Marsala: the Pantone Colour of 2015

What do you think about Marsala as a colour?

It's the Pantone Colour of the year for 2015. Back in November, I decided that whatever the Pantone yearly colour was, I would use it in my next quilt.But that's not going to happen. My next quilt, released on the 15th will be Oma's Blues which is inspired on the theme of a blue based quilt. Still, I am thinking of ways to use this hue.

Personally I love the shot of it in the banner above as it looks slightly metallic and full of life. In fabric however, I think it might look too muddy or muted. I'm really not sure. Below are the recommended marsala colour pairings.

I think number 5 is my favourite as I am often drawn to warm, woodsy, autumnal tones. Instantly when I see these colours, all I can think about is a quilt full of leaves. Whether or not I want to spend time on such a simple design, I'm not really sure. 

This might be one 2015 resolution I'll put on the back burner for now. 

You can see these images and learn more about the colour selection process over on the Pantone site by clicking here now. 

WOW: Esther Doesn't Know What Day It Is ...

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

Well, I just realised it was Wednesday a few minutes ago. I even happily posted a post about my Christmas table cloth this morning, all the while thinking I was doing really well to finish a WIP before Christmas and even find time to show it off before Wednesday. Except that I totally didn't know that it IS Wednesday today.

What can I say? I have festivity brain. I don't know if any of you are out there reading this, but for my regular WOWers, here is our usual regular linky. And further proof that I really do need that 2015 calender I keep putting off buying...

Have you forgotten anything this week?

An InLinkz Link-up

My Christmas Tablecloth

I'm happy to share that I did get my fabric edging sewn down around my tablecloth in time for Christmas and went ahead and used this tablecloth on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and now it's folded away again until Easter. So, that's another WIP crossed off my list and just in the nick of time too!

Here I am ironing it on Christmas Eve. Because of the size of my table, its easier for me to iron and starch it on the table itself. I always starch my tablecloths because starching creates resistance to staining. Small spills simply bead off and you can blot them away without any washing.

I re-used my stencils from my 'Red December' quilt and used them on a white wholecloth. I arranged them into position according to my eye. To ensure accuracy, I ironed my fabric into equal lengths and followed the iron seams so that I could iron down my stencils into position nice and straight.

On washing, my ironed in grid lines simply eased out. When I fold my tablecloth after washing now, I still iron down the centre. This makes it easy to place on the table (we use a very large boardroom table and positioning can be a real pain). Once in place, I simply iron these guidelines away.

I always knew we'd have a candle for Christmas and Easter, so I created a space for it in the centre of my tablecloth. Like so.

I love how versatile stencils are, you can create whatever you need to your hearts content. And I alse really love finally getting things done. Especially when they're as long overdue as this tablecloth was.

And all before WOW too :) See you tomorrow...

Have *YOU* Downloaded Love Entwined?

If you haven't, please do so now. Its free to members of my Yahoo BOM Group. It will be taken out of the Group (and no longer available for free) on January 1st, 2015. If you think this is one of those quilts you'd like to make, please get onto downloading it now. 

In the last 2 years, I've been preoccupied with Love Entwined, and this saw some of my other patterns get pushed to the side. There simply wasn't any time to release them.

In 2015, I am planning on releasing numerous patterns as I've been clearing out my design folios and am ready to see my quilts 'go live'. It's going to be a busy, vibrant year for new quilts across different themes and styles, so if you've been thinking about joining my Yahoo BOM Group, the time to do so is now.

Go ahead and join, its free. And if you know any other quilters who aren't members yet, let them know about our great online quilting Group too. Some members work from home keeping touch with our Group with updates and pics. Others find each other and meet up in real life to make the quilts they've fallen in love with. Whatever your style, this year there's bound to be a quilt for you.

Members of my Yahoo BOM Quilting Group receive all released patterns for free during the month of release. After that time, the pattern is removed and available for sale in my Etsy shop. Join in and never miss a pattern by being a member.

New EU VAT Laws

Update: 31 Dec 2014

Thanks to Erica Spinks's comment, I came across a platform that takes care of the EU VAT and this will allow me to continue selling to all EU countries. I have moved all my digital data over and am ready to sell. For me, this means business as usual, regardless of the buyer's location.

For Australia, I don't know what this means or why there is so little information available to us regarding this matter. From what I understand, the law applies to ANYONE selling to any of the 28 EU countries. If you sell a digital product to any EU customer, you are liable for the tax due on that item. There are thousands of small businesses in Australia that sell digital items to the EU. Yet, there has been no official advice regarding this matter from either the Small Business Commissioner, Small Business Victoria or ASIC.

