Many people ask me what it’s like to have a home based business. It is hard and challenging to balance all the demands of my time, but I do love it. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a happy customer coming back for more.

I thought I’d show a few behind the scenes pictures of a typical work-at-home day.

Here’s my friend Marcie, happily cutting orders for me while I catch up on paperwork and new product listings.

You can see those shelves are a little too empty right now. It’s time to fill them up with more fun fabric products and supplies!

Here’s a typical day’s worth of shipments. I get about 30% of my business from International customers. There are lots of British and Canadian quilters out there and the Australians are known for sewing. But every now and then I ship to such exotic places like Thailand,  Malaysia, and Japan.

My kids love to know where the packages are going and I often wonder what will be made from all these beautiful fabrics. I love it when my customers email me pictures of their work so I can see the end product.

I get a UPS shipment at least once or twice a week and my deliveries arrive in rather plain looking cardboard boxes. But I can’t wait to open them up to reveal the hidden treasures inside!

It’s all in a day’s work!

With the release of Amy Butler’s newest line Soul Blossoms, I thought it would be fun to do a spotlight on this prolific designer.

I first met her a few years ago at Quilt Market and was immediately impressed with her persona and her fabrics. (As well as the fact that she is a lot taller than me!!)

Here’s what Amy Butler has to say about Soul Blossoms, in her own words:

“I wanted to create a visual story to share my wonderful experiences while traveling to India. It’s impossible to spend time in such a soulful place and not be inspired by the culture, rich colors, amazing textiles, and ornate architecture.I was instantly consumed by the heartbeat of everyday life and smitten with the beautiful way people expressed themselves.”

Amy continues, “Soul Blossoms is my interpretation of an enchanted, modern passage through the floral delights of India. Dreamy jewel toned prints in multi-hued flowers and designs – uplifting and passionate – weave together my ethnic inspired story.”

“My three color collections; Passion, Joy and Bliss, work in a harmonious treasure box palette for endless exotic combinations. I hope you are as delighted as I am, and that you find your own inspirations to help your creative soul blossom!”

Thanks, Amy! My personal favorites from this line are the Cherry Laurel Dots and Bliss Peacock Feathers. I just have a thing for dots and brightly colored fabrics! The individual fabric pictures are courtesy of Westminster and I love how they display the closeup view in the corners.

Here are a few inspiration images of what you can do with this fabulous material, courtesy of Amy Butler.

I spent most of my weekend washing and folding loads of fabric. I have been accumulating bits and pieces of leftovers from bolt ends and a yard or two here and there of prints I really like. It’s been sitting in a heap waiting for me to “process” so I finally decided to tackle the pile!

The first step is to sort the fabric into colors for washing. Then I throw in one load at a time. I like to wash it on a gentle cycle with little agitation so it doesn’t get tangled.

After the fabric is washed, I hang it to dry – there are fewer wrinkles this way and it cuts down on the ironing. Who needs a laundry line when you have a stair bannister?

Then I lovingly fold each piece and sort it into color groups. If I have enough room on the shelf I’ll make two stacks – one for tone-on-tones and the other for prints.

And finally, the new fabric is put away. After all that folding, I don’t want touch it!

Use the coupon code BLOGCQ on my website at ChristaQuilts.com to save 20% on any one fabric order. This is my way of inviting my website customers to take a look at my blog and reward them for doing so!

It’s also my way of saying thank you to my blog readers for venturing over to my website and exploring all I have to offer there.

Here’s the fine print: coupon code must be entered during checkout. Not valid on prior purchases and only one coupon per customer, please. Coupon expires at the end of the year on December 31st, 2010.

When you get a moment, read through my blog posts and add your comments if you feel so inclined. I welcome all visitors and friends!

Fans of Laurel Burch’s art and fabric will be please to hear that the latest Clothworks line based on her artwork has now arrived at ChristaQuilts.com.

Here are some of the Laurel Burch Celestial Dreams Metallic Prints:

I absolutely love the panel piece and the others are enhanced with gold etching. I think the “goddess” type print above right is kind of funky but definitely unique!

Here are a few of the star coordinates which have so far outsold the jazzier focus prints:

They seem to go with everything! And of course no collection would be complete without a superb quilt kit to go along with it. Don’t you just want to make this one? I do!

Laurel Burch Celestial Dreams Quilt Kit

Many of you know that Laurel Burch passed away in 2007 from a rare bone disease she dealt with her entire life. I’m so glad that her and her family’s wish was for her artwork to carry on after she was gone. What a legacy!