I'm having trouble figuring out the lighting for my camera. I hope to have time to read the booklet today.
I see in the blogs of the MQR blog ring how others are knitting socks. I do knit but I don't know how to make socks and I can't find good instructions on the internet. As an alternative to knitting socks I make rag rugs of many kinds. I crochet some, I braid some, I toothbrush some, and I twain weave some. Back in August at the Nashville AQS show I ordered a couple of rug weaving frames from a vendor.
My rug frames arrived in the mail yesterday. They are wonderful! Maybe I can get them put together today. It was missing the strings I ordered with the frames so I sent an email about that. I'm really anxious to get some fabric strips cut and start weaving. No time for that right now though. Christmas quilts come first! And I have to wait for the string.
Going to work now....
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Feeling guilty!
This is today's finished quilt. I'll only show one half as both sides are alike. It's very large.
It has a pieced back too.
I did a feather in the outside border, le lace inside border, flowers in the squares, and leaves in the alternate blocks.
I tried getting close ups of the stitching but the light in the studio isn't the best for pictures early in the morning before daylight.
The last minute calls for doing Christmas quilts has begun. For many years; I've felt guilty all during the Christmas season. I'm only one person and can only work 16 hours per day before exhaustion takes over. Yes, I really do work 16 hour days, 6 days a week during the Christmas rush. Starting late August I switch to the longer hours and work like that until two weeks before Christmas. I don't have family obligations like others do.
I really hate saying no but my rush schedule has been booked for weeks already. If a really good customer calls for a last minute quilt it makes me feel just awful to say no. What else can I do but be honest and tell them I can't possibly squeeze another one into the schedule? Even when they say it's just a tiny one. What the person doesn't realize is I have several 'try to work in' quilts already along with a full waiting list.
I try to explain this to the people calling at the last minute. Yet; they have a way of making me feel like I'm betraying a friend. I hear things like;
*Awww... I can't go to another quilter; I don't want anyone to quilt it but you because I just love your work. (haven't heard from this person since last Christmas, not even to just say hello)
*its for a cancer patient (a former customer) who is not doing very well; can you do it right away (will my stress help them feel better; if it will, yes I will do it)
*Remember on the trip to Paducah you said I could use your machine to quilt one of my own for myself; this one is too big to quilt on my domestic machine; can I come next week. (the trip was in early April and she has never been a customer)
*its only 36 X 36 and wouldn't take you long to do because you are so fast (haven't heard from this person since ?) (even small quilts take time to attach to the machine and think of a design)
*my publisher has a deadline; only you have the ability to help me finish in time; you will be given recognition in the book. (many books may give the name of the quilter but they do not give contact information) (she has been doing this book for months already, why hasn't she called to schedule the quilt)
*our charity has chosen you to be the featured artist to do a quilt for us to auction in January, there will be lots of publicity for you (charities don't understand art quilts can't be done in 24 hours or during a Christmas rush)
*if you do this 'one' for me I will be sure to pass out your business cards at the guild meeting; you should get lots of customers from that (so why haven't my cards been passed out already)
Yes, yes, I know, I sound like I'm whining. I am. It's the stress of long hours trying to stay ahead of the waiting list during the long Christmas rush. Now that I've got this off my chest, I'll go get started on today's quilting.
It has a pieced back too.
I did a feather in the outside border, le lace inside border, flowers in the squares, and leaves in the alternate blocks.
I tried getting close ups of the stitching but the light in the studio isn't the best for pictures early in the morning before daylight.
The last minute calls for doing Christmas quilts has begun. For many years; I've felt guilty all during the Christmas season. I'm only one person and can only work 16 hours per day before exhaustion takes over. Yes, I really do work 16 hour days, 6 days a week during the Christmas rush. Starting late August I switch to the longer hours and work like that until two weeks before Christmas. I don't have family obligations like others do.
I really hate saying no but my rush schedule has been booked for weeks already. If a really good customer calls for a last minute quilt it makes me feel just awful to say no. What else can I do but be honest and tell them I can't possibly squeeze another one into the schedule? Even when they say it's just a tiny one. What the person doesn't realize is I have several 'try to work in' quilts already along with a full waiting list.
