Mar 8, 2010
It seems only natural that after owls, mushrooms couldn’t be too far behind. Just like in the peace-seeking 60s and 70s, longing for a return to nature is well in keeping with today’s “green” movement. When I first saw some owls used as decorative motifs, I thought — “Owls, you’re kidding?” But now I have to admit, as I see more and more, I really think they are pretty cute and — they are everywhere! So now, as I’m seeing mushrooms sprouting up, I’m going to go ahead and embrace them in all their quaint cuteness. Mind-bending potential aside, red and white polka dot mushrooms are fat, friendly and colorful, and whether they remind you of the 60s or not, they do make you smile.
“Button Mushrooms,” the FREE-to-use pattern in this issue of American Quilt Retailer has lots of marketing potential. As you’ll see reading the pattern and our “how-to-use” section, “Button Mushrooms” can be made with cotton, wool, polka dot fabric, appliqued, fused or felted. You could even sew small white buttons on for the dots and if you don’t wanted dotted mushrooms, various prints look great too.
If you type in “mushrooms” on Etsy, you’ll find all kinds of vintage mushrooms and ready-made projects. Some of these might make good props for a mushroom display. Hobby Lobby, JoAnn Fabrics and even Target have lots of garden-theme items that will make more good props. And, all of these locations have mushrooms, gnomes and fairy garden statuary — again great for props. The “happy” red and white polka dot mushroom that has lulled “Magic” our office cat to sleep (it doesn’t take much to do this!) was purchased earlier this year from JoAnn’s for $6.99. Not bad for an eye-catching prop! You could use garden tools (they come in bright colors now) and even a fake plastic grass doormat as a base in the display.
If you don’t want to make a full sample of “Button Mushrooms,” applique one mushroom on a cotton dish towel or placemat and go with a cooking theme. Again on Etsy, there are dozens of vintage mushroom salt and pepper shakers (these must have been on everyone’s table in the 60s!). A set of these with your “mushroom” towel or mat, a mixing bowl and spoon might be all that is needed. Don’t forget a recipe card and maybe even a small fairy figurine. Fill the bowl with charm square packs, buttons or wool roving.
Speaking of buttons, don’t you just love the “Button Flowers” on our cover? I had so much fun going through my collection, matching pairs and making them up. Even my husband has commented several times on how neat my button bouquet is (keep in mind there are lots of things around the house that I’ve made, but these have elicited more comments than most). There are about 90 flowers in this bouquet. My daughter, Anne, who you know has been crafting since she came to Quilt Market last fall (see AQR, Vol. 15, Issue 90) made some of her own buttons flowers. When she was little, every time we went to the fabic store, I let her pick out a card of buttons to keep her entertained while I shopped. So she has a good collection to work with. She made about 40 flowers and as you can see even a small number of flowers looks really interesting in a tall vase. 
In choosing a vase the key is to select one with a narrow opening. This holds them upright and then you can gently curve the stems in a “sprightly” manner. The vase on the cover is a $10 sale bottle from Hobby Lobby. Anne’s vase was purchased from the Crate and Barrel several years ago.
Place even a small bouquet of flowers (remember, you can shorten the stems) in a glass bottle on your counter or cutting table and they are bound to attract attention. Make them all out of the same color, in a color scheme (i.e. red, white and blue) and as the pattern suggests add felt petals if you like. Fill other wider mouth-jars or bowls with buttons, sorted by color or not, and place them near your bouquet. Add spools of thread, rick rack or other ribbons and trims nearby.
You could even make small button corsages for your employees. Take three or five button flowers and shorten the stems to about 6 or 8 inches. Fold the stems up in a loop to the flower base. The wire stems facing downwards might snag clothing. Tie the bunch together with a pretty ribbon or rick rack and add a pin back. These are sure to call attention to the project. Give the pattern away with every button or fabric sale.
I had seen these flowers in various stores, and then found a project on a PBS children’s Web site. They make great projects to get little ones interested in our arts. Like Anne did years ago, children love to sort and count buttons. Of course, be careful of the age group here. Buttons can look sort of “tasty” to really small children.
Feel free to e-mail pictures using our “Button Mushrooms” and “Button Flowers” patterns (becky@americanquiltretailer.com). We love to see what creative things you all do with them!
