Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Guest Post: What Is A Handmade Amish Quilt Anyway?



A handmade Amish quilt is generally a bed covering made up of 3 layers: a quilt top, a layer of batting, plus a layer of fabric meant for backing. The layers are ordinarily combined using the technique of quilting. Quilting is the process of using a needle and thread to join 2 or more layers of fabric. This step could be just practical, otherwise more elaborate, for decoration and design.

Once upon a time handmade Amish quilts was made for necessity. Now creating quilts has become an art form. Gifted quilters are called fabric artists instead of the outdated seamstress or quilter. Not only are bed quilts all the rage, but quilted clothing and wall hangings are as well. Handmade Amish quilts or even a quilt wall hanging may sell for hundreds of dollars and hang on museum walls, not just bed frames. Amish quilts from Pennsylvania in addition to Ohio are particularly sought after, as are vintage and antique quilts.

If you are blessed enough to have inherited or else bought such an heirloom, taking proper care of it can keep furthermore possibly add to its value.

· Quilts should on no account be saved in plastic bags, cardboard boxes or wooden trunks.

· A handmade Amish quilt is supposed to be aired at least twice a year, however not in direct sunlight. Extremely old quilts should be aired level to prevent stressing the stitches.

· There is always a danger in washing old material. Spot test it first. If you are using a machine, launder in cold water with a mild detergent as well as a gentle cycle.

· Dry your quilt resting on a even surface. Using a fan in addition to rotating it may hurry up the drying step.

Quilts all the way through history convey the tales of their period and makers. This is especially true throughout the depression as cloth was rare. Some historians still consider secret messages and codes had been hidden in handmade quilts at different times throughout history. One such tale relates to the Underground Railroad. A specific quilt pattern would signify it was safe for escaping slaves to carry on their journey. Not all historians have faith in this theory, however it is correct that signature quilts ended up being a common means of raising funds both prior along with subsequent to the Civil War. Signatures were added after a donation was made. These quilts are also identified as friendship quilts.

Whilst not all historians have the same opinion on this custom in the earlier period, it is becoming increasingly widespread nowadays. Memory quilts as well as t-shirt quilts are accepted and valued gifts. Technology has even made it achievable to put pictures to cloth. Quilts are still used to raise funds at raffles as well as charity events. Quilt guilds are being formed and are growing at a quick pace, preserving and passing on precious designs and techniques.

If you are a newbie, you can learn to quilt via simple quilt patterns that can easily be found to assist you in developing your own beloved heirloom to be. Quilts are great presents for the person who has the lot, they explain how much you genuinely care not only by what is on the quilt but the time and effort you have taken to create it.

Friday, March 3, 2017

6 Small Business Tips for Expanding Your Pipeline


The customer and seller dynamic has changed considerably due to the rise of digital. Not so long ago, if a buyer wanted more information about a product or service, they would need to contact a salesperson to learn more. Now, a buyer can obtain a plethora of product information, demos, pricing information, product and company reviews and see if he or she is already connected with a company employee in a matter of seconds. Today’s buyers are more empowered and are opting to pre-qualify their vendors before reaching out. This shift has made prospecting more difficult. Contact them too early, and you risk alienating them; contact them too late and you risk losing the conversion. What’s a company to do?

The answer is simple: sales teams need to change the way they sell. Instead of casting a wide net, cold-calling and hoping something will bite, it makes sense for small businesses to focus their sales and marketing efforts on very specific targets that have better returns. It sounds a little counterintuitive, right? Narrow down your targets in order to expand your pipeline? But it’s true. Focusing on delivering the most relevant messaging to the right people at the moment they need to hear it will help you fill your pipeline faster. In our new e-book, Expand Your Pipeline: 6 Small Business Tips for Growing Your Prospect Base, we show you how with the right tools, your sales team can sell smarter and save time.