Today, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced its direct grants as part of the $50 million federal economic stimulus recovery package. The NEA will distribute $29.775 million to 631 nonprofit arts groups nationwide. This is in addition to the 63 state and regional sub-grants previously awarded in April, totaling $19.8 million. This recovery funding is a direct outcome of the impact made by the 100,000 members of the Americans for the Arts grassroots network who contacted their Members of Congress and wrote timely letters to the editors of local news media. These messages made a difference and have resulted in these grants which will help create and preserve arts jobs throughout the country.
If you are interested in applying for any of the grants, we sell a book titled The Directory of Grants for Crafts which includes step-by-step help on writing a winning grant proposal.

Have you tried to use the Internet to connect with your customers and not been as successful as you wish? Your online newsletter – or e-zine – is the key to connecting with your customers and increasing sales at the same time.

I’ve seen this happen day after day in my own business and want to share the secrets I’ve discovered with you. Join me on July 9, 13, 16 and 20 at 3 pm Eastern as we explore what you need to do to: plan, write and publish your e-zine; set up and begin posting to your blog; create and populate your Facebook page; join Twitter and begin Tweeting.

Registration includes the teleclasses, MP3 downloadable recording, written materials and a private yahoo group for class attendees to share their experiences, questions and discoveries. Here are details.

Join us to learn how to take your business to the next level with Internet marketing.

In the Spring and Summer issues of The Professional Quilter Gloria Hansen took a look at the phenomenon of social networking, specifically Facebook and Twitter. While we think of social networking as relatively new, it had its start in 1997 with SixDegrees.com, though the site is no longer active.

Today social networking lets you make connections that you would not otherwise make. I’ve connected with high school friends and flames, new friends who share similar interests besides quilting, and quilting associates. And, social networking is a good thing for business. It lets your customers and clients get to know you on a more personal level. I’ve heard it said that before someone buys from you, they need to know, like and trust you. Social networking lets them do that.

Here are six tips to help you take advantage of social networking:

1. Quality of your connections, not quantity, is your goal according to Gloria. You don’t have to “friend” everyone. You want to enhance your opportunities rather than get bogged down in lots of non-relevant chit-chat.

2. Learn how to fine tune the information you receive. Spend time learning how to use Facebook so that, for example, you don’t get spend unnecessary time reading news feeds that aren’t news. You can do this in the Settings, News Feed section of Facebook. Facebook also has a help section.

3. Facebook lets you post photos. Take advantage of this by posting photos of yourself teaching, lecturing, working at the longarm, attending a gallery opening with your work. Pictures speak louder than words.

4. Give more than you get with your posts. Share your expertise so that you can to help other people. This comes back to you in so many more ways than you can count. Zig Ziglar says, “You can have everything in life you want, if you’ll just help enough other people get what they want.”

5. Look for ways to integrate the technologies. For example, if you tweet (the action of posting to Twitter) about being at a gallery opening, post a link to your blog where you have uploaded pictures of you and your quilts at the gallery.

6. Use timesaving applications, such as TweetDeck and Twhirl. I like Ping.fm that lets me post to both Facebook and Twitter at the same time.

7. Remember that Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites don’t eliminate the need for a Web site and/or blog. Be sure to keep your Web site active and post to your blog. Each tool has a purpose, so develop a strategy for using them all.

Remember it’s all about making connections, and you never know when that connection might turn into a wonderful opportunity.

The Professional Quilter always includes an article that is technology focused to help you grow your quilt business. You can learn more from Gloria Hansen’s articles on using Facebook in Issue 107 and Twitter in Issue 108. If your subscription is not current and you need to renew, or you want to start a new subscription, here’s a link to our order page

Business can sometimes be a bit slower in the summer. I like to take advantage of the slower pace and the warmer weather to relax more outside while I’m planning marketing activities.

One idea for marketing that Sue Moats covered in her Longarm Forum in the Spring issue of The Professional Quilter is perfect for the slower-paced summer. She looked at holding an open house as a way to market your longarm business. While many people like to hold the open house at a holiday time, I think summer is perfect. It’s less hectic, your customers might be more relaxed and eager to start a top and conflicts are probably fewer. Sue interviewed several quilters who found open houses to be a successful way to market their businesses. If you’d like to give it a try, here’s a checklist to get you started:

• Select dates, hours
• Solicit help if needed
• Check on insurance
• Decide on any incentives/coupons
• Advertise and/or send invitations
• Arrange for refreshments
• Prepare machine and studio for visitors
• Put out guest book to collect names and contact info
• Have adequate supply of business cards/flyers
• Take care of any needed follow-up.

If you plan an open house for the summer, be sure to let me know how it goes.

You can read Sue’s complete article in Issue 107 of The Professional Quilter. If your subscription is not current and you need to renew, or you want to start a new subscription, here’s a link to our Order Page.

I’m back from Market. It was exhilarating and exhausting. It was great to catch up with other professionals, and I met lots of new people in the industry. I enjoy seeing the new fabrics. I love the beachy colors – blues, greens, yellows, oranges – clear, crisp, almost sherbetty colors. After all, the oranges did make me think of mango! OK, most colors make me think of food!

