Frequently Asked Questions
*Questions about Anna Maria's fabric lines*
Where can I buy your fabric lines?There are many wonderful stores around the globe that sell my fabrics both online and on land. My fabrics are not sold at mass retailers, but usually at independent retailers. Please see the find page for some help on finding a few of those stores. This is a list in progress, so please be patient as we update it to make it as comprehensive as possible. If you are selling my fabrics and want to be included on the list, please email me!
Can I purchase fabric from your site?I do not have plans to sell my own fabrics by the yard but there are several retailers who already do a great job of it as found on the find page. I am, however, excited to soon share a little item with you called Studio Stacks which will be my hand-picked assortments of various fabrics from my lines that are either combined by color, theme or in a kit. Check the shop for updates on those.
Is your Bohemian fabric still available?I miss it too! My first collection, Bohemian, is unfortunately out of print, although I see it pop up here and there every now and then online and elsewhere. Just try doing a internet search or you might have some luck on ebay. While I appreciate all the emails asking about it and how much you love it, I am likely no better at finding it than you are.
I'm a retailer, how can I sell your fabrics in my store?Thank you so much for your interest in selling my fabrics! Please contact either Sarah or Jeffrey at Westminster Fibers and they will be glad to give you more information:
sarah.amrhein@westminsterfibers.com
jeffrey.prescott@westminsterfibers.com
Yes, you certainly may! I just ask that while you may say that it is made from fabric designed by me, that you make it clear that your are the maker of the goods. And thanks!
I am a manufacturer, can I purchase your fabric to mass produce items?Yes, but those questions need to be directed through Westminster Fibers in order to be sure that the items you wish to mass produce do not conflict with items already on the market with some of my same fabric designs.
Please email: joyce.robertson@westminsterfibers.com
I appreciate that you like my art work but I am the sole copyright holder of all the originally created designs on all of my fabrics and therefore you are unable to use or reproduce the images in whole or in part to promote your own goods without express written consent from me. If you are hoping to use my designs in order to help sell items made from my materials, please just email me for permission first!
How did you become a fabric designer, any tips?Essentially I was already designing other lines of goods and while exhibiting my designs at a trade show called Surtex, I was approached by the wonderful Donna Wilder of Free Spirit Fabric and the rest is history. There are many designers, artists, quilters and even celebrities who each have a different story to tell about how they started, so there is no one way to do it. Just research (the internet is such an amazing tool) the companies that you like and find out what their submission guidelines are. Work on a portfolio, send it to them and be patient. You will almost never get a call immediately even if its amazing art, because they have a company to help run. Be persistent, find your niche, and don't copy anyone. You're too good for that!
Can I use quilting weight cotton for upholstery?Well, I've certainly tried! They are usually a little lighter weight than what I would consider ideal for covering a couch, but perfectly suitable for curtains, bedding, pillows, clothing, etc. My first collection of home dec weight fabrics will debut in February of 2008. So sit tight!
Can you tell me about where and how your fabrics are produced and whether the material or their production is eco-friendly, or anything about the working conditions of those who produce it?
My fabrics, as well as all Westminster/FreeSpirit Fabrics, are manufactured at mills in Korea. While I can't offer specifics on the questions you ask (because I have no in-depth knowledge), I imagine that the team at Westminster would be happy to answer your questions as well as they can.
jeffrey.prescott@westminsterfibers.com
sarah.amrhein@westminsterfibers.com
Westminster is the part of the larger Coats and Clark conglomerate and has been a very well respected name in the fibers industry for more than two centuries (if memory serves me !). While I can expect and hope for the best of conditions for every individual and enviroment that touches the fabric I've designed, ultimately none of these decisions are mine but Westminster's. I merely am a freelance designer, although of course, I have the highest of social expectations for any product that bares my copyright. As my design studio grows, I am becoming increasingly conscious of the manufacture of the items that I design and have myself started asking more questions of all my other manufacturers. Thank you so much for sharing my concerns.
