I often recommend crazy quilt-inspired designs for adventurous customers looking for a contemporary quilt.

If you are a bit of a free spirit, something like this tangerine and fuschia Whimzie quilt with a floral pattern would be a fun complement to your lively personality. Just imagine it in other crazy color combinations – amber and charcoal perhaps? Or turquoise and scarlet?

What’s the point of being fascinatingly crazy, if you don’t enrich the world with it?
~ Anonymous

Maybe you think crazy quilts aren’t for you? Check out this completely different take on the crazy quilting tradition.

Yes, surprisingly, a crazy quilt also works with today’s simpler decorating styles. The chic, yet cozy, neutrals of this Whimzie quilt were a perfect match for the customer’s modern decor.

(This heart-shaped pattern is one of my favorite recommendations for custom wedding quilt orders, too. Especially when the couple is crazy in love!)

Start Your Custom Crazy Quilt by Whimzie Quiltz Now ►

As I move on to my 8th year in business, I want to say how much I appreciate ALL the custom quilt projects you’ve sent my way over the years and for letting me have a small part in creating such “whimzical” keepsakes for you and the ones you love.

Can’t wait to see what fantastic quilts we’ll come up with together in 2012!

Warmest Wishes,
Deidre

“Bah humbug,” I thought, as I sat sewing late Christmas Eve. “Nobody wants quilts for Christmas these days.” Tired and dejected, I laid my head down on the sewing machine. “Why do I bother?” I said aloud, as weariness overtook me.

The clock chimed midnight, startling me. Looking up, I saw a spirit, scissors in one hand, needle and thread in the other. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Quilting Past,” she said. “Come with me.”

Suddenly, I found myself watching a woman tenderly cutting pieces of fabric from a worn dress. With no electricity, she sat close by a slowly burning fire, stitching the scraps together by hand. The pattern she’d chosen wasn’t simple, and she was obviously taking a lot of care with her stitches.

The Ghost of Christmas Quilting Past smiled gently. “She’s making a quilt for her daughter. Unable to afford new material, the dress was a favorite of the girl’s, now outgrown. During the day there’s never a minute’s rest, so these few stolen moments late at night are all the time she has. Still, she’s determined to finish the quilt so her daughter has something to open Christmas morning.”

“I’m sure her daughter appreciated it,” I replied. “But this happened decades ago. People did more with less back then, and were grateful for simple pleasures. It’s not the same now.”

“Ha!” The loud laugh startled me, and turning, I saw a second spirit, this one holding a rotary cutter and bobbin. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Quilting Present,” she said. “And not as much has changed as you think.”

The scene transformed around me. A gas fireplace burned, but twinkling lights on a Christmas tree provided much of the room’s glow. A quilted tree skirt peeked out from under wrapped boxes while a man and woman placed small gifts in quilted stockings hung from the mantle. They were obviously taking care not to wake two small children, who slept nearby with a plate marked ‘Cookies for Santa’ set hopefully between them.

I smiled, then saddened. “It’s lovely to see, but, really, the children will be just as happy come Christmas morning whether their gifts are on a quilted tree skirt or not. And stockings are nice, but not…” I lost my train of thought as a third spirit appeared.

Holding nothing and draped in threadbare black cloth, this phantom neither moved nor spoke. Filled with dread, I cried out, “Are you the Spirit of Christmas Quilting Yet to Come?”

Not answering, the spirit pointed and I turned to look. My sewing room sat unused, a thick layer of dust covering the ironing board, cutting table and sewing machine. Yards of fabric were strewn about the room, faded and worn. Before I could even gasp at the horror of it all, the scene changed again – a child’s bedroom, the heat long since turned off for the night, yet a cold wind still blew outside the windows. ‘TIMOTHY’ was carved on his headboard, but without a warm quilt to cover his bed, tiny Tim lay shivering.

I cried out, “No, Spirit! No! Hear me! I am not the quilter I was. I will respect the Past, live in the Present and stitch together a new Future. I will honor Christmas quilting in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”

YES! I awoke in my sewing room to find only moments had passed. “It’s Christmas Day! I haven’t missed it.” I set about my quilting with a renewed sense of promise, and, as the sewing machine hummed once again, I thought I heard a voice, a little boy’s voice, ring out with a heartfelt holiday wish for all, “God bless Us, Every One!”

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there’s the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses like Whimzie Quiltz and More.

Pledge to “Shop Small” on Nov 26th.

If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge!

Learn More About Small Business Saturday ►

The most important ingredient in the custom quilt “recipe” is YOU!

Not only do you choose the theme, the colors, the pattern and the size of your quilt, but the more you are able to tell me about the person receiving your quilt, the better I am able to craft a special, personalized design.

In the last 7 years, a lot of people have shared touching stories and fun tidbits about their lives with me so we could ‘cook up’ some really great quilt designs! Here are a few of my favorites ~

• “Interested in a pink baseball baby quilt. My husband is a huge Red Sox fan and I know he will love being able to start brainwashing our daughter early, hahaha!”

• “There are seven of us, all current or retired from the same company, all getting together ~5 times a year for about 8 years. This quilt will be a gift from 6 of us friends to the seventh for her 60th birthday.”

• “My daughter is a total princess. I was thinking of a quilt of all her favorite things to do or maybe just what she’s intersted in, like animals/zoo, Disneyland (anything princess), baking, fishing, dancing, singing, reading, etc.”

• “My Honey has a Nook Color and he needs a cover. He loves science fiction, robots, Star Trek and computers.”

• “Would love to have a geometric design so I can show my students who are studying to be elementary school math teachers how quilts and math go together.”

