Greetings from Tucsadelphia:
Travel-Inspired Projects from Lizzie B Cre8ive
Liz and Beth Hawkins
Kansas City Star Quilts; $26.95

Liz and Beth Hawkins, the duo behind the design team Lizzie B Cre8ive, have put together a fun collection of whimsical travel-inspired projects. (For those not familiar with Liz and Beth, they are sisters-in-law and share the same name, Elizabeth Hawkins, as well as a passion for quilting.) The books title plays homage to Tuscadelphia, a special place they they created for themselves; in reality Liz lives outside Philadelphia and Beth lives in Tucson. The book features stories of travel adventures of Liz and Beth along with 10 quilts and projects, ranging from luggage tags and a travel pillow to a backpack and a quilt inspired by travel postcards. The book is filled with personality, and fans of Lizzie B Cre8ive won’t be disappointed.

Here’s a link, if you’d like to add it to your library.

Yes, it’s tax time again. As a self-employed business owner, it’s important for me to have a handle on my business and know what is deductible and what isn’t. Invariably at any quilt show when I talk about taxes, someone will tell me they have an accountant. “Terrific,” I say. “But what does she know about your business in particular?” You go to an accountant because she knows taxes. She can be very knowledgeable about small businesses, but she cannot know the nuances of every type of small business. She works with what you give her. That’s why it’s important for you to do your own research, understand tax strategies and keep track of deductions to which you are entitled. Here are some tips for maximizing those deductions.

1. Keep better track of your mileage. I’ve read that when you estimate, you actually underestimate. I use the Quilt Engagement Calendar in conjunction with the trip meter in my car. I set the meter to zero at the start of my trip and then enter the mileage in the calendar at the end, along with a notation as to the purpose of the trip. The IRS doesn’t care how you track your mileage, just that you have written logs. You can also track your public transportation costs in the same log.

2. Group your errands. The IRS allows business owners to deduct business mileage. For 2009, the rate was 55 cents per mile. (For 2010, the rate is 50 cents.) If you have personal errands, do them at the same time as your business errands.

3. Use the per diem rates for meals. The IRS has established per diem, or by the day, allowances for meals that self-employed individuals can use. At your option you can use either the per diem or actual costs, depending on which gives you the greater deduction. I find that in most cases, the per diem is better. Remember, that you can only deduct 50% of the per diem or actual meal costs. For per diem rates, refer to IRS Publication 1542, Per Diem Rates.

4. If you operate as a sole proprietorship, consider hiring your children aged 18 and under. You can get a deduction for their wages (up to $5,700 in 2009), and in most cases your children do not have to pay taxes on the wages. Details: IRS Publication 15, “Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide.

5. Don’t forget about  professional publications and dues. All the quilt and many other magazines that you buy are deducible if you use them in your business. Your IAPQ dues are also deductible.

6. And, if your books weren’t up-to-date or you are a shoebox records filer, vow to be better in 2010.

For more information, you can refer to IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business. Also recommended is 422 Tax Deductions for Businesses and Self-Employed Individuals by Bernard Kamaroff, CPA, which you can find on the PQ Marketplace page of our web site. You can find your discount code on your IAPQ Members Page.

The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create a success from your quilting business. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership here.

Crush It: Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion
Gary Vaynerchuk
HarperStudio; $19.95

Gary Vaynerchuk wrote this book for anyone who has a hobby and wants to make a living at it. (Sounds like a lot of quilters and fiber artists I know!) Using the power of the Internet, Gary turned his passion for wine into his personal brand. Here are just four of the many lessons from the book: 1. Identify and live your passion. (OK, quilters and fiber artists have this one down.) 2. Create a system for using all the social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter. 3. Be transparent and live your passion. 4. Be willing to adapt and change. This is an easy read and you’ll come away with several ideas that you can put to use to grow your business today.

If you’d like to add this to your library or purchase it as a gift, here’s a link.

