Books for Quilters!
Number Thirty-Eight * February 15, 2000 Classifieds | Table of Contents Please allow entire page to load before clicking links. Practical Professionalism, or HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR QUILTS By Ruth Greene How many of us would like to take that next step and move into the world with our quilts? We'd like to see them hanging in public or at least want them to "earn their way." We look around at others who are receiving commissions or teaching and wonder "How did they make that happen?" There is no one path to commercial success. And commercial success can be defined differently for each of us - for some people it is the actual amount of money earned, for others, it is knowing that people WILL pay for your work or pay you to teach. Here's a list of ideas inspired by a class with Caryl Bryer Fallert. This alone should get your juices flowing! It may seem like these are all goals in themselves but they are actually steps to the goal. Each of us will take these steps in a different order, sometimes by accident and luck, sometimes by sheer perseverance. -- Sell your quilts How can you become known in your area for teaching and lecturing? These are some of the questions that came to my mind. First is my personal philosophy: " I can sell anything I believe in and I believe in ME." If you don't believe in your talents and abilities, why should anyone else? That bit of homespun wisdom aside, consider these points: How much is your fee? Is it reasonable for your level? I have often, when receiving tentative queries about speaking and fees, say, "Look, I realize many guilds or groups are on a tight budget. Why not pay me what you have budgeted for that program". It often may not be much and if you have to travel a distance, say so, but it's advertising. It gets you known. That same group, now that they have seen and heard you, will ask for you to come back and TEACH what it was you were talking about. Be prepared for opportunities. Have calling cards with your name, address, phone, (and don't forget!) email. Also, if you have a list of workshops, have a sheet with that list and leave several copies. People who belong to one group often belong to other similar organizations. They can spread the word for you. And remember that these results will not necessarily come tomorrow. People can hold on to your literature for an unbelievably long time before the opportunity comes to use your services. A recent contact with a woman in another state brought the comment, "Hum mm, your name seems awful familiar...Weren't you the speaker at the such-and-such an event in a certain city? I remember YOU! Of course I'll pass along your information." What is it you are talking or teaching about? Is it the same tired bargello that has been around for years or do you have a new and exciting technique to pass on? Do you work "in the style" of a better known person? Say so, THEN show them how yours differs. You cannot honestly make a living by only teaching the ideas of others. Do you have a body of work, enough to make a presentation? Do you have slides? Possibly a combination slide/new work talk would be appropriate. What kind of speaker are you? Do you challenge them or do you feel that restlessness that comes with boredom, half way though a presentation? (I know this is painful and difficult, but you have to do this to yourself. Who else is there that can truly critique your work?) Are you comfortable getting up in front of people? Do they sense it? It is no more difficult to speak in front of your small quilt guild then to a group of 200. (The larger group can afford you and that's what you are looking for, isn't it?) Have you gone to quilt shows and passed out business cards to anyone and everyone? Gotten the names and addresses of all the guilds in the area? If you did it 5 years ago, do it again. They change officers often and you might get lucky the second time around. Follow up any mailed out offerings with phone calls. Let them know that you didn't simply copy their contact from some book, (which you did), but that you are truly interested in coming. Is your schedule flexible? Can you cover on short notice should another person be unable to fulfill their commitment? Let them know that, too. Do not be afraid to say, "I am an ARTIST, a quilt artist, a fiber artist." Pick your most stunning quilts and make up a small photo book of them to carry along in your purse to show to all. Wear a name tag when you go to quilt shows, a large tag that declares who you are. People start to notice you. That IS what you want, isn't it? (It's when you GET to be famous that you can forgot the signs). Have you checked to see if the local library would be interested in a showing of your quilts? A local arts gallery? Even showing one or two can go on a resume, which is another item on your TO DO list. Spoken to senior citizen groups as a program? Even elderly ladies like to see the new and contemporary and the state or county often has funds set aside to pay people to put on such "dog and pony" shows. Even if you do it for free, you get the practice of speaking before a group. Have you called up a small quilt show organizer and offered to set up as a "guest artist," a small showing of just your works? (At no fee -- this is advertising!) I have and it works! Small shows are always looking for a hook and being able to advertise that such and such an artist will be there can make the difference in the show. You still have to deal with dunderheads that make snide comments like "how did she get so lucky," but you rise above that. You get lucky because