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Gator

Dealer
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  1. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Barbara Conquest in Loyal customers. ???   
    Lora, great topic which needs to be brought up every now and then.  I like hearing what's happening in other parts of the country and world.  I have Millie with an IQ.  I did not raise  my prices when I got my computer.  I didn't need to because I could do more quilts which evened the field.  I charge a penny and a half for loose pantos/e2e and 2 pennies for tight pantos/e2e.  I have a Quilt finishing shop a block away from me (I'm also in a small town) who charges about the same.  The owner and I have a great relationship because she just does pantos/e2e.  She also sells batting, wide backs and flannel.  She does no custom, so she sends those customers to me or another longarmer.  There's work for everyone.  You really have to flow with the local pricing or you will loose those "bread and butter" customers.  When I moved to Michigan, I asked around about longarm pricing before I decided on what to charge.  I ask my customers  to pick out the panto they want from the hundreds I have  but  if a customer wants a particular panto design that I don't have (i.e. hippos, fire hose, particular flowers),  I charge them a one time special design charge of $15.00,  plus my normal square inch charge.  It will help you build your design catalog fast  without coming directly from your pocket.  I do the same with my embroidery business. 
    Great info, advise and thoughts everyone.
  2. Like
    Gator got a reaction from dianne31331 in Quilt shifts to the right during pantograph use   
    Are your leaders square or have they stretched (doesn't take a whole lot)?  Quilting right to left then left to right is a great practice if you are comfortable going both ways.  I will be back to check on you all tomorrow.
  3. Upvote
    Gator got a reaction from dbams in Batting storage   
    Have you tried searching this forum?  There have been many storage ideas throughout the years.  Here's my favorite, easy to move and fairly cheap to make:

     
  4. Upvote
    Gator got a reaction from BonnieJ in Batting storage   
    Have you tried searching this forum?  There have been many storage ideas throughout the years.  Here's my favorite, easy to move and fairly cheap to make:

     
  5. Like
    Gator got a reaction from ohthatpaula in Marking tools for FMQ designs   
    You can use the water or air soluble markers.   The water soluble usually have blue ink and the air soluble usually has purple.   DO NOT IRON over these soluble  marks or they become permanent.  If you live in a high humidity area the air markers may disappear to fast for you.   Have you tried using the white chalk and turn on your black light?  Sometimes we forget most APQS machines come with black light.  I use the gray chalk marker on most items I have to mark.  Stay away from the yellow, pink and blue chalks, they do not wash out.   I also use the Crayola washable markers (like you buy for kids)  but test that the color I use will wash out (put it on test scrap fabric and rub out with a paper towel or wash cloth).  The Crayola markers are a lot cheaper than sewing markers but as I stated test before you use on the quilt.   Hope this helps.
  6. Like
    Gator got a reaction from iquiltit in FORUMS OR FACEBOOK CURIOUS   
    I'm just a curious person.  I was wondering  if you prefer forums or facebook groups?  I'm a forum gal.  I love the forum because you can guess how long a person has been involved with a product or skill.  I like how topics are divided into categories and doing a search for topics are fairly easy.  I just feel cozier with the forum group than facebook, I'm not sure if that's the correct verbiage.  I'm not against Facebook groups in fact I belong to a bunch.   I just wonder how long a person has been using a product before they start giving advice, etc.   I've seen bullies on both but not so much on forums now.  Forums and Facebook Groups seem like two different environments to me.  Wondering minds are curious. 
  7. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Minkie/Fireside back problems   
    I use glide thread top and bottom not problems.  Do you ask your customers where they bought the minkie?  There are some really terrible copycats out there.  I have problems with the cheap brands.  I prefer "cuddle" over minkie, it comes out perfect every time.
  8. Like
    Gator got a reaction from quiltmonkey in Minkie/Fireside back problems   
    I use glide thread top and bottom not problems.  Do you ask your customers where they bought the minkie?  There are some really terrible copycats out there.  I have problems with the cheap brands.  I prefer "cuddle" over minkie, it comes out perfect every time.
  9. Like
    Gator got a reaction from quiltmonkey in Robyn   
    I don't know anything about compuquilter but Zoltan at Intelliquilter now services them.  There is one guy quilter on here who knows a lot about the compuquilter also, hopefully he will chime in.
  10. Like
    Gator reacted to Mercedes in Dust cover for Apqs Milly ?   
    I use a car cover to cover my Millie and it works great.  They're plenty big and cover the whole machine and mine packs up in the little case that is attached to the cover.
  11. Like
    Gator got a reaction from imaward in roller brake   
    IMAWARD,  what year and model  is your machine?   Just asking because the older machines have a wooden brake and the new ones have a metal one.   The info above is good advice.
  12. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Dust cover for Apqs Milly ?   
    I keep mine covered with a sheet.
  13. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Piecing with dress shirts   
    Personally I would leave the starch in the shirts.   I starch all my quilting fabric.  When piecing the fabric holds its shape better, less shrinkage, etc.  As far as becoming a wrinkled mess when the quilt is washed, it depends on many factors?  What was the shirts made out of, cotton, polyester, silk, etc?  What type of batting are you planning on using?  Are you quilting it dense or light, this will probably be the main factor in how much it wrinkles.    If the batting is made out of the same type of fabrics, you should be able to wash the quilt like you would the shirts.  It's a quilt so after washing it should have texture.  I doubt you want it to look like a heavily  starched shirt.  You would want it to be cuddly?  Just my thoughts.
     