I try to explain this to the people calling at the last minute. Yet; they have a way of making me feel like I'm betraying a friend. I hear things like;
*Awww... I can't go to another quilter; I don't want anyone to quilt it but you because I just love your work. (haven't heard from this person since last Christmas, not even to just say hello)
*its for a cancer patient (a former customer) who is not doing very well; can you do it right away (will my stress help them feel better; if it will, yes I will do it)
*Remember on the trip to Paducah you said I could use your machine to quilt one of my own for myself; this one is too big to quilt on my domestic machine; can I come next week. (the trip was in early April and she has never been a customer)
*its only 36 X 36 and wouldn't take you long to do because you are so fast (haven't heard from this person since ?) (even small quilts take time to attach to the machine and think of a design)
*my publisher has a deadline; only you have the ability to help me finish in time; you will be given recognition in the book. (many books may give the name of the quilter but they do not give contact information) (she has been doing this book for months already, why hasn't she called to schedule the quilt)
*our charity has chosen you to be the featured artist to do a quilt for us to auction in January, there will be lots of publicity for you (charities don't understand art quilts can't be done in 24 hours or during a Christmas rush)
*if you do this 'one' for me I will be sure to pass out your business cards at the guild meeting; you should get lots of customers from that (so why haven't my cards been passed out already)
Yes, yes, I know, I sound like I'm whining. I am. It's the stress of long hours trying to stay ahead of the waiting list during the long Christmas rush. Now that I've got this off my chest, I'll go get started on today's quilting.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
More about organizing
This is today's finished quilt. I used the circle lord square dance templates. There is a flame design on the border. I used the flame because the bright orange made me think flaming hot. In person the oranges are extremely bright. They almost hurt your eyes to look at it.
I was asked why I thought it sometimes seems easier to reorganize during a busy season. In my opinion it's because we can see the "thing that isn't working" during it's heaviest use. Our natural instinct is to "fix it" when we see the solution right in front of us. For me, it's very hard not to just stop everything to fix what isn't working. . I constantly have to remind myself -- the customer's quilts come first, reorganize or improve later. Which is why I make lots of notes for things to work on after the rush is over. I don't want to forget my thoughts about the solutions.
If you notice, my blog entries become much shorter when I'm busy with Christmas quilts. Internet time -- my downfall. I could sit at the computer for hours and hours reading blogs and looking at eye candy; but, that won't get the quilts finished. I hear a customer's quilt calling my name already this morning. I'll just look at a few of the web ring blogs then get to work.
I was asked why I thought it sometimes seems easier to reorganize during a busy season. In my opinion it's because we can see the "thing that isn't working" during it's heaviest use. Our natural instinct is to "fix it" when we see the solution right in front of us. For me, it's very hard not to just stop everything to fix what isn't working. . I constantly have to remind myself -- the customer's quilts come first, reorganize or improve later. Which is why I make lots of notes for things to work on after the rush is over. I don't want to forget my thoughts about the solutions.
If you notice, my blog entries become much shorter when I'm busy with Christmas quilts. Internet time -- my downfall. I could sit at the computer for hours and hours reading blogs and looking at eye candy; but, that won't get the quilts finished. I hear a customer's quilt calling my name already this morning. I'll just look at a few of the web ring blogs then get to work.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Blog thoughts
This is today's finished quilt. I had to fight it every step of the way because I could barely get my hopping foot to go in certain areas. It wasn't what I wanted to quilt on it, just the only thing I could quilt. It had very thick places that wouldn't have worked in a design.
I've been thinking of ways I can improve my blog. I did learn to add a list to the side bar but I want to learn more. I really like the way Bonnie Hunter has two blogs. (write on list-learn to add a link) One for everyday journaling and one for quilt patterns and such. I'm thinking I could do two also. One for my thoughts and ideas of running a quilting business and one for my topper friends about piecing tops.
Now is just not the time for sitting, reading, and learning. I've also been thinking of ways to improve my quilting business. Some would think re-organize, I think improve. Although I believe the two words are interchangeable.
During the Christmas rush is not the time for making changes or organizing. It's the time for concentrating on getting as many finished as possible before Santa makes his famous sleigh ride. There is quite enough stress going on finishing the Christmas quilts; it doesn't make sense to add more stress by trying to reorganize right now.
The Christmas rush is the time to see what isn't working. If something bothers you during this time - say for example - you don't like the position of your ironing table next to the quilting machine - make a note to move it in January.
