Sad But True

I hate saying goodbye. I don't know anybody who really does actually.

The last of the kids left just a bit ago and while tears are streaming down my face for the recurring emotional departure, a part of me breathes a sigh of relief for a successful holiday season. Nobody was put in the hospital and all seemed to enjoy being and sharing together.

And then there's that part of me jumping up in excitement. Certainly not because the kids are gone. No, I miss them already and will continue to worry about them until I see them again.

The excitement is for what comes later this week. Quilt Camp!

Yes, there is such a thing. Where quilters, crafters, and artists get together for four days to talk about the holidays. the successes, the not so successes and all that goes with the season.

It's a way for the ladies (because I haven't seen a guy come yet) to reward themselves for the preparations and work needed to ensure all the friends and family who come during the holidays are well received and have a good time. It's a way to unwind from the holiday and gear up for our quilting months ahead. It's a way to catch up with old friends to see what their lives have been like over the past year. And, it's a way to pack on those needed 20 pounds to get us through the upcoming winter, because we eat like nobodies business while we're there.

Here's my pile waiting to get put into the Jeep.

Waiting for Camp

The studio was basically tore down during the holiday's to make room for the 12 of us to sleep. I have plenty to do in here to make it all better again and to give it a test drive to make sure it is functioning as I want it to prior to leaving for camp. And, believe it or not, I received a customer top to work on the long arm.

Oh, and my brochure needs a  little updating. So, since I'm off work, I'll take advantage of the quiet house for the next two days and look forward to camp in the meantime.

From my family to yours, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

The DeGroot Family

Sunny Sampler

Sunny is finally getting off the frame later. Work this afternoon, so I don't know if it'll be today yet, but tomorrow for sure.

My pics aren't wanting to load this morning...maybe because it's 14 degrees outside and everything is frozen.

Meanwhile, here is DW in action doing the cross hatching on the tops of the pillows I made for everybody at work.

DW making cross hatches

 Okay, photos have decided to thaw out.

Sunny Sampler

This was a fun piece to quilt. Lots going on and a few of the blocks were just pieces of a panel so there were no seams to have to deal with. Not sure yet who this is for or whether I'll just post on the sale site.

Finally, The Sunny Sampler

Today was spent in the studio. Unfortunately, it wasn't doing much quilting stuff. I did get the gift pillows stuffed because the inserts showed up after lunch.

But after wrapping presents all day in here, I decided, with a few productive hours left, I would finally get the Sunny Sampler loaded. It's been hanging on the loft rail for over two months and it's time to get it off of there.

No More Sweat. Back to Sweet!

As of yesterday, my studio is back to being sweet again. The last of the gifts are pretty much done. I just have to wait for a few things in the mail over the next week and do a few final touches. But here is what was accomplished Wednesday and Thursday.

Making the cross hatches.

Before squaring them up

12 of them waiting for their inserts to arrive in the mail

How I mass produce these on the long arm

And after these were completed, I decided to do something for just me for the rest of yesterday. Isn't this cute?

Dresden Christmas Tree by MSQC

I photographed it on the wall because it's already hung at the bend in the stairwell. 

Perhaps, now that the Christmas push is nearly over, I can start working on my tops again and take some time to assess what and where I left off before this whirlwind month took over my life. It's been fun! Jim thinks sometimes I put too much on my shoulders making sure everybody at least has something under their tree for Christmas morning. But, it's so worth it!

Santa's Sweat Shop Studio

Yep, not sweet, but sweat. With these damn hot flashes it does get pretty warm in here at times.

And Christmas is quickly approaching. I always think I have an additional week more than I really do. But, I'm about 2/3's of the way through project Ho-Ho-Ho and here's last nights results.

Any ideas what these are? And I wonder who they're for? 

This customer quilt is coming off the frame this morning and I'm going to try to tackle the last phase of project Ho-Ho-Ho. BUT, there will still be a few little projects I need to also get at before the family eventually arrives on the 27th-28th.

Customer quilt leaving me today

Yep, our Christmas is going to be a few days late this year. Jim and I are used to this since our previous years' jobs required us to be flexible in the holiday celebrations. Onward Rudolph.

This Week

Only one quilt completed on the frame this week.

