Got Sidetracked Already Today

Small project Sunday: Jim just completed a puzzle with quilt blocks in it....

Puzzle by Cobble Hill

I want to create said puzzle into some type of quilt. We want to hang both of them below the "QUILT" sign heading into the studio so the quilt I want to make won't be huge. I'm not even (na uh, no way) going to try to piece something that small, so I'm going to do it artistically.

Here's the beginning of what I'm planning on doing...

Look at all those markings

I was going to thread paint the "blocks" but decided to ditch everything first, Ink-tense the blocks in their respective colors, and then, IF NEEDED, quilt each block accordingly on my sit down machine. 

Drawing and figuring all those blocks took longer than I had anticipated but it looks kinda cool. I have the "sashings" already ditched and now on to funner things in it tonight.

On the frame this morning is this top...

New Quilter; Old Problems

So, as I'm loading, I'm identifying lack of border measuring, but not to any earth shattering extreme. However, there are some things I am going to have to keep an eye on while quilting. There is NO extra backing on the sides, which makes me wonder what's going to happen when I get to the bottom despite using only about 1/2" on the top to baste in (I usually use around 2"). The back is pieced, but the center section is cotton and the borders are flannel, causing "drape" on the side sections.

A little quilt detail

I've already started working this one this morning (thus the sidetracking mentioned above) just to see where I stand with it, and to try to get it done quickly for the customer who made this for her mom...for Christmas. Ooops. I should be able to get through it today if other distractions don't present themselves. 

Happy Saturday

I did manage to get a little quilting in yesterday between customer visits, all my errands, and the inevitable weekly trip to Midland. Here's a little detail on what is going into Joni's quilt...

Love the wool batt to give it some pop

MSU basketball today. When Jim gets home, and while he's watching his game, I'll continue on with Joni's quilt. It should be finished today I would think. Although, DW was being a weiner yesterday. He was being a weiner during some of Linda's quilt too and I'm contributing it all to the So Fine! thread. He was fine until I started putting that through him. 

I cleaned out his bobbin area to include removing his needle plate and cleaning under there. It seems to have made things a bit better, but I'll (once again) change his needle and see how he behaves. He is overdue for a spa day and the large amount of seams in a completely paper pieced top may have just thrown him a bit out of time. 

Chores and a phone call with my mom found me way behind this morning. And, to be honest, I was being a little lazy given it's a Saturday and I've been busting fanny all week. But the rice is cooking, the shower head is (once again) descaled, the laundry is done, the floors are washed, and the sun is out!

While I was working on chores, this showed up on my deck...

Lilo's new SewEZ table for retreats...and other places

This will give me something else (I'm sure) to squirrel about today. Too many fun things to do and just not enough time. 

Mornings are for Errands

Blood draw done. 

Nails done. 

Pick up quilt top done. 

Purchasing more stuff from Pieces done. Now to get to work. 

Here's what's on the frame today...

Joni's Kaffe diamonds

These fabrics are so soft and wonderful to feel. They are kind of a bummer to quilt because they are so soft and flexible, but with some ditching first, it'll stabilize everything so it's not such an issue. 

I have to diligently work on this today because I have another "rush" job coming in around lunch time for a new customer. It's a beautiful (but very cold) sunny morning and I'm going to continue to take advantage of it before it goes away (again). 

Marking a Quilt

I use a variety of marking tools to get registration marks and reference points onto a quilt. This particular tool is the very fine Sew Line chalk pencil. I have them in pink and white. 

Registration Marks

And while this looks pretty easy to quilt out, and it is actually, it's also very (very) time consuming. Linda's quilt is one day away from completion and it'll be fun to see it pulled from the frame and how everything worked out in it. It's hard to see the whole quilt, especially a medallion quilt like this.

I have some baking to do after this is finished and was going to do some errands this afternoon, but I just received a weather alert stating winds are to kick up later; and it's starting to snow and continue through most of the day. Good day to get work done first and then other things later. 