you work HARD. (Luck being 99.9% work and .1 % luck.) I was set up at just such a gathering when a woman came flying through with a friend to whom she was "explaining" everything. And I mean flying. They spent all of 2 seconds on each quilt. Came to my exhibit where I had a self portrait, done in my collage technique and me standing next to it. Ignored me, pointed to the quilt and said, "Now that. This is how that was done. The woman took the fabric to a store where they STAMPED the face and she just filled in the blanks." then they rushed off to the next exhibit. I stood there, stunned. Lots of tops but no quilts? Many quilt artists are more involved in design and sewing the top than in the batting and quilting part. But they are of NO USE until they are finished. You have to force yourself to "finish" a quilt or else find someone to do it for you. At least a FEW of them anyway, if you want to show them off. How many times have you heard, "Lets see the back," because they want to see the QUILTING as well as the design. Around here we have Amish and many women have their own private little Amish lady that they go to and will not reveal her name under pain of death. They "finish" more quilts than anyone knows. I think setting a goal is important. What is it you absolutely need to finish and why. The why helps to get it done. Is it a contest with a deadline, a talk you are planning and need the piece to use an example of that technique, a large quilt show you want to show off at, or is it simply a technique that has been working at you and you want to try it out? Maybe it's some great fabric and you can't sleep unless you cut it up. One way of paying for some of your goals is to apply for grants. You need a plan. The way I do it is to figure out what I want to do or see or who I want to take classes from, then find someone willing to underwrite that particular idea. Some places offer scholarships. Got one from Quilting by the Lake. Check with your local Council on the Arts re: grant applications. Tell them you are an artist and are looking for information on grants with an eye towards improving your professional fiber skills. I have been turned down several times for a grant from "Thanks Be To Grandmother Winfred" Foundation. That one gives $500 to $5000 but it must be for a project that benefits women ONLY. Fairly easy one to write, incidentally. Some are extremely complex. They want all sorts of tax liability information and such. How much your art sales were for the past 3 years. Stuff like that. Lately I have begun writing on the basis that I am a "painter," just that I do not paint in the traditional media. Rather, I paint with fabric. Join groups that might assist you in these goals. I belong to three separate and distinct associations that each offer assistance to a fiber artist. Our local Society of Artists, where I had to educate them that I was not another "crafter"; the local/regional chapter of the Embroiderers Guild, (remembering that they deal with anything relating to a "needle with an eye in it"), be it traditional or contemporary. I also belong to the largest quilt guild in my area, 99 traditional quilters and me. I go for the programs and to see great traditional quilting. I also freely tell people, when asked, about what exactly it is that I do. It's more what I DON"T do. I don't make big things to sleep under. Maybe you DO. This is what cuts the men from the boys, (whoops-poor euphemism-the women from the girls-maybe). This is where you DEFINE what you do, then SELL that definition to others What do YOU do? You can't reach your goals until you set your goals. So decide what you want to do and make it happen! Ruth says about herself: I teach both Wearable Art classes involving much use of vintage laces and linens, and classes about THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MY SEWING MACHINE, dimensional and monochromatic portrait wall art. Also teach memorabilia quilting, involving both photo-to-fabric techniques and vintage pieces from your collection./your home/your attic. I lecture (with slides) whenever and wherever I can find 6 willing to people to sit and listen. While mostly self taught, have been influenced by studies with Harriet Hargrave, Caryl Fallert, David Walker, Linda Halpin and Libby Lehman. Have had numerous solo and collaborative exhibits of my work in area galleries, with pieces in both private and public collections across the US, Canada and in France. Have received several grants for further study with well known teachers at national seminars. Am a member of the Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts/ Chautauqua Institution; Chautauqua County Society of Artists; Chautauqua Region Embroiderers Guild and Westfield Quilt Guild. Willing to travel to the ends of the earth, if need be, to talk or to learn. Art quilting is my life, all else secondary. I am currently in the 1999 Hoffman Challenge, collection E; had a piece selected, in photographic form, as a part of a traveling county side exhibit, to welcome visitors to the region. I have my own studio and welcome visits-"If I'm here, I'm open." My e-mail address is greenr8@juno.com. Snail: 2429 W. Lake Rd, Ashville, NY 14710/716-763-9818. Classifieds
SEAGULL QUILT PATTERNS 72 ELMWOOD AVENUE, EAST AURORA, NY 14052 http://users.aol.com/seagullq/seagullq.htm
HEARTLAND QUILTWORKS Heartland Quiltworks asks: http://planetpatchwork.com/tvqmain/<http://www.heartlandquiltworks.com%20<
MOTHER HEN'S QUILT
EMBROIDERIES
Fabric Loft of New England Home of the wide width fabrics.
Specializing in one piece quilt backings. All fabrics are
90" to 120" wide.
