Author: KyleTheGirl

The Big Re-do

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

Yes, we did.  This customer wasn’t satisfied with how her t-shirt quilt, from another provider, turned out. So..she brought it to us for an assessment.  We agreed and proceeded to take on the “big re-do”. Yes, we actually took the finished quilt apart, stitch by stitch, seam by seam,  and started all over.

First, we cut out all the t-shirts (pictured). Then, with a seam ripper, one by one we carefully ripped out ALL of the stitches, including quilting, all over the t-shirts. Yes, that took just a little while! Next we worked together to come up with a design that was more pleasing. Then, we re-prepared the t-shirts and fabric for the new design — and began putting everything together.

“I should have come to your first”, she apologized repeatedly. It’s ok. We’re human. We all make mistakes and for many reasons don’t always realize it at the time.

Start off right by bringing your t-shirts here first. We work hard to satisfy you with quality checks and keeping you informed every step of the way. That way there ARE no surprises and you end up with just what YOU expect.

So bring us your mistake. We’re not here to judge. We want to get it right for you.

Plus, ok, we like challenges.  What’s yours?

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High Tech Quilting in the House

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

Back in the day quilting was all done by hand. Can you imagine how long it would take to stitch all of the layers together by hand with a needle and thread to make a bed-size quilt–forever!  Today, in the 21st century, automation makes it possible to stitch those same layers together, in the pattern of your choice, from thousands of computerized patterns to choose from, with a higher level of precision, accuracy and speed.

As a nurse, it’s a familiar evolution. Computers, once few and far between, are everywhere in healthcare, from med administration to the lab to bedside charting. Pushback? Yes, at first, big time, especially from seasoned, before-computer era nurses.  Some quit. The advantages though now benefit all of us: for patients, faster diagnoses and treatment; for nurses, easier access to essential health information to provide the best care possible.

Back to quilting,  to take advantage of new technology in our industry, we took a leap forward into the 21st and have just purchased a new Innova Navigator computerized robotics quilting system.  http://www.innovalongarm.com .

Shown is the Innova in action on Lena’s graduation quilt.  Learning curve, yes. But, we’re excited and after a week of training and use we’ve got this.  Lena’s quilt turned out perfectly.  Take a look at the closeups.  The blue shown is the back of the quilt, a super soft, plush fabric–minky. The top (or front) is quilted using a variegated (multicolor) thread. The results are exquisite!

This purchase also means, we’ve also shaved at least 3 weeks off of getting your quilt done.

So, what’s your vision?  Bring it. We can and would love to do it for you! The hardest part in making these quilts is giving them back; but, promise, we will give it back (smiles).

Quilters know quilting machines as “longarms”. Check out the evolution. Here’s a little more on the history of quilting automation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longarm_quilting .

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Rain, Rain, Go Away

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

The rain needs to stop.  It hasn’t let up for the past 2 days. I don’t say any of this too loud. After all, if you complain about the rain in Georgia, what you may get back is…but…we need the rain. Rain is good for the plants and good for the animals that lap rainwater; and, don’t you remember the drought when we couldn’t water our plants ?

Dark, gloominess, the cloud hovers. So much for southern optimism. And while it’s not super cold, after awhile the deep darkness, sound of rain and wind,  branches scraping the window on their way down gets depressing.  My head cloud is not lifting. The cloud is dark. If it lifts, it just lifts higher into darkness. Work helps. So I cut.  I cut up t-shirts. Sharp razor, pressure, slice the fabric.  Productive stress relief.

Could be worse. I could still be in Chicago. Instead of rain, it would be snow.  Everything frozen. Me frozen in my driveway cause I can’t get the car defrosted.  Me freezing at the top of a sled hill, trying to be a good Mom.  Retreating to my now defrosted car with a mug of something hot. Me the next morning easing from the confines of the house into the brutality of the cold. I didn’t have a dog to walk. I just need to…go, get out.

Rain. The rain is beating on the roof as if it’s cold out and it wants to come in.

A tanning bed?  I’ve thought of it. Wait. I don’t need that. How do those even work?

