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- [00:12]
A
Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Social Hour podcast, a podcast for Sewist by Sewist. I'm your host, Bethany.
- [00:18]
B
And I'm your host, Audra. And today we have the incredible Kate Hay with us, who is the owner of quilt with Ms. Kate. You've seen her all over Instagram, you've seen her everywhere. Her personality is infectious and beautiful and we are so excited to have her with us today. Kate, thank you so much for joining us.
- [00:38]
C
Oh my gosh, I'm so excited to be here and talk quilty things.
- [00:41]
B
Talk quilty things.
- [00:42]
A
I feel like we need to start with saying like, hey, quilt Festy.
- [00:45]
C
Hey quilt besties. I'm so excited to talk about quilty things. Oh yes, it's funny now. Basically never, but occasionally I'll be quaking downtown and somebody will be like, hey, quilt bestie. I'm like, hello.
- [01:00]
A
I love it everywhere. It's true. It's your brand and I love it. So we're gonna jump in and talk because I love all that you're doing and you have so much that you're doing that I don't even think I fully understand everything that you have going on. So I'd love to share all of that. Same.
- [01:14]
B
I love it. She says, same.
- [01:16]
A
We wanna start out with an icebreaker question to get things going and Audra put a tough one in here for us today. So I was looking at the notes last night and I was like, oh. So if you don't have an answer, that's okay. But if you are listening and you have an answer, we'd love for you to either comment on our YouTube video or go over to our Facebook group, the Social Sewist and share your answer to this week's icebreaker question. But Kate, the question is what fabric do you see and immediately think, absolutely not.
- [01:46]
C
Absolutely not.
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A
Absolutely not. Touching that with a 10 foot pole, absolutely not.
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C
I'm from Virginia and here's what's crazy. My, my current absolutely not used to be my like thing that I loved the most. And then I've just like changed because it's been so long. But I grew up in Virginia and there used to be a lot of like, like Civil War era fabrics. I know it's not called that anymore, but at the time, like 20 years ago, I really liked it. Cause it just looked like every one of my like fancy friends houses, they had quilts that looked like that. And so I used to just like love those. Cause I was like, this is what fancy people sew with. And I grew up really poor. And so I was like, this is fancy fabric. And so now I just, like, bright everything. And so, like, the more subdued colors and, like, the tiny calicos and everything, like, I thankful for my chapter with them, and I have moved on. I don't own anything in that realm anymore. So this is.
- [02:49]
A
You live a very bright, colorful life now.
- [02:51]
C
I do. And so it would just be like, is that quilt for when you're depressed? And then you just, like, that's your sadness quilt. Or, like, what? And so that is my, like, current, like, thank you for, like, Marie Kondo. Like, thank you for your service. I release you into the wild.
- [03:07]
A
So it's a definitely different mood. Those fabrics, just the tones. Yeah, I totally get that. Audra, what about you? What is your absolutely not fabric?
- [03:16]
B
Well, I'm gonna jump with Kate on this bandwagon real quick before I give my answer, because there's. Those reproduction prints just are not my jam. And I remember I was working at my local quilt shop, and, you know, everything is beautiful when you're helping people pick out their quilt fabrics or when they're picking out their fabrics. And this lady comes up to the cutting table, and she had, like, a dozen bolts of Civil War reproduction fabrics. And I was like, these are beautiful, you know, because even though it's not my jam, it's beautiful for her. So I'm not going to be like. But, like. Because she loves it. So, you know, it's to each their own. But really, my fabric that I look and say absolutely not is satin. Like, I've done sat. I'll do satin linings because no one can really see it, but satin is, like, a. For me.
- [04:02]
A
Mine's sewing satin. I just don't like cutting out satin because it's just too shifty. Yeah. I've got, like, 10 cans of, like, soups on top of it. Like, nothing's, like, moving. Like, it's a challenge to cut. But once it. Like, once I'm sewing with it, it's fine. But, like, it's the cutting that I'm like, just sit still for two seconds. Okay, so for me, my answer is Sherpa or anything that once you, like, cut it, it's just poof. It goes everywhere. It's, like, the glitter of fabric. It just. You look down, and you just look like you're wearing, like, a dog's, like, fur. Like, it's just everywhere, and it's impossible to get off stuff. And so there was an era, a very short era, where I was making back when I Had my dog bandana business where I started making like, like, little doggies, like, sleeping bags. It was like, little. They would curl in there and cuddle up or whatever. And so the inside was like Sherpa or faux fur or something like that. Like, really warm and cozy. And then the outside was, like, denim. And then I would put their names on the outside and everything. And after a hot minute, I was like, I'm not making these anymore. It's not worth it. I was like, immediately, yeah.
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B
It gets it everywhere.
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C
And you're like, I feel like I
- [05:12]
A
have to wear a mask.