Making a simple quilt a little more snazzy

I didn't long arm much because these blocks took three days to complete. Getting caught up was my goal this week because present-wrapping has now commenced. Meaning, the studio is kind of looking like Santa's workshop right now. Bows, ribbon, paper, boxes, tape, and scissors everywhere.

Leah Day Friendship Blocks 12 and 13

Most of the wrapping will occur this weekend with all the trickle in gifts being done in another few weeks. Then I'll have to really take to messing up the studio because when all the kids come up, everything will get pushed to the side to make room for all 12 of us. For two days. I can't wait!

If Anything

If anything at all was done in the studio it was just this small project. But only after getting the house decorated and having to put it back together after the holiday festivities.

Now everything returns to normal for a few weeks at least and then another family invasion swoops in; this one will be even bigger than the first.

Ho, Ho, Ho...

Joyful Santa

Today I have quite a bit to work in the studio and I'm just getting in here...already about an hour later then I wanted to. Gotta make up for lost time.

Grateful Thanksgiving

I could whine about some of my children not being home this Thanksgiving. But I'm grateful they have others to share the holiday with and they are happy and healthy where they'll be.

I could whine about my having to work a whole day today at the store instead of staying home to work, but I'm grateful I get to get out of the house and see people while getting paid for it.

I could whine about the rain that's coming our way, but I'm grateful to have a very cozy roof over my head to stay out of the rain.

I could whine about the aches and pains I'm experiencing with a little advancing age, but I'm grateful to be able to walk and talk and do all that I do each and every day even if it's a little slower then before.

There's a silver lining to everything if you really think about it. I have a GREAT life here on the lake and count my blessings each and every chance I get for those life privileges.

What are you grateful for?

Here's what's on the frame this morning. I hope to finish it up before heading out for my work day.

Penny's Panel Quilt

If you notice, the two borders are being custom done...not that putting in swirls isn't custom as well, but again, I just can't seem to edge to edge. I'm okay with that because it provides me an outlet for my creativity. I'm grateful my customers trust me enough to give me license to do creative quilting and make their quilts come alive.

Why Can't I Just Edge to Edge?

I received a panel quilt top from a customer to [of course] quilt. I could have probably gotten away with just doing an edge to edge with DW driving the computer. It would have been done four hours earlier then it was.

But there was so much space in there to do cool stuff, and darn it, the quilter in me just couldn't bring herself to turn the darn computer on.

See all this real estate to work with?

This one will be delivered later today after the Nutcracker customer comes to get her guys.

Another panel quilt was loaded last night and I'll be working it today between those other things. I have to get stuff snugged up in here this weekend since next week is Thanksgiving. We have one of our kids and our grandkids coming for the holiday. The grandkids like to explore and goof around in grandma's studio; which of course, is NOT kid proof.

The Holidays

I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving. And it's late this year. Which means less time to complete Christmas gifts.

I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed already. Two presents are in process, 11 of them are completed, but I still have about 14 or so more yet to do. And they aren't quickie to-do's either.

It seems like the earlier I start on my holiday projects, the quicker the holiday comes at me. Why is that?

The Nutcracker top is finished . I think the number ten nutcracker is my favorite.

Guarding the wall

I need to get a turtle on the frame later this morning (after a trip to the dentist) once this one is pulled off. The turtle won't take long since the backside is straight-line quilting and the front is pretty wide open. It takes longer to load it than the actual quilting.

Then I'll get another customer quilt loaded since I have three in queue right now and maybe work on putting the turtle together after that.

Three More Nutcrackers

Here are the guys who were quilted last night after I got home from work.

Standing at attention

I feel like these guys are judging me while I'm quilting them.

And news flash, I think I'm changing most of my So Fine! thread out to Glide by Fil-tec.

Heres why:

It needles better. There is little (if any really) lint in my bobbin case. It's just a bit finer weight then the So Fine! (So Fine! is a 50 wt. where the Glide is a 60 wt.) DW will needle it through on a size 16 needle and doesn't need an 18 like the So Fine! Because it's a finer weight, you can fit even more on a bobbin. And, quite frankly, I have so many less thread breaks when traveling to the left on the machine with the Glide. Oh, and it's about half as much for about 1,000 yards more per cone.

