Planning for 2015

Happy 2015!  Hope everyone has a wonder start to the New Year.

Looking back to my 2014 goals, I have notice that a couple have been completed but my focus on the business have changed over the past  year.

The two major goals I completed over the the last year was getting the online fabric store up and running and publishing our first patterns. Actually we added a few more of them and have 7 pattern available now.

As for my other goals, I found my business focuses have changed over the year.  I decided  to discontinue my T-shirt making quilt services and I am closing out the pre-cuts on my fabric store but keeping selling only yardage fabrics, due to I wanted to have a more time to focus on quilt pattern development.  Also my blog posts, I truly did lack in them, and I'm hoping to get to them more and more as time allows just to show you what I'm up to.

In 2015,  I have several goals set and hope to completed this year.

1. First, now that I have a few patterns published, and many more planned for 2015.  I would like to get them out to the stores.  So one of my main focuses is to advertising my patterns so that quilt stores will start carrying them.  We started some advertising back in 2014, going to shop to shop showing examples in California, they loved the patterns, but it was the wrong time of year.  So hopefully 2015 will be the break out year for our patterns.
2. Patterns - I hope to have at least one pattern published every other month and for sale on my website.  I have patterns under development as I type this, and many patterns in my head ready to put to paper.
3. One of my weakness that I would like to strengthen this year is increasing my expertise with my APQS Long Arm Quilt Path Computer.  A year ago there was no training for this computer, but now there is.  So, this year I plan to take some classes and study online tutorials to strengthen my skills so I feel more confident at my long arm.
4. I also plan to blogging more, adding such things of how sales are going with the store, what is under development, and other quilting related items.
5. Finally, I want to learn how to use my social media pages, to get the most out of them. In the mean time I plan on adding more posts to my social media pages, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+.

To stay on track for completing my goals I am printing this blog post and then every couple of months, looking back at it to see how I am progressing. I will let everyone know how my goals going from time to time. I hope you all continue to follow me as I try to complete these goals.  Feel free to comment below if you have any ideas that will help me in finishing my goals.

Please, everyone have a safe and quilty 2015! 

Tina

Introducing "Crossing Swords" Pattern

Today, is an Exciting Day here at Quilting Affection.  I'm proud to introduce my first pieced pattern Crossing Swords!  What a great beginning to an exciting new endeavor for our online store!  The development of Crossing Swords! has taken several months of work and several versions of the blocks to give you an easy to read and follow pattern. 
The Crossing Swords! pattern finishes out to be a 50" x 50" which makes a great size for a wall hanging, a lap quilt or sofa throw!  In the picture to the right, the hanging uses the Moda "Grunge" tonal fabrics in sofa neutrals.  These colors are also featured in our kit that we have made available. The kit includes the pattern and Moda “Grunge” fabrics (Grey, Tan and Cream) all for $42 (Backing fabric is not included). The stand-alone pattern sells for only $8.00.

Crossing Swords! appears to best advantage when high contrast fabrics are selected. I suggest using Grunge, Marbles and Belle Solids. You can be bold in your color selection.
If you are interested in this pattern or any other Quilting Affection pattern, please check out the Patterns page in our store.  If you are a retailer and would like to carry our patterns in your store check out our wholesale page. 
Hope you enjoy this pattern,

Tina

Introducing "Let it Snow Man!! Pattern

Quilting Affection would like to you to see our first Pattern in a set of 4 that is being introduced to the public today. The collection will be called Precious Season's.  Precious Seasons, brings together the seasons in a little girls life.  Picking Flowers, Building a Snowman, Hanging Outdoor Decorations, and Playing in the Rain using raw edge applique techniques.

Starting Today, you can buy the First Two Patterns, "Let It Snow Man!!" and "Falling Leaves".  The First of September the next two patterns will be available for purchase.

The patterns were created by my dear and talented Mother-In Law Diana Dillard.  We have worked together over the last couple of years to putting them together.

"Let it Snow Man!!" is an adorable little girl and her snowman.  You can have fun with your favorite winter fabric collection or dig into your stash.  The pattern uses raw-edge fusible webbing to complete this charming quilted hanging. It is quick and easy, so even a beginner will have no problem getting this pattern done. 

The pattern is loaded with detailed instructions, full size diagrams and pattern pieces.  The quilt hanging finishes at 25" x 25".  The pattern retails for $12.00 each.

To get your pattern order here.  We hope you enjoy these patterns as much as we as we do.  If you do make one of these cute adorable girls please email us a picture so I can put it in our gallery.

Tomorrow, I will show off Falling Leaves, the second pattern to be release in the collection.

Love, Inspire and Create,

Tina

Hello From California

I can't believe that today is already Friday!  Time is going by so fast.

We'll for the last couple of days! We have been enjoying a little bit down time in sunny Northern California.  We are spending a week here with my husband’s father and step-mom.  I love it when we come here, due to the fact Diana  is a quilter and a pattern designer.  So we get along great.

We have been working on finalizing a couple of designs that we have been working on for the last couple years.  We are in the final stage of getting the product ready for the public.  The first of the patterns will probably release this July.

She has been also been developing more ideas for us.  She is designing and developing the patterns, and sending the fabric, and pattern pieces home with me to make and then write the patterns up.

Diana and I are having a blast working with the ideas.  She is so talented!  On my down time this week I am also catching up on some work, such as working on my own patterns and binding quilts. 

During all of this I have been enjoying the beautiful weather and sitting outside on the porch and watching the humming birds and the beautiful flowers move in the gentle breeze.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and Easter,

Live, Inspire and Create

 Tina