Have you ever been on a course of action and, all of a sudden, there are side roads you didn’t anticipate, leading off into areas unknown?

Have you ever  had overwhelming life events change your direction before you know what has happened to you? Whoa! That’s what happened to me in January, and let me tell you, I am just now getting back in the swing of things. Cruising along the country road of life…

Hello, Quilters! This is SunbonnetSmart, or as I’m known in real life, Robin R. Talbott. When I started my online quilting presence, I was determined to stay out of the spotlight and let my Sunbonnet Dolls tell the tales of my quilting stories, designs, patterns and glory! You see, I was a quilt store owner in the 1980s-90s and the public face I had was very demanding. I was sure when I started back into quilting professionally after raising a family, I NEVER wanted to be so exposed again. I just wanted to enjoy the good stuff.  Making my quilts, pattern and designs.

But then, having fun on the Internet, meeting quilters from all over the world became an unexpected delight, and moreover, I realized how much I miss teaching quilting, seeing all of the new projects come into being and seeing my students faces light up when learning a new wrinkle. So, I decided to start teaching quilting online, adding another web site, a strictly quilting web site, to partner with my SunbonnetSmart.com For three years, I have worked on it, because, it takes a while for these “trifocally eyes” to focus up and down to make things happen on that computer screen. …one can take an unexpected turn leading…

So, three years I have worked on my teaching site, I know that’s not a record for speed, but you’ll find it IS a record for love, especially when one’s love is quilting. And, this year, I decided at Christmas, I was ready to launch. I decided my favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day would be perfect. The day of love combined with my love of quilting. What could be better? What could go wrong?!?

Oh, my! Well, in January, unexpectedly, as happens most times, cancer decided to pay our family a visit, when my sweet husband of twenty five years came back from the doctor with a positive scan. I’m in the same place emotionally, six months later, still waiting to exhale, as unsure of our future as I was January 19th, when he came home from the doctor. …to dizzying arrays of problems & choices…

But, as with all “new normals,” eventually the tears give way to the thought of coming days, while realizing life goes on, even with cancer. And, so where I use to want to hide from publicity, public interaction and notoriety, now, lonesome in an uncertain flight path, I am hungry for camaraderie and companionship. As I have so many times before in my life,  I am turning to quilting help through the hard times. And, what better way to enjoy quilting, than to begin to interact with quilters by teaching, once again? …where the family becomes a firm priority…

I hope you’ll be with me as I venture forth to new quilting heights and new family challenges. I am looking forward to supporting you in your quilting ventures, as well, and to working toward our mutual benefit as we strengthen the SunbonnetSmart community. Out of every hardship comes a new opportunity. I just know my new web site, soon to be announced will bring lots of good times to us all. Don’t forget! I’ve been working on it for THREE YEARS. …to anchor the soul through rough seas ahead.

Yes! I have been anticipating my new online presence and all of the new quilting friends I’ll meet for a long time. There are LOTS of surprises in store. I cannot wait to make quilty memories together.

Come back and visit with me. I’ll keep the water on for tea!

SunbonnetSmart.com is authored by a little bird who loves to lure SunbonnetSmartsters to her BlogHer.com profile, daily newspaper,
The SunbonnetSmart.com NewsFlash, and Facebook Fan Page

Robin R. Talbott, author of SunbonnetSmart.com, uses compensated affiliate
links to promote products she not only uses herself, but believes
will enhance her reader’s experiences.

Tags: cancer, cancer in the family, lymphoma, professional quilter, quilt, quilt friends, quilt fun, quilting, quilty, quilty love

Filed under: Quilting,Roof,Uncategorized — admin @ 10:10 pm Comments (0) Creative Arts Business Summit Meet Morna McEver Golletz and
build your Creative Arts Business

What do you get when you take a newspaper food journalist with a life long passion for quilting and mix in the quilt industry’s professional magazine?

Why, Morna McEver Golletz, of course, Editor of Professional Quilter Magazine and the Founder and President of the International Association of Professional Quilters, IAPQ.

And what do you get when you take this seasoned professional, our friend Morna, and add twenty years of in-the-trenches business experience to produce a business and life coach worthy of your time and attention?

You get the Creative Arts Business Summit in Dulles Airport, VA, an extravaganza of creative arts business and life mentoring.

Where will YOU be next March 29 to 31, 2012?

Sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee staring at your reflection in the toaster?

Or on the move with like-minded women, loving and learning to create and manage creative arts businesses for fun, and YES! FOR PROFIT!

From the studio of Morna McEver Golletz
Maryland, USA

Hello Creative Women:

When was the last time you spent time working on your business rather than in your business? I’m the founder and CEO of the International Association of Professional Quilters where I have been helping women – and some cool men – create successful businesses from their passions in the creative arts for more than two decades. For several years I’ve been asked about an annual membership event, a place where members and other creative entrepreneurs can gather, learn how to boost their businesses’ profits and connect with like-minded creative people. That time has come!

The 2012 Creative Arts Business Summit is designed to help you — the creative entrepreneur — build business skills. And, we all know that building business skills is just part of what leads to success. We’ll talk about creating systems for success. We’ll cover how to use technology and social media. Many of our members have told me — and I know first hand — that mindset is a huge part of the picture, so we’ve included that in our agenda. We’re are bringing in outside speakers. And, because this is a member event, we’ll have several member-led panels, so we can all learn from each other. And we’ll have plenty of time for networking.

I’m looking forward to your joining me and other creative entrepreneurs as we work to move your business forward.

This is Morna! Down to earth
and ready to promote you and your business.

The Basics:

Event: Creative Arts Business Summit

Location: Washington, DC, Dulles Airport

Dates: March 29-31, 2012

Meals: Continental breakfast is provided each morning. Lunch is provided each day so that you’ll be able to really network with other attendees. Dinner is on your own and the hotel will provide shuttles to area restaurants.

Hotel: You will receive complete hotel/travel details at time of registration.

For more information, click here: “The minute I heard about the International Association of Professional Quilters I knew I would join”

Membership bestows credibility. Being a member is a signal both to myself and the industry that I treat quilting as business and not a hobby. As a teacher, author and the sole-distributor of TAP (Transfer Artist Paper), I find the information packed Professional Quilter, tele-classes, support and services IAPQ provides invaluable in maintaining and growing my business. (And the membership pin is really gorgeous).”

Lesley Riley, www.lesleyriley.com The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create success from your quilting, fiber arts or mixed-media arts business. Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership and join here.

“the price of IAQP membership is a bargain”

“When I got the invitation to join IAQP, I didn’t think twice. I took Morna’s Boost Your Quilt Business Profits with Internet Marketing in July, and it was fantastic. Morna helped me understand the importance of putting my blog posts and customer newsletters on a regular schedule – and it works! Our site traffic has doubled and the number of unique visitors is up by 35% – with the bulk of the visits on our blog. In my opinion, the price of IAQP membership is a bargain – it’s less than the cost of the Internet Marketing class. I’m very excited about getting the magazine, the guest interviews, and the coffee sessions at a single price. Now I don’t have to ‘decide’ each time she has a session I’d like to attend.”

Shelly Stokes, www.cedarcanyontextiles.com

Professional Quilter Magazine Sunbonnet Smart says,
“Professional Quilter Magazine is packed with
pertinent articles. I have been a quilting professional
since the mid 1970s and even so, I always find
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