January is actually the time for reorganizing or improving. January is the time when all kinds of organizing things go on sale. So, during the rush I make notes. Lots of notes about what isn't working as well as I want and possible solutions to improve it. I have a note pad next to my quilting machine. As I think of some problem I make a note. The notes are not organized in any form just yet, I can do that later. For now I only make notes.
I've been thinking of ways I can improve my blog. I did learn to add a list to the side bar but I want to learn more. I really like the way Bonnie Hunter has two blogs. (write on list-learn to add a link) One for everyday journaling and one for quilt patterns and such. I'm thinking I could do two also. One for my thoughts and ideas of running a quilting business and one for my topper friends about piecing tops.
Now is just not the time for sitting, reading, and learning. I've also been thinking of ways to improve my quilting business. Some would think re-organize, I think improve. Although I believe the two words are interchangeable.
During the Christmas rush is not the time for making changes or organizing. It's the time for concentrating on getting as many finished as possible before Santa makes his famous sleigh ride. There is quite enough stress going on finishing the Christmas quilts; it doesn't make sense to add more stress by trying to reorganize right now.
The Christmas rush is the time to see what isn't working. If something bothers you during this time - say for example - you don't like the position of your ironing table next to the quilting machine - make a note to move it in January.
January is actually the time for reorganizing or improving. January is the time when all kinds of organizing things go on sale. So, during the rush I make notes. Lots of notes about what isn't working as well as I want and possible solutions to improve it. I have a note pad next to my quilting machine. As I think of some problem I make a note. The notes are not organized in any form just yet, I can do that later. For now I only make notes.
Reorganize or improve - thoughts
This is today's finished quilt. I had to fight it every step of the way because I could barely get my hopping foot to go in certain areas. It wasn't what I wanted to quilt on it, just the only thing I could quilt. It had very thick places that wouldn't have worked in a design.
I've been thinking of ways I can improve my blog. I did learn to add a list to the side bar and how to add a link; but, I want to learn more. I really like the way Bonnie Hunter (the other) has two blogs. One for everyday journaling and one for quilt patterns. I'm thinking I could do two also. Now is just not the time for sitting, reading, and learning about blogging.
I've also been thinking of ways to improve my quilting business. Some would think reorganize, I think improve. Although I believe the two words are interchangeable.
During the Christmas rush is really not the time for making changes or reorganizing. It's the time for concentrating on getting as many quilts finished as possible before Santa makes his famous sleigh ride. There is quite enough stress finishing the Christmas quilts; it doesn't make sense to add more stress by trying to reorganize right in the middle of a rush season.
The Christmas rush is the time to see what isn't working. If something bothers you during this time - say for example - you don't like the position of your intake table - or you don't like how your threads are organized - make a note to change it in January.
January is actually the time for reorganizing or improving. January is the time when all kinds of organizing things go on sale. So, during the rush I make notes. Lots of notes about what isn't working as well as I want and possible solutions to improve it. I have a note pad next to my quilting machine. As I think of some problem I make a note. The notes are not organized in any form just yet, I can do that later. For now I only make notes..... time to go to work.
I've been thinking of ways I can improve my blog. I did learn to add a list to the side bar and how to add a link; but, I want to learn more. I really like the way Bonnie Hunter (the other) has two blogs. One for everyday journaling and one for quilt patterns. I'm thinking I could do two also. Now is just not the time for sitting, reading, and learning about blogging.
I've also been thinking of ways to improve my quilting business. Some would think reorganize, I think improve. Although I believe the two words are interchangeable.
During the Christmas rush is really not the time for making changes or reorganizing. It's the time for concentrating on getting as many quilts finished as possible before Santa makes his famous sleigh ride. There is quite enough stress finishing the Christmas quilts; it doesn't make sense to add more stress by trying to reorganize right in the middle of a rush season.
The Christmas rush is the time to see what isn't working. If something bothers you during this time - say for example - you don't like the position of your intake table - or you don't like how your threads are organized - make a note to change it in January.
January is actually the time for reorganizing or improving. January is the time when all kinds of organizing things go on sale. So, during the rush I make notes. Lots of notes about what isn't working as well as I want and possible solutions to improve it. I have a note pad next to my quilting machine. As I think of some problem I make a note. The notes are not organized in any form just yet, I can do that later. For now I only make notes..... time to go to work.
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