I have a youth qult project on mylist of to do. Number one I am using as material a light green twin sheet that I took apart which is a two-hundred count, 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend, 5.00. The yellow full sheet taken apart was a full sheet and 250 thread count, 50% cotton &50% polyester 5.99. The center, because the buyer dosen't want a heavy quilt is going to be two layers of a 60/40 sheet, white king size 14.00. While looking for material to make my pratice piece for this quilt I found yardage of 250 thread count material printed with baby carriages, puppies holding bones and park benches, on a green the same color as the material I'm using for the top. Its about five yards 44 inches wide and I got it when Walmart was closing out their material sections for 1.00 a yard. 5.00. I'm useing white thread which I pick up every other month for personal use. It was agreed the quilt would be tied with thick crechet thread I also buy on large spools. Thread and cord are like bathroom tissue, unless I buy it special for a realitive I don't charge for something I am going to use on many projects. I used 6 hours to do the match in changing sizes of the quilt from a queen 80"x96" to my size youth 45"x63". The diffinition of a youth bed is the one that a long crib matterss fits into when the sides come down. It allows for the quilt to be folded up over the pillow. My charge for any work is always 30.00 an hour. So before I even layout the material is that is 210.00 on her tab. I didn't charge for the time it took to undo the stitching in the sheets because they were my choice of material. The block pattern I am using I got for free online, so there is no charge there. I antisipate on working five hours a day four days a week, (because there are just some days I don't feel like working)for two to three months. You do that math. There are however factors in my projects that can't be put on a money scale. After the intial agreement on specifics, I don't allow anyone to bother me with that when will it be done,' or 'can you do this instead or add this?' This couple wants an appliqued quilt for their younger son and know it will have to wait for a second one. I quilt to destress, not to impress, so if I bring work up to my bedroom it is to keep the voices away at night, I don't charge for that. I don't collect
the agreed on price until the work is finished. If after months they say they don't have the money, I have a quilt to sell to someone else. No stress. As any one who has had any entrepreneurial traing and experience, you must consider the demographics of your clientele. Established doctors, not residents will pay the $1800.00 for a twin quilt made on machine and by hand. [that's how I work] A nurse will pay $600. Middle income and upper lower will save and pay $250. and be gratful. I have always given each quilt great care in it's making, so ther is no change in quality for the prices.
To attest to the quality of my work, when I debut my quilts at Art Scape in 2007 I had four offers for people who wanted ro be my artist agent, and sell them in shops as far away as florida. Too may people wanted to know if I gave classes and where was my shop. And until then I never even heard of GeeBend quilts, which everyone seemed to think they were a part of and how did I get them. I still get emails the biginning of the summer fairs season to be a vendor in areas from washinginton D.C to Pennsylvania. Quilting is a very personal craft. It is up to the indivdual to set what price he or she sees fit.