Super-Duper, Can't Get Cheaper, Long-Arm Quilting

Yesterday, I welcomed my long arm, Mr. Darcy, into my studio:

This picture is so new, he's not even completely set up yet.  My fab HQ dealer Sue Schmeiden got him set up last night and I was so tired I didn't get to play very much.  All I got to stitch out was this:

Well, what I am quickly realizing is that I am really excited to play & learn and practice, but I won't be able to produce tops fast enough to practice on.  That's where you come in.

Through December 1, I am offering free long-arm quilting on my new HQ Fusion 24" machine (up to 100 quilts), if you're willing to send me quilt tops to play with.  You're a perfect candidate for this if your goal is to have finished quilts and to get them out of your sight, not that you want them perfect or fast. You're not a good candidate if you are a control freak or you hate surprises.

As with all things free, there are many catches & caveats that you need to pay attention to:

1. Free quilting means you don't get any say in the pattern I use for your quilt or the thread color or type that I use.  You can always request, but I won't promise to pay attention.  Maybe if you send me a nice spool or cone of Superior Thread I'll pay you more attention.  :)  I love Mr. Darcy loves King Tut & So Fine!
2. Free quilting means that you must provide your own quilt top, batting, backing (B&B must be 6" larger than the top on ALL sides), and pay for shipping both ways.
3. Free quilting means you'll do what you can to make it as easy for me to load your quilt as possible.  Stitches don't have to be perfect, but please clip stray threads & PRESS your top & backing so I have a good flat place to start. Also, SQUARE UP YOUR TOP & BACKING.  If it's square when it goes on, it will be square when it comes off.  If it's not squared off, well... I'll do my best but make no guarantees.  
4. Pin your name & address to your quilt so if I unpack in a fit of excitement, I still know what goes where.If you really want to be a peach, please mark the centers of all pieces at the top & bottom so I know which way is up!  You make me guess at your own peril...
5. Free quilting means that I don't promise you a delivery date, and you don't expect one.  I'll get it done when it gets done.  I won't keep it forever, but depending on demand it may be a while before I get to yours!  You may ask me where you're at on the list, but not when.  :)
6. Free quilting means that you'll give me constructive feedback on my quilting, but you'll excuse my tension issues & little blips & blurts & whoopsies on your quilt if they are there.
7. Free quilting means that if it really truly looks terrible & amateur, you will keep quiet as to who quilted it, but if it's stellar & spectacular & you love it, you'll recommend me high and low!  (Ok, I'm only half joking on that one.)
8. Free quilting means that if you send me more than one quilt to finish, you understand they may not all get done back to back.  I'm not limiting the number of quilts any one person can send, as long as you pay attention to all the previous caveats.
9. I'll take big quilts and small quilts, but if you send smaller things, try not to drive me nuts with 8 dozen potholders, unless you send a LARGE piece of batting & backing so I can railroad them together on the same frame load.  If you send me really big things, the tops can't be wider than 110".

For those who know me or have followed my adventures, I'm very much a perfectionist and a lover of well-made things, and it's not likely that you'll get back junk & scribbles and knots if I can possibly avoid it.  I'm no stranger to pulling out stitches if I have to.  The point is that I need to practice my free motion skills, ruler work, and get good at working with different threads and designs.  If you're willing to go along on the journey with me, I'm happy to have you! 

During this time, I am still taking in customer quilts & working on my pattern business, so I will need to take breaks from free motion practicing periodically to do other things.  If you send your quilt by the deadline, I promise to finish the quilting on it & get it back to you at some point.  Maybe no one but you will send anything & you'll get it back before the end of the year; maybe all 100 slots will get taken and it will be a while!  I'll keep a running list on the side of my blog as they arrive so you can see if you want to take the plunge if you're late to the party.

Ok, here are the mailing instructions:
1) Pack your squared, PRESSED & center-marked top, batting & backing (B&B 6" longer on all sides) in a plastic bag in a good sturdy box.  Enclose a self-addressed mailing label & return postage in your box.
2) Mail your package to:

LoveBug Studios
100 S. Atkinson Rd. #116-388
Grayslake, IL 60030

This mailing location is safe, secure & indoors, so don't worry about your quilt getting soaked on my front porch - it's not gonna happen because this isn't my front porch!  If you want to make sure it got delivered, get delivery confirmation or send Priority & get a tracking number.

Looking forward to some squishies!

Happy quilting!