okay...I'm going to admit something about myself and that is I'm a "Wing It" person! I'm actually quite good at it too...that is if I know what I'm doing.
...so remember when I mentioned my ruler and pattern being at Sew Expo...well, when I dropped off the rulers and patterns last week for them to take to Expo, I threw out the idea of me possibly demoing my ruler and patterns. Long story short they are giving my a few hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to demo it! Okay...that's just 3 days away and I'm not comfortable with the "wing it" concept this time!
I have some ideas...I've got a couple of quilts I've been waiting to cut into, so I have some fabric to cut and there will be a sewing machine there for me to use and well...that's about it.
and this is where I really need some advise
Please?
Have you seen a demo and what did you like or dislike about it?
Visuals?
How long should a demo last?
???
~Jenny
18 comments:
Oh how funny..I'm a wing it person too! I think all you need to do is show what you show in your 3 YouTube videos - that was explanation enough for me...as well as showing them some examples. The only question I had left in my head after that was can you only cut 8 1/2" blocks because of the dashed marking lines on the ruler or can you make smaller and if you can, need to show examples of those.
Good luck - you have such a great product to sell you're halfway there already!
Good luck with your demo's
Unfortunately I can't give you much advice on 'show' demo's, I've only see them at Guild meetings, where it's a small friendly group.
Personally I wouldn't change a thing about what you do. Keep 'winging it', it works for you and if you change now at short notice you'll possibly end up not trusting your instincts and feeling uncomfortable, which might translate into what you are working on. Stick with the tried and tested method.
Good luck, (though I'm sure you don't need it), your love of the ruler and what it can create shines from every quilt you've created, let them be the chorus line behind you 'cheering' you on.
Can't wait to here the show report when you return - have FUN, FUN, FUN ;o)
The only thing I can think of to add to the other comments is to keep it simple... Stay in your comfort zone because if you don't it will show! Your YouTube videos are great so I'd base your demo off of that.
Relax and have fun! Showing how fun it is will draw people right in. Oh, and congratulations and good luck! :)
speak loudly and clearly and have lots of examples and cut lots of fabric. that is my only advice... i wish i could come!
How exciting!!! Your videos are wonderful! Showing the cutting of the curve and sewing the curve is perfect and having plenty of samples done, which I know you have, should be fine for a demo. I think you will find that the audience will have plenty of questions to fill up the rest of the demo time!!! And that is the best part, interacting with the audience. You will do fabulous!! :^)
Congratulations! Just do what you do. The designs are very original, the ruler is fabulous, and the method for creating the quilt very easy. You'll be great!
A booth demo? Keep it short and sweet because people are so excited at shows to see everything that they don't really want to stand around for 10 minutes and watch something. They will wander off and you don't want to them to do that unless it's to the cash register to buy :-) Simply show them the ruler and cut a piece out to show how well it works and then have step outs of sewing the block together and how different values change the look of the block and a few quilts showing the variety of designs you can get in the end. You'll be great!
i agree with everyone....keep it simple...and be yourself....and remember to breathe....YOU WILL DO GREAT... wish i could be there too...looks like sunday is the only day i might make it and u won't be there...please please call the first night w an update xoxoxoxox
i agree with everyone....keep it simple...and be yourself....and remember to breathe....YOU WILL DO GREAT... wish i could be there too...looks like sunday is the only day i might make it and u won't be there...please please call the first night w an update xoxoxoxox
Your videos are great Jenny. Do what you do best! You are really good at teaching about your ruler & I love your no nonsense aproach to sewing the blocks. Zip,zip & you are done. I'll be there in spirit cheering for you!!!!!
Be prepared to sew lots of curves, Jenny. I went back again and again to your video to watch how you handled the two pieces and sewed them together. You'll be great!
I've never been to a demo so I can't comment but I just saw a ruler that looks a lot like yours on the Moda blog: http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/2012/02/learning-curve-ruler.html. I wonder where they got the idea...
I agree with all the other commenters. One new suggestion is to let people cut with the ruler. I have had bad experiences in the past with curved slotted rulers being difficult to get a good cut with. This is not a problem with your ruler!
Ooooh, Keep It Simple Sweetie! Your basics from the u-tube vids will be just great, nothing more to add that hasn't already been said. Big smiles (you'll have that anyway!) lots of inspiration, and be ready for the one person who says 'I don't need another specialised ruler to sit and gather dust!' there will be doubters, be ready to prove them wrong :) get those feathers preened and ready to wing it big style!
Yes, I was going to say let them cut with it, so a sharp blade so that they don't think it's the ruler. The first people that I show the ruler too say "you have to sew curves" and when they do it like you showed, they are hooked :) You'll be surprised at how positive they are.
Have fun.
Michelle
My opinion would be no more than 5 minutes. People will be in the shopping frenzy. I agree that your U-Tube videos are awesome. I LOVE your ruler and am busy making Urban Nine-Patch blocks myself. I also agree that you should just demo the cutting of the curves and the sewing of the curves. The blocks are so fun to make! Good luck!
It's all been said so I'll just second it - short simple steps just like in the U-tube (pretend you're making that again).
Samples, and more samples in various stages of the process and great as well as any and all quilts already done to see how varied the results can be.
Congrats and have fun. Hope you'll have helpers to run the cash register for all the rulers and patterns you are bound to sell.
Ooh how fun for you! The only thing I can think of is to give people something to take away with them...like a card/paper that shows the ruler, some of your cute quilts, or a simple how-to guide to sewing curves...those shows get so crazy you can't remember all the cool stuff you want unless you get a flier(is that what they are called??) You will be great! Good luck!
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