Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

This is the first in a series of interviews with women who work at home. Today's interview is with Mary Emma Allen, who began as a dressmaker and eventually transitioned to the writing and blogging business.

Work From Home Momma: How many years have you worked from home?

Mary Emma Allen: I've worked from home for more than 40 years, interspersed with full and part-time jobs as newspaper reporter, substitute teacher, travel publication editor, secretary and office manager.

Work From Home Momma: What made you decide to start a home business?

Mary Emma Allen: This was something I could do to earn an income and stay at home when our daughter was small. Then it became work I still could do when I held outside the home jobs. Also, this was a way to earn money from areas I enjoyed ... quilting and writing.

Work From Home Momma: I understand that your first home business was quilting, why did you choose that line of work?

Mary Emma Allen: Actually my first home business was dressmaking and alterations. The quiltmaking evolved from this during the Bicentennial years. I began making quilts from my sewing scraps for a store my mom operated. Then customers began commissioning quilts and related items from specific patterns and fabrics. After an article about me appeared in a magazine with national distribution my mail order business began.

Work From Home Momma: How long did you have a quilting business?

Mary Emma Allen: About ten years until the opportunity to become a full time newspaper reporter came about. I still did quiltmaking, but it gradually it was placed on the back burner of my life.

Work From Home Momma: I understand that your business is now mainly writing and blogging, how did you make the transition from quilting?

Mary Emma Allen: I began writing about quilting for several quilt magazines (the writer in me always finding a niche). I wrote "The Business of Patchwork" for Quilt World Ominbook for eight years and "Work Patch" for Traditional Quilter for two years. I also interviewed quilters and attended quilt shows, then wrote about them. As blogging became popular, I was asked to write the Quilting and Patchwork blog for aboutweblogs which merged with b5media. Then, because I have been involved in home businesses for so many years, I had the opportunity to write about this topic at b5media. I also write another b5media blog and have an author blog where I plan to host quilt authors, as well as the other writers I interview.

Work From Home Momma: What would you say to someone who is just starting their own business?

Mary Emma Allen: Working from home is a great way for moms to earn extra income and develop a business, especially in this Internet age. This has opened up so many more opportunities for us. So ... follow your dreams! If you'd like to work at home, turn to your hobbies and interests first. Is there something there you can begin doing part-time, can connect with the Internet, can involve your family in? Explore the various opportunities out there, both online and off. It's exciting when you can combine your various interests into a home business.

Work From Home Momma: Where do you see your business going in the next year? In the next five years?

Mary Emma Allen: I see myself doing more and more online writing over the next year ... and five years. In addition to continuing to blog (and wherever the Internet takes writing and quilting), I'd like to do more work with young people in writing and quilting programs. Since I write for children as well as adults, I enjoy working with both groups in teaching situations. (My book, The Magic of Patchwork, contains information for and about both age groups.)

Work From Home Momma: Do you still do much quilting?

Mary Emma Allen: I do some art quilting with my daughter Beth. (Fabric postcards and ATCs are fun projects I can take with me when I travel.) It's exciting to see Beth becoming known in the Art Quilt world and realize our quilting heritage that began with my great grandmother, one of the Trails End Quilters, continues. My granddaughter also has designed and made some art quilts. The Trails End Quilters ... their heritage, their stories, and their quilts ... fascinates me and I'm working on writing projects involving them.

Work From Home Momma: Is there anything else that you'd like to tell the readers of Work From Home Momma?

Mary Emma Allen: Go for it! And thanks, Laura, for this opportunity to appear on your blog. I've enjoyed "chatting" with you and hope I inspired and encouraged your readers.

Do you have more than two years experience in a home business? Would you like to share your story on Work From Home Momma? Contact me at Laura [at symbol] workfromhomemomma.com.