  14. Upvote
    Gator got a reaction from QuiltGuy in Batting storage   
    Have you tried searching this forum?  There have been many storage ideas throughout the years.  Here's my favorite, easy to move and fairly cheap to make:

     
  15. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Batting storage   
    Have you tried searching this forum?  There have been many storage ideas throughout the years.  Here's my favorite, easy to move and fairly cheap to make:

     
  16. Like
    Gator got a reaction from delld in Batting storage   
    Have you tried searching this forum?  There have been many storage ideas throughout the years.  Here's my favorite, easy to move and fairly cheap to make:

     
  17. Upvote
    Gator got a reaction from harcathy in Getting started on Millie 2005   
    Ditto on missing the old gang!
  18. Like
    Gator got a reaction from quiltmonkey in Getting started on Millie 2005   
    Patty,
    APQS on You Tube and Quilted Joy Clubhouse (Angela Huffman)on You Tube are both great sites for videos.   I'm not sure if Myrna Ficken has videos but not sure if she has them online but your could google her.   Be sure to join the I love APQS group on Facebook also.   This should et you started.
  19. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Getting started on Millie 2005   
    Ditto on missing the old gang!
  20. Like
    Gator got a reaction from tootsquilts in Same size Backing and Top   
    I agree with Shana.  Save yourself to quilt another day.  Do you have a set of rules for customers?  It's a good rule of thumb to add your requirements to the invoice or contract when you accept the customer's quilts. 
  21. Like
    Gator got a reaction from quiltmonkey in Beware of trolls and fraudulent members on this forum!!!   
    Shana,  I agree you have to be careful due to trolls etc.  I couldn't read the post your were referring to but I know they are here.  I usually look really close at the number of posts the person has submitted and the topic title before answering something.  The forum isn't what it used to be, most members and new owners have migrated to the Facebook Group but I still love the forum.  I find the "search" element to be easy to use.  I miss the closeness this group had too.  I get lost on Facebook, here this minute gone the next, LOL.
  22. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Beware of trolls and fraudulent members on this forum!!!   
    Shana,  I agree you have to be careful due to trolls etc.  I couldn't read the post your were referring to but I know they are here.  I usually look really close at the number of posts the person has submitted and the topic title before answering something.  The forum isn't what it used to be, most members and new owners have migrated to the Facebook Group but I still love the forum.  I find the "search" element to be easy to use.  I miss the closeness this group had too.  I get lost on Facebook, here this minute gone the next, LOL.
  23. Like
    Gator got a reaction from quiltmonkey in Same size Backing and Top   
    I agree with Shana.  Save yourself to quilt another day.  Do you have a set of rules for customers?  It's a good rule of thumb to add your requirements to the invoice or contract when you accept the customer's quilts. 
  24. Like
    Gator got a reaction from Gail O in Quilt "grows" on one side while advancing   
    Hi Pat,
    It's hard to see if the canvas has stretched or after years of rolling become off square.  It's probably time for new canvas leaders.  I have a 2009 Millie and mine is the same, I'm getting ready to change them out.  If you go to the online store, parts and notions and search canvas, it will come up.  The price isn't bad and well worth your sanity. 
     
  25. Like
    Gator got a reaction from quiltmonkey in Quilt "grows" on one side while advancing   
    Hi Pat,
    It's hard to see if the canvas has stretched or after years of rolling become off square.  It's probably time for new canvas leaders.  I have a 2009 Millie and mine is the same, I'm getting ready to change them out.  If you go to the online store, parts and notions and search canvas, it will come up.  The price isn't bad and well worth your sanity. 
     
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