Eazy Peazy Quilt Shop Newsletter
Helping Quilt Shops - The QTA
OCTOBER 18, 2011 - Quilt shop owners – feeling overwhelmed by
it all? Want some help with your website, the Internet, marketing,
computers, operating ideas? All of these are topics part of the
educational program for members of the Quilt Trade Association.











She tells me a large part of her work is talking with owners but an
increasing amount of time is spent on QTA’s free-to-members
educational webinars that cover a wide range of subjects
designed to help owners be more successful. Joyce, a quilter for
11 years, has merged her passion for quilting with her
professional experience and background in sales, marketing and
trade association management.

Her MBA in Marketing and Information Technology from
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management really
comes in handy especially since so many of QTA's programs are
delivered via the Internet. Joyce commented, “I also know that
some quilt shop owners struggle with websites, email marketing,
Facebook and other Internet marketing, so I help by personally
conducting free workshops for our members on these topics.”
QTA Executive Director Joyce Keane says
their guiding principle is, “When one quilt
shop wins…all quilt shops win.” Joyce
heads the Association with assistance
from a board of directors comprised of
quilt shop owners and prominent industry
leaders who share the common goal of
working together for the benefit of quilt
shops.
Joyce Keane,
Executive Director
of the Quilt Trade
Association
International Quilt Market - Houston
Again this year Eazy Peazy will exhibit at Quilt Market. Visit us in
booth 1215 and attend the two Schoolhouse sessions I will be
teaching:

“Inventive ways to increase add-on sales GUARANTEED!”
Friday Oct. 28th in Room 372A,11:00-11:30 am
In conjunction with Checker Distributors -
“Add the Awe Factor to Tote Bags the
Sweet ‘N Sassy Way” Templates aren’t
just for quilts any more!
Friday Oct. 28th in Room 371B&C, 2:15 –
2:30 p.m.
Awe! I’m blushing!
Brandi Frey of Clothworks recently had
some very nice things to say about Eazy
Peazy in the company blog. Here is the link
to read the entire story.
Joyce heads an organization
run by members, supported by
members, with the goal of
collectively solving the
industry's challenges. Learn
more about QTA at
QuiltTradeAssoocation.org or
email Joyce at
Joyce@QuiltTradeAssociation.o
rg
Heartfelt Quilting
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - January 19, 2011 - Heartfelt
Quilting owned by Pat Roberts is always a happy, active
place.

Pat was the very first shop to see and purchase the
early Eazy Peazy patterns. A great merchandiser, she's
able to take a simple idea and build it until it becomes
fabulous. Note in the picture the bejeweled walker
which was in Houston. Pat didn't just hang the Walker
Saddlebag on it...but added "Granny".
Granny has her own "back-story" complete with facelift
and hip replacement!
It was taken to another step when Pat put soap products
in a bucket.

She's able to sell patterns plus soap in this eye-catching
display right inside the front door.  This starts and ends
your visit with a smile. See more of Heartfelt at
www.heartfeltquilting.net
Red Hen Fabrics
MARIETTA, Ga. - February 1, 2011 "You're
never too young to quilt or too old to rock 'n roll!"

So says Mary Anne Henderson of Red Hen Fabrics
and you've just got to love a shop with a slogan like
that.

Visits with Mary Anne and Red Hen are always
interesting especially since it's an opportunity to
see the latest of her beautiful, dynamic displays
and makes each visit a bit of an adventure.
The rotating and brightly colored pegboard racks are wonderful
ways to show off pattern inventory and efficient product rotation.

Mary Anne is a Henry Glass fabric designer and this talented lady’s
sweat equity has rehabbed four very basic walls into a beautiful
www.redhenfabrics.com for pictures of the transformation.

