American Patchwork and Quilting Archives

Posted on May 15, 2018 by AQR Piece by Piece

Connect at Quilt Market

American Quilt Retailer is returning with Better Homes & Gardens American Patchwork & Quilting for another Schoolhouse Series at this spring’s Quilt Market!

The Spring International Quilt Market is May 18-20 in Portland, Oregon, and the Schoolhouse Series will feature three classes on Thursday, May 17.

Editor of AQR and shop owner Heidi Kaisand will be joined by editor of American Patchwork & Quilting Jody Sanders and Roseann Kermes to feature three classes.

The first class of the Schoolhouse Series covers something we all wish we had more of; time. Owning a small business can make it difficult to reach business goals and often interferes with our personal lives. This session will cover organizing, delegating, and making essential decisions to run your business.

The second session is as dynamic as the people running it. Editors Kaisand and Sanders will cover information for consumers and shop owners alike through topics like color options and products to inspire customers.

Lastly, Heidi Kaisand is again joined by Roseann Kermes to share how to make a staff operate like a well-oiled machine. A team that works well together makes victories so much easier to obtain, and thus an even more successful business that everyone can reap the benefits from.

Finally for the part you’ve all been waiting for… AQR is happy to announce the now-legendary blue bags are back, and the first 400 people to attend the Schoolhouse Series will receive one filled with information and product in exchange for a business card.

Just some of the product to be featured in the blue bags AQR will hand our during their Schoolhouse Series at the Spring International Quilt Market in Portland Oregon.

If you so happen to be sticking around the Quilt Market, feel free to stop by American Quilt Retailer’s booth at 839 and talk to editor Heidi Kasiand about how we can make the issue better for you. We love feedback—and conversations with other small business owners, too.

If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.

Posted on March 7, 2018January 10, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

Shannon Fabrics Color of the Year

Earlier this year, Shannon Fabrics announced Bluebell as their color of the year. The color of the year is chosen following design trends, and is a time every creative looks forward to.

Bluebell is known for evoking tranquil feelings and a sense of reassurance. In the age of the social this color seemed the right fit for what 2018 should be; a reminder to stop and smell the roses somewhere in our busy and ever-moving lives.

Bluebell has warm violet undertones and matches well with denim blues, navy, and dusty blue when used as the main focus. Bluebell also matches well with cooler purples (think along the lines of lavender), and neutrals like sand, beige, steel, and graphite.

Shannon Fabrics features the color in many of their patterns and has received positive feedback from choosing the relaxing hue.

This compares to Pantone’s color of the year, Ultraviolet. Ultraviolet, a much deeper purple than Bluebell, is a color of vision, promoting originality that points to the future.

Unlike Bluebell, Ultraviolet features better as an accent. Search for colors to soften it, like purples, pinks, and blues. A vase of these shades of flowers look all the more lovely next to the powerful and emotion-evoking deep purple. If looking to use Ultraviolet, embrace a darker, more moody theme.

As we enter the second quarter of the year, try to look for opportunities to include the colors of the year into your products for a reminder to stay calm, cool, and collected while keeping your eyes on the prize.

Posted on December 6, 2017January 10, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

Top 10 Self Help Books

It’s never too late to start caring for yourself! Read the bios of these self help books to see which most applies to you—or to a friend.

1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl was originally published in 1946 and is in the top 10 of the most influential books in America. After suffering—and surviving—four holocaust camps, Frankl writes about how to cope with, and move on from, suffering, and how he used these skills in his practice.

2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is both a personal and professional self help book that includes in-depth exercises to put into practice what you’re reading. This landmark book teaches you how to live a life through integrity, fairness, honesty, and dignity.

3. The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz was originally published in 1960, but updated to include modern anecdotes. This book walks with you on your way to success, no matter if your goal is to lose weight or grow your business.

4. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini is a book about why people say yes. Learn how to make people say yes and how to defend yourself against the same tactics through this research-driven read.

5. Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is definitely the most business-oriented self help book on this list. Used on Wall Street, this book teaches you about markets and luck.

6. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie is exactly what the title says; if you’re wanting a worry-free future then this is the book for you. Other tips include time management and financial planning.

7. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz is yet another book who’s title accurately depicts what you’ll learn on it’s pages, if you reach for the moon you’ll at least land in the stars.

8. The One Thing by Gary Keller is also listed on the top five business books and has won 12 awards. This book is about mindfulness, cutting clutter out of your life to be the most productive, and how to work on what really matters.

9. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a book that follows over 3000 years of powerful public figures and narrows their common traits into 48 laws to follow in your life. Read about confidence, humility, self-preservation, and more.

10. Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely shows how humans waste time and money on systemic processes in our lives. Whether you’re buying a car or choosing a romantic partner, this book exposes how humans are predictably irrational.

AQR knows business owners don’t have access to an infinite amount of spare time, but pick up one of these reads as a gift for a fellow business owner or as a way to kill time while traveling.

*Note: this list was found at Medium.com, another blog founded by the creators of a little app known as Twitter.

Posted on October 27, 2017January 10, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

Join AQR at the Schoolhouse Series

If you’ve been following us on Facebook (which we hope you have!) then you know all about how we’ve been gearing up for the International Fall Quilt Market.

This year we’re excited to offer a forum called the Schoolhouse Series the day before the Market opens on October 27. This fun-filled eight hours includes three different classes and an opportunity to spend time with manufacturers, retailers, and publishers to discuss the latest books, products, and techniques.

Joining Heidi Kaisand, editor of AQR, will be editor of renowned magazine American Patchwork and Quilting Jody Sanders. You can find both of them at the Market at booth 1442, or at the first of the classes offered through their Schoolhouse Series where they offer insight on the industry’s must-have trends.

Other classes where you can find Kaisand and Sanders include 15 marketing tips in 30 minutes where they share techniques to push your retail business to the next level, as well as You’re Hired! You’re Fired! A class with guest Roseann Kermes all about managing employees.

Also at the Fall Market will be the newest edition to the team! AQR is ecstatic to have Kristi Loeffelholz Edwards join the team as business-to-business media director. Loeffelholz has extensive design, publishing, and ecommerce experience in Fons and Porter and previously served as Vice President/General Manager of F+W Media. Loeffelholz also joins us from American Patchwork and Quilting.

If this hasn’t been enough to convince you to come to Houston, hopefully our Blue Bag program will. We’re driving all the way from Iowa to Texas with 400 bags stuffed with goodies to give away during our Schoolhouse Series, and at our booth. But once we’re out, we’re out! Register today to secure your Blue Bag (and visit our Facebook page to get a sneak peak of what’s inside)!

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the people behind some of your favorite craft magazines. Join in the fun at both the Schoolhouse Series and the International Fall Quilt Market this weekend.