Jul 29, 2010
News flash — check out this link! Retail experts (and American Quilt Retailer columnists!) Kizer and Bender have been listed as some of the top keynote speakers by Meetings & Conventions. There are some big names like Ken Blanchard ranking above them, but Kizer and Bender outranked the likes of Jay Leno and Colin Powell. How cool is that?
These fabulous speakers are again speaking for American Quilt Retailer at two Schoolhouses during Fall Quilt Market in Houston. Put it on your schedule, you don’t want to miss this! The room was overflowing in Minneapolis. In Houston we have a larger space, but you need to get there early! The knowledge they’ll share is right on, and they are funny — boy are they funny. It will be a great way to start market in the best frame of mind.
And — you are reading Kizer and Bender’s Retail Adventures in the Real World (TM) Blog, Facebook postings and getting their “Fresh Ideas” e-mails, aren’t you? (“Fresh Ideas are YouTube video spots, so it’s sort of like having Kizer and Bender sitting on your desk top!) Give your business a shot in the arm in between markets and each issue of AQR.
Susan
Jul 28, 2010
My room at Chateau Dumas
It’s Wednesday, I am home safe and sound from my fabulous visit to Southern France with Kaari Meng of French General.
This trip was so lovely, I hardly know where to begin my report! With many vacations, the traveler is busy going from place to place, trying to see everything, but often not staying in one place long enough to get a feel of the environment. During my stay at Chateau Dumas in the small hamlet of Auty, north of Montauban, which is north of Toulouse, we were busy adventuring all day long, but yet stayed comfortably in one location. Being so well taken care of was extremely peaceful and much appreciated.
Chateau Dumas, owned by Lizzie Ezekial, has a simple “country French” elegance, but it was not fussy or ornate. Lizzie made us feel so welcome, I really felt that Chateau Dumas was “my” home for the week. Three different classically trained French chefs prepared many of our incredible meals. I think you would call Renee a “sous chef,” and she was also on site all day long, every day cooking and preparing our food. Corey was our adorable server. It was her job to set the table and serve our meals, carefully explaining what we were about to eat in her most delightful British accent. There was always plenty of wine, cheese, croissants, baggettes, fresh fruit and butter! I particularily enjoyed the meals, as everything was fresh and locally produced. I doubt we had anything the least bit processed all week. Can you imagine being able to shop the local market once or twice a week and always eating so healthfully? I actually lost a couple of pounds eating lavishly, and yet was never hungry. We could learn something here!
In addition to our fine accommodations, we had so much fun on each days’ outings. Day one: an outdoor farmer’s market, several different brocantes (flea or junk markets), an outdoor picnic, a quick visit to an annual hat festival and alfresco dinner on the front walkway. Day two: craft time (jewelry making with kits from French General), off to a local hat factory and a couple more brocantes; then in the evening, a lovely wine and cheese tasting on the patio lead by Laurent, a local sommalier. Day three: a journey to Cordes Sur Ciel to visit a a woman who block prints textiles, and we then stopped at more brocantes (we did a lot of antiquing for old French textiles!). Day four: “woad” dying day! We all had the opportunity to dye some of our textile finds (and clothes!) with this magical blue dye! In the late afternoon Lizzies’ mother, “Mama Jo,” prepared us a true British high tea near the garden, followed by a talk from a French textile expert. Day five: we toured an old church from the 1200s and viewed a tapestry from the same time period, then visited one of the only 12 remaining tapestry weavers in France. Day six: free time in the morning for a walk in the sunfowers, and a trip to Montauban, an old city, filled with modern life.
In southern France, the air is crystal clear, the light is sparkling, the sky is full of sunshine by day, and stars at night. I awoke each morning to church bells singing, morning doves cooing and the smell of breakfast being cooked — just for me and my new friends!
Spending the week with French General’s Kaari Meng, her sister Molly Meng and her mother Kay Meng along with nine other interesting and creative woman was sheer delight! I had a fun four months of dreaming and planning this trip, and this trip of a lifetime far exceeded any of my dreams.
