Japanese Queen-Size

Finally, this top is nearly done. It needs two borders and some appliqued Japanese family crests, then will be ready for quilting. 

Here are a few of the crests. If you search "Japanese Family Crests" you will find hundreds of them.
 
It was a special order for my GD who at first wanted the cherry tree (at the right). After the tree was finished, we decided it should go on the wall and this queen-size would look great with a kimono. She has never been to Japan but has studied the language and culture.

I don't have a name for it yet. Any suggestions?

Splash go the Flowers

This one took forever to quilt, but I'm so happy with the results. Again, it is a top that Wanda made, and now will have a place in my dining room. Every time I eat there, I will think of this lovely lady who keeps so many of us encouraged on her blog, Exuberant Color. It is about 32" square. 

Splash go the Flowers

Detail of Splash go the Flowers

 The bottom detail shows how easy it is to use up a few hundred yards of thread in even a small quilt!

 

 

So what is a sandwich?

We are still on holidays and I could not bring any sewing (didn't want to start another project in hand sewing just to have something to do), but I have been working on something. I've had several non-quilters ask me to make them a quilt. However, most of them have no idea what they want. So I've started a booklet on "Selecting Your Quilt" (or some such title) with sections about the options, such as size, use, color, fabrics, style (traditional, modern, art) and so on, with sample pictures. 

I first wanted to do it so I would remember what questions to ask these folks, but it began to grow into a pictorial options document. I can save it to .pdf or print out hard copies to help customers think about their choices. While some just want to pick one from my pile of finished quilts, others have a "quilt in their head" and I cannot see their vision without a clear explanation. Non-quilters often do not know the "lingo" to use as they try explain their ideas.

My question for anyone reading this today is: Would you even bother with a vague custom order (like a pink quilt for my daughter's twin bed, or a landscape to remind me of my dad's fishing trips)? Or would you politely decline? Of course, when they add up the price list, they might gasp and say "no thanks" anyway! LOL.