Have you thought about using Google AdWords, the boxes containing links that appear on the right hand side, and sometimes at the top, of Google’s search engine results? If you know what you are doing, Google AdWords can be a successful part of your marketing plan.

In the Winter issue of The Professional Quilter, Gloria Hansen interviewed her business partner Derry Thompson about Google AdWords. Derry has a great deal of expertise in this area. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Google AdWords are not natural search engine results, but rather they are paid-for advertising. Every time someone clicks on those links the company or individual that placed the ad pays Google a certain amount of money. Hence it’s referred to as pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. AdWords are the foundation of Google’s revenue stream. It’s what makes them money. The goal with paying Google for advertising is hopefully attracting new business to your site.

Using Adwords can make makes sense if your site is new and you want to establish a decent search engine ranking. They can also help you compete directly with others in your field. Here are three tips from Derry on using AdWords:

1. Make sure the price per click you are bidding is economical relative to the products you are selling. It’s fine to bid $20 a click for a product that sells for$100, but not if the product sells for $10. Remember that not all clicks will result in a sale, hence you need to monitor the AdWords carefully and make sure that you aren’t wasting money.

2. Pick your key phrases carefully. The AdWords default is set to what’s called a “broad match.” Thus, if you bid on “quilts” and it’s set on broad match, your results will display for any search that contains the word “quilts,” not just quilts itself. It’s much better to focus on a few phrases and set them to use an exact match. You do this by entering the key phrase within square brackets, so entering a phrase such as [quilting widgets] will only show if someone searches exactly for “quilting widgets.” Once you’ve entered your key phrases you can later adjust them as needed.

3. Set your geographical area. If you aren’t selling worldwide, there’s no point in advertising worldwide. In AdWords you can set your ads to only appear in certainly geographical areas. Thus if your market is the United States, set your ads to only appear in the United States; if your market is California, set your ads to appear only in California.

The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create a success from your quilting business. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership here.

When we advertise our products or services, it’s often easier to talk about the features as opposed to the benefits. Features characterize the product; benefits are why we buy the product. Benefits answer the question, What’s in it for me? When you buy products, you don’t buy because of a feature, you buy because of a benefit. Features are easy to describe; benefits less so. Benefits, too, can be intangible.

The most compelling benefits are those that deliver emotional or financial rewards. This is what struck me as I looked at those magazine ads. The Twinings Tea ad that says “With my cup of Twinings, even a rainy day feels brighter” is selling an emotion. My favorite ad that pulls the emotional heartstrings is the Michelin ad with the baby sitting inside the tire. Michelin is not selling tires; it is selling safety. Good use of selling a benefit.

Looking at some quilting examples, you don’t buy a new design rotary cutter because it’s described as ergonomically correct, you buy it because the manufacturer says you will have pain-free cutting. If you are selling a pattern, instead of just saying it includes rotary-cutting instructions, say that you can save time with easy-to-follow rotary instructions. Saving time is a benefit we can all appreciate. A finished quilt isn’t just a valued piece of art, it’s a collector’s item that will increase in value. Do you think people are buying those Kinkaid prints because they are pretty? No, they think they are making an investment in something that will increase in value.

Also consider how you’ll package your product. You might find a benefit there. For example, patterns are packaged in bags with vent holes so they pack more easily. Or a kit could be in a resealable packet to keep the work clean.

One way to look at benefits is to consider your products from the consumer’s point of view. You might even survey them. What examples do you have that sells the benefits of your product or service?

The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create a success from your quilting business. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership here.

I spent several days last week with my mastermind group, part of the Smart Women’s Institute of Entrepreneurial Learning. This was a decision on my part to play bigger in 2010. I decided if I wanted to grow my business to the next level, I would have to take a big step and play with bigger people. And the people in my group are big players. That’s part of why a mastermind is, as Martha says, a good thing. People who want to play big often have bigger ideas. I came away from this group with one big idea that I never considered – and it was right in front of me the whole time. If you think about it in sports terms, if you are a tennis player, you want to play with someone who is better than you are, so that you improve your game. It does take courage to take that leap. If you remember, one of my words for the year is challenge, and this will do just that for me. And, my group reminded me not to get so wrapped up in my challenges that I forget the joy (my other word for 2010) as I move forward.

