The Slipcover Network Forum

The Slipcover Network Forum

Regarding my post of a minute ago---now my one of yesterday shows up! Go figure!

The Slipcover Network Forum

The Slipcover Network Forum

Very strange:I tried responding to a post of Shirleys and post got lost. I reposted as a new post and it never showed up. And yes, I did "Publish Post" and type in the "letters".

I see that there have been no new topics since Aug. 12. Is something not working.

at 52

I think I know something I can't explain to anyone any younger than that. When I think something I am doing isn't working, I don't need to tinker with it right away. What's happening could be temporary, it could be made worse by my reaction to it.

Business is patchy around here. I finally have some, they threw the big money at me I asked for and they want it yesterday. I am going to try not to remember I promised myself I wouldn't be hurried beyond what's comfortable for me because I resent the pattern of being told to hurry.

I can see some worried faces and they aren't trying to make me feel like they could take the work somewhere else if I didn't hurry, they need the work done so they can get paid.

I have been promising myself that at my age I would set a certain pace and no one could make me feel they can replace me with a younger person. I can see my plan was nice for me to plan but that it won't work, I'll always have to accomodate the wishes or needs of the people holding the work and the check, and I must spend more time working for maybe less than the " plan".

At least untill the designers feel confident again that money is around the corner, and untill they do, they need support. Do I want to bend ( literally and figuratively) NO...do I want to hurry ? BIG no. I do want constancy, and I will have to give more prompt service now than I had to before to keep the incoming stream even.

The Slipcover Network Forum

The Slipcover Network Forum



I tried to respond with the following to a July 30 post of Shirleys and "the blog ate it!" It was regarding the slow season:

Well, the reason I have a minute to check the blog----

I have work for after Labor Day and I'm going to go visit my parents in a few days so I didn't want to be over-booked for the next few days. Well, I'm not!! It's the first time in about 6 years that I have nothing to do (except paperwork). (I've even completed my "fit in when I can" projects.) I think the problem is due to 1)I'm working faster 2) I'm spending less time on things like planning the next summit and other things in my life like that) But the other reality is that my 6 month wait list is now 2 months. I've lost quite a bit of business by telling people that I mostly just do work for the customers that buy my fabric.

I've been comfortable in saying I reserve 1 week a month for COM but some people don't want to wait and thus go elsewhere. This was fine with me when I had a long wait list.

Also I've had 3-4 customers lately who come to me to look at fabric and I give them an estimate, and then they go buy a fabric on line or at a discount store. (These are things I would do myself, probably!) Anyhow, I can't figure out how to recoup some of the expected, but now lost profit. (Have I become greedy, or what!!!)

I've never charged extra for COM because I have never been able to figure out a nice way to explain it to the customer.

Any suggestions in helping me be less nice??

Jeannie

another crazy project

it's an all wood chair that needs a very fancy solution. Several pics are now up.

Using Rowley hook strip HS200/4W screwed to underside of wood seat so that the hook faces chair perimeter and the right angled surface is wedge cut with tin snips to mold the curve.

look under Embassy chair.

I am preparing a sample for the estimate submission, there are only four chairs to do.

I must also make a set of cushions to present for estimate.

Live Slipcover Press at RSS Feed

So happy to announce we now have a live feed to the current Slipcover Press for Summer.

Just click on the RSS Feed to the Slipcover Press. Summer edition 2006

If you are not on our subscriber list, then fill out the information below that.

August all ready?

Where did the Summer go?

always
Karen

The Slipcover Network Forum

The Slipcover Network Forum

Hi All,

I had a really great time at the Summit and learned so much, thanks everybody for answering all my questions.

I came back very enthusiastic to get started making slipcovers and I have a couple more questions.

I built a cutting table and am wondering how to finish the top out. Right now it is plywood, what did you put on yours?

One of the marketing ideas was to contact designers. How did you guys do this?
Phone, mail, in person? Does the designer get a discount? How much?

Same question for contacting upholsterers. If I did cushions for them, what kind of discount would I give them?

Amy, with many more questions to come.

systems...

Angie and I have talked and taught about this but this is key ( along with the intention of developing speed )..

you have to know what you want to produce, produce it regularly, and then study what makes it more profitable for you.

Someone got mad at me not very recently for suggesting there is only profit in things you produce repetitively, but let me clarify how like this selection needs to be.

you don't have to use the same method or the same fabric or the same anything you choose not to. But your core choices need to be the same as if you were applying limits to an employee.

Angie does this well because she breaks it down for herself as if she needed to explain it to three year olds. If it's not a good habit that supports production better than any other habit, then that needs to change.

The thing that finally convinces most people ( I am guessing ) is when they do have more work than they can handle, and then get sick of the hours. Then, you get down to it and streamline.

Until you have that volume, the incentive is too abstract.

In short, profit lies in speed, I'd love to get $40 for a cushion, but fact is, if the pile is big enough, I can make a profit at $8. That's where you want to aim. If you can't train yourself to be a sewer, you are never going to get to where you can roll with the punches when the work available isn't ideal.

An example of my systems is the picture trail series I did with the red/yellow sofa fabric. I used patterns drafted from measurements, and then stack sawed them.

