Finished with Companion Cubes

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I am finished with the Companion Cube top panels!  I pushed myself until I finished them all.  The next step is to assemble them together using sashing and then add a border.  I will do that next week while in the states when I have access to a double sized bed for better sizing.  I am just so happy I am done with them.  I also finished the pyramid for the Qbert quilt.  I wanted to have the entire top done, but couldn’t because the applique paper I had was not very good.  Applique paper is supposed to peel off nicely after ironing onto the fabric and this didn’t.  Instead, it attached so much that I actually tore the fabric as I was trying to remove it.  So I need to buy new applique paper while in the states as well and then finish the Qbert top.

So lots to do next week.  I will start with the twin size quilts because I would like to get them shipped out next week as well.  Then I will pin everything else and assemble the Companion Cube.  If I have time I will then quilt all of the ones I have pinned as well.  I still have a few weeks before Too Many Games, so I know they will get finished. 

I started on the pillow tops.  I decided I would rather have some new pillows then more quilts.  The only exception is I need to make more Red Mage quilts.  Too bad the pattern is in the states.  So I will pick that up and get two of those made as well.  Then for ConBravo I will make the Racoon Mario and Pikachu.  Any suggestions for new quilts?  I tried to make a chocobo pattern, but it didn’t turn out right.  So I may make a moggle pattern and see how it looks.

Wish list for Too Many Games

  • Shy Guy
  • Mario – top finished
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube – tops finished
  • Q-bert – pyramid done
  • Sonic
  • Megaman
  • ? Appliques
  • Red Mage
  • Pikachu
  • Pillows – started

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Both Tops Finished
  • Double sized Companion Cube – Panels done
  • Miniature Batgirl with Girl Power backing
  • Valna from Valis

Almost done with the Companion Cubes

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I keep joking that the Companion Cube quilts are driving me crazy.  They really aren’t driving me crazy.  I have just been seeing the same fabric every day for the last two weeks.  Now that I am doing this full time and quilting all day and all night, this is a lot of time with the same fabric.  I am making progress though!  I have 4 tops done (the double size quilt is 6 laps together) and have 4 to go (2 are for conventions).  I have the last 4 in rows and pinned.  I figure today I will work all day on assembling the rows.  Tomorrow, no matter where I am in the process I am taking a break and working on the Qbert quilt.

The Qbert quilt is one I am excited about making.  It is using a new technique I haven’t done before.  I will be making the rows vertical instead of horizontal.  I will also be making trapezoids instead of squares for the assembly.  After the main pyramid is finished I will applique some of the other design figures on it.  I always love doing new techniques and try things I haven’t done before.

I also took a commission for Valna today.  She is another character from Valis.  I matched her pattern as much as I could to the Yuko quilt I made a year ago.  That way they will look like companion pieces.  I will do the same green background and the size of the pattern will be almost the same size.

Wish list for Too Many Games

  • Shy Guy
  • Mario – top finished
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube – tops finished
  • Q-bert
  • Sonic
  • Megaman
  • ? Appliques
  • Red Mage
  • Pikachu
  • Pillows

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Both Tops Finished
  • Double sized Companion Cube – Started
  • Miniature Batgirl with Girl Power backing
  • Valna from Valis

When I get pricing wrong

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Sometimes I take a commission for a quilt and give a pricing based on what I expect my time will be and I am completely WRONG.  This is what happened with the Companion Cube quilt.  I have decided to dedicate all of my time to quilting.  This means for the last week I have quilted every day, all day.  I am still no where near done with the companion cube tops.  I am making the double size using 6 lap size quilts together and then 2 additional laps for Too Many Games.  These aren’t normal lap quilts though, these are half squares at only 3/4″ big. 

I forgot how long tiny squares take me to make and sew.  I factored in them taking me about the same time as a normal lap and then gave a discount on that for the double sized quilt.  If that was true, I would be finished with all of it by now.  Instead, I am about half way through making the tops.  But I am not upset at all.  Every time I do these kinds of things, I use it as a learning lesson.  I am actually starting to track my time on making each quilt.  This will help me in the future when I am trying to figure out pricing.  I am still only paying myself about $1 an hour, but at least I can calculate that correctly.

This weekend my husband and I are headed to St Louis.  I have never been so I am very excited.  I am finally graduating with my Masters of Business degree.  I am excited to be finished with school as well as meet some of my classmates that I have been taking classes with on line for the past two years.  The only negative is now I have to start paying some of those college loans.  So I need to get busy and do some more quilting!

Wish list for Too Many Games

  • Shy Guy
  • Mario – top finished
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube – Started
  • Q-bert
  • Sonic
  • Megaman
  • ? Appliques
  • Red Mage
  • Pikachu
  • Pillows

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Both Tops Finished
  • Double sized Companion Cube – Started
  • Miniature Batgirl with Girl Power backing

 

Making Decisions

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So I am reaching that point with this new job where I don’t know if it is worth it anymore.  I have not sold many plans to businesses, but I have sold the most of anyone in Canada.  That tells me that it is not just me that is having problems.  So now I need to decide do I want to try to find a different job, or try to quilt full time.  I know what I would like to do, but I don’t know if it will be possible.  It is scary to jump into the unknown, but I really want to.  In order to make Quiltoni a full time job, I need to start teaching classes, giving private lessons, etc.  So my goal over the next two weeks is to see if I can make that happen.