Here are some tips to help you take the leap and think bigger this year.

1. Take action. Is there something big you want to do but haven’t taken the plunge? What are the big things on your goals list? This could be entering your quilt in a big quilt show, sending your patterns to a large distributor, contacting the local gallery about a show or getting your teaching proposals to a major show promoter. You won’t be able to get bigger if you don’t take action. So, put aside the “what ifs” and go for it. You can’t win if you don’t play.

2. And, speaking of action, be bold and daring. Remember our goal is to think bigger. Don’t take safe action, take action that scares you a bit. I have the following quote from Eleanor Roosevelt on a magnet on my refrigerator where I can see it every morning: Do one thing every day that scares you.

3.  Act as if. I learned this many years ago. Act as if the situation is as you want it. Exude confidence and success. You’ll be surprised at how often when you “act as if,” you get “as if.”

4. Toot your own horn. Many times women are reluctant to share their successes. I know, many of us were raised that way. It’s time to put aside that attitude and pick up that horn. If you don’t blow your own horn, who will?

5. Schedule time to grow. This can be with a mastermind, such as mine, or networking with a small group of like-minded quilt, art or business professionals. It can also be setting aside time to read, learn new things to either build your business skills or work on your mindset. Here’s a book I like that will help you utilize the power of thinking big: The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Good luck with your big, bold action as you move forward. Personal and professional growth happen when we are willing to take that leap and think big.

The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create a success from your quilting business. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership here.

Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II
Eleanor Levie
Martingale & Co.; $26.99

If you liked Skinny Quilts and Table Runners, you’ll love Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II. This collection of 15 designs lets you try out a signature style from a collection of celebrated quilters. You’ll tackle “tops” and “tails,” Judy Hooworth’s method of creating two blocks from the same strip set; Sue Benner’s circular petal designs; Melinda Bula’s raw-edge appliqué; and Sue Spargo’s folk art inspired by an Asian rug, colors of the African bushveld and the rolling hills of England. The skinny quilts are a great way to do a test run of a new technique.

If you’d like to add this to your library or purchase it as a gift, here’s a link.

This week we have a teleclass with Marcia Hoeck on working with a virtual assistant. I began partnering with my virtual assistant, Terry, about 16 months ago. I know some of you have had occasion to work with her. Why did I make this decision? I wanted to grow my business and knew I didn’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. I also knew I wasn’t as skilled at some aspects of the business as someone else might be. And, I knew I got a better return on my time investment working on other projects.

How did I first learn about virtual assistants (also know as VAs)? That I’m not sure about. In 2004 I began working with a VA on my husband’s behalf and quickly realized the benefits. Dawn, his first VA, started by taking over his e-zine, something I had been doing. Today, she has another business and he has another VA. Partnering with a VA left him with more time to work “on” his business, rather than “in” his business. I was sure it would do the same for me.

How can quilt professionals use a VA? First get clear on why and how you can use some help. Are your books woefully behind? Some virtual assistants specialize in bookkeeping. Do you want to grow your business online with a monthly newsletter and don’t know where to start? Many VAs are skilled at html, so they can handle lots of online tasks. Here are eight ideas to get you started:

1. Start with the bookkeeping mentioned above. If this is not one of your skills, look for a VA who is skilled in this area. She can bill your clients and follow up on overdue invoices, keeping you abreast of a situation that you need to handle. She can pay your bills and balance your books.

2. If you are a quilt teacher, you can have your VA manage all your bookings. She can keep your calendar, handle inquiries for teaching, know when you need to be where, get your handouts prepared and shipped to your event. She can even book your travel.

