I
am a very laid back quilter who just wants to help the average
quilter get their tops finished at a reasonable price.
quilter get their tops finished at a reasonable price.
I work on the quilts in the
order they are received. I can let you
know
how many quilts are before yours once the quilt has been received.
I do have a life that requires some of my time, but will do the best I
can to make the turnaround time as short as possible.
how many quilts are before yours once the quilt has been received.
I do have a life that requires some of my time, but will do the best I
can to make the turnaround time as short as possible.
Joanne Lendaro
529 Olde Farms Road
Grantham, NH 03753
603-865-5033
joannelendaro@yahoo.com
Recently I completed a questionnaire for the New Hampshire State Quilters newsletter, not wanting all of that work to be under-utilized, I had a little fun writing it, hope you enjoy it too. Here's a copy...
Name of business?
I currently own over 325 different computer designs for edge to edge quilting. I can do free hand quilting and on rare occasions I will do a custom quilt. I do prefer edge to edge quilting.
Do you belong to any professional organizations or groups for your industry?
I am a member of a couple of local quilting guilds in my area and have started a quilting group that meets monthly in Grantham. However , I’m not aware of any “professional organizations” available for longarm quilters. I do attend MQX and belong to several Yahoo groups to stay up to date on the latest information in the industry. The internet has come a long way and can provide a huge amount of online support for machine owners.
Be my facebook friend at……
My Personal Quilty Sentiment
The Quilt
This quilt is made of cloth and thread
to place upon your little bed.
it's not an heirloom-just to keep,
but to lay upon as you count sheep.
Or perhaps the floor's the perfect place,
for a doll and teddy picnic space.
This quilt can be anything your can dream-
from a hero's cape to the robe of a queen.
Pretend it's a raft adrift at sea,
or just cuddle up when you watch TV.
So use it up, and wear it out-
I promise I won't yell or pout.
Just tell me when it's days are through,
and I'll make another, just for you.
Author Unknown
I love this poem!!
I want the quilts I make to be used and loved by those who receive them. Any and all quilts deserve to be quilted if that is what you want for your quilt.
I will photograph your quilt for publication on my blogs.
If your quilt is displayed or published I would very much appreciate the recognition for the machine quilting.
If your quilt is displayed or published I would very much appreciate the recognition for the machine quilting.
Thank you for your interest in my machine quilting services. I’m more than happy to help you finish your quilt.
Recently I completed a questionnaire for the New Hampshire State Quilters newsletter, not wanting all of that work to be under-utilized, I had a little fun writing it, hope you enjoy it too. Here's a copy...
Name of business?
SplittingStitches Longarm Quilting I’ve
had the name SplittingStitches for over 15 years. It all began in a Serger Yahoo group. With my
wacky sense of humor and time I spent removing those Serger stitches, it just
seemed to fit. Looking back now, my dealings with the tension issues of the
early home sergers, made dealing with
the tensions of a longarm machine a piece of cake!
How
long?
Have
owned my machine since 2009, began quilting as a business in 2011.
How
did you get into quilting?
After years of making clothes for my four children a
neighbor friend invited me to join her in a local quilt shops BOM. I fell in love with the finished quilt the
shop had on display, I had to buy not one, but two kits! After all it’s only $5, right? By month three into the BOM I realized that I
really didn’t know what I was doing, so I added a techniques class to my
schedule. That was only three blocks a
month, with a little research on the computer I found oh so many, many lovely
quilts that I just needed to make!! And
so the hobby began.
How
did you decide to become a longarm quilter?
After finishing my first quilt and having three more
in process, (yes, I actually finished my first quilt before the end of those
BOM’s). I went to the hubs and convinced him of the
‘savings’ of owning one of these wonderful machines. He bought into it; at least that’s what I
want to believe. It didn’t take me long
to figure out the machine was going to be sitting because I couldn’t complete
those tops fast enough. See UFO’s
below. Anyway, I began with friends
quilts, and the business has just blossomed from there.
Type
of machine you use?
HQ16
with ProStitcher from HandiQuilter.
Do
you use patterns, free design or both? I currently own over 325 different computer designs for edge to edge quilting. I can do free hand quilting and on rare occasions I will do a custom quilt. I do prefer edge to edge quilting.
Do
clients choose patterns or do you?
