dbams

Just a quick update.  I talked to one of my customers at the sewing club this morning and asked her why she was taking her quilts to another quilter instead of me (not in those words of course).  I just wanted to hear from her what I could do to improve my business, my relationship with customers, etc.  I could tell she was a little uncomfortable at first, but I assured her that I was not trying to coax her into coming back to me, just curious about the change.  She said that she uses the other woman for all over panto work, and would be using me exclusively for custom work - something the other woman doesn't offer.  She showed me an invoice from the other woman and her pricing was very similar to my new pricing, however, one thing she includes in her pricing is trimming the quilt and attaching the binding strips to the back of the quilt.  
gkazee, I really like your idea of making a sample quilt with the pantos that I would do for 1 1/2 cents a square inch.  Linda, your suggestion of having a sale month is a great one too.   I'll make up the sample quilt and promote my sale for the month of November and the first two weeks of December.  We'll see what happens.  
Thank you all for being candid with me.  I had checked around and found that my previous prices were about a cent below the average in my area.  I had been told by many that I wasn't charging enough, so I raised my prices a little after I got the computerized system.  Now I see your points about customers not caring that the stitching is perfect and just wanting to get the quilts finished quickly and as cheap as possible.  Also, I recognize now that showcasing all of my custom work probably scared some people off.  I think you are right - they see the detail and amount of effort in the quilting on those quilts and think $$$$$ cha-ching! and don't want to pay for that.  
Next year, I'm going to try to show off two quilts a month (probably lap size) - one with custom quilting and one with an all over panto.  Hopefully, that will convey the message that I can do both.  
Thanks again.  I really appreciate your honest feedback and input!!!!!  Thank you. 
 

No one has replied, so I will gingerly step in and give you my take on the problem. Adding a computer to your machine does not mean that you should raise your prices above the industry standard, especially for overall designs. The customer doesn't care how you get there or what you use---they are interested in the finished product and don't want to pay extra for computerized when someone else can do the same thing for less. I'm talking about pantos/overalls, not custom. Also, you have "niched" yourself. You have inadvertently sent a message to your customers that you are out of the panto/overall business by showing lots of custom quilting. Custom=$$$$ to everyone. Make some simple quilt tops and quilt them with overalls or a panto and show them everywhere. Remind them that you're still around and offering the less-expensive quilting. I think your customers perception of what you offer and your pricing has been muddled---that you are now too expensive. To get them back in the fold, use your favorite method to contact them and offer a blow-them-away deal on pantos and overalls "exclusively for you, my favorite customer". Any size quilt up to a Queen (you supply the limit for dimensions) with a choice of three pantos/computerized or freehand overall (not a big meander) for $100. This will price you at less than a cent-and-a-half, but will give your business a boost. They will dig out all the big UFOs and maybe get one done as a Christmas gift. Limit the number (like first 20 quilts) and limit the month---like November only or first two weeks in January. See if that will nudge them back to you. Good luck---it's disheartening when the customers you think are friends stop becoming customers.

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.

My suggestion -- make quilts that are so quick to make it will make your head swim. This one is 42 x 42, and a beginner who has made a few quilts can do this one in 4 hours. I have a pattern on Craftsy if you are interested: Pattern for Heart Song pattern. I used a few fabrics from Kaufman's Holiday Flourish line from a couple of years ago. It is made using the TQM Binding Tool. Easy peasy.
BTW, you can go to the QOV website: www.qovf.org, and request a QOV for yourself. That request will be forwarded to the coordinator for your area. And - thank you for your service! I appreciate your sacrifices and contribution to my security and that of our nation!

My latest blog post is now available. Check it out at Quiltniques Blog

Wanting to do a king-size version of this pattern without borders like you did.  Would love for you to share "your easier way" to do so.

Mary Beth....my math question on the Win A Millie this morning was 8+5....so if that is your numbers to add the answer is 13.....thought I would help a friend out.  haha
 
 

As I have taught my kids and anybody that will listen......, Math is money.
Most people enjoy money, so learn math.  “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it.” – Albert Einstein
Cagey