3. If you are a pattern designer, your VA can handle your back-office support activities, including order processing, delivery confirmation and follow-up.

4. Most quilt businesses have a web site and/or blog. Your VA can handle posting, linking, site updates, etc.

5. If you are a longarm quilter, your VA can handle initial inquiries and schedule your work. She can keep track of your supplies and order them for you when you are low.

6. If you are coming out with a new product, you can find a VA to work with you to develop a marketing plan.

7. If you’re an art quilter and preparing for a show, your VA can send invitations, contact the press, help you create advertising and publicity materials, etc.

8. Many quilters today have online newsletters, or e-zines. Your VA can manage your database and work with you to get your newsletter sent out in a timely manner.

I’m sure as you look at your business, you can find tasks that a VA could do. As you go through a typical week, track the tasks that you handle. Many of these tasks, particularly those of an administrative nature, are ones that your VA could do. Sure you could hire someone locally, but you’ll find advantages to having someone do them virtually. The big one is that your VA owns her own business just as you do, and she’s committed to building her business. She’s also responsible for her own taxes, insurance, sick or vacation pay.

I found in the time that I’ve worked with my VA that I’ve been able to build The Professional Quilter into the International Association of Professional Quilters. I could not have done this without the help of my VA. Not only does she handle some of my administrative tasks, she’s a good sounding board for my ideas. A bonus is that she’s a quilter. Regardless of whether you choose to work with someone virtually or hire someone to come into your office, when you turn over some of your work, that lets you spend time working on your business not in your business. And that’s when your business can grow.

The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create a success from your quilting business. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership here.

The Winter issue of The Professional Quilter includes a profile with Matt Sparrow by Mindy Caspersen. Mindy originally met Matt on Facebook and when her attempts to connect at MQX (Machine Quilters Exposition) didn’t work out, she took the opportunity to learn more about Matt. Here’s an excerpt from the profile.

How did you get involved with longarm quilting?
Shortly after I basted and quilted my first quilt on a domestic sewing machine (DSM), I realized that it wasn’t something I wanted to be doing over and over again. I loved piecing but hated the quilting part of the process. After researching the price of longarms, the only way to justify the purchase was to take in customer quilts to recoup the investment. I had no idea it would explode into a full-time career in a short few months.

What is ManQuilter and how is it separate from the rest of your quilting business?
ManQuilter is the essence of my quilting business. I created Manquilter.com to market myself as a longarm quilter. It is my “brand” that I continue to grow every day. I am very committed to building my brand to a point that it is familiar with a large portion of the quilting world. Read the rest of the article nd share your thoughts here.

Tell us about your studio and machine.
I converted my front living room into my studio and run my longarm quilting business out of my home. I am the proud owner of a 2009 APQS Millennium and am one of the newest sales reps for APQS. I have had my hands on every major brand of longarm quilting machine and can tell you without blinking an eye that nothing comes close to the feeling I get when I start stitching on my Millennium Falcon (my pet name for my machine). The horizontal wheels and electronic stitch regulator allow me the joy of precision quilting that my customers demand.

How did you get started teaching quilting in general and also longarm quilting?
I went to MQX in April to take several of Karen McTavish’s classes and was fascinated by her teaching style and the energy she brought to the class. I became certified to teach her quilting technique and came home and approached a local shop about teaching a class. Several months, seven classes and two open house presentations later, I am now officially a competent and confident teacher.

Do you have any business tips you can share with us?
The most important tip I can give is that the sooner you realize that this is your business you are running the better. You are not only a longarm quilter but a business owner as well. Quilting often requires loads of emotion. You need to remove that emotion from the business side of it and make decisions based on a profit model not an emotional response to how you (de)value yourself.

You can read more about Matt and how he and his wife, Bradie, support thier family of ten from quilting in the Winter 2010 issue of The Professional Quilter. The Professional Quilter is one of the benefits of membership in the International Association of Professional Quilters. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership here