Thanks to everyone who has responded to our Fun with Fats invitation!!
We've reached our limit... but we just might plan something else, so keep checking in!!
If you didn't get in to this group, we'll think of you while we're fondling all that fabric!! :)
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Join the PARTY!!!
Fun with Fats
Friday January 11th
6pm till ??
Friday January 11th
6pm till ??
This party is all about folding fat quarters... lots and lots of fat quarters!! We'll provide pizza and soft drinks to keep up your stamina!!
All participants will earn a Shiisa Quilts gift card!!
and.... what's a party without Door Prizes??
Please RSVP at janet@shiisaquilts.com
Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today!!
and.... what's a party without Door Prizes??
Please RSVP at janet@shiisaquilts.com
Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today!!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
We Finally Have Pics - Part 1
These pics are starting from December 10 and 11th.. the next post is more recent...
We have lots of fabric, but only a couple of display racks... but Stewart Fixtures has informed us that our fabric display racks are on their way!!
Rick, our Horn of America rep, supervises David's chair assembly
Rick and Bonnie unpack a cabinet
Our newest fabric shipment from Kona Bay and Seattle Bay waits for a home
Rebecca and Nathan (Chris in the background). Nathan is sitting at the Horn 5000. If you haven't seen it in action, you need to come in and we'll show you!!
Nathan, Ashley, and David surround the HoA Quilter's Dream with a Bernina Aurora 440QE. David and Chris did a great job on those chairs!!
We have lots of fabric, but only a couple of display racks... but Stewart Fixtures has informed us that our fabric display racks are on their way!!
Rick, our Horn of America rep, supervises David's chair assembly
Rick and Bonnie unpack a cabinet
Our newest fabric shipment from Kona Bay and Seattle Bay waits for a home
Rebecca and Nathan (Chris in the background). Nathan is sitting at the Horn 5000. If you haven't seen it in action, you need to come in and we'll show you!!
Nathan, Ashley, and David surround the HoA Quilter's Dream with a Bernina Aurora 440QE. David and Chris did a great job on those chairs!!
Finally!! We have Pictures to Share!! - part 2
These are the latest... taken Thursday and Friday... You can see how far we've come in about 10 days!
It's hard to believe that only a few days earlier this space was filled with boxes of fixtures!! It's been fun to work hard and see real progress at the end of each day!
Bonnie and Ashley organized the Isacord thread wall. It looks great!
Chris and Patricia label all the Benartex Fat Quarters...
David started the OESD embroidery book -- and Ashley completed it!
Ashley directed the design of the color wall -- and tried to help David and Nathan understand about color...
It's hard to believe that only a few days earlier this space was filled with boxes of fixtures!! It's been fun to work hard and see real progress at the end of each day!
Bonnie and Ashley organized the Isacord thread wall. It looks great!
Chris and Patricia label all the Benartex Fat Quarters...
David started the OESD embroidery book -- and Ashley completed it!
Ashley directed the design of the color wall -- and tried to help David and Nathan understand about color...
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Shiisa Quilts Staff Loves Visitors!!
This has been another very busy week, but we are FINALLY beginning to look like a shop!! I'll try to get some pictures up after Christmas...
Each day this week, we have had a visitor or two... and it's really fun to show them around! It also gives us an excuse to take a break from all the work we're doing!! :)
On Tuesday (at least I think it was Tuesday!), I got a call from my FEDEX driver telling me that they had a big delivery for us... I had gone in to the shop early that morning, so I called home to tell David and Nathan that I was coming home to get them -- I was going to need help!! Called Chris and Bonnie and Ashley, too... By the time I got back to the shop with the boys, the FEDEX truck was in the lot waiting for me. We unloaded about 25 boxes... and started unpacking them... lots of merchandise from Quilters' Resource and Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design... Unpacking those boxes, it felt like Christmas!! :)
A couple of hours later, a big truck pulled in.... our fixtures from Stewart Textiles had arrived... all 70 boxes of them!! Big boxes!! Now the shop was full of boxes... and we started unpacking the fixtures and deciding where to put them... We were down to the last 5 or 10 boxes, when another truck arrived!!! This time, it was the Bernina shipment!! About 35 boxes of sewing machines and sergers and software...
It has been so much fun unpacking all the boxes that it hardly seems like work -- except that we all go home pretty tired at the end of each day!! Sarah, our Bernina District Manager, came down on Thursday afternoon and helped us to get the Berninas set up -- and she'll be back in early January...
In the meantime, we had conference calls with the credit card processor and the gift card processor so that we could learn how to do all those processes.... and we started selling gift cards this week!! We even did our first credit card sale!! Thanks to all the folks who have come in and helped us to test our new skills!!