Enjoy the photos below, and later I’ll share more details of our daily educational events!
Au revoir, Susan
Late afternoon light on the patio
Sunday's farmers market in St. Antonin
An evening alfresco meal on the walkway
Laurent led our wine and cheese tasting
In front of the "woad" paint and textile shop in Cordes Sur Ciel
Lizzie and Kaari at high tea
Corey our server, Mama Jo and Lizzie
The sunflowers were spectacular!
A happy French bee
A few of my purchases
Me, with Lizzie and Kaari, all wearing woad blue
I was really there!
Jul 22, 2010
Another world?
I was right! Life at Chateau Dumas is paradise! The house is beautiful – 300 years old and picture perfect. We have a classically trained French chef for every meal and the meals are so beautiful, we have to wait for the camera flashes to cease before eating. My fellow travelers and I have been touring the countryside’s “brocantes,” which translates as junk shops. But French junk shops are full of vintage linens and other fine pieces, and our group has found many treasures.
We went to Cordes Sur Ciel to visit with Rowena, a block printing textile artist yesterday morning. Today we dyed textiles on the property with woad dye, this beautiful shade of blue – a true French blue. As you can see from the photos below, the area was awash in blue! (Some of us sort of got carried away, and in addition to dying the fine old linens and lace, we started pulling clothes out of our suitcases to have something else to dye!
After experiencing an authentic English high tea in the garden, an expert in French textiles showed us (and sold to us!) a few of her purchases from a recent buying trip.
Tomorrow’s events include a walk through fields of sunflowers, to see a 700-year-old church which houses a 700-year-old tapestry. (Everything is at least 700 years old)
There is so much more to share, but for now I just wanted to say, I wish you were all here! Maybe we can gather a group together for next summer! Want to come with me? I am serious, think about it!
Au revoir,
Susan
A local "brocante"
Another beautiful meal
Freshly dyed linens drying in the breeze
Vintage lace comes to life in French blue
Jul 16, 2010
Yes, I’m flying to France today!
Kaari Meng of French General organizes two one-week getaways in an historic 18th century chateau owned by Lizzie Ezekiel in Southern France, north of Toulouse. Kaari said we will live like country French women, experience the culture, sample the local cuisine and learn about textiles!
This all came about at the Moda retreat last April. Cheryl Freydberg, Moda’s fabric design coordinator, went on the Chateau Getaway last summer and she just happened to ask me if I wanted to go to France this summer. Well sure, tell me more. She briefly described it, and said it was a wonderful experience.
I went home from the Moda retreat and looked up the Chateau retreat on the French General website and, even now, I don’t know why, but I just had a feeling I was supposed to go. An opportunity appeared and I’m stepping through the door.
So after dreaming and planning and, yes, making lists, July 16 is finally here. I’ve been to London and Paris once with our family in 2005, which was great, but doesn’t exactly make me a seasoned world traveller. I feel like I’m about to free fall in to another world. (Let’s not take that too literally — I’m flying on a large, safe jet to Madrid, with one more short flight over to Toulouse, France).
But what’s feeling different, is that the entire trip is planned, everything is being taken care of by someone else. I just said, yes (and made the down payment). Someone else will tell me what to do and where to go, and all I have to do is just “be” — be open to learning new things, to meeting new people and to the entire experience! I have no expectations, which often has negative connotations, but here I mean with no expectations, nothing can be wrong and everything will be just right. I intend to enjoy every minute of it!
There are 10 guests adventuring on this first week’s getaway. In addition to the guests, Kaari, her sister and her mom will be there along with the chateau’s owner, Lizzie. It will be wonderful to meet and get to know all these ladies. A few of the other guests are business owners, and a love of textiles, France and all things “vintage” will be a common thread for all of us.
I have decorated the perfect journal — it’s French blue, with sunflowers. I will journal the week this way, and make note of everything. Then, I also hope to blog and share the experience with you either while I’m gone, or when I return home. Au revoir — Susan
Jul 13, 2010
Okay, I know I’ve been blogging a lot lately. The pace in January and July always seem a bit slower. January, because everyone settles down after the holidays and starts to plan a new for the year ahead. And July, because people are coming and going on and off vacations. For me it’s in between deadlines and markets. Ahhh!