Why exactly do we have a Minister for Small Business when small business can't rely on or apparently expect advice concerning such matters? Who knows.

One thing's clear though: ignoring these laws won't work as it looks like these laws will apply to stretch to actual 'goods' from 2016 also and that will effect even more small businesses.

...................................................................

There's a new law coming into effect on the 1st of January 2015. It basically concerns anyone selling digital download products (such as my quilt patterns) to a customer in any EU country. It requires the seller to collect tax on behalf of that EU country and follow through with paying those taxes through an expensive, time consuming tax policy process.

There's been some discussion concerning this law in the UK in regards to UK sellers providing digital downloads to EU members, but as of today, there has been no information concerning the requirements for people selling outside the EU to EU members.

From what I understand, anyone selling a digital download product to a customer in the EU will have to pay regardless of their (the sellers) location. However, I have heard nothing specific about this where I am located, in Australia. I know of several US based shops who have stated that they will not be selling to the EU because of this law, but I have found it very difficult to get timely, accurate advice concerning this matter for Australian citizens.

This is concerning given that the law comes into effect on January 1st 2015.

I didn't know about this law until it was brought to my attention by another quilter on her blog and since then I've been at a loss to explain how it is that, with millions of e-book sellers out there who will be effected by this law, there has been so little discussion concerning its application in real life.

I am moving what patterns I sell over to an Etsy based store as I can't control digital sales by country on my present sales platform. Etsy have made a vague statement regarding this law, but so far haven't been specific and haven't addressed the implications for sellers outside the UK. I am waiting to receive more info from Etsy regarding this matter.

It looks likely that I will not be selling instant digital downloads to quilters in the EU. How this will be implemented, I don't know. I am assuming and hoping that Etsy will allow sellers to select which countries an item is available to sell to.

To all my EU customers who are interested in purchasing a pattern from me after January the 1st, you will still be able to do so, however instead of an immediate digital download, I will send the pattern on to you via email. This changes the product classification from a digital download to simply a digital product. Its annoying that we have to take a step backwards regarding technological advances and conveniences but it is presently looking like this will be the easiest work around.

For all my blog readers and quilters who have ever considered buying a pattern from me, please read this: my patterns will always be available for free during the month of their release over in my Yahoo BOM Group. Make sure you're a member (its free) as its a great way to ensure that you never miss out.

2015 is going to be a big year for me pattern wise, especially after the LE pattern lull of 2013 / 2014. Please become a member if you aren't already one.

WOW: Merry Christmas Eve

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

Where did the year get to? And why do I always find myself saying that this time each year? I was planning on a wind down, but in reality, there hasn't been a slow down - just a reassignment of energy to different tasks. This year, instead of the usual poinsettias that I usually purchase for the home (I do love them) I went with a basket of 'giant red' geraniums. I love these too, they are a lifelong obsession of mine, and I am really enjoying their huge red blooms and heady scent. I have this basket by the front door.

I did also  get two small potted poinsettias because I couldn't resist but I no longer opted for the huge pot with the largest plant like I normally do because no matter what, they never survive January. So I went for two smaller pots to have on the table for Christmas lunch instead. 

Ordinarily on Christmas Eve, I'd be baking with my DDs and by today, most of it would be done. But this year, with one thing and another, we decided not to do our traditional baking routine and it has somewhat broken up our schedule - it just doesn't feel like Christmas because the oven isn't on and the house isn't full of the scent of almonds! Isn't it funny how these little traditions mark out our personal timetables for the festive season? It just means that we've bought our spekulatius biscuits and cakes and stollen this year instead of making them. It will be interesting to see and taste the difference.

Have you made any Christmas tradition 

changes or shortcuts this year?

An InLinkz Link-up

QNNTV: the worst $12 I spent this year

I think we've all been there- you pay for something you don't receive. So you chase it up. When that's ignored, you try again. And again. And because you've had service before, you simply assume the best of the company and wait some more. But nothing happens. And it's annoying because no matter what lengths you go to in order to resolve the issue, you're routinely and rudely ignored.

I'm really disappointed to report that I haven't been able to get hold of anyone at QNNTV since September (and 8 emails later). Sure, $12 is hardly going to break the bank, but I'm quite annoyed to have been treated so rudely and ignored completely.

Is anyone else out there being ignored by QNNTV?

I used to really love their program and would watch it in the background whilst working in my studio. But not anymore. And the bad news is, it seems that this failure in customer service is catching - my Fons & Porter subscription has just done the same thing. I've paid my yearly subscription but have been locked out of all access. And again, no response to queries.

When did quilting companies get so slack?