Shelly Moore

Website Ma Tante Quilting

IG @matantequilting

In business: 1 year

I love the warm, fuzzy, feel-good parts of quilting as much as anyone, but when it comes to the business side of things I have serious goals. I joined the League expecting to learn via group lessons from someone who has had great success in our industry, but was overjoyed when I learned that I could participate in one-on-one coaching calls with Jess. What an amazing opportunity to be able to pick the brain of my longarming hero! During our call, Jess was able to help me identify my strengths and shared specific, practical advice on next steps for moving towards my goals. As a direct result of implementing her advice, I’ve been able to collaborate with pattern designers, have added hundreds more followers to my Instagram account, and have increased revenue in my business (true story!) 

Our coaching call was like a strategy session and pep talk rolled into one, and I love that I can re-watch it whenever I need to. I can’t wait for our next call!

Favourite perks of the LL: 

• Advice from someone you respect, trust, and admire
• The support of a community
  of quilters
  
  (January 2021 update: 1:1 coaching calls are being phased out to make room for small group sessions)

Jill Rains

Website Sew Glad to See You

IG @sewgladtoseeyou

In business: less than 6 months

I have admired Jess’ work for years, so I joined the League as soon as it became available. I even joined before I bought my longarm machine! As someone who likes to be prepared, I used the information in Jess’ lessons to help start my business out on the right foot. In the beginning, there were so many things to take care of, some of which had never occurred to me. Since I joined, I’ve been able to set up a website, accept new clients, and feel much more confident about being a business owner. If I had started this business without the help of the League, it would have taken me years to gain all of this knowledge. The Longarm League is the best thing to happen to longarmers since Red Snappers!

Favorite perks of the LL: 

• Pantos
• The affiliate program
• Being a “fly on the wall” and observing the daily ins and outs of running a business through the community chat (you get to see what people are struggling with, what the solutions are, and file away good ideas to use later).

Tricia Place

Website Paisley Pig Quilting

IG @paisleypigquilting

In business: 1 year

I knew that I had to create a website for my business, but I was flummoxed by the immensity of the task. Thankfully, there was a lesson inside the Longarm League about this exact topic. I read the information carefully and visited the websites of the other League members to see what I admired most about their sites. With my new knowledge, I was able to purchase a domain, create a website, and host it seamlessly. I solicited advice from the League members, and got helpful suggestions on how to improve my site in order to make it more user-friendly for quilters. Since creating my website, I’ve been able to attract mail-in clients which would never have happened if I didn't get the push I needed from the League. Now I feel like a pro, and I wonder what took me so long!

Favorite perks of the LL: 

• Slack chat. Questions get answered RIGHT AWAY which is amazing
• The chat is also really helpful for referring clients and sharing bargains

Carolyn Guy

Website Whitney Oak Designs

IG @whitneyoakdesigns

In business: less than 6 months

As a new solo business owner/operator, there’s a LOT to learn. But as a League member, I don’t feel the pressure to “know it all”. I know that I can reach out to the other members for help and will receive immediate perspectives from numerous experienced longarmers. It’s so satisfying to know that I have access to the collective knowledge of such a professional group of people. While this business has the potential to feel very isolating, I do not feel alone. I feel supported and encouraged on my journey as a longarm quilter.

Favorite perks of the LL: 

• Pantos
• The ability to get “unstuck” quickly by reaching out via Slack.

Ashley Perkins

Website Hen House Quilting

IG @henhousequilting

In business: 8 years

So many people admire Jess’ work as a longarmer, and her reputation for her attention to detail and professionalism are well-known. Despite the fact that I had been quilting for years and had an established clientele, I joined the Longarm League in order to learn from Jess.  Being a member has helped me gain new exposure and has enabled me to forge relationships within the quilting industry. As a result, I’ve had even more interest in my services, including many new mail-in clients. My business is thriving, and I’m feeling very fortunate to be able to continue to contribute to my family’s finances, even in these turbulent times.

Favorite perk of the LL: 

• Support at all times (Slack)

Amber Talbert

Website Scraps To Squares Quilting

IG @scrapstosquaresquilts

In business: for 7 years total, 2 with a longarm (before that was quilting for others on a domestic machine) 

Being in this business, we’re expected to be everything - we’re accountants, web designers, social media experts, and everything else in our small business. The great thing about the Longarm League is that Jess is not just giving us the longarm part of it. She’s actually helping us with back-end business ideas such as setting up a website, shipping and packaging a quilt, and invoicing. She literally takes you from that very first step through to getting paid. It’s not just about longarming, it’s about the entire business.

Favorite perks of the LL: 

• The pantos! If one hasn’t worked, Jess has stepped in to help get it working for me with my Pro Stitcher.

Katie Luyk

Website Third Coast Quilting

IG @thirdcoastquilting

In business: 1.5 years

When I purchased my computerized longarm machine, there was almost no technical support available to me. I spent hours watching YouTube tutorials, trying to find the answer to the problems I was having. I felt lost and alone. Now that I’m a member of the Longarm League, I can reach out to several quilters who have the exact same equipment as I do and get answers to my questions very quickly. I also appreciate that I can see how others approach their business, and know that I’m on the right track. That helps me have more confidence in my skills and makes me a better quilter. I would not have accomplished what I have if I had not joined the League. 

Favorite perks of the LL: 

• Pantos 
• Access to Jess. She’s super available, and I know I can reach out to her privately if I need to.
• I love the immediacy of the Slack chat. You could post on a FB group instead, but you’d be waiting forever, and the people might not have the same equipment as you.