Starting something new

Starting something new? Another project?
No, at least not a sewing project.
For the last year I have been pondering the idea of starting a quilt guild here in M-town. It all started last year when I met 4 ladies in a quilt shop and started talking with them about quilting. They invited me to their guild meeting in Altoona,IA. and I said I would love to come. (They were such a happy bunch, I just wanted to spend more time with them.) I told them I lived in Marshalltown and said how much I wished M-town had a guild. They stated I could start a guild up here, as they had started their guild and it wasn't hard to get one started. These ladies couldn't tell me enough about how much they loved their guild and how they started it. So I set the idea on the back burner to simmer for awhile.

I have been unemployed for about 6 months now. (Not something I really like to talk about):( Six months is a long time, and in that time I have done a lot of reevaluating of my life. What do I really want to do when I grow up? That sort of thing. I'm still not sure but I do know that I have to do something.

One thing I have always wanted to do is operate my own business. Last week I talked with a SCORE executive, who gave me a lot of good information. He said I that if I am serious I needed to do some research.
The business? A quilt shop.
I have talked with many shop owners over the last year, (Subconsciously researching??) just to find out what got them started and how were they maintaining in this economy. Some were very forthright and others were fearful I was going to take away their business.(Understandable)
I needed to find out the needs here in M-town though and wasn't sure how to do that. I couldn't afford a market research. The executive had suggested the library so I went to the library. There I met 2 very nice and helpful ladies and we brainstormed some ideas. It seemed the easiest way to get my information was to have a meeting, inviting quilters (and crafters) and find out if there was any interest in any of this.
The funny part is that I am usually a procrastinator and tend to put things off. So armed with the idea to have this meeting and even where to have it (at the library, it's free) I was thinking of going home to think some more about it when the young librarian behind the counter pulled out the calendar and said, "So when do you want to set up your meeting?" That was my moment of truth. It was on the tip of my tongue to say that I would go home and think about it, but I realized if I didn't do it now I would never do it and probably would never follow through on starting my own business.

After much discussion I decided to take a leap of faith and set up a meeting in March to find out how many quilters there really are in this area and if a fabric shop would be a good business to start. I don't want to take away from businesses around Marshalltown, just have something a little more convenient when I am in the midst of a project and have run out of something I need. Sometimes when you are in that sewing zone, you hate to stop and drive 30 or 45 minutes one way to get one or two items.

The date is set,the flyer is made and ready to be printed and a survey typed up and ready to go.
I am working on the agenda for the meeting and my mind is flooded with ideas for future meetings.

The meeting is March 1, 2010 at the Marshalltown Public Library from 6pm to 7pm. Come join us. It will be fun, I promise. :)