BuyAQuilt.com

If you like to sew tops but don’t like to finish them up into quilts, you can sell them just like they are! Other quilters will be interested buyers.

Added a new category of “tops”, and a reduced price for the listing…only $4.95.

Go and check it out right away! www.BuyAQuilt.com

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Also added a FREE Ebook to download, Christmas Cookie Recipes!

Attention quilters, there is a survey you can take and get 10 craft ebooks for FREE!
Go and check it out right away! www.BuyAQuilt.com

Hello Fellow Quilter,

Not all quilts are made the same. By that I mean some are complex patterns taking a long time and lots of skill to make, and some are much easier.

I would like to tell you today about a wonderful new easy way to make a quilt.

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Easy Quilt Method
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When I think about a quilt to make quickly for sale, ideally it should be:
* An easy pattern
* Few pieces to have to cut
* Simple fabric combinations

What if you could make 3 Baby Quilts at once, with only 3 yards of fabric? And what could be easier than only making 2 cuts in your fabric?

Here is a fantastic new method, first shown on Simply Quilts, episode #1129, created by Anita Grossman Solomon.

It is called Super Sized Nine Patch.

You can go here to download the F^REE pdf pattern: http://www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/patt230/

This pattern would be perfect to whip up 3 baby quilts to post for sale at www.BuyAQuilt.com! It satisfies all the requirements to be an easy quilt to make for sale.

It could be adapted also to make a fabulous Christmas lap quilt by using Christmas fabrics.

Come on over to the site today. You can enter the contest, list a quilt for sale, and download the latest quilting article, Frugal Quilting. Don’t forget you get a bonus F^REE Ebook, “How To Make A Quick and Easy Theme Quilt For Sale”, when you list a quilt.

P.S.
Can a brand new quilter design a fantastic and fun quilt? Come and see the new jeans quilts listed under the Large Quilts section.
www.BuyAQuilt.com

Quilting like many hobbies can get to be expensive! All the new toys like rotary cutters, mats, and special rulers can be very pricey. Not to mention the cost of quilting magazines, books and patterns. But quilting especially has a long and honorable history of being frugal; with women using up scraps to give new and useful life to something like clothing or empty feed sacks.

In honor of our resourceful fore-mothers, I would like to talk about how today’s quilter can do some “Frugal Quilting”.

FABRIC
I actually started quilting because a neighbor was moving and gave me a large box of fabric. I had an interest, and figured that this fabric was free, so why not? I checked out a quilting magazine from the library and made my first quilt.

Free fabric is always an option.

Cotton clothing that is lightly worn can be cut up and used as fabric for a quilt.

If you have the Freecycle in your area, which is a Yahoo Group, you can ask for fabric. Many ladies are sewers but not quilters. They may have scraps or yardage that they are not going to use, but hate to see go to waste or just be thrown away.

Ask your local cleaners that do alterations to give you their scraps. A lot of times the alterations are to shorten pants or dresses or skirts. A nice strip of fabric (or even the whole bottom of pant legs) hits the scrap bag, and it would be fun to use so large a variety of colors and fabrics in a string quilt or a log cabin quilt. I was once given a huge bag of fabric from just this source! Myself and two other quilters had a “scrap” party. We had a ball picking out which scraps we wanted, and some very nice charity quilts resulted.

Offer to finish UFO’s. Lots of quilters for whatever reason, get part way thru a quilt, and do not finish it. Oh, the guilt! Help your fellow quilter lose the guilt, and take that never-to-be-finished project off their hands! Not only will you get all the fabric, but a free pattern too.

Inexpensive fabric is an option.

Sometimes you just need to buy some fabric. But you don’t have to pay full price. I like to wait for my local Joann’s Fabric to have the 50% off coupon in their sales brochure. I use it to by a lot of one fabric, even a whole bolt if I can get it. Strangely, no one has ever asked me why all my quilt backs are blue.. Seriously, especially for the back of the quilt, I don’t much worry about the color, I am just happy to have lots of fabric on hand to use for the backing.

Just a note about Joann’s though, be careful about your fabric selection. They can have wildly varying fabric quality. That half price coupon isn’t really saving me money if I get see-through fabric that is going to fall apart in three washings! Not a bargain that I want.

I also use the half-price coupon to purchase my batting. I like to buy a 10 yard roll. Or take advantage when Joann’s has a sale with no coupon required if I want a special batting like cotton.

