How many of you do trade shows, whether that is exhibiting or attending? I have always been a fan of trade shows, partly because I love all the tchotchkes. I have buttons, coffee cups, pens and even a couple of stuffed animals from the trade shows I have visited. I have quite the reputation among my family and friends for enjoying trade shows. Scroll on down for some of my favorite tips.

1. Know what you expect to get from attending or exhibiting. It is better to go in with an intention than it is to just show up and see what happens. Take time to figure that out. It could be as simple as to see what is trending, sell a set number of patterns, add names to your mailing list or build your business skills in the classes. If you know ahead of time what that is, you are more likely to see that happen.
2. Being at a trade show, whether that’s as an exhibitor or attendee, is really draining. Take healthy snacks, such as fruit or nuts, with you. Stay hydrated. If you take this step, you are less likely to end up at a vending machine or grabbing the latest sugary item at each booth you pass.
3. Skip the Sample Spree line. Every year I check the line for those waiting for Sample Spree, and every year, but last fall, I see the same people waiting in line starting at 2 pm to get into an event that starts at 8 pm. By waiting in line, you miss half the Schoolhouse Sessions and a chance to pick up some valuable knowledge. Plus, once the doors open, everyone gets in within the first 7 or so minutes. (This past fall was the first year I did not find the same person at the head of the line. She searched me out during the day to let me know she was no longer waiting in line, and instead was taking advantage of Schoolhouse.)
4. Have a plan for each day. Before the show starts go through the program and mark those exhibitors you must see. Create a schedule that includes any appointments with fabric companies or distributors. Many shop owners walk the floor on day one, collecting literature and reviewing it at the end of the day. The second or third day, they buy. Other shop owners know what they need specifically and buy as they go. Figure out which plan works for you. Be sure everyone in your group has the schedule and knows your plan.
5. Look for ways to connect. Much of the value of attending trade shows is in the connections you can make. In addition to renewing old connections, try to make some new ones. You will be glad you did. And, while you are at Quilt Market, look for me. I will be walking the floor and giving a lecture. I would love to connect with you.

What are your favorite trade show tips?

Crafting Calm 
Maggie Oman Shannon
Viva Editions; $16.95

I think we all need a bit more calm in our lives, and since most of us are “crafters” we already know the health benefits, whether that is quilting, knitting or any other art. I loved that this book offered lots of ideas for making handicrafts and at the same time connecting with your spirit. The author, Maggie Oman Shannon, is the spiritual director of a Unity Church and has found enormous benefits, physical, spiritual and emotional, from her own lifelong practice of crafts and creativity. She shares 40 different projects that she or those she knows have done. If you are looking for calm, you might try her spiritual wisdom wallhangings; if you are looking for clarity, you might try her personal prayer flags; and if you are looking for connection with spirit, you might try her prayer pot. You are free to use the materials suggested or take the idea and venture to your own favorite media. After all, the author does admit to being textilely-challenged. In addition to the projects, Maggie offers “Inner Inquiries for Journaling and Reflection” to accompany each project. If you are looking to add a more stillness and/or spiritual connection in your life, this is a great place to start the process. Look for the book at your local quilt shop or book retailer.

Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

This past Friday I gave the keynote at the Studio Art Quilt Associates Conference. I had a great time connecting — and reconnecting — with so many talented artists. My talk was titled “Starving Artist No More: 7 Steps to a Profitable Creative Arts Career.”As the title suggests, I spent a lot of time talking about your mindset. One of my slides included a favorite quote from Mika Brezinski on knowing your value, which I will share below. From my experience working with creative entrepreneurs, I often find they struggle with determining a value for their work and then charging for it. Here are some tips for dealing with worth.

Beyond Neutral: Quilts Inspired by Nature’s Elements 
John Q. Adams
Martingale; $24.99

For long-time quilters, neutral meant muslin, off-white, cream or white fabric. Maybe you might venture to a light gray. At some point, quilters used black as a background. Neutral did not mean a color. In Beyond Neutral, John Q. Adams created 16 original quilt where he used the colors of nature as his inspiration for his neutral – no cream or white here. He organized his quilts around the themes of wind; earth; water; leaves and grass; and lava, coral, and stone. I loved the movement and freshness of his quilts. Some of my favorites: Canyonlands, inspired by a flock of starlings in flight with a peachy tan as a neutral; Katmai, which had its roots in a traditional block that kept growing; and Pacific Crest, with its image of flying birds on a navy background. You’ll find lots of inspiration in the book and you will look at neutrals differently, whether that is in using John’s patterns or your own creation. 