So, I’m blogging a lot now with peace of mind, and to catch up for missed weeks. Remember, my New Year’s resolution was to blog once a week, and I know I’ll miss some weeks again around deadline time. And, right now, without waiting for the next issue, I have ideas for you.
Today’s post is brief. I came across this article at Entreprenur.com and really wanted to send you the link. Take the time to read “Is your business killing you?” by Dena Patton. She is right on and summer might just be the perfect time to slow down follow some of her suggestions.
Thanks for taking the time to read and happy summer to you! Susan
Jul 12, 2010
Entrepreneurs are usually pretty self-motivated people. We make to-do lists (see “Missing Pieces,” May 18, 2010) and almost intuitively know what needs to happen to get where we want to go, or think we need to be. We like to be in control (LOL).
But what do you really “have” to do today and what will (or might!) happen if you don’t?
My sweet husband likes to quote Ben Franklin and he (my sweet husband, not Ben) is wise enough to know not to quote Ben Franklin too frequently, even though I need to hear these things more often than not. Ben said “The only things you really have to do are pay your taxes, and die when your times comes.” These are the only certainties in life.
I had a long, but manageable to-do list for this past weekend. I’m leaving for France this Friday (!!!), and everything was under control for the trip.
Then, last Friday afternoon about 4:30, I glanced up from my desk into our fenced back yard and something white moved by the window. Sometimes a big yellow, marmalade cat jumps the fence, but this was definitely white and not a cat. Once outside, I found a small, Jack Russell Terrier who was not our dog. She was young (sharp baby teeth), beautiful, hollywood-worthy markings (as you can see), not wearing a tag and, again, inside the fence. Then it started to rain.
Our dog Gracie, was not happy. Jealousy set in as this friendly, little baby came bounding up to me. I pointed out to Gracie that she knew what it was like to be lost and alone (Gracie is a shelter dog who spent time on the streets), and she better be nice to this little bit. The rain increased and all of us went inside.
How did the little baby get in our yard? There is a small space between the fence post and the gate. So, did she get out of her yard, wander down the street (our neighborhood has mostly one-acre lots), randomly come upon our fence, randomly come to the small opening and decide to take the difficult route and to squeeze through? As the evening wore on, my heart sank and the thought occurred — was it really possible someone put her in our yard — someone who had probably paid a lot of money for the baby, then realized having a “baby” takes a lot of time and patience — especially if the baby is a Jack Russel Terrier. These dogs are adorable, smart, lively, fun-natured and full of energy. I know. Jim and I had two Wire-haired Terriers when we were first married. Reggie was real sweet. Then, we thought it would be fun to have two dogs and we got Ester Mae Fuquay. It didn’t take long for us to nick-name her a wild-haired terror. They each lived a long, sometimes trying, but fun 13 years.
Much of the weekend was spent checking for a micro-chip (none), refereeing the two dogs (and cat), trying to wear the puppy out so I could put her safely (for her and our house) in the dog crate without too much guilt and whining (on her part) — babies do have to sleep right?
We made and posted signs. I still held out hope that the owners were just sitting back waiting for the rain to stop so they could find their valuable dog. (If you had a valuable puppy, would you, one, leave it unattended to possibly get out of your yard and then, two, wait a day or two to see if someone finds it?) I posted her on Facebook with replies of “she’s so cute,” “keep her” and “I want her.” I think two offers were very sincere, but distance and time made them sort of impractical.
Jim and I did not want a second dog. It’s a 12- to 15-year commitment with expense and responsibility, and we had “been there, done that.” Gracie is our one dog love for now. So, I e-mailed the local Jack Russel Rescue group and a wonderful young woman met me yesterday in a parking lot to make the hand-off. Little “Patches” (I couldn’t name her until I let her go) is now in good hands and will be well-cared for. If her current owners show up, they can go get her, and if not, the woman said she would most-likely be adopted by the end of this week — to someone who understands and really wants a Jack Russell.
