Happy End of January Everyone!

Well, January has turned into a clean the studio, clean the room, set some goals, organize your day better kind of month for me, how about you?  Some really tangible progress to report, so here goes...

First off, the Blog GiveAway is going well, but there was an issue with the way it was being set up, so I've extended it to Feb 13th. Everyone who's already entered has a chance to share the news with Friends and Family (and Guilds) and to win the DVD.  I'll announce the winner here on February 14th.  To enter the GiveAway, follow or like the blog so you get my updates automatically.

The signups for the Un-Tangle Retreat at the Beachmere in Ogunquit are going really well, Sandy Steen Bartholomew and I are really excited about it.  I'm going to be learning a lot, and getting to know a lot of fabulous new friends and artists along the way.   If you've never tried to Tangle before, this is the time.

My website has now been mostly updated - you can see the current calendar and this blog all in one place. I'm very happy that this gives me a more cohesive look to the site, and there'll be more changes coming along the way.  Can you check it out and let me know what you think of it?  It's www.thepatchworkpearl.com.


How many of you have seen EvaPaige Quilt Design's February challenge, The Drop and Give me Twenty Challenge? No, it's not exercise, it's quilting - her take on what can you get done in 20 minutes a day. I signed up last week and I've been getting prepped for it since I did.  Do I get credit for banking days ahead of when I can't get to them?  If you want to see the details of the challenge, click on the button on the side of my blog, and see who's up to what.  I committed to trying...and I've already gotten some things done.  Take a look...

Note, this is my contribution to Beth's group project - and (me being me) this was actually one and a half 20 minute chunks.  It did lead to a fund discovery in my stash...how many of you have every gone stash diving and found something like this - wondering why did I only buy a FQ? Fun...Fun...

Let me know how your week is going...

One Quilting Circle, January 26, 2012

It may seems odd to some outside the crafts arena, but the term “Stick to your Knitting” has some profound wisdom to share in mainstream American business. The term first came to popularity as one of the core principles behind Tom Peters “In search of Excellence”.

The term references the idea that a company (or a service provider) should remain true and faithful to the principles that founded it in the first place. It seems appropriate that in January, as we set goals and plans to paper, we remember this principle.

Diversification is thought to promote stability in a difficult economy, but at some point you have to decide what your core business is, and build any secondary businesses to support that. In a quilt shop, adding a line of sewing machines would support the original mission statement – but adding a line of vacuum cleaners does not.

There comes a time when you have to decide where you’re going to focus your energies. You owe it to your customers, your employees and yourself – not necessarily in that order – to make a plan and have your day-to-day activities support that goal.

Will everything get done? No – and that’s the point.  The mark of success is not cleaning the desk, or getting everything on a to do list – it’s making sure that the right things are on that list, and that it’s narrow enough in focus to allow you to be successful.  You can’t be all things to all people.

Has anyone else been goal setting this month?

So have you seen Handmade Ryan Gosling?

One of my goals for this year is to integrate my social networking strategy better, so that the message is more cohesive to those of you who are my customers. It's been a busy month, sometimes frustrating - and some lightbulb moments along the way.  I can almost think I'm getting the hang of it.  It makes sense, really...I have a diagram, a flow chart and have just about figured out how my webpage, Facebook (me), Facebook (The Patchwork Pearl), and Constant Contact (which I love!) all intersect.

I had a 'moment' last week as I was getting ready to do my first presentation to the Bedford guild here in New Hampshire - how do I tell them to keep up with me? Do I send them to Facebook for the business or to  my blog (which has the information about my GiveAway on it)....wait a minute. You. didn't.enter.it.yet?

Ok - let's back up now - and this was triggered by an email by someone who has now entered it by sending me an email.  I have a copy of  "Why Quilts Matter" by The Kentucky Quilt Project that I'm giving away on the first of February. All you have to do is to follow the blog. If you're reading this through Facebook, like it through NetworkedBlogs; if you're reading it through google, just follow me.  I'm adding you all to a good old fashioned spreadsheet to keep up.

Ok, now that you've entered it - and shared it with anyone you know who may be slightly interested in the story, I'm going to come back to my IT challenged world. And then I'm going to go play with fabric...

Linkedin is a work in progress, Powerpoint is for next month, and paypal (working with Constant Contact) is a godsend for someone who's working with 3 events in the next 60 days.

