Busy couple of days

It's been a very busy last couple of days for me. I got stuff out of the house and into the alley for junk pickup. I carried things out then rested. Carried more out then rested. Dang lazy men! Not one offered to help carry anything out.... they just watched as I struggled. I'll remember that the next time they claim to be hungry and I've cooked a really nice meal. (grrrrrrr)

I cut some fabric strips to crochet into a rug while traveling on the bus to Nashville. It was hard cutting up scraps into tiny strips for rugs. I kept thinking about how they could be used in a quilt someday. Then I thought about how much fabric stash is waiting to be made into quilts. This helped and away I went cutting lots of strips. I enjoy making rugs so this will keep me happy for awhile. Besides, I really need some new one. The ones I have are getting pretty old and dingy. Some of these strips can be used to make braided rugs too. Hmm.... maybe I can take some braiding to do on the trip.

I can't remember if I posted pictures of our guild quilts in the Nashville show or not so I'm putting them in this post. If you think it's easy to get 8 people to finish a guild challenge on time... it's not. The challenge theme was "friendship".

These are soccer friends.



This is doll friends.




This is quilting friends.



This is childhood friends.



This is adopted animal friends.

This is also childhood friends.




And so is this one.



And this one.



Of course, we are all hopeful of winning a blue ribbon this year.
I finished the binding on this one. The backing is wrapped over the front and sewn by machine.


Finished quilting this one. Now it's waiting for me to do the binding. I forgot to take a picture before starting this post. I'll take another one later.

I started the quilting on this one. A vintage quilt made from silks.

I hope you can see in the pictures that it's not supposed to be flat. It's folded and sewn to a foundation piece. The fabrics are petty delicate so I have to be careful while quilting it.

This is how the border is done.

The foundation pieces are what look like tobacco sacks. Tobacco used to come in small cloth bags and smokers rolled their own cigarettes by hand. The tobacco sacks were more commonly used in quilts during the depression and after WWII. I'm not sure this top is quite that old though. I'm thinking early 60's maybe? Possibly pulled from someone's ufo stash and finished.



I'm getting a lot of things done... just not as many quilts as usual. The thing is; if I don't do the other things; they will effect my quilting. Like carrying out junk... if it's in my way all the time I spend too much time looking for something.

There are other things that MUST get done before cold weather arrives. Caulking of holes outside. Can't caulk in cold weather. I need new plastic and quilts on all the windows. I would love to buy new energy saver window screening but it's out of my price range right now. I can do the plastic covers on the windows for a lot less; but, when will I find time for making window quilts?

Insulation must be put into the attic, walls, and under the floor. I need to keep my utility bills low enough to keep the electric bill paid. Our utility bills are expected to double before winter. In order for workmen to get to those spaces; stuff had to be moved out of the way. They need to drill holes in the walls so they have to be able to reach the walls. The attic and basement access holes inside closets must be cleared of stuff too.
I should think about calling for some electrical estimates too. I have several outlets that don't work anymore. My overhead lights in two rooms have quit working. My stove hood has long ago stopped working. I'll save the electrical work for after the insulation is finished.

I need to go get a new bathroom sink and a new water heater pretty soon. I want those installed before winter too. This means a day of hardware shopping. Probably this weekend. The hardware is my favorite place to shop. I can never just run in and out. I want to look at all the pretty stuff and dream of possibilities. Almost like looking at fabrics in a quilt shop.... the possibilities are everywhere!

All the extra things that have to be done are getting me farther behind schedule on the quilting. Which is making me feel guilty. It's also causing my bank account to grow smaller and smaller. I'm paying for things to be done on the house at the same time not getting work finished to put money back into the bank. It's a delicate financial dance that I face daily. I'm thrifty but even a thrifty person can only do so much.
So now that I'm thinking about the finances.... I'll go get a day's work finished.... I hope.

About Fairs

I've been hearing different people talk about the "quality" of the craft items entered into the state fair. I kept hearing how disappointed people were that some things looked like amature work and shouldn't be allowed to enter. From art to flowers to quilts to weaving... all through the craft departments at the fair... the comments were all about the "lower quality" of entered items.


One local textile artist group offering a cash prize refused to give the prize in the department they intended because they were "disappointed in the quality" of the items entered. Even going so far as to be disappointed in how the items were "hanging" or "displayed." Get real! The items are hung and displayed at the fair by someone other than the crafter who enters it.