This afternoon we even had visitors from Martinsville!! They had heard about the shop and decided to come see for themselves!! And they found us even without a sign!! Quilters are just like that, aren't they?
Well... now it's almost Christmas, and all of us are planning to enjoy the holidays with our families -- and we hope you will enjoy your holidays!! And we hope to see you soon!!
Each day this week, we have had a visitor or two... and it's really fun to show them around! It also gives us an excuse to take a break from all the work we're doing!! :)
On Tuesday (at least I think it was Tuesday!), I got a call from my FEDEX driver telling me that they had a big delivery for us... I had gone in to the shop early that morning, so I called home to tell David and Nathan that I was coming home to get them -- I was going to need help!! Called Chris and Bonnie and Ashley, too... By the time I got back to the shop with the boys, the FEDEX truck was in the lot waiting for me. We unloaded about 25 boxes... and started unpacking them... lots of merchandise from Quilters' Resource and Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design... Unpacking those boxes, it felt like Christmas!! :)
A couple of hours later, a big truck pulled in.... our fixtures from Stewart Textiles had arrived... all 70 boxes of them!! Big boxes!! Now the shop was full of boxes... and we started unpacking the fixtures and deciding where to put them... We were down to the last 5 or 10 boxes, when another truck arrived!!! This time, it was the Bernina shipment!! About 35 boxes of sewing machines and sergers and software...
It has been so much fun unpacking all the boxes that it hardly seems like work -- except that we all go home pretty tired at the end of each day!! Sarah, our Bernina District Manager, came down on Thursday afternoon and helped us to get the Berninas set up -- and she'll be back in early January...
In the meantime, we had conference calls with the credit card processor and the gift card processor so that we could learn how to do all those processes.... and we started selling gift cards this week!! We even did our first credit card sale!! Thanks to all the folks who have come in and helped us to test our new skills!!
This afternoon we even had visitors from Martinsville!! They had heard about the shop and decided to come see for themselves!! And they found us even without a sign!! Quilters are just like that, aren't they?
Well... now it's almost Christmas, and all of us are planning to enjoy the holidays with our families -- and we hope you will enjoy your holidays!! And we hope to see you soon!!
New Books Coming in January!!
Brand new books are arriving in January!! You can reserve your copy by sending an email to janet@shiisaquilts.com
Each month, we will offer pre-sale reservations for new books!!
Each month, we will offer pre-sale reservations for new books!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Do You Need a Gift for Your Favorite Quilter?
Just in time for Christmas!!
Shiisa Quilts has Gift Cards available!
Come by the shop between 10 and 4 on Friday December 21 or between 10 and 3 on Saturday December 22 and get a gift you KNOW she'll love!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
It Looks Better Every Day!!
Wow!! What a busy week this has been!!
Wednesday morning the Horn of America cabinets arrived... all 3+ tons (no kidding!!) of them... Early that morning, the driver called and asked if we had a forklift -- nope.... but we had Rick (the HoA rep) and the Shiisa Quilts staff ready to get that furniture off the truck and into the shop!!
So... the truck arrived and we started hefting boxes -- 66 of them!! Once they were in the shop, I looked at them and thought, "What was I thinking????" and "We will NEVER get these things assembled and on the floor!!"
But... we started in... Rick showed us how to "assemble" each of the different models.. and really, they come "fully assembled," so we were doing things like putting on casters and drawer hardware mostly.
Chris and David tackled the chairs -- 3 different styles... and they got that assembly process down to a rhythm that was pretty amazing!! Bonnie and I worked on the tables.... and we had the same process.... there's way more than 3 models of tables, but there were a LOT of one of the models because we'll be using them in the classroom... so we really got that one down!! And Rick provided guidance -- and assembled the "one of a kinds"....
Wait till you SEE them!! I'm in awe of the tables with the hydraulic lifts -- You can lower them for sewing... and then when it's time for cutting, you can lower your machine on the airlift platform... cover the hole... and push the button to activate the hydraulic lift to raise the table to your optimum cutting table height!!! WOW!!!
And, of course, we have the HoA Quilter's Dream.... which is really just that!! and the Craft Table... and... a whole bunch more!!
We finished getting everything together at about 5:30 on Wednesday and we all went home and slept REALLY well!! A HUGE thanks to Rick for all his help!!
On Thursday we had a virtual meeting with Micro-Solve for continued set-up of our point-of-sale system... and we printed the labels for all the fabric that we currently have in the store....
We also had a visit from one of my favorite fabric reps... Benartex... In the Beginning... Westminster...