- [05:13]
B
Yeah. Yeah. The only way I'll sew with it is if I have a handheld vacuum nearby. And I quite literally cut, vacuum, cut, vacuum, cut, vacuum. I'm constantly, like, I'm almost vacuuming. Yeah. I just. I constantly have a hand vac. It just sits on the table while I'm working with it. Because you're exactly right. You end up looking like a walking cotton ball.
- [05:33]
A
My surgery was never the same after that. It was never the same after that. So, yeah, it was. That's my I will not touch that fabric again choice. But, yeah. Let us know in the comments or over on our Facebook group what your answer is to your. That was a good one this week, Audra. I liked that one. That one made me go.
- [05:51]
C
I don't know.
- [05:52]
A
I had to really think about it because I feel like I've used. I was literally sitting in here looking at all my fabrics, going, I mean, I like them. I don't know. Then I was like, oh, no, wait, I got one.
- [06:02]
B
Yeah, here, you got one.
- [06:03]
C
You're like, these are all my friends. My fabric friends.
- [06:06]
A
Exactly. All right, so let's jump right into getting to know you, Kate. So. So we know that you grew up around quilts and in quilt shops, but tell us a little bit, because maybe not everybody knows this story about how you started out in your mom's quilt store and what was it called? Patchwork Plus.
- [06:26]
C
Patchwork Plus. Yeah, she still has it.
- [06:28]
A
Awesome. Okay, so tell us a little bit about how that growing up in that world has led you to what you're doing now. A little bit in a nutshell. And then we'll kind of dive into it.
- [06:37]
C
So what's really interesting is actually my mom and I are co first generation quilters, and so we took beginning quilting together. I was 12.
- [06:46]
B
I did with my mom too.
- [06:47]
C
So, yeah, we're like. We. We learned together. And my first quilt ever, I cried so much because she was, like, trying to get me to learn a quarter inch seam. And I just kept messing it up because, like, we all mess it up at the beginning. And so it got to the point where on every single seam, she would draw a line with a pencil and then just be like, just sew on that line. And I was like, okay, so like our first, like three quilts, all of min are just like, just sew on that line. And I was like, I can do that. So we're first generation, but together. And then I actually, my first quilt, my first job ever was at a quilt store when I was a teenager. And so she's actually newer to the industry than I am, but I'm teaching her the ropes. But no, she bought her store 13 years ago. And it was a pre existing. It had started actually as a Mennonite dry goods store back in like the 70s. And so when she bought it 13 years ago, there were still like prayer shawls and prayer caps and fabric from the year my brother was born, which is 1993. So it's come just a huge, huge way in her 13 years. And now it's the largest quilt store in Virginia. And so I was actually the manager there on and off for years. I was living in the Bahamas when she called me and was like, hey, I bought a quilt store. Like, will you come home and manage it? And I said, yes, but every time it gets cold or I get bored, I can go back to the islands. And so I was back and forth between the Bahamas and the quilt store for like six years. And then I got picked up by Moda. I was a Moda rep in the east coast. And then I met my now husband, so we moved to Maui and I was like, I'm gonna start my own quilt store. And then I looked at shipping prices to and from Maui, and I was like, I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna start my own quilt store. And so when we moved back to the mainland, we're now here in Austin, Texas. I said, I think I'm gonna. I'm gonna start like nights and weekends, have a little quilt store out of our apartment. I think it'll be like this tin six to eight years, then maybe I can make it like a thing thing. So I couldn't. I wanted to do it completely debt free too. And so I gave myself three weeks to sell anything I could from our house that wasn't nailed down. And I was like, whatever I can sell in three weeks, that's how much money I have to start the store. And so no loans, taking money from anyone else. I wanted to do it on my own. I wanted to be completely debt free, and I wanted everything to be in my name so no one could ever be, like, her husband helped her or, like, so. And so. And so I was like, no, it's just gonna be me. So I sold books, I sold quilts, I sold my stash. I sold clothes, I sold furniture. And at the end of three weeks, I had cobbled together right about 10 grand. And I was like, well, that's all we have, so we're just gonna see what happens. It's a very good chonk. I sold so much, sometimes Alex would come home and be like, where's the table? And I was like, sold it. He was like, he sold the table. And I was like, I really want to have a quilt store. Where he'd be like, hey, do you
- [09:46]
A
know where he's on the floor now, but which sweatshirt?
- [09:50]
C
And he was like, the black one that says. And I was like, she gone? So, I mean, he would just never know what would be sold. And he was like, looking for a book. I'm like, sold that. And so I just sold everything. I love it, too. And so then I. I'm very good with the game plan. If it's just like, hey, one day, I want to have a quilt store. Doomed. If I'm like, you have three weeks. You can all like, it's a reality show to me. Like, you have three weeks. You can only use what's in your house. Create a business. And I'm like, okay, so I did that. But still, you know, some opening orders for fabric stores will take a good old chunk of that. And then you also still won't have the quilt stuff for, like, eight months to a year. So for my first ever drop, I could afford to buy, like, 15 packs of labels. I was like, that's what I have. And so I was like, that's not enough to open a quilt store. That's not enough for anything. So I came up with the idea of doing Friday drops because I was like, I know I can afford enough to do one day of selling something. So I came up with Friday drops. And I've been doing Friday drops ever since. And so I think we'll just continue them forever, so. Because it's just, like, a little homage to not being able to afford to have a quilt store, but being able to afford to have one week's worth of kit or one week's worth of bundles. That's why we do Friday drops.
- [11:23]
A
Still. How long ago was that when you sold everything and started.
- [11:26]
C
It was June of 24, so not
- [11:30]
A
even two years ago.
- [11:31]
C
Not too amazing. That's amazing. So it lasted in our apartment for four months, and then I had to get a storage unit here at our apartment, and then it lasted 13 months before we had to get a warehouse. And so now we're in a warehouse. And actually, today I have more interviews to hire more people because, like, we're just so blessed in that. It's just growing all, like, I don't know what's happening. I feel like there's a glitch in the Matrix. And I kept thinking it was a fluke, and it keeps not unfluking. And so at the end of our warehouse, I think we have to get a bigger, like, lease. I think we're going to have to get a bigger warehouse.
- [12:10]
B
I mean, just ride the wave.
- [12:11]
A
Ride the way.
- [12:12]
C
No, it's so exciting.
- [12:14]
B
Embrace it. Embrace the glitch. Did you always think that quilting would be part of your career? Or did that, like. Did you have, like, a realization like, oh, yeah, this is it?
- [12:25]
C
I three times have said, I'm never working at a quilt store again, because my first job as a teenager was at a quilt store. And I thought it was just like my teenager job. And then I worked, you know, I worked at it again undergrad, like, in summers and stuff. And I was like, okay, I'm never doing this again. And then I worked it again at my mom's, and I was like, I'm never doing this again. And then. But just Because I was just like, I have degrees and things that are not related to this at all. And so I was like, I'm going to go use those. And then I just realized, like, Quilt World's my favorite place in the whole wide universe. And if I could choose to be surrounded with anybody, it would be with quilters. They're just the most creative, the kindest, the best, the funniest could solve any crime. And so I was just like, these are the people I want to spend my life with. Why am I trying to do anything else? And so now I'm very committed to working until I'm 102 in quilt world, and then I'm going to retire.
- [13:18]
A
Sounds like a good plan.
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C
Very old, so it'll be okay.
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A
Now I'm. I'm curious like you. You have such a unique journey, but what is. Has there been something that's, like, completely surprised you about the quilting business, the quilting world, now that you've opened your own store and I think it's worth mentioning to our listeners that, who aren't aware, but your store is solely online. There's not a brick and mortar. You have a warehouse for all the shipping and, and whatnot. But like you are solely online. There's. You can't come visit a physical quilt with Ms. Kate Store. So the fact that you're doing this solely online I think is another twist on the traditional quilt store model that we've grown up with.
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C
Right.
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A
So is what's something that's kind of really surprised you about your journey of starting and owning a quilt store, especially one that's solely online?
- [14:11]
C
It is solely online because I'm actually incredibly introverted. So if I had to like face to face with people every day I just have a panic attack and die because like I really want to, but also like I just introvertedly cannot. I just can't. And so one day our goal is to maybe like eight years in the future is to hire a bunch of extroverts and have them like do a forward facing like a, like a brick and mortar. But right now it's a whole bunch of introverts. So we really like talking to people online and then not having to be brave and talk to people in person because we're just all like, so that's why we're online. It's just because we're that introverted. But what I would say, you know, I think for me and for owning a quilt shop and then for it being solely online means I have to be on social media every day. And I think social media obviously and rightfully for the most part gets a terrible rep of being a place where people are very mean and very mean spirited. And I have been shocked by just the how much love and how much kindness also exists in quilt online world. So I think that to me has been the most shocking because I like, I'm always kind of like bracing for hatred or meanness. And I, I mean it exists in some capacity, but I have truly been shocked at just how kind quilters choose to be over and over and over again and to a business because also it's very easy to be mean to a shop when you don't really consider the other person on the other side to be like a person you consider it to be like. And I think that's really easy on phones and like social media is to be like that I'm not talking to another person. And so I feel like quilters have been very, very, very kind online for the most part. And that to me, has been shocking just because that's not what the Internet is known for.
- [16:05]
A
So would you say that part of that is because your shop is you? Like, you're the face, you're the name as well. So there's more of a person related to the brand than a lot of situations, I would say. And also, what you put out is a lot of what you attract back, and you put out that positivity and that love in such a big way that I think that probably contributes to what you from the audience and from your customers.
