Blogging has become an important part of many quilters’ lives, as well as numerous other people.  It keeps them in touch with others, lets them express themselves and their creativity, helps them promote a business, and makes them happy.

(Just take a look at the article, Blogging, How it can Expand Our Creative & Personal Growth, in the Jan./Feb. issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.) 

The question, “Why do you blog?” has become the determining factor in the final (8th)week of the challenge at the b5 Business Channel.  The blogs have been narrowed down to four.  Home Biz Notes, where I co-blog with Yvonne Russell, is one of the finalists.

If you’ve been following the challenge (and if you haven’t!)  stop over at Home Biz Notes and read the final entry, “Why Do I Blog?”   Also, a portion of the final determination rests with the readers and your comments.  If you leave a comment, that will be a vote for our entry. 

Perhaps, while you’re there,  you’d like to let us know there why you blog.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Quilters – Blogging Question at Business Channel Challenge

 Stop! Look! Listen!

Will there be regulations that restrict you from doing this from your home?  Or in another location? Will you need a business license? 

When I operated a dressmaking business with gift shop and later my quiltmaking business from our home, a number of years ago, there were no regulations that prevented this.  However, would there be regulations now that directed the size and type of sign I placed before our home, objected to deliveries and pick-ups, and raised complaints because too many people and traffic came to my door?

These are factors to consider, if you’re going to expand your quilting interests.  Some home and apartment leases may even object to online businesses, particularly if they involve pick-up and deliveries. 

I’ve written about this topic at Home Biz Notes as well as here at Qulting and Patchwork…articles you may want to glance over as you accumulate more information if considering turning your quilting hobby into a money making venture.

More Objections to Businesses in the Home 

Local Ordinances May Cause Concern for Home Businesses

Look Before You Leap Into a Home Business

Check Out Zoning/Licensing Before Starting a Quilting Business at Home

Post from: Blisstree

What Regulations Will Affect Your Quilting Business?

This is the Christiansen family in Utah, who developed an online business based on the sons’ need to learn how to tie their ties.  They decided to create a web site to disperse this information…and then sell ties and related items.

I’ve mentioned them at my Home Biz Notes blog, in the post, Fun Story About a Tie Tying Home Business.

Is there something about your quilting and fabric art experiences that others would like to learn about…something you could develop into a blog or web site and then promote or sell your products or services there?

Additonal Quilting & Patchwork Related Posts:

How Do Customers Know Your Quilting Business Is Open for Business?

Developing a Business Plan for Your Quilting/Fabric Arts Business

Pay Attention to the Small Details in Your Quilting Business

Post from: Blisstree

Springboard Ideas for Your Quilting Business

If you’ve been following the “apprentice” type competition

Kay’s problem for week #4 involves her business expanding too rapidly for her to fill her Christmas orders. (Kay has started a business producing chef’s aprons and hats for children.)

What’s she to do to solve this challenge, which actually is a good one to have?

Rachel Clarke, at Behind the Buzz, hosts our entry this week. If you’re following Kay, our prototype business owner, and her challenges, check out When a Business Gets Successful. Find out how Kay can solve her problem and fill all her orders before Christmas.

You may find you have some of these situations in your business and will benefit from the advice given to Kay.  (I’ve had quilters ask me how to get a business started and keep it going.  Substitute what you’re making for Kay’s children’s items and put yourself in her place.)

Posts about Kay’s challenges in the b5Media Business Channel “Apprentice” type contest:

Week #1 – Starting a Business on a Limited Budget

Week #2 – If You Handle “Made in China” Items in Your Home Business

Week #3 – Top 5 Interview Tips

(If you’d like to vote for our Home Biz Notes blog, visit Taxgirl for the poll in the right sidebar. Here you indicate the blog you think should win this “Apprentice” type challenge.)

Post from: Blisstree

Quilters Take Note…”Apprentice” Type Competition into 4th Week at b5 Business Channel

This “Apprentice” type contest, continues through December.  If you’ve become a Business “Apprentice” follower, you can check out weekly results at Home Biz Notes regularly.)

See the ACES entry at: Greener Assets in the post, Facing the Lead Dilemma in Your Small Business.

Related Posts: Do Any of Your Quilting/Fabric Art Items Contain Lead?

Is Lead a Danger to Alzheimer’s Patients?

