Posts Tagged ‘quilt show’

A Brief Introduction…

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

My family: Husband-BJ, Son-Logan, Daughter-Andi

My family: Husband-BJ, Son-Logan, Daughter-Andi

Hello everyone! I am Cyndi, and I am still a little new at Batiks by Design. I am the new Administrative Assistant here. I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. In addition to administrative duties, I will be answering the phone if you call, or filling your orders and shipping them out. I am also here in the shop during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm) if you get a chance to drop in and see our beautiful fabrics in person. I will be glad to help you in any way I can.

Speaking of dropping in at the shop, last week a customer called me to place an order. Unfortunately some of the fabrics she had chosen were gone to the Quilt Show in Pennsylvania with Patti. After talking with her for a few minutes and discussing the options, we decided it would be best if she came by and looked at the fabrics here in the shop. I told her I would pull the fabrics she had chosen and have them ready, but I would not cut them in case she changed her mind. In preparation, I pulled not only the ones she had chosen, but another stack of coordinating fabrics as well. She came by the next day and brought a friend. After seeing the material in person, she did end up changing her mind on a few. She chose what she needed for the project she had had in mind when she called (the background of a quilt) and then ended up choosing more fabrics for birthday projects for people in her life as well. Next, she spotted our scrap bin and had fun filling a gallon size zip-lock bag full of scrap pieces for only $15. She said that it did make a difference seeing the fabrics in person and she was glad she came in. We had fun looking over the fabrics and deciding what to get. I was so glad I could help her, and her friend.

Beautiful colors, quality fabrics.

Beautiful colors, quality fabrics.

So bright and cheerful!

So bright and cheerful!

So, any time you are in our area, please come by and check out our shop. Pictures on the computer can never compare to how lovely these fabrics are in person. I looked over the website before I came to work here, and I was amazed when I actually saw the fabrics. I am learning more every day, about fabrics, quilting, patterns and more. If you have never worked with Batiks, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. If you have worked with Batiks, I am positive you will be impressed with the quality, selection, and price.

I am looking forward to working with all our customers.  As I am learning, I will be taking you along on the journey. I will keep you updated on my projects, ideas, and anything else going on here. I hope you enjoy the ride and let me know what you think. I can’t wait to hear from you when you get a chance.

And Now the REST of the Story

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
When someone writes about a recent quilt show you always hear about the gorgeous quillts, the awesome new techniques, the Best of Show, the list of Winners, new projects and what the author has spent their well earn dollars on.  BUT no one ever reorts on the LIGHTER Side of a Quilt Show…and so, like Paul Harvey says, “and now the rest of the story.”
 
The Dynamic Duo Has Returnued.  To fight for justice, truth and the American Quilters, this team of fabric finders has returned from Des Moines!  Shirley and I returned a few days ago from the Des Moines, Iowa AQS show.  We got to introduce some of our new fabrics!!!!!  Apparently the quilters in the mid west know great fabric when they see it…our new line was flying off the shelves!  Come to www.batiksbydesign.com in a few days and see for yourself the wonderful, dreamy new fabric that came in JUST before we left.
 
Shirley and I left for Des Moines a week ago Monday – our trip started off uneventful (the best kind of trip) we drove to Bettendorf where we spent the night with friends.  Ate a wonderful dinner with them at the Machine Shed Restaurant – WOW, great food!  If you have never eaten at one – it is a great meal – but go hungry.  Tuesday morning we left early to get to Des Moines and set up our booth.  We were excited about going to the first ever AQS show in Des Moine when our excitment turned to dread…were those rain clouds up ahead?  Yep…  We got to the staging area only to wait and watch the rain on the windshield…we tried all the old tried and true methods to make the rain clouds blow over…even tried a new one…have you ever heard of a “WOO” chant?  wooooooooOOO…WoooooHOOO…go away rain wooooooHooo WoooHooo….  Well trust me…it doesn’t work!  But we did get a lot of laughs… We had to unload in the pouring rain…with rain ponchos on and plastic covering our wagons of fabric we managed to drag 1/2 of the puddles inside to our booth.  Of course we had no rags to wipe up the slippery floor.  BUT the Dynamic Duo improvises…and Patti is 2 t-shirts short for the week……Set up is alway a long day but also fun to meet your neighbors, see their products, size up the competition.  One show we had a screamer…she wanted no pictures taken of her booth and would scream at people who raised a cameras…This show we had GREAT neighbors.  Helpful ones unless the set up was too much then they had to catch a nap. 
Opening day was Wednesday.  Alway a fun day to have customers come in and express excitment and love for our fabric.  We have all sorts of customers come in.  We have the OHHHH LOOK ones who have never seen our fabric and to give us the sign of approval.  We love customers like this – they make our day fun!
 
