I was just wondering......

I myself have been asked that hundreds of times "Oh do you sell any of your quilts?" and I have always said no I just give them away. We all know that most of the quilts that we make if we sold them for what they are worth it would be in the thousands of dollars. Well now since I have a few under my belt and gotten the hang of it I am fixing to start my own "Quilting" business as such.

Everyone loves to go green and with all of the hype about it why not make a business built around recycling and helping to erase some of the carbon footprint.

This kinda ties into the "do you use sheets" thread because the answer to this for me is yes it does. Along with shirts,curtains, blankets, and cotton scraps. Plus they are all sewn on a treadle so there is no carbon footprint from the making of it.

I have ads on Freecycle and CL for cotton materials and I have talked to a couple of my neighbors, church members asking if they or anyone that they know have any old bedding, shirts and cotton material that they didn't use anymore send it on! Since the word has gotten out I am getting all sorts of things coming in.

Now the best part about it I can sell the quilts for a reasonable price because there is almost no overhead its all labor. I will have the price of thread to deal with but have you seen my thread stash?!? I already have 3 of them sold using my "Proud Mary" pattern and now I am being asked to do a bazaar with me bringing one of my treadles and working on a quilt while I sell them and take orders.

This little venture will not make me millions, but it will foot the bill for more sewing machines (you never can have too many treadles :mrgreen: ) and materials for my personal quilting habit. Who knows I might have a long arm before I know it..........

Billy

Brilliant idea, Billy ! The whole concept of recycling and repurposing, and the fact that you do them on a treadle. Kudos to you!!! I'd come watch you :)

Way to go Billy!!!!!!! I hope you do very well with it! It is a great feeling when you sell your work!! You have a great business idea there!

Good thinking Billy. I make quilts for people too. I also check Craig's list often.

I would put you to work!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

You never quilted until you have done a complete one on a treadle! :thumbup:

Billy

You inspire me! I got to get busy fixing my treadle up. I have to get a belt for it and figure out why the foot won't lower but the lever will go up and down that controls that? I have to find some cleaner without pumice to clean her up on her backside (dust from laying in her cabinet for 10 years). It's my first treadle and I really don't think it is going to take much to get her going! Besides she is a beautiful Redeye!

I think I'd need a few lessons. And knowing me, probably more than a few....

I've sold a few. I don't make to many to sell, just don't have the time.

Way to go!!!!

It was nice of them to ask you to "quilt as you sell"...but have they ever had to load a treadle machine into a van??? I can barely lift mine get it over the carpet edge...
Glad that you have found another outlet for your terrific quilts....

Tink I will be throwing my treadle into this........

Billy

Will that be front seat or the trunk? :lol:

Oh my Billy what a good idea oh and i just love,love your car such a beauty

What a beaut!

What a wonderful idea, I would love to come and see you working on your quilts at the bazaar, you must post a pic!!

Gal

with repurposing and reducing your carbon footprint in mind...what do you use for batting? Love your idea by the way, something you are to be admired for!

Way to go Billy! Awesome!!!!

Wow what a nice car! Good luck at the new venture!

The go green manics will pay a fortune for anything that will give them carbon footprint allowances so be sure to advertise how many carbon footprints were saved by the recycled fabric. They will use a hundred carbon footprints to save five. LOL

Good luck Billy, I hope you sell lots and make a ton of money.
I only prefer to use new fabrics in my quilts, way too much time and work to use old fabrics in them.
I've had people tell me I could make lots of money selling my quilts. I just give to people I think need a quilt and all I've given away are very much appreciated.

Well I just keep being asked and I figure that this is a good way to make a hobby pay for itself.

By recycling it saves me money and the environment plus I can sell them for what people think are reasonable prices. Also how many people would like to see a piece of history being used making something that they can hold and snuggle up in?!?

And most of the used material is actually new or very lightly used sheets and shirts. Its not like I am stealing the clothes off of a homeless guy and using them. :roll: :lol:

I use only new fabrics in my quilts I give to my family and friends also. I just left the fabric store today that had a huge grand opening sale and all the quilting cottons and batting were 50% off. Needless to say $350 later I am walking out with several future projects! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Billy

Way to go Billy, I think your very smart to do this and I
personal think this kind of quilts are every bit as good as
the ones made with bran new fabric if not better, and will last just as long to boot.Happy sewing Billy :thumbup:

Billy,

You inspire me
Your car is to die for. What a great color.

Please leave at least one nice older treadle in Tiger Oak, three drawer, in fairly good condition for me.

Wish I'd have thought of it first! ;) It's a great idea Billy, and you can park that car in my driveway ANYTIME...especially if you plan to leave the keys with me!! :lol: (even better if you leave the treadle in it! ;) )

My Red Eye is in a tiger oak cabinet but I have never done anything to the finish yet. I was kinda liking the "antique" look but maybe this spring pull it off the irons and use my "Secret Elixir" to clean it up.

As far as the color on my Hot Rod its a "Poor Mans Candy Rootbeer" :lol: :lol:

I was experimenting with using a base coat under a tinted clear. I mixed the base, spayed it, then I used a burgundy toner in my clear to tint it a deep red. After 3 coats of tinted clear, I sprayed a gallon and a half of clear on top of that.

When I say you can swim in the paint believe me you can dive on in its so deep!! But the car is in primer right now waiting for a repaint (the cute neighbor next door hit it a while back). So I am trying to make up my mind if I am going with the same color or change a little bit and go darker to a Candy Brandywine. With the Brandywine it will look Black until the light hits it then its a real deep Burgundy.

I always knew Hot Rods got the HOT WOMEN but I never thought about including a treadle!! :mrgreen:

Hubba Hubba

Billy

Great thinking Billie. I hope you do well.

I saw a treadle on an auction yesterday, bad shape, sold for 15.00. If it had been working, I would have bought it.

I would have bought it anyway, you can hardly kill a treadle machine. I have had them locked up tighter than a drum and I am using the machine on a regular basis now. And unless you are sewing 1/4" steel plate you can almost be certain it will never get out of time.

Billy

The cabinet was a mess and I had no place to store it, it needed a belt, I'll find better one eventually.