So my weekend was, interesting and emotional, but not what I had planned. I was angry that someone else decided our yard and our house looked like a good place to leave an unwanted pet, gifting us their unwanted responsibility and yanking on my heart-strings. I do realize this is sort of a compliment (our place is comfy-looking), but I wish people would stop doing it. We have had unwanted dogs left in the front yard over the years, which doesn’t quite transfer the responsibility the way it does to have a “baby left on your doorstep,” or inside the back fence. Even in this short time I was getting a little emotionally attached. Again, look at her — and to think she was lost, unwanted and homeless! Awww… And — I was frustrated at not getting to my to-do list.
Sometimes (maybe all the time) it’s important to ask “Is this really something I have to do? Is it something I want to do? And, is it something should I do, as in, is it the right thing to do?” This weekend, I didn’t do what I thought I had to do, I didn’t do much of what I wanted to do, but what I did was hopefully the right thing to do. Sometimes it’s hard to know.
Good things can come from “not” doing what you think you “have” to do. Perhaps this is a fine way to just roll along everyday. By, Sunday little “Patches” had pretty well “rolled along” and settled into being ours — did she even remember her other family? She will “roll along” into another family, who will love her and laugh at her antics. With time and patience, she will be a good companion. Setting anger and frustration aside, it was sort of fun to own this little beauty for a short while. Did I tell you, I taught her to sit on command (we had time to play). “Click and treat” always works.
Really, everything is still under control for France. Susan listen: take the list, scratch it off — done or not! Relax — you’re going to France on Friday! What really needs to get done will get done. My sweet husband also has another saying. As we leave for any trip it’s become a tradition to cast all cares to the wind, and say “If we don’t have it, we don’t need it!”
(More on France to come!)
Susan
Jul 8, 2010
We have an extra important article in American Quilt Retailer, Issue 94. One of our freelancers, Linda Griepentrog, was actually able to personally interview Chandra Wilson, yes, Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. Miranda Bailey’s Chandra Wilson. Linda was thrilled to visit with her and I was thrilled to be able to tell the story of Chandra’s connection as the spokeperson with the Downy Touch of Comfort, a program supporting Quilts for Kids.
Quilts for Kids provides quilts to children who have cancer, AIDS and other serious illnesses as well as to children who are victims of abuse or poverty. There are Quilts for Kids chapters across the country with volunteers — like your customers — who make the quilts! There are some specific guidelines for making the quilts on the Quilts for Kids website. Be sure to check them out before starting.
Currently Downy is donating five cents to Quilts for Kids for every package of specially marked Downy Fabric Softener sold. The funds collected go towards the purchase of fabrics and supplies to make the quilts, and Downy has set a goal to help donate 10,000 quilts in 2010. There are also other companies from inside our industry who are partnering with Quilts for Kids like Clothworks Textiles, P&B Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Fabrics and the designer, Debbie Mumm.
So how can you help? You can donate bolt ends, sell an extra fat quarter (with each fabric purchase) to be donated and your shop can serve as a drop-off location. There are still more ideas on pages 36 and 37 of this current issue.
Now when Linda approached me with the idea for this story I immediately said, “yes, of course, let’s spread the word!” Then as I learned of the requirements for the quilts, I realized they had a specific size of quilt to present to the littlest of little children — those born less than full term.
copyright iStockphoto, Michael Blackburn
My daughter, Anne, is one of those committed people who cares for these wee, little bits. She has dreamed of being a neonatal intensive care nurse since she was a sophomore in high school and helped care for premature twin boys born to her church’s youth director’s wife. Anne graduated from Indiana University’s School of Nursing in Indianapolis last year and has just recently started her dream job. The tales she tells of the size and fragile health of babies born even as early as 22 or 23 weeks are truly amazing. She gleefully says “I love my babies!” and texted me a few weeks ago saying “14 other people and I delivered triplets yesterday!” You can see I’m very proud of her and her chosen path in life.