On Friday, I got an early morning call from FEDEX (my FEDEX delivery folks are the BEST!!) to "warn" me about a shipment of "a lot of boxes"... I told him I'd be there... Twenty-two boxes of notions and books and other fun stuff from Quilters' Resource, Inc! Unpacking those boxes felt like Christmas!! Chris and Bonnie and I had a ball!!
Next week, Patricia will join us!! And we'll be pulling in the ready reserves -- our kids who are home from college for what they thought was going to be Christmas break -- to help assemble the fabric display fixtures that will be arriving this week...
We expect daily arrivals from QRI and OESD and Robert Kaufmann and Benartex and on and on...
AND... the Berninas should arrive on Monday!!
If you're in the neighborhood, stop in and see us! We love to show off our progress toward opening!! And... we can print you a gift certificate if you're looking for that perfect Christmas present for your favorite quilter!!
Wednesday morning the Horn of America cabinets arrived... all 3+ tons (no kidding!!) of them... Early that morning, the driver called and asked if we had a forklift -- nope.... but we had Rick (the HoA rep) and the Shiisa Quilts staff ready to get that furniture off the truck and into the shop!!
So... the truck arrived and we started hefting boxes -- 66 of them!! Once they were in the shop, I looked at them and thought, "What was I thinking????" and "We will NEVER get these things assembled and on the floor!!"
But... we started in... Rick showed us how to "assemble" each of the different models.. and really, they come "fully assembled," so we were doing things like putting on casters and drawer hardware mostly.
Chris and David tackled the chairs -- 3 different styles... and they got that assembly process down to a rhythm that was pretty amazing!! Bonnie and I worked on the tables.... and we had the same process.... there's way more than 3 models of tables, but there were a LOT of one of the models because we'll be using them in the classroom... so we really got that one down!! And Rick provided guidance -- and assembled the "one of a kinds"....
Wait till you SEE them!! I'm in awe of the tables with the hydraulic lifts -- You can lower them for sewing... and then when it's time for cutting, you can lower your machine on the airlift platform... cover the hole... and push the button to activate the hydraulic lift to raise the table to your optimum cutting table height!!! WOW!!!
And, of course, we have the HoA Quilter's Dream.... which is really just that!! and the Craft Table... and... a whole bunch more!!
We finished getting everything together at about 5:30 on Wednesday and we all went home and slept REALLY well!! A HUGE thanks to Rick for all his help!!
On Thursday we had a virtual meeting with Micro-Solve for continued set-up of our point-of-sale system... and we printed the labels for all the fabric that we currently have in the store....
We also had a visit from one of my favorite fabric reps... Benartex... In the Beginning... Westminster...
On Friday, I got an early morning call from FEDEX (my FEDEX delivery folks are the BEST!!) to "warn" me about a shipment of "a lot of boxes"... I told him I'd be there... Twenty-two boxes of notions and books and other fun stuff from Quilters' Resource, Inc! Unpacking those boxes felt like Christmas!! Chris and Bonnie and I had a ball!!
Next week, Patricia will join us!! And we'll be pulling in the ready reserves -- our kids who are home from college for what they thought was going to be Christmas break -- to help assemble the fabric display fixtures that will be arriving this week...
We expect daily arrivals from QRI and OESD and Robert Kaufmann and Benartex and on and on...
AND... the Berninas should arrive on Monday!!
If you're in the neighborhood, stop in and see us! We love to show off our progress toward opening!! And... we can print you a gift certificate if you're looking for that perfect Christmas present for your favorite quilter!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
King Size Sun Cloth
Wow!! I happened to check out FabShopNews today and found an article about one of the new items we're going to have at the shop -- King Size Sun Cloth from Langa Lapu
I can't wait till they get here!!
I can't wait till they get here!!
We're Starting to Look Like a Quilt Shop! :)
Chris, Bonnie and I were at the shop for a few hours yesterday morning... sorting through boxes and fabric and deciding which samples to make...
We also decided to get a bit of a display in the window -- just so passers-by would be able to see what's coming!!
The display is set up on an antique day bed from China... about 120 years old... and if you look closely, you'll see that the front legs of the bed are a pair of shiisa!! Very cool, huh?
This quilt on display is a kimono quilt that my Mom made for me -- all hand quilted... really lovely!! Thanks, Mom!!
What do you think??
Tomorrow: Horn cabinets arrive!!
If you're in the area, stop in and see us... but be warned... we just might put you to work!! :)
We also decided to get a bit of a display in the window -- just so passers-by would be able to see what's coming!!
The display is set up on an antique day bed from China... about 120 years old... and if you look closely, you'll see that the front legs of the bed are a pair of shiisa!! Very cool, huh?