Thursday we were sort of dragging coming in early in the morning…we were coming down the rows of vendors who cover their products with tuille, fabric, or other stuff…when walking down the aisle LOOK…”it’s a bird……it’s a plane….no it’s SHEET MAN!  What a great way to start a morning -  – with a big SMILE and a laugh!
 
Each day comes with new challenges.  We met so many fantastic people.  We meet elite quilters and some who are down to earth quilters and maybe some who are royality……Yes we met a queen and her jester….  We got to meet the Queen of Stain Glass.  Diane Kuch…is a hoot and a half.  If you ever get to a show where she is, you HAVE to go and meet her.  She will have you laughing in the first minute!  Check out her patterns at Details by Diane. 
 
There comes a time when you have to say goodbye.  We take down our quilts, pack up the kits, put the fabric back in the wagons and say goodbye to our great neighbors from Des Moines.  We had a great show…we had a great time…but with fond fairwell I have to say goodbye to Shirley.  It seems Diane has wooed her away to write Diane’s blog….UNLESS . . . I can figure out a way to convince her to stay and write for me……
 
And so the Dynamic Duo is home again…resting up for a few days…Shirley has already made up 2 bags for Houston, Patti has started another Pumpkin sample since she gave the one we had to her sister, and we are making jackets out of our new fabric…you must come check us out if you are coming to the show in Houston…
All the best, Patti and Shirley

Happy Birthday, Batiks by Design!

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Wow!  It’s been a wonderful 2 years.  It went by so fast and I’ve learned so much.  I started with an idea that came from a quilt class that I took in 2006 in Paducah.  I had used some of my traditional batik from my stash for the class and everyone loved it.  Then someone asked, “Where did you get it?  Can you buy it here?”  I didn’t know.  I was going to Indonesia that summer since my DH was there working for 14 months and my daughter and I had stayed home in Kentucky.  I decided it was a good time to do some research online and only found 1 site with it in the US and they didn’t carry a lot of patterns.  So I went shopping in the textile markets and bought a bunch of 10 meter pieces, took them home, and put them online.  I guess the rest is history!  I’m on my second website, which I really love and I hope it makes your visit enjoyable.  We’ve done 7 large quilt shows to date and are heading to 2 more in the next few weeks.  The 2 comments I hear the most from people at the shows are, “Wow, isn’t this beautiful” and “Finally, something new!”  I loved the fabric when I lived in Jakarta for almost 2 years and I’m so happy that I can bring it to you.

The building that will house BBD is coming along.  they are working on the inside, putting up the walls and ceilings, as well as the lights and ceiling fans.  I can’t wait to move in!  We’ll have so much more room.  I started with a corner of our basement family room, and now I am crowded into 2/3rds of it.  After I move out, a pool table gets moved in there with some workout equipment.  We’ll keep a TV and couch down there with our Wii. 

We recently did a quilt show in Harrisburg, PA, my home state.  We really enjoyed meeting all of the people who stopped by.  It took us about 13 hours driving time to get there and we stayed in a wonderful Bed & Breakfast called The Canna Inn that is in Etters, PA.  They made some wonderful breakfasts and it helped us make it through our long day.  We had 2 booths across from us that had no quilts on the walls, so we decorated them too!  We never have enough space to put up everything we have.  They were grateful and we were thrilled!  My friend Cindy that I’ve know since we were born 3 days apart came and spent 2 nights with us at the Inn and we had a great time catching up on what’s going on in our lives and just laughing ourselves silly!  I really enjoyed that and I’m thankful that we have remained friends through all these years.  Shirley, who is my right hand, fit right in with us.  We need to learn some new sign language, Cindy!  Cindy also helped in the booth, mostly oohing and ahhing over the fabrics. 

Our newest sample is for Circles.  You are going to love it.  I still have to put our picture online.  Roxanne, my super-quilter friend who makes a lot of my samples has once again put together a bunch of wonderful fabrics for an eye-catching quilt.  Check it out to the right.  We’ve also bought some new jacket patterns that we’ll show in Des Moines.  Once we get a couple samples done they’ll go online.

I can’t thank you enough for your business over the past 2 years.  You’re all thinking outside of the box and I think it’s wonderful!!

Patti

Thursday, 9 September, 2010
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