I've heard comments about how some items looked unfinished or how the items were made crooked or how the items didn't meet the viewer's idea of a craft.


Oh for heaven's sake.... What's next? A juried fair?


The fair is not a juried competition show for world renowned craftsmen..... it's supposed to have the work of amatures and handicapped persons as well as skilled paid craftsmen. The state fair is for everyone! Including those who make crooked, unfinished, and off color items. The fair is supposed to be the place where those who can't possibly be juried into a high end art contest can still display their crafts.

The fair is a place where absolutely everyone can put their "hobbies" out there for the world to see. The fair is a chance to express personal artistic expression and growth. It's the place where anyone can see their hobby item displayed in the public; puff out their chest; and say "Look what I did." A way to feel proud of an accomplishment whether its the very first one made or the 10,000th one made. Whether it meets the viewer's idea of perfectly made or not.

Seeing a ribbon on your craft is a great thrill but people shouldn't be entering the fair for that reason exclusively. The fair is the place where crafters can showcase their own personal artistic expression and see how it measures up against others doing the same craft. After all... there can be only one "best of show" in any department. The opinion of the judges at the Kentucky state fair may not be the same as the opinion of the judges at a different fair.


I also heard comments like..... "If so and so keeps entering then I won't enter anymore because I can't compete with her or him. She or he is a professional and should be required to enter a professional class." I also heard a comment.... "So and so has bought much better and newer craft equipment... they shouldn't be allowed to enter." In my opinion everyone entering a craft at the fair has an equal chance at winning a ribbon. One item.... one chance.

I mean really.... think about it.... saying you will not enter the fair because someone else is really good at their craft is almost like hearing all the olympic swimmers were refusing to enter the olympics because Phelps was going to be competing and is the record holder. Who would there be to strive and work hard to "be better than" if a really good crafter doesn't enter the fair?


Each craft department has set up certain criteria guidelines for their craft. By entering a craft item into the fair; the entrant has agreed to abide by the criteria and guidelines set up by that department. The one who comes closest to meeting all the criteria and guidelines is the one who should win. An unpaid crafter can meet the qualifications just as well as a crafter who gets paid for their work. In fact, the unpaid crafter may have a better chance at winning because the paid crafter is often so busy earning a living that they don't have the available time needed for making something to enter in the fair.

By the same reasoning, no judge should be allowed to not give a ribbon or prize simply because they feel the crafts entered are of lesser quality than they are normally used to judging. Ribbons and prizes ought be given to the actual crafts entered.... not given based on what someone believes should be entered. All ribbons and prizes should be awarded... and find a home with a crafter.... not tossed away after the fair because of an opinion.

If someone decides to enter a craft in the fair in a particular department they are agreeing to "play by the rules" of that department. The crafter who does the best job at following those rules is the one who should get the ribbons and the prizes. By the same token; entrants are also expecting the judges and prize givers to abide by their own "rules". The rules and prizes shouldn't be changed in the middle of the game based on one or two people's idea of what should be entered.

Even with rules and guidelines for a particular craft the judging is still subjective. The judges will recognize and reward technical skills for a craft but design and artistry are influenced by the preference of the judge. What one judge believes to be "best of show" may be totally different than what you believe or your neighbor or the judge from last year or the judge to be hired for next year. Don't take not getting a ribbon or a prize to heart. It isn't a reflection of your skills.... its an opinion of the judge.

So if you have entered an item in the fair and didn't win a ribbon or prize.... go ahead and strut you stuff... stand proud and have your picture taken next to your craft item... recognize your entry for what it really is.... an item you have made with your own hands and are very proud to display it for others to see. Study the winners. See what it was that got them a ribbon. Then work extra hard for an entry next year that may win you that ribbon or prize you want so much to win.

If you casually stand next to the item you made and listen to the comments made by viewers; be prepared to hear the bad comments as well as the good. Just remember that each viewer will have their own opinion on the craft. Each viewer has made themself a judge... for the moment... while looking at your craft. Some viewers will know the difficulty of the technical skills required to make your craft while others won't have a clue and will simply see it as a craft that doesn't interest them.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

State fair complaints

...

How would you interpret the following statement? I should explain that this description is written as a class description..... not listed in the textile department rules.

