Selecting a Quilter

So- you are thinking about having a quilt made from your t-shirts or other special textiles (dresses, shirts, ties, etc.). What do you need to know?  

You might not realize it, but there are many t-shirt quilt companies available to you.  I suggest you look around and select the one with which you are most comfortable.  Select your quilter as you would any other professional - mechanic, home repairman, orthodontist, etc.. ASK QUESTIONS!

  

Do they have experience?

Can you see samples - in person, in photograph, etc.?

How do they treat you?  

Do you like their personality?

What is the price? Does it fit into your budget?

Some quilters may tell you that a textile, material, procedure etc. will not produce a good quilt.  I disagree with some statements made by other t-shirt quilters. I will not tell you the layout you like is ugly.  I will not tell you we must use a particular type of backing.   

If you are my customer:

I will do the best I can to incorporate what you want, in the way you want in order to produce the best quilt that we can.  

I will value YOU as my customer.  

I try to incorporate YOUR wishes into YOUR QUILT - using the textiles that are important to you.  

I give YOU choices.  

I prefer to meet in-person to place the order if possible. If we can't, we will have extensive email and telephone conversations.

I will ask a lot of questions to try to make sure that we both understand what the end result will be - and that you'll like it.  

I will advise you of any issues I see during the process, but I will honor your wishes without making you feel like you are making a bad or inferior choice.  

I recognize it is YOUR quilt.

If you want a t-shirt or celebration quilt made, DO IT.  Look around and find the company or person that you are comfortable using to make it for you.  I hope, no matter who you select, that you get an AWESOME quilt that will be meaningful for you.  If you select me as your quilter, I'd be honored to make YOUR quilt for YOU.

Houston International Quilt Festival

We are proud to announce that one of Julie's quilts was shown at the International Quilt Festival in Houston last week.  It was part of the "Odds, Ends and Leftovers" exhibit curated by Gyleen Fitzgerald.  More information about Gyleen and her work can be found on her website Colourful Stitches.

Here is a picture of Julie and Gyleen in front of Julie's quilt entitled "At Odds and Ends".

QJ Designs in the News

The Lancaster Newspapers did a very nice article on the recent neck tie quilt.  I hope you find reading more for the story interesting!

Did you know that QJ Designs purposefully delays posting new projects to this site?  Often times the projects we work on are gifts.  We try very hard to not publically post a project before the recipient receives it.  Stay tuned for more interesting projects to come.

Have a day filled with fabulous memories.

Beyond the T-shirts

Celebration quilts cover so many areas.  Many of the quilts I make are using t-shirts, but some people don't wear or collect t-shirts.  I also work with other textiles - dress shirts and ties, denim and plain, blouses, etc.

Here is a quilted wall hanging made from 24 neck ties and almost as many dress shirts.  My customer and I looked at some sample photos and decided that this quilt design was what they really liked.  In this case we found a Pinterest Photo as our inspiration.  Each block uses fabric from shirting and a tie.  The tie labels are incorporated in the border, and the ties are again used for the binding on this quilt.

I'm pleased to hear that the recipient of this quilt is enjoying it, and it helps them recall many fond memories.  That's what I love about what I do -- reviving the memories and not donating them or storing them in a drawer where they are easily forgotten.

Happy Customers

We were recently mentioned on a happy cutomer's facebook page.  This is what Kathy, from Dowingtown, PA had to say....

"We picked up ----'s Villanova tee shirt quilt today and it is truly a masterpiee of fine workmanship and personal attention to detail.  The quilter, Julie Brodersen, prays for the family of the recipient as she quilts.  Such a lovely addition to her already fabulous work.  I highly recommend her." 

Here is the quilt I did for her...

The Christmas Season is upon us.  Sometimes this season brings joy and peace and sometimes it brings very hectic schedules.  It is my hope and prayer for you that you would be able to enjoy this time and find moments of peace, joy and enjoying the people around you.

We, at QJ Designs, specialize in making your favorite textiles (t-shirts, ties, dress shirts, etc.) into items that can continue to be enjoyed and cherished.  As Christmas approaches we have less time to complete custom orders in time for Christmas, but if you place an order for an item, we can give you a Gift Letter explaining to the recipient that you have ordered them a very special gift.

We also offer Gift Certificates - for both items and classes.   You can make a deposit on a future item and the recipient of your gift can be involved in deciding what they would like.

Do you know that we quilt and sew -- even when we don't have a specific reason to?  Yes, we do - we love it that much - and you can benefit from that too.  We have some Ready Made Items available for purchase:
       Quilts - Lap-sized, Throws, Wall Hangings, Baby Quilts
       Ornaments
       Tote & Shopping Bags
       Change Purses & Gift Card Holders

Samples of these items are in the Ready Made Items album of our gallery (Link to Ready Made Items).

To schedule an appointment, place an order or for more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Wishing you all a very Merry December.

Quilt Winner!

We had a great time at the West Lampeter Fair.  It was wonderful to meet prospective students and customers.  There was a lot of interest is the quilt we gave away as a free drawing.  And the winner is...... Loretta from Willow Street.  Here is a picture of Loretta just after receiving the quilt: