I Support Local: Sunflower Quilting and Sunflower Stitcheries

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Raylee of Sunflower Quilting and Sunflower Stitcheries. She has some great points on supporting local business from the view of both a designer and service provider. I had planned on releasing this post around Easter but I didn't want her wonderful words getting lost in the holiday craziness. So here she is, a little later than planned but just as fantastic.

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Please tell us more about yourself and your business.

Which hat do I have on at the moment?  My days are busy with being a wife, Mum to 4 growing boys, friend, and business owner. I started Sunflower Quilting; a professional quilting business in 2009 and I am thankful for all the times I have been able to help complete a quilt with my quilting. Being able to see so many quilts is wonderful and I enjoy the variety, there are some creative people out there.

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Last year I teamed up with my Mum to start Sunflower Stitcheries; a place for us to share the ideas and designs we’ve been talking about for many years. The ideas are still coming, though we were slowed down a little in getting Sunflower Stitcheries going after a diagnosis of breast cancer for my Mum.  All going really well now so we are getting back on track and some new releases are planned for this year.

What do you specialise in?

What can you find at Sunflower Quilting, threads to choose from, some fabric, quilting patterns to choose from and lots of ideas for custom quilting – and me, ready to talk quilting and share a cuppa.  I have also had numerous clients who post quilts to me and I love that we can use technology to discuss their quilt and come to an agreement for the quilting.

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At Sunflower Stitcheries we have an aim to have projects that are both beautiful and useful.  Items you want to have in your house and be able to make and give as gifts.  We all have plenty of things which collect dust but we want you to be able to use our projects.  There are some tutorials and a gallery of idea to use our designs will be built. This small business is still growing so there’s more to come, I hope you visit and see what’s new or sign up to the newsletter to hear about it.

Do you have a personal favourite in the products you sell?

As far as the designs at Sunflower Stitcheries go I have to say I love the design we have.  We are proud Australians and so have designs that are inspired by Australia.  There are some fun designs and more to come.  One of my favourites so far is the Mug Supper Cloth.  It was a BOM stitchery but is now a single product.

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What do you love about being an Australian business?

I am really pleased to be able to start a couple of small business and love working in collaboration with my Mum, this is terrific.  Mum helped me start my quilting business and taught me to sew many years ago.  Thanks Mum. Now to be able to be designing and creating with Mum as a business it’s great.  We have meetings via Skype to keep us on track and we talk frequently, often with more ideas and how we can make them happen.  Despite the size of Australia we are based in Canberra and Warwick Qld, mmm…must be time for a business meeting in person.  Australia is so diverse that there is plenty of inspiration for designs.  Mum is on a small property so look out for some farm themed items.    

Why do you think supporting local business is important?

There’s been a lot of talk about local businesses and the effect of the internet on the life and survival of the Local Quilt Shop (or local craft shop). Yes there is something to be said for touching and feeling the product you want to buy and even better when it’s backed up by good customer service.  I believe in good products at a reasonable price and being honest and caring as a business owner.  This can be done both in person as in my quilting business and also as providing good online service.

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Do you have any suggestions on how we can support local business more?

Remember when you had to do a public speech and got told, “the audience is the same as you, they have to go to the loo the same as you”.  This goes for businesses as well.  We are regular people, perhaps pretty busy trying to fit everything in but then who isn’t (that’s another issue).  So if you have a questions or a topic you’d like to raise with the business go for it. I believe in being able to say anything to anyone, and it can be done in an adult and polite way even if you disagree.  For example I was able to give some feedback to a supplier of wadding and let them know the quality wasn’t great and I wouldn’t be comfortable stocking this particular type in its current state.  They took that on board and have now improved the product so that I am more than happy to sell it to my clients, win win situation.

I think the question of copyright can be raised here.  I think today things are pretty reasonably priced and there are options if you think they aren’t.  E-products are a good way to go and with the connectedness of blogs and websites you can contact the designer if you need to.  Being now on the designing and writing side of things, there is an amazing amount of work that goes into writing a pattern or tutorial, making sure it’s understandable and having pictures that explain or show the technique.  All of that takes time and money and knowledge.  By paying for a pattern or class, you are paying for the knowledge and expertise that goes into making the pattern.  If you have problems with the pattern or tutorial, provide feedback, you are in essence a paying customer the same as if you walked into a shop.

Word of mouth is a great thing, share around the knowledge of a good website or great products, if you are reading this then you have internet access and probably some sort of social media presence.  Let’s make the most of this and let other know a good thing when we find it.

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Where can we find you?

I am based in Canberra ACT for Sunflower Quilting though I am happy to work with anyone anywhere.  Technology has its advantages.  Sunflower Stitcheries is online as we are in 2 states.

Website: www.sunflowerquilting.com.au

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sunflowerquilting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunflowerquilting

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/rayleebielenber 

Website: www.sunflowerstitcheries.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sunflowerstitcheries

Facbeook: https://www.facebook.com/SunflowerStitcheries

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Thanks so much, Raylee, for this great look into yet another aspect of supporting local businesses.