Newest Commission Quilt - Buttercream Diamonds

There are three "divisions" to my business - Four Seasons Quilt Shoppe. That sounds so very official, especially since I operate these divisions from the two upstairs bedrooms in my home. Custom quiltmaking - I make quilts that I want to sell at local vendor shows, specifically targeting the season of the show, and the customer base. Longarm quilting - quilters who either don't want to quilt their quilts themselves, or don't have the equipment to do so, will ask me to quilt for them - please understand I only have two "stitches" - stippling, which looks like puzzle pieces, and my infamous "busy bee", which looks like the flight plan of a very determined insect. The third division of FSQS is my commission quiltmaking where customers will select a pattern and the fabric, and I will make their quilt for them. Sometimes they are very specific about what they want, and other times, they give me the freedom to "surprise them", based upon the custom quilts that I've previously made to sell. All three divisions have their challenges. Will I sell enough quilts at vendor shows to cover my expenses and make a profit? Will the customer be pleased with the quilting I've done on their quilts? Does the commission quilt I've just completed measure-up to the customer's expectations - price, quality of workmanship, design and color?

When I began quilting in 1990 after my mother retired and she insisted that I could certainly quilt, I never imagined those early classes at Piecemakers in Costa Mesa, CA, would lead to a small business and the opportunity to do something that I love every single day of my life.

Shown above is my latest commission quilt entitled "Buttercream Diamonds", and is a slightly modified version of the Fig Tree Quilts pattern (without the inner border) that was made for my sister, Sherry. It's a large quilt measuring 80" x 98", and will have pillow shams to match (eventually). I enjoyed making the quilt very much, even though working with fabric cut on the diagonal throughout the entire quilt was challenging - you have to be careful not to stretch the pieces as you sew the units together. The sheer size and weight of the quilt meant careful piecing and a large work surface!