This quilt on display is a kimono quilt that my Mom made for me -- all hand quilted... really lovely!! Thanks, Mom!!
What do you think??
Tomorrow: Horn cabinets arrive!!
If you're in the area, stop in and see us... but be warned... we just might put you to work!! :)
Sunday, December 09, 2007
A Very Busy Week Ahead!!
Tomorrow is the beginning of a very busy week!!
On Thursday, we moved the fabric and furniture from my house to the shop. The phones and internet are in... and tomorrow we (as in the Shiisa Quilts staff!!) begin working on getting the shop set up!
I gave MediaWorks approval for the logo and got the sign ordered... also ordered biz cards and stationery... and Eric is making great progress on the website!
Monday, we have a virtual training on Bernina's My Label software.
Tuesday, I have a phone conference with MicroSolve to move forward on the point of sale system.
Wednesday, the Horn of America cabinets will arrive!!
Friday (I think), the Bernina machines and software will arrive!!
And... everyday holds the promise of shipments of fabrics and notions!!
I hope to have gift cards available before Christmas, but if we don't have them, we'll make sure that you can get a gift certificate for your favorite quilter!!
On Thursday, we moved the fabric and furniture from my house to the shop. The phones and internet are in... and tomorrow we (as in the Shiisa Quilts staff!!) begin working on getting the shop set up!
I gave MediaWorks approval for the logo and got the sign ordered... also ordered biz cards and stationery... and Eric is making great progress on the website!
Monday, we have a virtual training on Bernina's My Label software.
Tuesday, I have a phone conference with MicroSolve to move forward on the point of sale system.
Wednesday, the Horn of America cabinets will arrive!!
Friday (I think), the Bernina machines and software will arrive!!
And... everyday holds the promise of shipments of fabrics and notions!!
I hope to have gift cards available before Christmas, but if we don't have them, we'll make sure that you can get a gift certificate for your favorite quilter!!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
A Work in Progress...
I promised pics -- and it's fun to share with you all how things are moving along!!
Right now it's dusty and grimy... but by Thursday morning it should be pristeen!
Right now it's dusty and grimy... but by Thursday morning it should be pristeen!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Tomorrow is the Big Day!!
OK... maybe not the REALLY big day!! But, I'll get the keys to the building tomorrow... and then Wed it will get a really really GOOD cleaning... and by Thursday afternoon, we'll actually have some furniture in there!!
Horn of America cabinets and Bernina sewing machines and sergers are coming in next week...
We won't open until mid-January, but we'll be in there working on getting the shop together... so if you're in the area, stop by and see us... and give us a HAND!! :)
If you're just really disappointed that you won't be able to shop for quilting fabric and notions for that special Christmas present, you can email me at janet@shiisaquilts.com and we can work out getting you a gift certificate!!
We'll plan a Fat Quarter folding party in early January -- so if you're interested in helping us, send me an email... participants will earn free FQ's, gift cards, and get a chance to see (and touch) all the new fabric.... isn't that what quilting is all about??
Keep checking back for updates!! I'll try to post pictures tomorrow!
Horn of America cabinets and Bernina sewing machines and sergers are coming in next week...
We won't open until mid-January, but we'll be in there working on getting the shop together... so if you're in the area, stop by and see us... and give us a HAND!! :)
If you're just really disappointed that you won't be able to shop for quilting fabric and notions for that special Christmas present, you can email me at janet@shiisaquilts.com and we can work out getting you a gift certificate!!
We'll plan a Fat Quarter folding party in early January -- so if you're interested in helping us, send me an email... participants will earn free FQ's, gift cards, and get a chance to see (and touch) all the new fabric.... isn't that what quilting is all about??
Keep checking back for updates!! I'll try to post pictures tomorrow!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Peek at my "Office" aka the Dining Room
In the corner, I have 3 computers set up... only using 1, you understand, but I really had to get started on the POS set-up on those computers...
Lots of fabric is still at the distributors... just waiting for me to give them the word to deliver... and I think that will be late next week!!
The floor was supposed to be finished today... I'll go tomorrow to check it out... and then the molding and a little touch-up painting... I have cleaning tentatively scheduled for Wed evening!!
The shop will look way better than this... promise!! :)
My RT Tulip #1
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Ricky Tims calls this his Chantelle Tulip... but I think I'll name mine the RT Tulip... and this one is #1... I somehow think there will be more as I play with this technique a bit!!
I love it... no rulers.. no templates... gentle undulating curves....
I'm in LOVE!!
LOL friends... I knew that would get your attention!!
I think I love Ricky Tims!!
I told you about the Convergence Quilt... that was fun...
