You’re excited about your quilting or fabric art business.  You’re making items you enjoy, giving talks, teaching workshops, and/or writing books.  It’s something you basically enjoy.  You work for yourself, from your home, and can be somewhat flexible about your hours. 
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 …read more

 You might wonder how this contest applies to quilters and fabric artists.  Do you make quilts and have wondered how to go about earning an income from them? Do you write books and instruction manuals?  Do you teach workshops, but want to do more, as well as go on the speaking circuit?  Have you thought of  opening a fabric shop, quilt gallery, gift shop but don’t know how to start?  Or, perhaps you’ve ventured into one of these areas but could use advice on creating momentum and more income.
The Jump Start Your Business contest at b5media’s Business Channel might just be the place to …read more

In a previous post, Would You Like an At-Home Quilt Bookstore?, I mentioned the idea of operating a bookstore for quilters, either from your home, online, or in conjunction with a quilt fabric shop.  Yvonne Russell,  of Grow Your Writing Business, who wrote a post about this on Home Biz Notes, also contributed information recently at Alzheimer’s Notes.
   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 …read more

Juggling a quilting business or an outside-the-home job with family presents a challenge to any mom,   However, when one has triplets, the challenge may present even more situations to cope with. Although Mary Beth Stevenson, doesn’t have a quilting business, we all might take an example from her if we want something that will enable us to be an at-home mom (or dad).  She already had her home business up and running when her triplets arrived.  Working from home at her designing business appears to have worked well for her.  This wasn’t simply a whim, “What do I do now?” when she found she was …read more

The blog, Work From Home Momma, features an interview about my experiences in home businesses over the past 40 years, including my quilting one, Mea’s Quilts, operated during the Bicentennial Years.  This interview, by Laura Spencer,  is the first in her Work at Home Interview Series about women, particularly moms.
As Laura says, “Today’s interview is with Mary Emma Allen, who began as a dressmaker [and quiltmaker] and eventually transitioned to the writing and blogging business.”
This was an enjoyable experience, and I feel honored that Laura selected me to begin her series.

Getting paid from customers who live some distance away, or with whom you do business online or by mail, can be a lengthy process and occasionally leave you with a check that isn’t good.  PayPal has become one way to make doing business easier. 
Many home businesses doing business online utilize the PayPal banking services for receiving payment and purchasing.  This is a quick way to undertake these transactions.  You also can transfer payment deposited into PayPal to another bank.  Or you can withdraw money from PayPal by having them send you a check, for a fee.
PayPal does charge slight fees …read more

Most customers/clients pay well and as agreed.  However, no matter what aspect of quilting or fabric arts business you’re involved in, you’ll likely run into someone who is late with their payment or doesn’t pay at all.
I’ve not encountered many who didn’t pay me.  I found, when someone was late, the situation usually could be resolved.  If there was a problem with the product or service, we were able to work it out.
I learned when contracting for a project, especially a larger one such as a quilt or wall hanging that ran into quite a bit of money…both for my …read more