Look what I got to quilt!  It's a pink themed Halloween quilt, to display at our local hospital during the month of October.  Pink because it's breast cancer awareness month.  The Jackson Hole Quilt Guild rotates a quilt display every month at our local hospital.  The nurses and patients really appreciate it.  We've had a hard time in years past trying to find a pink quilt for the October display.  So we had the bright idea to make a quilt just for that.  Different people made the applique blocks, others sewed them together with sashing and border.  I quilted it, and just handed it off to another member to attach the binding.  A terrific collaboration.
Last May I took a few classes from Judi Madsen in Salt Lake City.  I just LOVE her work.  So, you will see that she inspired this quilting.  
The bat bra block is the one that really got me started with the quilt designs.  The lady who made it drew a spider in a web on the cleavage, so clever and so easy to quilt that design!  
Judi had just posted an applique quilt that she'd finished that had bugs in it.  She gave the bugs motion by quilting a swirly design under them.  I thought the ghosts need that swirly design too.  Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?!
I used a wool batting, glide thread with magna glide bobbins.  Love those magna glide bobbins!  Angela Huffman is a great source for them and her delivery is super fast.
Thanks for looking!

http://www.kenquiltmachines.com/kq622

Five hours isn't that long.   If you are having trouble following the lines on pantos, try quilting with a board.   I rent time on a  Millie and quilted the Baptist Fan pattern on a quilt using a pattern board.   I think it looks great!   You can do this, too, I just know you can!
 
 
 
 
 

thanks to all.  Forum member has graciously lent me her copy.  

Thanks again everybody.  Just a note, the quilt was actually 114 1/4 x 100 before quilting and after quilting it is 112 x 98 1/2.  I figured it would shrink up a bit with the quilting.  The "Ripples" panto was a medium to large density pattern.  100% cotton batting (preshrunk). 
Now that I have made it king sized the hard way, I know how I could have done it a lot easier, so Betsy if you need to make a king size and don't want to do it by adding borders, give me a holler.

Thanks so much.  The quilt is 114 x 100.  I wanted it big enough to drape on the sides and also to allow a little for shrinkage when it gets washed.   I did preshrink my Hobbs cotton batting but did not preshrink the batiks so we'll see how that goes someday... 
And Cagey, something that goes with my green walls was just what I was going for.  The wall color is called pale opal and I love it, but it Is not the easiest color to find coordinates for, even with all the fabric out there in the world.  Isn't it amazing how many colors of a color there are??
I love the movement on this quilt pattern, too.  I live by a huge lake and I was thinking of water with a little sand and grass when choosing my colors.  My husband's response when he saw it on the bed the first time was "it's crooked."  See what I deal with in my life everyday?  Gotta love'em.
Robin in MT

Just off my quilt frame this week, "Surf Song" bargello.  From the book Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright.  Needed a king size quilt for my bed and instead of adding borders to make a king sized "Surf Song" I kept building the bargello to the edges.  I quilted it with IQ and the panto Ripples by Lorien Quilting.  I will make coordinating batik pillowcases and of course still need to bind the beast!!
Robin in MT

I'll jump in here with some info. It spans and sits on the rollers so one made for a Millie won't fit a Lenny. The span between the rollers is different and since it snaps on the leveler roller for stability, the roller diameter must be the same. If it has the wheel, you can make many sizes of concentric circles from the front. If it doesn't have the wheel, it's a holder for pattern boards (blocks only) and allows you to trace the boards from the front. The arm attaches to the head without drilling any new holes. If she doesn't have the original instructions, we can send them to the new owner.

I finished this quilt recently for a client.  She absolutely loved the way it turned out.  It's great when the pieces fall together and the client celebrates the job with you!!!

Wow!  That looks wonderful!  Your granddaughter is very lucky.

This is the quilt I made for my first granddaughter's graduation from the book Bella Bella quilts.  It is my version of NON-paper pieced paper piecing.  My mind just doesn't work backwards, so I break the pattern down into units and then connect them into the wedge segments.  I had my husband cut out plexi template rulers to trim the units.  I started this after Easter and it went together pretty quickly.  SID the borders and the outside of the Xs.  Feathers in the upper purple/teal sections and loops in the bottom ones.  The star is from a shirt from each grandpa, the dark from the other grandpa who has been gone a couple years now, the light from one swiped from my husband.  The label is inserted into the western snap pocket from the dark shirt with a ribbon and kite from hubby's shirt.
 

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 remembered I had the email of her DIL and emailed her.  Rita is still in the hospital.  She had breathing related complications but seems to be doing better as of this week.  I'll let you know if I hear anything further.

I haven't heard anything either!  I sent her a personal email and didn't get a response.  I sure hope she is ok.
 
 

I've been wondering the same thing.  I asked last month, but no one had any news.

I believe i would try knitting

Naw, Gator,  I'm a tough old Duck! 
dbams: thanks, I appreciate it very much.