- [16:31]
C
I really hope that when people find our shop or find us on any kind of social, that they do find it to be, like, a safe but uplifting place. I feel like the world's hard enough that we need to have little, like, cocoons of joyful resistance where, like, how we fight back of, like, all the things that are going on is just to find joy and to find friendship. And I think to find, like, women's friendship. And so, yeah, I hope that exactly what you said is true and continues to be true, not only for myself and how I feel loved, but hopefully that's how other people come, like, experience us as a shop as well, because we all just need. We all just need to love on each other a little bit.
- [17:12]
B
Is that where the professional best friend to quilters approach comes into your business? Is really that. That approach?
- [17:21]
C
So, literally before I even really had the idea for the shop, when people would ask me what I wanted to do. Because after I was a rep, I was working, and I then moved in with my husband. Like, I had little jobs. I was, like, working at Barnes and Noble. Like, I just had, like, little retaily jobs, and people would be like, so what's your next step? Like, career wise? Like, what are you gonna do? And I would tell people all the time, like, I just want to be a professional best friend. So, like, I wish that ladies in waiting were a thing and, like, I could be someone's, like, semi funny friend that they just keep her long and they're just like, I need a hype woman. Or, like, I was like, I wish that were a job, but, like, I don't think it has them right.
- [18:02]
A
And so then I did.
- [18:06]
C
But you know what's crazy is I didn't realize that until, like, eight or so months into the shop. And Alex was like, oh, my God, you actually did become a professional best friend. And I was like, this is the best day of my life. So, like, my whole goal and our whole goal, our whole business plan for the Shop, which is a terrible business plan, is to be the shop that's best at loving on quilters in the world. And so, like, our goal, not just me, but, like, our whole team, is just like, how can we be the best at loving on quilters in the world? And so, like, that's truly our goal as a company. And I was talking to one of my friends who's in economics, they're like, what about your financial goals?
- [18:45]
B
And I was like, I not there yet.
- [18:47]
C
I don't know yet. But I do know I want to be the best in the world at loving on people. And so, like, I love young quilters. So that is our goal.
- [18:55]
B
How many people are on your team right now?
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C
So right now there's seven, plus me and my husband. And I'm going to go do a series of interviews today to do more because that's not enough.
- [19:09]
A
I know.
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B
Really amazing since June of 24, right? And you're adding more like that?
- [19:16]
A
Yeah, like, I know,
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B
like, incredible.
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C
I just kept thinking it was a fluke, but like, a month ago I was like, I don't think it's a fluke, guys. And everyone else was like, you're dumb, you're dumb.
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A
Is it just starting to click?
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C
I did.
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A
We all realized it. We're just waiting for you to catch up.
- [19:36]
C
Right, right. I was like, months of fluke in a row. Isn't that crazy?
- [19:40]
B
I think this is trending to what Bethany said. Energy begets energy. So what you're putting out is what you're getting back. So it's not a fluke. It's just you being who you are and bringing that positive energy your way.
- [19:53]
A
This, like, Yeah, I have to say so you, you've documented your shop's journey, you've shown the process, you've shown behind the scenes. I think that's also part of your quote, unquote fluke. I'm doing air quotes right now because it's not a fluke. But would you say that that has been an important part of maybe your success is showing the behind the scenes or the journey or the wins and the fails or the lessons learned because even if someone else doesn't want to open a shop, they're invested in cheering you on and your success because you're sharing that? So would you say that that's played a big role in your success in less than two years also just think
- [20:33]
C
quilters are nosy and so, like, we're probably the kind of people that, like,
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A
I don't know about you.
- [20:39]
C
If I go to someone's house. I'm like, what kind of shampoo? I'm like, her hair looks good.
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A
What am I.
- [20:44]
C
What should I be using? And so I think it's just that we're just like. Like to be like, what are you doing? And I also am chronically lazy. And so, like, I literally would rather just point a camera at my face, whatever I'm doing, rather than have to, like, make it pretty and everything. Like, I'm too lazy to do that. So I'll just be like, here's what's going on. Because to me, it's just literally the lazy way out of it to just be like, I'd rather just. Also, I'm highly adhd. And so I would just like, yeah, forget. If I was putting on a show, I'd forget. I was putting on, like, a facade. So I just don't. Because I can't. Because I'll forget. And so I just do the laziest thing possible, which is just be honest and authentic. It takes effort to do anything else. It takes effort to lie. It takes effort to portray yourself as something you're not. And so if you. You just point a camera at yourself, highs and lows and everything, it's just easier.
