Catching Up, and NEWS!

Well, it's been forever, it seems, since I've posted. The best laid plans . . .

Lots to catch you up on and some GREAT NEWS to share with all of you, too. I've been around to pretty much all the Illinois customers since the first of the year, and am working my way through Michigan now. The goal is to at least touch bases with all the MI quilt shops before market, so that's quite a lofty goal. I've been through the UP (met some absolutely wonderful folks UP there!) and am heading over to "the thumb" next week. Looking forward to seeing everyone over there real soon.

I'm also very busy getting ready for market - making appointments, getting all my sales meetings locked in, and checking out what's in store for everyone. Can you believe it, market's in 3 weeks!! That's not much time. If I haven't set up an appointment with you and you'd like to schedule one with me, please let me know. You can either e-mail or call me; my contact info is on our website http://www.isellfabric.com/. Yep, we actually have a website, too. I want to be sure everyone can find out whatever they need, whenever they need it.

Now for the NEWS! I have picked up another fabric line in Illinois - RJR Fabrics! So, for those in IL, I will now be bringing another case with me when I come to see you. I'm so excited! I've been in talks to do this for several weeks now and it was official last Saturday, so I can now share it with all of you.

ROBERT KAUFMAN NEWS:
We just got a brand new box of fabrics that will be officially introduced at market in Minneapolis. This box represents 1/2 of the new line; we won't see the other half until we get there. What's in it, you ask??? Lots of fun new stuff! A beautiful floral group called Mimosa in soft pastels, more header cards with kitchenware for the Metro Cafe group, more header cards of beautiful batiks have been added to the Blossom and ChopChop lines, fun foods in the Gourmet Grocer line, a very cool jacquard-like version of Kona Cotton called Kona Dimensions in a whole assortment of colors (who knew solids could be so beautiful???), some beautiful bright florals with gold accents and a wonderful stripe that's just perfect for that 60 degree table runner, more prints have been added to the Boy Scouts of America group, an adorable kids' line call Lil Ducky, and a wonderfully playful, bright kids' line called Wild Friends that you're sure to want on your shelves this summer. Lots of novelties, some gorgeous new specialty fabrics, gorgeous new flannels, and much, much more!!! And that's just SOME of what's new!! The list seems endless, with more to come at market. And if you find you just can't wait the three weeks, give me a call and I'll be happy to come in and give you a head start; I've been making the rounds with this new stuff and folks are loving it.

SHANNON FABRICS NEWS:
These folks continue to amaze me with the vast array of patterns and textures they manage to put out. The new Cuddle holiday patterns featuring prints from the Robert Kaufman Sparkle All The Way line are absolutely adorable and sure to add a twinkle to your customers' holiday quilts. Don't forget to stop by the Shannon booth at market to see what's new there, too.

AHHH, Market . . . let me give you some details about where I'll be, where to find all these great fabrics, Schoolhouse details, Sample Spree tidbits, etc:

ROBERT KAUFMAN FABRICS MARKET DETAILS:
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Quilt Market Booth Numbers: 3135, 3143, 3234-3243, 3334, 3342
Appointments: will be noted as Booth #3242, fyi
Sample Spree: Robert Kaufman Fabrics will be at Sample Spree
Schoolhouse: Robert Kaufman will be sponsoring 4 different schoolhouse sessions:

1. Darlene Zimmerman's Clothesline Club - Responding to Your Feedback:
A cost-effective program for building sales with a 1930's club in your store
- improvements and format changes going forward. Handouts include
fabric samples, free pattern, and marketing tools.

2. Nancy Mims: How to Make Green by Going Green: Nancy Mims of
Mod Green Pod reveals quilting's first cost-comparable organic cotton
printed line of fabrics, and explains the benefits of organic to both the
environment and to your business. Handouts include fabric samples and
marketing tools.

3. Leesa Chandler - adding Culture to Your Quilts: Meet Australian
designer Leesa Chandler and learn how to run educational, value-added
retail promotions around cultural influences. Handouts include
fabric samples and Australian recipe cards.

4. Lunn Studios - Even More About How Batiks Are Made: Michael
and Debra are back from Java with even more photos of the batik-making
process, and now, even video! Handouts include shop-display batik-
process tutorial, fabric samples, and a free pattern.

SHANNON FABRICS MARKET DETAILS:
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Quilt Market Booth Numbers: 3131 - right next to Robert Kaufman Fabrics, and coincidentally, the number of Shannon's street address :o)
Appointments will be at Booth 3131 also
Sample Spree: Shannon Fabrics will be at Sample Spree and for those of you interested in getting single kits of the new precuts being introduced at market, this is the place to do it! You'll want to head there right away, as soon as you get through the doors, because I'm telling you guys, this stuff is going to FLY off the tables!

RJR FABRICS MARKET DETAILS:
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I'm still working on getting all the quilt market details and will pass them along just as soon as I get them, but I can tell you there will be three booths: RJR, Robyn Pandolph Studio, and Thinbleberries, and also three Schoolhouse Series. I'll include more info in the next blog post, hopefully within the next few days.

That's it for now - mark your calendars and jot down the sessions you want to attend.

Well, I'm off to continue working on some of my market preparations. I look forward to seeing everyone soon and will be in touch with reminders, RJR market details, updates, and more.

Tammy