Happy Hump Day

I'm not expecting any clients or other visitors today. My SewEZ table may arrive, but according to the tracking app, it's not due in until Friday. Still wishing I would have ordered inserts for the other two machines. I may still.

I'm at the half-way point on Linda's quilt. Because there is a LOT of marking that needs to be done prior to quilting, and because those marks need to be removed right after, it's taking a while to work through. 

This is Hazel in her chair wondering if any of you are going to show up today.

Anybody there?

Facebook is Awful!

I'm not sure why everything points to facebook. It's too busy. It's harder to maneuver around than it used to be. I get notifications at all hours of the day (and night). I had to go in and deal with that this morning.

Soapbox done!

Here's some of what's going into Linda's beautiful quilt...

Arcs are challenging!

Holy flying geese Batman!

I'll be working this all day again today. The hard part (what to actually put in the quilt) has been accomplished through yesterday's workings. I still have to work through the center medallion but I'm thinking just an echo on the bigger pieces will be enough. This quilt had 9 1/2 hours put into it yesterday. I think today is going to end up being much of the same. 

Jill stopped by yesterday to pick up her Gnome quilt and to drop off another. I have a customer coming today with a question about something going on in her quilt that I previously worked for her prior to the holidays. Not sure what's up with that since I never marked a thing on that particular one (it was solely computer work). Has my curiosity peaked that's for sure. 

Cloudy, Snowy, and a Chance of Quilting Today

No, more than a chance...it's a definite since I'm on a tight deadline with the next quilt on the frame...

Isn't this spectacular?

This is a Linda McGibbon original design given to me to quilt by none other than Linda McGibbon. This pattern isn't even available to the public yet (but will be soon). Linda usually does her own quilting, but a recent turn of health events will not permit her (with deadlines) to do this one. So, I've been asked (and am honored) to complete the quilting on it. The quilt is already basted in and the first set of ditching is done, but that's the easy part isn't it? 

Watch future blogs to see what I decide to get in here as I'm working along. 

Snowy Start to the Day

I have a new customer coming shortly, and I was supposed to head over the Pieces this morning to meet another customer and pick up a top or two from her. But she lives in Midland and won't be heading this way due to the snow currently coming down and future snow expected throughout the day. 

Here's some more quilting detail in Ginny's quilt...

Nearly Complete

The last border needs to be quilted and then I'll have this off the frame and another loaded later today. The next one on is the "rush" job from Linda M. but wait until you see it! 

Nothing else happened in here yesterday other than customers in and out and long arming, which I did right up until we left to do some much needed grocery shopping. 

We Have Sunshine!

It's very bright with the snow outside so looking out the windows for any length of time is very blinding.

A great visit with customers/friends yesterday. Three quilts out...three more tops in. I have another "rush" top coming later this afternoon, and two more leaving/coming either today or tomorrow. I'm having to write all these down or I'd never keep everything straight.

Here's some quilting detail in the one I'm working now for Ginny...

Here's the body of the quilt

Corner Treatments

After working on this last night I moved along to my little iron travel bag started the night before. Here's the end result. 

The new travel iron bag

Notice the fabric? How appropriate!

More of Ginny's quilt today and hopefully a finish on it so the frame can be freed up for the rush top coming in. 

Okay Gang

I know some of you are short on materials and I'm all about making things work. But this seems to be a consistent problem lately...

Backing, Batting, and Top from the bottom upwards

See those red snappers between the backing and the batting? I actually ended up sewing through one yesterday finishing this quilt trying to make this situation work. There went that needle.

But I overcame the situation and the quilt is finished. Here's what I have on the frame for the next couple of days...

Ginny's top is 100% turned edge appliqué!!!!!!!!!

And it's gorgeous. I could never (thank you dumb thumb) be able to make something like this so I admire them for every second I'm working on them. This was actually loaded early last evening and I was so excited to get started afterwards that I did start it last night. More pics tomorrow since I'll have it on the frame most of today and part of tomorrow (at least). 

