So I’ve been on a kick of listening to the Craft To Career Podcast… (love it by the way, it’s like e.x.a.c.t.l.y my niche interest). It’s definitely geared to making your quilting hobby into a career, which I’m not really looking to do. But I’ve always been interested in that aspect to a point and I love the concept of branding and selling. Since a child I’ve always dreamt of having a store and getting to choose the name and the style of the store, picking out all the products to sell, styling the place and then having people come in and buy! And so I think the idea of branding and creating a bit of a ‘store’ online kind of scratches that itch.
Anyways, I’ve dabbled in this concept, selling quilts on Etsy. And I even wrote and sold a pdf pattern for awhile. Which did pretty well but in the end I pulled it because I felt I had outgrown it. Was never quite happy with the quality of writing in it and thought maybe someday I’d redo it.
Now, for various reasons, I’m getting more serious about developing a few things to sell. Can’t talk about them yet, but I’m so excited and having a lot of fun behind the scenes here! Don’t worry, I will never turn into a commercial blog, that’s so not me! But, the first thing I need to do (apparently, after listening to above podcast the last couple weeks) is grow my email list.
This does make a lot of sense to me. I mean, so many people don’t read blogs anymore. It’s all migrated over to instagram. So I grudgingly started an account there too, and honestly there have been things about it I’ve loved. I found so many amazing people there that I might not have otherwise, and I love the concept of searching a specific hashtag for a quilt and *boom* there’s all the quilts made with that pattern. BUT, as we all know, it’s changed and now you don’t even see the people you follow so the whole point of it is lost for me. Which brings me back to the fact that I’m just gonna keep plugging along on my blog.
So if any one wants to keep up with what I’m doing, they’d better sign up for my emails because even all these blog following tools like Bloglovin’ end up crashing at some point.
The advice they give to get people to sign up to follow by email is to offer something. (ever noticed this on websites and blogs?hahaha). but of course it makes sense! So as we speak I’m writing up a little tutorial to offer anyone who signs up. And I may do more of that here and there in the future.
ALSO, I’m hoping to post more on my blog, just get back to using it as my quilting journal and do more writing. So if you want to read my non correct punctuation musings with lots of parenthesis etc. (but also more links to things I love and behind the scenes photos) then signing up to follow my blog means that you’ll always get an email notification when I post. Also if there’s any tutorial or pattern that I send out, you’ll be sure to get it.
Here’s a quilt top that’s now completed and in the process of being quilted. Can’t wait to show you the whole thing and the inspiration behind it! It’s a big quilt and reminded me that sometimes my design wall isn’t quite big enough!
Here’s a pattern I’m loving right now! I don’t buy a lot of patterns, because I usually just do my own thing, but I have quite a few Thimble blossoms patterns. Camille was one of the first quilters I stumbled upon online 18 years ago when the internet was a young child. I’ve always liked her designs and her patterns are well written. And this pattern is so twinkly and pretty and could look amazing in so many different colors! Imagine it in a dark background with lighter coloured stars, or maybe all those triangles could be arranged in rainbow order… ooo yes! You know that’s what I’m gonna do!
I also have a crazy love for old fabrics. I mean of course I love antique fabrics and feedsacks. They’re stunning but also expensive and harder to find. BUT, I also love 70’s, 80’s and dare I say even some of the 90’s cottons. I’ve recently stumbled across the plethora of these available on eBay and Etsy. Just search for Cranston fabric, or Concord Fabric, or Vintage Calico Fabric or JOAN KESSLER fabric. This will bring you a lot of cool out of print fabrics that you can add to your collection to round it out. You don’t have to start making country calico quilts, but I guarantee that any stash will benefit from a few of these types of prints! Just make sure that you like the print and that it’s in colors that you use a lot. Also the less different colors in the print, the more useable it is. Here’s a pretty funky one that I just bought.
And last of all today… and please don’t miss this! I don’t know why I haven’t shared this before because it’s something I’ve listened to multiple times and I encourage you to as well if you’re any type of quilter! (which you surely must be if you’re still reading!)
It’s a podcast interview with Gwen Marston. It almost makes me cry to listen to it, because she’s no longer here. I never knew her but her influence on me as a quilter has been huge. I love her outlook, although I wouldn’t even say I agree with everything she says in it… but that’s all the better! Here’s a link to it!
