Quilting Quest Blog

Update on the Cruise!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Barb!  That was really cute!  I am just hoping I have some hair left to color after all this!  Not only have I been working on posting the online classes, but I worked 14 hours yesterday and 11 hours today getting all my books ready for the accountant tomorrow...nothing like waiting til the last minute...right?  Everyone knows I work best under pressure, but this is really ridiculous!  BUT I have a half way legitimate excuse...I had hired someone to do my books, and even though she told me on Friday that November and December weren't quite done....well, I won't go there.  It is done now and that's all that matters!

NOW, Cruise Update...I told all of you that someone showed me the same cruise for less than the travel agent quoted.  So I called her to find out why.  There are many reasons to book through this travel agency as a group. 

The rooms you can get for $229.00 per person are bunk bed rooms and there are very few available.  The cost per person in the group rate are $322.38 per person, double occupancy, interior or $362.38 oceanview.  Right now you can book on your own (not using the travel agent) and get this same room (interior) for $302.38, BUT this price can and probably will change with availability.  The group rate rooms are locked in and will not change. 

With the group, anyone that wants to get a room for 3 or 4 people, the rate for the 3rd and 4th person is $192.38 per person (interior) or $212.38 per person (oceanview).  I don't have any info on this arrangement outside of the group booking.

With the group rate, you can pay a deposit of $25.00 by April 6th, and the remainder of the deposit of $175.00 by October 1st.  If you cancel before November 30, you get the FULL DEPOSIT back.  IF you book on your own, you pay the full deposit $200.00 when you book. IF you cancel, on any date, unless you have bought the insurance and can prove a major medical emergency, there is NO REFUND...NO EXCUSES!

If you book with the group, you will get the special ammenities that come with it.  If you book on your own, NO special ammenities, but you will still be on the same cruise with all of us!

I am very frugal, and if I wasn't heading this cruise up, I may wait and take my chances on getting a better last minute deal.  BUT I don't want to take the chance of getting left behind, paying more in the long run and miss out on the special events!

There are alot more details, such as the hotel reservations,  the optional insurance, gratuities, the greatest restaurant in the world at exit 38 in Georgia, etc.  Come by the shop or email me at quiltingquest@ymail.com for more info.

Okay, I'm going to call it a day!  Hope to hear from you soon!

Lynne

Hey! from Barb. Inaugral PhD Night this Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be kind to Lynne when you see her. She has been working hard on getting the classes on the blog. Buy stock in Clairol as she will need more to cover the gray hairs she's earned. Also a reminder........This Friday night is the inaugral PhD Night. It will start at 6:30pm. Bring your PhD (project half-done) and food to share. Re the food, we're gonna start this like we did for UFO...bring anything good, or with chocolate on or in it. We'll sew and eat and share stories and info till I give out. PhD WARNING: some of us are night owls, but we will not hold it against those of you with weaker constitutions if you want to go home when the chickens start to roost. I'm sure this will be as much fun as UFO and look forward to seeing it grow and develope it's own personality. This is not something you have to sign up for or "join". Friday nights @ QQ are for fun, learning and frienship. Just show up with $5.00 (to help on the light bill and sewing machine power), food and your project. I plan on having fun. Come join me.

 

Oh Yeah! Uh Huh! I Did It!!!

I have been posting classes!!!  After trying to do it on my own, getting mad, breaking down and literally crying, I finally called Phil....after he laughed at me, we got to work, and he led me through step by step.  A few hours later I called him back with my finished work that didn't look quite right.  And come to find out, through no fault of my own believe it or not, there was a problem with some of the pics.  He helped me figure out how to fix the problem, and back to work I went.  Now, 7 hours later, I am finished with posting a class, pictures and all!

Now there are a few classes up.  My goal was to have one more done by tomorrow, and I may work on it some more while it is fresh on my mind, but for now, I need a break.  Think I'll go eat some supper and enjoy looking at the snow for a few minutes.

 

Online Classroom is Up and Running!!!!

Blossoming Tree Class is completed and ready for purchase!  YIPPEE!!!  Class starts on Monday, March 5th.     Monday isn't good for you?   That is the great thing about having it online...you can go to the "classroom" any time that is convenient for you!!!  If you have questions, leave them in the comment section and the teacher (me in this case) will get back to you with answers and suggestions!