Shown in the photo is Mary Anne with an Eazy Peazy Divine
Diamonds Handbag over her shoulder in front of a rack displaying
our patterns.
Canton Quilt Corner
CANTON, S. Dakota - February 16, 2011 - Free popcorn and a
‘man cave’ are only two of the reasons the Canton Quilt Corner is
a popular and unique place to visit. Of course for quilters there are
also the more than 1,100 bolts of fabric plus the opportunity to see
the interior of their historic 1897 red granite bank building and
even shopping inside the vault.

Owners Robert Wight and Lori Kern greet customers with a cup of
coffee or tea and really are most helpful. The old bank has plenty
of room for a 2,000 square foot classroom and boasts 245 square
feet of design walls. What quilt top couldn’t be perfected on a wall
of that size?
Oh, did I mention a commercial grade
popcorn maker? Robert and Lori
bought it to use during the quilting
retreats they sponsor in their upstairs
retreat center, which accommodates
15 quilters, not to mention taking care
of hubby in the man cave while you
shop.
Pictured is a wonderful idea they had to display and promote the
Eazy Peazy Eazier Livin’ Walker Saddlebag.

Lori and right hand employee Marcia VanOort (a life-longquilter
with a degree in textiles) are next to a walker with the pattern kits
and patterns in the Saddlebag.
Visit them on the web at www.CantonQuiltCorner.com.
Blue Ribbon Sew & Vac
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - March 26, 2011 - Q: Do you know
one of the longest quilting seasons in the U.S.? A: It has
to be in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the snow doesn't melt
until April!

The months of cold and snow give customers of Blue
Ribbon Sew 'N Vac in Fairbanks lots of time to make
wonderful things.

Susan Phillips and husband John purchased the
business two years ago and sell four sewing machine
brands plus two brands of vacuum cleaners. As you can
imagine John is kept busy keeping all in running order.
Susan's forte is bringing the latest fabric and
notions to the shelves. She does much of the
investigating to find new fabrics online but also
does purchasing through fabric distributor's
representatives. Eazy Peazy patterns are
prominently and she displays her creations with
the patterns, making it easy for her customers to
see what can be accomplished. To find out more
click here.
Susan's quick merchandising tip:
Offer a $10 off coupon for a machine tune up or repair if your customer brings in a
friend who buys a machine. This keeps her customers loyal and the machines in top
shape!
A Scarlet Thread
MCDONOUGH, Georgia - May 26, 2011 – South of Atlanta and just
2.5 miles east of Interstate 75 is the largest sewing and quilt
shop in Georgia, A Scarlet Thread.

Owner Karen Taylor has a warm and welcoming personality,
greeting longtime customers and first timers as they enter with
her soft southern voice and “Southern Lady-style.”

A popular seller for the shop are bundles of five one-yard cuts,
ready for any pattern and with a bundle purchase Karen includes
a free unique pattern, designed just for the shop. Patterns range
in difficulty…something for everyone.
Bringing the kiddies and hubby? A Scarlet Thread has a kids’ zone
and even a man cave. You can learn more about A Scarlet Thread
at their website, AScarletThread.com.
Visitors will notice shop displays are built
vertically and lit by natural light coming through
the many windows. There are also special
spotlights which show off the inventory of more
than 7,500 fabrics to best advantage. Karen
knows how important displays are and employs
a decorator who constantly works to keep
things new and fresh. The picture illustrates
these merchandising techniques - Karen just
happens to be holding an Eazy Peazy Second
Heaven Two Handbag, isn’t it cute?
A visit with Me and My Sister
PHOENIX, Arizona - June 21, 2011 - While attending a quilting
class at a local quilt shop sisters Barbara Groves and Mary
Jacobson found out the shop was for sale. They purchased it and
for three years found they never had worked so hard in their lives.
Selling the shop but not wanting to leave the business entirely they
thought creating fabric designs would be an ideal solution. Me & My
Sister Designs was born.

Barb and Mary tell me they are now working on their 19th and 20th
fabric collections and have branched out into designing patterns
(more than 40 now) plus they have authored seven books.