I think that's plenty of reasons to switch. I would have to say the downside to switching is the Glide is a trilobal poly and gives a sheen, where the So Fine! is a matte finish. Some of these quilts don't need a sheen in them, so I'm not going to be able to switch entirely, but I'm leading myself in that direction for the bulk of my quilting here on in I think.

We'll see when I get my first shipment at weeks end from North Dakota (which, when I talked to them today, were wonderful and very helpful in their service). Jennifer was very prompt when I called and they may have a new permanent customer if everything works out. Oh, I ordered the thread from Kings Men Quilting Supply, in case you were wondering.

Hunting Advantages

When Jim is gone the house is so quiet. He'll be back tonight after having left on Thursday evening, and Hazel will be tickled. I'll be ecstatic.

But with the hunter leaving town it provides a very productive day around the house. Cooking is generally about third on my list of things to do around here, but took the time yesterday to make a pot of chili, a loaf of beer bread, and a batch of caramel brownies.  Even with my usual cleaning chores and the cooking diversion, I was able to get half the nutcrackers done.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Checkerboard Fill

Wood Floor Fill

Peppermint Candy Fill

King of Hearts Fill

Work today, so maybe a little long arming beforehand, but nothing crazy pants like yesterday.

4 + 4

The four quilts from last week are done and ready for pick up.

Yesterday, four more came in. The difference in last week to this week are two versus four customers.

And it seems the quilts coming in are becoming even more complex than the previous. I'll shoot and share pics as they are loaded and waiting for quilting. Maybe even some of the quilt detail if the lighting is right.

12 Nutcrackers

Detail of one of the nutcrackers

Obviously, the light is right this morning so here is quilt number one from yesterday's drop off. The customer would like a tight (smaller than dime size, but not a micro) fill behind each nutcracker. And no stipple. And the fills need to be varied for each of the 12 nutcrackers. And the nutcrackers can't be touched. AT ALL!

I'm putting arches in the outer black border and a rope-like design in the green small border. That's about all the decisions I've made for now on this one. I'm going to have to dig deep to find some appropriate fills to put behind these, which should be fun. No really, I LOVE researching stuff like this.

In between customer quilts, I've been working on Christmas presents. Here's a few pics of those in the works.

The start of a turtle for Penelope

This will need to be loaded after the nutcrackers are finished so I can get the turtle shell textured. Meanwhile, I can work on the legs, head, and tail tonight after long arming all day. And after working on Caleb and Lia's cookbook.

One for each of the kids and grandkids.

There were two more made but those were for Jim and me for the current quilt on our bed. The pillow cases I made earlier for the Stripe Me Happy quilt don't really go well, and the new pillow cases fit perfectly. We'll use the others for spares around here when people visit.

Rolling Along

Yesterday was super productive once the directional decision was made. Sometimes it takes a little while to get organized and the head screwed on right.

The large customer quilt shown in yesterday's post is about 1/3 of the way quilted. Another customer quilt is now bound (she asked if I would bind a few quilts for her), and today brings on yet another.

Work called earlier this morning and the time to go in was yet again pushed back due to the weather; which turned really bad during the course of the day. I basically have all day long to work in the post-storm sunny studio before having to go in.

While the studio is sunny, it is frigid outside and therefore, kinda chilly in here. Temps this morning: 9.

But this is the view from our bedroom window that I wake up to on a snowy morning.

Just as the sun is starting to come up

The house is popping because of the severe change in temperatures. If I put on my headphones today and just crank up the tunes, maybe I'll be less apt to constantly check to make sure nothing is leaking, or breaking, or falling apart. 

Happy Veteran's Day

A day to honor all those who had the courage to serve. They should be thanked if you know one (or several) for it is because of their bravery and dedication we have the ability to count all of our blessings in the United States. And, you're very welcome.

I'm watching a snowy day unfold and what a great day to have this "little" piece to work on today. 

Penny's Zip It top

I was going to put DW's computer to work on this piece and started setting up everything last night to do so, and then decided it needed something else. It needs a personal touch. It needed not to be edge to edged because clearly the customer has put a lot of time into make what started out a small-ish top into something rather large. 

I haven't posted much about Hazel lately so here's the latest updates on her. We went to the vet on Friday to get her annual check up and shot boosters. She's in the greatest of health (other then her food allergy thing) and weighs in around 60-62 pounds...we couldn't get her to sit still on the scale. 

