Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynne Haley.
Lynne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved using my hands to create. I was on lunch break and walked into The Glass Thimble in Columbus, Ohio the staff signed me up for a 6-week beginner class. My instructor drilled us on precision, precision, precision. 1989 found my family in Singapore where I auditioned to join a closed quilting group. Our members were from all over the world and the exposure to the skill levels was invaluable. Upon repatriation to Texas, I joined the Dallas, McKinney, and Plano Quilt Guilds.
October 1998 I registered Sapphire Quilting with the state of Texas and my work began. Linda’s Electric Quilters approached me to join their teaching staff where I taught beginner, advanced, and computerized classes. Leaving teaching allowed me time to expand my business. In 2014, Tisha Copeland, owner of Not Your Mama’s Quilt Store came to my studio. We became friends and as she expanded her store, she referred clients to me.
Today I am the Quilter for Not Your Mama’s Quilt Store, visiting weekly to pick up and drop of quilts. The past 19 years as a sole proprietor have been wonderful and I am grateful for all my clients and the world-wide community of quilters. If you have not tried making a quilt I suggest you try, you can do something very simple or make something that would test the skills of some of the best engineers.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path I choose – to be a sole proprietor has been straightforward. Like any job, there are good and bad days. My longarm sewing machines are powered by a CAD program. I enjoy pushing the software to its limits. But I also enjoy turning off the software and hand guiding my machines to do what is called, free motion quilting.
My work is fun and precise yet creative and I am lucky I have gone down this road. But, there are days when I think, “I should go get a corporate job with real hours, lunch breaks paid leave and other perks.” Bicycle touring is something my husband and I like to do and as my business has grown there has been less and less of that. I need to get back to more bicycling.
Please tell us about Sapphire Quilting.
Sapphire Quilting uses electronically controlled industrial sewing machines to finish quilt tops. My clients make the quilt tops and I then add the “quilting” or rather the decorative stitches to their creation.
I am recognized for my ability to look at your quilt and execute a design which enhances its beauty without overpowering the quilt makers hard work and creativity. With 20 plus years of experience, I am able to select the best design for my client’s work. Sometimes we collaborate or often I’ve earned their trust to do as I please. My favorite task is searching for or designing the perfect motifs for a quilt. It is my opinion that my designs should be secondary to your quilt top, with show worthy quality.
Clients choose me for my style and my perfectionism. Experience built over time is irreplaceable (something I did not believe when I first graduated from college – I thought I should be the CEO at least within the first year). A big challenge is saying “no”. I give too much time to my profession; I need to learn balance in my life.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in a family business. Gartman’s Model Bakery was established in 1898 and is now run by my brother and sister.
Hindsight is 20/20 but the days spent working with my Grandmother, Great Uncle, Father, Mother, sisters and brothers are special to me. The holidays were all hustle and bustle. Snow falling outside as customers rushed in for their Christmas orders, Easter bunny cakes staring at us from every nook and cranny, cookies coming out of the oven, the fresh bread, opening the store at 6:00 am for standing orders, hitching a ride to school in the delivery truck.
There was always a pot of coffee waiting for the policemen who showed up around 4:00 am to grab a bite and warm up. It made us all feel safe to know they were around. It was all too good to pick just one thing. That lifestyle was foreign to all my girlfriends. I was the only one who knew how her Dad worked. It instilled a lasting sense of pride and a Midwest work ethic.
Contact Info:
- Address: 903 Parkwood Ct McKinney, TX 75070
- Website: www.SapphireQuilting.com
- Phone: 214-578-3964
- Email: info@sapphirequilting.com
- Instagram: stitcher1154
- Facebook: Sapphire Quilting
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