Shoot for the Moon #19

I am home in my own bed after a three day jaunt to Ohio for a Shop hop in Columbus where I demonstrated and lectured to tons of happy quilt shop hoppers. I was at Quilt Beginnings in Columbus. What a quilt shop! The owner, Cathy is full of positive energy and has an amazing staff. Basically I lectured about my organizational skills about how to go about raw edge fusing in a efficient and progressive manor. I make hundreds of samples for my pattern company. I have a method of getting the quilts done. Cathy the owner asked me to tell everyone just how I go about creating a fused quilt. By that I do not mean just the technical aspects – but the organizational ones as well. It was very well received and I think there is enough material to do a lecture about the whole subject. I will get to work on the outline!

I am happy to report that I brought 48 OHIO State-stamp patterns to the shop Wednesday night. They were on the shelves on Thursday and I am happy to say that they sold out in just 1-1/2 days. I had no idea how much Ohio quilters LOVE their state! I have a run of patterns in at the printer now. I will need to get them asap so I can ship them to her.

I stayed at Cathy’s new home about 30-40 minutes from the shop. It was lovely. I visited with her daughter and her husband Dennis. Dennis is a wine expert. He tried hard – but no luck with me and wine. I once drank wine when I was in college and got very sick from it and really can not stomach the idea of drinking for pleasure. We had wonderful dinners and conversation.Cathy and Dennis will be coming to our house on Labor day. We are really looking forward to having them at our home.

I have to say that this is one of the best perks of shooting for the Moon. I am meeting and making new friends that are such wonderful people! It has often been said “quilters are the friendliest and warm people”. I can personally attest to that. Cathy asked me if the quilters I had met were different from the MD quilters – My answer was – not at all. We all seem to be on the same page, speak the same language and share the same interests.

When you are shooting for the moon it must be focused around something you are passionate about. The passion has to be so deep so ingrained that you just simply cannot tire of it. If you find that special thing – the moon does not seem very far away at all!

Thanks to all my new friends in Ohio.

Oh and by the way, while I was in OH- my son Brooks had a swim meet this week in Bucknell and he got three National Cuts. That is amazing for a 17 year old. He said the meet was very fast and there were several Olympians competing! He will go to his first National Competition in December! Until next time -

Shoot for the Moon #18

Working Away

I have been working hard to get loose ends tied up and to get the Ohio Stamps ready for my trip back to Columbus on Wednesday for their big shop hop. It is 10:30pm on Sunday night and I set aside all my work for the week and I was getting ready to go up to bed. Then I thought it might be cool for you to see what I did this week. Below is a picture of my stuff in progress.

This weeks work

I really accomplished a ton of work this week. I wrote the complete pattern for the OHIO statestamp, made all the patterns, and completed two sample tops. The two stamps are pictured above. To the left is the new Blue Bonnet floral. In the center are my new PIP pouches – instructions, patterns and 7 samples done. To the right are three more Bleeding Heart samples and on the bottom right is a forget me not I found cut out in a draw that I decided to put together. I also made a new product in my line. I am going to be having collections available of the florals. There will be 12 florals in a collection. The price will be 89.00 for the Collection of twelve. If you bought them individually it would cost 108.00 – so it is a good price if you wanted to aquire a bunch of florals for a large quilt.

To the left see the new group package of Florals. This is Collection #1. I have four more flowers to add to make up my second collection. I just finished the three Blue Bonnet sample tops. I need to sew them up and photograph them for the cover and that will be the 20th floral.  I went ahead and finished up three more bleeding hearts for samples as well. I tried appliqueing the whole image down with invisible thread – let me tell you – that is the ticket! That really went so much faster than zigging every inch of the image – especially when it is small pieces and fussy lines. I plan to quilt heavily to set the floral off.  Part of selling patterns is having pattern samples. I supply my local shops with samples so I can get a good sense if the pattern is desirable. All quilt shops are very busy and they buy hundreds of patterns and books. The trick it to get your patterns featured and shown. While it is a ton of work for me it is worth it to get the exposure. I look forward to a time when Zebra Patterns is as common as McKenna Ryan or Atkinsin Designs. Their brand is so strong and well known that quilters trust the name and their patterns sell sample or not.

I also want to make patterns so unique and personal that the shop want to make them. I want them to come home from market with all their new acquisitions and say to their staff – we need to make this sample first! That is done with good patterns that will attract and inspire customers and have them eager to buy the pattern and the fabric and supplies to make that pattern.

