Feeling Used

I drove to my appoitnment on Friday and was introduced to one of the oldest machines I'd ever laid eyes (or hands) on. 

This was the machines insignia

Not only did the customer not have any bobbins wound but the thread she purchased for quilting was serger thread. Serger thread is not strong enough to handle high speed long arming. Her husband came in to try to help with the bobbin winder and he achieved zero success.

Eventually, even after pin basting her quilt back onto both leaders (she helped very little here and I was working with my broken hand), we unloaded the back, gathered everything up, and headed here. Her husband would come get her later. This was at around 11:15.

Did she want to stop for a bite to eat? No money. I bought lunch because there was no way, with the way I was feeling (coming down with a summer cold) was I going to able to work five hours without gas in the engine.

We arrived back here around 1:00. I immediately got to work. She kept trying to show me pictures. He arrived a few hours after we did, to pick her up, and kept crowding my work space. Leaned on my machine. Brought coffee into my studio (NOT ALLOWED!). She did nothing to help (I had to chalk one of the borders) until the very last two blocks in the last border and even then I had to ask her to do it.

More pictures, more chatter, more questions. Jim and I measured the quilt and "billed" it out for her to give to her client she was so pressed to get the quilt done for. I charge $.55/mile when I teach or go to an away location...

This is one half of the trip

The whole day billed out to over $300. When they finally left a little after 6:00 I received $25 in payment. W.T.F.?????????????????????? 

Jim and I were so damaged from the audacity and inconsideration we were mentally bruised through the rest of Friday night and most of yesterday. I lost a whole day of actual customer work, I racked up milage on my truck, not to mention the gas I ate (at $3.19/gal.), I was getting sicker by the hour and the $25 she paid me didn't even cover the lunch/tip I forked out that afternoon.

Never. Ever. Again!

EVER!