The [Other] Half

Here's the rest of the blocks for our Jelly Roll Wave quilt-along. I wanted the top to be bigger than just twin size so I added a few borders and used up all the remaining scraps of the jelly roll remaining from the initial cuts. That pic will be coming for our next link-up.

Jelly Roll Wave

This was a fun use of a jelly roll I had not a clue what to do with. I love how this turned out and is still hanging out on my design wall until I can get it under the long arm.

Half of the Blocks

Here they are, hanging out on the design wall, just waiting for more friends.

Jelly Roll Waves Quilt Along

The background fabric looks black here, but in all actuality, it's a medium gray; which makes these bright colors really pop. No, I haven't started sewing the rows/columns together yet because I want to make sure everybody plays nice before committing to my layout.

Getting Shaved

We didn't know, since we are new to owning doodles, that brushing out your doodle BEFORE going into the lake (or swimming in general) is the right thing to do. Until it was too late.

Hazel had a lot (and I mean tons) of mats in her when taking her to the groomer yesterday. It was a matter of sanity over vanity and her groomer (Picture Perfect Pet Grooming in Gladwin and Harrison, Michigan) suggested just basically shaving her down. It's more comfortable for her anyway since we are supposed to visit the 90's on Friday.

Here's her new look.

Her summer Do

She's not particularly pleased with it and seems a little put-offish about where her hair went, but in a few days she'll adjust.

I was almost not able to post my block 13 for our 100 Blocks in 100 Days challenge since the cell reception was nearly nonexistent at the campground during our reunion. But after walking up the road, and then up the hill, I was able to get a good enough connection to actually make the deadline.

After cleaning up, making notes, putting everything away and repacking things from the reunion, I can finally get back into the studio and a normal schedule. I think I function better under schedules, which is weird, because in my younger days I basically thrived on the by-the-seat-of-my-pants way of life.

Hazel Update

Nothing has been written about Hazel in a few weeks and since there was zero studio work yesterday, this blog will be devoted to her.

Her food issues have been resolved. No chicken. No peanuts. She's all happy and healthy now. Save for the mats in her hair. Jim tried to cut some of them out and kinda trim her up before her grooming appointment on the 15th, but it didn't turn out so well. 

10 Months Old

We love her to death. I mean, this puppy is so loving and trust worthy. She only wants to play, whether it's with us or other critters and I don't think she would intentionally hurt a thing. The thing about doodles is that grooming is a must. Whether you take them to be professionally done, or your doing them yourself, THEY MUST BE GROOMED.

And we didn't know until recently that brushing her out BEFORE going swimming was supposed to occur. This is how we are getting all the mats. 

The groomer is going to have to make a decision on whether she will just end up shaving her completely to get a handle on them (there are many, many, many under her top coat), or actually spending the time to untangle them. I've been working on her (for as much as she will tolerate) for the past few days, but making progress doesn't seem to be happening. 

Lemon Goes to Surgery

Had to do some frog repair this morning after I found a bean on the bedroom floor. Apparently Lemon has sprung a leak. 

Lemon's hole

All better.

Lemon recovers from surgery

Lemon is one of two frogs that sleep with me every night to provide weight on my feet. Without him, I don't sleep as well.

The fabrics are all cut up and I've started piecing for the Jelly Roll Quilt Along. It's kind of addicting, and I've only had to pull one set apart for incorrect placement. No, wait, I didn't end up pulling them apart; I ended up using them in another block. All is good.

Nothing got loaded onto the long arm as I got wrapped up in the project above all day. Maybe today?

Jelly Roll Quilt Along

The chosen fabrics for a quilt-along Katie and I are doing. This is an orphan jelly roll so old the rubber band surrounding the strips was dry rotted. It's time to put it to some use.

For the Busy Hands Jelly Roll Waves Quilt Along

I was going to go with a stark white background, but had more of the dark gray left over from the Selvedge project. I think the white would have gotten a little lost in some of the strips.

Block 8 and a Kids Quilt

Here is block 8 for today.

Block 8

The rest of yesterday, aside from beginning preparations for the DeGroot reunion, was working and finishing this cute kids quilt.

You are loved

I picked this top up at a recent Amish quilt auction. I think I paid $10 for the top. It finished at 43"x54" and is now complete. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but it'll be cute to look at for a few.

I need to get a few more blocks ahead for the 100 blocks challenge. We have a houseful of people showing up on Thursday and Wednesday is shot with shopping for reunion supplies, nail appointment, etc. I'm also hoping to load another quilt onto DW and keep the momentum going.

Too Confusing

The 100 Blocks block posted for the past six days have been the blocks from the previous days I'm posting. (Wow, if that's not confusing). For instance, today is block 7 that posts to Instagram. But on the blog, I would have posted block 6 for yesterday's Instagram post.

That's being changed. The day the block posts on Instagram is the day it'll be posting it here. Meaning today is a bonus day since I have to show both yesterdays and todays blocks.

Block 6

Block 7

I finished this little cutie yesterday on the long arm and actually got it bound between trips to town.

A class sampler for future use

I hope to use it to teach piecing/quilting if anybody would actually hire me teach in their shop.

The long arm is empty and my goal is to get something loaded today. I was just texting Katie about all the unfinished tops I have hanging around here and how I need to get a handle on the volume. The constrictor in all of it is batt and backs. But at least what is in inventory to finish can be started.