She'll probably top out around 65 pounds when fully mature, but she's pretty much done growing vertically at this stage (she's now 14 months old). Isn't she beautiful?

Hazel at 14 months

Quilting Marathon

The second of three customer quilts that were dropped off last Saturday is now complete. The hope is to get number three loaded and basted in before having to take Hazel off to the vet for her annual check-up/Bordatella (sp?) vaccine. And I was called into work after Hazels appointment is finished.

Hmmm???

Let's talk about measuring our borders, shall we? This is what happens when you don't. The fix was doable, but could have been avoided. It's become a bit of a pet peeve of mine for my own quilts.

I was taught to measure borders when I first started quilting. Then laziness set in and I pretty much stopped because it takes time. You just want the darn top finished and slapping on these borders is the last stretch before starting another fun project. Right?

Then I started long arming those quilts whose borders I didn't measure. The above situation is what ensues. This is a mild case. I've seen much worse on my own quilts as well as customer quilts.

Take the time to find your centers of your tops and get those borders eased in people. Seriously. It's not that much more effort to do it and it'll make everybody's life easier in the end. I could soap box this at a much greater rate, but I'll stop for now.

Needless to say, I ALWAYS measure my borders now and long arming them is much more pleasurable. The look of a nicely done quilt is always preference to one that has pleats and tucks on all the sides of a beautiful center.

I Never Did...

...post the pic of my completed 100 Blocks. There was a legitimate reason in we had horrible weather with which to photograph the quilt until yesterday.

Yesterday provided us with a fresh new four inches of snow and the morning temps and sun provided an excellent time to snap a few pics this morning.

100 Blocks in 100 Days

Yesterday was also a good day to stay home and work on customer quilts. This was my first long arm project for the day.

Adding hook swirls in the rail fence top

Three more Christmas presents were completed and the papers were removed from my latest Jacqueline de Jonge set of circles.

Today there's another customer quilt to long arm and its very cold so a good day to basically stay in and work with the beautiful view of the freshly fallen snow.

Change is Good

Since my schedule was changed yesterday, the pleasure of just working in the studio can't even be described. Getting an outside job makes me appreciate the studio I have and the ability to create with these wonderful fabrics is so gratifying.

Yesterday I completed the customer wall hanging, but in much less time than I thought I would. I never shut DW down until around 7:30, and I didn't dawdle because I know tomorrow and Thursday at the store is going to be crazy.

Here are a few pics.

C is for Christmas by Shabby Fabrics. Pieced by Bunny.

And today's plans have now just changed since I just received a call from work and the truck is on its way right now today. Instead of yesterday (or tomorrow like I was told yesterday). Confused? Me too.

Well, at any case, at least this cutie is done.

Happy Fall Y'all

With fall comes the weather more fitting for quilting. Although, in my book, everyday is a good quilting day, but not too many other folks feel this way.

For instance, not too many quilts were coming in needing work done on them throughout the summer months. A few trickled in here and there, but nothing too daunting. Within the last five days I've received four. And I believe this may just be the beginning.

Work at DT was cancelled today and tomorrow due to a huge truck coming in on Wednesday with our hours extending to Thursday also. So I'll make the most of it today and tomorrow in the studio.

Here's what I did Saturday and yesterday, amongst other things (which I can not divulge due to family members perhaps reading my blog).

From the book titled "Imagine Art to Heart" by Nancy Halvorsen

Customer quilt today and other little projects are in store.

Happy Halloween

And it's a dreary day so far. I remember trick or treating in weather like this. All that time spent picking out the just right costume only to have it covered by winter coats, boots, scarves, gloves, and hats.

No Dollar Tree work today. No appointments. Just a great day to eat some left over chili and quilt.

The 100 Blocks top is about half way completed, so getting on the long arm is hopefully in the works.

I've been sneaking in a few quick sewing sessions during the week before and after work. I'm finding the Jacqueline de Jonge process is rather addictive. Each segment provides a beautiful completion phase and wanting to keep doing more is where I find myself. But, alas, work schedules supersede.

This is where the top was at two days ago.

The center circle

More of the JDJ today between long arming the 100 blocks and a new customer top received yesterday.

Time to get busy!

It's not Friday

My girlfriend, Katie, commented yesterday on everybody posting on Friday. Well, it's not Friday.

The t-shirt quilt is done. The 100 Blocks is loaded and three rows were completed yesterday.