But last night I decided to try Ricky's Quilting Caveman Style... unfortunately, I started that at about 10pm... so at 3am (!) I finally forced myself to go to bed!! My first little Chantelle top was finished... including the "wonky" borders...
So this morning (yes, I did get up at regular time!), I layered it and got the backing on... now all I have to do is quilt it!!!
I'll try to get some pics up this evening...
oh... and I went out to the shop yesterday -- they'd started laying the floor... should be finished with that this afternoon... then the floor molding and a bit of paint... and I think we'll have access early next week!!!
I think I love Ricky Tims!!
I told you about the Convergence Quilt... that was fun...
But last night I decided to try Ricky's Quilting Caveman Style... unfortunately, I started that at about 10pm... so at 3am (!) I finally forced myself to go to bed!! My first little Chantelle top was finished... including the "wonky" borders...
So this morning (yes, I did get up at regular time!), I layered it and got the backing on... now all I have to do is quilt it!!!
I'll try to get some pics up this evening...
oh... and I went out to the shop yesterday -- they'd started laying the floor... should be finished with that this afternoon... then the floor molding and a bit of paint... and I think we'll have access early next week!!!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bloom Magazine Advertisers Sale
The kids and I went to the Convention Center today for this sale sponsored by Bloom Magazine. It was pretty cool! Businesses who have advertised in Bloom Magazine during the year were invited to participate.... next year Shiisa Quilts will be among that group!
We did a little Christmas shopping and enjoyed looking at all the items that were for sale. Prices were GREAT!!
And... if you've never seen Bloom Magazine, you're really missing out! It's a top-quality publication that looks like NYC or Paris -- but it's about Bloomington!
We did a little Christmas shopping and enjoyed looking at all the items that were for sale. Prices were GREAT!!
And... if you've never seen Bloom Magazine, you're really missing out! It's a top-quality publication that looks like NYC or Paris -- but it's about Bloomington!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
My Bernina 730 and a Convergence Quilt
Last night, I reached the end of my rope!! I decided that today, I would ignore the boxes (that I can't do anything about right now anyways!!) and I'd clear a little space in my room so that I could give my Bernina 730 a "test drive"....
So... what to do?? Well I have some hand-dyed fabric and have been dying to try my hand at one of Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts... so that's what I did today!! What FUN!! And... he's right... they are addicting!! I completed the first top and have ideas swimming for others... I think I need to live with this one a bit before I'll know how I want to finish it -- borders/no borders... how to quilt it... those kinds of decisions....
The 730 is wonderful!! ... now I need to get out that embroidery module... maybe tomorrow??
So... what to do?? Well I have some hand-dyed fabric and have been dying to try my hand at one of Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts... so that's what I did today!! What FUN!! And... he's right... they are addicting!! I completed the first top and have ideas swimming for others... I think I need to live with this one a bit before I'll know how I want to finish it -- borders/no borders... how to quilt it... those kinds of decisions....
The 730 is wonderful!! ... now I need to get out that embroidery module... maybe tomorrow??
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Shiisa Quilts is Coming!
I met the electrician at the shop this morning to show him where I wanted the light fixtures and remembered to take the camera with me -- so we finally have some "in progress" pics of the shop!
The first door on the left is the Tech Department aka David's Domain... the mirrored window will be reversed so that customers can see into the workshop.
This is our Bernina and Horn of America sales area. The windows look into the classroom!
A little better view of the classroom...
These pictures show the rest of the sales floor...
Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have some pics that show lots of progress!! It will look so much better when that concrete floor is replaced, don't you think?
The first door on the left is the Tech Department aka David's Domain... the mirrored window will be reversed so that customers can see into the workshop.
This is our Bernina and Horn of America sales area. The windows look into the classroom!
A little better view of the classroom...
These pictures show the rest of the sales floor...
Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have some pics that show lots of progress!! It will look so much better when that concrete floor is replaced, don't you think?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Update 18 November
First of all... Happy Birthday, Nathan!! (my youngest is 21 today!!)
The "state of the shop" is that the slatwall was delivered this week... last time I was over there, they were putting up the grid to get the lights back in... which means that flooring isn't far behind!
Then the real work begins for us! The fabric fixtures are due in early December and that will allow me to get all this fabric out of my dining room!! And the bulk of the fabric shipments will arrive in December -- so that will be exciting... touching all that fabric -- such an obsession, eh?
Then the Horn of America cabinets and chairs will arrive and the Bernina machines will arrive -- and David (and others) can begin the process of sewing them in and completing the Mastery Books for them. Rebecca has been putting together books for me so that we're ready to go with that.
