Willow Tree Angel: With Affection I adore the Willow Tree collection and own several, and this sweet angel holding a cat is on my wishlist this year.

This adorable Chester the Cat Teapot (with matching mug and salt and pepper shakers) makes me wish I drank tea!

I love calendars and for reasons I’m not even sure of, I tend to have several throughout the year. This 2010 calendar features “Bad Cats” in humorous situations.

Learn about the traditions and history of the Lucky Cat, a popular symbol of prosperity and good fortune across Asia and the world, in a hardcover book. Then check out the Lucky Cat figurines.

This Amazon seller has dozens of resin ornaments and figurines, perfect for any collector. Of course, I especially like the Chihuahua and rat terrier ornaments!

Show everyone who your best friend is with this adorable Dog Lover coffee mug.

I love these dog paw car stickers! The set of eight stickers costs less than $4 (including shipping!) and attaches cleanly to any smooth, hard surface.

Of course, we can’t forget the dogs when it comes time to look for a 2010 calendar. This one, like the cat calendar above, also features silly dogs in compromising situations!

[images: amazon.com; custom]

Post from: Blisstree

2009 Gift Guide for the Cat and Dog Lover

Nowdays with the use of computers and the Internet, sales can be transacted from almost anywhere.  Or you could do as Mark Allen does by utilizing an online company, like Cafe Press, if you have something quilt related to sell that can be adapted to their capabilities.  And they will handle the sales for you.

Last night a friend told me about a couple she met at a rodeo who make and sell western type jewelry at fairs, shows, and rodeos.  They live in motor home, make their jewelry there, and use it as their business headquarters.  She said they set up their laptop in it so also can take orders.  So their home business is located wherever their motor home is at the moment.  (Some people even home school their children while doing this.)

Now someone could live like this with certain types of quilting businesses.  Also, as you travel, you could attend quilt shows, craft fairs, as well as operate an Internet sales/mail order business from your motor home.

If you teach at workshops, you’re probably already traveling, yet coming back to your home base in between.  You also could do this from a more mobile home. 

My writing  (some of it quilt related) doesn’t require that I stay at home to write and research.  Although Jim and I have a home base, whenever we travel I take my laptop with me.  Usually I can carry whatever resource materials I need, too. 

Occasionally I run into situations where I don’t have Internet access for a couple of days.  If I plan well, I usually can keep up with my column, book and blogging deadlines.  Also, while we travel, I continually do research for the travel related columns I write.

             So why not take your quilting business along as you travel to all the places you dream of?  You don’t necessarily need to travel full time either, perhaps for the summer….or winter…or school vacations.

Do you have a traveling quilting or fabric arts business you’d like to tell us about?  Or know of someone who does.  I’d enjoy hearing about it.

Post from: Blisstree

Travel with your Quilting & Fabric Arts Business

However, others companies produce calendars that appeal to quilters.  Some are derived from paintings of quilting scenes.  Others have quilting designs.  Some even may contain patterns for the quilt designs.

You also can make your own quilting calendars with photos of your fabric art and quilts.  With the printing programs now available for computers, producing calendars to give as gifts and even to sell is becoming common.

These calendars that quilters and fabric artists collect aren’t ones they throw away at the end of the year.  They become collectible items that are saved like their books and patterns.

Below is a calendar as well as a book for making various pieces of patchwork throughout the year that might capture your interest or give you ideas.

Post from: Blisstree

Collecting Quilting Calendars