- [21:49]
B
I remember vividly when Charlie was younger, you know, every kid goes through a. Like, a lying phase, you know, like, because they're just little and they're like, oh, yeah, of course I did it. But I remember going through a phase, and I kept telling her it. It's so much easier to just tell the truth. Right? A lie takes work. Like, that takes effort to remember what your lie was, remember who you told the lie to. All, like. And even if it's the little ones, it all compounds being genuine. Being authentic is so much easier. Putting on fake veneers is just so much work.
- [22:21]
C
So take the lazy girl way out. Just don't do it.
- [22:24]
A
And authenticity is so valuable and. And sometimes underappreciated. We. I think when we see people being so authentic, it's contagious, it's exciting. It's empowering for others to just show up. And so I think for you, like, a lot that kind of rides along with your. Your. Your brand and who you are and as a person. And your mission is to make quilters feel seen. Like, why is. Why is that so important to you specifically to make quilters feel seen and for who they are, as they are, where they are in their journey, just show up.
- [23:03]
C
I think most quilters are women, and so shout out to. To our men Quilters, we love you, but I'm not talking to you in this moment. And so I feel like, as. As women, I feel like we are all, like, wonder women and, like, just powerhouses and just the mental load we carry for our households. If we have kids, if we don't have kids, if we're single, if we're married, like, we just pour out constantly. And when I worked at my mom's shop, I would see these women who would quilt and make all these things for their loved ones, and then their loved ones really sometimes weren't interested or appreciative and didn't realize that this was, like, an outpouring, a tangible thing, that their love for that person. You know what I mean? It's just tangible love. And I just realized, like, so much of creating is kind of asking to be seen. And so when what you create isn't seen, then it kind of feels like you're not seen. And when you're carrying the mental load, even though everyone in your life benefits from it, rarely do we get like, hey, I see that you're carrying this huge mental load or carrying our family. Thank you so much. And so. So I see that in women, and I just want them to know that I see that in them, because so often we take for granted what I think people are doing and how well they're doing it and how well they're carrying heaviness. And so I think it's like, it feels like my goal in life is just to be like, hey, I see you. Hey, I'm carrying heavy things. Hey, today's a good day. Hey, I hope you feel all these things and can feel them, like, fully, because the rest of us are, too, and maybe we're just not talking about it. So if I can help be part of, like, that facilitating that, like, just talking about life is highs and lows and nothingness and boring and everything in between. And you're doing that, too. And I see that in you. I think it gives permission to other women to be very fully lazy girl authentically themselves. And so that's my hope.
- [25:05]
B
Yeah.
- [25:06]
A
Yeah, totally.
- [25:06]
B
If someone encounters your shop online for the very first time or sees your Instagram profile for the very first time, what do you want their immediate emotional reaction to be? What do you hope that is?
- [25:21]
C
I hope it feels like a hug. Like, I hope they're just like, I found my friend. I was looking for you, but I didn't know where you were. Now you're here. This is great. So I just hope that it feels like A hug. I hope it feels like a giggle. And I just hope it feels like hope.
- [25:36]
B
I'll tell you, the first time I came across your Instagram profile, my reaction was a smile.
- [25:42]
A
Oh, yeah. How could you?
- [25:43]
B
Because I remember the first time you. Like, I don't even know how you popped up in my algorithm. I don't know if someone liked your stuff or someone reposted you or how you popped up my algorithm, but I remember the first time I found you, and I was watching your stuff, and it just made me smile. It felt comfortable. It felt genuine. It just felt good. It felt good. You know, it didn't feel like, hi, today we're going to da da da, da da. It just felt like morning. Like, it just felt. It felt like I knew you even though I had no clue who you were.
- [26:14]
C
Yeah.
- [26:14]
A
And I can vouch and say that now that we've met you in person at quiltcon recently, what you see online is what you get in person. And I feel like I really got to even know you further in person through spending time with you walking the show floor or having lunch together. In those kind of moments, it's coming together in the. In the person also has so much value to build those relationships to the next level. And so I'm glad that we got to meet and hang out and spend so much time together at quiltcon. And your wonderful husband taking some great photos of all of us while we were there. He was just in the background snapping all the photos. Yeah. So I think. I think for me, same as what Audra said, like, you see it online, and sometimes you see personalities online, and then what you meet in person isn't really the same. And I think just knowing, like, what I saw online and how you are in person and just the grin, the hug, the energy, the love, the support, the deep conversations, it's all. It all makes sense. It's all there. And I don't know, I just. It's. It seems silly to say thank you to someone for being their authentic self, but it's. It's so important. Important to see that online and in our community as well, because it gives everybody else validation to just show up and be their weird self.
- [27:35]
C
Weird is so much cooler. Like, I don't trust people who have it all together now. I just think they're psychopaths. Like, I'm like, well, I don't. We're not gonna be friends. Like, do you have, like, taco spills on your shirt? We're gonna be friends, but, like, no, they have it all together. Or if someone, God forbid, says they have it all together, they're crazy.
- [27:56]
B
It's.
