Pardon me Mr. President, but I’m the one who took the risk and started this small business –

July 16, 2012

I saved the money from my full-time job as a school librarian so I would have start up capital for my sewing business.  My business is run on a cash basis and will be self-financed.

I am the one who filed the forms and wrote the checks to set up my business entity, obtained the business license and secured liability insurance before I ever advertised my services.

I am the one who developed projects and met with local shop owners to convince them to let me teach kids’ sewing classes at the shops.

I am the one who found and fixed up old sewing machines that my students could use in class, because not everyone has the money to buy a machine when they are first learning how to sew.

I am the one who taught those sewing lessons.

I am the one who figured out how to restore a grandmother’s flower garden quilt and proceeded to do so, much to my customer’s delight.

I am the one who took a pile of old t-shirts and turned them into a much loved quilt (and this was for a repeat customer, I might add!).

I am the one who took a friend’s sketch and figured out how to turn it into a mermaid quilt for her daughter’s bedroom.  I also sourced the “just right” fabric, which was by no means an easy feat.

I am the one designing and making the projects to vend at an upcoming craft fair to benefit a pet rescue group.  Any profits, if any, will be split equally between Etowah Valley Humane Society and READing Paws.

I am the one who risked $1.00 in listing fees to try an Etsy storefront.  It didn’t work for me, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try again in the future.

Please answer me this question:  If I wasn’t the one to set up and run my business, then who did?

By the way, Mr. President – you need to find another speechwriter.

Upcoming class projects

July 13, 2012
T-shirt Pillow Cover

Project 1:  T-shirt Pillow Cover.  You pick the size pillow you want (16″x16″ pillow form used here), your favorite t-shirt and some coordinating fabric.  In about 90 minutes, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind pillow that YOU created.  The envelope style pillow cover means no snaps, buttons or zippers to contend with.  Perfect for beginners. If you can wind a bobbin, thread your machine and sew a straight seam without sewing your fingers together, then you have the skills necessary to make this project.  Fabric requirements for a 16″ square pillow cover:  1/4 yard for trimming the t-shirt, 1/2 yard for the back and 1/2 yard lightweight fusible interfacing to stabilize the t-shirt.  All the fabrics for this project came from my stash.  Pillow form is from Joann’s.

This little mini-quilt went to Ireland

July 9, 2012

Nearly two dozen members from the Atlanta and Irish Modern Quilt Guilds participated in a swap.  The big reveal on this side of the pond was at the AMQG meeting yesterday morning.  It was a fun challenge.  Here’s the bundle all wrapped up (before putting in the padded mailer at the post office).

I included some extra goodies in the bundle. It’s now on its its way to my swap partner Karen.  Package should arrive in 6-10 days, according to the clerk at the post office.

And for the AMQG label police (a/k/a Pam Cobb) – here’s the label.  See?  I added one!  🙂  This looked much better than the original one and takes up a lot less space on the back of the quilt.  It also doesn’t get in the way of the design on the backing fabric.  Happy now?