I LOVE the creativity of my customers, and the challenge of finding just the right fabric or design, and the satisfaction of making something that is an extra special gift for someone.
I HATE the enormous amount of time and extra expense it takes to special order fabrics or supplies, and (sometimes) unreasonable demands.
But recently I was asked to create a custom order for a wonderful repeat customer: four bicycle oven mitts, all from different fabrics, for her adult kids and kids-in-law who are avid bike racers. This was a custom order I loved.
Here are two of the custom mitts, packaged and ready to ship:
My walking foot (a gizmo that helps me quilt through multiple layers and includes a spacing bar) broke.
(Since I've now sewn well over 1,000 oven mitts, it had probably outlived its useful life!) I have a new one on rush order (no time to go to the local sewing machine repair shop when I am working 7:00 am to 8:00 pm). So the other two mitts will be delayed a bit. Thankfully, my sweet customer (whose name, appropriately enough, is Candy), doesn't need them until April, so she was fine with a slight delay for the last two. Whew!
TTFN
LeAnn
Congrats on the custom order! I love your oven mitts and the bike fabric is fun! I don't officially offer custom orders, but fulfill them on a selective basis :) Hope you receive your walking foot quickly!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Duni!
DeleteI join you in the love/hate of custom orders. It can be unnerving, trying to get the customer's vision just right! These bike mitts are totally awesome. Good job and lucky Candy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa! I hope she likes them.
DeleteI love the bike design! It's great that your customer is so understanding. Sorry to hear that your walking foot broke, but it seems like it gave you some good use! I've been thinking of getting one, but I've never gotten around to it.
ReplyDeleteYou would love a walking foot if you are sewing through multiple layers!!
DeleteCustom orders are fun! I don't have a walking foot, because I have a Pfaff with a IDF foot (Integrated Dual Feed) which I love!!! I don't have to deal with a foot when I am quilting. I know, it's all in what you get used to. :) Good luck on your new foot.
ReplyDeleteI would love IDR.
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