Online Fabric Sale!
April 14, 2008 in Crafts, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Quilting
Check it out – Order online and save 50% off of DM Baby & Everyday Quilting Fabrics through April 20. Take advantage for your fun spring projects. If you don’t have a project in mind – here’s one for ya!
Love Grows Lap Quilt
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NEW Fabrics in store!
March 14, 2008 in Crafts, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Quilting
I’m excited to say that piles of new fabric are arriving and in store for you at Jo-Ann Stores. There are wonderfully springy blues, greens and ivory in both cotton and flannels in “Love Letters” Collection. In fact we whipped up a quick quilt idea for Mother’s Day using these fabrics! (This quilt will be available on our web site on April 1)
For all you pet lovers, you’ll find fun turquoise, orange and browns in “Cat’s Meow” (kitties), and red, gold, and brown on Ivory in “Furry Friends.” (dogs). You can create great Nursery décor and baby friendly projects with two new Juvenile groups called “Kids Talk” (hot, fun colored animals) and “Bumbling Bees” has a great assortment of fresh, cheery greens, blues and pinks in sweet little bees and bugs. You’ll find some great number patterns in this collection too.
We also created a darling baby quilt design using these fabrics that you can download for FREE! I’m starting to see a smattering of some of our Summer Collections trickling in as well. I’ll keep you informed. I’m just so excited about these new fabrics and I’m thrilled with the quality of the color and printing. Hope you love ‘em too!
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Showin' my art
March 10, 2008 in Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
I was just back in Ohio to present to the JoAnn’s Marketing and Merchant teams some of my collections for next Spring and Summer. It’s quite a preparation! We do a DVD movie that shows the art and product ideas with enhancing and appropriate music. We also create Presentation Boards and mock up some product samples. Amidst a recent snow storm and very chilly temperatures, I presented to an attentive audience at JoAnn’s headquarters. 
I talked about each theme, color story and why the collections are trend appropriate. This is always stepping out of the box for me. Artists as a lot tend to be “behind the scenes” kind of people. I guess I’m kind of a mix of both – comfortable being tucked away in my art studio and capable of being gregarious on other occasions. I wish I could show you the art and tell you more about the ideas – but I would be “off’d” by the Fabric Mafia if I did.
Anyway, phew……glad it’s done.
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Behind the Seams - Getting Glamorous!
February 7, 2008 in Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft StoresI was recently in Ohio doing a photo shoot for an upcoming JoAnn's flyer. I thought you might be curious about how that all goes.
JoAnn’s Marketing team starts out with a very specific sketch (and plan) for the photo. They pass it around to all the marketing management teams at JoAnn's to get all around approval. They send it to me with a variety of wardrobe and color requests. Now at this point I'm usually "required" to go shopping to find suitable choices - because I certainly don't want to wear something that’s already hanging in my closet!
I pack a huge suitcase full of options (new and old) and head to Columbus. What a nice little city that is! I go to a Retail Marketing company called Kreber. They have a great big photo studio there and have everything ready to go when I arrive. I meet with a wardrobe stylist and we review the options that I brought with me and then the Creative Director makes his favorite choices. Next is make-up and hair. That is the best! When I do photos in Spokane, I typically do my own hair and make-up so you feel very glamorous and special when someone does it for you. Plus, they put a LOT more make-up on than I do. Everytime I catch my reflection in the mirror, I double-take because I think I see Angelina Jolie - Ha! (LOL - I wish!)
This all somehow manages to take a couple hours before I head over to the set. (Oh, they iron your clothes too - nice, huh?) At that point you can't sip coffee or dip into the snacks like everyone else is. You've got to preserve the lipstick and avoid things in your teeth. (That's just a little tip for your next photo session :-)
They take many, many shots and constantly move little things around, adjust the lighting and tell me to tilt my head this way, then that way. Oh, and "Smile Pretty!" 'til your cheek bones hurt. Every few minutes - someone fusses with the collar on my jacket, pulls my sleeve every which way, glosses my lips, powders down my shine or tries to control a few hairs that have gone awry.
Most of the time is in prep - and once the shoot starts it doesn't take too long. It's kind of like preparing Thanksgiving Dinner - everyone works a lot to plan and prepare - but once everyone sits down - it seems to be over in an instant. See the final result in the upcoming JoAnn circular due out in mid March - and when you see it, "Smile Pretty!"
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Midnight shopping for clothes!
November 26, 2007 in Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
I had a great trip to Hudson, OH and my interview, book signing and demo went off without a hitch! Well, I guess there was one minor hitch. I made it to Ohio, but my bag didn't arrive until after I was long gone. In fact I had been in Santa Fe, NM for a day and half before it caught up with me. I met some wonderful members of the JoAnn's team for dinner as soon as I arrived in town and one of those lovely ladies took me out to Kohl's midnight madness sale so I could shop for clothes (and underwear!) at 10 o'clock that night. 
One of the highlights of my day at JoAnn's was meeting Dan (one of the fabric buyers). He really gets into his work (as you can see). He made this shirt out of DM Christmas fabrics and wore it proudly all day in the store. Talk about making him accessible to all the customers (and anyone) who walked in the doors. You go, Dan!
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Shopping Incognito
November 12, 2007 in Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
You got my big news about my JoAnn program and thank you for your comments and support. I haven’t received many product samples yet, so like everyone else – if I want it, I need to go shopping for it. Last week I went to my local store and loaded up my cart with gifts and a few things for myself. 
I love the gift wrap and tins! There is something kind of embarrassing about buying your own stuff for some reason. I found myself looking at the floor when I was up at the check-out thinking that even though my photo was plastered around in the store, maybe she wouldn’t recognize me. Ha!
The ladies at the fabric counter wanted to know when they were getting another shipment of fleece because they were running low and so were the other stores in town. Well, I whipped out my clipboard, and told them when their next shipment would arrive – JK!! (Just Kidding) I wish I knew and I was thrilled to hear it was selling well. We put the items I purchased to good use – because I’m prepping to do some Table setting, gift and project demos at the JoAnn’s flagship store on Darrow Road in Hudson, OH this coming Saturday. (Nov 17 noon-3pm) If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop in to say hello. I’ll be posting a new quilt design using the new fabrics on our Website on the 17th – so you can at least check it out there.
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Now at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores!
November 1, 2007 in Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
I can finally let the cat out of the bag! After sitting on this for a couple of years now, I no longer have to be “mum” about it. I’m very excited to announce to you that I’ve entered into a product partnership with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.
The official launch date is November 4th and promotion will be in full swing by November 11. You will be able to find exclusive lines of fabric, holiday and everyday décor, yarn, crafts and much more at Jo-Ann Stores nationwide! It was a push to get this Holiday program underway and the product lines will be expanding throughout the year. In fact, we work so far ahead that I’m deep into designing Spring 2009 right now. I haven’t been able to share much of my “behind the seams” at the studio, because it’s all been hush-hush up until now.
I am still designing fabrics and products for the Independent stores and that will be different art and design from what you’ll find at Jo-Ann’s. So the good news is, there will be a lot more product and it will be much easier for you to locate. There are 800 Jo-Ann stores in the U.S. If you aren’t located in the U.S. (and I realize that many of you aren’t) – you’ll be able to find the product on the Jo-Ann website. (Beginning Nov. 7) DebbieMumm.com will be directly linked to the Jo-Ann site. In fact we will have a Jo-Ann Landing Page where you can access information about new product releases and FREE projects featuring the Jo-Ann products. I’m so excited – the Holiday products are SO CUTE! Please check them out! Debbie
