I originally connected with Melonie M. of Quilty Lab Creations via Instagram. Melonie is an ICU nurse by night and a quilter by day. Melonie began her long arm quilting business in September 2021 and currently offers edge to edge quilting, but she also plans on venturing into custom quilting very soon! Her business is located in Fort Worth, Texas and she accepts both local and mail in quilts. You can read more about Quilty Lab Creations and and Melonie's long arming business below. Also be sure to check out how you can connect with Quilty Lab Creations at the bottom of the post.
Please explain your main creative area.
My main creative outlet is through longarm quilting. I am starting out with edge-to-edge quilting but eventually I plan to also offer custom quilting.
Tell us about your business and what your favorite thing about your business is.
I get to see all of the amazing quilts people are working on and do the most fun part of the process: THE QUILTING! This is definitely not everyone’s favorite part but it is mine. It didn’t used to be as I absolutely hate getting on my hands and knees to baste the quilt and then try to shove it through my domestic. But the longarm has allowed me to come up with all kinds of creative ways to add texture to quilts. My absolute favorite part of my business is getting to see the finished product as I roll it off of the longarm. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit there and look at all of the work someone has put into this piece of art.
What has been your favorite make or creation so far?
It’s hard to have a favorite yes since I am still new in accepting customer quilts but it definitely was my first customer. My best friend’s mom trusted me enough to send me a quilt to do for her even though she had no idea what kind of skills I may or may not have. When I finished that quilt I knew that I had made the right move by investing in the longarm. I get to hear all kinds of sweet stories that are attached to each and every one of these quilts.
What is one tip you'd recommend to someone just getting started in your creative area?
Just do it! It is definitely intimidating but once you mess up a bunch of times (on your own scrap fabric of course!) you learn so much. I definitely would not have had the confidence to jump in and take on the task of learning how to use a longarm if it weren’t for the Longarm League. Jess and her community is absolutely amazing! It has provided me with a great foundation to get started and feel confident taking on clients. The quilting community is full of generous and creative minds. I now get to talk to people from all walks of life and, hopefully, will make long term connections with them.
What are 3 words you'd use to describe your creative style?
- Modern
- Colorful
- Loud (this is only my personal creative style, I always adapt and tone it down for customer quilts)
Do you have an upcoming make, launch, or project that you are excited about?
I have a couple of customer quilts I am currently working on. Both quilts are gifts for other people and I am so excited about the stories behind these gifts. It just goes to show how most quilters seem to be making them as wonderful gifts for others. Nothing says “I love you” more than someone who spent time and effort to make something custom just for you. And, if they are spending more money to have a professional longarmer finish the job, just know that you are deeply loved!
What is one skill (either craft related or not) that you wish you knew how to do?
I wish I knew how to create amazing FPP patterns based off of pictures. I want to eventually make a family quilt with each quilt block being a portrait of someone. As long as QuiltCon doesn’t get cancelled, I will get to take this class in February 2022 and am thrilled!
What would your high school superlative be? (Most likely to...)
Run into a wall haha!
What's the oddest food you've ever tried and did you like it?
I tend to stay away from odd foods as I’m not super adventurous. But I have had oysters if that even counts? And I liked them at the time…of course this was after my fiancé (now husband) gave me a cocktail first.
If you had to lose one of your five senses, which one would you give up and why?
My sense of touch. Only because all of the other senses are critical for quilting and eating.
Lastly, where can the readers connect with you and see more of your work?
They can visit me mostly on Instagram @quiltylabcreations and on my website www.quiltylabcreations.com. If you have any questions at all I reply to emails via quiltylabcreations@gmail.com.
IOFTA Creative Convos are bi-monthly short Q&A style blog posts that allow me, Katherine, to share other wonderful creatives and small business owners in not only the quilting space but in the creative fiber arts and textile space.
The goal is to provide a seat at the table for all types of small business creatives and to introduce my community to businesses that they may not have connected with yet.