Shelly Ast of Havel's Sewing

Interviewed by Elizabeth Townsend Gard

Date March  2018

Shelly Ast is from Havel's Sewing, a connection we made through Stephanie at Modern Sewciety.  Shelly is going to talk to us about all things sharp!  Scissors is what they specialize in.  She sent a research sample.  We are going to talk to her about the different kinds of scissors, the cutting board they sent and so much more?

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Starting with Season 2, Havel's Sewing is now one of our Sponsors.  We are really excited about this.  They have sent a box of wonderfully sharp things to supply our Quilt Workshop.

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Things they sent and we fell in love:

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Topics

Hal and Elsa Schmithurst

The development of the company

Patents and other means of protection

What makes their scissors the "best"

Where they are carried

All about scissors

- double angles

- extra fine tip

- blunt tip

- dual shears

- serrated- different sizes

- "fabric scissors"

- Embroidery versus quilting versus applique scissors

The amazing ripper (that Lauren Anderson now has)

The cutting/board system (that Edith and Beecher now has)

Importance of social media

News and Events: where Havel has appeared

- Sew.tv (now closed)

The importance of being a sponsor

Quilt shows

Other ways they get their product out

Manufacturing

New designs/old favorites

Jamie Fingal, Terry White, and Liz Kettle, and free e-books of quilt designs

Relationship with Hoffman?

Role of the Blog:  projects (strategy here; they are really cute projects)

Subscriber/mailing list

Direct sales v. shop sales

What to do when rotary cutter stops working -- and how long should a blad last?