In the beginning your systems have to use what you know at the moment. When I first started my systems were simple, I used what I knew, and treated myself like an hourly employee. I didn't answer the phone, I sewed regular hours, I set a goal, and timed myself, and took note of wasted movements, reviewed at days end and changed my systems regularly when needed.

Quickie welt insertion question

When you have welt crossing welt, do you pull the cord out at the intersection (so that there is no cord at that point, just empty welt)? I've done it both ways, but can't decide which looks better. I'll go with the "industry standard" - whatever it is!

Hello Everyone,

Im sorry I am so out of touch, but hopefully within the next couple months i will have my own email to keep in touch with everyone!

I had a terrific time at the convention and enjoying meeting you all!!

I have a question I would like to ask all of you. Does anyone know about how much it actually cost THEM to make a slipcover. Meaning, do you know how much time it actually takes to make a slipcover, including pinning, sewing, utilities, materials (excluding fabric), and travel?

For a 1 cushion chair, 2 cushion love seat, and a 3 cushion sofa?I am having difficulty re-evaluating my price list, and this would help me generate my new prices. Any help or guidance you could provide me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot! Sheila Benner

PictureTrail issue - check your account!

I don't have a PictureTrail account, but I know many people here do. This was just posted by Susan Kostelecky, owner of SK Designs, at CHF. If you didn't read it there, here it is:

I just checked my picturetrail account and noticed that on the home page Picturetrail has added a heading at the top near your avatar that says "Visit my home Page". When you visit it, it lists several categories "My friends", etc. and they have added "Michael" to the friends page, and he is listed as an employee for Picturetrail and can answer your issues. However, when you click on Michael, it lists HIS friends and some are links to Myspace.com etc. I think it looks very unprofessional and wanted to give everyone a heads up in case you want to delete "Michael" from your page (I did). It appears they did this in the past week, and I was reveling in the wonderful WT 104 class at the school, so just noticed it today.

Just wanted to pass it on so you could change it if you would like.

I checked a few accounts of people I know and... yes, "Michael" is there.

rough poll

not that anyone can tell me specifics, but when did the slow down begin ? What month ? Is it in line for what you'd expect seasonally, or how much more off % is it ?

Are requests changing ?

Are you in an area where advertising by slipcover selling retailers is becoming more visable ? Becoming aggressive, or just not appearing anymore ( like they gave up ).

Personally, I see strategies changing, and everyone is secretive about how slow it is.

I got a email from Libya from a regular customer so I know I have stuff in the tube heading my way, otherwise it sure it mysteriously slow ( maybe not so mysterious ).

not quite a slipcover

another hectic day, Maria and I repacked 65 pounds of feather in my LR...

and did this as an afterthought....

getting the house ready for March for the mousekslipcoverers... slipcoverteers... mouseketeerslipcovererers... slipmouses... ( that one don't work )

we reshuffled all the feathers in my sofas to restyle the cushions. Pic's later on that...

Slipcover Workshop on Flowing Lake in Washington

Hi,

I took Karen’s “Slipcover like a Pro” 2 Day Intensive class this past weekend. Wow, what a great class! I have been making slips for about 3 years, and originally took a slipcover class from Karen about 6 years ago. But I had forgotten so many of her tips and tricks. I really enjoyed myself and learned a ton information to make my job easier.

The class was held on the deck of her lake house. Sun, water, birds, children playing – it was like going on a sewing vacation.

Sheila

McLean delivered

part of the series on washing and sizing math. Still working on the red and yellow ones. Will write comparison contrast when complete.

Turtle slipcovers

Just had to share this job. The designers sent me the front pic.

But when I arrived this is what I saw! Good thing the client

and I had planned to talk. She did not want the slipcover

to follow the sofa curves.

Here is how it turned out... Yeppie

Now I am waiting to be paid by the designer.

Slipcover Summit Cookbook

I will take on the Cook Book if its OK!

Cathy will write and edit and put it together in a online form and paper form.

Gretta and Wilma will test the recipes!

So the sooner we get recipes the sooner we can start.

I would like to get it out by October so we could sell them for Xmas Gifts plus a great memento of your trip to AZ or any of the past Summits.

You can mail you favorite recipe's to Claudia Buchanan, 7755 W Ludlow Dr, Peoria AZ 85381 or email them to me SonoranSewing@gmail.com

Please send photos of any restaurant or eating. Lets make this FUN!

Thanks,
Claudia

Class proposals for OTHER people to teach (not me...)

1. SERGING

Different approaches for different methods... PLEASE!!!

2. Mary Ann Quinn's Method

Since she's coming (from NH), she might be persuaded to teach her method, which is an interesting variation on patterning using Cushion-Eze. Or maybe not, since she's never actally taught it (she developed it and uses it exclusively - her work is very nice). Is there interest out there?

I was inspired as well

and came home with a new eagerness to hit the sewing pile and neglect the yarn ( instead of the other way around ).

I did figure out how to overlock from double on half....you just move the pins back out of your way.....

I steal ideas from you guys all the time, when you aren't watching me....

Inspiration from the summit

Ta-da. Yes, it is easy to post a photo.