I went into Joann’s today to get some denim fabric — sounds simple enough.  They had all their denim fabric on a round table type rack with a price sign above the bolts “denim $12.99 yd”.    Some bolts were 45″ wide and some 52″ wide, so I started picking up the fabric so I could read the bolt end to see if they were 100% cotton, or what the fabric make-up was.  WELL, I noticed SOME bolts had the regular printed $12.99 per yard on it, some had the “original” price blacked out and $12.99 hand written on the end of the bolt,  some had the original price blacked out and a printed new tag (from a tagging gun) with $12.99 on them, and ONE of the bolts still had the original $9.99 price on it.   I made up my mind very quickly that the $9.99 denim was exactly what I wanted —- AND I had a 50% off coupon.   When I went to the measuring counter I told the lady that I wanted to confirm the price to be $9.99/yard.  She scanned it with her little hand held device then informed me that the price of the fabric was $12.99, but was on sale 30% off (NO sale price was anywhere by the fabric bolts), so I’d be getting it for $9.09 per yard.  I told her that the price on the end of the bolt said $9.99 per yard, and asked if she could do a price over-ride to give me the price that was on the bolt.  I figured if she could do that I could maybe use my 50% off coupon.  Well, she did the price over-ride at $9.99/yard, but the charge slip showed that it was a SALE PRICE, so I wouldn’t be able to use my coupon AND I’d be paying more than the 30% off the newly raised prices.   So I asked her if she could do the price over-ride and take into consideration the 30% off as well to let me take advantage of the sale.   She really didn’t want to but finally said, “let me see if the hand held device will let me”, so she did figure the 30% off the $9.99 price and used that as the over-ride price and it went through just fine.   The facts are that all prices keep going up and up, however IF a company changes the prices, but leaves the end of the bolt with the old price, they are obligated to sell it to you for THAT amount, not the higher amount.  If you are not observent and notice the little things, you could end up paying the higher price, even though the price on the end of the bolt is the old price, simply because the NEW price is in the computer and that’s what you’ll be charged if you don’t question it.

We buy a lot of fabric and there have been times that we’ve gone in one week to buy certain fabric, and the next week the price has been raised by $2 or $3 per yard  —- in one weeks’ time!  Or some specialty fabric that all of a sudden jumps up by several dollars a yard.   I would suggest to you to check the prices very carefully on the fabric that you need — and if at all possible save up some discount coupons that you can use.  Most of all, be sure you read the prices on the end of the bolts and CONFIRM with the measuring person that the price you see is the price you will be paying!  You could just be saving yourself a couple dollars per yard by getting the price verified and confirmed.

We encourage all of you who are in the sewing, crafting and art businesses to proudly proclaim that your items are INDEED made in America.  There are many folks who have made a decision to buy American made items if at all possible, so be sure to spread the word about your items.  If you have an on-line presence, be sure to make known in your website that you sell “made in America” products!

Happy New Year to all of our sewing/crafting friends.  We hope this will be a really great year for you!!!

 New EmbroidMe Franchise Opens in Barboursville, West Virginia
With nearly 400 retail locations, EmbroidMe provides full-service custom embroidery and screen-printing for apparel, as well as promotional products and gifts to both the private and commercial segments of the business community. For more information on

MedHub Leverages HIPAA Compliant Colocation from Online Tech
Before becoming EmbroidMe franchisees, the Hoffners were running a small embroidery and screen-printing business out of their home. “Discovering EmbroidMe came at a perfect time in our lives because we were ready to move the business out of our home so

Citrus Sew & Vac is almost all the way back
Lapham pointed to one large room and explained that for the first time he will have a location to hold large sewing classes. The business once only had room to provided one-on-one instruction. Beginning at about 5:30 p.m. today, the Ocala

Small Business: Designing, sewing keep Texstyle Bags owner in stitches daily
Samilia Colar could use an extra set of hands. Or three. When she’s not looking after her 2-year-old son, Liam, she’s fiercely sketching new ideas or implementing them on her sewing machine. “I’m a team of one,” said the 27-year-old owner and

America doesn’t want my business
But apparently America doesn’t want my business. China currently owns most of our industry In fact, I have considered opening a small sewing operation again, but for a variety of reasons would prefer to partner up with one.

