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I actually gave thought to purchasing a quilting machine, but then I saw how it took away from the JOY of quilting. Instead of making a little money on the side, so to speak, I quilt because I WANT TO, not because I HAVE TO.
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Originally Posted by sandybeach
(Post 5408320)
Maybe this is why I am in such a funk right now. I finished a "graduation" quilt for a guy I work with (for his son). It was a queen size. And while it was off at the LAQ's I used the leftovers to make a lap quilt which I also gave him. Then my son wanted me to replace a broken zipper in a pair of shorts, then my DDIL wanted me to make two baby quilts for two of her friends. I am currently in the middle of quilting the first baby quilt,and my short arm quilt machine is not working properly so I have to drive 90 miles one way to drop it off and then a week later to pick it up. DDIL also asked me if I would make her a quilt for her Walk for the Cure team (which I did last year and never even found out who won it or how much they made from the raffle). So I said no to that quilt. I may, if I have time and really want to, make a tote out of fabric with ladies with scarves on their heads. Plus I (and my son) remodeled my kitchen these past few months (new counter, backsplash, painted all the cabinets (me alone) and painted the walls (also me alone). So I guess I am just burned out right now.
They made a lot of money and I am just positive yours did too. Mine went for well over $2,000 each! See????? Edie |
Originally Posted by Pat625
(Post 5406122)
How about when the fact that you quilt means you should also be available for everyone that wants clothes made, or something mended or hemmed??? I CAN do it all but DONT WANT to!! I also make purses for a change, but if someone wants one, they can pick from the ones I have done at the time...If I took orders and had to produce on a schedule, I wouldn't want to do it at all!
If I see one more split pants seam or am asked to repair a cheaply made shirt or anything I will scream.. LOL Yes I make clothes for myself. No I DO NOT want to make clothes for anyone else now. No I do not want to make a wall hanging for that woman you like and I don't... LOL Sorry I actually had to do that and I hated every minute of it. I don't want to sew on buttons unless they are embellishments . I actually want to start making art quilts but it seems I have a lists of Have To's a mile long. Like I do need to make myself some more dresses for the summer, and repair a friends quilt I have had for almost 2 years, and make purses I promised for a dog rescue auction,and,and and,... well you get the idea. Isn't it hard to change a life time habit of doing "work" before "play"? :) |
I sew for a living, but I also sew for fun. Here's my solution. My "work" sewing is done during work hours. When the work day is done, so is the "work" sewing. After taking care of household chores ... and making time to take care of myself ... I'm free to sew for fun. It's not easy to discipline myself, but it's what I have to do.
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It's so hard to say no to long-time friends and relatives. I've been asked to do two t-shirt quilts. I've never made one. Some one suggested asking them to work along with me. We'll see.
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My husband keeps asking me who is this one for? The last time I just told him for somebody special. I don't want to feel obligated or rushed anymore because I am losing interest and do not have fun doing it. Now I am having the best time ever working on a quilt because I just feel so relaxed no pressure of any kind, I do have somebody in mind, if it is ready when I leave for my holiday, it's coming and if I am not finished, I will send it for Christmas....may be ..or next summer.... :-D.
When I have a deadline, I always manage to have a bunch of stuff to do at the last minute. This year and for now on, I am having fun, and I will give away what is already done OR do not expect what you ordered anytime soon. You will get it when it's finish that's it that's all :P |
Originally Posted by jeanharville
(Post 5409557)
I feel like most of you in that being obligated to work on a project takes away the joy and the freedom in a hobby. And I for one have spent a life time working on someone elses schedule and now that I'm retired,I'm living on my schedule.
I do some sewing for charities, but its as I get it done--no set amount within a certain amount of time. Marilyn |
I have this problem right now!! I have 3 quilts to handquilt for other people. I am not getting to work on my own stuff and it is just bugging me to death. So, I have decided that I will work for a while on the ones I have to do and allow a little time for my own stuff as sort of a reward for doing the others. Then I keep promising myself that I won't take in anymore hand work to do. (yea, I know).
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I used to make Rabbits and they were so adorable with their expressive faces. Each rabbit was 24 inches long for Mom & Dad the babies varied in sizes, each rabbit had clothing and a hat to special order. I would charge 50.00 for a adult rabbit pair (24" size) and add 10.00 on for each child. A aunt in law took a famliy of 5 to sell to a friend of hers. When she brought me back the 25.00 as she told me that wasn't worth the money I was charging and that is what she took from the woman, I was floored. I have not made anything to sell since then, my daughter asked me to make some for the granddaughters; and she asked if she can start selling them-would I make families again? I will just make for the grands -and maybe a friend of theirs .. Too much time and material involved I think ..