Just before loading

Let's talk Jacqueline de Jonge. She is an amazing quilt designer and her tops are NOT for the faint at heart. In the quilting world, completing one of her beautiful creations is like a quilters Everest conquer.

I purchased one of her patterns about three years ago. It took me this long to start the project.

A mountain to climb

This is a full-size top; 80x80. See the little circle in the center? It took me about four hours last night to figure out what to do on that.

The first of many

But isn't it gorgeous? I have cut the fabrics for the next circle behind this one and hope to piece them today. The directions for this quilt top isn't just a few pages; 32 to be exact. And you read and re-read the directions about a dozen times before moving along to the next step.

16 of 24 total colors used in this piece

And what a beautiful day to work in the studio. As you can see from the pics, the sun is shining (for now), and I don't have to be into work until 5:00 tonight, so the whole day is mine to play as desired.

We had a killer freeze last night and the leaves are falling quickly now. This will probably be the last pic of the wonderful autumn view from the studio windows.

Saying goodbye to our warmer months

Not Much, But Some

Okay, nearly another week has transgressed. There has been a little activity in here.

Long arming: Three customer quilts were completed. Another is on the frame waiting to go.

Piecing: The 100 blocks are now a top as of a half hour ago. Once the current customer quilt is completed, the top will be loaded and quilted next.

I'm debating on whether to start a YouTube series. I'd like to share tips, thoughts, happenings and other quilt-y like things with everybody. It probably won't be anything not already found on YouTube, but will provide me with another way to connect to real people (other than my new part-time job at our local Dollar Tree store). And, I just want to.

While I probably have a face more suited for radio, my intention is to not focus on me, but rather the fabric and thread presented at the time. And there are a few things I'd really like to drive home with quilters (measure your borders people!) to make a long armers life a little less stress induced.

And maybe other not-so-common projects I tackle in the studio itself. Like the Jacqueline DeJong top I've already spent hours trying to get organized.

Hmmm...????

Scootching Along

I spent most of yesterday on DW! What a great day it was! Hazel was being a little pesky during the day, but I think it's because we have been gone so much lately and she wanted to make up for our absence.

Here was the first quilt we did in the morning.

What a fun quilt to do!

And here is quilt number two.

Easy Peasy

Both were free motion quilted and a truly fun day on the long arm doing them.

After getting those two off the frame and squared, I started working on some more sashing for the 100 blocks. Two rows were completed before Hazel demanded some playtime.

Work later today so I'll keep on sashing until I have to leave around noon. If I start playing on the long arm I'll lose all track of time which could lead to not so good things with the new boss lady.

No! Way!

I last posted a week ago?

This part-time job may be short lived if this keeps up. It started out as a store set here in Gladwin. A new Dollar Tree. After setting the store and opening, we are all on a part-time basis. Except we work five and six days in a row, a day off, and then off we go again (according to the schedule). I don't know if things will settle down after the initial opening, but if they don't I may have to revisit this situation.

Because it's been a week since I posted! Which means it's been a week since I've had any real time in the studio. Granted, we spent last weekend diddling around the state for my birthday, but even then, the aches and soreness of working the previous 10 days in a row was taking its toll.

I did manage to get Harmony quilted during the football game. It's off the frame because Saturday I had two new customers drop off quilts and one is a kind of rush situation. But it's not done yet because the binding still needs to be added. Maybe today yet after I work on customer quilts.

No, these are not boobs.

I have three to work on and they aren't very large, so tackling them as well as doing a little fall house cleaning is in the works. And maybe working on the 100 blocks sashing might get slid in there too?

Well...

...since Saturday, this is all the action the studio has seen. Whoopeee.

Not much here

This is for the Leah Day block for October. Not quite a block yet huh?

The staff is on-call for today because of electrical updates the guys are working on in the store. Consumers Energy has to shut the whole store down while the electricians get things done they need to do. Time in: TBD.

I'll cut some more for my Leah Day block and start piecing if time allows.

Jobs and Such

So I have a new job. It's currently full-time until the store is set up, but then will refer back to a part-time status. We have a new Dollar Tree coming to our little town and that's where I've been spending most of my time since Tuesday morning.

The only other thing I've had the time (and let's face it, energy) to work on other than setting up a brand new store, are chores needing immediate attention around the house.