Just a note: So far the plan for the May 2010 AQR FREE-to-use pattern is for a large, pieced quilt project. I try to rotate large and small, pieced and applique and it’s time for a larger one.
I am trying to blog more frequently and unless it’s right before deadline, this plan is working. Yet, if I’m blogging, I really want to make sure someone out there is reading the postings. Be sure to sign up at the top, right of the page to receive a notice whenever I have a new blog. I’ll also going to try to make them worthwhile, so you won’t want to miss any.
Enjoy the patterns! Susan
Mar 8, 2010
“Holy Snowballs” the AQR FREE-to-use pattern in Issue 90, November 2009 was a big hit! Rosemary Cromer of Harper’s Fabric and Quilt Co. in Overland Park, Kansas, sent in the photo below. For the background she has used Kaffe Fassett “shot cotton.” It’s very pretty — love the color selection, and “thank you” Rosemary, for sending this.
Then check this out: Roni Gerhardt of The Quilt Shop in Danbury, Conn., hosted a ”Snowball Retreat” last January which was inspired by our “Holy Snowballs” pattern. The day started with a breakfast at the diner across the street from the shop. The guests then sewed and played games all day long. One game included giving everyone a roll of toilet paper and they wrapped, and turned each other into snowmen (snow women!). (See photo below.) Roni filled balloons with confetti and a special sale coupon. She explained they would go into the classroom saying, “Oh, no! There’s is a blizzard coming over at Mary’s house.” Then Mary would pop the balloon, making the blizzard with confetti flying everywhere. The participants also made fabric babushka’s to keep their heads warm during the blizzard! Who would have thought a mere pattern could lead to so much creative fun! Glad to brighten your winter way up north, and thank you, Roni, for sharing your fun-filled ideas!
Mar 2, 2010
Okay, I love Beth Ferrier! In each issue of American Quilt Retailer, Beth writes a column called “Off-Grain” and that’s what it is — totally off-grain! As I mentioned in my previous post, I give all the AQR contributors some editorial guidance — that is everyone except Beth. I want Beth to write whatever she is inspired to write! So — Beth’s columns are always a big surprise when they come my way for publication and she never fails to entertain.
Two weeks ago, Beth was in a car wreck. Her right wrist (she’s right-handed) is a confirmed break, and in a cast. The other wrist may be broken along with some other peripheral body damage. In her usual style, Beth’s blog today is most entertaining (she’s very bored!). Want to wish Beth well? Give it a read and send some good wishes her way!
Mar 2, 2010
It’s that time again. The months keep flying by and, alas, the new, newest version of American Quilt Retailer is almost ready to mail. The printer is delivering it to the mailing house today and it will hopefully go off in tomorrow’s mail. You know, I don’t do this all by myself. We have 12 knowledgeable contributors who work hard to present practical ideas and thoughts to help you improve your business. During production, I have some general ideas and plans for each issue which I discuss with each writer. Then, it gets very exciting as the articles start to come in and I see each issue coming together with all sorts of information that I think you will just love! This issue is no different. We have a gardening theme going on, with events and project ideas to help you “grow business.” We even have two FREE-to-use patterns in this issue — “Button Flowers” (more craft-oriented) and “Button Mushrooms” (fabric appliqued in two sizes, with a variety of options). Mailing day is always a good day — mission accomplished. But there’s no grass growing underfoot here, I’ve already begun the next issue! The challenge is always to make the next one better than the last. You’ll have to wait and be the judge of that. Enjoy! Susan
Jan 25, 2010
One of our American Quilt Retailer columnists, Deb Luttrell, of Stitchin’ Heaven in Quitman, Texas has an offer for you! In her last “Mini-Boot Camp” column, Deb talked about why you need an employee manual and how to write one. (If you’re a shop owner, you do know you need one don’t you? If not read Deb’s column in American Quilt Retailer, Vol. 16, Issue 91, page 34.)
Deb has developed an employee manual for Stitchin’ Heaven and is ready to share it will her peers and quilt shop owner friends. Click here to order a copy that you can customize for your shop and your own needs. Deb will send you a hard copy of the handbook, as well as a Word document formatted on a CD that can be easily updated using Word ’97 or later. This manual is 25 pages of the most important issues you need to address in your shop, from the official statements like Equal Opportunity Employment to daily rules like computer use at work, cell phone use, and even how lunch is handled. Simply delete the areas you don’t want and enter the text you do want for your store. Deb has left all of the text intact that is used for Stitchin’ Heaven to give you ideas. This does not mean you have to use the policies she has set up, however. Decide what you want, how you want your store to run, and then make the changes accordingly.
