Now offering Edge to Edge Longarm Quilting

Hello hello hello!

It’s been ages since I shared anything on this page and I realized this morning that I hadn’t even told you all some really exciting news. Many of you know this already but if not, I am now offering Edge to Edge Longarm Quilting as part of my ALC Creates business. I run a very busy Etsy Shop making custom memory and other quilts. I purchased a 12 foot computerized Longarm Quilting machine a few years ago and have been using it literally ALL. THE. TIME. Let me explain how I came to the decision to offer my quilting services for hire.

After contemplating my work and life preparing for the 3rd surgery on my right foot in3 years I realized a few things. I need to slow down and really recognize and enjoy the amazing business I’ve built but also leave more room for balance. There’s that word we all hear about so often. BALANCE. It’s often used in a work/life context but what about taking the 3000 foot overview and use it in conjunction with everything we do? Oh and how the heck does that related to quilting? Well, I am not an expert or guru on anything, except maybe purchasing and stashing fabric but I digress. Let me give you a little backstory to help break it all down and share what I am doing now to bring that elusive balance into my chaotic life.

At one point last year and the early part of this year, I had over 50 custom memory quilts in line. Something I was both proud and terrified of. These were all mostly clients who found me on Etsy though some of them were also local to me here in Utah. I was, and still am, so very honored and proud to have been entrusted to help memorialize a lost loved one or commemorate a graduation or birth of a first grandbaby. Every one of these experiences and quilt projects were so incredibly special to me. My work is very much my life’s calling and I often am moved to tears while working on a special quilt. Many times these quilts are quite literally the only way to wrap up and snuggle with a lost loved one. It’s very deep and soulful work for me. The problem was that I had built a business that was overtaking my entire life. I was working 7 days a week 10 hours a day. You’ll laugh, but I gave myself a sewing injury. I had to spend a few weeks back in Physical Therapy for some seriously strained back and neck muscles. In August of 2021 I had to undergo the 2nd surgery on my right foot. Don’t worry, I was still sewing, just with my left foot a trick I mastered after my 1st surgery. Anyway, the surgery was supposed to be really simple and straightforward, with a moderate recovery. I didn’t think anything of it going in. I just wanted it fixed so I could get back to work and life. I had planned on only taking 2 weeks off. At that point the Universe laughed and laughed. Turns out, that went the surgeon went in he discovered a whole bunch of unexpected problems. The surgery ended up taking 3 times as long as expected and I am now preparing for yet another surgery on the same foot in about 2 weeks. I won’t get into any of the gory details but I’ll just say, don’t make plans with the Universe. Just when you think you have everything worked out someone screams PIVOT and those plans all go out the window. Emotionally that second surgery really did a number on me.

I wasn’t even out of the crazy huge boot when life threw us another curve ball. On the morning of December 30th my husband got a phone call from his Dad saying that his only sister had just passed away. It was shocking and tragic. She was only 17 months older than my husband and left behind a teenaged son as well as older kids and a brand new granddaughter. It was absolutely devastating and we are all still reeling from it 9 months later. So to circle back, all of these things forced me to stop in my tracks and reevaluate my priorities, my life, my work, my family. Really everything. Death has a way of doing that to the people left behind. So what does that have to do with Longarm Quilting? Well, after tons of time spent crying, thinking, talking and crying some more I remembered just how short life really is. My Sister in Law was only 54 years old when she passed. When you’re 8 years old you can’t possibly imagine still being alive at 54. It’s practically ancient. By the time we get to the dreaded “middle age” you realize just how little time we really get. So…I slowed my business WAY down. In fact, I temporarily put my shop on “vacation” and did not take any new clients for close to 6 months. I reflected on my own life and how I was living it. My kids are both adults now, sniff sniff, but lucky for me they still live at home. My son just graduated from high school and my daughter graduated from college. I don’t have many more years of them both at home with us. I was spending all my time working. When I wasn’t actively sewing I was responding to client messages, ordering supplies, cutting up clothing and on and on and on. My kids have either been blessed or cursed, depending on how you look at it, to watch me own and run my own business their entire lives. I’ve been a professional photographer for over 20 years. While occasionally I’ve done contract work for an employer, the majority of their lives all they’ve seen is me hustling and trying to make it on my own. The sudden death of a loved one really stopped me cold. I don’t want to spend every waking moment pushing myself to injury and exhaustion. I needed to figure out a way that I could still work doing what I love but not to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. Enter Longarm Quilting…I don’t know why I didn’t think to offer it until now but I have opened my doors and am now offering my Longarm Quilting services for hire in addition to running my Etsy Shop. But wait. Doesn’t that sound like I’m doing more, not less? It does sound that way but I’ve drastically cut back on my custom memory quilts in order to offer this service. I am still actively working and running my shop, just not to the point of needing Physical Therapy to move and function properly.

You can read all the details about my services and pricing Here. If you would like to check out many of the designs I offer you can see them Here. If you are interested in sending me a quilt top to quilt for you the order form is located Here. All of that info can be accessed from the top tool bar that you see on any page on my site. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Quilting, in all forms, is my passion and I would absolutely love to help you finish up your quilt tops. I can even trim and bind them for you if that’s something you need.