Ronna Ross Pennington

America's economic news has been rather grim lately:

prices at the gas pump and grocery store, unemployment, and home foreclosures have all been on the rise.

What a great time to start a quilting related business!

Why would anyone start a business right now, especially a craft-related business like quilting? I have the answers.

1. Quilts have been and will always be a thoughtful, long-lasting gift. Whether it's a quilt for a newlywed couple or one that celebrates the birth of a baby, a quilt gift will always be treasured and used. It's a very practical gift. In hard economic times, gift-giving doesn't stop; people just become more practical.

2. Quilts create a connection with family. Everyone has a cherished quilt in their family -- one made by a grandmother, or received on a special occasion. Those quilts become heirlooms and are usually passed down for several generations to enjoy. They enjoy not just the practicality of the quilt, but the wonderful story that goes along with it. Because everyone has some kind of connection with a special quilt, they are more likely to offer a special quilt of their own as a gift or heirloom treasure.

3. Even in bad economic times, there are still people who can afford custom, top-dollar quilts. Those people are not affected by the failing economy and are not likely to be a do-it-yourselfer who would choose to make the quilt themselves.

4. You don't have to sell quilts to have a quilting-related business. There are many other options. For instance, you could offer your fabric remnants for sale through an online auction. Maybe you would choose to offer a quilting service, either hand or machine quilting tops made by other people. You cold even offer quilting classes. If you think no one will pay to take a class during these hard times, try working out an arrangement with a local public entity like a library, community college or community resource center. Often times, they'll have grant funding available to offer free classes to the community (so you'd be paid by the organization, not by individuals).

5. If you love quilting and would like to make extra money to help your family through these tough financial times, there's no time like the present to start a quilting related business! Whether you will make and sell quilts or offer a quilting service, start-up cost can be very minimal. Write out your business info on 3x5 pieces of paper and post them on free bulletin boards around your community. Many communities also have newspapers that offer free classified ads -- take advantage of them!

The American dream is to make money doing something we love. If you love quilting, it's time to start your quilting business. Quilting businesses are great because you can work at them part time, in your spare time, until you feel comfortable making the transition into a full time career. If you're already a quilter, you have the supplies you need at hand -- no need to invest in anything new.

Since quilting is something you can do from home, you won't necessarily need to rent a retail location. Keeping your business home-based will allow you to skip the overhead expenses of rent and utilities! Make sure to dedicated a specific area of your home to nothing but your quilting business. If you keep records of your home's utilities, you may even be able to deduct a portion of those expenses when you file your taxes.

You define success for your own quilting business. Is your goal to make an extra $200 per month to save for next summer's vacation? Maybe your goal is to replace your fulltime job with your quilting business. Maybe your dream is even bigger than that. With a little planning, it's possible to achieve your quilting business dream!