judyday

This is from the Hobbs Batting webpage, it may help fix some issues.
Cagey
 
What are “pokies”?
This term usually refers to small bits of batting fibers appearing on the back of the quilt during the quilting process. This is most common with cotton or cotton blend battings and the bits on the back will wash away during laundering. Occasionally seen during the long arm quilting process, it is most often a result of an oversized needle or a needle that has a slight burr that is not visible to the eye. Changing the machine needle will usually correct the issue. Thread choice can also be a factor. Cotton is a dry fiber and occasionally cotton threads will pull at the cotton batting fibers during the quilting process. Changing to a polyester thread can alleviate the problem. Using high quality thread is very important to successful machine quilting.   Lower quality threads generate a great deal of lint and break easily at the high speeds used in machine stitching.

Sorry im just now replying. I have had my George since september 2015. I have probably done 4 quilts and about 4 wall hangings or baby quilts.   I like to sew ,knit and read so some days i dont get around to quilting. Not many weeks go by though. 

Judy,  you have a very nice set up and I love your pumpkin quilt.
Karen

Sorry im just now replying. I have had my George since september 2015. I have probably done 4 quilts and about 4 wall hangings or baby quilts.   I like to sew ,knit and read so some days i dont get around to quilting. Not many weeks go by though. 

Yes, I am still looking at messages.  :-)  It is a concern because the longarmers here (except for one) only have a two week turn around.  I don't need to make enough money to live on -- just enough to supplement the pension I will be receiving as  I would like to wait a bit to draw social security.  There are two rental places within driving distance, so I plan to visit both.  My retirement is in four years and 7 months, but if I get a machine, would get one in about two years so I have enough time to practice.  

No it is not bad that you want a millie. Reach for the stars!  Mary Beth's comment about setting time for your family is correct. More than likely you will have Millie in your home. A home business is hard to walk away from at 5:00.  Best of luck. I certainly admire you. 

I believe i would try knitting

I believe i would try knitting

Thank you for all our great info you have given me. I will take your suggestions on the pictures on website, Im already posted on our webpage and newsletter, We only have 1 other longarm quilter for our guild. Im not a greedy person, just want to quilt beautifully for them. Thanks again, Ann

Ann;
 
I visited your website, and am only providing you constructive criticism.  Please do not take any comments personal, as I am only sharing how I interpret the link when I visited it.  
 
Your site gives the following charges;
 
Crib       $50.00  Lap        $75.00  Twin     $125.00  Full       $ 150.00  Queen  $175.00  I charge 20.00 an hour on top of that. Most quilts are 4-5 hours.
 
When I do an internet search for the different size quilts, I find differing sizes for the listed quilts.  I might suggest you provide specific maximum size measurements for your five listed quilts.  That is to say a Crib/baby quilt is a maximum of 52"x52", a Lap quilt is a maximum of 68"x68", etc.  Here is a link to one of the standard sizes I found, I am sure you can find others that give different sizes.   https://bcquilter.wordpress.com/quilting-information/common-quilt-sizes/
 
As I read your website, I would expect to pay approximately $130 to $150 dollars plus batting for a baby quilt.  
 
Using the $150 price, I calculate you are making $30 per hour (5 x $20=100+50=$150/5=$30).  If it only takes four hours for the crib quilt, you are making $32.50 an hour; (4 x $20=80+50=130/4=$32.5).  If it takes you one hour, you are earning $70 per hour; (1x$20=20+50=$70/1=$70). 
 
I cannot say if your rates for all over meander or stippling is a fair charge in your location.  For my area, I believe the charges are slightly high.  On my second quilt, which I did not actually quilt, I paid $98 for a nice computer edge to edge design.  This included an extra $25 next day charge for the 60 x 72 quilt, and it included them providing the batting.
 
Looking at the five pictures on your webpage, I can only see 3 pictures that clearly show your quilting.  The long middle picture is somewhat out of focus.  You need to have a lot of eye candy to catch visitors attention.  You have to show potential customers what kind of magic you are going to do with their quilts tops.  A customer has to be comfortable that you are going to turn their tops into masterpieces.  They are not going to see their piecing errors, but they will notice any issues you post in the images.  Also, show examples/pictures our custom quilting.  Maybe even give examples with total cost, so customer can better calculate what it is going to have you quilt for them.  
 
I would show some pictures of your studio.  Customers need to feel comfortable that they are visiting a real business.  You could include that your studio is a smoke free, animal free environment, and odor free.  As you probably work out of your home, you probably want to be sure the Korean kimchee you cooked last night does not linger when they arrive the following morning.  
 
I would have links to your Facebook page, showing all your quilting.  Keep your business Facebook separate from your private Facebook.  Jokes and political comments can turn some customers off.  If a comment can be misinterpreted, it will be.  It may be easier to continually update you Facebook page verses your webpage.  Though you may wish to update both rather frequently.  Look at your two links, as you would look at a business.  Emulate/copy the quilting businesses that you like.  You do not need to reinvent the wheel, just make the wheel yours. 
 
Finally, see if your local guild will post your name, phone number, and webpage under the longarm list in their monthly minutes and on their webpage.  My two guilds does that for all the longarm quilters in the group.  There are definitely more piecers then quilters in the guilds, so they are constantly looking for quilters to quilt their tops.   
 
I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck with your quilting business.  I think you are well on your way to success.
 
Cagey

So I have been very busy lately. If you follow me on FB or IG you will know the following. We moved both our stores together to one new location! We started Dec. 26 and opened Jan. 6, one week ahead of our self imposed opening day. We are very tired but it is a good tired!
As you may remember my Longarm was in our classroom. Now I have my own space!!!!!! I am thrilled with my new space! Not only that we added Quilt Path to my 2009 Millennium and added a new Milli!!! I have a new assistant, Sabrina, who introduced herself here earlier today with the handle Fried Green Tomatoes. Sabrina will be helping me with all sorts of things as well as running Quilt Path. She is young, and catches on to computer stuff very fast.
RoseCity Quilter New Studio by -RoseCity Quilter-
My new Milli!
6B9B01ED-FE6B-4EDB-A098-DA18F61F07D7-172 by -RoseCity Quilter- Sabrina and her 1st Quilt Path quilt!
RoseCity Quilter New Studio by -RoseCity Quilter-
My new pressing station, 111" long!
Lots more pictures on my latest blog:
https://rosecityquilter.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/organizing-my-studio/

Thank you...I intend to try. LOL. As odd as this sounds...I have NEVER been bored a day in my life. My problem was always finding enough time to do all of the things I wanted to do.