Yes please! In fact, if you really want to show off you can upload your pictures to one of two of the flickr groups that I host just for this occassion! Visit Chocolate Lollipoppers and Bohemian Beauties to see what other clever folks have made with these two fabric lines. I will host other groups in the future as new lines and books are released, which will always be linked on my blog. Happy sewing!
*Questions about Anna Maria's website and blog*
Why do you have both a website and a blog and what's the difference?I've had a website for as long as I've had a design studio which is about 5 or 6 years. It was created in order to promote my design work to manufacturers. I started writing a blog (you can think of that as an online photo/writing journal) in September of 2006 because I found that I had lots of people who were interested in my design work trying to find out about me through my business website. But many of these people really weren't business folks; they were creative types wanting to share information and get insight into my process. So this was sort of how blogging started. The website and the blog serve two purposes for me. I do not want my blog readers to continually have my brand or my products being sold to them, but I'd rather just enjoy the company that I'm writing for. But if you just visit the website, then by golly I will sell my brand to you, baby! The craft and design blogging community has definitely had positive business results but that was not the intention. Its just a window in. And one I hope you enjoy looking into. I love the feedback I receive there and the friendships that form because of it.
How do I know when you've written a new post on your blog?The most recent post on my blog will be the one at the top, but if you want to get updates about my blog posts there are several great free services out there. Bloglines is my favorite one, and once you do a simple free sign-up, they make it very easy to organize all your favorite blogs on one page and clearly see when there is a new post.
Can I use the photographs on your website or blog?Please email me for permission to do so first and I will ask that you always link the credit back to my blog or website.
Can I link your website or blog on my site?Certainly and thank you.
Will you please link to my website or blog on your blog?While I do have a small list of links on my site, it is not something that I am continually able to add to by request. It's a list that forms organically as I have time to look around and add to because it reflects my interests and my aesthetic. I am always happy to get links to your site to have a look at them but can't promise that I'll add them. It becomes quite difficult to keep up with a huge list and check in from time to time to see if they are still valid links. While I don't want to seem unbalanced with the linking, you can certainly choose to not link to me! My first priority is always going to be getting my studio work done, and taking care of my family, only a small amount of things fit in beyond that. Please know that there are far more blogs that I look at than I actually link to, and there are more fabulous ones all the time. Its kinda hard to keep up.
What kind of camera do you use to take the pictures on your sites?As of the middle of October 2007 I've been using a Canon Digital SLR EOS 40D. I love it.
What is Flickr and why all the links to there?Flickr is a wonderful photo sharing site where I upload alot of my photos in order to store them and to share them. Many of the links from photos on this site and on my blog go there, so that I don't have to store the same sets of photos in 3 places. At flickr, I organize my photos in related galleries and I also host some flickr groups where you can upload what you've made with my fabric, etc. Anyone can start a flickr group and anyone can view photo groups. It is wonderfully inspirational and full of awesome, craft, sewing, art and home oriented groups, and also the work of many amazing photographers. (Just a note: There are some groups that are not what I would consider kid friendly so always accompany your child if they are browsing around like anywhere else on the internet, of course!)
*Questions about Anna Maria's other products and shop*
I was shopping and found paper napkins (giftwrap, stationery, guest towels, cake stands, recipe books,etc.) with your name on them, is that you?That is most likely a product designed by me. I've worked with more than 2 dozen manufacturers in several product categories to design related collections. Fabric has definitely been the spoiled child the past year or two and is really determining alot of my choices going forward and how all my efforts will relate to my most cherished work....textiles.
When is your book going to be available for purchase?I am so excited about my first title, Seams To Me, and it will be available in October of 2008. I imagine there will be some pre-ordering action going on sometime in the spring of 2008 and of course you know that you will get that info on the blog, on the news page, and by signing up on my mailing list.
Why don't you sell all the items you design on your site?Good question! There are already so many great retailers out there for my product lines that I'd like to support and try not to compete with what they do. There are some items that I feel are appropriate for me to sell because they are either hard to find or they are one of a kind items, or exclusives. In other words, everything I sell here is special to me and often in limited quantities. E-commerce is a new thing for our studio but something that has grown to be a good idea to best serve those who are interested in my goods.
