Otherwise known as why I stopped making quilts for hire (except for special people).

I run a business – even if it’s on a part-time basis and not my primary source of income – it’s still a business. My goal is to make a profit.

As much as I enjoy turning treasured t-shirts into keepsakes for folks, I can’t do that for $75.00 ($300-$400 maybe but not $75) – but there are companies out there that can.  Will the workmanship be the same? Oh, hell no. However, the individual will be getting something that he/she feels will meet their need at a price they are willing to pay.   That’s what matters.

Switching my business model to primarily teaching and tech-editing has been very good for me. It’s something that I can easily do in tandem with the day job. If I’ve been on my feet all day teaching library classes, I can still edit a pattern on my computer that evening with my feet propped up.  It’s also fun to work with designers and help them bring new designs to market. I’ve learned new skills, as well. I’ve actually published one pattern of my own and have another in the works. Besides, I earn more teaching and tech editing than I do making t-shirt quilts.  It took me a long time to accept this.

Goals for 2019 include increasing the number of tech editing clients to a certain level. If you are in need of tech-editing services, or know someone who is – please drop me a line. I am currently accepting projects for January 2019.

Why are we, as adults, so afraid to ask for what we want?  My 2nd – 5th grade students have absolutely NO problem in this area.  They are absolutely fearless in asking for anything and it doesn’t phase most of them in the least if I say, “No.”  They just carry on.

I need to be more like my kids.

The school district’s HR department will soon be sending out forms asking what we intend to do employment-wise for the 2019-20 school year.  I will checking the TRANSFER box. If I weren’t so close to meeting my years of service goal for retirement purposes, I’d be checking the RESIGNATION box.  (Sad to say, many teachers I know feel the same way.) So, at the last librarian meet-up, I put my name out there as a candidate for any anticipated middle school vacancies.  Hormones I can handle. I also find that I actually prefer teaching 5th-8th grade students in my sewing classes. They are much more independent and have the stamina to stick with the project at hand.

I will be asking for a change in work assignment for the upcoming school year.  I’ve finally realized that things are not going to change at my current school. My supervisors choose not to utilize my talents, respond to requests in a timely fashion or appreciate my efforts. It’s like I’m invisible. I’m damned good at what I do as a librarian, library teacher, media specialist, learning commons coordinator – whatever you want to call it. I still enjoy matching my readers with great books and teaching them how to research the $%^& out of a topic. Until this changes, my sewing business will always be a side hustle. Nothing wrong with that.

Imagine my surprise when I looked at my phone to see a text from the quilt shop asking about October Kid’s Club. There wasn’t supposed to be a Kid’s Club at the quilt shop in October because both classrooms were needed for a major event scheduled for that same weekend.  Seems the event was rescheduled and they had a free Saturday.  Could I think of a project AND get the sample to them in a couple of days?

Well, yes. The class was sew much fun!