Clear Goals + Discipline - Women Entrepreneurs Tips for Success

 Monika from QuiltLover is the final business woman in this series.   Monika believes she has found her niche in the world of Etsy and online selling. Her quilts are all over the world in countries like Spain, Australia, Japan, and Germany. She looks forward to sending her quilts to all 4 corners of the Globe.

Monika shares the following:

My long term goals are:

1.) Create a successful long arm machine quilting business

2.) A successful Etsy Quilt Store

One Customer at a Time

For me this means developing a customer base with strong one on one personal contact, and retaining that customer by giving continued support and service.

Communication

I answer all e-mails with a cheerful demeanor, thank my Customers for their purchase (and again when I receive feedback), advise them when their package has been mailed, and then again when their order is halfway through transit.

Fair Pricing
Correct pricing takes careful calculation. The price must include your materials, your hourly wage, your fees to list and sell, and a percentage for your machinery for maintenance, needles, and so on.

Packaging
Packaging is a pet peeve of mine. I hate getting my purchase, big or small, in garbage bags or recycled Jello boxes. My packaging material cost is included in my overall pricing. I use a pretty ribbon, tissue paper, a blank card for my Customer to use as they like, my business card, and their invoice, all wrapped in a new plastic bag, and then in a box.

Daily Planning
My day is planned around the Customer Quilts I have for machine quilting. While having my coffee and oatmeal in the morning, I do my internet marketing for my Etsy Store.  This includes checking on the competition, relisting items, refreshing my storefront, answering e-mails, taking care of sales, and saying hello to my fellow team mates on Quiltsy.  I am also very active in a Machine Quilter’s Forum. Between Etsy and the MQF I spend a few hours per day staying on top of the latest news. The rest of the day is spent in my Studio machine quilting, or making new Quilts for my Store.

Realistic and Attainable Goals
I usually accomplish what I set out to do. The goals I set for myself are realistic and attainable.  Because  I spend 3 weeks of every month alone with just my 3 fur babies, it is easier to get things done.

Consistent Hard Work

If I have learned anything since deciding to run my own business, it is that it requires hard work (12 to 15 hrs each day, 7 days a week).  In addition, it takes believing in yourself, dedication, persistence, perseverance, money (it takes money to make money), and most importantly a love of what you do.

Mastering Your Craft

I constantly improve my techniques, offer new designs, and use only the best materials.

You can find Monika's Longarm Quilting Services on her website.

**************

Thank you again to Lauren from OriginalsbyLauren, Zuda from ZudaGay, Lynn from LMKQuilts, and Monika from QuiltLover for their time, and generous sharing of tips for a successful business.  I have learned something from each of them, and trust my blog readers have as well.

Keep It Simple - Women Entrepreneurs Tips for Success

Wise, yet simple, advice from LMK Quilts , the next woman featured in this series on tips for success.  LMK makes gorgeous quilts, table runners, potholders, knit items, and even lace doilys.  She is constantly listing new items on Etsy.

LMK shares the following:

Promote Daily
Renew something everyday.  I usually relist in the morning and evening. I need to be cautious because my bill can get quite large if I get carried away with the renew button.

Use Twitter and Facebook to share new listings.

Treasuries seem to help get your shop noticed.  You will be in more treasuries if you feature others in treasuries.

Stay Current 

Try to keep up on new and current fabrics. Even simple patterns look modern with a current fabric.

Listen to Your Customers

They can give you ideas for new products.

Have the Best Photos Possible

Find a unique way to display your items. A lot of people know my quilts just by the way I drape them over the chair.  I have found that I need to take my pictures in my front porch in the morning to get the most accurate color with no shadows. 

You can find LMK on facebook.

 She also has quilting services available, contact her on her website.

The First National Day of Thanksgiving

The proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. 

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

The Golden Rule - Women Entrepreneurs Tips for Success

This is the second in a series of Tips from Successful Women Entrepeneurs.

ZudaGay has over 1,000 Etsy sales, and has had  her work included in two national magazines: 1000 Jewelry Details, and Simply Beads Magazine - August 2008.

Her shop includes many colorful and wonderfully detailed examples of her polymer clay work.  Zuda says, "Polymer clay is a wonderful medium that allows my creativity to run free. I've been working with PC for quite a while now and it still amazes me."She also enjoys sewing and painting, mainly decorative arts such as murals and faux painting.

Here is some of Zuda's best advice for running a successful business:

Find a Niche
1. It is good to find a niche. Something you can do quickly, well and with the minimum of overhead and still feed your creativity. That said, I've seen shops that have a large variety of items that do very well.


Find Your Target Customer
2. Find your target customer. My focus ended up being Jewelry designers with a secondary focus to drop in customers. Try to see what is popular and "in fashion". Do a little research every so often.


The Golden Rule
3. Most importantly, give good communication and customer service. Treat your customer well, be friendly, sympathetic about their concerns and mail their item as soon as possible. The Golden Rule - Treat others as you yourself want to be treated - is my very best advice.