BREAKING TRADITIONS Cathedral Windows Quick Method Quilt
Greenhaven Enterprises Greenhaven, a bed and breakfast retreat especially for
Quilters, on the Olympic Peninsula.
MY FAVORITE THIMBLE My Favorite Thimble is so glad that the Quilting
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finish one that you began earlier in the year. Make your
quilting much easier with My Favorite Thimble. Also, we
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your quilting friends. Just $8.00 for a pack of 6 cards
including matching envelopes.
THE CRAFT CONNECTION The Craft Connection ( http://www.craftconn.com/ ) is the most exciting place on the Internet if you want to make or sell handcrafts. We sell quality cotton fabric, Mettler and Sulky thread, and quilting notions, all at a discount. Fabrics are linked to coordinating fabrics, so you know your choices will look great together. We try to find fabrics you won't see anywhere else. And we'll package them into packets of fat eighths, fat quarters, or 5" squares, so you can get a good variety without a big cash outlay. Among our fabric categories are florals, pictorials, and guy stuff, and you should see the new Lost Fabrics of Atlantis collection. Every month some items are for sale at 20 percent off our already discounted prices. You can use your credit card online on our secure server to safely purchase our fabrics and also our crafters' products. If you're a crafter, you can sell here and take credit cards without having your own credit card vendor account. Check out our Free Stuff. Each month we offer a new pattern and a new lesson. We also have a Calendar of upcoming Quilt Shows. Come by our website at http://www.craftconn.com/.
THE QUILT BLOCK We are a cottage industry located just outside of
Yosemite National Park. We specialize in clothing and
patterns for quilters and for people who love quilts. Or e-mail for more information to The Quilt Block
SILVER DOLLAR SHEEP STATION What is small, soft, and furry and kind to your sewing machine and serger?
SECONDS:
Because we manufacture the Mini Dust-it to a very high
standard, we currently have a good supply of imperfects.
They may be thinner and not as pretty or have some other
defect, but they still work great!
PINETREE QUILTWORKS, Ltd. PineTree Quiltworks is settling comfortably into its
new site and now frequently updates the "What's
New" link (so you can check on *new stuff* there.
The menu in the fabrics department also lists update
dates for your convenience!. Shopping Cart enables you to
add items to your basket with a click!
SCHOOLHOUSE ENTERPRISES Amazing but true!
PERFECT SQUARE PERFECT SQUARE and PERFECT TRIANGLE are tools that
help quilters make quiltpieces more easily and
accurately. Patterns have been written especially for
PERFECT SQUARE and the necessary sheets to make the quilt
are included in the pattern.
PCQuilt for WindowsPCQuilt for Windows is easy to learn and easy to use
quilting software. The block and the quilt are on the
same screen so you can see your quilt emerge as you
design and color your blocks. Combine blocks in a variety
of ways to see endless new designs. The program includes
all the features that have always made PCQuilt easy and
fun to use. Now with the new Windows version, PCQuilt
will help you estimate your yardage, print templates,
quilts and blocks, and has a friendly Windows interface
with easy to use toolbars. PCQuilt comes with a extensive
library of blocks, border, quilts, palettes and fabric
patterns. PCQuilt is also available for the Macintosh.
Look for PCQuilt at your local Husqvarna VIKING Dealer or
visit our website at http://www.pcquilt.com/
.
ADVERTISING WITH TVQ.Our advertisers, both here in the newsletter and at the Planet Patchwork website, have found TVQ to be an effective and economical way to reach thousands of online quilters. Ads in the newsletter are only $5 each (up to 100 words, inquire about longer ads) or 3 for $10, and there are also attractive packages available which combine newsletter and website ads. For more information e-mail rholland@planetpatchwork.com or visit http://www.planetpatchwork.com/adcard.htm. We specialize in helping small quilting-related businesses gain exposure on the internet.
In This Issue:Following is a list of the rest of the stories in this
issue of TVQ. In order to read them, you must be a subscriber.
Subscribing online here and following up with the small
subscription fee will entitle you to eight issues of TVQ,
including this one. You will receive TVQ every six weeks
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here at Planet Patchwork.
And here's what's inside!
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEWS, IDEAS, BRICKBATS?Like any news publication, TVQ is always
hungry for information about new developments in the area
we are trying to cover. If you have an idea for a story,
or want to tell the world about something you are doing
which relates to computers and quilting, we'd like to
hear about it. Editor and Publisher: Robert Holland, Decatur, GA © 1999 by Robert Holland. All rights reserved. This file may not be reproduced in any form except to be printed out for the personal use of its owner without the expressed, written consent of the copyright holder. |