- [27:57]
A
It's hard to fathom that, especially for people who have adhd, because it. There's. There's. There's so much going on in our brains to understand the. Or comprehend what that could possibly look like, to have it all together. To those that do, kudos. But that's a concept.
- [28:14]
C
One of my favorite.
- [28:15]
B
Yeah. One of my favorite memes is like, behold my ducks and how they are not in a row.
- [28:22]
A
There might be some missing.
- [28:23]
B
And there might even be some missing. We have no idea. Okay, so we have a few rapid fire questions.
- [28:30]
C
Let's do it for you.
- [28:31]
B
Are you ready? Ready.
- [28:32]
A
Energy's up.
- [28:34]
B
Favorite quilting tool you cannot live without.
- [28:36]
C
Oh, I. I actually. I'm looking at it. You can't see it, but I really love my weighted Creative grids rotary cutter. But I also love my Accuquilt. So two different price ranges of the same thing.
- [28:48]
A
Okay.
- [28:49]
B
Oh, well, a quilting ruler.
- [28:51]
C
Everyone should own one from cut one's quilts that they all, like, have cussing on them. So they're little, but they all cuss.
- [28:58]
B
So cut. What did you say? Cut wants quilts.
- [29:00]
C
Cut wants quilts. Yeah.
- [29:01]
B
Okay.
- [29:02]
C
And so they all come in, like, neon colors, and then they say whatever your favorite curse word is
- [29:08]
B
fabric line. You loved the moment you saw it. This might be hot.
- [29:12]
C
I just ordered Sparkle Mart from Melanie Miller and Ink Shot from Sarah Watts, like, coming in October, and both of them were like, jaw on the floor. Like, I was like, no notes. They're perfect. And so, so excited about them both.
- [29:28]
B
I actually got a sneak peek of Sparkly. Was it Sparkly Shopper, right?
- [29:32]
C
Sparkle Mart.
- [29:33]
B
Sparkle Mart. That's what it is. I just saw that one yesterday, and it's really cute. Your go to quilting snack.
- [29:38]
C
My go to quilting snack. Ooh, Right now, Trader Joe's has, like, a rice something. It's, like, sweetened. That's like spicy Rice puffs or whatever. And so I'm doing a no sugar march to try to help with my anxiety. So now I have to find no Sugar Treats.
- [29:55]
B
No Sugar Treats.
- [29:57]
A
Yes.
- [29:59]
B
A quilting mistake. You see, beginners make all the time
- [30:02]
C
not finishing because they think it has to be perfect or not liking what they do because it has to be perfect. That's nonsense. All of our first quilts were absolute garbage. And so just keep going.
- [30:12]
B
And some of my experienced quilts have some garbage points in them, so it's not just beginners Yeah, I did.
- [30:19]
C
I've been quilting now for like 24 years this year. And like two years ago I made a stocking and the lining ended up on the outside. I was like, well, that's unfortunate. Like, you know, you're just like, oh,
- [30:32]
B
well, favorite TV show right now.
- [30:34]
C
Well, I also gave up all my reality shows for Lent. So I'm just over here living life like a nun. But I love garbage TV. 90 Day Fiance. Every single branch of it. Like, I will talk about it. If you're on the show, consider this my offer to become best friends. Like, I love that show.
- [30:54]
B
Can we. We will be Talking offline about 90
- [30:57]
C
day fiance 100% every day for the rest of our lives.
- [31:01]
A
Yes, I think watch that one. But I've gone down the Love is Blind rabbit hole and I've watched.
- [31:07]
C
I know somebody on that. We can talk offline as well.
- [31:10]
A
Okay. Okay.
- [31:10]
B
Yeah, yeah. 90 Day Fiance. I am here for it. I am here for it. And I follow some of the couples that are still together on social media and then I kind of like see who isn't together.
- [31:21]
C
Garbage. And it makes me so happy.
- [31:24]
B
It's total garbage and I love it. Yeah. Okay, so those weren't scary, were they?
- [31:31]
C
No.
- [31:32]
A
Okay, good, good, good, good.
- [31:34]
B
So we have a seg. We rotate our segments in our episodes and our next segment is Spool School. And yes, you're. It's something that you can share with us about to educate our audience and just pass along some knowledge.
- [31:47]
C
Okay, so this is the worst advice ever coming from a shop. But this is my school school and I actually very much stand by it. If you are in consumer debt, you do not need any more market fabric. And I promise you that new gorgeous fabric will come out forever and ever and ever and always. So if you miss a new line right now because you're paying off debt, girl, that's fantastic. Because when another line you come like love comes and that debt's been paid off, you're going to be able to buy it stress free and just enjoy it. And I know that's probably not what you're wanting me to be like, always roll all your bobbins. So you have 30 of them before you start a project. But I'm 100% like, pay off consumer debt. Do not go into consumer debt for quilting fabric or notions or anything. That's my biggest and best advice and I will say it until I die.