Just a bit of what I liked: The Authentic line by Sweetwater Design from Moda. It’s filled with typography and newsprint fabric; must reflect my journalism background!

Also showcasing Moda‘s line is Joanna Figueroa with Fig Tree & Co.

Avlyn fabrics also has several nice new lines, including Belle Fleur, a white, green and black graphic collection from Karen Combs. Karen also introduced here Batik Cascade line.

And always a favorite for me is the Michael Miller booth, with bright happy colors.

And, while I didn’t get a photo, Kona Bay always has a wonderful fabric selection.

And I liked what Valori Wells did to decorate her booth. She took swatches of her lines and sewed them onto a canvas cloth and hung that. It was simple and effective.

One of my favorite designers is Robyn Pandolph, who designs fabric for RJR. Here she is with Barbara Bradley. They’ll work together from a new design studio soon.

I caught up with a couple of my favorite bag makers. Joan Hawley from Lazy Girl Designs was delivering her newest girl Claire for display in several booths. And Terry Atkinson has two new books, including Big Bags, little bags, which includes ideas for using yo-yos for a little zing and for using oilcloth for your bag. Both Joan and Terry have great tutorials on their blogs.

Here are a few shots from my row at the show. Susan Cleveland with Pieces Be With You was on one side of me and Karen Montgomery from The Quilt Company was on the other. Karen’s got some great shots of the floor on her blog.

Across the aisle were Janine Burke and Amy Walsh from Blue Underground Studios.

And here’s one last shot with quilt artist and author ReNae Merrill and Leslie O’Brien, PQ advertising rep.

I did pick up some new notions, so look for some reviews in the future. The big item I think was the bias binding maker from Simplicity/Wrights/Ez.

And, what coverage of Quilt Market would be complete without a mention of Sample Spree? This is the most hectic event, everyone’s first peek at what’s new. People line up early to get first chance to buy fabric in particular. Here’s a shot of the line waiting to get in. The doors open at 8 pm; the first person was in line at 2:30!

And, as for our location, we were at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. It’s a fabulous facility with lots of natural light; everything looks good in that lighting. Pittsburgh is a great city, too, with friendly people and terrific food – any city that puts French fries on a sandwich or salad ranks high with me! I hope we’ll be back next time we go to the East Coast.

I’m giving my lecture “Boost Your Quilt Business With Internet Marketing” on May 14 at International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. We also have a booth – No. 1524. Here’s a link for more information: International Quilt Festival. I’ll look for you there.  Be sure to stop by!

Don’t forget to join us in the PQ Café on Tuesday, April 14, for our class on Creating a Marketing Strategy. I will cover the the difference between sales and marketing, developing your marketing objectives and strategies, the 4 P’s of marketing and more. You’ll be much clearer on how to market your particular quilt business.

The teleclass is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 at 8 pm, Eastern Standard Time. Registration includes both the teleclass and the MP3 downloadable recording, so if you can’t come to the class, you’ll get the recording to listen to at a time that works for you. Here are details.

I got back from Quilters Heritage on Sunday. I always enjoy this show, catching up with my quilting friends from Philadelphia and Harrisburg and meeting subscribers. For the past three years I’ve had a spot in the Lampeter Room. This year when I arrived at check-in, I found my space had been moved to the tennis court/expo building. I’d previously been in the space in years past, so I always thought of it as a prime location. Well, I didn’t realize what a great spot I would get. It was to the right just at the entrance. I put a video on my FaceBook page.

Here are some photos from the show. First is Sue Reno, a quilt artist from Columbia, Penn. Sue loans me a quilt for the booth each year. You can see her quilt Tall Blue Lettuce behind her. She always has what I call an “eye catcher,” and it definitely draws the visitors in.

This was the 22nd year for Quilters Heritage and the show is run by Rita Barber. I saw Rita several times and nabbed her once for a quick photo.

On Saturday I taught my class on learning how to start your quilt business. I had 21 students in the class. It was great fun, and I always learn something from my students. After the class I did my Studio Tour lecture which was part of a luncheon. It’s always wonderful when I’m finished and open the floor for everyone to share their studio organization ideas.

Our new advertising rep, Leslie O’Brien, also spent some time at the show. Here’s a shot of her in the booth.

As I said, my booth was in a great location. One of my neighbors was the artist Pat Buckley Moss. I got to know her and several members of her family as the weekend unfolded. I already owned a small landscape that she did, and I purchased a second landscape at the show. Here we are together.

Yellow. To be more precise it’s Mimosa, a warm yellow. Think the blossoms on a Mimosa tree or the cocktail. The Pantone Color Institute selects a color each year that is based on its general sense of the world’s mood. Pantone says that yellow expresses hope and reassurance, something needed in uncertain economic times.

“The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.”

Here’s a more in depth article on the announcement in The Washington Post.

The Color Marketing Group also announced its color trends for 2009 and says yellow is the standout accent color. The Winter 2009 issue of The Professional Quilter includes an article on all of CMG’s color predictions.

Yellow is my favorite color and can be found in various shades on the walls in my kitchen, guest room, one bathroom, the laundry room and the hall outside my office. I might have to find a place for Mimosa!