I have a telephone conference appointment on Monday to get the POS system set up on the computer and then I'll start getting labels on the inventory that's already here at the house. Getting the inventory on the list is a huge job at this point, but I'm glad we're starting at the beginning! I can't imagine doing that when the shop is already open and you're trying to keep up with inventory manually!
MediaWorks in Bloomington is working on our logo and website -- and I'm really excited about the direction they're going with that!! I'm hoping that the website will be ready early in December... Once the logo is ready, I'll get with the the sign shop...
Chris and I went to Madison WI for a sales training early this week... a day with Kaysie Oldani, the national sales trainer for Bernina USA, is a terrific experience! And I think that Chris is now ready to help us sell machines!!
So... you can see that we've been pretty busy here!! And... it's getting COLD!! :(
The "state of the shop" is that the slatwall was delivered this week... last time I was over there, they were putting up the grid to get the lights back in... which means that flooring isn't far behind!
Then the real work begins for us! The fabric fixtures are due in early December and that will allow me to get all this fabric out of my dining room!! And the bulk of the fabric shipments will arrive in December -- so that will be exciting... touching all that fabric -- such an obsession, eh?
Then the Horn of America cabinets and chairs will arrive and the Bernina machines will arrive -- and David (and others) can begin the process of sewing them in and completing the Mastery Books for them. Rebecca has been putting together books for me so that we're ready to go with that.
I have a telephone conference appointment on Monday to get the POS system set up on the computer and then I'll start getting labels on the inventory that's already here at the house. Getting the inventory on the list is a huge job at this point, but I'm glad we're starting at the beginning! I can't imagine doing that when the shop is already open and you're trying to keep up with inventory manually!
MediaWorks in Bloomington is working on our logo and website -- and I'm really excited about the direction they're going with that!! I'm hoping that the website will be ready early in December... Once the logo is ready, I'll get with the the sign shop...
Chris and I went to Madison WI for a sales training early this week... a day with Kaysie Oldani, the national sales trainer for Bernina USA, is a terrific experience! And I think that Chris is now ready to help us sell machines!!
So... you can see that we've been pretty busy here!! And... it's getting COLD!! :(
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Fabric Fabric Everywhere!!
Let me tell you what MY house looks like!!
OK... first a little background... you know (if you've been reading) that we had been staying with my Mom since we arrived in Bloomington... but on 1 November we moved into our condo!! YAY!! Now... somehow I had forgotten that the stuff I bought for the shop was going to take up space in said condo.... hmmm... so... I have all the stuff that actually belongs in my house... plus quite a bit of Chinese antiques that belong at the shop... plus all of Rebecca's stuff (she'll be moving to her new apartment in early December -- at which time her room becomes my office/sewing room).... plus all of David's stuff (he'll be moving to his new apartment in early January at which time his room becomes the guest room).... So... it's a little hard to move in here... and a little hard to put stuff away -- which is really NOT by best attribute anyways!
My little bro has graciously allowed me to have fabric delivered to the One World Commissary for the past few months... and Tommy brought that to my garage today... about a pallet of fabric... so I quickly had to look -- and feel, of course!! -- and much of it is now in my dining room and has been input onto the inventory spreadsheet....
I have the dining room set up as a temporary office....
Rebecca has been working -- putting together Bernina mastery books for the shop.... David has been working -- keeping the trash going to the dumpster and helping me get stuff together for the shop...
So things are moving right along!!
I've hired two staff members and have talked to others, so that's been very cool!! Chris and I will go to Madison, WI, on Tuesday for a Bernina sales training. Can't WAIT!!
I met with one of my fabric reps yesterday to order some Marcus Textiles, some Langa Lapu, M&S Textiles, and ClothWorks.... NICE STUFF!!
So... I know you're dying to know what's in my dining room....
Well let's see...
Blank Textiles: Amazon; Happy Days; Out of Africa: Wonderland
Westminster Fibers: Utopia; Dogwood Festival; Mendhi; Fundamentals
Quilting Treasures: Living Color
Martha Negly Collection
Kaffe Fassett Collection
Marie Kelzer Collection
Does that give you a clue??
OK... first a little background... you know (if you've been reading) that we had been staying with my Mom since we arrived in Bloomington... but on 1 November we moved into our condo!! YAY!! Now... somehow I had forgotten that the stuff I bought for the shop was going to take up space in said condo.... hmmm... so... I have all the stuff that actually belongs in my house... plus quite a bit of Chinese antiques that belong at the shop... plus all of Rebecca's stuff (she'll be moving to her new apartment in early December -- at which time her room becomes my office/sewing room).... plus all of David's stuff (he'll be moving to his new apartment in early January at which time his room becomes the guest room).... So... it's a little hard to move in here... and a little hard to put stuff away -- which is really NOT by best attribute anyways!