You can read more about Zuda on her blog: Clay in the Hands.

I've asked several women I've met through Etsy to share some of their best tips for success.  My plan is to feature each woman separately in a blog article over the next week, and then bring their advice together in a spotlight artisan feature on my website.

Women Entrepreneurs Tips for Success

I've asked several women I've met through Etsy to share some of their best tips for success.  My plan is to feature each woman separately in a blog article over the next week, and then bring their advice together in a spotlight artisan feature on my website.This is the first in a series of interviews.

The first woman I would like to introduce is Lauren from Originals by Lauren and Originals by Lauren Too.

Lauren has been in various forms of business since 1981.  She started with doing craft shows, making children's dresses, and various appliqued items like bibs and potholders.

Over the years her business evolved. When  she stopped doing shows, she began doing alterations for a formal dress shop, and then alterations from her home (all while raising a family and working 20 hrs a week).  Alterations seemed to be her niche.

In 2008 she found Etsy and opened a shop.

Here are some of her tips:  

Treat Your Business Like a Real Job
Lauren schedules her appointments, and does all her errands during the morning hours. She sees customers after 2 p.m., which works for most people, and it keeps her in a routine.  She sews everyday, some days more than others.

Advertise Consistently 
She advertises weekly in 3 local Pennysavers, and finds the investment well worth it. She also gives each customer 4 business cards to pass on.  Most probably get tossed, but word of mouth has gotten her a lot of business.

  

Research Your Market and Find Your Niche  
When Lauren started on Etsy, She wanted to sell jewelry. But, after 3 weeks of browsing daily to see what was popular and what was saturated, she decided that there was too much competition in the jewelry category.  

She noticed that aprons seemed to sell well, and saw an opening for Plus size aprons. Her aprons are for Misses and Plus sizes, not for size 6.  A lot of shops offer the smaller sizes, and Lauren felt that people who spend a lot of time cooking are usually a little older, and a little larger.  As time went on she added other items to her inventory.

Ask for Advice
She found a mentor, from a list of mentors in the Etsy forums, who gave her a lot of tips.  She also contacted shops on a team she belonged to that were doing really well, and asked if they did anything to bring in extra buyers.

Network and Good Customer Service
Lauren recently opened a second Etsy shop selling clothing.  She spends a lot of time relisting items in both shops.  She has joined several teams, which help with business advice and exposure.  Two business cards from each of her shops are enclosed in every package she sends out. She sends a thank you convo the minute she becomes aware of a sale, and a thank you note on the invoice because people want to feel appreciated.   She also tries to ship within 24 hours. 

Keep Your Inventory Current
She deletes items that aren't selling well, and adds new ones. She joined a fabric co-op so that she can buy wholesale in smaller quantities.

Finally....
Treat your home based business like a business, get in a routine, and do something you love, because even that can be tedious at times.


 

1st Quilt Retreat, but not the Last!

My daughter and I just got back from our first ever quilt retreat.  We drove 3 hours into New Hampshire to a lovely Christian camp where we have attended  scrapbook retreats in the past.   About 50 other women were there.  We were divided into teams, and participated in a friendly competition as to which team accomplished the most over the weekend.  Points were awarded for each bobbin emptied, each block finished, and a 1000 points for a finished quilt.

1 of 2 quilt tops we completed for her teenage daughters

We had brought along two full size quilts to finish, and only got the tops of both pieced (next time we will take along smaller projects). Our team (the Dutch Roses) came in last in the competition, but it didn't really matter.  We had a good time together.  Each finished project got a huge round of applause from the whole group.

 
Arriving late Friday evening, we just had time to settle in and meet the other ladies.  Saturday was a full day of sewing, a little fabric shopping, a massage, and lots of good food and fellowship.  Because it is a Christian camp, Bible teachings and praise music are always part of the program, and help make these retreats so relaxing and fun.  Sunday was a little quilting, fellowship, lunch, and then the long drive home.

The girls chose the fabrics

and pattern for their quilts.

They are twins, but so different

from each other!

I think the best part was the time my daughter and I
got to spend together,away from our everyday responsibilities.

We didn't make this quilt top,
but my daughter wants to make one like it.  Isn't it gorgeous!

Three Sets of Placemats

I've been on a placemat kick all week.  This is the latest set, I call it Spicy Salsa.  It has over 30 hot fabrics from the Kaffe Fassett collective, which features Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs, as well as Kaffe.  This set, as well as the next one, I've used some solid colored Kona cotton piping to give the eye a place to rest among all the color.

These fabrics are from the Wildwood collection from Erin McMorris.  They are so sunny and cheerful,  I called this set Sunny Sunday Breakfast.

Finally, the third set is also made up of Kaffe Fassett fabrics, paired with a chocolate Kona cotton.  This quilt block is actually called the "Depression" block.  I don't find anything depressing about it however.  I think this combo makes a warm and cozy table setting.