Initial Impact, a Spring Lake embroidery business, helps woman stitch together career
I grew up in a very blue-collar, industrial steel and auto manufacturing town in Ohio, where almost everyone worked for the same two large companies. Most jobs were assembly-line related and many of my friends and family members worked shifts. I

Embroidery and work wear designed to work in your business
Embroidery and work wear designed to work in your business. Special ranges of work wear are bought together for your most popular needs in the workplace giving a great look and style.Embroidery and work wear can be found online and work towards functional

BUSINESS SCRAPBOOK: Clever Catsup
The softies run from $5 to $45 each. Business size: Cook is the sole employee. Owner information: Cook, 32, got into sewing and making art when she was 12. The freelance writer has a bachelor’s in English from Cal State Long Beach and a master

Business Spotlight: Alfano Sewing Machine Sales and Service
Jerry Alfano says he has built a loyal customer base, repairing home and industrial sewing machines in Fayetteville and eastern North Carolina. He sells machines for industrial and home sewing through his business. How did you first get started

Jazz club building re-opens
Three years after the Main Street Jazz Restaurant closed, it is getting new life in the form of a business moving into the property. Embroidery Etc. moved into the building from a shop next door. Owner Jennifer Groves said she was grateful she

Last night, Wednesday 11/30, she had a very informative segment on “Made In America” — and how there is a very big PUSH now on folks buying American made items for Christmas gifts.  She made a comment that if EVERY family would just buy $64 worth of “Made In America” products for Christmas gifts, that alone would help put thousands of people back to work.  They showed a variety of “made in America” businesses – from hot sauce, to toys and games, to clothing items – indicating that if MORE Americans would buy American made products, how much benefit there would be to our economy!

Do YOU have signs that you can hang on your craft fair/bazaar booth that proudly state that your items are MADE IN AMERICA?  Put some signs in your customer waiting area indicating that you’re all about the “made in America” push!

All of our items that we sell, from coupon clutches, to Plus Size childrens patterns, to Full Figure men/women’s books and patterns,  to Sewing Machine Repair books are ALL made right HERE in America!!  Check your Christmas gift list to see if any of these “Made in America” products would be a great idea for you.

Let your customers know that what you offer are also “Made in America” products —then remember the final words on the segment by Diane Sawyer — “Are YOU in?”    We certainly are and we are doing our best to spend, not just $64, but all we can on made in America products for under our Christmas tree this year!!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered our Coupon Cabin 25 Crazy Dayz Giveaway of a $55 Sewing Notions and Sewing Book package!  Thanks also to our giveaway sponsors at SewWithSarah.com and SewMachineRepair.com!

Congratulations to our winner –  Theresa S., instructions for redeeming your prize have been emailed.

 GSC team places 6th in free enterprise competition
Access North Georgia
The Sewing Company, or SewCo, will be a non-profit sewing cooperative targeting unemployed or under-employed individuals who would like to become entrepreneurs. The GSC SIFE team has developed a two-part plan targeting women with young children who may …

Veteran shoe repairman looks for wounded heels in Fairbanks
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Hornbostel is partners with Marsha Panfil, who is handling the marketing end of the business. The shop is stocked with equipment they purchased from a gentleman in Illinois who was getting out of the business and includes a 1929 Singer sewing machine, …

Bus crash tragedy inspires act of comfort by grieving Sunderland mum
Sunderland Echo
Lesley, 56, who was living in Twickenham Road, Thorney Close, at the time of the tragedy, said: “I got into sewing after we lost Janine. “It became a sort of therapy for my grief. I made dolls’ clothes for my nieces and that sort of thing. …

Mitten maven: Leslie Ogden loves making mittens
Ogden owns Smitten with Mittens, a sewing business she operates from her home. Ogden, who lives on a farm near Cavalier, N.D., started making mittens after she retired from 31 years of teaching school, the last 19 in Cavalier. CAVALIER

The fabric of life
Today her business, Judy Stokes Sewing and Design, operates largely via word-of-mouth. “My goal was to have a studio where a bride could bring her mother and friends and savor this special time,” Stokes said. “I really feel joy when I see

Wouldn’t you love to be able to get tasty lattes and cappuccinos right in your own office, without having to run to the nearest barista and spend a fortune for them?  Now you can get great quality beverages that taste like they came from a coffee house in the comfort of your own office with the Tassimo Professional single cup system.

There are lots of different drink combinations available to choose from, in addition to lattes and cappuccinos that are prepared using real Gevalia espresso and milk creamer.  For example, you can also make velvety smooth hot chocolate and aromatic steeped teas.

The Tassimo Pro single cup system is designed to be used with special T Discs that offer exact measurements for brewing and provide dependable, high quality results every time.  The discs also help prevent employee theft because they’re not designed for use in home brewing machines.

You can check out the easy one-touch system that will make your favorite beverage in less than two minutes right in your very own office with a Tassimo Professional free demo.  Simply sign up at baristainside.com/workplace for your free demo and see how easy is to become your own barista!

I’m excited to try a yummy cappuccino like the one pictured above, and I’m happy to know that the LCD screen will give me easy instructions for preparing drinks, as well as how to clean and maintain the unit so that even I can make fabulous coffee house style beverages!  Which drink would you most like to try?  Why not sign up for a Tassimo Professional free demo today and check it out for yourself with no obligation!  I’m betting it would also make you the most popular person at work!