My little bro has graciously allowed me to have fabric delivered to the One World Commissary for the past few months... and Tommy brought that to my garage today... about a pallet of fabric... so I quickly had to look -- and feel, of course!! -- and much of it is now in my dining room and has been input onto the inventory spreadsheet....
I have the dining room set up as a temporary office....
Rebecca has been working -- putting together Bernina mastery books for the shop.... David has been working -- keeping the trash going to the dumpster and helping me get stuff together for the shop...
So things are moving right along!!
I've hired two staff members and have talked to others, so that's been very cool!! Chris and I will go to Madison, WI, on Tuesday for a Bernina sales training. Can't WAIT!!
I met with one of my fabric reps yesterday to order some Marcus Textiles, some Langa Lapu, M&S Textiles, and ClothWorks.... NICE STUFF!!
So... I know you're dying to know what's in my dining room....
Well let's see...
Blank Textiles: Amazon; Happy Days; Out of Africa: Wonderland
Westminster Fibers: Utopia; Dogwood Festival; Mendhi; Fundamentals
Quilting Treasures: Living Color
Martha Negly Collection
Kaffe Fassett Collection
Marie Kelzer Collection
Does that give you a clue??
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!!
EEK! A Severed Foot!
(Hee-Hee - Happy Halloween :)
thanks to Lois, at Bernina USA!! :)
(Hee-Hee - Happy Halloween :)
thanks to Lois, at Bernina USA!! :)
Monday, October 29, 2007
I Love My MBT's!!! :)
As you all know, I have spent the weekend at Quilt Market in Houston. What an amazing (and yes... overwhelming at times!) experience!! I took two classes -- making a silk clutch purse using free-motion quilting (more on that in a later post!!) and a class on using Shiva Paintstiks (more on that later too!!) But the rest of the time was spent walking the floor of the huge vendor area, looking at (and buying, of course!) quilting fabric, dupioni silk, quilting threads, serger threads, embroidery threads, embellishments, quilting and sewing patterns and books, Horn cabinets... and on and on...
That's a LOT of time on your feet... on those awful concrete floors.... I left the hotel at 7:30 am, walked a couple of blocks to the convention center, and then spent all day until 7 or 8 pm on my feet most of the time... and then walked back to the hotel.... In the past, my feet and my legs and my lower back would have been screaming "just kill me now!!!".... and I would have been looking for my bottle of painkiller...
BUT... you know what?? My feet don't hurt... not at all.... my back doesn't hurt... my legs don't hurt.... and I don't wake up in the morning thinking "I can't move!!!"
I have loved my MBT's from the time I bought them, but I never REALLY put them to the test until this weekend... I brought my sandals (Kisumu) and some new oxfords (Beach)... and they were GREAT!!
And it just occurred to me..... Bernina and MBT are both made in Switzerland... how COOL is THAT??? :)
And yes... this is an unpaid testimonial!! :)
Now... if they'd just come out with a MaryJane style I'd be so very thankful!!
That's a LOT of time on your feet... on those awful concrete floors.... I left the hotel at 7:30 am, walked a couple of blocks to the convention center, and then spent all day until 7 or 8 pm on my feet most of the time... and then walked back to the hotel.... In the past, my feet and my legs and my lower back would have been screaming "just kill me now!!!".... and I would have been looking for my bottle of painkiller...
BUT... you know what?? My feet don't hurt... not at all.... my back doesn't hurt... my legs don't hurt.... and I don't wake up in the morning thinking "I can't move!!!"
I have loved my MBT's from the time I bought them, but I never REALLY put them to the test until this weekend... I brought my sandals (Kisumu) and some new oxfords (Beach)... and they were GREAT!!
And it just occurred to me..... Bernina and MBT are both made in Switzerland... how COOL is THAT??? :)
And yes... this is an unpaid testimonial!! :)
Now... if they'd just come out with a MaryJane style I'd be so very thankful!!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Quilt Market In Houston
I got to Houston early this afternoon, quickly got settled in the hotel and then headed for the Convention Center to check things out. It's HUGE!!!
I went to the Bernina Reception -- it was great to see a few familiar faces and to realize that next year more of the faces will be familiar :)
Then... I joined some friends at the Sample Spree... OMG!! What a feeding frenzy that is!! A room full of vendors selling their newest quilting offerings... beautiful silks... embellishments.... fat quarter packs and jelly rolls.... WOW!!
It was truly a quilter's dream come true!!