Customers coming in and out all day today which backs up the long arming somewhat. 

I received an Oliso travel iron for Christmas (a present to me from me) because my little yard sale special is nearly coming apart. I need to make a travel bag for it for the next retreat and found a wonderful (SewVeryEasy) YouTube video about making an even simpler drawstring bag than those I have constructed in the past. I'll work on that more tonight now that I (kinda) know what I need to do and have the perfect fabrics picked out for it. 

Ever Have One of Those Days?

Yesterday started out great. The quilting stars were all aligned perfectly and I was cruising along making stellar progress on Jills quilt. 

Then Linda stopped by to drop off a project; I gave her a project in return, and then I had lunch. Cleaned up dishes, watered the dog, and headed to the studio. That's when things started getting weird.  

I hadn't removed the static in my boots prior to touching the head computer and when I touched it, it went black for a second. But I checked it afterward and everything seemed fine. 

I decided, instead of trying to mark the flannel in the middle of Jills quilt, to have the ProStitcher on DW stitch out the grid I wanted to quilt in there. So I fired up the ProStitcher and started right in. I didn't like the first motif, stopped the machine, ripped out stitches, and then selected another. The first two sections went in fine.

And then, right in the middle of section three (there are 12 total), the machine stopped. Dead. D.E.D...dead! The gears were still humming, but the computer itself was black. Yet, my head computer was still fine. Hmm???

After fiddling around with it for a bit, found that the ProStitcher computer had merely run out of power. I'm not sure why, I mean, I hadn't charged it since early this fall. Shouldn't it last longer? I immediately got the charging going, but when the machine is charging it's unusable. Too many cords back there. I moved along to something else; the Partridge.

Now, my little sit down machine is pretty reliable. I'll have a thread break once in a while traveling from right to left and up to 10:00, but other than that, it stitches nice and I have relatively low problems. Except yesterday. Thread breaks, missed stitches, more thread breaks. Apparently I wasn't supposed to quilt anything yesterday. 

But I didn't let it deter me. I persevered and completed the stitching on the Partridge. What. A. Day.

Pretty Cool!

Don't know how I'm going to finish this yet, but at least I didn't let my machines win yesterday. Here's to crossing our fingers (and toes, and hairs, and anything else) a good quilting day occurs today. 

A Productive Day

Karen's quilt is complete but not without some thread breaks (used Omni in the top) and an issue with her last border...

This ain't right!

I had a decision to make on this. Either I could a) Modify the quilting going in to better match the situation at hand, which would make the motif wonky, or b) Just let it stitch out and keep the motif square. I opted for b. I'll have to discuss this with her when she comes to fetch the quilt later. She may have me pull the stitches and try again, or (fingers crossed) just roll with it. 

After Karen's quilt was done (she had me put E2E in it, which doesn't take nearly as long as custom), I loaded Jills top. Here's what's on the frame today...

Jills cute Gnome(s)

Jill said she wanted and E2E in here as well. But. I. Just. Can't! Too many color variations and it's going to be a wall hanging so I need to do my thing. And Jill will be fine with that because I won't charge her for the custom work I'm going to put in. 

Once I was done marking Jills borders out I had had enough of the long arm fun for the day, but continued to quilt. Only on my sit down. I'm about a 1/3 of the way through this and it's really making this little piece cute. 

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

I have a customer coming by later this afternoon to drop off, but I'll work Jills quilt most of the day before and after. And then some more Partridge work later tonight. 

Got a call from Lina M. last night and her quilt top will be here this weekend (she hopes) and so all other tops will be parked since Linda has an extremely tight deadline to meet on this one. She usually does her own quilting, but with her health situation (of late), doesn't think she should be standing at her machine for that long. I'm honored to be chosen to do one of her pieces (and honestly, a little nervous because she's a perfectionist), but all I can do is my best and hope it's okay by her standards. 