Between getting ready for the reunion, I can do a row, or even a block for sanity purposes and try to get some of these finished. That's the goal for the next few days I think.

Block 5 and Stitch Happens (again)

Because Stitch Happens is now all put together.

Stitch Happens

Now to quilt it. I think every block type will be given the same treatment, and the background will have something cool to fill. On the base of the machine, in that teal color, I'm thinking about couching "Stitch Happens" using the pro stitcher or maybe even doing it free hand. Haven't decided on that one yet.

But I have to get what's on DW off first. I started working on the little piece on there yesterday afternoon but then some (more) storms rolled through and hung out for quite a while. We do not long arm when there are storms.

Here is block 5 for our 100 Days.

Block 5

Today I'm going to get a few blocks ahead to prepare for the reunion and more long arming while watching all the holiday people cruise on the lake.

Block 4 and Stitch Happens

Despite the steamy weather, and the holiday yesterday (and still going strong here on the lake), I was able to get some sewing in.

It got to a point where everybody around us had family and friends over and Jim and I were just another set of persons within the melee. We had to come home to get away from it all (not to mention the jet ski traffic which was almost out of control). And, with the high temps, Hazel wanted to go swimming.

Here is block four.

Block 4

Here is Stitch Happens all organized from the cutting marathon the previous night.

Organizing into bags and ready to sew

Once I started sewing, I didn't want to stop, so I got a LOT more done on the Stitch Happens wall hanging. It doesn't look like much now, but the hardest section is already complete.

Laying out on the design wall

I usually question my color selections when doing a project like this, but so far, so good. Maybe a little more contrast in those pinks, but I think they'll be okay once the rest is put together.

I'm going to hide out here in the studio today despite all the holiday commotion. I'm a little overwhelmed in the amount of traffic on the lake, the amount of people all around, and all the noise. While I LOVE the lake traffic, the sound of children laughing and playing, etc. this is all of the usual weekend noise times about four. Which is a bit of sensory overload to my head.

Block 3 and July's Friendship Block...Amongst Other Things

Block 3

Here is Block 3 for the 100 Days 100 Blocks challenge. 

July's Friendship Block below.

July's Friendship Block

As you notice, there is only one this month. I'm doing a liberal queen-sized top requiring two blocks for months 1-7. Since the quilt along began in November, this is number eight meaning only one block from here on in. Thank goodness. I thought June's were going to kill me with all those HST's!

Happy Independence Day, BTW.

Nothing planned really for today. Maybe a boat ride in the boat parade scheduled for later this morning. Maybe a cookout/lunch/dinner with a few of our neighbors. Maybe some quilting. Most everybody around us has family and friends over. We do not. A few of the kids were up last weekend, and we have a huge weekend next weekend with reunion, meaning we take advantage of the calm. The lake is busy enough with everybody else and we shall enjoy their laughter and fun via arm chair.

After taking a swim yesterday afternoon, I started pulling fabrics for the Stitch Happens wall hanging.

Stitch Happens fabrics

It turned into a cutting marathon while Jim was in his happy place putting up the very first batch of strawberry and strawberry-rhubarb jams for the year. He loves to work in the kitchen putting up food for the winter months ahead.

Block 2 and June's Friendship Blocks

Yesterday was very productive. Although the weather didn't stay cruddy, the temps were high and with all the rain, very steamy.

Staying inside as much as possible was not guilt ridden.

Block 2 for 100 Blocks in 100 Days

I love these blocks; both the Leah Day and the 100 Blocks!

Friendship Quilt Along with Leah Day. June's blocks.

On to block 3, and starting July's Friendship blocks before I have to jump on the mower this afternoon.

Block 1

It's funny how the projects in the studio seem to ebb and tide. A few days ago the project numbers were way low. Like only one, and it was a piece on the long arm. Now there are three, plus the piece on the long arm. I think I like the later better.

A shout out to a new quilt shop in Hartford, Michigan. The Hartford quilt shop, owned by Emily, has been open about a month. I happened to see an "open" sign when taking Jim to Howell yesterday and on our way back through, we stopped in. 

Emily is a fellow long armer, and not only is she a fellow long armer, but she owns an HQ Fusion just like DW. We connected right away and the three of us had a wonderful conversation. She even knows Susan, who owns the quilt shop around the corner from me here (Pieces of Thyme). 

One of the projects now in queue began yesterday. A gal in Australia is hosting a 100 Blocks in 100 Days quilt along. Katie and I are participating and here is block one.

Block 1 for July 1

The fabric I'm using is from the Pieces of Thyme quilt shop and is from the Studio 8 line by Quilting Treasures. This is one of the fat quarters Jim purchased for me when PofT was having their tent sale a few weeks back. 

The second project is pulling fabrics and starting this little cutie (from the Hartford Quilt Shop). 

Stitch Happens

I know the pic isn't the greatest but it gives you an idea on what I'll be working on anyway.

And...I'm two months behind on my Leah Day Friendship quilt along. I need to print off the pattern for June and July and get to working on those at some point (soon). 

Weather is cooperating today for studio work, and with it will be some long arming at some point I'm sure. The DeGroot reunion is looming in the near future and selecting a quilt for it has to occur also. I'm kinda waiting for Jim's nephew to arrive next week since he's really good at picking the "just right" quilt to enter into the auction.