I quilt and think
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It’s Thursday and it’s time to linky up your quilty process here at Pretty Bobbins! Sometimes I think too much, I always have. In fact one of my favourite things to do is quilt and think (I’m not one to watch TV and piece, I prefer the company of my own thoughts). This week I’ve been thinking a lot about being a professional quilter and blogger and what that means. But first up I want to feature the incredibly talented Jess of The Elven Garden.
![Image used with permission from The Elven Garden](/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Jess-1-1024x768.jpg)
Image used with permission from The Elven Garden
I remember first coming across Jess and being so incredibly impressed with her quilting. Seriously amazing stuff! She is now teaching and has been published in magazines and is generally a bit of a quilting superstar in my books I’m looking forward to meeting Jess in real life and sharing a room at QuiltCon next year!!
![Image used with permission from The Elven Garden - saw this in person, it's AMAZING!!](/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Jess-2-768x1024.jpg)
Image used with permission from The Elven Garden – saw this in person, it’s AMAZING!!
Yesterday Jess wrote a post about thinking and quilting. Now I’ll admit that I quilt and think, the two go hand in hand for me. Jess talked about how some of us are mindful quilters and some aren’t and how she’s realised that she is totally happy “just” making pretty things and being happy <3 Jess, I’ll be happy if you keep making pretty things! The world needs more quilt candy, be it mindfully made or thrown together with purpose rather than deep thought involved
![Image used with permission from The Elven Garden](/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Jess-3-768x1024.jpg)
Image used with permission from The Elven Garden
Seriously, this kind of talent kills me! ABSOLUTELY stunning! If you haven’t already, please head over to The Elven Garden and say hi to Jess. Her work is all things wonderful <3
![Quilting with my Miss](/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/francois-sewing-1-726x1024.jpg)
Quilting with my Miss
The only quilting I’ve been up to lately is a super simple quilt for Francois, my daughter’s class mascot. The children in her class laid out the charm squares and we made the quilt together at home. We added photographs to the Francois’ scrapbook and I have hung a few copies in my sewing room <3
![Triangle quilt in progress](/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Triangles-1024x1024.jpg)
Triangle quilt in progress
As usual I have been thinking a lot about my business and I’ve decided to aim to have a market stall. We all know that pricing is arguably the hardest part of quilting and I very much believe that we should charge what we’re worth. I have a super hard time following through with this and generally tend to sell myself short. I have decided that everything I make for market will be properly priced. I’ve been timing myself as I’m working and you may be interested to hear my progress.
Cutting: 50 minutes
Layout: 40 minutes
Piecing: 205 minutes
That’s almost 5 hours of work before basting, quilting and binding and this is only a cot sized quilt. Of course I will probably chicken out and charge far less than the finished quilt is actually worth, but at least by figuring out an accurate cost based on time, materials and skill I can educate myself. In this same vein I urge you to visit this post by Mandalei Quilts on working for free. It is definitely food for thought and fits with my own experience of realising that as much as I love to accept free fabric, the work that I put into my work is worth far more than the say $50 worth of free fabric. As a business I just don’t think I can afford to work for free anymore. I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on this one
So that’s my thinky quilty Thursday Please link up your quilty process below <3
Charlotte
May 23, 2014 at 12:32 am (2 days ago)Jess is soooo talented! It’s incredible to think that she hasn’t been quilting for very long!
ReplyChristine Feldstein
May 23, 2014 at 3:29 am (2 days ago)Great job! I love the picture with your beautiful daughter. Thanks for the today’s party!
ReplyQuilting Dee
May 23, 2014 at 9:50 am (1 day ago)Don’t chicken out! Must not upset Molli Sparkles!!
ReplyLeanne Parsons
May 23, 2014 at 11:16 am (1 day ago)I’ve been following links, reading about this issue and I must say it is very interesting. Thanks for sharing. BTW, the placemats I linked up today took me about 8 hours to make. I kept track because I’m thinking about trying to sell some of my quilted things and wonder if anyone will actually pay the prices I’d have to charge to make it worth my while. I’m thinking those placemats would have to sell for at least $100. I’d know I’d never pay that myself, but then, I just make my own! Are there people who would actually pay that much for four placemats?
ReplyLeeAnna Paylor
May 23, 2014 at 11:40 am (1 day ago)the pic of you and your girl…so sweet.
ReplyLeeAnna Paylor lapaylor.blogspot.com
Jessamie
May 23, 2014 at 10:01 pm (18 hours ago)I am really enjoying reading this series it always gives me pause for thought, both what you are thinking about and the amazing work you feature!
Reply