Quilting Business Success 2b – Valerie Greenwell
Interview Summary: Valerie Greenwell
Introduction: A Journey from Tragedy to Triumph
Valerie Greenwell, a seasoned quilter and business owner, has a story that exemplifies resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Valerie moved to Tucson, Arizona, to start a new chapter in her life. She found her passion for quilting after a tragic incident that left her searching for a new purpose. “I used to be an officer for the state of Indiana, and I was shot on the job in 1998,” Valerie shared. “After that, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to go back to that line of work, so I started looking for something different.” Quilting became the perfect outlet for her creativity and a way to reclaim her life after a career-ending injury.
Discovering Quilting as a Form of Therapy and Expression
Valerie’s quilting journey began as a form of therapy. During her long recovery, she needed something to keep her mind occupied and her hands busy. “I was looking for a hobby to fill some time because I had a lot of recovery time on my hands,” she explained. Quilting provided a creative outlet that allowed her to focus her energy on something productive and beautiful. She quickly became enamored with the art of quilting, moving beyond simple piecing to more complex and artistic designs.
Her initial foray into quilting was purely personal. She enjoyed the process of creating something unique and tangible. However, Valerie soon realized that the traditional quilting methods weren’t fulfilling her creative vision. “I always saw myself more as an artist than just a quilter,” she said. This realization motivated her to learn more about long-arm quilting so she could finish her quilts in a way that matched her artistic aspirations.
Investing in a Long-Arm Quilting Machine: A Risk Worth Taking
Recognizing that she needed the right tools to bring her creative vision to life, Valerie decided to invest in a long-arm quilting machine. Her first purchase, however, was not a Gammill. “I bought what I thought I could afford to pay cash for,” Valerie recalled. Unfortunately, the machine spent more time in the shop than in her studio. “I had it for about 10 months, and it was in the shop for about five of those months. As soon as I got it back from the company, I put it up for sale,” she added. Frustrated with the limitations of her first machine, Valerie knew she needed to invest in a more reliable and versatile option.
This led her to purchase a Gammill quilting machine in 2013. “I went to a quilt show in Des Moines and tried every single machine,” Valerie explained. She found that the Gammill machine was more intuitive and aligned with her skills in graphic design. “Gammill was based on a Windows operating system, which I already knew, and the Creative Studio software felt very familiar to me. It was an easy decision,” she said.
Building a Quilting Business: From Hobby to Profession
Valerie’s initial intention was to use the Gammill for her own quilting projects. However, once she had the machine, business opportunities began to present themselves. “Once you have a Gammill, it’s like you’re the Pied Piper of quilting—people just come to you,” Valerie laughed. “I wasn’t looking for business, but I wasn’t going to say no to it either.” She started taking in quilts from other people to gain experience and build a portfolio. This hands-on experience allowed her to refine her skills and gain a reputation for quality work.
Valerie quickly realized that there was a strong demand for her quilting services, especially for custom work. She started accepting every quilt that came her way, knowing that each project was an opportunity to learn and grow. “I took in every quilt, anything, just to be able to get the experience,” she said. “I mean, I could quilt on my own stuff all day, but quilting for others is where I really honed my skills.”
Expanding the Business: Upgrading Equipment and Services
As her business grew, Valerie recognized the need to upgrade her equipment to meet the increasing demand and complexity of her projects. She traded in her original Gammill for a larger model and eventually upgraded again to a machine with more capabilities. “If you’re going to do this, just go ahead and get the bigger machine because you’re going to want it later,” Valerie advised. Her decision to continuously upgrade her equipment was driven by her desire to offer a wider range of services and accommodate larger and more complex quilts.
Valerie’s business model evolved to include both edge-to-edge quilting and custom quilting services. She explained that custom quilting is more challenging and time-consuming but also more rewarding. “I take in a fair amount of custom work from across the U.S. because there are so many areas where quilters aren’t willing to do custom work,” she noted. “People still have a desire to have that kind of work done, and I’m happy to offer it.”
Financial Management: Creative Solutions to Fund the Business
Funding a quilting business required Valerie to make some tough financial decisions. She sold her first machine and used the proceeds, along with the sale of a beloved Harley motorcycle, to finance her Gammill. “I sold my motorcycle to make the down payment on my Gammill,” she shared. “And then I sold my brand-new pickup truck to pay for my latest machine.” Valerie’s willingness to sacrifice personal assets demonstrates her commitment to her business and her belief in its potential for success.
These sacrifices paid off as Valerie’s business flourished. She was able to pay off two houses and three quilting machines with the income generated from her quilting work. “There’s a lot of income generated from this that I wouldn’t have had any other way,” she reflected. “And the personal freedom that comes with it is priceless. I get to make my own schedule and take time off whenever I want.”
Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
Valerie faced several challenges in growing her business, particularly in gaining the trust of potential customers. “The hardest part was just getting people to take you seriously as a new quilter,” she said. “People would say, ‘Oh, just because you have a long arm, you think you can do this kind of work.’ But once you show them the quality of your work, word of mouth spreads, and that’s how you build a client base.”
She also had to navigate the complexities of pricing her services. Valerie developed a pricing strategy that offered options to customers, helping them understand the value of her work. “I always provide two quotes: one for the custom work they asked for and one for a simpler edge-to-edge option,” she explained. “That way, they can choose what fits their budget, and it takes the pressure off me to justify my prices.”
Impact on Personal Life and Future Plans
The success of Valerie’s quilting business has had a profound impact on her personal life. It has provided her with financial stability and the freedom to pursue her passion. “Quilting has allowed me to create freely without having to worry about the financial aspect of what I want to create,” she said. “It’s also given me the freedom to live my life on my terms. If I don’t want to quilt today, I don’t have to.”
Looking to the future, Valerie plans to continue expanding her business and possibly explore teaching quilting techniques. “I love the idea of sharing my knowledge with others,” she said. “Teaching could be the next chapter in my quilting journey.”
Advice for Aspiring Quilters
For those considering starting their own quilting business, Valerie offers valuable advice: “Make sure you get the machine you want with the features you need. It’s easier to buy big now than to trade up later,” she advised. She also emphasized the importance of networking and building relationships within the quilting community. “Go to quilt guilds, share your work, make friends, and make personal connections. That’s where you’ll find support and encouragement.”
Valerie also encouraged new quilters not to undervalue their work. “Don’t apologize for your prices,” she said. “Your time and skills are valuable, and you should price your services accordingly. It took me a long time to learn that, but it’s important.”
Conclusion: A Story of Resilience and Passion
Valerie Greenwell’s quilting journey is a testament to her resilience, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit. From overcoming a life-changing injury to building a successful quilting business, Valerie has shown that it is possible to turn adversity into opportunity. Her story is an inspiration to anyone looking to pursue their
Key Questions and Answers: Valerie Greenwell
Q1: Where is home for you, and how long have you been long-arm quilting?
A: “I am currently in Terre Haute, Indiana, but I just moved here from Tucson, Arizona, about four weeks ago. I got my first long-arm quilting machine in 2012.”
Q2: What made you decide to start long-arm quilting?
A: Valerie explained that she initially got into quilting as a hobby after being injured on the job as a state officer. “I was shot on the job in 1998 and needed something to fill my time during recovery. Quilting became that outlet for me.”
Q3: Did you start quilting as a business from the beginning?
A: No, Valerie initially started quilting for herself. “I wanted to do my own quilts from start to finish because it was hard to hand them off to someone else and have them come out exactly how I envisioned,” she explained.
Q4: Why did you choose a Gammill machine after your first machine was so unsatisfactory?
A: Valerie chose a Gammill because of its reliability and ease of use. “I went to a quilt show and tried every single machine. Gammill’s Creative Studio software was intuitive for me, especially with my background in graphic design. It just made sense,” she said.
Q5: How did you finance your quilting machine?
A: Valerie shared that she financed her machine by selling her previous quilting machine and a motorcycle. “I sold my purple Harley to make the down payment on my Gammill,” she revealed. “I even sold my brand-new pickup truck to pay for the latest machine.”
Q6: How did you know there was enough demand for long-arm quilting in your area?
A: Valerie didn’t initially plan to quilt for others, but once she had her machine, people started coming to her. “I wasn’t looking to quilt for others, but word spread, and people just started showing up,” she noted.
Q7: How do you price your quilting services?
A: Valerie has a tiered pricing strategy based on the complexity of the work. “I provide two quotes: one for the custom work they asked for and one for a simpler edge-to-edge option. This gives them the freedom to choose based on their budget,” she explained.
Q8: What is the most challenging aspect of running your quilting business?
A: “The hardest part was getting people to take me seriously as a new quilter,” Valerie said. “Once you show them the quality of your work, word of mouth spreads, and you build a client base that way.”
Q9: How has quilting impacted your personal life?
A: Quilting has provided Valerie with financial stability and personal freedom. “I’ve paid off two houses and three machines with the income from quilting. It’s given me the freedom to live life on my terms,” she said.
Q10: What advice would you give to someone starting their own quilting business?
A: Valerie advises getting the right equipment from the start. “Make sure you get the machine you want with the features you need. It’s easier to buy big now than to trade up later,” she recommended.
Q11: What is something you wish you had known when you started quilting?
A: Valerie wished she had known not to undervalue her work. “Don’t apologize for your prices. Your time and skills are valuable, and you should price your services accordingly,” she emphasized.