I love reading blogs! I guess I’m old-fashioned, haha. I like instagram too, but miss the good ol’ days when there were more blogs. I find the algorithm and all the ads on instagram very annoying and it only seems to get worse. All that is to say, I’m excited you’ll be posting more! I’m a huge fan of your quilts and your work to be very inspiring.
old fashioned is a good thing in my opinion! I feel the same way… thanks for your kind words!
Best of luck with all your plans. I enjoy your blog posts and love your quilting style.
Thank you:). and so glad you’re here!
I love blogs and I refuse to get on Instagram. I am so sad that most quilters I love almost exclusively post on Instagram or when they do giveaways they are exclusively on Instagram. I am excited you will be blogging more. I wish everyone would go back to blogging! Thank you! Have a wonderful week and I wish you great success in your next endeavor!
I actually think some people are starting to blog again, it’s just a bit more work you know? and it’s hard to push past the idea that it needs to be perfect and polished. I have to tell myself that if it’s my quilting journal, then it doesn’t need to be professional!
I enjoy reading blogs. Instagram has become much less enjoyable. Like you, I have connected with many talented quilters through IG. I still have my IG favorites but the non-quilty advertising is taking over. I vacillate between expanding my quilting business or retiring. Perhaps the podcast that you suggested will give me a nudge. Joan Kessler was all the rage in the 1980’s-90’s and I may have a few tiny pieces left in my stash. Finishing my quilt tops has been a priority for me the last two years; a few made with fabrics that I purchased in the 1990’s. Lots more to finish…but this week, I am focused on making HSTs for Breaking The Waves quilt…or two; one in brown/navy/black and the second one in brights. Best wishes to you with your plans!
I never want to take the enjoyment out of quilting by making it a hustle. So it takes intention to figure out what is right for me. And it looks different for each of us! Good for you on finishing up projects, that is inspiring in itself! And I had to go look up Breaking the Waves Pattern, it looks like a fun one!
Hurrah! I’m thrilled you’ll be continuing your blog! For whatever reason, I’m not fond of Instagram, and very much prefer reading blogs – yours in particular. Thank you for sharing what you do through your blog. It really seems more personal.
We’re all curious about your new endeavors.
Thanks so much for being here, I’m glad I’m not alone!
Well, this is good news for me because I love your work and reading about it on your blog.
I started quilting in the mid eighty’s so I have a lot of those calicos from the late 80’s early 90’s that you mentioned. I even have some of the fabric you pictured. Back in those days, I thought it takes a lot of fabric to make a quilt so I would buy 6 yds of everything. As a result, I still have lots of those fabrics left. Your comments on those fabrics have made me look at them with fresh eyes, because honestly, I’ve been getting kind of tired of seeing them kicking around the sewing room, taking up space. So thank you for that.
I’m in agreement with the other commenters, I much prefer reading blogs to Instagram.
Keep up the good work.
Oh, I love this! Wish I could visit your stash:). Yes, I think quilts look best when there’s a mix of era’s of fabric in them. So mix this ’80’s and ’90’s fabrics in with some solids and some newer fabrics and they will shine!
I’ve followed your blog for years and love all your quilts. You have a great sense of color and what fabrics go together. I’m glad you will be blogging more and best wishes in all your endeavors.
Thanks so much!
When I see a blog post from you in my email inbox it is a treat! I don’t open it right away….always wait to get to my favorite reading chair. Your blog brings me a lot of joy and quilt inspiration! You do a beautiful job of showing who you are as a person and quilter and that inspires me to look inside myself for what I want to be as a quilter. Please keep it coming!
Aw, that is the best encouragement ever! Thanks of being here, and keep on quilting!
The wheel from the treadle sewing machine says it all, you’re willing to do the extra foot foot work and take the wheel back and steer clear of the ever changing social media. You’re the only blog I get, thank you for your well thought out statement and your blog info.
Best funky quilts ever.
I love that idea! I really am a little old fashioned… thanks for being here!
You should follow summer_song_destash on Instagram. She buys tons of fabric at her local goodwill for something like $2 a pound and then resells a lot of it on IG. She finds some rare fabrics and a lot of old Cranston and the like that I also like to mix into my quilts.
oh my, thanks for the suggestion! I’m gonna check her out!