The other new product I have been working on is a PIP pouch. It is a neck strap with a pouch on the end that guild goers can show off their Pins, Identification/name and have a place for their phone/money. I am going to finish up the last few samples and get them ready for market. They are great for trade shows as well.Look at the black one on the right. It has all my pins and my business cards stored in a clear front pouch.

I love making things that have a specific use. I have all the directions and Pattern complete for this one also. The directions are the killers! It is very hard to write specific yet condensed instructions. I usually have to create several illustrations and this pattern was no exception. I think this will be well accepted. It works great!

Okay – so how cool is this? It is my first statestamp. “Beautiful Ohio” is the state song. The OHIO is written to remind people of Ohio State University without infringing upon any licensing rights. The cardinal is the state bird perched on a Buckeye limb – the state tree. There are a few buckeyes in the foreground bith open and cracked. The building featured is the state capital with a backdrop of lake Erie. The sun and rays were taken from the state seal. The carnation in the bottom right is the state flower. The red and black flower print to the left will be the backing. The rays were created with white organza. The little flag that is waving in the sunrise is the Ohio state flag. Every state stamp will include a FREE preprinted state flag exactlty to scale in every pattern. Of course the whole image is in the form of my signatire “stamp” format.  I have TX, MD, NY and CA on the list for the next statestamps.  It is so hard picking which ones to do next! I still have more City stamps to do. I generally let my sales guide me as to what the public wants. The BEACH Stamp has been wildly successful.

I have learned that I need to try to slow down. On the Beach stamp the first 50-100 stamps had some instruction errors. That is just a result of working too fast. The momentum of the business is intoxicating. I really thought I was going to sit back and relax and do some home improvement projects this summer – Oh well – you know what they say – The best layed plans of mice and men…..

The Barn

Okay – on to the Barn progress. Yes I have officially renamed the new garage/studio  – “the barn”. It looks like a barn. I am really liking the way it is looking.  The put in all the dormers. We have three facing our back yard and two on the opposite side. We did that so that in the studio area I have one large wall for designing.  I have been up in the studio 4-5 times and can hardly imagine really being up there. Originally we were going to have two domed windows on each end of the barn – well that did not work out – as when the trusses came there was little to no room for a full size dome. So – we went to plan B. We will just go for the light and have double windows on each end. They are doing roofing shingles now as you can see in photos below. The crew is very professional. They have been friendly and efficient. Our puppy Lacey has been in heaven scavenging around for left over lunch scraps. So far we have seen her with a half eaten burrito, a mini slider and the remains of a cookie.

Barn - July 19, 2009 - East Side

The Barn - July 19, 2009 - North side

Barn July 19, 2009 - North West view

The Barn - July 19, 2009 South East view

So it is July – almost August. Where is the time going? It will be October in no time – then it is MARKET in Houston. I have everything in place to go to Houston for both Market and Festival for 11 days. Okay – I am spent – time for bed!

Hey I am looking for ideas for the next four flowers. Please post a comment if you have a favorite that is not already in the Zebra Floral line. I am thinking about a Primrose….what else would work?

Shoot for the Moon #17

Anxiety

I booked my 11 day hotel stay in Houston. Talk about stress! I was able to get in a Marriott only 4-5 blocks away and it is a suite. That is good because eating out for 11 days could get to be a bit much. I have decided to fly down. Once I saw it was over 2,000 miles I switched gears. I am anxious about the thought of shipping everything! VERY ANXIOUS! In fact the whole idea of going to Houston for 11 days is freaking me out. It is the same old anxiety- what if I don’t sell enough? What if the stuff gets lost? What if I can’t bring enough? What am I doing? Is this worth it? Am I making a mistake? Maybe I should have only gone to Market and skipped Festival? HELP!

So shooting for the moon has considerable anxiety. Today I got orders for over 150 patterns and booked 1 workshop and another lecture in 2010. I also got a call about another lecture possibility in PA and one in Indiana.

I have a pile of florals and two Bible quilts, two butterfly quilts all ready to get appliqued. I am going back to Ohio next week for a Shop Hop. I will help to promote my patterns and give demos all day. Hopefully I will work on my first Statestamp – Ohio tomorrow. I do have a studio session with a student for two hours.

This is all very exciting but VERY Overwhelming. We are still waiting for the Keepsake order – which will be in the hundreds. That should come any day now.