I have been making a lot of progress with the commissions.  This makes me extremely happy.  I like it when I can get my commissions finished to concentrate on quilts for conventions.  The only problem is I have not found a large enough space to pin my quilts and have not had room in my car to bring a roll of batting up.  I hope I can fit a roll my next trip up from Maryland.  In the mean time I am pumping out the tops and will pin them Memorial Day week.

I also decided to do some pieced pillow tops. I will need to buy the 14″ pillows instead of the 12″ because what I want to do will not quite fit on the 12″.  I am also trying to decide on some new quilts to have at Baltimore Comic Con.  Hopefully I will have the Qbert and the Companion Cube at Too Many Games.  My goal is to have at least one or two new quilts for each convention and try to stock up on some old favorites.  So if you have any suggestions, let me know!

Wish list for Too Many Games

  • Shy Guy
  • Mario – top finished
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube – Started
  • Q-bert
  • Sonic
  • Megaman
  • ? Appliques
  • White Mage
  • Pillows

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric – Top Finished
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Both Tops Finished
  • Double sized Companion Cube – Started
  • Miniature Batgirl with Girl Power backing

After the Con

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I had an awesome (pun intended) time this weekend at the DC Comic Con.  It completely blew my expectations away.  The first year for a convention may be a little slow and not much happening.  Not this one.  This one acted as if it was an established convention and was around for more than 10 years!  I loved chatting with everyone, meeting new faces and catching up with old.  This was my best convention ever.  Seriously.  I can’t wait until next year.  If you didn’t go, then you missed out and need to get to DC next year!  I was so busy I didn’t even have time to take pictures of all of the great costumes.  I had to take a day to rest up before I could even make the trip back home to Canada.

I also took a commission for a miniature quilt of Batgirl.  I can’t wait to do this.  I have always wanted to do a miniature quilt but am afraid people wouldn’t purchase them at conventions.  I am going to use my awesome girl power fabric I found in Lancaster as the backing!  So excited.

Next up is Too Many games.  This is a great convention that concentrates on video games, but included other pop culture elements.  If you are in the Philly area, you should check it out: http://www.toomanygames.com/.  I will definitely try to have a Q-bert quilt there as well as a few more of my old quilts and one or two more new ones.  I also want to try to get some more pillow designs done, but I may not be able to.  Busy, busy, busy, it is only 7 weeks away!

Wish list for Too Many Games

  • Shy Guy
  • Mario
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube
  • Q-bert
  • Sonic
  • Megaman
  • Pillows

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric – Started
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric – Started
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Peach Top Done
  • Double sized Companion Cube – Will do after Too Many Games (maybe start before, but won’t finish until after)
  • Miniature Batgirl with Girl Power backing

DC Comic Con this weekend

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This weekend is the first ever DC Comic Con.  I am excited.  I hope it turns out to be a great, fun convention.  If you are anywhere in the DC area, I hope you come out and say hi!  I will be bringing a lot of quilts including my Tardis and a Tetris quilt.

This also means I will be getting my website finally updated this week.  I have been slacking a little when it comes to keeping it updated.  So by Friday afternoon I will have all of my conventions and quilts updated.  I mention this because I will be attending a new convention this year called ConBravo in Hamitlon, Ontario.  So all of the Canadians out there can come out and see me in July!  I have also put an application in for the New York Comic Con.  I won’t know until July if they have accepted me, so I am crossing my fingers!  After the weekend, the next convention is Too Many Games in June.  It is in the Philly area, so mark your calendars!  I am always looking for new ideas for quilts for conventions so if you think you know of a great quilt, let me know!

One of the great things about my job now is the flexibility to work on quilts more as well attend more conventions.  Because I am concentrating on quilting more, I am also branching out into other aspects such as teaching.  If you are in the London, Ontario area (or even Toronto), I am starting to teach basic and intermediate quilting.  I may also start teaching some quilt classes if I can find an area to teach them at.  If you are in the London area and know of a good space, let me know.

Wish list for Too Many Games

  • Shy Guy
  • Mario
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube
  • Q-bert

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric – Purchased Fabric
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric – Purchased Fabric
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Peach Top Done
  • Double sized Companion Cube – Will do after Too Many Games (maybe start before, but won’t finish until after)

The Final Stretch

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This is that time before a convention where I have reached the final stretch.  I am doing almost nothing else but quilting.  I have finished a lot of quilts off as well as started new ones.  I will be arriving in Maryland late Saturday night so will spend a week just finishing off all of the quilt tops I am making.  I am excited for some new quilts for the convention as well as a few more of the old ones (link with tri-force).  I always feel stressed out right before a convention because I want to get done as much as I can, but I am also the most productive.

