“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” ~ Buddhist Proverb.

My creative switch  flipped on yesterday during an applique class with Jan Cunningham.  She’s an award-winning quilter who graciously agreed to present her version of  Sharon Schamber’s invisible applique technique to members of the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild.   (picture taken with cell phone – will upload better one later)

I’m adept with raggy edge and fusible applique, but needle turn methods have left me scratching my head and/or not liking the finished result.

Until now.

I’ve avoided (and mean REALLY avoided) working on a bird applique quilt for my mom because I wasn’t sure how to proceed.  Well, I think I have it down now.  I was able to cut and glue down my applique pieces during the class.  Chose not to stitch in class because I had the Carina with me which has neither needle down nor droppable feed dogs.  It took a few tries to get Jewel set up for a satisfactory stitch, but following are my settings for doing an invisible applique on a Janome 6600 Professional:

Upper Thread:  Sulky Polyester Monofilament (place upright in a jam jar on the counter behind the spool holders)
Bobbin: Aurifil 50 wt
Needle:  Size 10/70 topstitch or 11/75 embroidery
Tension adjustments:  2.5 upper thread and 1/4 screw turn to the right on the bobbin case.
Stitch width:  .9 – 1.1
Stitch length:  .9
Foot:  Open toe (regular or Accufeed)

Good quality poly thread in the bobbin didn’t work so well for me, so I’ll stick with Aurifil or Superior 50 wt cotton for now.

And for what it’s worth:  Sulky invisible thread does shine if the light hits it just so.  Mrs. Cunningham informed us that the Superior Threads mono-poly product has a matte finish.  I think I’ll give that a try.

This particular method uses lots of glue stick and a special interfacing that is left intact (unlike freezer paper that is removed).  Once stitched, the work is soaked for a couple of hours to remove the glue.  Supposedly, the fibers in the interfacing soften, which results in a hand-applique look.

Now, if this day would only hurry up and end so I can go home and get busy in my studio,  I want to see how it looks after I soak the glue out of the sample.

Sheesh.  All I did was apply for a business license to teach sewing classes and make the occasional quilt.

My little business didn’t fit in any of the “approved” SIC/NAICS codes that the business licensing division can use, so they put me in the best category they could – I am listed under arts & crafts retail  (5947/453220).

No wonder I was on the receiving end of so many credit card processing calls yesterday.

Yikes. They think I own a retail shop. [Well, if you count the Etsy shop, I guess I do…but that’s not the main focus of my business.]

So, I called the county to inquire about my SIC/NAICS code designation. According to the representative, they only use the code I suggested for music lessons, not handicrafts instruction.  Unless I wanted to be shown as offering music lessons, my only other options were “Merchandise and Service Broker” or “Business Management Office” – neither of which really fit either.

My main concern was that this designation would send up a red flag of some sort, meaning I would be entertaining guests of the planning and zoning office in the near future when they came to “inspect” my business premises.  [Cobb County has stricter home-based business regulations than some of the neighboring counties.]   Nothing to hide, but we’re already on the radar for having gone through a zoning variance on the property (reduce setback line by 18″ to add a front porch) and three separate building permits.  I was assured this would not set off any sort of trigger.  We shall see.

So, I guess for now it’s “arts & crafts retail” and I’ll be the sending telephone numbers I don’t recognize to voice mail.

P.S.  And to all you telemarketers: I accept cash, check and Paypal.

1) My students completed their journal covers in the the allotted class time!  Woo-hoo!  Lots of cute pictures to share once mom gives the okay.  They were so proud of themselves.  Both of them took their journals to school to show them off to their classmates.  What better advertising could I ask for?  I have a fifth grade boy in my sewing class whose best friend had been ribbing him unmercifully about taking sewing classes.  Best friend changed his tune once he saw my student’s FSU journal cover.  Best friend now wants to learn how to make his own Alabama journal cover and asked me if I had Alabama fabric in my stash, too.  [No, but I can get it for him.]

2) Applied for my business license on Tuesday.  In about 4 weeks, I should have my little paper to post on the wall.

3) Amazing how word is starting to spread that I teach sewing and make quilts.  Had a coworker ask me to make a memory quilt from her son’s baby clothes.  Got a referral to do some restoration work on an antique quilt.

4) Best surprise of the week was the generous offer by two folks of sewing machines for use in my business.  Passed on one (mutual friend tweeted they knew someone who really needed one).  Paid $25 for the other one and happily spent the afternoon bringing Old Bessie back to life.  It’s a White model 1717.  Nothing fancy, but she’s solid, covers the basics and makes a pretty stitch.  All she needed was a good cleaning, oil and lube. I did the dirty work and headed off to Ashby’s for new spool pin felts, crocus cloth and to verify bobbin size.  No crocus cloth for sale, but Marc graciously smoothed out the nicks on the needle plate for me at no charge.  Will let the 8 y.o. try it out on Thursday.  Mom plans to reimburse me if daughter wants the machine.  If not, I’ll gladly keep it for classroom use.