Can you tell me how to order from your shop and what forms of payment you accept?You bet! You can go to my SHOP info page to get all those questions and more answered!
Do you have any free patterns for download?Yes I do! You can find them linked on my blog or on the sewing products page.
Do you take commissions for paintings or quilts?Sorry, while I would love to, I can't take any commissions at this time. Please do check the shop for updates on one of a kind quilted and painted items.
Do you hand-quilt your quilts or send them out?I have hand-quilted some small personal items, but every larger scale quilt that I make for myself, for promotion of my fabric lines, or for sale is sent out for professional quilting.
If I see an original on your site and its sold out, can you remake it for me?Not usually, but it doesn't hurt to ask what the time frame is on something similar being in the shop- just email me.
How often do you have new items in the shop?It really fluctuates and will depend on whats happening in the studio, sometimes it may be nothing and other times it may be 50 items. Please go to the news page and sign up to be on our mailing list to get shop updates.
*Questions about business and life in general*
How the heck do you raise 5 kids and manage your own business?I'm not sure that I have a helpful or very informative answer on that one. It's something I get asked very often and the simplest way I can answer it is to say that I have been blessed with a very loving and supportive husband, and my kids understand that I have some dreams too. They are always first, but the reality of a busy household, let alone throwing a business into it, is that some days are hectic and others are bliss. Luckily my work is very visual and they can enjoy what I do, understand it and even take part in it. If I could mention a few things about my personality and way of life that might be insightful, I would say that: I work quickly and decisively; I like hopping around from one thing to another; I am not bothered by dust; I barely watch television; we include the kids in the housework as a way to teach them and spend time with them; I encourage them to help each other when I am occupied; I have many studio tasks that I do with children underfoot and some where that's not possible, which is where that amazing husband and several other friends, family and neighbors come in. I am very blessed!
Are you Greek Orthodox, and can you tell me more about that?I am very fortunate to have been born into an Orthodox Christian home and that is a blessed way of life that we continue in our family. The best resource for learning more about the Orthodox Faith is by reading information at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Do you have any tips on how to get started designing products?A degree in design certainly doesn't hurt but that's not the whole story. I think that you really have to research and understand the market that you are interested in designing for and the interenet is a wonderful place to do that. Find out which tradeshows facilitate the happenings in the particular industry that you are interested in and try to attend them to see what its all about and if you see yourself as having something new to offer it. The first show that I exhbited my design work in was Surtex, and its really good for those who are just starting out. But there are also people who continue to do that show year after year. There is also the Licensing Show, Printsource, and a slew of others. All the marketing and sales that happens in the sewing industry usually happens at the Quilt Market. There is nothing stopping you from entering any of these markets, just arm yourself with the knowledge of how to go about it through research and that will better help you see where you fit in...and whether you even want to! Go for it!
What kind of college degree do you have?I earned a Fine Arts Degree with a major in Drawing from the University of Tennessee in 1995, with partial studies at the Ringling School of Art and Design.
How did you get a book deal?The publishers of my book came across my website and blog and asked me to write one. Thats pretty much it. If I had information about how to get a book deal, I would offer it, but I wasn't actually trying at the time so I wouldn't know.
How did you get on the Martha Stewart Show?See above, same deal! Although, I do know that there is a link on the Martha Stewart site that asks if you'd like to be on the show, and tell me when you're on!
How do you get in magazines?Again, the visibilty of both my website and blog has a hand in that process. However, I do know that you can send unsolicited submissions to magazine editors with a cover letter if you are interested in having yourself or your products/story featured.
Do you have any employees?Not unless you count the children who are forced to stack fabrics, and the husband who is pressured into programming my online presence! But it looks like not too far into the future that I will have an intern or an employee or two who will be forced to put up with me.
copyright © 2007 Anna Maria Horner