are live right now in our shop and we would love for you to go check them out. And if you find something you love that's not in stock, please, please, please sign up for the wait list. It's so helpful to us because first of all, you'll be notified the minute they're back in stock, but also it lets us know what you're interested in. So we make sure we are ordering enough of them.

speaker-1: And before we go, there are two things. First, if you have been wanting to try Needlepoint but have no idea where to start, we made something for you. It's a free beginner video playlist, and you can grab it at georgiandlottie.myflowdesk.com backslash video dash playlist, and the link will be in the show notes.

speaker-0: And second, thank you so much for being here and for listening to O Stitch. It really does mean everything to us because this was one of my crazy ideas. It's a And I'm just so thankful that you guys are here. And as a thank you, you can use code OSTitch10 at checkout for 10% off your first order. And that is S T I T C H 10. ⁓ we really want you to stitch something. So We will put that as well as the link to the video playlist in our show notes. So go check it out. Thanks so much for listening to O Stitch, the podcast where Needlepoint meets real life.

speaker-1: This podcast is brought to you by Georgie and Lottie. Whether you're looking for your next Canvas, stitching, inspiration, or a community that loves Needlepoint as much as we do, we'd love to have you join us.

speaker-0: You can explore canvases, products, and more at GeorgieandLottie.com.

speaker-1: Until next time, happy stitching!