While on the coast of Thailand last month, I snapped this image of an egret browsing the fishing nets for snack opportunities. It reminded me of how we go shopping for fabrics, jewelry or even fresh produce. We switch into this highly focused visual mode, and when we see what we want, we *pounce*!
Here at eQuilter, we've been stocking the fishing nets for 13 years, and we sure get a kick out of the creativity that is displayed in your orders. Because we have the largest quantity of products online and ready to ship (22,000 in stock – and over 1200 new products per month) the combinations of fabric and color are endless…and constantly changing.
Sometimes on the weekend, or in the evening when everyone has gone home, I like to walk through our warehouse and really have a close look. Although we merchandise our products by color and motif on our website (so you can find similar groups of coordinating fabrics faster), they are organized by manufacturer on our shelves.
Sometimes I just like to walk down one of the batik rows, to breathe in the saturated colors and exotic designs. Sometimes I stand in a row with lots of shimmering Asian prints that are loaded with opulent gold metallic. It still takes my breath away to walk through the rows of gorgeous artwork, and marvel at the vast range of talent and beauty that exists in this industry.
I admit, I am a fabriholic, and I am really lucky that I turned my fabric "problem" into an asset, with my husband as business partner, and I can share it with all of you! In addition we have a lot of fabric heads working at eQuilter, so when the crates arrive daily and the colors tumble out, we can all ooh and ahhh together as the day's treasures are revealed.
In March 1999, we made our little website public, with a few hundred batiks and Asian prints, and started shipping from the basement of our home. Paul had finished the basement for my 40th birthday so I could have a nice big studio at home, and then we filled it up with bolts of fabric for what I thought would be a little part time home business. Ha!
Now our basement is back to being my sewing studio, and Sophie is working down here on a quilt for the next batch of orphanage gifts…but I still write the newsletter in the basement just like I did 13 years ago when we sent out the first email. Some things never change, and the love of fabric that I share with all of you, is one of those enduring truths that brings us all such pleasure. Now I think I'll go pet my stash….
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