One of my favorite fabric collections is named Amelia about which
Barb says, “Our style has always been whimsical and we tried to
add a bit of a ‘watercolor feel’ to some of the prints this time. We
had just returned from teaching in Florida…on Amelia Island…and
really liked the name Amelia.”

Both sisters are certainly creative but day to day Mary spends more
time on the computer and handling the accounting part of the
business while Barb does more of the customer contact. They
meet in the middle though when its time to design fabrics with Mary
being the diva of color selection.
Barb pointed out a big
part of their success is
having Moda Fabrics as
their fabric distributor. The
duo finds the people at
Moda easy to work with
which leaves them time
for the job they most
enjoy, designing new
fabric collections.
Me & My Sister’s newest collection entitled “Twirl,” will debut at
the quilt show in Houston this fall. It features butterflies as one
of the motifs.

The top photo shows Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson with
some of their Amelia fabric and below is an Eazy Peazy
Tabletop Pocketeer also made from Amelia.

Check out the website MeandMySisterDesigns.com and their
blog to see more of the sister’s creative products and ideas.
Meet Annie Unrein
July 19,2011 - Annie Unrein was looking for a little extra money to
support her quilting habit and she found the ideal solution:
creating quilt patterns and starting her own business, Patterns by
Annie followed by www.ByAnnie.com.

While working as a scrap booking consultant, Annie developed her
first pattern, an organizer to hang on the back of a door and today
she has 98 published patterns with two more to make and even
100 coming soon.  

"Many of my quilt patterns begin in my head. Heather Purcell,
Mother Superior of Superior Threads, is my friend and has
partnered along the way,” says Annie.

“We will ‘play’ with designs. I'll do a rough pattern. Heather will
make the quilt and have it quilted. Then I'll come back and finish
the pattern. Superior Threads has a beautiful quilt for their booth,
and I have a finished pattern."
Annie at 2010 Fall Quilt
Market showing a package
of her Soft and Stable.
You may see all of Annie Unrein’s
exciting ideas and innovative products
plus read more about this talented
creative quilter at www.ByAnnie.com.
Annie makes extensive use of Texture Magic and her own product,
Soft and Stable. Both have been "adopted" by Eazy Peazy for our
patterns because they produce such beautifully finished items. To
date she has done 30 patterns for using Texture Magic and more
are in the works.Soft and Stable came about because Annie had
used similar products but felt they just didn't quite do the job. So
she tested and re-tested materials made to her specifications
before introducing Soft and Stable at 2010 Fall Quilt Market. It was
an instant hit and recently Annie introduced a version in white in
addition to the original black.
StudioKat Designs
August 23, 2011-Kathy “Kat” Southern started StudioKat Designs
seven years ago but kept her day job with the city for another 18
months until eventually “retiring” with 29 years of government
service and 4 patterns on the market. She now has 22 handbag
patterns and 2 purse insert patterns.

Originally from Connecticut, Kat spends most days at home in
Winston-Salem, N.C. designing, writing her newsletter, blogging,
packing patterns, handling correspondence, etc. Because her
studio is in her home, she finds it difficult to NOT work.  She
relaxes by traveling with her husband. and specially loves
collegiate sports and visiting her grandson in Charlotte. And as if
she wasn’t doing enough, she plays the clarinet in her church
orchestra.

