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.