• “I love my four legged best friend, my Golden Retriever named Junior. He is 12 and I realize he is getting up there in age, I would love to have a quilt that honors him. We have been together since he was 3 months old and he has brought so much joy to my life.”

• “I am a huge Wizard of Oz fan and therefore have a room dedicated to the movie. The room has a twin trundle bed and I am trying to find a quilt maker that can make the bedspread.”

How long does it take to make a quilt?

A lot depends on the detail of the design and the size of the quilt; if I do nothing but work on one lap size quilt with a fairly simple design, I can complete it in a little over two weeks. However, I’ve usually got several orders going at once, so my average time is 1-3 months.

Is Christmas your busiest time?

Surprisingly, the holidays are often my least busy time of year. I’m usually busiest January through March. My theory is that everyone who didn’t get a custom quilt for a gift decides to take matters into their own hands come the New Year.

Do you make t-shirt / memory / photo quilts?

Yes, memory quilts from clothing, including t-shirts, and quilts with fabric photos are something I do. I get asked this one so often, I created a T-Shirt Quilt Tip Sheet and a Photo Quilt Tip Sheet to explain what can and cannot be included.

Do you go to craft shows?

I did a couple of craft shows early on. People would come by my booth and say “Oh, I love this quilt, if only it was in a different color, or a different size, etc.” It was those comments that sent me in the direction of custom quilts rather than ready-made.

Will you finish a quilt top I made?

If someone has already sewn a quilt top, they need what’s known as a “long-arm quilter” to finish it. A long-arm quilter uses a specialized sewing machine just for quilting tops; often this is the only service they offer. Since I create quilts from the initial design to the final stitch, from “fabric to finished” as I like to say, I’ll refer someone who’s sewn a top to another quilter.

Do you sell fabric?

Nope. But I get this one a lot from quilters visiting the area (they Google “San Diego quilt shops” and www.whimziequiltz.com comes up) so I keep addresses for all the local fabric stores close by to share when I get a call.

Can you make me another quilt?

Actually, a lot of my customers are returning customers, so I get this question frequently. I can’t tell you how much it means to me when a WQ customer loves his or her quilt enough to return for another! You all are the best!

There’s the pink and black dancers that I thought would be perfect for a little girl’s quilt, but still can’t find the right pattern. And I love the idea of the beige/grey/brown/black stripe, but again, the right project hasn’t ‘materialized’.

The holly isn’t bad, but there are so many other, more fun holiday fabrics that it keeps getting pushed to the back of the closet. Same with the blue and yellow floral – it’s not bad, but it could be better!

Or take the black/white/red stripe (please!) It looked so good online, but in person the colors are more muted. And I’m not a big fan of metallic fabrics to start with, so why, oh WHY, do I have so much purple and gold harlequin fabric?

And finally, there’s the kitties. I love these adorable kitties, with their little Chesire grins. But whose bright – and I literally mean bright – idea was it to put them on a electric green and flourescent teal background!?!

Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, etc., etc… so, if you happen to like any of these top-quality, 100% cotton fabrics from my stash, I’m offering

7% off Any Custom Quilted Item Using One of 7 These ‘Ugly’ Fabrics
Offer good on orders placed before Oct 18

Start Your Custom Whimzie Quilt Now ►

Thanks to caring Whimzie Quiltz customers like you – and all the custom quilt orders featuring orange or white fabrics (the colors of Julius’ fur) – we’ve raised $700 to help shelter, feed, groom and provide medical care for lots of his furry friends at the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

But it’s only August, soooo….
Let’s Do More!

Remember, this is Whimzie Quiltz’ 7th anniversary, or my “7 Year Stitch”. Which got me thinking… if I can get 77 “likes” for the Whimzie Quiltz Facebook page, I can add another $77 to our donation, for a total of $777.

Like WQ on Facebook Now ►

Liking WQ gives you access to Facebook-only giveaways, discounts, games, contests and other fun stuff. Plus, you can check out LOTS of quilt photos for inspiration and show off your custom Whimzie quilt, too.

Best of all, if we reach 77 likes, orphaned animals at Helen Woodward will benefit even more!

So, if you haven’t joined in the fun already, please like WQ on Facebook, and ask your friends and family to like WQ, too.

Like WQ on Facebook Now ►

Free Upgrade to Extra Warm Wool Batting
Offer good on custom quilt orders placed before Aug 10 for delivery by Dec 15

Your “Chill Out” Custom Quilt Now ►

In the meantime, enjoy some ice cream and try to stay cool!

“I Scream, You Scream”
Custom Whimzie Quilt
56″ x 60″
2004

The Comp-Q-Cover Collection
by Whimzie Quiltz and More
Quilted protection for your portable computer, netbook, iPad, tablet, Kindle or e-reader

A mix of fun and function – think quilt chic meets tech geek! – each decoratively appliqued Comp-Q-Cover is created using quality hand-dyed batik fabrics, grid quilted for padded protection and carefully sized to fit.

Available now in lots of eye-catching designs or have a custom Comp-Q-Cover made just for you!

★ ★ ★ ★ A fresh, fun way to protect and carry your iPad or Kindle!
I.M. Institches, KQLT 101.5FM

A++! Stylish enough to carry by itself, a Comp-Q-Cover slips easily into a purse or briefcase when you are on the go, too.
Anita Thimble, Undercovers Magazine

Two thumbs way up… for the cushioned cotton/poly blend batting!
Quilta Comforter, Channel 9-Patch TV

And coming soon for the holidays…
Comp-Q-Cover II: Rise of the Gift Certificates
~ Don’t let someone you love be without a Comp-Q-Cover this holiday season ~