We have all heard about the concept of personal responsibility. How do you define responsibility? I know for some of us hearing “Are you responsible?” brings up thoughts of blame. It’s a “Who did this?” and not in a good way. 

What does responsibility really mean? I looked it up in Merriam-Webster, and found this definition: “the quality or state of being responsible.” Don’t you love it when the definition basically includes the word you are defining? If you look at the word responsible, you will find, among other definitions, “able to answer for one’s conduct or obligations.”

To me responsibility, and particularly personal responsibility, means having the ability to respond. (I know I just used the word in the definition!) It includes no fault or blame to anyone, including ourselves. It is just being able to look at a situation, recognizing that we created it and deciding what to do. We created it, so we can un-create it. We can re-create it. We can totally get rid of it. It is our choice to make changes or answer in whatever fashion is right, no blame attached. That to me is really empowering.

My question to you is, How do you define responsibility?

Quilting … Just a Little Bit Crazy
Allie Aller & Valerie Bothell
C&T Publishing; $29.95

Both harboring a love of Victorian crazy quilts, Allie Aller and Val Bothell joined forces to create this resource for traditional and innovated crazy-quilting skills. The book includes 30 techniques giving you a variety of options. One of their major goals was to show that crazy quilts could be functional, and they succeeded at that. More than half the 10 projects are lap-size or bed-size quilts. I liked looking at two different approaches to the same concept. If you would like to try your hand at a crazy quilt, either using your stash or new fabrics, you will find ideas here.

Look for the book at your local quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

I love Pinterest. What’s not to love? You can be inspired and you get to dream. I have got so many ideas about decorating, cooking, dressing and art. If only I would live long enough to fulfill all those dreams!

I know many of you are already using Pinterest. Are you using it to your advantage, business wise? Here are three ways to do that.

1. Become the expert. How do you have time to develop all the content, pictures, etc., that you will need? The quick answer is you don’t have to. It is already on Pinterest. What you are doing is becoming a curator of information and sharing what you find. You might create a board called Art Tips and share relevant information that has already been pinned. By gathering and sharing useful information, you become the expert.




2. Drive your Pinterest traffic to your website. Did you know that Pinterest is the largest referrer to your website of all social media? And, even more important, people who come to your site from Pinterest spend more than those who come from other social media sites. Pinning great content is one way to get people to your site where they can sign up for your newsletter.
   
   
3. Engage your customers. One way you can do this by creating user-generated boards or by creating a board to promote your happy customers using your product. Look for ways to turn your pinners into your unpaid sales force.
   
   

What is your favorite business way to use Pinterest?

The Better Bag Maker
Nicole Mallalalieu
C&T Publishing; $26.95

I’m a sucker for bag patterns; just check my pattern files. What I like about The Better Bag Maker is it’s about learning the techniques behind handbag design so you are more successful in creating bags. Author Nicole Mallalieu is a well-known Australian designer with an international reputation for bag making. Technique covers the first third of the book, from specifics of materials, such as how to select the correct interfacing; to key sewing skills; to basic techniques, such as altering patterns. Once you have got the techniques down, Nicole suggests making a basic bag from which the other bags are derived. Instructions are included for an additional ten bags.

Look for the book at your local quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Do you regularly celebrate your accomplishments? I am not surprised if you don’t. Many entrepreneurs are so focused on what is next that they do not take the time to appreciate what they have accomplished. That is why most of my clients take time weekly to look at what they accomplished and celebrate that. It is part of their weekly Success and Strategies Summit.

What exactly is the Success and Strategies Summit and how do you have one? I recommend setting aside 20 or so minutes once a week. It doesn’t really matter whether you do it at the end of the week or the beginning, what matters is that you set aside the time to do this. You go back and review the week. Ask yourself:  What worked well, what didn’t, what did you learn? And what you learned may be a specific skill or knowledge or it may be something that you learned about yourself. What were your challenges? What adjustments do you need to make for next week?

With the answers to the questions, I then look at what I want to accomplish in the next week to move myself forward on my goals. And, I schedule time for this in my calendar, along with time for any other non-negotiables, like self-care. This sets me up for success as I am prepared to start the week with an intention.

The one other thing I do is go back and look at all the successes I had. If you take the time to look at all you accomplished – big or small – you will be amazed at how much you did. That brings me to celebrating. I love to celebrate all that I am accomplishing. And the celebrations do not need to be big. They just need to be for you, something that recognizes what you did. I like the idea of listing ways to celebrate, putting them in a jar and surprising myself with something.

Do you have a practice to reflect on your past week and plan the next? Do you have a plan for celebrating your accomplishments? Please share on our Facebook page.

photo credit: sirwiseowl via photopin cc