What could be easier than that! It gives you a base to start with.
Don’t forget Deb runs a Boot Camp for shop owners twice a year in Quitman and she will be lecturing this spring at Quilt Market in Minneapolis. Be sure to sign up now!
Jan 25, 2010
Congratulations to Gerri Waitt of Sanford Sewing machines, Sanford Maine! She has won the vintage wire egg basket from our blog drawing (See post from January 11, 2010.). The wire egg basket was one of our potential cover props for the new redesign. I hope you have made some “Sittin’ Chickens” to display in the basket. It’s going off in today’s mail! Gerri, thank you for checking our blog and being a loyal American Quilt Retailer reader for the last seven years!
Jan 25, 2010
Look at these cute “Sittin’ Chickens” sent from Wenche Wolff Hatling of Northern Quilts in Norway. She’s made them from Japanese fabrics, which she said are very popular in Norway. Wenche has even used our nesting idea with spools of thread in a basket. Wenche, thank you so much for sharing this photo! Glad you liked the pattern!
Jan 21, 2010
In the middle of the dark, deep mid-winter? Skies are gray. The ground is white. Color is nowhere to be found. Sort of pretty in its own way — for a while. But wait, your shop is a haven and escape where color abounds! Bring a touch of spring to the scene, and the masses will follow.
Need a few display props to spark the spirit? Becky and I have found a lot of cute, fun, colorful and inexpensive things to use to banish the winter blahs. Both JoAnn and Hobby Lobby have restocked the holiday aisles with spring decorations — well, okay “kitsch” — but this year it’s pretty cute “kitsch!”
Frogs, fairies, gnomes and flowers are the thing this season — spring, woodland themes that will melt the blues away. Look how Mr. Froggie stands out. It’s hard not to give him a smile. The metal flower sculptures at 50 percent off, were only $7.50 — A bargain investment to brighten things up. (Remember, you can always sell this sort of prop later!) Add some garden gloves and small tools to flowers like this in a display with rolled fat quarters (spring fabrics, of course!) in terra cotta pots. JoAnn has those cute floral galoshes. Fill these with flowers — real or fabric.
Hobby Lobby also had a vast variety of similar large metal flowers on long rods. How about a window display with nothing but a row of these flowers planted in large terra cotta pots? Buy five of them, paint four all white and leave the fifth brightly painted. Line them up, and at the end of the line next to the colorful flower hang a large arrow pointing to your front door. In a sea of gray and white this window display would be an invitation to enter that could be seen across the square.
This cute metal heart is available wholesale from The Round Top Collection out of Round Top, Texas. They have all kinds of very, nicely done metal art sculptures for holidays and other special events. Think display and inventory! This heart was $18 retail.
Need a couple of spring patterns quick? American Quilt Retailer has two “blooming” FREE-to-use patterns. Look for “FlowerBoxes,” an oldie but goodie from Issue 20, and “Periwinks” (right) from Issue 67. Don’t have these older issues? They are both available to subscribers, along with 58 other pattern masters, on our FREE-to-use pattern set CD.
Remember, Spring is only 57 days away! Hey — here’s a good traffic-building idea! Start now, find a big basket each day between now and March 20 (the first day of spring), add an item to the basket — something small and simple like a fat quarter, pack of needles, etc. Every time someone comes in the shop between now and March 21st enter their name in a drawing for the “goodie” basket. Host a “Welcome Spring” event on the big day and draw for a winner!
Susan
PS — Our “Periwinks” shop sample is for sale. Made in batiks, it’s machine appliqued, quilted and finished!