Thanks for the shout out Jamie! I am a volunteer at a local shop that takes in all kinds of crafty donations, fabrics, yarns, (wish I could knit or crochet!) buttons, threads, beads etc.) All sales benefit the senior center. Some of the donations are from estates so I find a lot of the great oldies from the Kesslers, all kinds of Concord Fabrics, Cranston Print Works, Peter Pan Fabrics and so many unknowns, My stash grew too big and fast! I would never be able to use it all so I started destashing on IG. (Funny but my stash does not seem to be shrinking!!)
IG has gotten frustrating for me but my best tip: from the home page, click the upper left Instagram word and select Following. It refreshes to primarily those you follow. I am most frustrated with the recent hashtag changes. I can no longer select ‘Most Recent’. That’s how many found my newest listings on #thegreatfabricdestash. Now it’s just recent top posts. Sigh…
Thank you Jolene for years of inspirational quilt making, you have certainly been influential in the my quilting journey! Best wishes to your new ventures, where ever it may lead you! I don’t follow too many blogs but yours is my top favorite!
You continue to be an inspiration and an encourager. Thank you
Thanks of being here!
I don’t do Instagram…never will. I enjoy reading blogs, and I am very happy that you intend to continue yours! I must be a relic…I sure do remember those old fabrics…even have quite a few still. Ha! 🙂
I stopped following Instagram and my life is better for it. I will read the blogs that are left and treasure them. Your emails announcing blog posts are always a bright spot in my day! And I love to scour the local paper for tag sales that include sewing or quilting items. I have ‘rescued’ some amazing fabrics for pennies!
That’s great to hear! And yes, I love to rummage through thrift stores and garage sales for fabric too!
I’m so jazzed you are going to post more!! You are my first ever Bookmark on my private and work email; your work is amazing and your thought process is really really interesting to me. I detest Instagram and I do not use social media; I see my friends in those rabbit holes and I say ‘No! My time and my life are meant to be shared socially and that means person-person’ not to mention the invasion and opportunities of exploitations both large and small. and fyi I am not an elderly person I just hope I have good judgement.
Thank you!
Well, I’m so glad you’re here! I do question sometimes why I would share my quilts as there are so many other more sophisticated designs out there. So it’s nice to hear that some people have the same tastes as myself!
Yay!!! I’m so happy to read you are staying with the blog. I love quilting blogs and feel so much more connection and interest through a blog post than through IG. It is just a sad place to be anymore and I closed my account a couple of years ago. I miss the eye candy but find my own creativity sparked by doing my own thing without the creative guidance of someone else’s project ideas.
I love the quilts you make. I think we have a similar aesthetic and your blog posts always spark new ideas for me.
I am committed to working through my stash and have been on a fabric diet (started with only “allowed” to purchase background fabric and quilt backing fabric and now just no fabric purchases) since 2019. I miss going to quilt shops LOL!
Anyhow, I encourage you to keep working on the things you find exciting and a business will evoke naturally. I would also encourage you to keep writing patterns if you like doing that. It will get easier and more professional looking with practice 🙂
Take care. Always excited to see you in my inbox!
Jolene, like many others, your blog is one I always look forward to visiting!
You touched on so many things that I agree with. I miss blogging and reading blogs. So many that I followed 10-15 years ago are now on Instagram. But I am making an effort to start posting regularly, and commenting on other blogs in the hopes of supporting and encouraging them to continue.
I agree about the vintage fabrics, too! A lot of quilters will only buy “quilt shop” fabrics, and that’s fine, but there are so many beautiful vintage cottons out there that really look wonderful in quilts. I have found they hold up just as well in my quilts… and some of my quilts get washed and dried a lot!
You really inspired me to try my own Christmas Present quilt (referring to one of your recent posts), and I have nearly all of my fabric picked out. We’ll see how it goes!
And one last thing, a previous commenter is right, Summer_song_destash on Instagram is an awesome fabric seller!
Thanks my fellow fabric hoarding friend!! 🙂
🤣🤪🤣
I love seeing your vintage Bernina! Looks like a 830 record. I really enjoy your style and your color sense. I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you. I’m glad you’re going to be blogging more.