Happy MLK Day

A Federal Holiday, but not here; just another Monday to me. A new customer is expected sometime this morning and while waiting for her, squared Ila's quilt and removed (more) marks, frame ironed for the next backing and loaded the next top. Here's what's on the frame today...

Karen S's beautiful batik sampler

(Un)fortunately, she just wants an edge to edge put into this. Oooo the custom possibilities here. She even picked her top and bottom thread as well as her quilting motif. Except for running the machine, she did all the hard work for me. 

I have the Helen Godden partridge top to sit-down quilt yet and will tackle that tonight after long arming since it's been here for some weeks now ready to go. I don't want to get too many on the WIP pile again! 

Computer Updates

When I went to blog this morning my Mac said it was completing an update. And then we lost internet for a bit so it had to restart. Computers are great when they work (Jim found this out yesterday in his job too). The sun actually shone yesterday for a while. Isn't this pretty?

Welcome to the Water

This was a gift from my mom for Christmas. We have it mounted on the south window in the studio and it's just gorgeous when the sun actually shines. 

Removing the marks on Ila's quilt will take up most of the morning and then I'll reload while Jim's watching his Spartan basketball game. After finishing up on the long arm last night I started in again cutting pieces for the remaining Pineapple blocks and I'M DONE! Now the blocks can be worked on in here or at retreat, if there are any left prior to going. 

And I'm officially off quarantine! Now I can leave the house should I choose to, but with temps being what they are, I'm in no hurry. Although Beller's are up this weekend so may need to wander over there at some point. 

I think a pot of chili is a good thing on a bitterly cold day like today! 

Moms and Dads

Jim's mom, and my dad, aren't doing well. My grandma (who heard it from her mother) used to say, "Getting old isn't for sissy's!" A fractured text/phone conversation with my dad first thing this morning proves as much.  

I'm just thankful I can do what I love to do in the years I can still do it. I know someday this will all come to an end so I savor and enjoy each and every minute I get to make quilt tops actual quilts for clients. 

This is shown in what I put into them. Like the one below...

Ila's quilting detail

This is NOT computerized, but done on an imaginary grid using rulers. I'll continue on with this today and work more on cutting pieces out for the pineapple blocks. I made a dent in that endeavor last night but still have a long way to go. 

I also need to start looking for fabric for the snowflake top Linda McGibbon designed. It may be tough because she said this was a design from last year and trying to find the same fabrics could be tricky. Challenge accepted!

Back on Track

Ila's first top is now a quilt and her second is loaded and already basted in. Here's what I have on the frame today... 

Ila's second top

I'll be working on this for the next few days since each block is different. A new quilting scheme needs to be thought out and put in, not to mention the thread changes. 

I did get my Cotton Cuts block(s) also completed before calling it a night.

The next retreat is in five weeks. I would like to have all the remaining pieces cut for the pineapple blocks and what isn't already assembled will be taken and finished there. Katie also showed me a few tops she's considering bringing along and I fell in love with one of them. So, of course, I have to make one too. 

First I'll need to decide what color scheme I want to make it. Jim likes the scrappy one that was shown in one of the examples. I've made a lot of scrappy quilts lately (aside from the four at retreat) and don't really want to go there, so I need to think of something else to do. Pastels, holiday-themed, brights, color-themed...ahhh the possibilities. Something to think about during my "windshield" time on the long arm today I suppose. 

Reset Day

I did absolutely zero in here yesterday. I had every intention of finishing Ila's first top (which has been on the frame WAY too long), but had no energy and was feeling a little under the weather. I think all the sleepless nights and the excitement of five days of retreat finally caught me. 

My Cotton Cuts mystery BOM arrived in the mail...

Cotton Cuts Mystery Block

...and I didn't even feel like doing that. If that tells you how much I needed to just have a quiet day to rest, relax, and read. The three R's in my book on a blustery cold overcast day. 