I have another computer class with Phil tomorrow and he is going to show me how to add some more classes.  Wish me luck!  BUT what that means is that by the end of the weekend, I WILL have at least 2 more classes (I'm hoping 3) up and running.  Addie's Bag, Accidental Star, and Lap Quilting with Enchanting Star are the ones I am hoping for.   So if all the pics work out right, and I can figure it out, by this Monday, there will be 4 classes up! 

We have more classes ready and some are almost ready, plus there will be downloadable patterns with 30 day tech support.  I just have to learn the computer part.  Phil promises to be there for me as back-up, so it looks like everything is really shaping up!  I am thrilled!

Okay, I have to get back to sewing my class demos!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Lynne

The end of a very busy yet wonderful week

Hello everyone!  This has been quite a week!  First of all, I got some real info on the cruise Monday.  We will be leaving out of Jacksonville, FL on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 on a 5 night cruise to Key West and Nassau!  We will return on Sat., Feb. 2.  The cost???????  Well, we are still negotiating that, because on Tuesday, someone showed me the same cruise for less than the travel agent quoted....so, I will be in persuit of the best deal I can get.  I will keep you updated.

Also on Monday and Tuesday I was trying my newly gained knowledge on how to post pics on the blog.  I know that doesn't sound like much, but you have to remember...I break into a nervous sweat when I just think about the computer!

Wednesday I had a busy day at the shop, and was even busier making preparations for the presentation at the Starry Night Guild.  Let me add that Chris did an absolute wonderful job on color coordinating some very eye catching sets!  

Thursday we packed my car and Barb's car FULL of all the goodies we were going to take to the guild meeting...and I do mean full!  But oh what fun we had there!  It is a wonderful guild!  We got to share info with them on all our events and everything we have to offer.  Don, our Stitchin' Magician told about his services and he sharpened some rotary blades.  Barb, our teaching "guru" told about some of her classes and showed some examples of "other than quilting" things that we offer.  I filled everyone in on the basics of all the rest, including an invitation to join us on the cruise.  Then all of us, including Chris, who came to help out, and Vicky and Diddy who came to cheer us on, plowed in to answering questions, helping with fabric selection and cutting, and some good interaction.  It all turned out GREAT!!!  Then Cindy, the guild president announced we had 15 minutes for everyone to clear the building....you have never seen such a fast pack up and clean up in your life!  But we got it done with 5 minutes to spare!  Yippee!

Friday, another very busy day at the shop, including the unpacking and restacking!  AND it was UFO Night!  AND all day long I was in a panic trying to get my "Quilt in a Box" Blocks done thinking that they are due tomorrow!!!!!  I even got Virgie and Barb in on my panic and they threw in and helped me!  WHAT was I thinking????  The blocks aren't due til next Saturday!  So now I can slack for another week and panic again next Friday!

UFO Night was fun as always.  We were down a little in number, only 12, and it was a little more low key than usual, but the food was wonderful as always, and it was a fun time!  Teresa "Wiggles" completed her first pocketbook, including pockets and a zipper!!!!!!  HOORAY!!!!

Where would I be without all my dear friends and my shop?  There is ALOT of work involved, but I wouldn't want to think of life without it.

Thanks to all of you that make my life so much better!

Lynne

New Pictures Posted!!!!

Check out the new pictures posted.  There are some new photo albums, and there are some new pics added to the existing albums...and I did it all by myself!!!!  Can you believe it?  As most of you know, I am computer illiterate...period.  And beyond that, up until recently I have not had any desire to learn the computer. I would always find somebody (that would be Phil) to do it for me.

WELL, all of that has changed.  I told Phil before we started this blog site that this was my baby and I didn't want him to do it forever...I wanted him to teach me how to do it...eventually.  Well now is the time!  So he has gathered up all the patience he could find and my training has started!

101 - Posting pictures  102 - Changing the calendar  103 - Expecting miracles? 101 & 102 are enough for now!  So here is your warning, if the blog seems to be in disarray for a few weeks...yeah, that would be me!  Just wish me luck, cheer me on and be patient with me!  Thanks!

