Lost : Crafting Mojo (If found please return)

It happens to everyone...

Loosing your crafting Mojo can be down right devastating

to someone that thrives on their time crafting.

So what do you do when you've lost your mojo?

Try researching new techniques or patterns online

Search for new blogs that you may not have gone to before

Visit your local shop to look at and feel the new

(fabric, thread, paper) lines that have been released recently

Search You Tube for videos on a technique you may not be good at

Invite a friend over to bounce ideas off of

Host a party with one of the local consultants of your craft

Clean and reorganize your crafting space

Visit the local craft show or fair

Try taking up a new craft or hobby

Join a local group or guild

Share your hobby with your significant other

Create something for charity

Pick up a couple of new books that have patterns that interest you

And if this all fails...

Then maybe it is time to take a personal hiatus for a while and

work on finding yourself and what may be bothering you deep down inside.

Crafting should always be fun and inspiring, not difficult and frustrating.

And this ladies and gents is why I have been away for a while.

It was time to search high and low to find my crafting mojo again.

So let us raise our rotary cutters high in hopes that I am able to kick back into

high gear and produce some new fun and exciting things to post for others to enjoy?

~Hugs and Stitches~

What creates an optimal teaching and learning situation?

Any successful crafting business offers their shoppers the opportunity for classes.

So what creates the dynamic of an ideal classroom experience?

There needs to be a balance of willingness and understanding.

A few things for students to keep in mind...

If that class is scheduled from 10-1 arrive around 9:45 with all
of the class supplies listed on your sign up sheet. 

If you have any questions about supplies this is your preclass time

that you are able to make sure that you are fully prepared for the class.

If you arrive late or under-prepared other students that

also paid for the lesson are loosing valuable learning time.

Instructors...

Come prepared.

Don't just wing things.

If you're teaching make sure you are teaching for all of the right reasons.

It really shows if you aren't there for the right reasons.

Keep in mind that some people are visual learners
where as some learn by reading a pattern or directions.

I have learned that it is best to provide a written and pictorial instruction to the
students to review before I show them hands on.

Many people learn at different speeds. Try to keep your curriculum flexible enough that you can have multiple students are different stages in the process and still be able to keep control.

Also keep in mind that all students will need
individual attention during the class.
If someone is paying you $30-$100 for the class
they will expect adequate one on one time.
So don't overbook your classes!

I know that a lot of this may come as a duh.

However, it amazes me at how many people forget the simple things.



~Hugs and Stitches~

Do's and Don'ts to a successful quilt shop?

Throughout our travels to different Quilting establishments

Kerry and I have gained some basic knowledge on what can

make or break a Quilt Shop experience.

There are so many things that people notice and evaluate you on.

And it really only takes one bad experience to ruin a shop for someone.

The rule of thumb is that if you get a bad review from one person you are

potentially losing the patronage of ten or more potential customers.

This is because when a person has a bad experience they are

more likely to share the experience than if they had a good experience

because they EXPECT a GOOD experience every time.

With that said, here are some Do's and Don'ts

we have found to be make it or break it situations for us.

DO

Keep a wide selection of fabric that includes;

Solids, Marbles, Small Prints, Large Prints, and Multiple Color Options.

Be diligent at cutting fabric at correct yardage.

Maybe even spare an extra inch for security.

(An entire bolt cut wouldn't even sacrifice a

yard if an extra inch was given at every cut)

Be consistent on how to properly fold cuts of fabric

Display only Projects that you currently

have the pattern and fabric available for.

Offer Classes!

Offer little tips, tricks, and help without trying to sell said classes.

Have a nice classroom area to teach classes.

Allow customers to come into the shop during non class

hours and craft with friends in your classroom area.

Have current tools and products.

Be able to use those current tools and products that

you are trying to promote to your customer.

Have a good efficient use of your time and skills.

Allow customers to purchase time on your longarm machine.

Allow customers to rent a sewing machine for use in shop.

(Something somewhat basic for classes or if theirs needs maintenance)

Always greet  your customers with a smile and courtesy.

Plan to be at your shop and ready for business

during the business hours posted clearly on the door.

(Plan to be there at least a half hour earlier and later)

Have more than one cutting station in the shop area.

(There is nothing worse than waiting in line to cut fabric)

DON'T

Act like your customer is an inconvenience in any way.

Leave bolts of fabric lying around without a
proper home off the floor and out of boxes.

Overcrowd the customers walking space.
(This is asking for an accident to happen)
And also makes customers feel like they are
crowding others space when your store is busy.

Make your customers feel rushed.
(If your store closes at five and they came it at four forty five to purchase
the fabric they absolutely needed to finish a project be understanding)

Don't show up to the shop doors ready to open
them at ten if your shop opens at ten.

Allow animals (specially larger ones) to roam the shop floor.
(They belong pined up behind a counter on in a back room)

Cut fabric short!
Just don't do it. Quilters expect a full 36 inches not 35.
(This could cause someone to loose an entire row of blocks)

Mark up item prices only to discount them and keep a larger profit.

Have so many employees that they flock to a
customer as they come into the shop.

Overprice Fat Quarters
(Or any other fabric for that matter)


~Hugs and Stitches~

Roots

Dreams, well where do I start? I am currently on my path, attending college with the goals of becoming a high school math teacher. In my free time I love to craft – and by crafting, I mean almost any type of craft. From cross stitching to making corker hair bows, and from quilting to sewing stuffed animals to making dog clothes – I am all over the place in the craft world. My love (besides my daughter and math) is quilting.

April and I met in a math class – go figure – which she hated and I loved, but this meeting turned us both on to a greater love, the world of quilting! Bouncing our crafty ideas off of each other has led us to a common goal – to establish a one of a kind quilting shop,

A Quilting Fabrication Station.

Born is our dream!

Dreaming big and stitching for it.

Our Dream

It’s nice to see that you have found our page!

Through out the years I have always been creative. 

I love to Quilt, Sew, Crochet, and Scrapbook.

Kerry and my boyfriend (Derek) do a great job at

being supportive of all my crazy crafting endeavors.

Come to think of it, we all do a great job

at supporting each others crafty/creative craziness.

And what would be better than waking up every

morning and going to work with your best friend?

Because of that a dream has risen.

The dream to own a Quilt Shop.

Kerry and I shall call our dream...

Quilt Fabrication Station 

I have hope that this blog will grow into something

amazing that provides knowledge, tips, tricks, and giveaways.

More importantly I have high hopes that someday

more soon than later Kerry and I will be able to

open a shop with help from people like you.

~Hugs and Stitches~