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Originally Posted by Swan Song
(Post 5409850)
LOL Rebecca that is so me! I blurt out I'll make you a quilt, a bag, a wallhanging and then I think you and your big mouth! My intentions are good but my motivation lags.
I made a Bow Tuck bag and took it to work and someone asked what I would charge to make them one so I figured up cost and added some for my time and told her. Well then she walked in the next week with fabric and batting and said, "Now it won't cost me anything right?" I told her there is still my time. She told me no hurry just do it when I had free time. UGH! I knocked some off the price and told her if that wasn't ok I would tell her where to get a pattern. To my dismay she agreed. The fabric was...um...not my taste or quality. It was all I could do to force myself to work on that bag. Honestly they don't take long to put together but...this seemed like forever! Made longer by constant text messages about it's progress! She loved it and paid what I asked but NEVER AGAIN! Several other people asked if I could make them one but I suddenly became too busy with other projects. LOL So I feel your pain and it wasn't even a quilt! |
I have sewed all my life for myself and others. Recently I decided I didn't want to do that anymore. Now when someone asks me to sew for them I just tell them I wouldn't have time for X amount of days and then I give them a name of someone that wants to sew and does it for a living. I have found that sewing for others is not fun anymore and does not pay enough to make it worth while.
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What a wonderful wedding gift your quilt will be. Be certain to show us a picture. I too have trouble completing quilts that I've started for others. I've decided to committ a certain amount of time EACH DAY to working on them. (I'm still working on keeping that committment!) Good Luck!
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I never commit to a deadline. Because of physical limitations, a deadline would add a lot of stress and I just don't need that in my life. Also, my quilting mission is donation quilts for those having chemo and/or dialysis and wounded or injured military and those always take priority over anything else I may be doing. I tell everyone that, too. Smiles.
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I will never quilt for money. Don't need the stress and hate deadlines. I get that at work everyday. Quilting is a wonderful and creative outlet for my time 'away' from work, so I'm afraid taking commissions would totally ruin it for me. I have a dear friend that is always hinting that she is waiting for her quilt. I explained that all the grand kids and grown kids get one first, then I will make her something. I also told her it was not going to be a bed size quilt, because few people actually use quilts for covering now days, and as I hand quilt, it takes me almost a year to complete one that is bed sized. When the time comes, I will quilt her a nice wall hanging or perhaps a lap throw. I don't tell any of the grand kids they are getting a quilt, because I don't want to feel obligated and then place myself under a time limit.
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Originally Posted by lisalovesquilting
(Post 5410248)
It's so hard to say no to long-time friends and relatives. I've been asked to do two t-shirt quilts. I've never made one. Some one suggested asking them to work along with me. We'll see.
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Originally Posted by Caswews
(Post 5410372)
I used to make Rabbits and they were so adorable with their expressive faces. Each rabbit was 24 inches long for Mom & Dad the babies varied in sizes, each rabbit had clothing and a hat to special order. I would charge 50.00 for a adult rabbit pair (24" size) and add 10.00 on for each child. A aunt in law took a famliy of 5 to sell to a friend of hers. When she brought me back the 25.00 as she told me that wasn't worth the money I was charging and that is what she took from the woman, I was floored. I have not made anything to sell since then, my daughter asked me to make some for the granddaughters; and she asked if she can start selling them-would I make families again? I will just make for the grands -and maybe a friend of theirs .. Too much time and material involved I think ..
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When I make something for others, I get it done and before I start another, I try to get something I want done too. Than I feel like I am still enjoying my "hobby" yet my "Job" too. I also find myself liking the project for a customer as much as for my self.
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When people ak me to sew or do alterations outside the quilting realm, my answer is "would you ask Picasso to paint your house?"
Originally Posted by Pat625
(Post 5406122)
How about when the fact that you quilt means you should also be available for everyone that wants clothes made, or something mended or hemmed??? I CAN do it all but DONT WANT to!! I also make purses for a change, but if someone wants one, they can pick from the ones I have done at the time...If I took orders and had to produce on a schedule, I wouldn't want to do it at all!
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Originally Posted by Pat625
(Post 5406122)
How about when the fact that you quilt means you should also be available for everyone that wants clothes made, or something mended or hemmed??? I CAN do it all but DONT WANT to!!