Interested? E-mail Becky Couch (becky@americanquiltretailer.com)
Jan 11, 2010
The FREE-to-use pattern in the new issue of American Quilt Retailer is called “Patience, the Sittin’ Chicken.” I made her out of hand-dyed wool and used heavily textured yarn for her tail. More yarn is “couched” around the edge of her wings and tied decoratively around her neck. Three felted wool balls make her comb. (You can find small felted balls from Art Girlz at www.artgirlz.com)
“Patience” will look just as nice in printed cotton. We even made a prototype version called “the rag queen” made of linen with rag strips sewn on as feathers. You’ll notice this first chick is not as plump, she has no wings and beaded wire legs. The legs were difficult to get stable and even though we all loved her “rag” look, we decided she was just not much of a “cover” girl. However, you could use the final pattern and decorate “Patience” in rags if you like. I’d also love to see her done up in linen or other “blank canvas” highly decorated in baubles and beads. Can’t you just see her dripping in pearls? How about layering rows of white pearl buttons to look like feathers? What about a row of buttons peeking out from under her wings like scallops? Starter kits could contain the basic fabrics — let your customers take it from there. How about a “Sittin’ Chicken” challenge?
For our display, Becky and I scoured a salvage yard to find the faded white cabinet door used as the backdrop. At $15, it was a good investment! Look in the yellow pages — you probably have a similar business in your area. They had all kinds of things to use like cabinet doors, painted shutters and embossed metal ceiling tiles. Use a quilt to cover your display surface. Every hen needs a nest. We tried various baskets, bowls and even the antique wire egg basket shown in the far right photo. Perhaps you could find a small wooden or metal chair, one of those pretty white garden urns or a vintage cake stand to use as a base for her nest. Dried moss or grass makes it comfy. If you’re in the throes of winter, make it a fun “get-out-of-the-store” day, heading out to your favorite antique mall or decorative accessories shop looking for some new display props. Believe me, we had a fun time browsing the aisles and brainstorming for our cover set-up.
Use spools of thread or pearl cotton for eggs. Our thread eggs are vintage wooden spools found on eBay. The eggs could also be egg-shaped felted balls. Make the felted eggs plain or decorated. Teach a felting demo to go with your “Sittin’ Chicken” display. She could be sitting on a nest of spring flowers. This could even be a small wreath. Spray paint an egg carton to hold more spools of thread. Or, fill the carton segments with buttons or beads.
In art or display, multiples are visually so much more interesting. Make an entire flock, clutch or brood of hens. Bundle folded fat quarters in stacks. Let your hens nest on these fabric towers each a different height. Remember odd numbers are better, so use at least three.
If you really take off with any of these ideas, and then think of some of your own, E-mail us some pictures and we’ll post them for others to see (sfuquay@americanquiltretailer.com).
Susan
Jan 7, 2010
Happy New Year! I enjoy this time of year getting to regroup, start fresh and move forward! Issue 91 of American Quilt Retailer was mailed on January 6. As yo
u can see, we have a new look for our cover and inside graphics. We also have two new columnists — the nationally known retail experts Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender. Kizer and Bender are professional speakers, retail strategists, authors and consultants specializing in customer diversity, marketing, promotion and everything else retail-business related. Their blog “Retail Adventures” is visited by tens of thousands each month. Be sure to put it in your bookmarks! (Yesterday’s “Retail Adventures” is highly entertaining!) In this issue Kizer and Bender talk about branding your business. The column is packed with good thoughts — I know I learned a lot myself!
The pattern for this issue is called “Patience, The Sittin’ Chicken.” She’s the lovely, hand-dyed wool, stuffed hen with yarn tail feathers shown nesting on the new cover. The pattern also includes simple directions for turning her into a quilt block. It should be versatile for you and your customers. This shop profile is on Blue Bamboo in Plymouth, Minn., a business that started online and now has a brick and mortar location as well. Brick and mortar stores and Internet only stores have many things they can learn from each other. Be sure to read OnDisplay by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts. Other topics covered — employee manuals, understanding threads, holding demos, shop hoppers on the highways and free motion quilting.
Jim Salinas in Just Ask Jim has a list of tips, or shall we say simple resolutions for you. Give one or two of them a try. And speaking of resolutions — I have one, too! I’m going to try to blog more often. They say most resolutions are broken in the first fews days of the new year, well since I am just starting on my resolution with this post, I’ve not broken it yet! There is so much potential with all the new social networking possibilities, but it does take time to learn the ropes and make the best use of what’s available. My new postings may be shorter, but hopefully still helpful! The economy is looking up, even as the temperatures surge downwards. So hopefully 2010 will be a good year for all!
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