In Cross-country quilting for a cure, Cassandra A. Fortin at BaltimoreSun.com, tells about the quilts Mary Matton and other quilting guild members are making for Alzheimer’s awareness and research funding.

Matton and about 20 other members of the Annapolis Quilting Guild are participating in the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative, a grass-roots effort begun in January 2006 to increase awareness and fund research to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Ms. Fortin also relates how the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative was started by quilter Ami Simms after her mother developed this disease.  The AAQI consists of two parts:  a traveling quilt exhibit and quilts made by contributors, then sold or auctioned to raise money for Alzheimer’s research.

You’ll enjoy reading Ms. Fortin’s article.  Also, view a photo (by Amy Davis) of Mary Matton’s quilt and learn more about AAQI.

Have you made a quilt for AAQI or seen the traveling exhibit?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

The AAQI…Quilting to Benefit Alzheimer’s

Immediately I thought, “No, only someone applying for a job needs a resume.”

Then I began pondering some more  and it’s application to quilters.  Customers/clients often ask for referrals.  This information may not be in the strict sense a resume, but will provide information that helps them make a knowledgeable decision, just as an employer refers to the traditional resume.

1. If you have a service type of quilt business…. making quilts, wall hangings, machine quilting, and doing other quilting tasks ….your customers usually will want a description of what you offer, a summary of your experience, and often referrals.    They may have been referred to you in the first place and want this information to expand upon what they were told or to confirm it. 

2. If you make quilted and fabric products, either to sell outright in a shop or over the Internet, customers often will want to know your background and the quality of the product.  (For instance, you may see these designated by stars or customer ratings on web sites.)

What type of “resumes” are we talking about where customers/clients can find this information?

*Brochures, bookmarks, flyers of various types

*Web sites or blogs

*Press releases, either in print media or online

*Interviews

(For instance, the interview at Work From Home Momma, gives  a glimpse of my background from which somoene could seek additional information.  This wasn’t done with the purpose of promoting me.  But as I was thinking about interviews, I realized that any interview likely gives background, informal resume type of information and could be used a referral.)

*Referrals – word of mouth from customers/clients

*Ratings – for instance, authors often find their books rated or reviewed on book store and book sites.  Items they sell over the Internet may be rated, too.

These are a few of the methods  quilting related business owners can use to let customers/clients (current and potential) know about their products and services.  Even though they’re not what we think of as the traditional resume, they are necessary for home business owners in developing a loyal customer base. 

Can you think of more?  Can you share experiences about how these “resumes” helped you?

Post from: Blisstree

Do Quiltmakers & Quilt Businesses Need Resumes?

Telling others about our successes and accomplishments often is difficult for some of us because we come from the generation where Mother said, “Don’t toot your own horn.  People will think you’re bragging. ”

However, if you wait solely for others to discover what you’re doing, the world won’t
hear about your or your quilting.  You can share, as I call it, without seeming “pushy.”  You can announce over forums and round-ups of success stories, as well as doing the traditional promotions. 

You might participate in a “success” post, such as the one Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business has initiated, Marvelous Mini Milestones & Super Successes – September 2007.  Yvonne has begun doing this on a monthly basis. 

(She even mentioned the guest post I wrote for Grow Your Writing Business about blog tours, Virtual Blog Tours – The Latest Innovation for Promoting Your Writing.  Thanks, Yvonne, for “tooting” my horn!  Mother would be pleased that I hadn’t blown my own.)

Of course, the successes mentioned on Yvonne’s blog relate mainly to writing and publishing success, whether it’s print or online.  However, even if you aren’t a writer, you can apply many of the techniques mentioned to your quilting.

Why don’t you share your business successes here?  We can initate a monthly report of quilting  milestones and success stories.

Post from: Blisstree

Share Your Quilting & Fabric Art Successes With Us