StudioKat Designs’ detailed patterns produce functional handbags
which address the basic daily needs of women like herself. Kat’s
bags are designed around what she likes and what makes the
components work together.  She says, “A well-designed pattern is
just a fancy jigsaw puzzle and I find the process of getting the
pieces to fall into place incredibly stimulating and fun.  The more
difficult the design problem, the more satisfying it is when the
problem is solved.”
Kat continued, “I really love it
when folks send me pictures
of the bags they make from
our patterns. I get a real kick
out of seeing how our
customers express their
individuality & creativity
through our patterns. The
only thing that would be even
more fun, would be
being able to hear the compliments they get from friends and
family when  they carry these bags. That would be the icing on the
cake!”Presently, she’s in the process of finishing a  new pattern
for fall and chronicling the process on her blog. StudioKat is
venturing into the notions business with the addition of two items
to their product line; a brand new invisible sew-in magnetic snap
perfect for handbags and black & white striped zippers in six
different sizes.  They will be ready for release in September. Kat
doesn’t play favorites with her family of bags, “ My favorite bag is
pretty much always the one I am working on right now.” Why not
visit Kat and her bags at studiokatdesigns.com or her blog
studiokatdesigns.blogspot.com. and on Facebook -
StudioKatDesigns and Twitter- StudioKat.
LaTodera
Sept. 21, 2011 - This month we visit with a
special friend, the talented Julie Creus of
La Todera Sewing and Craft Patterns.  

Julie has designed a wide range of
beautiful folded flowers from orchids to
dahlias, several pin cushions and a great
handbag all while the being a mom to her
active 10 and 12 year old children in
suburban Orlando.
For nine years she lived in Buenos Aires,
mastering both a new language and enjoying the
opportunity to appreciate the beautiful
architecture and art. She even tested her first
pattern (the Kafflower) in 2009 during an
Argentinean vacation.

Her life’s journey started outside of Chicago with
loads of craft items and books provided by her
mother. Her education continued with several
helpful art teachers and a degree in graphic
design. This background has served her well
and she really appreciates the newer computer
publishing programs.
Julie tells me her favorite pattern is her
very first, the Kafflower named for Kaffe
Fassett, whose fabrics she loves (see
picture).
Julie tells the story, "When I nervously
showed the pattern and Kafflowers to
Kaffe himself at my booth at the
Houston Quilt market last year, he was
flattered and wore one of my flowers
pinned to his shirt for the rest of the
day (swoon!).   

Julie has a host of new patterns for
2011 International Quilt Market this fall
in Houston including the Kanzashi
Flower Badge using the Clover
Kanzashi Flower Maker and the Cactus Blossom Pincushion.
See all the beautiful things that can be done with fabric by visiting
LaTodera’s booth #1217. Also visit her website and blog:
latodera.com, facebook.com/laTodera, todera.blogspot.com/ See
you in Eazy Peazy's booth #1215 in Houston at International Quilt
Market.
Announcing the Eazy Peazy Gal ™ Club
The Eazy Peazy Gal ™ “club” for our quilt shop friends has no
dues, no rules and no meetings.

The purpose is to share ideas on topics like sewing, household
hints, favorite recipes and lots more. The “club” meets whenever
you want on the “Eazy Peazy Freebeez” page on our web site.

You will find items and ideas are for sharing with your customers.

Take a look at the sewing hints for binding non-square corners or
installing a magnetic snap. The clear, well-written instructions are
accompanied by great illustrations and are perfect for a “mini-event”
demonstration to bring customers in to your shop. They take the
“fear” out of these sewing techniques and customers will really be
appreciative. New items are being added all the time for you to
download and print.

One of our favorites is “No Lumpy Bumpy Binding,” please let us
know what you think.

And lastly feel free to send us your special ideas or techniques to
share with all the Eazy Peazy Gals running quilt shops…our friends
and business partners.
 Expanded shop listings
During the exciting (but exhausting) Quilt Market this year it was
thrilling to meet shop owners who often said, “We have your
patterns!” So, we’ve added lots of new names to our web page
listing shops carrying Eazy Peazy patterns.

Since we do not and will not sell retail, the listing of shops by state
is important.  If you stock our patterns and are not on shown please
let us know and we will add your shop. Click here to send us an
email. Please include your name, your shop’s name, city, state and
country.

Eazy Peazy patterns are sold in several foreign countries, but we
lack listings for some states right here in the good old USA. Since
we are frequently contacted by consumers wishing to purchase
patterns directly, it’s great to be able to refer them to a nearby shop.