I will also be doing some of my quilt shopping for fabric for the Twin size commissions next week while I am in town.  I plan on getting started on them as soon as I get back from the DC Comic Con.  The double sided quilt is for a gift for a new baby that is arriving beginning of June.  So I am going to push for that and the twins to be finished as soon as I can.  Then I can work on quilts for Too Many Games.

Wish list for DC Comic Con:

  • White Mage – Top Done
  • Link w/ Triforce – Finished!
  • Shy Guy
  • Tanooki Mario – Started
  • Mario
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube
  • Q-bert
  • Professor Layton – Top Done

Commissions to do:

  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Peach Top Done
  • Double sized Companion Cube

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You may have noticed that when I make quilts for conventions I tend to make them 2 or 3 at a time.  I have learned it only takes 1 1/2 times the hours to make 2 or 3 quilts as it does 1 quilt.  It also allows me to have the quilt in my stock and may not sell out at a convention so I have some more for the next one.  There are some quilts I think I should always try to have like Mario, Sonic, and Megaman.  Of course that is easier said then done for those.

That also means if I get a commission for a quilt in regular fabric and I think I can sell it at a convention, I may just get started on that early.  That doesn’t mean I will finish it first and jump it to the top of the list, but it allows me to have an extra quilt at a convention for half the time.  This week I took a commission for a double sided Mario/Princess Peach lap quilt.  I haven’t made a Princess Peach yet, so I figured I would like one for DC Comic Con.  So that is what I started working on yesterday.  I will finish off the one for the convention, and then set aside the second one to use for the double sided quilt.  I decided on the pattern from Super Mario World with the bright blond hair, small crown, and holding the peace sign.  It will be a nice compliment to the Mario with the peace sign.

By the same idea, I will finally have companion cubes for Too Many Games!  I like making my quilts over and over, but it is always nice to have something new.

Wish list for DC Comic Con:

  • Black Mage – Finished!
  • White Mage
  • Link w/ Triforce – Pinned
  • Shy Guy
  • Tanooki
  • Mario
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube
  • Q-bert

Commissions to do:

  • Photo Quilt – Finished!
  • Twin size Samus with embroidery in corners – Finished!
  • Lap size Tails – Finished!
  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones/ High quality Fabric
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size/ High quality Fabric
  • Double sided Lap with Mario and Princess Peach – Started Peach
  • Double sized Companion Cube

DC Comic Con

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So I realized this week I haven’t talked about the DC Comic Con.  It is the first year for this awesome new convention (http://awesomecondc.com/) and I am excited!  They have a lot of great guests so far and I always love coming back to the area.  I am trying to get a bunch of great quilts finished for the convention, but am starting to run out of time.  I will definitely have more Link with Triforce quilts.  If you plan on going and have a request to see a quilt, send me an email.

If you are in the DC area, mark April 20 and 21 on your calendar and stop by and say hi!   Everyone knows how I love chatting all day.  :D

 

Wish list for DC Comic Con:

  • Black Mage – Pinned
  • White Mage
  • Link w/ Triforce – Started
  • Shy Guy
  • Tanooki
  • Mario
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube
  • Q-bert

Commissions to do:

  • Photo Quilt – Pinned
  • Twin size Samus with embroidery in corners – Pinned
  • Lap size Tails – Pinned
  • Twin size Bones with actual Bones – Starting after DC Comic Con
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size – Starting after DC Comic Con

Photo Quilt

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If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen I finally got the photo quilt fabric in the mail.  This is a special quilt that is going to be given as an anniversary present.  The photos are of children and grandchildren that will be mixed with hearts.  I am excited because this is the first time I have worked with Photo Fabric.  I always love it when people push me and I have new experiences with quilting.

I didn’t get to work on anything yesterday because I was swamped with work, but I am dedicating a few hours today to finishing off the Link strips.  Once this is done I will get started on the Photo quilt.  This weekend my step daughter has another Ringette tournament so that means another weekend I am not able to quilt.  It shouldn’t push me back though, I still have all day tomorrow and a few hours Friday.  I did a lot of prep work for the photo quilt so should be able to finish the top. 

I am driving back to the states on Monday.  This means if I have finished your commission and you are in the states you should hear from me on Tuesday with your final amounts including shipping.

Wish list for DC Comic Con:

  • Sonic – Finished
  • Black Mage – Top finished
  • White Mage
  • Link w/ Triforce – Started
  • Shy Guy
  • Tanooki
  • Mario
  • Racoon Mario
  • Companion Cube
  • Q-bert

Commissions to do:

  • Photo Quilt – Starting Soon
  • Twin Size Georgia Tech quilt – Finished
  • Twin size Samus with embroidery in corners – Top finished
  • Lap size Tails – Top finished
  • Twin size Bones with with actual Bones – Starting after DC Comic Con
  • Twin size Mario with mushroom Lap size – Starting after DC Comic Con
  • Ghostbusters 2 – Finished