Professional Quilter classes

Professional - For the purposes of the state fair is defined as one who engages in an activity for monitary profit such as hand or machine quilting, teaching or instruction, or engages in retail or wholesale of products pertaining to the art of quilting.

Entry into this department will be an acknowledgement of professional status and will prohibit entry in other classes. Entries in these classes will not win points toward sweepstakes.

Did you read it as anyone who quilts professionally MUST enter that catagory? Or did you read it as anyone who WANTS to enter that catagory should declare themself a professional?

My own personal interpretation of the statement was that if a person WANTED to enter that catagory they had to declare themself a professional and prove it by indicating they earned money from quilting.

The textile people read it differently. They read it as anyone who earns money even remotely from quilting MUST enter that catagory only.

So it boils down to a WANT or MUST interpretation.

It hurt my feelings because I was stripped of all my ribbons this year. All because of how it could be interpreted. I think I'm all over the hurt now and I want to do something to improve the fair for next year.

The catagories I entered.... original design and art/pictorial were not a part of the professional division. I entered the way I thought I should for the catagories. So now that I'm being forced to enter the professional class I can't enter those type quilts anymore. I must either start making quilts to fit that catagory or stop entering.

If I don't enter anymore what will I be saying to the quilters who like the fair? Did I stop entering because I was hurt and upset? Will anyone realize I stopped entering because the quilts I create can't be entered anymore? I love the fair!! I've always encouraged others to get their entries in so we could have a mini quilt show right here in this area. I would love to see more participation.... not less.

There is another problem with the professional catagory.... one that will eventually cause even more problems if it hasn't already. They lumped the professional hand quilters in the same class as professional machine quilters. They also require a person who runs a quilt shop to be professional too. Even if the shop owner does not make quilts for a living. I see a dozen different problems that are about to arise from this professional status catagory.

I was also given a challenge...... "If you think you can rewrite the rules and catagories to make everyone happy..... without increasing the number of classes.... and without increasing the number of problems.... we will consider using it next year." It was not an official challenge. Just one given to me by someone involved with the fair.

Now THAT'S a real challenge!

I'm very much willing to take that challenge and give it a try even if it wasn't official. Hmmm.... just how would I go about making the fair a really nice event to enter? I haven't a clue at this point. I've never been involved with writing catagory or class descriptions. In fact I've never done anything for the fair textile department other than enter quilts myself and encourage others to enter too.

I've thought about this challenge and I realize I can't fix it.... if I don't know what's broken. No problem can be resolved until someone knows what the problem is in the first place.

I'm asking for your help. Send me your fair complaints!

Here's your chance to grouch and complain to your heart's content about the fair textile department! Let it loose! Tell me absolutely everything that causes a problem for you at your own fair and how you would change it if you could.

You can send me emails either publicly or privately... with or without your name. A name and contact information would be nice.... just in case I don't understand what you tell me. You can send your complaints to me through snail mail too if you want. Email me and I will give you my snail mail address. I simply want to know what every complaint or problem is from as many people as I can possibly contact.

Once I get those complaints and problems in my hands I can begin to condense everything into one useable guideline. Am I making my idea understandable? I'm never sure how what I write comes across to others.

What I am doing is simply accepting the responsibility of gathering information and putting it into a useable and easily readable format to present to the fair board. So instead of the board members having to read 1000 complaints about one single topic.... I will have the topic written once and tell them there were 1000 people who said the same thing. Maybe if the fair board is not overwhelmed with soooo many things to read or screening sooo many phone calls they will be more open to changes. Get the idea?

How will I use the complaints about other fairs? Well, the idea is to put those into a condensed version of potential problems. Things that might happen because they have happend in other places.

Ok, I think I've stated my project and how you can help me. I'll end this post and hopefully get lots of replies over the next few weeks. I think the deadline for sending me your thoughts should be October 5th. This will give me plenty of time to get it all read and condensed before the deadline to present it to the fair board.

Thank you to all who are willing to help me with my project. I look forward to reading what you write.

I'm making another post this evening because I may not get the chance to get on the computer tomorrow. I'm going to the fair. I'm not sure when I will get back home or how tired I will be.

Today, I got down to the last rows on the current quilt when I decided to call it a day. It's late, after 8:00 and I've worked on it continuously since this morning about 6 I think.


