My BabyLock dealer has, with my permission, given my name to other customers as someone to whom one can go with questions regarding embroidery. Far from being an imposition, I find that I enjoy these exchanges tremendously!

The post-holiday lull has been a great time to relax, renew and reflect upon the state of my business and the direction in which I am headed. And, with the advent of a new year, a new decade and my very-quickly-approaching 50th birthday, it’s a time to set goals.

When I first started my business, doing craft shows and taking orders, I went all out on packaging by stuffing them into "Thank You" T-shirt bags I had purchased from Sam's. My husband observed that this was probably not leaving the most favorable impression with my clientele, so I set about the search for an affordable but classy solution.

My entrepreneurial journey has hit a speed bump … taken a detour … jumped the tracks. Whatever you call it, there has been a definite bend in the road. OK, I admit it. I am the speed bump.

Just came off a three-day show – took a day off yesterday to reorganize my studio and today I'm back into production filling all those orders. This was the "First Annual" Craft Show put on by our local expo center. When I received the call for vendors, I immediately registered.

As a home-based business, I get a lot of my work from participating in shows. I've done craft shows, arts and crafts festivals, trunk shows, home parties, shows at businesses and schools and even been a featured vendor at different organizations' annual meetings.

The afternoon we returned home from NNEP’s Embroidery Mart East, my husband hit the Internet, looking at used embroidery equipment for sale. Even the bargain show specials were a bit rich for the budget, but he was determined to see what else was out there.

Before attending Embroidery Mart East in Nashville, I carefully studied the list of vendors and workshops so that I could best budget my time. I visited vendors' Web sites and considered their products as to their potential of enhancing my business.

This was my second visit to the Embroidery Mart East in Nashville, put on by the National Network of Embroidery Professionals. Last year it took place at the Opryland Hotel – what a beautiful venue, but oh, the miles we had to travel from the rooms to the Mart itself!

My name is Susan and I have A.D.A.A. (Acute Design Acquisition Addiction). It all began innocently enough … More than a decade ago I visited a local sewing center to purchase a ruffler for my Singer. I walked out a

"But that doesn't look like MY horse … not exactly anyway …" My mom is a quilter. I recently embroidered a market tote for her with a beautiful quilt on a clothesline design. One of her friends saw it and

Last week I met with the manager of a security company to talk about the possibility of doing their embroidery. He had given me parameters and had even shared with me what he was currently paying. While I definitely could not compete with the low, low prices of the big shops in town, I set what I considered to be a fair price, but something I could live with as well.

The trouble with having O.C.D. (in addition to being afflicted with A.D.A.A., of course) is that customers come to expect it, and even begin to take the extra 500 steps needed for absolute perfection for granted.

My hobby-turned-home-based business is now in its second "business" year. When I first started, most of my business was gained by word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations. I soon branched out to arts and crafts festivals, home parties, trunk shows and other venues.