Quilts with Friends

www.etsy.com/shop/quiltstorenextdoor

That craft bazaar really threw me for a loop! I have been completely off-kilter ever since and if you're following my tips and techniques blog "Piece Talks with a Blockhead" I have left you wanting and I am so sorry!

My beginner's quilt class through my local Parks and Recreation is official.  I received the Spring/Summer class catalog proof to approve my class ad and it goes to print tomorrow.  Now I just wait.  I don't know what to expect--will no one be interested at all?  Will I have a packed house?  I requested a class max number of  eight students and that will be manageable, but I am still worried that no one in my town will have the desire to hang out with me and quilt.  I guess time will tell...lots of prayer!

My friend Shannon, who is also a co-worker, has been my first quilting student.  We have met the last two Tuesdays to make a simple beginner's wall hanging.  The picture below is the pieces of my own that I am constructing with her.  Mine will adorn the wall of my studio when it is completed to remind me of my very first student.  Hers is turning out beautifully as well and I am so proud of her!  She has been a treat to teach--she is enthusiastic and is catching the quilting "bug" like I did.  It warms my heart.  

I'm starting to work on gift items for Mother's Day, wedding season, baby showers and housewarmings.  I am hoping to start getting some custom order requests.  My online shop on Etsy is doing very well, but in usual fashion for me, that is not enough.  I have been contemplating options for getting a more physical location.  I am not sure if I'm ready to take the plunge into leaving my "real" job and opening a quilt and fabric store, but I am kicking around some alternatives such as converting my screened porch into a small shop that I run from home.  I'm in the prayer and research phase right now.  I honestly don't know where to go from here.

I have yet to begin dyeing my own fabric.  I've actually been waiting to see if I could take the operation outside, because I am admittedly, a clean freak.  I don't know what kind of mess I might make as I learn the process, so outdoors seems like the better location.  But in normal Ohio fashion, it is March 21st, spring is here according to the calendar, and no one cared to inform the snow and cold that seem to want to linger awhile longer.  It's all good, I have so many projects swirling in my overactive mind, that I will die before I've made them all!

My daughter and I finished the third doll quilt.  Three to go.  We will start another one after Shannon and I finish our wall hangings.  Her dolls are so cute in their little quilts!

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this unending winter.  Please be sure to follow the link above and visit my shop if you haven't in awhile.  I have stocked A BUNCH of new spring and summer fabrics that you will love.  Take care and remember that quilting is supposed to be enjoyed with friends.

Quilt Store Next Door and So Much More

Well, it's been awhile friends. Where do I begin? The frantic rush to get ready for our first craft bazaar is done. The end result--I had too much stuff for an eight foot table. I made about $70-not super profitable for a six hour day and the prep time I put in, but I had A LOT of new items to stock in my online shop and, in the big picture, I did some networking and obtained names of several individuals interested in classes and private instruction. I'm actually starting an email list to keep everyone updated on what's new. My intention from the beginning was public exposure for Quilt Store Next Door and I accomplished that much. My daughter sold several of her handmade headbands, she was stoked about the money she earned and promptly informed me that selling her stuff was much better money than doing her chores. Hmmmm....I don't get paid well for doing my chores either! She's a smart girl! Sunday, my little one and I participated in our first Mom and Me quilt class. It was a five hour class to leave with a completed kid's quilt. Unfortunately, Ohio weather is not always predictable or cooperative, so my daughter had a make-up soccer practice scheduled from earlier last week and it fell right in the middle of our quilt class. What did we do? We finished that quilt in 3 1/2 hours and still made it to practice! She LOVES her new quilt that she made independently (I still do the cutting) and she has slept with it every night since then. As you can see in the picture, the quilt features a giant center focus block surrounded by borders and cornerstone blocks. She chose lovely florals for this project and it is the happiest quilt I've ever seen. Now it is also the most loved quilt I've ever seen. She even gave it a name: Quilty...and it's a "she." What I learned in the class is that I no longer like taking classes. I guess me taking classes is so 2001 and I'm so over it. For simplicity, we chose to use the quilt store's machine and other tools. The rotary cutter I ended up with would not cut hot butter, the mat was so worn that I couldn't see the lines and we were assigned a Pfaff Creative Vision machine (about a $4000 machine I'm guessing?) that wasn't sewing correctly and was really upsetting my daughter and we had to change machines. The lady teaching the class while very nice and knowledgeable was a bit of a fabric and machine snob. My fabric had gotten a little stretched out of shape and she asked me if I bought it in their shop because she was going to note what kind it was. (Really? It had been prewashed and that happens sometimes-we pulled it both directions diagonally and it bounced right back!) and she asked me what kind of machine I have at home, I told her I have a Viking and her reply was "Oh." So the synopsis; I LOVED spending the time with my daughter and she did get to see some other girls quilting in the class, but I don't think I'll be taking anymore classes. Whatever I have forgotten from my past life I will reteach myself or I just don't need to know it! Quilt Store Next Door has been doing awesome! My little shop has had a lot of activity and sales in the last couple of weeks so my stock had become a bit depleted but after the craft show, I am completely restocked and ready to go! One of the items I had made for the craft show was a precut quilt kit with a pattern I designed on my design software. The pattern is just a scrappy four patch table runner, but it's a great beginner project. It is almost completely cut for you so you can't fail. I'm really happy with the way those turned out. My fabric dyeing supplies arrived about a week ago. I opened the box and set up a work area, but have not had a moment to get back to it. I'm so excited to start it, but I need to have a day when I have several hours available because I really have no idea what to expect. What an adventure! I have plenty to do and sometimes my (self-diagnosed)adult ADD mind just swirls with ideas. Sometimes I'm even a little overwhelmed. There are so many fascinating directions that quilting can take and I want to explore them all today! But each day I run out of time and realize I do need to sleep. So, if you're still awake, allow me to summarize: Yes, I'm a soccer Mom. Yes, I'm $70 richer than I was last Friday. No, I don't like quilt classes. Yay Me!I now have a mailing list! My little girl has an awesome new quilt and we were blessed to spend a wonderful afternoon together. I am offering custom orders and have my first small order(coasters and a candle mat)to finish tomorrow. I still need to finish quilting my daughter's last doll quilt. I can't wait to dye! (Not DIE!) I think I have ADD...what was I telling you? Squirrel! Off to start Mother's Day projects. Stay tuned.