Tuesday 23 December 2014

An Update of Sorts

Hi quilty types! I know I've been promising to post about the new paper piecing BoM for next year. Don't worry - it's still definitely happening. I'm just in the process of sorting out what to do with pattern sales and all this VAT mess. I'm sure you've seen lots of people posting about it of late, and the dilemma we digital pattern sellers are facing. I'm looking at a solution whereby I can still sell my patterns to everybody (regardless of whether you're in the EU or not - because I don't want EU quilters being penalised because of this stupid law) but not add a massive amount of work to my plate with sorting of tax rates and the rest. I do not have a head for numbers. And I simply don't have the time for that extra work.

I think I have found a solution but I'm still working on it. It will cost me a bit more though in fees so there may be an increase in pattern price to help cover that. I'll keep it as minimal as possible and hope you'll still love me :P And I will still have my free patterns available on Craftsy. I will update about my pattern shop as soon as I possibly can.

 I've been a bit under the weather of late and please note - this is totally not a pity post, no one likes pity! - it's a here's what's going on post so people will hopefully understand why I'm a bit lax with blogging, sewing and designing. I have some lousy auto immune issues going on, and my specialist just confirmed fibromyalgia as a part of it. With such a fun combination of blergh, all I want to do is sleep. And when I am up to sewing or designing, I can only do it for a short amount of time before my joints and muscles all go HELL NO. It's incredibly frustrating, but I'm working on how to deal with it. And that means not blogging or designing as much as I'd like to. So please bear with me as I muddle through all this!

In the meantime - fun news! The awesome Christopher (the Tattooed Quilter) has been doing some revamping of my pattern layouts and making them look super fabulous! I'm a bit excited as I've needed to overhaul my pattern layouts for a while. It's even better when a superstar offers to help you out! Thanks Christopher! So I shall leave you with a little sneak peek of the awesomeness that Christopher has created! Look out for more next year ;)

Shall be back soon hopefully with a pattern shop update! In the meantime, have a fabulous holiday season and I hope there's some fabric under the tree for you!
 

13 comments:

  1. I am completely empathetic! I have my Fibro diagnosis for 5 years. You learn to listen to your body and give yourself permission to rest when you need to!
    I do a lot of my creative thinking while kicked back in my recliner with my heating pad and a cup of soothing tea!
    I hope you will feel better soon!

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  2. Oh dear Kristy it is not as if you didn't have enough on your plate already, wishing you a happy and healthy 2015.

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  3. As someone who likes to buy digital patterns/products to avoid paying exorbitant postal charges I'm watching this VAT thing with interest and some anxiety here in France. I'm still waiting to see what will happen at Craftsy re classes and to digital magazine subscriptions etc. Many suppliers in the USA, Canada and Australia seem to be withdrawing sales to customers in the EU after January 1st. Sellers in the EU are making similar decisions about selling to other EU countries which all seems to make rather a mess of the worldwide blogging community idea. Others like you will have to increase prices.Thank you for trying to find a solution and not just deleting customers! I understand that it was people like amazon and Starbucks etc "they" were after (perhaps with some justification as such companies are infamous for avoiding taxes on money earned in the EU) but I'm sure "they" did not take into account the effect on smaller digital businesses - or even have any idea how many such sales there are. There are major campaigns afoot in the UK to bring attention to this issue and to seek changes in the legislation but sellers and customers in France (and other EU countries) seem blissfully unaware ... I suppose time will tell...

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  4. Hi Kristy! I hope you are well soon! Did you read this post from Alyce about VAT issue? http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/2014/12/vatmoss-vatmess-solutions/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blossomheartquilts+%28Blossom+Heart+Quilts%29
    I hope the link Works.
    Merry Christmas! x Teje

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  5. Loving the Blue Macaw, might have to join in again next year. Flossie Teacakes posted a couple of potential solutions for her for vat mess, might be worth a look - http://www.flossieteacakes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/eu-vat-solutions.html
    Hope you are feeling much better soon.

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  6. Hope you feel better so one! Thanks for sharing and keeping it real. We all have stuff in our lives can turn things upside down, but it sounds like you have a great attitude, and that is half the battle!!!! Love the layout of the Macaw!!! Merry Christmas

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  7. Just take it easy and know that you are loved.

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  8. Please rest up "when your body tells you to!" And know that all of us understand and will wait on everything!
    The Blue Macaw looks so cute in his modern frame by Christopher!
    Wishing you health and happiness for the new year, and a Merry Christmas, Kristy!
    ( Good luck with the VAT figuring out... at least you are not the only one in that boat!!)
    hugs,
    Susie

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  9. Governments all know how to make life miserable... especially for people in business. They know how to keep you down. I had a typesetting business years ago, before everyone had computers and desktop publishing. I spent lots of money buying equipment and photo type to go with it... business was slow. (I made pennies per hour.) I couldn't offer a paste-up to my customers, because that would require charging sales tax, and I didn't want to keep track of all that, resulting in fewer customers, I'm sure. Finally I had to go out of business - it cost me too much.
    I hope that doesn't happen to you.
    Hugs

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  10. Hi there Kristy,
    I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia after I had a heart attack at age 40(I am 46 now). It turns out I had been living with it since the birth of my now 16-year old son. I was working in a law firm in Vancouver at it was a very high-stress position…which basically caused my heart attack. I was completely exhausted all the time…then I ran the gamut of trying different drugs to see if they would help with the fibro symptoms. Of course, the only one that worked was the most expensive! Luckily, at that time, I had a great medical plan. Fast forward to Feb. 2010…I came down with viral meningitis. An offshoot of that was chronic daily migraines, which I suffer with to this day. I had to stop working and am now medically retired so to speak.
    I had to learn to slow down and only allow myself to do one or two things a day. It was hard, but my body thanked me and yours will too. It helps that I have an awesome hubs and son who support me and who have taken over all household chores. I felt guilty about that for a really long time, but had to put those feelings away as they only caused unneeded stress to my system. I still feel a bit guilty about everything, but that's just how it has to be for the time being.
    It is best if you slow down and don't sweat the small stuff. Only you will know there are dust bunnies under the bed!
    Quilty Huggs,
    Jacqueline in Pitt Meadows
    snausages22@yahoo.ca

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  11. Oh Kristy, I am SO sorry to hear about the health issues you're dealing with. Please don't take on more than you can manage. Your work is incredible as always, but it's YOU that we love best, my friend. :)

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  12. I love your work but I love you being healthy as possible better. Take the time you need to care for yourself - I hope 2015 brings much health and happiness to you!

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  13. I'm so sorry to hear about your fybromyalgia!! I've been dealing with it for about thirteen years now. Sometimes to the point where it would temporarily paralyze me, because the pain was SO intense, to the point where I HAD to take a the hour nap everyday to make it through. Luckily I found some really helpful information that has made huge difference for me. Since I've been married I've only felt the onset of it maybe 3 or 4 times a year. Nothing to the extreme that I felt it before. I'd love to share my information with you if you are interested, in case it can help you too. Just let me know!! :)

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