Working retail is a HUGE love of mine. It doesn't pay. The hours aren't the greatest. Bbbbuuuuttt...I LOVE working with merchandise, customers, and the environment is ever changing. Not a good use of the 170 credit hours/3 degrees I racked up at GVSU and NAU, but it's about passion; not what you SHOULD do.

This particular store doesn't even have tile over the cement and it's playing havoc on my legs. It's just because my level of fitness isn't what it used to be and, c'mon, I'm a grandma, so the 20's are long past my existence. Day three is the worst, so once I hurdled the three day milestone, all is going to get better. Yesterday proved as much.

Meanwhile, back at the lake house, nothing has been done. The only time I've come in here in four days is to let Hazel outside.

Today I printed (finally) my Leah Day Friendship Quilt Along pattern for the month, and I realized I have to leave again in a half hour. Not much will be cut for it in the short time span I have left before once again, toddling off to work.

The seven-day-a-week schedule should slow down after next week. Consumers Energy is holding up the store opening and for a temporary few weeks, it can be dealt with. It's not like anybody is going anywhere in here.

Nothing New

More stick fun on Saturday. Bleh.

Kids (and grandkids) came to visit Friday and Saturday to help with stick fun and to watch the game.

Because we were so tired from three days worth of trees and their eradication thereof, we did nothing except put the house and studio back together yesterday. And I mean nothing. Watched four movies, ate a bunch of junk food, and vegged on the couch.

We haven't had a day like that since last spring so it was probably way overdue.

Tomorrow I start a new job. I'm not sure just how much I'll be working but the first week is setting the brand new store up and getting to know all the other people who will be working together.

I'm having trouble trying to find a decent sashing to put into my 100 blocks. A mottled grey (lights to darks) seems to work the best in my limited block color scheme because any red, yellow, or black just adds too much of that particular color into it.

Even Though...

...I was outside pretty much all day yesterday working on felled trees from the Emerald Ash Borer invasion, I was still able to put the Angela Walters Build-a-Quilt block together between picking up all the branches/sticks and when Jim got home to then work on all the log cutting/stacking.

And that's about all for yesterday.

Here's the mess these trees make when they are cut.

They literally blow up into a million pieces. 

.

I Had Good Intentions...

...yesterday. But then the weather got nice. I mean, the warmish fall smelling crunch of the leaves kind of weather that lured me outside instead of staying indoors.

I did manage to get some of the Rainbow Checkerboard quilted before becoming a victim of perfect autumn days, but that's about it. And there is still plenty more to go today since it's taking a while longer to ditch everything being ditched.

Today is starting out cloudy and cool, so I'm safe from falls' beckoning and will be here for a while...at least through the morning. 😏

100 Blocks Completed

Now to get those 100 blocks in a pleasing setting will follow. But a few things need to come off the design wall first.

After long arming the Rainbows and Checkers (that's what I've decided to name it) for a few hours yesterday, I started working on this little top which has been hanging out for way too long on the wall.

Sunny Sampler

The supplies for this top can be found at The Hen House in Charlotte-they have a web site if you're interested. More white was needed to  complete it; thank you Pieces of Thyme quilt shop for carrying Kona White. Today will be spent getting the borders (which are many) to hopefully finish out the top.

And, more long arming. The Rainbow and Checkers top is a little under half way completed. Most of it is being ditched because the goal is to keep it snuggly. And, it's so busy a ridicules amount of time changing out threads would have been spent, not to mention much of the quilting would not be seen.

Roundabout Top Done

As it sits on the rail. Patient. Waiting. Quietly enjoying the incoming fall until it can meet backing and thread.

Roundabout

After getting the borders on the Roundabout top, and after doing a two movie marathon yesterday for lunch with handsome Jim, I decided I'd had about enough of the 100 blocks. I'm ready to start getting them into a setting. My goal was to get them all complete before the nights end, but then a few of them turned into quite a time taker. I have six more to go and plan on tackling those first today.

While my rainbow rail fence top is loaded, I'm still unsure just how to quilt it. It usually comes to me the day after I load while working on other things next to it. But nothing is really coming to me as of yet. I'll transfer the design to my iPad and doodle on it during lunch to see what can be thought up. I may have to call in the quilting friends to weigh in on their thoughts.