Depends upon the quilt maker, sometimes they select
the design and sometimes they leave the design selection up to me. Often, I will
make several suggestions, with the owner making the final selection. Getting to know the customer is the key,
selecting a design that reflects the amount and style of quilting they prefer. Do
they like less quilting vs. heavier, modern or traditional, who was the quilt
made for, how it will be loved and
looking at the designs of the fabrics are some of the factors to consider
before the quilting begins.
What
are your specialties?
I enjoy
working with new quilters. I love seeing
their expressions when they pick up their quilted tops. I want to always remember what that feels
like.
Something
people might be surprised about the longarm business?
It’s
not as easy as one might think. There is
a learning curve and depending upon the individual the curve will vary
tremendously. Even with a computer, you will need to learn about the limitations
of the machine. Like any other business there is paperwork that needs to be
done, emails that have to be answered,
keeping inventory of batting, thread, fabric, needles and other things
that keep both the machine and the business going. Also, we are human and also would like to
have a life outside of our machines. Surprised?!?! I know!! Sometimes we just can’t always get things done
as quickly as we all would like to have them done. We may get a quilt later than we expected, it
may take us longer to complete than we originally estimated. There can be many variables to completion time
of a quilt.
Tip
or suggestion you might give a client? (e.g. how long it takes to do a
standard full size quilt, what to expect to bring, how should they
transport it)
I think I could just about write a book with
this question! First – learn how to
square a backing. If you don’t know you
need to find out! This is critical when
having a quilt machine quilted. Second –
we don’t ask for extra fabric for the fun of it. Most of the time the extra fabric is needed
to square your backing, see tip #1. It
is also used in the loading process (attaching your backing to our frame) of
the quilt. Repeat after me, “pins are my
friends”. Use pins and lots of them when
you “correctly” attach your borders. If
you are not sure about the “correct’ way to add borders, find out how. Again, this is a critical part of getting
your quilt to lay flat and be it’s best before having it quilted. Square those blocks! A squared block will lay flat and reduces the
amount of extra fabric which has the potential of turning into fabric bubbles
and pleats on your quilt.
Whew, I will
stop there! Talk to your longarm quilter
if you have questions. We have probably seen it all and in most cases
know what the problem was and how it could have been done differently. Do you belong to any professional organizations or groups for your industry?
I am a member of a couple of local quilting guilds in my area and have started a quilting group that meets monthly in Grantham. However , I’m not aware of any “professional organizations” available for longarm quilters. I do attend MQX and belong to several Yahoo groups to stay up to date on the latest information in the industry. The internet has come a long way and can provide a huge amount of online support for machine owners.
Have
you worked on a special project – or one that was particularly
meaningful to
you?
Like most longarm quilters I do a lot of
charity quilts. I have done charity
quilting for my guilds, Parkinson’s , Scoops of Love, wives of servicemen,
cancer quilts, sympathy quilts and a couple of different orphanages. But the most rewarding quilt project I was
involved in was to coordinate and make a quilt for a high school classmate
who’s son was in a fatal accident while vacationing out of the country. A fund raiser was held for the family, money
was needed for the recovery of the childs body.
The quilt was auctioned off and the winning bidder presented the quilt
to the family.
Do
you have any personal UFOs?
More than I would like to admit too!! Remember the way I started? “Just” three blocks a month in the beginning
wasn’t enough. My daughter has dubbed me
the “Empress of Un-finished Blocks”, she claims I have too many to be a
Princess or even a Queen. I don’t know
what she’s talking about, can you imagine?
What
do you do to unwind besides quilting?
When I am not quilting, you
will most likely find me in the kitchen.
I love to bake and cook, I find the results just as satisfying as
quilting. Last year I took 13 classes
at the King Arthur Baking Education Center.
The carbs level at our house is at an all-time high!
Anything else you want to
share about you and your business – contact info, hours, time slots available,
etc.
I currently host a monthly sewing day in Grantham,
the second Tuesday of each month. I am
excited to be also planning my second quilting retreat! Please feel free to
contact me if you have any questions, I’m more than happy to help when I
can. Here’s how you can reach me:
Joanne
Lendaro
529
Olde Farms Road
Grantham,
NH 03753
603-865-5033
Find
helpful hints (squaring, piecing backings) from me on my blog….
Be my facebook friend at……
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