Super Moon

Sitting here LATE on a Sunday night--well really, it's so late, it's now Monday morning and I'm sitting here staring at the Super Moon.  I just finished sewing a top for an 18 inch throw pillow that is my next project.  I am offering this project as a class and also as kits or as a custom order.  Classes galore coming up as we make our way through summer.  I am finishing up with the last two beginner's classes over the next couple of week.  These are the last of this class until October.  Coming up, watch for throw pillow classes, table runner classes, appliqued throws,  iPad case classes and many more.  I am offering my class patrons a class pass so they can take unlimited classes for one price.  I recently purchased a die cutter to help cut applique kits.  It's out of the box, but as usual, it's taking me a few days to actually get around to making friends with it.  I'm really excited about the die cutter in that it will help me teach my classes how to applique and open a new market for my kits.  My online shop plugs along pretty well.  I'm still averaging about one sale per week which still keeps me busy and keeps my inventory turning over often enough.

All in all, business is good and the summer is busy.  The new tote I am offering for custom order has not caught on like I had hoped, but that's fine.  My daughter loves using hers on her summer camp pool days.  I've got a few more purse ideas cooking and I'll be introducing a school lunch bag in time for back-to-school.

I was getting a facial and (overdue!) eyebrow wax yesterday, and my esthetician agreed to allow me to hang a couple wall hangings in her salon.  She is the owner, and a very nice lady who enjoys helping other small business owners where she can.  Currently, she has displayed paintings by a local artist.  I'm really excited for this local exposure and plan to get then done in the next month so I can have them ready by my next facial.  I'll be ordering the fabric tomorrow to begin that project.  My daughter and I will be starting her bed quilt in fun floral prints.  It is so much fun to sew with her.

Things have slowed down some, as they do ebb and flow in any business.  It would be easy to become frustrated but the other day I received this sweet message on Facebook messenger from a woman that used to attend our church.  She sews as well (I mean she actually knows how to sew EVERYTHING like a true professional--she's not a straight-lined quilting poser like me! Lol!) and wrote to me to express how proud she was of my success and was so encouraging in her message.  That's when I realized that God provides everything we need in His perfect timing.  Her message made my day and reignited my motivation.

Today, my minister's message was about extending hospitality to people--inviting them to your home just so you can get to know them and show the love of Jesus to them.  That struck a chord with me as well, as one of my current students who is another church member and has been coming to my home for her quilt class has been having serious behavioral issues with her little girl.  Someone who started out as an acquaintance at church, has found in me someone she can talk to about her struggles and we have become good friends.  Old fashioned hospitality really works to build relationships and quilting of all things, opened that door for me to get to know someone better that I might otherwise not have made the time or effort to get to know.  "I'm so busy" is our mantra now--what are we missing out on?

So until next time, I'll be finishing up my class samples--two different throw pillows.  My daughter and I will be starting on her bed quilt and I'll be making those wall hangings for Serenity Salon.  We'll fit a couple more vacations in there too...but for now, I'm going to go back to admiring this amazing moon and go to bed like a normal person.  Be who you are...chase your dreams and relentlessly pursue who God called you to be.  Good night.