- [32:36]
B
And so I think it's amazing advice. I love that advice.
- [32:39]
C
Yeah, because then you get to just enjoy Your fabric, because it's not on debt. You can like, just like, be like, I deserve this. I get to do it. Like, yes. So pay off your debt first. If you miss a line, it's totally fine. More beautiful fabric will always come. They're not going to be like, oh, 2028. We're just going to make terrible looks. Working fabric all year. That's not gonna happen. Yeah, it's not gonna happen.
- [33:01]
A
So I have a trash that I can work through if that's the case. But I doubt that'll ever happen.
- [33:06]
B
We're too creative.
- [33:07]
C
Is the fabric like, desert? Then we'll all just go to Bethany then. It'll be great. She got it. Yes.
- [33:14]
A
And so I have a question for you before we jump into our final segment of. You love to see it, but what is one thing that quilters could do that would actually help their favorite quilt shop succeed, whether that's physically at a store, in their community or online? What's something that, as quilters, as consumers, we can do to make sure that our local shops are not continuing to close or struggle or go into debt? How can we support them in so many different ways?
- [33:44]
C
I think freeway again, we're going to stay on this no consumer debt thing. Also, please buy from me, but only if you can. But, like, the best way, I think, in this current day and age in, like, everything to support quilt stops is to interact with them on social media so that more people can see them. And then, you know, I don't know how algorithms work. I don't even know how to spell algorithm, probably. But I do know that if you, like, like it or comment or whatever, then that can help your local quilt shop. And for local quilt shops who aren't on social media, like, not to sound dire, but kind of like, you have to. Or like, the world has just fundamentally changed since COVID And so, like, being like, I'm brick and mortar and people are just going to find me and walk in my doors is not enough anymore. Your. Your shops have to be on social media. And therefore, I think the easiest, most cost effective way to support your local quilt shops or quilt shops that you love online is to interact with them on social media so that more people
- [34:44]
A
can find them and subscribe to their email newsletters. Share that with a friend. Like, I couldn't tell you how many times I've gotten an email newsletter from his shop. And it's. It may not be something that I'm interested in, but I have a friend that loves that, and maybe they're not. So I'll forward that email to them. Be like, I thought you might want to see this. Like, because we all know somebody that's doing whatever is in that email, right? Like, it may not be my cup of tea, but it's definitely my friend's cup of tea. So let me, you know, on this. So sharing is caring. And I think that's such great advice and a great reminder that, you know, no matter what is going on. And if you see a shop that's, like, local to you and you're like, hey, I love your shop, I come in here and shop. But, like, can I take a little video and share it and tag you guys? Or can I, like, can I take some photos? Or can I come in and make some content for you? Because I want more people to find you. Because, like you said, not everybody knows how to do social media, but I don't think anybody really knows how to do social media. We just all show up. We just show up.
- [35:42]
C
We just try things.
- [35:45]
B
Great. Yeah. And for the stores there, I. I've seen stores out there. They have their social media presence, but their social media presence is, here's a sale we're doing. Here's a sale we're doing. Here's a sale we're doing. You're not actually getting to know the store. So to take a page from Kate's playbook, people want to shop with people they know they love. They want to support an Instagram feed or a Facebook page full of this specific manufacturer. 20% off this month. Doesn't get me excited to come in. But if Jane is doing a cool demo for free on something and, like, she's gonna walk me through it or teach me something like that I'm interested in, that I want to follow. It's the personality of the store that people want to support, not necessarily the sale.
- [36:35]
C
People can be messy, and people relate to messy. So, like, if somebody's like, if you're a shop and you're like, oh, I'm not really good at social media, you don't have to be good at it. You just gotta do it anyway. It can be terrible. Just do it anyway. You'll get better. But the only way you're ever gonna get better is by being terrible first. So just be.
- [36:52]
B
And I think sometimes, yeah, and I think sometimes the more curated it is, it feels. It feels fake. And I know that's not the intention, but sometimes if you've got this perfectly manicured presence, it doesn't feel genuine. It doesn't feel like you're authentically being yourself.
- [37:09]
A
Well, it makes it hard for me to visualize myself belonging in your space because I'm not perfectly curated and man and put together. So it's like, oh, I feel like I might be a bull in a china shop in this store. So I don't want to touch anything. I'm scared to go in or I just tiptoe, you know? And so, like, I totally get that because, like, like we said before, what Kate does so well is what she puts out is also what she gets back because that's who she is. So I think if we've said it a few times in this episode is like, just show up. Show up as yourself. It's okay to mess up. It's okay to say the wrong thing. It's okay to not have it perfectly curated, edited, or polished. And I think that honestly, those are the videos that I stop and look at and watch and interact with more than polished. You know what I mean, though? Like, I just, I feel like those are the people that I feel like I could sit down and have a cup of coffee with or, you know, go shopping with or hang out at Quote con with. And that's, that's what we want more of. We want more friends in our community. Awesome. Okay, let's jump into youo love to see. We always like to wrap up our episode with something super positive. Not that this episode hasn't been anything but, but we like to just share. It could be anything that's going on in your world. It doesn't even have to be sewing related, but just something that just, just brings us some little joy. So, Kate, I'll start with you. What is your. You'll love to see it.