Yarn sale: Crafters Gallery has 30 percent off all items through November 24
This division of Mary Maxim is more focused on crafts such as knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting and paper crafts The Port Huron store is still open for business and offers weekly sales. Mary Maxim Retail Store is located at 2001 Holland Ave, Port

Embroidery sector of Surat faces shut-down with rising losses
Unable to bear the crisis, many unit holders are switching to other businesses. Embroidery sector provides employment to more than seven lakh people in Surat. While the sector was booming during 2001-2008, it started to lose its sheen during the recession

Learn to Fabricate Designer Custom Drapes with Workbooks from New Site
and bed treatments can purchase detailed workbooks compiled with the knowledge of 40-plus years of sewing experience. Web entrepreneur Marie Malone is pleased to debut http://www.SewCustomDrapes.com, an accompaniment to her existing web business

Ministry aids women from wartorn places
The Refugee Sewing Society is a nonprofit business as well as a Christian ministry serving some 30-50 legally resettled women from war-torn countries such as Somalia, Congo, Sudan, Bhutan, Iraq and Ethiopia. These women have all endured genocidal regimes.

Contact 6: Sewing machine company gives woman $10,000 machine
Her weapon of choice used to be a machine called the Husqvarna Viking Designer SE, made by SVP Worldwide, a well-respected maker of sewing machines that rates an “A-plus” with the Better Business Bureau, but D’Amato gave her machine an F after

For first time, Seward turns to TIF
Sports Express plans to build in vacant space north of the town square and relocate a home-based screen-printing and embroidery business from nearby Pleasant Dale. Progressive Sheet Metal Inc. is moving ahead with an office and warehouse a few blocks away

Here’s a hot deal on a Brother Sewing Machine LX2500 Lightweight – 17 Stitch – 4 Step Buttonholer just in time for the holidays!  This sewing machine retails for $109.99 but it is on overstock deal right now for just $49.99 with FREE shipping.  It would make a great starter machine for someone who is learning to sew, or a terrific backup or travel machine for you pros!

Disclosure: This post contains one or more referral links that may yield commissions for Shopper Strategy without any additional cost to you. See our disclosure statement for more details.

 Ministry aids women from wartorn places – News-Leader.com
The Refugee Sewing Society is a nonprofit business as well as a Christian ministry serving some 30-50 legally resettled women from war-torn countries such as Somalia, Congo, Sudan, Bhutan, Iraq and Ethiopia. These women have all endured genocidal regimes.

YBPW names Miller Woman of the Year – Vindy.com
The event took place at Caf Cimmento. Lisa Dickson, 2011-2012 president of the YBPW, presented Miller, president of Color 3 Embroidery and Growth Coach Business Coach, with the award. She was selected as this year’s Woman of the Year because

CGS freshmen begin clothing business for animal rights – Daily Free Press
Influenced by a company called Apliiq, the Species Apparel creators said that they started by buying a sewing machine and fabrics a few weeks before they started the business. While they initially bought the sewing machine just for fun

Linda Z’s becomes sewer’s mecca in Arlington Heights – Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Besides Ueltschi, who will autograph sewing machines, other Bernina executives are expected at JSH&A Public Relations in Oakbrook Terrace. •There’s more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people that

Antiques and Collectibles: The business of yarn is a home-spun story – Post-Bulletin
Third St. opened for business Nov. 20, 2010. The mission of the store is “I have been involved with knitting, crocheting and sewing since I was 6, so it was a natural evolution,” Meg says. “After several months of learning about the

Tracey A. Cameron Is Sewn Into The Fabric Of Stanford Who’s Who – 24-7PressRelease.com
Established in 2008, Sewlutions Custom Embroidery is a business which offers sewing, embroidery, monogramming, silk screening, twill services, and apparel. They offer in house digitizing for corporations, organizations, schools, small businesses and personal logos.

They’re still sewing like Granny at Granny’s – Sioux City Journal
So says today’s Granny, Janine Matlock, co-partner with Mel Carlson in Granny’s Stitches with Viking, a business they opened 4 1/2 years ago on Floyd Boulevard in Leeds. There, they sell Viking machines and teach sewing classes. Matlock teaches.

Army veteran trades driving semis for sewing and dry cleaning at her Cape May Court House business – Atlantic City Press
Jennifer C. Armstrong drove semi trucks in the U.S. Army for eight years, a sergeant and supervisor overseeing other soldiers and millions of dollars in federal government equipment. Now her work is of a different sort: she bought a dry cleaning

Pamela Rhoda finds similarities in her shift from baking to apparel – Democrat and Chronicle
Acknowledged for her sewing and other home economics skills in high school Coffee Roasters and Wegmans Food Markets Inc. Though she later sold the business — she’d needed to stop clocking the occasional 20-hour day and sleeping on the

Embroidery sector of Surat faces shut-down with rising losses – Daily News and Analysis
Unable to bear the crisis, many unit holders are switching to other businesses. Embroidery sector provides employment to more than seven lakh people in Surat. While the sector was booming during 2001-2008, it started to lose its sheen during the recession