First Long Arm Customer

Yesterday I worked on some quilt tops for my first long arm customer! It was a lot of fun and a learning experience as well! Note to self: never try to do 3 quilts in one day, it's a killer on the back! :)

I started offering long arm quilting services on Etsy a couple weeks ago, but as it turns out I'm not allowed to offer such services on Etsy. Their policies state that services can only be provided if the end product results in a new tangible item and even though quilting meets these requirments, it's still not allowed, at least for now. I was really disappointed by this because there was so much interest in my quilting. So hopefully they can change their policy at some point or business will come from somewhere else.

If you have a quilting need please feel free to e-mail me or contact me through Etsy or Facebook.

Today I will continue working on these quilts as the customer has asked me to sew binding for her as well.

I hope you have a great day!

Long Arm Quilting Services

 I am now offering professional long arm quilting services! Quilting will be done on my new Tin Lizzie 18 long arm machine.

Pricing:

The cost for edge-to-edge free motion meandering is $.01 per square inch.

To figure out the cost, multiply the width x length (of your quilt top) x $.01 = Total

Example: 70" x 90" = 6300" x $.01 = $63.00 (plus shipping)

This cost is based upon you providing the backing fabric and batting. If needed batting and backing fabric can be provided at an additional charge (I use Warm & Natural 100% cotton batting).

*Please note there is a $35.00 minimum (per quilt)

Design:

You can choose between a big stippling meander (as shown in the 1st photo below) or an all over loopy meander (as shown in the 2nd photo below). This is all done free motion.

You can let me know what color thread you would like or you can leave it up to me. I generally use neutral thread colors.

Other Services:

Binding services can be provided upon request.

Hand sewn binding - $.25 per linear inch (this includes assembling binding, machine sewing on top and hand sewing on bottom). You provide the fabric.

I can also attach binding with mitered corners to your quilt by machine so your quilt is ready for you to finish by hand. The cost for this is $.10 per linear inch.

Tips:

*Please make sure that your backing fabric and batting (if not provided by me) are at least 4" larger than the quilt top, on all sides.

*Please make sure to trim up or square your quilt top and backing.

*Make sure all seams are secure and all excess threads are removed.

You can contact me through Etsy to submit your quilt top for quilting or you can e-mail me at - angela292@hotmail.com

I accept Paypal, personal checks and money orders. If you send a personal check, I will ship your quilt once the check clears.

Turnaround time is approximately 1 - 2 weeks.

Please don't hesitate to message me through Etsy, or contact me by e-mail with any questions you may have.

In My Sewing Room This Week

One of my goals for the new year was to find a better balance for my art and quilting. Therefore, I've decided to alternate weeks, and I spent this week in my sewing room. I started the week out by making a custom rag quilt for an Etsy customer. Then I made two baby quilt tops and got those onto the long arm machine (which you can see in the photo above). I still have to hand sew the binding on those. Today I think I will work on another rag quilt. I'm enjoying the slightly larger ones, and I think others would as well. They're a great deal of work, but worth it!

I'll post photos of these quilts soon. Have a lovely weekend!!

All Set Up

My long arm machine is all set up and I've been practicing a bit.

It's huge but luckily it fits perfectly in my sun room.

I took this little video yesterday of me quilting my very first quilt. Please excuse the quality, I was holding my iphone with one hand and quilting with the other.

I've been completely bombarded by homework and yesterday I decided to take a break from it and quilt. I have a couple more big projects and final exams due by the end of next week. Until then I don't intend to get any painting or quilting done. But hopefully over my short break I'll get something accomplished.

Hope you're all having a great week!

New Quilting Machine

So, I've been talking recently about a huge investment that I've made in my business... Well, here it is! I've bought a long arm quilting machine. I'm so super excited about getting it but nervous as well. And I say "nervous" because I could have bought a small car for the amount of money I paid for this thing! Yikes!

It's a Tin Lizzie 18, and I purchased the 10 foot wooden frame seen in the picture. It's being delivered tomorrow and it will be going out in my sunroom. It's just the perfect place for it and I'm excited to try it out. The men delivering it are even going to give me a training session so I won't have to worry about figuring that all out on my own.

The purpose of purchasing this machine is first and foremost so I can branch out and quilt larger items. Every table runner and baby blanket I've made has been quilted on my sewing machine. And that works just fine for small projects but makes quilting a larger blanket next to impossible. I also plan to offer quilting services once I become proficient enough. I don't imagine it will take long since I have been quilting on my sewing machine and understand the concept. I plan to offer long arm quilting through my Etsy page and perhaps even through the gallery who represents me (The Stillwater Art Guild Gallery), as I have some quilted items there.

I'm discovering that growth is so scary and exciting at the same time. But I think I'm more excited and optimistic that I can really create something.

On a side note, I recently marked some paintings down on Etsy to $1!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with them, I'm just trying to make room for new work.

Hope you're having a great week!