Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hello!  I have been working hard for the past couple of days to update the blog.  If you are reading this in a blog reader, the details may not be apparent.  To get the full effect, please go to the blog itself.  I have changed around and updated the items in the header and sidebars and added those cute little social media icons on the right.  Don't know how I missed using them before!  

I also updated the Workshops page and made a new Tutorials & Ideas list in the right sidebar.  One thing that took a fair amount of time was to go through every single old post and add the category "solids" to the relevant ones.  It turns out I have lots of posts featuring solid fabrics.  Since they are a big deal for me this year, I thought it was an interesting exercise.  I added that list to the Tutorials & Ideas page under "A Passion for Solids".  If you are wondering why I am feeling so strongly about using solids, take a look at those posts.  It's a link to the category solids, so it will update and change whenever I add a post with that tag.

I would love to hear from you if you find anything amiss on these pages, or if you have any ideas for other changes I could make.  I will certainly consider them.  Also, I would love to hear if you have an idea for a tutorial.  I haven't done any in a long time, mainly because I haven't had any great ideas.  I'd love to hear from you.  

This weekend is the one where I put sleeves on my QuiltCon entries.  I have my work cut out for me after dilly dallying with the blog for two days.  I hope all is well with all of you!  ~Kristin

Shifting Focus for 2015

Over the holiday I've had some time to reconsider what I'm doing here in the studio. I realized that I've been spending far too much time working on projects that don't further me as a quiltmaker or teacher.

So, I've decided to stop making items for my Etsy shop.  Although I will likely keep the shop front on Etsy, I will not be replenishing items there.  As it turns out, most of my sales come from folks who I know personally or who follow my blog.  It just doesn't make sense to pay the listing fees for things that won't be noticed on Etsy.  I joined Etsy in 2007 when it was a much smaller pond.  These days there's just too much competition.  

I have started to remove items from the shop (hurray for several folks on my gift list this year!) and have let listings expire.  I have also dropped the prices on everything, including the Hand-dyed Inspiration packs which I do not plan to make more of in the future.  If you knew how much time went into hand dyeing and packaging them you would see what a bargain they are at $5 a pop.  

I will also not be making more of the smaller items in the future (e.g. pillows, journal covers, fabric postcards, ornaments, etc.).  When they are gone, that's it.  I have spread myself too thinly over the past few years and it's just not sustainable.  Those items are a distraction from what I should be doing.  There will be listings expiring in January, March and April and they will not be renewed.  If an item disappears, feel free to contact me to inquire and I'll let you know if I still have it.

If I have quilts left that I want to sell, I will offer them on the blog and will take Paypal for payment for the foreseeable future (and checks from locals).  As I've mentioned before, I have too many quilts languishing here, so I may offer some for sale sporadically.  I'll start work on creating a For Sale page on the blog soon.  

So, you may ask what I will be doing in 2015 if not all of that?  I will be doing more improv work with solids as that is a great interest of mine.  I plan to make more studio time by taking fewer classes and saying "no" more often.  I feel like the past year really run me ragged.  It's not good for anyone to do that.  

In an effort to take my own advice to heart here's my list for 2015:

• I will make quilts that make me happy.
• I will continue to seek my own true voice as a quilter.
• I will continue to offer workshops locally and nationally.
• I will enter quilt shows because I enjoy it.

Have you considered how you want to go forth in 2015?  I'd love to hear about it!

And the winner is...

Penny G is the lucky winner from the drawing today.  Penny, please send me your contact information.  Penny said, "Wow I love the pictures, they are both beautiful and heartwarming."  Congratulations Penny!  The bundle includes 3 Inspiration Packs, 3 greeting cards, 1 set of postcards, an ornament and a skein of handspun wool for embellishment.  I hope you have fun with everything Penny and thanks to everyone for playing along.  

Our trip was really nice.  We had lots of beach time and family time and a trip to see a very special artist's studio.  More on that in an other post.  

Introducing: Workshops & Lectures

I finally have my Workshops & Lectures page up.  See the link in the header.  I will probably be tweaking it a bit as time goes on, but I wanted to get it in place in time for the show, which is only  6 days away!  

The Fiber Arts Stroll is today, from 12-4 in Sisters. I'll be in front of The Culver House just a few doors to the right of the Stitchin' Post.  I'll have lots of goodies for sale and will also be showing my process for using vintage linens in textile art.  Please stop by, I'd love to see you!  

Here are some of the items I'll have for sale:

• Hand Dyed Inspiration Packs- 6" squares
• Hand Dyed Mini Inspiration Packs- 4" squares
• Blank Greeting Cards of My Original Textile Art and Quilts
• Postcard Sets of 4 of My Patchwork Cats  **Edited to add:  I learned to do the cats in a class with Jude HIll.  She considers them her own design.  I will not be selling cards with this design anymore.**
• Hand Stitched Tree and Owl Ornaments
• Original Textile Art
• **NEW**  Handspun Yarn for Embellishment in 10 Yard Skeins

Anything left after today will go back in to the shop eventually, but for now I have the shop in vacation mode.  I will post here when it's back up and running.  

Freshening Up & Looking Ahead

Well, after a good two weeks of near total sloth, I am ready to start the new year!  I spent my holiday reading, drinking tea (and occasionally wine, beer and spirits too!), going to the movies, skiing (a little), enjoying a beautiful white Christmas, spinning, knitting and generally staying far from the studio and my computer.  It was really nice to take time away.  

Now, I have lots of new plans and projects, new ideas and a fresh perspective.  That all starts with a new look to the blog.  Below are some glimpses of new projects in the works.

A little something for the Inauguration.  Do I have time to finish it?

A project for the Modern Quilt Guild's 2013 challenge.

A brand new idea for the Novel Idea Quilt challenge for 2013, based on the book, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

Finally, the most amazing thing arrived in the mail- the brochure for the 2013 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  Even though I knew it was coming, it was still a surprise to turn the page and see me there!  I've got a lot to do in the next 6 months and I'll be sharing the behind the scenes here as I go along.  Wow- what a year this will be!

The winner is...

Val!  Val, please send me your address or let me know if we can meet up to deliver you your new ornament!  

This is just one of about 20 that I'm working on.  Right now, I'm listing some over at my shop.  They are all different, but all so much fun to make.  The best part is picking the vintage button to finish it off with!

I'm working on a stitched signature that I like.  This is one of the first tries.  The later ones are a little more sophisticated.  I was thinking the other day that I'll do a post about that because I learned very early on to sign my work, so I have lots of examples in previous needlework.

Changes are afoot

My very astute sister has noticed that changes are afoot here.  I've been working on the blog all day and think I am getting where I want it to be.  I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do in the future and tweaking the focus of the blog is part of it.  I've added my name to the banner- a huge step for me!  It still feels a little funny to have it in big bold letters like that.  I've also re-written my about page, added photos to my gallery, put my Pinterest link in the header, changed the location of my shop back to Etsy (contingent upon the supposed name change option coming next week) and generally tweaked the look of things.  I've also added a link for following my blog at the bottom of the sidebar and linked all my posts to my Facebook page.  Actually getting items listed in the shop will take a while longer, but I do have some quilts to sell and hope to get them listed in time for holiday shoppers.  Stay tuned for that.  I hope to get back to good, old-fashioned stitching real soon.