June 20, 2012

I’ve traveled the world, and I haven’t left for France yet!

Thank you! Thank you to everyone who submitted a favorite vacation getaway! I related to, and can picture so many of the places you have described! Everyone does have that need to get away — whether far or near — and travel is so good for the soul.

Whenever we go on a trip, I always wonder if it is possible to bring some of that vacation “feeling” back home to my everyday life. A special photo, a rock or seashell on my desk, a heavenly-scented pine bough or even a special hand lotion purchased and used on the trip can trigger strong memories. But do you have other ways to make a vacation last?

After my trip to France last year, my husband and I began having an appetizer before dinner — with a glass of wine. The French savor their food — and wine — taking a long time to eat, and eating many small portions. In the past preparing an appetizer would have been extra work. Now, I find I enjoy the little pre-dinner treat, although my repertoire is pretty limited. And, who knows, maybe this pre-dinner ritual sends those “I’m getting full signals to my brain.” Viva la France!

You all put so much thought into your descriptions, we’re sending everyone fabric bundles from Dear Stella and Moda!

Thank you again — reading your memories helped me get through this issue’s deadlines and, now, tomorrow, I’m off to France!

If technology is in my favor, I hope to blog about our adventures — stay tuned!

Rest, relaxation and happy travels to all — Susan

June 4, 2012

What’s your favorite summer break?

Although my flight to France for The French General Chateau Dumas Getaway doesn’t leave for a couple more weeks, my brain is beginning to go AWOL!

When I went on this trip in 2010, I had no idea what I was in for — it was an unknown adventure awaiting and I was not disappointed! Then for the 2011 trip, I had the delight of anticipating all of it, as I knew what to expect.

And, this year I am positively driven to distraction thinking about what is to come!

I keep picturing the light:

the colors:

the food:

and the fun:

Some sort of down time is pretty essential to recharge. So, shop owners, what is your favorite getaway for the summer? Where do you like to go to have a break from your business? Tell us your story — whether it is a lake cabin hideaway, a world tour or simply sitting on your porch for some needed quiet time. We’ll pick a few favorites and send out some beautiful new fabric bundles from Dear Stella and Moda.

This way we can all dream together and think of each other on our summer break!

Good summer wishes to all! — Susan

August 12, 2011

Wow!

Wow! What great responses for my question “How is it working for you?” This was exactly the type of information and feedback I was looking for! I hope everyone now takes the time to read back over all the responses and American Quilt Retailer will compile a summary report for you soon.

The winner of our random number drawing for posting a comment is: Merrie Miller of Catty Wampus Fabric Co. in Caro, Michigan. Catty Wampus is a new shop and we extend good wishes for a healthy business. Merrie will receive four fat quarter bundles donated by Moda Fabrics.

Thank you to everyone who posted a comment and thanks to Moda Fabric for donating our prizes!

We’ll be asking more questions like this in the future. The feedback and ideas in your responses are invaluable for all of us!

Happy Friday! — Susan

August 3, 2011

How is it working for you?

In the past few years the quilting industry has been looking for ways to expand our business and it is happening. Sewing is catching on with an entirely new generation. One of the blogs I like to follow is called Do you mind if I knit? This talented young woman in the UK recently wrote a post called “Apparently sewing clothes is the new knitting.”

Yesterday this article, “Sewing is back”, appeared in the The Washington Post.

BurdaStyle.com is the largest DIY fashion and sewing community with more than 500,000 registered members.

Many of the designers in our industry are now designing clothing patterns and industry publishers are addressing this new market of sewers as well.

These are just a few examples.

I find these changes exciting, and I have talked about new directions in each issue of American Quilt Retailer.

However, if you are a shop owner, I’d like to know if this is how it looks to you? Do you see your business moving in new directions? Are your customers sewing beyond quilting? Are you reworking your business plan and inventory to meet the new needs in the marketplace? How are you diversifying?

Or, are you happily staying a quilt fabric store? And if so, please tell us why.

I pick up on forward trends at market and in other media, but I am not actually out in the trenches, like you are.

So tell me, what do you see happening? Leave a comment, and we’ll select one to receive four fat quarter bundles from Moda which you can use for sample making.

Just curious — Susan

March 29, 2011

Things you need to know all rolled into one

Okay, I’ve been an awol blogger lately!