I'm feeling much better today, although still not 100% (????) and will finish Ila's first top (finally). It's another overcast day so cranking up the tunes and creating a better atmosphere in here will certainly help. 

Much to Share

Hullo! It's been a while hasn't it? Some boxes arrived while I was sewing my fingers to the bone. Presents for the studio...

A new cordless iron and teflon pressing mat from MSQC

51 spools of new colors to add to the variety from Quilted Joy

What a great retreat. I didn't think it would turn out as well as it did since there was a total of 10 of us not counting the camp director and her staff. But because it was a smaller group, we were able to get to know each other and support each others efforts in the quilting journey.

Despite being pretty social during the event, I was able to get a few things done. 

Gnome for the Holidays

This was my last completion on yesterday. Those striped mitered corners were interesting since I've only done miters about three times in my quilting life. 

DogGone It!

I made this for our dog sitter, Luann. She's a quilt maker too but who doesn't need another quilt to snuggle up with. I'm not sure when I'll get it done to give to her, but the intention is there. 

John Deere Green

Got this fabric from the sale table at Pieces and it's for Jim's mechanic, who said he wanted a John Deere quilt. I designed this one into a jumbo size from another tractor block I found on-line. What I learned about this quilt top is that you don't figure sizes and cut pieces after working 10-12 hours that day because my measurements in some of this were WAY off. But I managed. 

Dr. Seuss Compilation

And who doesn't like a good Dr. Seuss book? I'll keep this around the house for the grandkids to snuggle under while I read them books before bed. 

All of these fabrics/kits came from Pieces of Thyme quilt shop. Doesn't she just have the greatest variety? 

Today is put the studio back together day and, finally, a work day. I'm actually looking forward to it!

A Welcome Retreat

Hazel is showing how all three of us felt on Sunday...

Exhausted

Once the tree and all the decorations were put away (save for the wreath outside which is constantly forgotten), the holiday was not yet over.

My brother drove up from Cincinnati and we had our holiday at moms yesterday. And, then because we're us, had to go out and about to do some more shopping and errands. I was fighting trying not to go to sleep/bed at 7:00 last night, so instead pieced a few pineapple blocks just to keep me going.

Tomorrow I leave for retreat. I'll be in and out until Sunday afternoon so won't get much, if any, long arming done during that time. Therefore, today is long arm crank day.

Jill is on her way over to drop something off and then I'll be in here until the dog drags me out later tonight. I've eaten enough food over the past week to pop a blimp so very little sustenance is going to be needed. I'll just drink lots of water and coffee and jam to the tunes to keep me going. 

Merry New Year!

Welcome 2022. Wow, when I graduated 40 years ago, this seemed like a sci-fi situation when we'd be living in this century. 

I have been completely and utterly absent from the studio other than to let the dog out and to move stuff in and out of it during the infiltration of family and friends. What a fun weeks it's been, but now it's time to get back on track I think. 

Here is the only sewing/quilting related pic I have to share. This was made for my youngest grandson from a panel I picked up at Pieces...

Buddy the Frog

I had to prop him up because he became a little top heavy after he was stuffed.

While we were chilling out together one evening, I was fiddling around on my phone and made this QR code for Quilting at the Lake. Your phones camera will "look" at it and you can then get to my web site. 

Quilting things I received for Christmas are actually for my customers. My brother and Jim both got me gift cards for Quilted Joy. Ben and Caleb purchased 16 spools of thread from there so I have a total of 67 new colors coming soon into the studio. I also received some fabric paint, some Inktense blocks, and some grid templates for marking customer quilts. Quilting at the lake bought Colette a new Panasonic cordless iron because well, it's Christmas and she's always wanted one. 

I hope you recover from the holidays fairly quickly and things get back to normal soon. I know I'm excited to see a new year come in because 2021 (in the world) wasn't so great. For me here in the studio...it was one of the best years ever.