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Originally Posted by burchquilts
(Post 5412152)
I don't know about you but to me, the only thing worse than "having" to do something is having someone "help" me. Maybe it's just me... I'm an only child so I like to do things solo... unless it's my idea to work as a team. I'm a real witch, aren't I? LOL!
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And why don't you gift them with sewing lessons?
Originally Posted by sewmary
(Post 5406149)
I am going to remember that! Two years until retirement.........
In the meantime, I have two pairs of curtains to hem for a niece, a perpetual calaendar to sew for another niece for school, a second one to sew for my daughter because she will want one too, a quilt for daughter's preschool, and now of course the same quilt for niece. Not to mention the quilt for my sister that looks to be neverending. Yes, I know - the word is NO!!!!!!! |
For the past several years I have been going to Texas for the winter. There is a consignment craft store where I have been selling things. I seem to spend my whole winter sewing like crazy to make things for the shop. You have to put a decent (low) price on it so that it will sell and then the shop takes 30%. It's near impossible to make money on it. You are lucky to cover your expenses. I have piles of stuff that did not sell. No more. Now I am only sewing what I want. I still have deadlines....like the quilt show next weekend....my 4 quilts need to be turned in on monday and I still have a binding to hand stitch. Such is life. At least with a deadline I actually finish something!
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Originally Posted by Caswews
(Post 5410372)
I used to make Rabbits and they were so adorable with their expressive faces. Each rabbit was 24 inches long for Mom & Dad the babies varied in sizes, each rabbit had clothing and a hat to special order. I would charge 50.00 for a adult rabbit pair (24" size) and add 10.00 on for each child. A aunt in law took a famliy of 5 to sell to a friend of hers. When she brought me back the 25.00 as she told me that wasn't worth the money I was charging and that is what she took from the woman, I was floored. I have not made anything to sell since then, my daughter asked me to make some for the granddaughters; and she asked if she can start selling them-would I make families again? I will just make for the grands -and maybe a friend of theirs .. Too much time and material involved I think ..
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Others wants and others deadlines put far too many restrictions on my wants and make it seem like a JOB that I dont want. I love to gift my quilts to whom I want when I want. Friends, family, charities, without strings and without tension over HAVING to do them
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How about quilted tote bags !
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Originally Posted by Swan Song
(Post 5409850)
LOL Rebecca that is so me! I blurt out I'll make you a quilt, a bag, a wallhanging and then I think you and your big mouth! My intentions are good but my motivation lags.
I made a Bow Tuck bag and took it to work and someone asked what I would charge to make them one so I figured up cost and added some for my time and told her. Well then she walked in the next week with fabric and batting and said, "Now it won't cost me anything right?" I told her there is still my time. She told me no hurry just do it when I had free time. UGH! I knocked some off the price and told her if that wasn't ok I would tell her where to get a pattern. To my dismay she agreed. The fabric was...um...not my taste or quality. It was all I could do to force myself to work on that bag. Honestly they don't take long to put together but...this seemed like forever! Made longer by constant text messages about it's progress! She loved it and paid what I asked but NEVER AGAIN! Several other people asked if I could make them one but I suddenly became too busy with other projects. LOL So I feel your pain and it wasn't even a quilt! |
Originally Posted by texpat45
(Post 5413242)
Oh, Burchquilts, I think you're my sister from another mother!! It's not just you. Those are my sentiments exactly and, yes, I'm an only child, too! I don't even join swaps...that would be a deadline and I don't do deadlines anymore! I don't offer to make anything for anybody even my children & grand,children. As someone else said if I want to make them something, I'll keep it to myself until it's done. Years ago I made almost all my own clothing, sewed for other people and was a partner in a craft business doing sewn items and I came to hate sewing. I even quit for a few years. When I came back to sewing, I vowed to make only want I wanted to, when I wanted to, and no self-imposed deadlines. And now that I'm retired I'm even more intent on adhereing to that vow. "Read, sew, eat, repeat." The perfect motto!!
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Originally Posted by Snooks
(Post 5410388)
I feel you!!! Only ONE time have I let someone bring me fabric that they pick up (for me to make them some thing), I did it - and YES it sucked big time. It was for a dress for a wedding, it fit like a glove. She didn't like how it felt, etc..... (all the problems came down to the FABRIC). NEVER AGAIN!!! When someone says they will bring the fabric! - I say "NO", if they don't understand they I UP-CHARGE by 3 times what the price was.
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I also make handbags and sell them. I love doing it. But "I'm the artist. Tell me what style and colors you want and let me craft something beautiful for you" When the customer wants to direct my every move, she might as well make it herself.
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All these posts are why I only quilt for fun. smile....
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