I'm scheduled for a couple of classes tomorrow and meetings with vendors.... Sounds like fun!!
I went to the Bernina Reception -- it was great to see a few familiar faces and to realize that next year more of the faces will be familiar :)
Then... I joined some friends at the Sample Spree... OMG!! What a feeding frenzy that is!! A room full of vendors selling their newest quilting offerings... beautiful silks... embellishments.... fat quarter packs and jelly rolls.... WOW!!
It was truly a quilter's dream come true!!
I'm scheduled for a couple of classes tomorrow and meetings with vendors.... Sounds like fun!!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Beautiful Fabric is Coming from Blank Quilting!!
I met yesterday with the rep from Blank Quilting...
Bought some beautiful fabrics!! But... you'll just have to wait until the shop goes online to see them.... I'm hoping to get the online shop open in December!!
OK... OK... I'll show you a couple!! LOL
These are from the Tribal Treasures II Collection
I can really picture some stunning quilts using these!! Get those creative juices flowing!! :)
Bought some beautiful fabrics!! But... you'll just have to wait until the shop goes online to see them.... I'm hoping to get the online shop open in December!!
OK... OK... I'll show you a couple!! LOL
These are from the Tribal Treasures II Collection
I can really picture some stunning quilts using these!! Get those creative juices flowing!! :)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Bernina is Awesome!!
David and I completed our trainings today!! The Bernina New Dealer Business Training was amazing. My brain is filled to the brim with great info about how to develop my business!!
But I think David really had a much more challenging week than I had. Technical training is tough!! Near the end of the first day of training I peeked in the room and each of the techs-in-training had an Artista 730 in front of them on the workbench... and they were disassembling them!! This is a top-of-the-line Bernina, and my son was taking it apart!! Pretty scary! A number of the men in the class have been repairing machines for years and they were really helpful to David (and to the other newbies in the class, I'm sure!)... Less than about 48 hours later, they had all adjusted and reassembled their 730s, completed the "stitch in" and they were working just great!! Next, they worked on the 440QE... and then the sergers....
Although early in the week, David looked pretty overwhelmed, by the middle of the week, he came out of the room smiling every day!! Exhausted... but smiling!! And today, he got his certificate announcing that he had successfully completed the Bernina Basic Technical Training!! YAY for David!! :)
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Monday, October 08, 2007
Is This the REAL Beginning?
David and I arrived in Aurora IL today ('burb of Chicago) to begin Bernina Training. I'll spend the rest of the week in New Dealer Training and David will attend Technical Training (machine repair)... then next week, we'll both attend the Bernina Product Training.
I'm excited!! I've had a Bernina for nearly 2 years, but haven't had any Bernina training on it, so I KNOW there's lots of things that it does that I don't know anything about!! And to learn the embroidery modules -- and the new top-of-the-line Bernina machines will be AWESOME!!
I'll keep you posted!!
I'm excited!! I've had a Bernina for nearly 2 years, but haven't had any Bernina training on it, so I KNOW there's lots of things that it does that I don't know anything about!! And to learn the embroidery modules -- and the new top-of-the-line Bernina machines will be AWESOME!!
I'll keep you posted!!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
New Kona Bay Collection!!
Shiisa Quilts will have the new Nobu Fujiyama Collection!! We're scheduled to receive new releases in January, March, May, July, September, and November 2008!!
The prints are stunning!!
We'll offer pre-orders for the January series when our website comes online... Watch for it in December!! :)
The prints are stunning!!
We'll offer pre-orders for the January series when our website comes online... Watch for it in December!! :)
Monday, September 24, 2007
Yomitan Monokatari
Okinawa has MANY wonderful Izakaya and I certainly have not even scratched the surface in visiting them!! :) But one of my favorites is Yomitan Monokatari (Story of Yomitan).... so that's where I requested to have my going away gathering with my friends from work....
One of the very cool things about Story of Yomitan is that all of the dishes are original pottery creations. We had to check Julia's pockets on the way out because she was so amazed by each dish as it came out!!
The ambience is terrific, but the food is great, too! Everything is local and very fresh.... I think when you order octopus someone from the kitchen runs down to the reef and catches one for you!! One of the daily specials Saturday night was tempura of dragonfruit shoots.... interesting... texture sort of like fried okra, so not one of my favorites!! :)
The awamori (sake) jars on the wall are all handmade by local potters -- some are made by Jorge who was my pottery sensai... "Regulars" (no, I'm not one of those!!) may buy more awamori than they can drink in an evening, so they would have the rest stored in their personal jar....
"The Jans"
OK Sue... no one will notice that the Kanji is upside down... but the English is a dead give-away!!
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