Tuesday, January 6, 2009

More thinking . . .

I have thought more and more about my quilting block. I have worked to isolate the issue with me. I enjoy doing quilts for people who enjoy making quilts and are relaxed about their work. I do not enjoy doing quilts for some who are uptight and/or perfectionists. So, I have designed some guidelines to follow from here forward:

1. I do not want to do any quilts for display at our local shops. I will do quilts that are created to be used and enjoyed. If the quilter is stressed, then I get stressed and it all goes in the dump.

2. I will focus my business on "all overs" or those with just a simple separate, border treatment so that Hoke and I can work together. I enjoy doing nice borders and I love having Hoke do the rest. Customers who want something else can select any number of excellent quilters in our area.

3. I will do custom work only for existing customers with whom I have harmonious connection. All other custom work or art quilting will be on my quilts only.

4. I will take in only enough quilts for two weeks of work a month. The other two weeks are for me.

Now that sounds pretty darn good! I will look forward to getting past the next 4 I have on the schedule that do not meet these requirements. The rest on my schedule will be fun to do and I am looking forward to the work. I just need to get past the next 4. I think I can do that. . . I think I can.

8 comments:

  1. This sounds like a good plan. Good luck and enjoy your quilting!

    Judy in MO

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  2. I KNOW you can!

    Good plan.

    Gayle

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  3. Great plan! It's no fun if you have gut-churning stress over a quilt. Change your rules to whatever it takes to make it enjoyable again, and adjust the rules AGAIN if need be. :o)

    A friend that also quilts (meanders only) for others quilts for HER say on the weekends, and for the others on the weekdays...or vice versa if you like. That way she KNOWS she has time for her own projects.

    I've run into the same thing, making or quilting so many for others that I still don't have a new quilt for my own bed (pieced and without borders for 2 years). I'm following the new rule and I either have a quilt on the frame for ME OR piecing one for ME and that leaves time to do work for others still.

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  4. Great plan! It's no fun if you have gut-churning stress over a quilt. Change your rules to whatever it takes to make it enjoyable again, and adjust the rules AGAIN if need be. :o)

    A friend that also quilts (meanders only) for others quilts for HER say on the weekends, and for the others on the weekdays...or vice versa if you like. That way she KNOWS she has time for her own projects.

    I've run into the same thing, making or quilting so many for others that I still don't have a new quilt for my own bed (pieced and without borders for 2 years). I'm following the new rule and I either have a quilt on the frame for ME OR piecing one for ME and that leaves time to do work for others still.

    Happy Quilting!

    Dawn in TX

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  5. Oops...sorry about the duplicate...stupid Yahoo. :o)

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  6. Thank you all - - - that plan will probably last until I get peeved with the next one. LOL!

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  7. Carol......I understand your wanting to do easy allovers....I'm doing more of that myself. My artistic talents are going to be used on my quilts from now on, not everyone else's. Life is about choices and you have made great decisions about the scope of your business.

    Karen L

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  8. I agree, with parts of your decision, I am finding that with Custom I cannot get paid for my work and time, I too am contemplating doing allovers only and saving the Custom for ME! Hugs, Ronda

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I am so glad you stopped to chat.