QUILTING TOOLS
For all those fun gadgets like rulers and rotary cutters and mats, again I take advantage of Joann’s half-price coupons. You have to be patient! All the stuff you want can be collected at half the regular price, over a period of time.

Once you have your tools, with reasonable care, they will last you for years! I do admit that I am on my third mat. They do wear out with time.

Another resource I have taken advantage of is another Yahoo group: QuiltersFleaMarket. Here your fellow quilters are selling their used stuff, anything from sewing machines to special feet, to rulers and patterns. Yes, even fabric. All you have to do is join Yahoo and join the group to be notified of listings.

PATTERNS
The premier frugal resource of quilting patterns is the Internet! There are so many free patterns that you could never make them all. Most of the quilting magazines have free patterns on their websites. Jinny Beyer has over 100 patterns in 3 sizes on her site: www.jinnybeyer.com.

The Quilter’s Cache is huge, a wonderful resource of patterns that I find myself returning to again and again. Signup for her newsletter, and she will notify you of new patterns posted. Here is the URL: www.quilterscache.com

If you know someone interested in quilting, but is daunted by the price of this hobby, share this article. Or if your budget is tight right now, don’t let it stop you from quilting. Thank our wonderful resourceful quilting heritage for the courage to use it up instead of throwing it out. I know I do.

On a Bed:
This is the most traditional and expected way to use a quilt. Since there is now a HUGE variety of quilt styles, from ultra-modern to 30’s prints, to civil war era (with reproduction fabrics!) they can compliment any bedroom style.

As always, colors are important! The quilt style can be a secondary consideration if the colors are “just right”. Also, what an easy re-do when the seasons change! Just put a different quilt on your bed.

On a Wall:
Some quilts are designed to be displayed on a wall. They can be traditional quilt patterns, or pictorial quilts. They are constructed with a special “sleeve” that is a basic tube running all along the back of the quilt. It is made to have a rod of some type to run through it and make it easy and practical to hang on the wall. Any quilt can be retro-fitted with a sleeve, and because it will never show, so it does not have to match the front in any way.

Many of these wall quilts can get quite fancy, with embellishments such as beads, etc. adding to the attractiveness and excitement of them.

On a Table:
Quilts can double as tablecloths. Because of the possibility of permanent food stains, I would recommend covering with a transparent plastic to protect the quilt!

For a side table, there are special quilted runners. They are long skinny (usually one block repeated in a row) quilts. Typically they are constructed on a holiday theme, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.

In the Living Room:
Special smaller quilts, called lap quilts are stars in the living room. Not only are they beautiful and colorful, but they are made to cuddle up under when the temperature is low. They can be draped over the arms or backs of chairs or couches. I like to roll mine up (instead of folding) and have them sticking out of a large basket.

In the Baby’s Room:
Smaller size quilts in a HUGE variety of fabrics and designs are available for babies and small children. Plus they are usually made clearly either for a boy or a girl, so selection is easy. Because they are basically the same size as a lap quilt, they can be used for years.

Some are actually constructed to be used to play with the children. A special type is called an “I Spy” quilt. The idea is that each square has a specific “SOMETHING”,bug, train, apple, etc., whatever the quiltmaker wanted to put in there. You say to the child “I spy an apple”. Then they get to look on the quilt to find the apple. They are lots of fun, and great to take a nap with when the fun wears them out.

So where do you find these quilts to decorate with? Not so easy unless you know lots of grandma’s! (Just kidding, grandma’s). Actually because of the recent innovation and increasing use of the long-arm quilting machines, quilts are becoming more available for sale. Quilters don’t have to spend months hand quilting to finish a quilt.

I would like to invite you to browse the quilts for sale (all sizes) at www.BuyAQuilt.com You will find the contact information right there to communicate with the quilt maker if you see something that would be perfect to decorate with.

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Levada Pendry © 2006
www.BuyAQuilt.com
You are free to use or distribute this article in any way that you wish, as long as this signature area is left intact.
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I hadn’t really talked to my mom in years. Looking back, I can’t even remember what our disagreement had been. It wasn’t important at all, compared to the seven long silent years since we had talked.

Suddenly one day I got a phone call and she had been down south visiting my brothers, and wanted to stop and see me.

