Monday, November 18, 2013

SEW Cool Playdates!

Bad blogger!  How can I have let so much time go by between posts?  I think about you guys, my blogging friends, quite often, much more often than I post.  But I tell ya, this "starting a business" business will wear a body out!

So, quick recap of the last month and a half -

Business has been great - classes are almost all at capacity, I now have over 50 local artisans selling in my shop, I am able to pay all my bills, and I am having FUN!

Plus, I've had surprise company - Doreen from Treadlemusic stopped in around mid-October

And then Becky from Quilting Meme stopped in a few weeks later.  (Oops!  Forgot to take a photo!)  Meeting blogging friends in real life is so fun!

I continue to keep my shop closed on Sundays and Mondays - a gal needs a rest, you know.  Yesterday's rest, however, was prepping lesson plans and samples for my newest addition to the services at the shop - SEW Cool Playdates for kids.

For the 5 and up crowd who are just starting to lose their teeth, a 90 minute Tooth Fairy Pillow Workshop.  This has to be one of the easiest yet cutest things I've done in a while.


For the 8 and up crowd, a 3-hour Patchwork Doll Quilts Workshop.  I used gridded fusible to align the squares, so instead of sewing twosies, then four patches, and so on, there are just 17 total seams to make this quilt top.  Add some fusible fleece and backing, birth the quilt, add a bit of simple, straight line machine quilting and voila!



Today I want to time out a Rag Doll lesson plan as another option, plus tweak my t-shirt backpack design.  Winter is coming, and I want to give parents something fun for their kids to do outside the house, but also out of the cold.

What have you all been up to?  One goal for today is for me to find out - I haven't read any blogs for eons!  Be well!

12 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I still have your postcard of thanks for the Sandy quilts hanging on my fridge, so think of you everytime I see that. I am so happy things are going so well with your new adventure. I am sure it is a GOOD tired. Wishing you a continued success.

Barbara Arcement said...

I am so happy your shop is doing so well. I have been waiting for you to post about it. I sure wish I lived close enough to take some of your classes. I wish you many years of fun and success with your shop! And it is a great idea to take a couple of days for yourself.
hugs from Louisiana
beebee

beth said...

Does your shop have a web address? Congratulations on your success!

andsewon said...

Wonderful news to hear your shop has taken off so well! Wish you much success in the future! If I ever get that way will pop in.
Lola in Va

Jean said...

Erin,
when you get the rag doll figured out, I would be interested in the pattern. Our church circle is looking for a very simple rag doll pattern to make dolls for the women in care facilities. Glad the shop is doing well. It's scary to start a new business.

Lisa Uotinen said...

Looking good!

Caz said...

Good to hear that the shop and business are doing well!

Shay said...

Im thrilled to hear your business is doing so well. You deserve every success with it.

Ive missed you but have been following you on Facebook so I know how busy you've been . I love what Im seeing come out of your crafty space!

Maureen in Portland said...

Thanks for the report, Erin. So glad things are going well for you. "Busy" is a good thing for "business", for sure. Sounds like you have a wonderful shop -- maybe I'll manage to visit some day. Enjoy the holidays!

Julie Fukuda said...

You must be psychic! I have been thinking about you daily and imagining you have been overly busy with your new business. I'm so glad to hear things are going well and that you are enjoying the time spent. You always have so many creative ideas!
And, YES, blogging friends are terrific in person too.

Moneik said...

So excited to hear your new business is doing well. Continued success into the future. The classes sound wonderful!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Sew glad your business is doing well. Keep it up.