Lynne 

 

Okay, I have got to think about something else!

We now have 23 people signed up for the cruise!!!!!! Yes, I guess I have a new obsession....boy is this going to be a long 11 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 15 hours and 41 minutes! LOL! I don't know yet what the actual date for the cruise is, but will find out Monday! I have got to get my mind on something else! Okay, let me try.

Thursday night, February 9th, QuiltingQuest has been invited to be the guest speaker(s) at the Starry Night Quilt Guild in Rowan County...What an honor! I will be extending an invitation for them to join us on the cruise. I'm sorry....I was supposed to be thinking about something else! Okay. The QQ Team will be dazzling that guild with all the hospitality we have to offer, along with the best prices on great fabric! I have a list of things to tell them about...the blog, classes, cruise, fabric, newsletter, cruise, monthly and weekly gatherings and events, cruise.... This doesn't seem to be working very well as a distraction....Let me tell you about some of the people in this guild. This is a very talented group and everyone I know from there are some of the nicest people I know. Some of them are already regular QQ customers!

Did you know that the 2 Rowan County (Salisbury) Guilds helped me get my start in this business? They would let me come and sell my fabric during a few of their meetings. At the time I didn't have a shop and I had very little inventory. I would pre-cut the fabric into 1/2 yards and 1 yard pieces, fold them neatly and pack them in my suitcases, and away I went! I would cut the 108" fabric into 3 yard pieces so everything would be as simple as possible. As I started to grow and have more inventory, my daughter Nichole would go with me and help me cut and sell fabric off the bolts. It has been a lot longer process than most of you know...but the point is, these people helped me get started and I will be forever thanking them. They are wonderful! And did I mention talented? Any of you that can go to the meeting, please join us! We will be leaving the shop at 5:30 Thursday, Feb. 9th. Hope to see you there!

Cruise Update!!!

We already have 18 people signed up that are interested in the cruise!!!! Their names are not signed on a dotted line nor are they written in blood...they are just letting me know they are interested. The travel agent needs to know an approximate number to plan for...20 or 120 (just an example). The more we have, the better the rates and special ammenities! Let me know what you are thinking! ALL the details on the cruise will be revealed at February's UFO Night...Friday, February 10th! Be there if you can, and remember it will be SOUP and BAKED POTATO night.

What??? No Comments on the Cruise????

I see that there have been alot of people on the blog today...surely someone has read the last post about the QuiltingQuest Cruise in January 2013. I was hoping to see some comments and get a little feedback by now on the blog. I already have 6 people going...who will join us??????????? The travel agent is already putting together some different iteneraries for us to choose from, with a payment plan that is wonderful! Let me know what you are thinking! Lynne

Back to Work

If you happen to notice that I am walking a little sideways the last few days, don't think I've started drinking! We (Roger and I) have just returned from the roughest cruise we have ever been on. I know it seems odd, but, we didn't get seasick even though the ship rocked and tossed constantly...instead, after we got home, we had little dizzy spells. Now, 3 days later, I am still dizzy and light headed occassionally! Someone said it has something to do with inner ear.

Anyway, Barb and Chris did a great job at the shop while I was gone! And Virgie did a fantastic newsletter! Thanks to all of you that helped out with the customers, folding and bolting flat folds, etc. We make a great team! I didn't worry about the shop at all while I was gone, I knew it was in great hands! BUT what was on my mind while I was gone was how much I wished all of you were on a cruise with me. Several of you have asked me to set up a cruise for QuiltingQuest, so now I am going to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next January we will have a cruise for anyone who wants to go, even if the shop has to be closed for the days we are gone. The reason I picked January...I want everyone interested to have enough time to save up and make arrangements...so that leaves out the next few months...June - October are hurricane months...November and December are holiday months and everyone is so busy.....so that brings us to January 2013! I will have some news to report to you about the upcoming cruise at the next UFO Night which will be Friday, February 10th!!!

I am already getting excited!!!!! Let me know if you will be interested in joining us! The February word is Cayman (those of you that were at UFO Night in January know what I mean!)

Talk to you soon! Lynne