Big High Paws Everyone! We were planning on opening Pumpkin's Quilt Corner on September 1, 2013, but had the opportunity to get it going early. Therefore, we "officially" opened for business July 27, 2013. Mom met with her first customer! (The business is still in countdown mode as the quilt won't actually be delivered to mom until Augst 10, 2013, so THAT'S the "official" date for me!)
I wasn't allowed to go because mom is meeting her "clients" (what does that word even mean?) at a local quilt and sewing machine shop. I don't think she'd mind me giving her friend and mentor a shout out, so here's to Jackie Lynn's Discount Sewing Center in Rochester, New York! HI Jackie!!! See, I'm waving my beautiful orange paw at you! See me??? Jackie LOVES kitties as much as mom and dad and the fam do. In fact, she takes care of many feral kitties that live outside her store. That makes her tops in my book.
Anyway, I digress, as usual. Mom had a great meeting with her first official customer and was very careful about all of the paperwork and whatnot so that the meeting would go smoothly. The woman mom met with, she said, was very nice. She can't wait to get started working on her quilt.
Mom couldn't take the lady's quilt right away because she promised one of my human dad's friends that she'd make one for her (NOT as part of the business) completely...from start to finish. I'm surprised mom didn't rant about that one (maybe she wanted to leave me to) for hours and hours and pages and pages. It was a true nightmare for her, which left me feeling unhappy because there were days when she refused to even go into Pumpkin's Quilt Corner because of that. (Well, that is why I think she didn't go in...She said it was because she hurt her back. I'm telling you...you humans need to figure out a way to get spines made and transplanted into your bodies that are built like a cat's. We can turn on a dime...thus the myth about a cat always landing on it's feet. We can from about six or seven feet up...most of the time, but forget it from heights higher than that. Oh we do sometimes, but better not to test it out.)
Mom says I can't give details as it could get her into trouble, but let's suffice it to say that the quilt she had such problems with was a panel quilt and the panels were printed on the fabric all askew (I think that means crooked). Even after complaining and getting a replacement panel, it was still the same. She says she won't buy panels or panel quilt kits online (or maybe ever) again after this. She had to buy a couple of extra tools to try and get one that would help her "fussy" cut the panel and then she had to try and find a type of fabric that is no longer "in style" so it took her weeks to find one that, sort of, worked. She's about ready to construct the quilt and I've got my paws (all four of them) crossed that she doesn't have any more problems with the quilt. I know she wanted to do a custom design on the quilt, but now will have to settle for a pantograph, which makes her sad, but what can she do?
Wow! I didn't even mean to tell you all about the "nightmare" quilt, but I guess sometimes we all just need to rant. I'm the one ranting because it was heartbreaking to see mom get so angry she'd throw stuff (mostly paper) across the room once. Mom pretty much NEVER gets mad (not even when one of us accidentally scratches her), so this should tell you how frustrating the whole thing has been.
At any rate, we are now officially counting down the days on our paws (and fingers) until the customer's quilt is delivered to us. Mom is busy working on organizing the paperwork and making sure all the numbers are correct as well as practicing the stipple pattern in the size requested by the customer. (This on top of the friend's quilt!) Needless to say, this has been an extremely busy last few days, but I know mom and she's up to it. So, everyone...count with us and be ready for Pumpkin's Quilt Corner to officially blast off on 8/10/2013!!
As always:
Remember, Paws Are Best Used for Quilting!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Preparations...
My mom is getting very nervous, but excited too! The time for our business, Pumpkin's Quilt Corner, to open it's hypothetical doors for business is coming up soon. We decided on September 1, 2013, as long as everything is ready to go on that date. I'm excited and nervous too. I've been bugging mom to spend more time in the Quilt Corner (which is in our home) because she's now locked me out of our bedroom at night!
The reason for this outrage, she says, is because that crotchety old woman, Flutie (the Old One) has been diagnosed with some kind of blood cyst or cancer in her stomach. The vets said she would die soon and since she's been mom's closest friend for years, mom has been kind of sad. So, she decided to keep Flutie from being "picked on" (hey, I've got to keep everyone in line, especially at night) at during the night that she would be locked in mom's room with her. I am REALLY angry about this! I must admit that, perhaps, I've taken out too much of my frustration on the others, but a little extra toughness, especially on that grey THING, Bella (the former sheriff), helps to keep her in line.
My ponderings are wondering from the quilting business, for which I apologize. I will have times when that happens, as evidenced in my blog title.