“Increasing business through add on sales…GUARANTEED”
Speaking of Houston, in case you couldn’t make it there here is a
link to my presentation at Schoolhouse with some thoughts and
ideas about increasing quilt shop sales. Feel free to download it
and share it with your staff.

Cool News-Checker iPhone App
In case you missed it, Checker Distributors has their own iPhone
App which puts the shop owner in instant touch with their best
selling products and makes ordering easy. To me the most
amazing thing is that each Creative Grids ruler will have a chip
imbedded leading to an smartphone video demonstrating use of
the ruler.
“Sewing up” the Next Generation
December 13, 2011 - Fabric Warehouse in Lakeland, Florida and
second generation owner Betty Gronow, are “sewing up” the
shop’s future with the next generation of sewers, quilters and
customers through some innovative programs.

The shop, managed by sisters Melody and Holly Robson, runs
the aptly named “Little Sisters” taught by Holly after school and on
Saturdays while Melody teaches a similar group for the home
schooled called “Little Sisters at Home” that meets once a
month. Summers especially are busy with week long Kid’s
Sewing Camps.
Great things happen
when young people
are taught to sew. An
example is the “Birds
of Hope” started by
two “Little Sisters”
Emily (l)  and Allison
(r). The girls learned
to make decorative hanging birds from quilt scraps and had the
idea to sell them for $5 a piece. But it’s not money to go to the
mall. In just 16 months the more than $30,000 raised has been
donated to villages in Zambia for new water filtration plants.

“Buy a bird, change a life,” is Emily and Allison’s slogan and
there’s no doubt abundant clean water has changed the
villagers’ lives. To learn more about Emily and Allison’s heart-
warming story click on this link. Birds of Hope
Fabric Warehouse-Awash in color
The Robson sisters have an eye for
the modern, popular fabric
designers that appeal to the young
and young at heart. The store’s
displays are awash in color
providing an exciting, upbeat
atmosphere.

When not busy with young sewers,
Melody( r) and Holly (l) spend their time researching hot new
products on the market, maintaining a strong presence for the
store on the Internet, teaching classes and selling Viking
machines. Fabric Warehouse is among the top 10 Viking
Dealers in the country.

Visit their web site at Fabric Warehouse
Eazy Peazy Gal’s Million Dollar Fudge
With Christmas just around the corner here is a drop dead
delicious fudge recipe that’s perfect for holiday parties.
Here's the link to download a printable copy.
Eazy Peazy Gal’s Million Dollar Fudge.
Copyright 20121, Eazy Peazy Quilts. All Rights Reserved. www.EazyPeazyQuilts.com is a trademark of Eazy Peazy Quilts.
Quilt On - Susan Cleveland
January 27, 2012 - Susan Cleveland of Pieces Be With You (don’t
you love the name?) has a wonderful signature line on her
correspondence, “Quilt on”.

Her way with words and bubbly personality carries over into her
life as a designer. Susan is known for her handy tools, patterns,
books, national teaching credentials, and award winning quilts.
Her start in the judged arena occurred at an American Quilter’s
Society show in Paducah, Ky.  “I didn’t realize you don’t start with
one of the biggest shows,” smiles Susan but she caught the
attention of the judges and attendees and her teaching career
was launched.
For an added bonus was the fact she
had developed new techniques and
several notions. Her first was the
Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool but
there are also the Prairie Pointer Tool
and a line of thread.

She told me, “My greatest strength is
that I’m able to tackle a difficult task,
break it down, and develop easier,
more accurate ways of accomplishing
it. I used to be an engineer and I think
my brain just goes in that direction.”
“I love teaching and presenting programs plus on a typical day, I
love packing Internet orders. I feel like Santa Claus (we have the
same initials, ‘ya know)”.  

Her dreams for the future include more YouTube videos and DVD’
s of her techniques to meet the needs of the visual learners and
a tool to aid in more accurate piecing.