Because of Anne, I thought it appropriate for this issue’s FREE-to-use pattern to be a small, little baby quilt. “Little Bright Star Baby Quilt” is a very small 36 inches by 36 inches, the smallest required size for the Quilts for Kids program. It is easy to make, and you can use it to teach some very basic skills. Get a group together and set a goal — see how many you can make for your local NICU! Premature births account for 8 to 10 percent of all pregnancies and these little quilts will provide a small bit of comfort to the babies and their families!
Please note: There is a “wee, little” error in the cutting directions of “Little Bright Star Baby Quilt” in the printed magazine. “Star piece B” should be 2-1/2 inches by 2-1/2 inches, not 2-7/8 inches by 2-7/8 inches. The e-mailed pattern PDF will be a corrected version. For more info, read my blog post of July 7. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Susan
Jul 7, 2010
In the last 94 issues there have been few very mistakes (only three, I think) in our FREE-to-use patterns, but there is one in “Little Bright Star Baby Quilt,” this current issue’s pattern. The error is in the cutting directions. “Star piece B” should be 2-1/2 inches by 2-1/2 inches not 2-7/8 inches by 2-7/8 inches.
Please correct your copy.
If you are on our pattern PDF e-mail list, we are sending out the pattern PDF e-mail tomorrow (7/8/10) morning. Follow the directions and download the “Little Bright Star Baby Quilt” pattern. This is a “corrected” version and is labeled as such. You can make nice, neat, clean, corrected copies from this, not from the magazine.
If you are not on our pattern PDF e-mail list and would like to always have the opportunity to download the pattern PDF, e-mail Becky Couch at becky@americanquiltretailer.com and ask to be put on the e-mail list. (Keep in mind this list is for American Quilt Retailer subscribers only.)
I hate it when we make mistakes, and we do take great care in trying not to make any, but alas, mistakes do happen sometimes.
Sorry for any incovenience! It’s a wonderful little pattern full of purpose and potential, and I didn’t intend to make the project harder for you! Susan
Jul 2, 2010
I’m as eager as this cute “Recycled Sister” for you to see the new American Quilt Retailer!
This issue’s cover is a study in contrasts: The top quilt is the traditional “Blue Bayou” from Vintage Journey by Jo Morton. The second quilt, strictly contemporary, is called “City Green” from City Quilts by Cherri House (Stash Books). The background fabric is by Marcia Derse for Troy. It’s antique indigo with modern polka dots. This fabric is primitive and contemporary at the same time. Then the chair — don’t you just love the chair? I’ve been antiquing again! This is a 1950s turquoise, quilted-vinyl gem with blond wood legs. It is considered an antique, but it’s modern as can be. It looks great on the cover and now it looks great in the office!
The “Recycled Sister” is one half of a pair designed by Leslie McCabe for Indygo Junction. Made from recycled sweaters, handkerchiefs and other odds and ends, she bursts on the scene ready to get sewing. She is representative of the fresh, young, innovative and inventive blending of old and new going on in the industry right now. This new issue is all about quilting and sewing — all together now!
Our columnists have done another great job presenting new ideas for you. There’s also a Market Review with a whole lot of cool new fabrics and products for you to choose from. And, something else new — you can go to our Web site and see a listing of all the advertisers and resources mentioned in this issue. Click on their name and you will land directly at their Web site. (If you’re not a shop owner, remember these sites are wholesale sites, so you can “look but not touch” — head to your favorite shops to purchase your quilting and sewing supplies.) We decided not to use valuable magazine space for a list of Web sites, when we could use it to show more product. The Resource Guide on our site will also make it easier for you to contact these companies.
The July issue of American Quilt Retailer will mail first class on Tuesday, July 6. Hope you enjoy it and find it helpful!
Susan
PS Don’t miss an issue! Look at your last magazine — Issue 93 (the one with the red purse on the cover). If the number on your mailing label right above your name says “93,” this one was your last issue. If you have this “93″ on your label, you can use the renewal card we mailed late in May, or renew online!
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