Batiks By Design

It’s that time of year when I need to start buying several new patterns for the store and get some samples made to show online and at the AQS Des Moines Quilt Show in October.  I’ve been looking around and I’ve found a few, but I was wondering if you have any ideas about what might work with my traditional batik fabrics.  I like to include at least one of those fabrics in most of the quilts we make and fill in with Bali fabrics.  Send me your ideas.  Remember, the patterns should show off the traditional batik designs.  I’m looking forward to your input.  Thanks!

Did you know that 95 percent of fabric shoppers make their purchases at chain stores? That’s right, only 5 percent shop independents. Let’s change that.

Welcome to Project 95

Project 95: Fabric Shoppers Unite—Shop Independents is a worldwide network of independent quilt and fabric shops, that have joined forces to promote shopping independents. By buying from Project 95 shops, you support this movement and join with consumers just like yourself to ensure that you will have access to specialized quilting and sewing supplies, no matter where you live.

Why Shop Independents?

There are three good reasons to choose independents over chain stores.

Excellent Service. At independents, you can expect caring attention to your needs.

Superior Knowledge. Independent shop staffs are quilters and sewers themselves, and have unsurpassed product knowledge that they pass on to you.

Count on Quality. Fabrics, notions and tools available at independents are the highest quality.

Tell your quilting and sewing friends to unite, and shop independents!

Project 95 is brought to you by The Fabric Shop Network, Inc.—the trade association for independent quilt and fabric retailers.

Last Tuesday, the quilt guild from Jackson, TN came to visit me at my shop.  The visit was initiated at the Paducah Quilt Show in April when Judy, a member of the group, mentioned that she was bringing her guild to a shop not too far from me in June.  I suggested that they stop here while they were “in the neighborhood” and she agreed!  My shop has only recently moved into a space where I can have customers come and visit.  I started Batiks by Design in my basement, but outgrew that space so we built a building in our backyard.  The shop is finally looking somewhat like a quilt shop, I just need to get my new cutting table setup and put some quilts on the walls!  I’m hoping to offer some classes in the other side of my building where I now have my office, cutting table, and sewing  machine.

Back to the topic on hand, the ladies began arriving after their lunch in Murray.  As true fabric lovers will do, they couldn’t wait to explore the shop.  They browsed at my quilt samples that I had laid on 2 tables pushed together for a quick trunk show, started pulling bolts off the shelves, and browsing patterns, fat quarters, and their favorite, my scrap tote where they could purchase a gallon sized bag of their choice of scraps for $15, as long as the bag zipped!  I think I have about a third of the scraps I had before they came.  Everyone enjoyed the store and our trunk show, even though the air conditioning didn’t keep up with the 30+ bodies in the shop.  I’ll have to work on that!  Enjoy the pictures!  Thanks ladies for stopping by to shop.  Come again.  If you are interested in visiting us, give me a call and we’ll setup a time.