Is the customer "always" right?
 

I am in process of making a quilt for a customer who wants a combination of the OSU "O" (with black, gray and red borders) and adding some outer borders in browns and tans so the quilt kind of blends into her bedroom. Being a Buckeye fan, I love making the "O", but don't understand adding browns and tans. If the biggest part of a quilt is scarlet red, gray, and black....how does it blend with a room that is mostly brown? I guess I see it as a Buckeyes quilt and adding anything but gray or red is a travesty. It's a paying job and she will get it the way she wants....but it will also have my name label on it, so others will know who made it that way. How do you make something when you can't see the beauty in it? Am I being unreasonable....too much of a true fan?

You could do a 'mock up' and consult with her again. Perhaps there is a compromise. Good luck

I'm with you, Rose.........no way should there be brown/tan on a Buckeye quilt!! Just sayin'............... :)

I think since she's a paying customer I would do it with at least 1/2 the money down in case she don't like it afterwards the not put my label on it.

I agree..I just made a OSU quilt for my DSIL! Maybe a mock up would be the way to go! The only brown I could see would be the buckeye! Good luck!

When it's all said and done it's her quilt. It doesn't matter if it's your taste or colors or whatever. The only thing that matters is she's paying for it and it's her quilt.

Ideally you could add a border with a print that contains all the colours asked for. That way the center will satisfy your creative ideal and edge will satisfy her bedroom requirements. If you can't find a print that combines the colour, I would add a piano key border and add in the extra colours. Black/grey/red/brown/ tan are not bad together, be glad she didn't want turquoise or yellow.:D

I agree with the idea of making a mock-up to show her why you don't think the colors will work together. Because if they look bad in the end, she'll be an unhappy customer, even if it was her idea!!!

But if that is what she wants, the customer is definitely right, or her payment goes elsewhere...

I agree with mcfay and not put my label on it unless you both can come to an agreement on the colors and layout. Doing a mockup on EQ might be the ticket for her to see how it will look. :)

Show her a color mock up with markers or crayons.

That's what I was thinking, but like McFay says, "get 1/2 up front." I don't believe it is a matter of the customer being right or wrong, just happy. :)

Here's how I'd respond:

"I love how you want to find a way to make the quilt work with the colors in your room. That said, I'm concerned that those colors won't go with the OSU colors that will make up the main part of the quilt. To give you a sense of that, here's a mock-up drawing of what it would look like with the colors you'd like to add, and what it would look like keeping to the OSU colors. Which one do you want me to make?"

And then you go with what she says, and you definitely get cost of materials up front.

Good luck

I have already received half of the quoted price...that way I am covered for the cost of materials if she doesn't pay second half. I agree with the mock up idea and will see what I can make up....I don't have EQ, so will just draw up something and show her.

Her quilt her colors. Too bad she doesn't just want blue and maize GO BLUE!!!!!:D

To me, OSU means the Beavers (Oregon State University), so brown goes great!

I've made several OSU quilts. One was raffled off We made 3,500 on that one.. But when I do consignment everything is agreed on when the deposit of 50% is received . No changes unless 20% surcharge plus costs of materials.. Good luck!

have your label read "commissioned by ----, executed by (your name). That way, you get the credit for a well-made quilt.

If she's paying for it. You should give her what she wants. You could always show her two samples on the computer or graph paper and pencils what her request and another you believe would look like and have her decide. Ultimately she's paying. You can have something on the label that clarifies that the colors were that of the recipients choice. ??? I'm sure there's some tactful way of stating that, that would make her proud and cover your butt all at the same time. "Colors lovingly chosen by_____" and "Pieced and quilted by_____"

Make a carefully worded label. Designed by ...her name and quilted by your name... So you are not responsible for the pattern colour choice.

If you have already brought up the "potential" issue witht the colors, doing a mock up is the only other option. If she says go forward with the original plan, drop it , its her $$$.

Hi Buckeye Rose

I think if the customer reall wants the brown and tan in the borders you should do it--Buckeye Brutus the mascot is tan and brown and he is always wearing the scarlet and gray-----sooo the colors sort of go in a way---LOL

Could you make about a 2 foot piece of the border she wants, and a 2 foot piece of the border you suggest and lay the quilt on them. Then she will see how it looks and maybe you can sway her to the RIGHT colors for her quilt. lol.
Carol B

my husband is a OSU grad.... I have made so many Scarlett and gray quilts . I agree with the others show the customer a mock up ...and then let her know that it is okay to have different quilts for different reasons.. for example OSU quilts are for my hubby and we have other quilts for the bedroom colors and quilts for the living room couch to cuddle etc... all with different colors and they don't have to be color coordinated with the room all the time.
hugs
quiltinmama

Could you possibly find a print of black with some browns in it and then add the other borders? Just a thought.

I would do the mock up and if she still wanted to go with those colors, have her initial and date the mock up. Then, make your label accordingly, showing you as the quilter and her as the designer.

It's her quilt - she can have it any way she wants it. The customer is always right.

What is OSU?Oh,I long for the days we wrote words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand your dilemma. I just finished a quilt for a woman who gave me some fabric as a start that I had no idea how I'd make them work together. When I did the mock up, the lady saw the same thing I saw. I also did a mock up w/ what I envisioned and that helped her see the difference.

I think some people can't really visualize the end product and you have to help them see that. Many can't even visualize the stack of fabrics being transformed into the end quilt.

Take pictures of the design board as you put things together to get her approval. Couple it w/ what your vision is and see where she goes. If she sees the projected end quilt, likes it, approves it, then you've done your due diligence and there shouldn't be any surprises.

good luck!

In this case, it stands for THE ;) Ohio State University

Hmmmm... could it be done in batiks? There are so many fabrics with multi-colors, you might be able to pull it off without making it look weird. Good luck with this one!

If she comes in with a solid idea of what she wants then that is what she should be given. It is her concept and her quilt.

the customer should get what she wants even if it looks different than what you think it shoud be as long as her money is the right shade of green haha

I agree with all of the writers but here is another suggestion. Ask her if she would like the other colors ON THE BACK so she KIND of has TWO beautiful quilts! If she says no, do what she asks for (With half down deposit) and on the label, write designed by ===her=== crafted by ===you===! She will be thrilled by the acknowledgement alone! Good luck to you and let us see the results please. Happy New Year!

Hey if you do not want to make this quilt I WILL! $ is $. PM me and we can discuss!!!!!

also beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I have seen quilts posted on this board that I thought were "ugly" but the maker thought they were lovely. I am sure others have thoiugh the same of mine!!!!!

I'd agree with Scissor Queen. It's not your quilt.

Trying to figure her concept behind the quilt...maybe she's thinking in terms of the state tree the "buckeye" which is brown and tan...if so,maybe you could suggest to her the buckeye either with or without leaves as corner squares...maybe she just didn't know how else to tie in both the "buckeye tree fruit" and the OSU buckeye emblem...just a thought....................

you can always put designed by her and created by you on the label... lol.

I agree with Jillianne. I would show her what it would look like. Non quilters just don't understand. My SIL who is an art teacher used to try to get me to put together some weird color combinations that just didn't work. He would talk all this color theory and complimentary colors etc. Some of that just doesn't work in a quilt.
TO add those colors to an OSU quilt just wouldn't look right. Most true OSU fans would die at adding brown or tan to anything OSU. Good luck educating her.

I think I would get the body of the quilt made and then call her in and audition some of the colors she has suggested