So sorry, but had to do all the things one needs to do in order to go on vacation, and then we spent a lovely week on vacation. Now I’m trying to figure out where I left off, because vacation totally erased (as in vacated!) what I’m supposed to be doing. I guess this means it was a good, successful vacation. You know what I mean?

Cause for my pause

Thankfully, I actually started this post before I left so I have some framework in place. And, by now I have a pretty long list of blog topics, so I’ve decided to just roll them all into one posting!

First, as you plan your Quilt Market trip to Salt Lake City, you need to know that Kizer & Bender will be giving two lectures!

Georganne Bender and Rich Kizer

The first two-hour Kizer & Bender lecture called “The Science of Shopping: How to Help Your Product Sell Itself” is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 12.

The second two-hour Kizer & Bender lecture called “Reinvention or Else: 15 Strategies to Attract New Quilters” is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13.

Many of you have attended the American Quilt Retailer Schoolhouses given by Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender (and they are doing another Schoolhouse for us on Thursday, May 12 at this market!), but just think — you can have a full two or four hours of time with them in these not-to-be-missed Quilt Market events. Sign up ahead of time at the Quilts, Inc. website www.quilts.com.

On Friday evening March  4, I enjoyed spending the evening with the board of the Alliance for American Quilts along with some local shop owners at the Moda headquarters in Dallas. What a treat this was! After a festive dinner catered from On the Border, we enjoyed a talk from quilt historian and Moda fabric designer Barbara Brackman on how she finds and interprets historical fabric designs into modern quilting fabrics. Before heading over to Dallas for the evening, I spent some time at the Alliance website. This is a fantastic resource and a group we should all be supporting — to visit click here. Each year the Alliance hosts a quilt contest. This year’s contest deadline has passed, but watch for next year’s to be announced later this year — you could easily turn this into a shop project for early 2012!

Something you can get going now is Moda’s Just One Star Can Comfort a Soldier — the deadline is May 1, 2011. Encourage  your customers to make and submit “just one block” to coordinate with the Quilts of Valor effort.

The Simplicity  ”Great Bandana Quilt Challenge” is another good project to get people involved in. The folks at Simplicity Creative Group have designed really cute pink bandana fabrics and “Cherish by Simplicity” add-on tools specifically for this challenge and the deadline for this is not until July 15. A portion of the profits from the bandana fabrics and “Cherish by Simplicity” tools will be donated to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information contact your distributor or Simplicity Creative Group’s customer service at (800) 545–5740.

Woad Workshop coming up!

If you weren’t able to sign up for the French General/American Quilt Retailer Chateau Dumas Getaway this coming July there is still a chance for you to do some woad dying right here in the States. Go to the French General website and click on “Woad Workshop” for details. This is coming up really soon — April 9th — and I think there are only a few spots left, but it’s worth a try. This was a wonderful experience!

The Art of Craft networking site

Also, French General has set up a new social networking site just for crafters. Called the Art of Craft, this site functions a bit like Facebook, but participation will be from like-minded crafts people. If you join, search my name and be my friend. This seems like a nice safe group and not so public as Facebook can be.

Quilts in the mainstream: The City Quilter in New York City is opening the only art gallery in New York devoted entirely to contemporary art quilts. The ArtQuilt Gallery NYC located at 133 West 25th Street opens on April 5. Leave to The City Quilter owners Dale and Cathy to bring this about!

Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts (There's an app for that!)

By now, if you are not already there, it’s a bit late to make plans to attend the “Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts” presented by the American Folk Art Museum. This a showcase of  Joanna Rose’s collection of only 651 all red and white quilts!I love two color quilts and what a fantastic display. Held at the Park Avenue Armory admission is free. The event is her husband’s birthday gift to her fulfilling her wish to give the city of New York and quilters everywhere a the gift of this visual feast. Have no regrets if you’ve missed this in person — “there’s an app for that!” On your iPhone or iPad, go to the “app” store and download the free exhibit brochure! This event has received a lot of press, amazing the public. An event idea for you: create a “red and white” challenge with display scheduled for Christmas or Valentines Day. Or, how about “blue and white” or black and white  or “green and white” just because two-color quilts are so dynamic and lovely!

And, finally winner of Stitch by Stitch by Deborah Moebes is Celine Perkins of Perkins Dry Goods. Celine, thank you for posting a comment after our last e-mail blast!

Until next time! — Susan