How was this visit going to be? Could those hurt feelings from so long ago be just swept under the rug? Despite the apprehension, I really wanted to see her. We arranged to meet at a local restaurant for lunch, and then she would be back on the road home.

I had been working on a lovely lap quilt for weeks. It was an applique done like a paper-cut-out. Just fold the material like paper, and cut random “snowflake” shapes. Then do a satin edged stitching on the machine to applique them. Of course I had chosen various blues and whites as my colors.

As I finished sewing the binding on the edge, I realized that the day my mom was to drive through was actually her birthday! I resolved to give her this quilt as a birthday present. Maybe it would begin to patch up some of the past hurt feelings. I carefully crafted a label and sewed it to the back. Quilts are love in fabric form!

The day came when we were to meet. I eagerly awaited her phone call. The lovely quilt was in a decorative bag and ready to go.

I arrived at the restaurant first. It was a very hot day, one hundred ten degrees, and the air conditioning in the restaurant felt good as I waited. My mind wanted to rehash the old hurt episodes, but I refused to do it. I slipped my hand inside the bag and caressed the quilt. Would she like it? My mom had never seen any of the quilts I had made.

She came into the restaurant and sat down with me. She was very red-faced and sweaty. Her air conditioning had stopped working in her car some forty miles back, and she had gotten really hot. As she drank some ice water, I presented her with her birthday present. That’s when she said it! “Oh, I hope this isn’t a blanket!”

I was just astounded. I mean, what could I say? “Um, no mom, actually it is a quilt.”

She gave it a quick glance, and then shoved it back into the bag.

We had a good visit, and hugged each other when she had to leave. We never did talk about the past, and just went forward from that day. Now we talk regularly on the phone, and we get along really good.

I was kind of hurt at first about the quilt. It seemed to mean nothing to her. Months later I asked her about the quilt, and she told me how much she loved it. She uses it every day when she takes her nap, and it is always at the foot of her bed.

So thank goodness it wasn’t a blanket! Only a quilt could say “I love you” in a special way.

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Article by Levada Pendry © 2006
You may freely reprint this article if you include the signature line intact.
www.BuyAQuilt.com
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Shirley Bruner has just listed a fantastic quilt for sale at www.BuyAQuilt.com. Why is it so special? Because it is a “reversable” quilt. The two sides are made just the same, only the color scheme is different. She didn’t share her construction techniques with us, but I think as it is sewed, you are completing both sides at once.

Time-saving quilting!

It is really beautiful. If you get a chance, go and see it. She provided close-ups of the blocks so you can get a really good look.

While you are there, check out how easy it is to list a quilt for sale…only 4 easy steps!

Levada
www.BuyAQuilt.com

Have you been wondering where you could sell a quilt that you made? Let’s explore some of the options available to you.

First is networking your family and friends. I find this a dangerous option, personally, because my whole family already got a quilt for free, and my friends know it, and keep hoping they will too (and most have gotten one for free too)! So that is pretty much out.

Ahh, how about the HUGE-maze-EBay? Don’t be scared, hold my hand, and we can walk through this math maze of fees.

The first fee is the Insertion Fee. For starters, I don’t like that name, it kind of gives me the willies! But let’s move past it. It really means your starting price or reserve, which is the lowest price you will sell your quilt for. Ok, I think my beautiful quilt that I made is worth $300.00. So my Insertion Fee will be $3.60. Not bad, really. If my quilt does not sell (a huge possibility, but more on that a bit later), I will only have paid the $3.60. Disappointing, but pretty cheap overall.

But wait, I got really lucky and sold my quilt!!! Ouch, now the Final Value Fees kick in. My quilt sold for my $300.00 price, henceforth referred to as the Closing Price. EBay now gets to take a Big Bite of 5.25%. But whew, they do have some mercy, this Big Bite is only from the initial $25.00, so it nibbles out to only $1.31. But that is only the first part of the Final Value Fees. The second nibble is an additional 3.00% of the remaining closing value balance. If my Closing Price was $300.00 and I take out the first nibble amount of $25.00, then the second nibble amount will be $275.00. This ends up being $8.25. So my complete total of fees ends up being $13.16.

Watch out if the helium balloon factor kicks into the equation, (when your price of your quilt gets higher, wooooweeeee watch those fees float right off into the blue yonder).