I am writing all of this boring detail because hopefully it will help someone who is trying to break into the pattern business understand – once the ball of progress starts rolling it really can pick up speed before you know it. So today I say – shooting for the moon is anxiety provoking! Ugh!

I think I need a quilt business therapist! I am sure there is not such a creature – but it sure would be nice to lay on a couch and freak out for 50 minutes to a person who has many answers and advise for a quilt designer trying to make her way – even if I have to pay 100.00/hour.

Shoot for the Moon #16

The Barn/Studio

Last spring Gary decided to build a new exterior building for more garage space/a workshop and a new studio for me. I think we will have to call it “The Barn”. My new studio space will be 17.5′ x 40′. It will be upstairs. Today – in fact right now the crane is putting the trusses in place. When it is a big building! It was hard to imagine the size of it from just a cement slab. We picked out some whitewashed wood flooring yesterday. Two days ago we ordered the cupola and weather vane. The weather vane is a peace dove instead of the standard rooster. As I write it is another thing that was on my vision board 3-4 years ago. I am really encouraging you to keep a vision board. So below there are pix of the barn raising!

This will be the cupola

This will be the weather vane

PIP Pouch

I am working on and have finished samples and directions for a new trade show/guild neck pouch. It will hold your name tag, your favorite collector pins and your phone. It is very cool. I will be sending it to Pin Peddlers who sell pins at all the big shows and markets. It will also be added to the zebra patterns line.  I have also finished the Blue Bonnet flower – just need pix and instructions. Of course I still have to do the Ohio stamp sample/directions and I have two more butterfly and In the beginning quilts to make. I better go and get busy!

Shoot for the Moon #15

Two days ago I celebrated my 48th birthday. I traveled to Columbus Ohio and gave two trunk shows at Quilt Beginnings in Columbus. The shop is great – in fact the owner has two shops- both are great.  We are still in Ohio watching my two older boys swim at Ohio State.  It is 2 in the morning on July 5, 2009. I cannot sleep so I might as well blog. Sitting here writing I have realized that I am fulfilling another part of my dream/my shooting for the moon. In the last ten days I have lectured and gave trunk shows in three states – Delaware, Pennsylvania and now Ohio. I got an email last week to speak in CA! I guess it is really happening! Being here in Ohio I get very connected quickly to the quilt shop customers and to some of the owners. Cathy is the owner of Quilt Beginnings and she is sharp as a tack and has a great business. I have already received positive feedback via email from her customers . While I am hanging out in between swim sessions I get bored quickly! So I decided to make my first State Stamp. It is OHIO! I think Cathy will do very well with this stamp. I will send it to her tomorrow via email. See pix below. What do you think? I think the State stamps will incude the state bird, state capital, state flower, state tree and any other things I can work in. Sometimes you get a strong vibe while you are in the place you are designing something about. I am in Ohio with a few books and a computer so I made this new state stamp.

This is just a sketch. I will work on the pattern next week at home. I need to do MD and TX as well. I need to rest and take a break but once I get an idea for a new pattern I need to make it!It is amazing that I have been working hard at this business for over 4 years and I am even more jazzed about the whole thing that I was a few years back! How is that possible? I guess when you finally find your passion it all starts working like a fine oiled machine. But I need to remember the machine needs to be refueled  weekly and needs some downtime.

Next Tuesday they are starting our new studio/garage. That was on my vision board. I am telling you vision boards and mission statements have extraordinary power! It is crazy that things seem to be coming faster than ever! I guess you can not dream too big.

So when I reflect on the continuing efforts of shooting for the moon I have come to the conclusion that it is a constant trial to keep balance. I have not made time to walk and exercise in 4 weeks with all the work and travel and that needs to change. I do not feel as god as when I exercise. So tomorrow is the day I will start back on that routine.

I also am questioning what can Zebra Patterns become? How many patterns can I really sell? It was only last fall that I was printing 24 – 36 patterns at one time. I am now printing 100 at a time and I am starting to do 200 for a few popular patterns. That is the part of the whole equation that is so mysterious. I know that quilting in 2006 was a 3.3 billion dollar business. Did you know on average 1 in every 19 homes has a quilter? Isn’t that nuts? I have booked at least 5 speaking engageents in the past two weeks. I have two emails waiting in my email folder for when I get home. Crazy!

Gary tells me to just focus on creating and teaching and lecturing. That is good advise.  If there were only 50 hours in every day! And ten days per week would help too.

Okay I better sign off as I have to get up for the next swim session in 6 hours- yikes! Would love feedback on the Ohio stamp.