Following that mental road trip, I self-diagnosed myself with  a bout of seasonal affective disorder.  Light therapy helps.  So off I went to Home Depot, looking for light. I already have a bright light, but maybe I really need 2 . I get another and take it home.

Let there be light. Click. Lights on. All of them. Each one has 6 squiggly bulbs. In the manufactured sunshine fairly quickly my mood improves.  The music gets a little happier. I think of the song “Happy”.  I think of swimming in the Mediterranean in July. It’s working. I now also feel the warmth from the ‘sunshine’ as if it’s summer. In my mind, it is; and, for now, that and my quilts are all that matter in my head.

When things look dark, look for light. It gets better. Really.

 

 

T-Shirts From Germany

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

If you have any travel t-shirts, consider including those in your t-shirt quilt.  These were seen in Germany during Karneval – Fasching.  It was a fun week of parties and parades! If you’re on Facebook more pics were added in the Just-Tshirt Quilts Facebook gallery.

Give the Gift of Different

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

Graduation is right around the corner.  Never fear if you’ve waited until the last minute. With a gift certificate,  it’s never too late.  You’ll have something to give on that special day AND be remembered for giving “the gift of different”.

Now with a recent feature change, the dollar amount is no longer is printed on the gift certificate so that the money you’re spending is kept a secret from the recipient unless you choose to reveal it.   Give the gift of different! More here http://www.justtshirtquilts.com/gift-certificates/

 

Bugs and Fixes

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

There is a glitch in the order form with a required field. Because it’s required you have to make a choice from the menu even if you’ve found something else and want to post a url.  This is on cue to be fixed. Will post back here when it’s done. Thanks Rhonda for pointing it out.  <update (3/20/14) – this was corrected awhile back and is working as it should!>

All portfolio pictures have been resized for better viewing. There is less load time now which lets you scroll and move through the pictures more quickly.

Real Time Layouts

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

I very much want to thank those of you that have shown confidence and selected Just T-Shirt Quilts to craft your special t-shirt quilts. The holidays were gloriously busy; and, going into 2014, I am honored to now be the beneficiary of orders received from referrals and repeat orders from satisfied customers.   Several of these you can read about in the Portfolio.

As my business is slowly, but steadily growing I hunkered down this weekend and made a simple but needed change in order to accelerate the layout approval process.  Today I finished installing a design wall.  This can accommodate a king-sized quilt and is instrumental in doing accurate real time Blocky layouts after the mock up is approved.

Up on the wall now is Brooke’s graduation tennis t-shirt quilt in the making. A “real” bed as pictured below serves to finalize the layouts for Freestyle quilts. Carole’s sports quilt at the bottom  is also coming along just fine to be done in time for graduation.

At least one more wall will be going up. This will  make it easier to craft layouts for more than one quilt simultaneously, await feedback, and prepare them for your approval following your specifications. Onward….can’t forget the “ho” as customer Kathy reminded me it’s “onward ho”. Peace!

Layout on Design Wall

T-Shirt Placement

It’s Fall !

Posted on | by KyleTheGirl

Hope you had a great summer. Here in Georgia, fall is upon us. The leaves are dropping. It just dawned on me how different everything looks once they all fall and the trees are leaf-less. The ground is slowly becoming orange with leaves. When you look up you can now see more sky. It’s pretty noticeable here, I guess because there ARE so many trees everywhere!

If you’re in Atlanta  – the last Alive After 5 for the year will be Thursday, Oct. 19. Come out if you can!  This has been a fun endeavor and great meeting new people and friends. They have some food trucks, too, pretty handy when you want to eat and stroll or if you’re like me and don’t have a lot of time to actually sit down and dine .  Enjoyed trying the cuisine and libations:  awesome Sangria and margaritas, now what did I eat?  Can’t remember. LOL.  More on previous post below.

Thanks for the Holiday orders. They are much appreciated and will be completed on time for you.  Can possibly squeeze in 1-2 more so don’t hesitate to ask, just make it SOON!