Originally Posted by Borntohandquilt
Maybe I should enter more quilts at shows and win big awards! :D
There ya go! You most definitely can do that! A few more best in handquilting awards like last year's will help to supplement your fabric allowance considerably.
Maybe you can stir up some interest at the shops for doing a trunk show for a minimal fee, maybe a few Euros per person to attend. You could explain to the shop that trunk shows generate interest and may lead to sales of supplies, fabric, threads, marking tools etc. The trunk shows may in turn lead to more interest in handquilting so you would be able to fill a workshop or maybe get names for mailing lists and promote the workshops yourself rather then leaving it to the shop. The only problem there is finding a location to hold them.
It is sad that your workshops have been cancelled due to lack of interest. I am wondering how much effort the shops are putting forth informing their customers that such a workshop is available? You are right though, so many just do not have the patience for hand quilting. While I am an avid hand quilter I do not hand quilt exclusively and one of the many reasons I invested in a LA machine is to be able to complete a quilt in months as opposed to the years it takes me to handquilt. I will always have hand work to do but I will machine quilt too.