bowl me over with a feather

**forestdale** · 01-09-2005, 01:18 AM

I've been very busy lately with a couple of things that I hope will bring in some extra money for DH and I. We are wanting to sell our store and need something to replace it.

On Christmas day, my DIL Cathy and I were talking about embroidery. She is teaching a beginners embroidery class in February and she was complaining about there being no great Australian patterns or kits available. Well, one thing lead to another and I offered to draw a series of patterns for her. This carried on to us using the patterns to make up kits for her beginners and for her to use in her new craft studio for her other classes.

I did up a few patterns for her last week and we both stitched some. She brought hers over this morning - it looks brilliant and so professional. She told me that she showed the patterns to a lady who owns the best craft store in our area. She's doing a few teaching classes there too soon. This woman loved the patterns and asked to buy 100 of them!!

You could have bowled me over with a feather! I'm so happy about it as it was unexpected and such a hefty order. Her friends have seen them too and have ordered some.

She asked me to draw another 5 A4 sized patterns for her this week. They'll be more A5 sized ones next week. She wants them in a certain style to go on quilts in a quilting class she's teaching.

**frugalmel** · 01-09-2005, 01:31 AM

Woohoo! Sounds like you have a budding business there! Congrats.

**SewCrafty** · 01-09-2005, 02:01 AM

Congratulations Rhonda! What fantastic news!

**DaisyLady** · 01-09-2005, 08:23 AM

Rhonda, that is so exciting! Looks like selling the store is just a little bit closer to reality

**halo475** · 01-09-2005, 08:33 AM

Wow that is so exciting!!! Congratulations!!!

**Michelle** · 01-09-2005, 08:35 AM

Congrats Rhonda, that's awesome!

**Darlene** · 01-09-2005, 09:28 AM

That's great news! I always knew you were the clever one.

**QuilterMom** · 01-09-2005, 09:45 AM

That's fabulous! Huge congrats coming to you!

**kimmee** · 01-09-2005, 09:57 AM

Oh Rhonda - I am so happy for you !! and you like to draw to boot!! this is awesome - you're are getting to make money at something you enjoy!! so what will you all make off these kits and how did you set your prices, and will you get the same $$ from the stores that you get from regular people?? THink what this business could build into - you rock!! and my novice craftman's ears want to here all about the business end!! please please??

Darlene you are as clever as your evil twin!!

**Missy** · 01-09-2005, 12:12 PM

That's wonderful Rhonda!!

**forestdale** · 01-09-2005, 02:23 PM

thanks everyone. it's wonderful to get encouragement from each and every one of you.

LOL Darlene. I love your new avatar, is it a wallace and grommit?

Kimmee, I'm not really sure of the exact details of the woman's order or how much we'll make from her order. Cathy's the craft expert so I let her set all the prices. When we were first talking about it we thought we could sell a kit for $35 and I'm pretty sure that's what we'll sell them for in Cathy's craft studio. I have to phone the printer today and get quotes for having the fabric printed with the designs. we're starting off with 8 lots of 25 - 8 different patterns x 25 of them. I'm guessing that the craft shop lady will take a percentage of the sales in her store.

Apart from making a couple of dollars my hope was to help Cathy establish her craft studio business. She's a well known craft teacher in our area and has taught patchwork, sewing and needle arts to many women at a huge craft complex here. She quit that in December to concentrate on her own business. My step-son and her dad built a fabulous studio for her in their backyard and she intends teaching there. She's got one quilting class at this woman's store because the woman rang her and asked if she do it and as the store has such a great reputation, cathy said yes to it as it should help her get to know more craft people.

So the intention is to have a series of patterns - we are doing Airedales, colonial houses and the poem "Monday is washing day" - there being 7 in that series. Cathy's using the airedales for a quilting class she's doing, the rest, at this stage, will go in the kits.

Cathy's making up a few of them to feature in a couple of craft magazines too, so that may result in some sales.

I'll find out more about the money side of it and let you know more when I can.