Great Advice for Home Business Startups

Starting a Business on a Limited Budget

Bring in the Dough: Yielding Wealth in Your Own Business

b5media Business Apprentice Updates

(Incidentally…if you’re wondering about the chef’s hat above…the prototype business featured in this “apprentice” contest involves a startup selling chef’s hats and aprons for children.)

Post from: Blisstree

For Quilters Who Are Following the “Apprentice” Type Contest

However, no matter how much you enjoy this venture, there will be times when it becomes routine, monotonous, frustrating, and perhaps discouraging.  For instance, when I was making children’s quilted vests, I had to set up an assembly line type of routine to be most efficient and earn the most money for my time.  Basically, it became somewhat boring as I cut, appliqued, sewed, and made vest after vest, even if they had different designs on them.

When I’m writing books, I have to spend a great deal of time revising, revising, revising which can become monotonous and doesn’t seem so creative as coming up with the original ideas.

How to you stay motivated when some of the excitement wears off?

Laurie Neumann has written a very helpful article,  Achieve Work from Home Business Success, on her Christian Home Business Connection web site and provides great tips on staying motivated no matter what your business is.

“The difference in seeing success while you are working from home is that you need to keep yourself motivated,” Laurie says.  “You don’t have a boss urging you on, telling you what to do.” 

Utilizing some of the tips Laurie offers should help you remain excited and stay motivated through some of the times that could become discouraging.

Post from: Blisstree

Staying Excited and Motivated in Your Quilting & Fabric Art Ventures

At Home Biz Notes, I’ve written a post on this topic, Home Business Owners Should Consider Retirement Plans,  I also refer to Miranda’s information at Yielding Wealth which will provide you with data and details.  It’s often puzzling to know what you should do about a retirment plan.  Hopefully these two blog posts will start you on the track of thinking about your future as you develop a successful quilting related business.

Post from: Blisstree

Retirement Plans for Quilters

   She answered questions an Alzheimer’s Notes’ reader, Kathy of KnowItAlz.com, asked about obtaining books for such a venture.  Even though Yvonne specifically addresses Kathy’s question about Alzheimer’s books, the information she gives is universal for any bookstore.

So, if you’re considering this type of business, you’ll certainly want to check out Yvonne’s post, Your Specialty Home Based Alzheimer’s Bookstore – Publisher Discount Basics.

Post from: Blisstree

Tips for Acquiring Books for Your Home Based Quilting Bookstore

I also wrote about this topic here on  Quilting and Patchwork to let writers of quilting and fabric art books know they could become involved in virtual blog tours, too. 

I’ve also interviewed blog tour coordinator Dorothy Thompson at Home Biz Notes, about her blog tour business.  If you’d like to learn more about blog touring or hosting, check out my post at Yvonne’s blog.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting & Patchwork Blogger Guest at Grow Your Writing Business

 I just read a news item, License Denied for Existing Home Business, that concerned this topic.

Now this involves a lawn mower service business.  However, the same principles probably apply to any home business in that town.  The aldermen decided, according to the mayor’s statement ” they’re running a business in a residential area and we can’t approve that.”  He did say if the owners moved their lawn mower service business to a commercially zoned area, the license would be approved.

There were very few details in this news story, so we don’t know:

*how long this business existed at the owner’s home

*why they didn’t check out zoning and licensing

*are there other home businesses in that area

*is the business an obvious eye-sore, with lawn mowers and parts all over the place

*have licensing and zoning regulations always been followed strictly or are the aldermen suddenly becoming more stringent

No matter what has happened in the past or what the owners did or didn’t do, it points out that you should check out zoning and licensing requirements before becoming involved in a home business.  If your business has been operating from your home and new regulation are placed into effect, a “grandfathering clause” regarding existing businesses usually is in effect.  In other words, those in existence, can continue to operate.  However, the business, if sold, could not stay there.  If you stop operating the business for some time, then decided to start up again, the grandfathering clause probably would not be in place.

So…before starting a quilting business in your home, find out the regulations for your area, your town, county/provomce, state and country.

Resources: 

Yvonne Russell also mentioned this in her guest post at Home Biz Notes, about establishing an online bookstore, Start Your Own Specialist Home Based Bookstore.  I also refer to her post here, Would YOu Like an At-Home Quilt Bookstore?

I also refer to the licensing topic in Insurance, Taxes & Licensing Issues for a Home Business an mention Karen E. Klein’s article, Before Setting Up Shop on eBay that talks about this topic, too.)

Post from: Blisstree

Check Out Licensing/Zoning Before Starting a Quilting Business at Home