While quilting I had to watch for straight pins left in the seam lines of the top so I wouldn't break a needle.

Then I also had to watch for unsewn seams to prevent sewing the hopping foot into them.

So far it's looking like it will be fairly flat when finished. It probably won't be square.... but I'm doing my best.

I'll take some pictures at the fair and share them with you in my next post.

Fear of saying no?

This is the current quilt on my machine.


Yes, it does have issues....

95 percent of the tops I receive to quilt will have an issue or two. Some just happen to have more issues than others.

Last evening as I was putting this top on my machine to start the quilting; I began thinking about what it really means to be a professional machine quilter. Not many of the toppers see our side of the quilt world. All a topper sees is the long, long waiting lists and the dollar amount it costs. Most know only about their own tops and their own request.... not about the many requests we get almost daily.

So today I thought I would type-talk about these requests.... for any topper who happens to wander by my site. Maybe it will give the topper a little insight into the daily lives of a professional machine quilter. It might also help educate the person thinking about starting a machine quilting business.

Here are some requests from toppers I've experienced over my long career:

Request #1  If I'm willing to pay a little more.... the quilter will put my quilt ahead of everyone else as a "rush job". It doesn't matter if those on the waiting list have been waiting for several months. I can afford a few extra dollars to pay for the rush. By paying a rush fee, I never have to wait for my turn. No, I wouldn't consider paying the quilter more if I'm just on the waiting list. Her fees are too high already.

Request #2  Since the machine quilter is a good friend of mine she will surely let a friend get their top done before those on the waiting list. Who can resist a really good friend or relative? After all, the quilter sees me everyday or two and I know it's hard to say no to a friend or relative. Of course, she won't charge me much.... I'm a good friend or relative.

Request #3  If I tell the quilter a really sad story it will get mine done quicker. Hmmm... what about telling her that it's for a person who is terminally ill and is not expected to live much longer? We need the quilt finished so we can present it before the person passes on. The person passing on used to be a good customer so I'm sure the quilter will want to do a part of the quilt.... and at a discount or for free.

Request #4  You're booked up for the next 6 months? (Whine) But I don't want anyone else to quilt it but you. You're the only one I trust with my quilts. You'll do it? Great! Oh, by the way, it must be done by next guild meeting.... on Friday. (Today is Monday) Oh and I need a couple of days to bind it. Extra rush charge? I can't afford to pay more. Since I can't afford the rush fee, I promise to bring you more tops to do for me later.

Request #5  I know you are booked.... and I'm not really trying to rush you... BUT... can you finish my top by next week? Yes, I do know it's not scheduled for a couple of months. Well, you do know I'm the guild president? You do know that what I tell the members about my experience can either get you more customers or convince them to take their tops to other quilters? Great! I'll see you next week then.

Request #6  I brought you five tops to get quilted... can you finish one for me right away? Yes, I know they are not scheduled for right away but I want to take one with me to do the binding while riding in the car to the quilt show. We are going to be there all week. I'm so sorry you couldn't go with us because you have to work. You would love the quilt show.... it's going to be great! BUT.... just think about all that big money you are earning. Rush fee? But, I have other tops there.... don't I get a discount for multiples?

Request #7  My publisher has a deadline of a week from Monday for this quilt, can you get it done right away? He needs it there so it can be photographed before the book goes to print. I'm sorry I didn't get on your list sooner. You're booked for months? BUT.... you do know you will be mentioned in the book as the quilter? Mentioned where in the book? I think..... somewhere in the back among the credits. Oh, by the way, since I want to put it into a show in the spring would you do show quality quilting on it? Can I have a discount because you will be in the book too?

Request #8  Would you let me use your machine to quilt one of my own? Yes, I do know you earn a living by using your machine everyday. Yes, I do know that you are booked for several months. BUT.... you could have a day off while you show me how to load the quilt and learn to quilt it myself. All I really need to do is some meander quilting. It's just too large for me to do with my domestic machine like I do all my other quilts. I'll be doing the work myself so I shouldn't have to pay for that but I can give you a few dollars for the electric bill.

And then there are the times when toppers gang up on us: rarely do topper groups actually consider how what they do affects their machine quilters schedules.

