Gator

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you Sharon, I appreciate the info and kind words.  I did 27 years in the Navy and loved every minute of it.  Our National Anthem still brings tears to my eyes.

Thank you Sharon, I appreciate the info and kind words.  I did 27 years in the Navy and loved every minute of it.  Our National Anthem still brings tears to my eyes.

Adorable!

Whew, thanks Heidi.  I thought I was the only on who never changed her canvas.  My machine is a 2009 and I do the same as Heidi.  Every now and then I zip them together and give them a spritz of water too.

Whew, thanks Heidi.  I thought I was the only on who never changed her canvas.  My machine is a 2009 and I do the same as Heidi.  Every now and then I zip them together and give them a spritz of water too.

I work 9 hours a day but could make a block, if anyone was thinking we should make her a quilt?  I remember when we used to make them on here for members.

Thanks Heidi, sad to hear she's still in the hospital but glad she's recovering.  COPD is not your friend when having surgery, especially if it's a long one.

I work 9 hours a day but could make a block, if anyone was thinking we should make her a quilt?  I remember when we used to make them on here for members.

I work 9 hours a day but could make a block, if anyone was thinking we should make her a quilt?  I remember when we used to make them on here for members.

Rita, thinking about you.  God won't give us more than we can handle, you are a very strong special woman.  My prayers are with you and him.  You want those lungs working good when you go in for surgery.

I'm going to chime in for a moment.  I'm totally partial to APQS.  Our machines are easy to use and have few problems you can't fix yourself.  Customer service is exceptional and second to none.  I've called one of the company reps on a weekend and we troubleshot the problem over the phone, yes I held the phone up to the running machine.  She knew what the problem was and I had parts by Monday.  If you can't reach a rep, someone on this forum can usually talk you through a resolution.  Used APQS machines sold through the company are completely checked out and refurbished/updated with grease etc.  They also come with a warranty.  You can trust most used machines sold by the owner.  Like Helen stated, machines are sold due the things she mentioned, other's trade-up to newer models with more features or throat space.  APQS machines devaluate very slowly and last forever, as long as you maintain them.  We can tell you what we love about our machines but you really need to "test drive" them to know exactly what you want.  Any APQS quilter in you neighborhood will usually invite you over for a test run.  I think you're on your way,  asking questions like you have here is smart.  Have fun on your adventure, hope to see your quilts here in the near future.
 
PS:  What other company lets you be a member of their forum, no matter what machine you own?  Need I profess again, CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!! 

I'm going to chime in for a moment.  I'm totally partial to APQS.  Our machines are easy to use and have few problems you can't fix yourself.  Customer service is exceptional and second to none.  I've called one of the company reps on a weekend and we troubleshot the problem over the phone, yes I held the phone up to the running machine.  She knew what the problem was and I had parts by Monday.  If you can't reach a rep, someone on this forum can usually talk you through a resolution.  Used APQS machines sold through the company are completely checked out and refurbished/updated with grease etc.  They also come with a warranty.  You can trust most used machines sold by the owner.  Like Helen stated, machines are sold due the things she mentioned, other's trade-up to newer models with more features or throat space.  APQS machines devaluate very slowly and last forever, as long as you maintain them.  We can tell you what we love about our machines but you really need to "test drive" them to know exactly what you want.  Any APQS quilter in you neighborhood will usually invite you over for a test run.  I think you're on your way,  asking questions like you have here is smart.  Have fun on your adventure, hope to see your quilts here in the near future.
 
PS:  What other company lets you be a member of their forum, no matter what machine you own?  Need I profess again, CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!! 

Hi everyone.  I love how fast, ideas discussed by quilters become a commercial product!  I just received my Nancy Notions catalog and low and behold, what did I see in it as a product?  Something called an "ironing cradle" which could also be used under your frame to keep your fabric, quilt, etc., off the floor.  It's only a max of 65in for now but give them time.  It looks like a long foldable laundry frame, with "heavyweight plastic" for the cradle.  It's on sale for $79, gotta love it!  PS: I'm not saying I invented this gizmo but saw and heard others talking about a cradle to keep your quilts off the floor on here many times. 

Hi everyone.  I love how fast, ideas discussed by quilters become a commercial product!  I just received my Nancy Notions catalog and low and behold, what did I see in it as a product?  Something called an "ironing cradle" which could also be used under your frame to keep your fabric, quilt, etc., off the floor.  It's only a max of 65in for now but give them time.  It looks like a long foldable laundry frame, with "heavyweight plastic" for the cradle.  It's on sale for $79, gotta love it!  PS: I'm not saying I invented this gizmo but saw and heard others talking about a cradle to keep your quilts off the floor on here many times. 

Yep, I have my snappers sewn into canvas that zips on the leaders.    I originally had Leader Grips and hated them.  I had the originals which you had to shrink wrap the pieces together to fit your size of frame.  My Leader Grips kept folding in the middle and the Leader Grips were not flexible so they were hard to install in a small space.  I watched Renee's video and decided to switch to Red Snappers, it was a great video (none provided for leader grips).  I bought the snappers and tape measure and haven't looked back since.  I've had the same set of Red Snappers for years and they are still like new.  Love them. 
 
Oh I have the zippers because they were the first "gadget" to come out, I hated pins!!!!!  Took me longer to pin a quilt then to actually quilt it, LOL.

Congrats, studio looks great.  My ironing board is only 82 inches long, I made it out of a door we removed from the house.. Now I just need to get a longer frame for "Gator:.

Cute and the quilting is right on!