My daughter and I are off to a Quilt Retreat this weekend, and when we get back I have some custom orders to work on.  So it feels good to have gotten a few things listed in my Etsy shop before we go.

The Color of Light

As a child, I learned that every color in the rainbow is contained in pure white light.  That fact still amazes me.  As a quilter, light and color are extremely important in designing a successful quilt.  They work together to give contrast and balance, which are pleasing and harmonious to the eye.

I especially like high contrast quilts, scrappy quilts, and two color quilts like those pictured for these reasons.

I love the scrappy look of the custom quilt

pictured above made from African Fabrics

 I made this leaf quilt some years back, love the high contrast

You can find this purple and white beauty in QuiltedHearts5 shop


I love this scrappy quilt by OriginalsbyLauren

Use Black and White for the ultimate high contrast like 
SuzyQQuilts didwith her Dandelion Quilt

Some Online Resources for More Information on Color, Light and Contrast in Quilting:

To learn more about light and dark contrast, check out this article by Christine Mann. 

ForQuiltsSake has a nice article on using value and contrast to make a WaterColor Quilt.

QuiltBlockLibrary  has a simple little article on two color quilts and contrast.

ForeverGreen has some strategies for getting more variety and contrast in your fabric selections.

An interesting article with lots of examples can be found in Elizabeth Barton's blog post on Colour and Quilts.

Happy Quilting!

Saturday at Home

So nice to have a Saturday at home.  Today will be mostly leaf day.  Almost all the leaves are down and we have a lot of raking and bagging to do.  I love working together with my husband, it is one of my favorite things to do.  And being outside all day in the chilled air and sunshine will feel good too, so I am looking forward to it.

Then tonight I get to work on my latest project, quilted placemats.  I think they are turning out pretty well.  Pieced from Kaffe Fassett fabrics with a contrasting brown Kona cotton,  they will be a  warm and cozy addition to the table.

Happy Saturday, whatever you will be doing today!

The Best Caramel Apples

Chocolate Dipped Cherries on a Stick by WorthaFortune

 
My daughter and I are thinking of making caramel apples as holiday gifts for co-workers and unexpected holiday guests.  We made them a couple of years ago, and had a lot of fun doing it.  We bought an industrial size can of caramel, made specifically for caramel apples, and gathered peppermint candies, nuts, sprinkles, white and dark chocolates.  Her thirteen year old twins helped,  and we came up with an assortment of beautiful and very delicious treats.  We wrapped them in cellophane and tied them off with ribbon and a gift card.  These apples are meant for slicing and sharing, they are huge!

If you are of a mind to make your own caramel apple concoctions, check out this cute tutorial I found on  Epicurious.com

On the other hand, if you prefer to just buy, check out these delectible selections I found by searching "caramel apples" on Etsy.   Not all are edible, but all look delicious!

 Mini Apple Pops by Nikid

 Chocolate Candy Apple by A Sugar Affair

Butterfinger Caramel Apple by mymarinenme

 SOAP Caramel Candy Apple by sunbasilgarden

ACEO caramel cake with recipe by artbylmr

 caramel apple mitten by bobbinalong

 Toffee Apple Felt by britishcreamtea

 Candy Apple Earrings by Saragato

 Apple Orchard Saddlebag Purse by KimscraftyApple

Sunnybrookfarmdesign's Caramel Apple skirt

 

Are you hungry yet?

Tessellation

Tessellating Wall Quilt by UniquelyNancy


DEFINITION
Tessellations are designs which fill a space, without over-lapping, to form a pattern. They are the simplest kind of jigsaw puzzle in that all the pieces look alike. The shapes in a tessellation can be geometric like squares and triangles, or shaped like animals and people.



QUILTS and TESSELLATIONS
Many quilts are tessellations. I think a lot of quilters are drawn to tessellations. In fact Jenny Beyer wrote a book I would like to get my hands on called, "Designing Tessellations." Perhaps some of you have read it.


There are only 3 regular geometric shapes that will tessellate. 'Regular', meaning that all sides and internal angles are equal. These are the equilateral triangle, square and hexagon. Of course these are very common shapes used in quilts.

A simple square tessellation quilt I made as a custom order

I have gathered most of this information from a wonderful site devoted to tessellation called Tessellations.org.  You could spend a lot of time on their site reading about the history of tessellation, browsing through their galleries, and even designing a tessellation of your own through their simple tutorials.  There is also software available that will help in your design.

Nouveau Leaf by bbusbyarts

Thanks to the featured Etsy shops for their wonderful examples of this fascinating artform.

Red Snail White Snail by AlkDesigns

This tessellating fish pattern is available in bcheri's shop

Escheresque 3D Wall Hanging by QuiltFinger

Of course, not all tessellations are quilts.  Here are a few examples of this design form in other media.

Cubic tessellation embroidery by themooncraft










Birds of a Feather Tessellation Necklace by theMIX














Tessellated Yunomi by clayoh