Now, back to business. Mom has been feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the paperwork and whatnot to get going, but she's been a real trooper. She's being really thorough and making sure everything is done correctly and accurately. She's also been practicing her pantographing and even some stencil quilting and custom quilting. She LOVES freehand quilting. So do I as it's fun to sit on the back side of the table and watch her work (if I'm not napping there). I can't do that when she's using pantographs. I do like when she finishes her practice pieces more than when she finishes real quilts, or quilts real quilts. I get to test the comfortableness of the practice pieces, which makes me VERY happy. Of course, being the magnanimous ruler I am, I let the others try out the quilt pieces too...when mom let's them into the room, which is hardly EVER. Only I get to come in most of the time since it's MY business and mom just works for me. Of course, she's warned me repeatedly that once the inventory is completed prior to starting the business, I may not be allowed at all (yeah, right! I'll convince her to just put a disclaimer in her business software warning about pet hair and dander being on her quilts) once she starts taking in customer quilts. She does get tough with us once in awhile, so who knows, maybe she'll do that when she opens our business, but that doesn't seem fair, does it?
Anyway, there's so much to do to get ready for this. I really hope it works out for her. Right now she's trying to figure out the right prices to charge since it's kind of hard to figure that out, not only based on skill, but also based on competition and average pricing in our area. It's not the easiest thing to find out other quilters' prices as they aren't the most forthcoming about them. I wonder why that is. As busy as they are all reported to be, you'd think they'd gladly work together and share information and whatnot, but I guess the competition makes them not only seemingly secretive, but also crabby on occasion when asked about pricing. Maybe it has something to do with money.
I don't quite get the whole money thing. It's just NOT something we have in out kitty world. It's not necessary because of the way we've set up our societies, both domestic and in the wild. Oh well, I digress...again. I feel hungry. I think I'll go see if I can get mom to give us some of that oh-so-yummy soft food she's been "hiding" from us (like she can fool me).
So, signing off for now.
Remember Paws are best used for quilting!
The reason for this outrage, she says, is because that crotchety old woman, Flutie (the Old One) has been diagnosed with some kind of blood cyst or cancer in her stomach. The vets said she would die soon and since she's been mom's closest friend for years, mom has been kind of sad. So, she decided to keep Flutie from being "picked on" (hey, I've got to keep everyone in line, especially at night) at during the night that she would be locked in mom's room with her. I am REALLY angry about this! I must admit that, perhaps, I've taken out too much of my frustration on the others, but a little extra toughness, especially on that grey THING, Bella (the former sheriff), helps to keep her in line.
My ponderings are wondering from the quilting business, for which I apologize. I will have times when that happens, as evidenced in my blog title.
Now, back to business. Mom has been feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the paperwork and whatnot to get going, but she's been a real trooper. She's being really thorough and making sure everything is done correctly and accurately. She's also been practicing her pantographing and even some stencil quilting and custom quilting. She LOVES freehand quilting. So do I as it's fun to sit on the back side of the table and watch her work (if I'm not napping there). I can't do that when she's using pantographs. I do like when she finishes her practice pieces more than when she finishes real quilts, or quilts real quilts. I get to test the comfortableness of the practice pieces, which makes me VERY happy. Of course, being the magnanimous ruler I am, I let the others try out the quilt pieces too...when mom let's them into the room, which is hardly EVER. Only I get to come in most of the time since it's MY business and mom just works for me. Of course, she's warned me repeatedly that once the inventory is completed prior to starting the business, I may not be allowed at all (yeah, right! I'll convince her to just put a disclaimer in her business software warning about pet hair and dander being on her quilts) once she starts taking in customer quilts. She does get tough with us once in awhile, so who knows, maybe she'll do that when she opens our business, but that doesn't seem fair, does it?
Anyway, there's so much to do to get ready for this. I really hope it works out for her. Right now she's trying to figure out the right prices to charge since it's kind of hard to figure that out, not only based on skill, but also based on competition and average pricing in our area. It's not the easiest thing to find out other quilters' prices as they aren't the most forthcoming about them. I wonder why that is. As busy as they are all reported to be, you'd think they'd gladly work together and share information and whatnot, but I guess the competition makes them not only seemingly secretive, but also crabby on occasion when asked about pricing. Maybe it has something to do with money.
I don't quite get the whole money thing. It's just NOT something we have in out kitty world. It's not necessary because of the way we've set up our societies, both domestic and in the wild. Oh well, I digress...again. I feel hungry. I think I'll go see if I can get mom to give us some of that oh-so-yummy soft food she's been "hiding" from us (like she can fool me).
So, signing off for now.
Remember Paws are best used for quilting!
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