I was going to add all the buttons to this blog post, but we're talking next quarter before I figure that out...

So now I have one more to figure out - what's Tumblr?  It's another blogging platform - that apparently can't be integrated into this one. So think of me while you click on this link...

http://handmaderyangosling.tumblr.com/

It's really funny - even the part about nobody entering your giveaway....

Please like this and share...I'm off to the cutting table.



The Giveaway is 

more interactive), my website - which is still a UFO...I pushed through that and

. Linkedin is a work in progress, Powerpoint  is not as tough as I thought it would be.  You can add in paypal (and three events, thank you very much) and see why I am desperately looking for a reason/excuse to go play with fabric and sew. 

Have you registered to win Why Quilts Matter?

I thought I'd take some time today to promote the First Giveaway for The Patchwork Pearl, and explain why I picked it to be my first. They do say you always remember your first, right?  I've been excited about this DVD set since I heard it was coming out, and I had the chance to pick up an extra copy last fall. I knew it'd come in handy.

The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc. (KQP), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1981 and created the first of the state quilt documentation projects. Why Quilts Matter gives some context to the modern quilt movement, and draws some interesting lines between the quilts and their social issues of the day.

I've always been fascinated with the place quilts have had in our social conscience, and this fresh look at the subject, done by such a reputable souce is something I'm proud to share with all of you.

To enter the Giveaway, just like the blog and become a follower.  If you're using Facebook's NetworkedBlogs app, just like us. Share us two - sharing is always good.  If you're not using Facebook, just like the blog and drop me a line at Linda@thepatchworkpearl.com and I'll enter you into the drawing.  I'm drawing the winner on Feb 1, so there's still plenty of time to enter.

More fun on the horizon...

It's been a fun weekend putting the finishing touches on my presentation for the Bedford Guild, working on two retreats, arranging an open sew for my guild, teaching my son's girlfriend to make her first quilt...and, oh yes I managed to sign up for a trip to the AQS Paducah in April - something off my bucket list! 

When I opened my email box this morning, I found this waiting for me - I think Sandy Steen Bartholomew added color just for me!

So what have you been up to?

Anouncing the first retreat of the year!

Un-Tangle, The Relaxing Creativity Event

The Patchwork Pearl is very proud to announce our first retreat of 2012, which features acclaimed Zentangle® author Sandy Steen Bartholomew teaching what she does best in one of the places that she loves best. We're both very excited to be going to The Beachmere Inn in Qgunquit, Maine on March 2, 3 and 4, 2012 for UN-TANGLE, The Relaxing Creativity Retreat.

Spend a relaxing weekend tangling in Ogunquit with your host, Linda Pearl, and your teacher, Sandy Bartholomew, the author and illustrator of five Zentangle® books. Bring your own creations to show off and provide inspiration to others. If you have never tangled before, no worries - Sandy will get you addicted in no time. Some of the areas which will be covered will include shading, deconstructing tangles, using transfers, simple printmaking and tangling on fabric.

After a get aquainted session on Friday evening, Saturday will be spent working on projects and trying out new ideas. Everything will be kept in a little journal along with new tangles learned, and excercises completed. All materials needed will be provided, including your choice of one of Sandy's books. We've set aside some free time for you to feed your creative soul by walking Ogunquit's beautiful Marginal Way (the cliff walk along the ocean).

Sandy will be available throughout the weekend to provide you with feedback on your tangles as well as allow you to pick her brain. She will also have a small shopping area, which will showcase some of the products she's come to know and love on her journey.

The 'almost' all-inclusive cost for this weekend is $375.00 per person/double occupancy, and $565.00 per person single occupancy. That includes 5 meals (Friday night, Breakfast and Dinner on Saturday, Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday) and Sandy's getting started kit.  We've set aside some free time for you for lunch on Saturday afternoon. We suggest either walking Ogunquit's beautiful Marginal Way, which has several shops and lunch stops at either end, or perhaps taking advantage of The Beachmere's luxurious spa facilities. Lunchtime Saturday will be on your own, and we'll get back together to see the fruits of your creative lunch mid-afternoon on Saturday.

We really have a lot of fun time planned for you, so please come and enjoy a weekend playing with your creative side.  Register today so that you can take advantage of Sandy's first retreat in Maine.

CLICK HERE to REGISTER!

Need more info? Questions? Contact: Linda Pearl (linda @ thepatchworkpearl.com)