Happy Thanksgiving Eve

It's the day of prep work, although, for us this year, it's just a meal for three. The B's have been sick and had other plans anyway. Of course, the A's live in Ohio and Andrew cooks for his family as well as Laura's. The C's are headed to Jims Nieces house, who also live in Germany for the holiday.  

But that will give Jim and I plenty of leftovers for the weekend because we ARE making a traditional turkey dinner to celebrate the thanks we have for the life we currently live. 

I was in the studio early yesterday morning so here's some of the quilting going into the horses quilt...

Borders

Light thread work

I worked until nearly 6:00. I'd call that a win day since I did finish up the 'Tis the Season quilt for Susan. 

After long arming I moved over to work on another block in the Alaska quilt top...

Lupine

Not sure how much long arming I'm going to get done today. I have a nail appointment first thing and Jim is going with me to do errands while I'm getting those done. The wind is howling out there and I'll have to wait to see if it's a good idea to turn on the machines once we get back.

And, prep work needs to commence at some point for our meal tomorrow. 

A New Retreat

I was in a couple of meetings yesterday. One was with my co-pilot on the retreat we are trying to springboard. The second was with the folks at Riverwalk Place to discuss and view the logistics of our pending retreat, and the third was here to discuss quilting on a HUGE Judy Niemeyer quilt due for the holiday. 

I only got a few hours of long arming in but will be finishing up the 'Tis the Season quilt today. Here's some of the quilting going into it...

This looks familiar

I made one of these myself a few years back and she wanted it quilted pretty much the same way I quilted mine, making things easier all around.

Meetings wear me out and at about 6:30 I was done long arming and moved over to do some paper piecing. That requires very little brain power or energy, so here is the next block in the Alaska quilt...

Alaskan Cache

I've gotta get the quilt on DW done in the next day or so. The large quilt just dropped off needs to be put onto DW just for throat space reasons. Meaning, I'll be moving over to that one next. 

Meetings and Such

I have a meeting this morning with Linda (Lakeview Quilting) and Selena (Riverwalk Place) to discuss the retreat we're trying to get together for early next spring. But that isn't until late morning. In the meantime, I'll be working on the top on Marty.

I also need to remove and reload Bernie. And maybe I'll sneak over to DW and do some work on that quilt. Time dependent. 

Here is the next block in the Alaska quilt top...

Can't even really see the error

I've been doing some cross stitching on Sundays to make some more ornaments for the tree that goes into the studio. I made these two yesterday...

I don't know if I like these two as much as I like the previous two I made...

Kind of small

My favorite thus far

This one is cute too

These are from different pattern writers, so that's the reason for the difference. I may have to search out some more patterns and see if I can come up with better ones.

I Lost A Day

Ever have one of those weeks where you think it's one day and it's actually a day later? Last week was one of those and yesterday I thought it was Friday, which is why I blogged what I did. Having Jim home retired is throwing me even more off than usual. 

But it's great to have him here everyday now that I've started adjusting to it. We did a little sightseeing on our way home from groceries. We checked out the Secord Dam and then drove down to the end of ours to see what was happening. There were guys actually working down there. Probably taking advantage of the beautiful (and very dry) fall we've been given this year.

I snagged some pics of our house as it looks from across the lake...

A view of the house from across the lake

I should have probably edited this pic a bit. Once we got home, put our groceries away, and installed the new router that arrived yesterday, I started in the studio on this...

The binding is on and ready to give for Christmas

This is gift number three for the holiday. I moved over to making binding for the book quilt from the previous night because I like to include the binding with each top (now). 

All made and ready to attach once it's quilted

I started this project in Shipshewana and will continue on with it throughout the coming weeks...

The quilt I'm making now

I did this block in Shipshewana...

The first block for the Alaska quilt

I made these two blocks yesterday while Jim was watching MSU get beat [again] in Iowa...

These were pieced blocks and now I'm moving into paper pieced blocks. It's been a long while since I've paper pieced and got the first of four done for the next block. I messed up the center placement, which is okay because I'll be putting that behind the appliqué that goes there...

Oops

I'll continue on with these next three snails trails this morning and then this afternoon I need to work some more on my cross stitch Christmas things. Thursday night and Friday we decorate for the holiday, and unfortunately, our grand kids won't be here this year to assist. It'll take a full two days to get everything set out and Jim has been stringing lights for the past week. 

Happy Early Morning

This weeks BOW

I needed to color my hair this morning and I was up early anyway. Jim is in the shower and we're running for a few groceries before we start our day. Here's some things going on in the studio though not exactly in order since I batch sent these to the Mac...

Next up on Marty

Background fill on the polar bear

Background fill on the moose

For a customers granddaughter for the holidays

The book top is done!

Once we return I have to install a new router that came Fed Ex yesterday. Our old one is getting weird. I'll also be working the quilt on Marty most of the rest of the day since Rae's quilt on Bernie is done. And if time permits, I'll start on the one on DW. Yes, that's a customer quilt for a granddaughter for Christmas, not mine as DW is intended to be supposedly.  

Just Can't Do It

I loaded up Christmas music this morning instead of the usual 'favorites' playlist because I'm working on Christmas quilts for customers. One half of one song and I had to change it. I feel like Thanksgiving gets buried. 

I'm thankful every day for what I have; the customers who are currently keeping our lights on and the roof over our head. For the warmth our furnace provides and for the love of my husband and for our dogs. I'm thankful for our family, even though, sometimes, they drive us nuts. I'm thankful I'm not hungry or thirsty and I'm just hoping others appreciate what Thanksgiving stands for instead of getting caught up in the commercialism Christmas has provoked. 

I love (love, love) Christmas, but too much of a good thing starts losing its luster. Just like ice cream or cupcakes. 

Back to quilting things. Here's some of the quilting going into Rae's quilt body...

Peppermints

Swirly Holly

I had a customer drop off late yesterday afternoon so pulled off that table runner that was on DW and started frame ironing the new backing. Another holiday gift for a lucky granddaughter. 

Today I have one customer coming to pick up and I'm hoping to get this quilt on Bernie nearly finished. I may work tomorrow morning to get it finished up.

After working on the big guys until well after dark, I got the borders made for the quilt top sitting on the chair that I didn't get done the previous night only to discover it wasn't even a top yet. Sashing needed to be added to the rows and the rows needed to be joined. 

Not quite together yet

I'll be tackling this at some point throughout the weekend. I'm starting to see a dent in my cluttered studio. Yay!

Cleaning up the Messes

Here's the quilt I'm working on Bernie...

The next holiday project

Here is a little of the quilting going into the borders...

Some of the quilting

After working until around 5:00 last night, I was at a good stopping point (bobbin ran out) and I then moved over to DW. I finished the table runner that was on him, but didn't get it off the frame as of yet. I have my reasons.

I proceeded on with my two BOW's and here's the results...

Too stinken' cute

I'm a little concerned about my fabric availability on the next two blocks. The background white is getting pretty darn low and don't think I'll have enough to finish with that particular fabric. ????

What I thought was only one quilt to get borders on, discovered there's another one below that one to also get borders on. Well, at least one was completed...

Life IS better at the lake

Since I don't have a BOW to work on tonight, the second top requiring a border should be able to be completed. However, we were on the phone last night with the B's and that lasted until almost midnight. Jim and I were both up at 5:45 this morning turning over last nights conversation so I'll be pushing through the day on sheer fumes.

And, I have two customers coming today to drop off; one this morning first thing and another later this afternoon. Customer presence seems to wear me out more than it used to. Not sure why? Age maybe?