Sadly, from my own experiences, I never had to worry about those fees. The buyers seemed to only be bidding on antique or collectable” quilts. Regular, lovely and unique, BRAND NEW quilts were languishing in the no-bids-at-all-pool. No sales. And hold on now, it isn’t just MY sour grapes! While I was there I watched some other quilters going through the same experience. Plus also sadly, I seemed to spend a horrible amount of personal free time (always have way too little of that), watching the auction for bids, and timing when it would end.

Even worse, from EBay’s own buyer’s guide: “There is nothing more disappointing than winning a quilt that was listed in the antique quilt category and finding out after you receive it, that it is really an imported quilt. They are talking about those cheap cheap cheap quilts from China. Ugh. My mother-in-law gave me one (I had to forgive her, bless her heart, she knows nothing about quilts), and was I sorry I washed it one time! That thing popped seams like a fat lady in last-year’s shorts! Kick EBay butt and forget them.

If you are a fiber artiste listing with an agent or a gallery, Caryl Bryer Fallert advises, “If it’s a gallery, they will usually expect to be paid 50% - 60% of the selling price. If you need to be paid $499.80 for the quilt, that means the person the gallery is selling it to will need to pay at least $999.60 for the quilt.”

Yikes, that is pretty high! And my quilts are not artsy ones, just regular home-style quilts that any family would love. So that idea won’t work for me.

There is a “broker” on the Internet who will list your quilt for sale. To make their money, they add 40% to the price of your quilt. For my quilt worth $300.00 that means a buyer has to pay $500.00, or almost twice as much as the quilt is worth! Yikes I better jump out of the way or the buyer stampede will run me over! Not!. I mean, think about it. When you go shopping, do you decide to pay twice as much? Umm, didn’t think so.

Now that I have shown you the down-and-dirty side of selling your quilt, let’s head to the encouraging side. There is someone who cares about you as a quilter. Who cares enough not to rip and gouge you on your fees. No hefty commission fees. No lame auctions eating up your time.

Would you like:
* One low listing fee of $9.50.
* An easy 4 step listing.
* Freedom to handle your own transactions (including getting paid) with your buyer.
* To be able to set your own price + shipping fees.
* To choose your own preferred way of shipping, such as UPS, or regular Post Office.
* To not share your profits with anyone!

Ok, time to “fess up“ that person who cares about you is me. I have created a brand new site, dedicated to quilters who want to sell their quilts. www.BuyAQuilt.com

I know it is not the only place to sell your quilt. But I hope that you will go and look, because I want to make it the best place to sell your quilt!

Levada

www.BuyAQuilt.com

I have been a quilter for years, and have lots of friends who are quilters. Many times I have wished for a way to easily sell a quilt.

With the launch of BuyAQuilt.com, that wish can come true.

There are other sites where you can sell a quilt, but somehow there are always some ISSUES to deal with. One huge site is an auction, and your stuff sort of gets lost there. Plus with an auction, you list it and wait and wait and keep checking back to see if anybody bid on it. Then if nobody bids, what do you do? Keep on relisting it? That costs you over and over. And my experience with that big auction site is that folks are looking for an antique “investment” quilt, and pretty much ignore a new quilt, or even worse yet, want to just pay hardly anything for it….which means a quilter won’t even get back what she paid in materials, much less be paid what her time and artistry is worth!

BuyAQuilt.com is different. For a one-time low listing fee, your quilt will be available for buyers to look at and contact you directly to purchase. Plus with the introductory “hot deal”, you can list your quilt for sale for six whole months for one small fee.

There is another site to sell your quilt from whose listing fees are pretty reasonable….(here comes the ISSUE) but they want to charge you a “commission” percentage when you sell your quilt. This could be a significant dent in your profits!

BuyAQuilt.com is different. You will keep 100% of what you sell your quilt for! No commission fees.

There is another site to sell your quilt from whose listing fees are pretty reasonable….(here comes the ISSUE) but to make your ad stand out, you have to pay extra fees to “up” your ad. Different colors and different fonts, fancy borders. Oh, come on, seriously, do you think a different font is going to sell your quilt? I don’t think so.

BuyAQuilt.com is different. Your excellent picture and description of your beautiful quilt is what is going to attract a buyer!

I hope you are excited about having a great venue to sell your quilts. Many quilters are looking for some extra income, and this is a wonderful way to do it.

Come on over an take a look at the site: www.BuyAQuilt.com, and take advantage of the “hot deal”.