Her line of notions and thread came from need. “I strive to do
things easier with greater accuracy. The tools do this for me and
others. Heavy decorative thread is an important part of my work
and I do a line of 12 wt cotton solids for WinderFil.”
Susan's Psychedelic
Big Bang Quilt
Susan gives credit to the great quilter, Libby Lehman who
encouraged her from the beginning. “I admire her art, her ethics,
and her sense of humor greatly. I’m grateful she saw something
in me early on.”

Learn more about Susan and her company at
www.PiecesBeWithYou.com.
Here’s hoping that Susan Cleveland will “Quilt On” for a long,
long time!
Eazy Peazy's newest Fabulous Fabric Fashion Cuff

“Wear your favorite fabric on your arm.” This newest pattern from
Eazy Peazy is totally unique, totally fabulous and totally
personalized.
Included are patterns for 3 sizes – adult, teen and child with
over a dozen ideas for embellishments that will individualize
each cuff. It's an “Eazy” beginners project and ideal for
classes in your quilt shop.

The Fabric Fashion Cuff uses inn-spire™plus (stiff, moldable
and non-woven stabilizer) and has an option for Sulky® Tear-
Easy™ Stabilizer.

It is great for gifts, party favors, kids projects, personalize with
pictures of grandchildren, new baby, special friend, company
or team logo. Think up lots of different types but a hint would
be that Christmas or Seasonal Cuffs are a cinch. And how
about Teen “Friendship” Cuffs?
Susan Brubaker Knapp
of Blue Moon River

Susan Brubaker Knapp in addition to
being a busy wife and mom is an award
winning fiber artist, author and teacher
who has really made her mark in the
quilting world.
Susan’s unique quilt designs are often inspired by the images of
nature her camera captures. She tells me the feature she loves
the “micro” button on her three cameras which allows her to shoot
very close and yet maintain focus. “I always carry a very small
camera in my purse just in case something presents itself. The
cost of the camera is not what’s important”. Susan’s latest book
entitled Point, Click, Quilt, teaches mastery of the techniques of
fusible appliqué and thread sketching based on photographs.

She doesn’t have an art background but an English major going
who went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism. After
college Susan worked as a graphic designer on a newspaper and
holds the firm belief everyone can learn to be creative and artistic.

“Most people just don’t take the time!”, she exclaims.

Her beautiful thread painting is achieved by the use of lightweight
100% cotton with Aurifil Corro Mako 50 being her favorite.  “When
you do thread sketching, it is important to work with a very light
thread so you can control  how heavy it is, and build it up so that it
is the right density.”

A highlight in 2011 was having her “Hope is the Thing” quilt being
selected as part of the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach
and Houston. It now has been purchased and is part of the
International Quilt Festival Collection. Susan’s “Maximum Cat
Nap” also was a prize winner at 2011 Quilt Festival.

This spring she’ll be teaching in the Netherlands for eight days
and then go on to Johannesburg, South Africa for the first
International Quilt Convention-Africa. All of this added to her
already full teaching schedule and Susan will be bringing the
creative possibilities to us through new books, patterns, DVD’s
and TV segments.

Learn more about Susan and her company Blue Moon River on
her web site. www.BlueMoonRiver.com.
"Maximum Cat Nap" above and
"Hope is the Thing" are two of Susan's
award winning designs.
Eazy Peazy's Latest

The Peazy Pincushions—a trio of
different and unique pincushions
in the distinctive Eazy Peazy style.
Each makes use of one of the
hottest new products inn-spire™
plus (moldable stabilizer) and all
require minimal sewing making
them ideal for projects, gifts and
beginners.

“The Pozie Wrislet” not only is fun
to make and practical but is a
great party favor.
“Hearts in Hand” is totally
unique. The pattern is a hand—
yours or a loved one’s.
“The Cutest Cupcake” is both
whimsical and the perfect size to
fit next to your machine.
Add on sales opportunities
have are created by use of
the inn-spire™ plus and the
Cutest Cupcake makes use
of the Clover Yo-Yo Flower
Maker and the Kanzashi
Flower Maker.