- [38:33]
C
This week for our birthdays, my mom got my husband and I season tickets to the theater. And last night we went and saw Great Gatsby. And it was just so fun because my husband literally sat at the end of his seat, like the edge of his seat the whole time. And he kept looking over at me and be like, this is fantastic. And then he would be like, this is the best one we've ever seen. And then all the way home, he was like, like, this is, this is just the greatest. And so it's just really fun to get to go experience art in a different way because, like, we quilt, we sew, but, like, I don't dance and sing. And so it's really fun to see somebody else do their art at such a high level and just get to, like, enjoy the talent that is out in the world. And so that I just love spending time together.
- [39:16]
A
That's not about your business.
- [39:17]
C
Right, Right. So we just get to go. And so now he was like, hey, can we make one of these songs? One of our, like, morning commute songs? And so he's just super into it. And he had never been to a musical before this, and so I love to see it.
- [39:32]
A
Audra, what is your. You love to see it this week?
- [39:35]
B
See, I don't think Kate knows what a big theater family we are. So she's like, oh, we are. We're massive theater people. We have great. We're seeing Crickets Be. It's touring this summer.
- [39:46]
C
Last night we saw good.
- [39:48]
B
So last night we saw Back to the Future, the musical. So we are big theater people. It's kind of ridiculous, honestly.
- [39:55]
A
What was it? Yeah.
- [39:56]
B
Oh, it's. It's. Oh, it was crazy. It was wonderful. DeLorean on stage, the whole deal, it was so cool. But, yeah, big theater people. Not only do we go see it, our daughter acts in it, we volunteer in it. It's. It surrounds our world. If I'm not sewing, I'm probably doing something theater related. Like this afternoon, I'm going to be working on props for a show. So, yeah, I totally get it. Because that's what we love seeing, too, is people on stage. The talent and the storytelling and the effects and the sound is just awesome. We love to see. It is. We're in, like, final planning stages for a three generations Disney trip with my mom and me and Charlie. We are also a big Disney family, and we've done a lot of combinations of people in our family, but we've never done just the three of us of my mom and me and Charlie. So the three of us are gonna do our three generations Disney trip and just have a couple days of riding, rides and people watching and all the things. So I'm. I'm excited for.
- [40:52]
A
That's exciting.
- [40:53]
C
I'm so jealous.
- [40:55]
A
I need a vacation. May you love to see it. As cheesy as it sounds, I just am glad that we get to hang out with you again because I had so much fun hanging out with you at Quiltcon. Like, I think it was. One of my favorite surprises to come from Quiltcon is one, I didn't know you were gonna be there. But two, to get to spend so much time together. And then now I feel like we're building a friendship outside of that, and I'm really grateful for that. And so may you love to see it. It's just that I feel like I have a new quilt bestie, and then I have a new friend in the industry that I can, like, pick her brain and maybe just hang out with again. I'm sure I'll see you at another show, but I'm just really grateful for all the new friends I get to make in this industry and quiltcon. I met so many people in person, but to get to circle back and continue those relationships outside of that has been really special. And you're one of those. So thank you.
- [41:46]
C
We'll hang out. Are you going to H and H? We can hang out there. Yes.
- [41:48]
A
Yes.
- [41:49]
C
Perfect.
- [41:49]
A
See you there. I think we'll all be there. See you there.
- [41:52]
C
We'll have dinner. Yeah.
- [41:53]
A
Yes, we definitely will.
- [41:55]
B
So, Kate, before we wrap up this episode, is there anything you would like to share with our audience? Anything exciting coming up? Anything you would like to plug now is is your time?
- [42:04]
C
I think my plug is just know that you're loved and know that what you create is worthy of existing in this world. Points are no. And that this world is a better place because you create and because you create something beautiful and something that didn't exist before you created it. And get out of consumer debt. And once you do, come on shop with us over at quilt with Ms. Kate.
- [42:31]
A
Awesome. Follow us on Instagram, follow us on Facebook and be sure you're a part of our social seas Facebook group. That's where we take our conversation that you just listen to and continue it over there with other sewing besties. So thank you guys for tuning in this week and thank you, Kate, for being a part of our episode. And we'll see you next time. Happy sewing.
- [42:49]
B
Happy sewing.
- [42:57]
C
Sa.