Request #9  Our guild went on retreat last weekend. We would have loved it if you had gone with us. There were 20 of us at the retreat. We had such a great time! We helped each other finish UFOs. We each rushed through and finished two large UFO quilts each. Wasn't that great! We all want you to do the quilting on them. You will have plenty of tops to quilt because we know you need the money. Oh by the way, we all plan to go on the next retreat in a couple of months. Can you go with us? We plan to finish two more UFO quilts each... again ... and have you quilt them. Oh, I'm sorry you can't go because you'll be working. Girl, you gotta get away from home sometime. Surely you can take a day or two off for a retreat? (Do the math.... 20 quilters completing 40 UFOs to be put on a waiting list. Then multiply times two or more retreats..... gang up on the quilter)

Request #10  Two of the local quilt shops have scheduled beginner quilt classes. Each schedule a class a month for 3 months. That's 6 classes. Each class will have about 10 students. Supposing the classes are all full..... that's 60 beginners doing one quilt top each. Now.... in order to move on to the next top and not spend time doing the quilting themselves.... the beginners decide to have their tops machine quilted by you. (Again... gang up on the quilter.)

Request #11  Our local quilt guild has gotten several charity tops completed. We know we didn't ask you BUT we knew you would want to be a part of our charity efforts anyway. We have several tops to bring to you this week, can we pick them up next month? Waiting list? BUT these are for charity. Yes, of course... we know you already quilt for your favorite charity.... that's why we knew you would want to do these. You do know we all are an occasional customer of yours. We can go to other quilters you know. Cost? BUT you do understand these are for charity? The fabric was donated and the piecing was donated.... don't you want to donate too? Well, yes, I know you are earning a living... but this is for charity. Well, how about at a discount because we are bringing several and it's for charity?

A couple more special requests:

Request #12  I heard you were sick for a month back in the spring and had to push all your waiting list back a month.... now that it's fall are you caught up yet? Well, yes, I do understand that you were scheduled very tightly for several months back then.... BUT didn't you do double time (or over time) to catch up? You had me down for September does that mean you can't actually do mine until October because you are still running behind schedule? Maybe I should have gotten on the other quilter's list instead. I'll call her to see if she can work my top in... if she can't work it in then just keep me on your schedule for October anyway. By the way, I plan to bring 3 tops instead of the one I had scheduled.

Request #13  Remember you had me on your schedule for March? Well I finally finished making the top. In fact I managed to finish two. Can I bring them to you today? Yes, I do know it's June.... BUT you promised you could quilt one for me before July so I can give it to my niece at her baby shower. You already have several rush quilts and you are behind schedule? Well, both of these are really small and shouldn't take you long to quilt. Ok, I'll be there sometime this afternoon after I stop at the fabric store to see the guest speaker that's here for today only. I'm sorry you won't be there too.



Do you see how what the topper does affects the machine quilter? What I have type-talked about today could be read as negative thoughts. It's not meant to be negative at all! I'm simply explaining what life is like for us from a personal point of view. I'm explaining why a machine quilter might say NO to your special request.

Machine quilters are willing to stay away from picnics, family gatherings, parties, movies, guild meetings, lunches, retreats, quilt shows, our own UFO tops, and even dates.... to keep a topper happy. Each time we accept a rush job top, or a charity top, or late tops, or multiple tops; we must give up something of our own. How many other professions do you know that would give up a social life, like we do, just to accommodate a special request customer?

Heavens, if I stopped using a waiting list and simply did nothing but special requests and rush work, I'd still be booked for months! (LOL)

It took me many months of practicing to say the word no (nicely) before I had the courage to actually say it to a customer. BUT... I say it to family and friends really often these days too. I rarely take classes, have never been to an away retreat, often turn down friends who want me to join them for lunch, very seldom attend family gatherings anymore, and my kids believe my customers are more important than they are.

Why is it we machine quilters have such a hard time saying no? Well probably because we have a fear of being replaceable. It's only after we can conquer this fear of being replaced that we start believing we can have a personal life again. Just because a machine quilter says no to your request doesn't mean she is being rude.... she's probably already over whelmed with special requests and simply can't work in another one. Just because there are 24 hours in a day.... doesn't mean the quilter can actually work all of them all of the time.

Ok, enough type-talking for now. I have the top to get finished today if I can. I hope I haven't offended anyone by being honest. If you are considering buying a machine to go into the business.... think about these things as part of your "plan" to be successful.