Whether you collect sales tax for mail order and Internet sales or in a quilt shop, you may find yourself in a quandry at times. 
*What if you live in a no tax state but sell to customers in a state where there is a sales tax?
*What if you have a sales tax in your state and sell to someone in another sales tax state?
*What happens when you and your customer both live in the same state that has a sales tax?  Sometimes, too, sales tax will vary from town to town, city to city, county to county within the same …read more

Did you read Peter Rabbit when you were a child or to your children?  Do you enjoy the stories of Beatrix Potter?  Her tales have been among favorite children’s stories for decades.
Now Beatrix Potter, with Peter Rabbit and his friends, are influencing quiltmakers.  At the Snow River Quilts web site I discovered the delightful Garden Tales fabrics with the characters from Ms. Potter’s stories.  These come in yardages and panels…and are delughtful if you’re enthralled by Beatrix Potter’s stories and drawings.
 
           

In northern climates, we’ve been experiencing colder weather and snow.  So as February reaches the mid-mark, our thoughts begin to turn to” spring and flowers and sun.  Julie of Big Horn Quilts in Greybull, WY mentions this in her newsletter and got me thinking about the longer days, flowers, and warmer weather that’s coming before long.
(I receive Julie’s newsletter with the happenings at her quilt store and new fabrics available.) 
So as we think of spring and flowers, we might start searching for floral quilt patterns and fabrics with these designs on them. 
         

Now is a good time of year for sales…either sales where you’re looking to purchase quilting supplies and quilted items or where you’re desiring to move the items you made which didn’t sell for Christmas.
As you visit brick-and-mortar stores or browse the online ones, you’ll see many fabrics and other supplies on sale.  Numerous e-newsletters I receive announce after Christmas sales.  Shop owners and quilters desire to sell these holiday related items so they’re off the inventory and don’t have to be stored until next year. 
If you are a quilt shop owner, this may be a time you’ll want to run sales on items …read more

Have you wondered how to start an online quilting business, selling fabrics and related accessories?  Judy Owens of Greybull, Wyoming took the plunge and began selling fabrics online from her home, as Big Horn Quilts (http://bighornquilts.com ).  This became so successful she moved to a store in town, where she sells to online and walk-in customers.
I receive Judy’s free e-mail newsletter and learned about the article in the Casper Star Tribune about Judy, how she became interested in quilting and then started her business.  You may like to read more of the details in the article at http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/owens.php ).

As I browsed through the pamphlets in my Louisville, KY hotel room, I discovered information about the Heart of Kentucky Quilt Shop Hop, October 7-15.  What’s a quilt shop hop? I wondered.
Eleven shops in the Louisville/Lexington area are participating.  One description compares the hop to a progressive dinner with participants going from home to home, or shop to shop in this case, to sample the offerings and meeting with friends.
For this quilt shop hop, you purchase a “passport” and have it stamped at each shop you visit. Each location has a free quilt block pattern for participants or a block kit (pattern with …read more

Throughout the years, quilters have been interested in recipes (exchanging them, serving at quilting bees, collecting into recipe books).  It’s not unusual to find an occasional recipe in a quilting newsletter or on a web site.  Havasu Quilts has offered raspberry recipes recently in occasional e-newsletters.
This week, you’ll find one for “Raspberry Pretzel Squares,” which looks delicious and is very timely during raspberry season.  You’ll find the recipe at: http://www.havasuquilts.com/newsletter/newsletter.html . 

Sometimes a very helpful gadget can be very simple, so simple that we don’t even consider it.  I was browsing through the new autumn Keepsake Quilting catalog(www.keepsakequilting.com ) my daughter received, and saw…Glow-in-the-Dark Pins!
That’s what we need around here, I thought.  With three quilters in the family (my daughter, granddaughter, and me), our menfolk continually complain about the pins on the floor or on cushions. 
These 1 1/2-inch pins have white plastic heads that will glow in the dark.  Possibly these are commonplace to many quilters and other suppliers have them available.  Anyway, if you’re constantly losing pins, you may want …read more

The challenge of a quilt challenge intrigues many quilters.  These may involve full size quilts, lap quilts, wall hangings, or other types of fabric art.  My daughter had become involved with a number of challenges within online groups she belongs to.  You’ll also find challenges sponsored by quilt shops, quilt guilds, and quilt shows.
These generally involve using a specific number of fabrics and perhaps embellishments.  Colors used in the challenge piece may be designated, too. A definite size usually is given for the piece.  Many will have a theme to the entry.
I noticed a challenge at Havasu Quilts (www.havasuquilts.com) with …read more

As you plan your travels this summer, why not include quilt shows and shops?  I’ve often done this when my family traveled and found people and places we all enjoyed.  We also included quilt museums on our agenda.
You don’t have to plan a special trip or go to an area you hadn’t scheduled.  Simply look up what’s available wherever you’re traveling. 
Quilting magazines often include a calendar of quilting events.  Their ads will list shops that may be on your route.  Check online.  Search engines usually lead you to quilting events and shops.
Keep a running list of places you’d like to …read more