Rest Day

I didn't do a thing in the studio yesterday. By the time haircuts were done and cleaning thereof, and by the time we finished morning chores, it was time to prep for lunch. 

MSU lost last night but at least we made it one step further than Michigan. 

I'll be working on this piece all day today...

Lots of work here

Since I really only have one working machine right now, this is going to be my entire focus for the next day or so. Pics of quilting to come tomorrow. 

Class, Quilt Show, and Moving

Class was very fun and I have all the pieces cut out for the quilted jacket. Talk about an emotional thing to do; cut up a completely finished quilt... 

A repurpose exercise

The coat in chunks

So, after we were finished with our class (around 2:00) I wandered over to the Midland Quilters Guild show at the Midland Center for the Arts. What a beautiful venue and what a great show! Several quilts I've worked on for customers were displayed and it was nice to see them in their full glory instead of laterally on the frame. 

I purchased a quilt kit from a quilt shop in Chesaning related to our lake and talked to a LOT of people during both the class and the quilt show. I have one business card left and I had zero intention of doing that. 

After getting home around 4:00-ish I inhaled some lunch and then Jim was able to show me what he did while I was gone. 

Getting ready for Marty on the east wall

DW is now facing the garage

The room looks kind of empty on the east side but only until Thursday morning. Haircuts this morning first thing and then I think I may piece a little before lunch. 

Now We're Moving

No, we're not moving away. But the studio is getting a shift in long arm placement. Quickly before I head off to my class...

Stripping DW down

Disassembling Foster

Jim has to run to get the moving dollies from our neighbor and I'm going to class. DW should be moved by the time I get home since he's going to where Foster was.

Marty will be going where DW is currently at since he'll be my new primary machine with Bernie. DW will be strictly used for my stuff and ONLY digital edge to edge for customers. 

Saying Good-bye

Saying good-bye is very sad. Usually. In this case, hugely. We will only see Caleb and Lia one more time before they depart for Germany in two weeks. He's stationed there for at least three years.

Such great kids!

Not sure how I took this pic, but it's cute

We are going to miss them so much. 

Subject change. Karen's quilt is through the custom work and now I've rolled back to the top and will begin the E2E maybe later today. I think we're going to move DW over to where Foster is so I need to get Karen's quilt off the frame. 

I also have to start to prepare for a class I'm taking tomorrow in Midland. I need to find one of my own quilts or purchase an old quilt from somewhere to cut up and make into a coat. I'm going to hit a few of the shops in Gladwin this morning after my nail appointment and see what I can find because cutting up one of my own quilts makes me shudder.  

If I can't find something in town, I'll hit Pieces of Thyme on my way home and see what kind of panel/backing fabric I can throw a simple E2E on. If that doesn't work, one of my own quilts is getting murdered. 

So, I have a busy day ahead and didn't sleep worth a poop last night. Well, I did sleep well actually, once I got to sleep sometime after 2:30 this morning. Note: Don't get into intense or heated discussions just before going to bed. Your brain will oft times not want to shut itself off until much later. 

Moving

The little kids are getting ready for their big move to Germany. They have to be out of the apartment on 4/1 but everything has already been shipped out so it's basically a cleaning game. And getting rid of things they aren't going to transport with them; cleaning supplies, boxes, etc. We are meeting them downstate tonight to get some of that stuff. 

It's going to be hard not talking to him every few days. I'm getting sad thinking about it, so let's change the subject.

Here's what DW is wearing...

Karen's Christmas Quilt

Here's why I do not like packaged batts...

Letting it relax

This batt was packaged and it's a cotton/wool blend by Pellon. Karen probably purchased it at JoAnn's. It's full of wrinkles and one end is very crumpled. While I was washing her backing this hung to try to remove those long arm hurdles. It didn't really do much and when I loaded it six hours later.

Meanwhile, this was loaded onto Bernie...

Ronda's applique top

I didn't have much time to work through how I was going to quilt this but started out with the borders and worked my way in. I now have a quilting plan for both of these and will work them simultaneously since Karens quilt body is E2E with the borders being custom. 

It's funny how one can amuse themselves when between projects. I finished Linda's binding right after lunch and then had to wait for the back of both of the quilts above to be ready to load. With that time I: 

1. Cleaned both machines and their carriages. 

2. Selected threads for the bobbin and top. 

3. Updated the computer queue to match the written one

4. Cut up the blocks on the design wall for the Pineapple top

5. Started getting stuff off Foster for his trip next Thursday

6. Snagged a pic of Rondas quilt to make sense of how it was going to get quilted

7. Reset the design wall since it was now empty from the previous project

After working until about 6:00 last night, I played with some more Pineapple blocks. I have a customer coming today to pick up and will be 'closing' early to leave to meet the kids later. 

Empty Long Arms

Here is some of the quilting detail that went into Linda's quilt...

The front

The back

I have it all trimmed and ready to bind for her. That's this mornings project. Bleh. Before I can bind anything though I need to get out the queue sheet and get something on the two empty machines...

Here's what's on DW😧

Here's what's on Bernie😔

All three machines are currently not loaded with a thing. Foster is holding onto Linda's quilt until I move it over to the sewing table but he's not getting anything loaded anyway since he's leaving a week from tomorrow. I finished Lynettes quilt and need to get a hold of her later to let her know it's finished. 

So today is a bit of a change from the norm, which can be good. At times.

I constructed three more Pineapple blocks last night after doing work stuff then all of that needed to be cleared off to make room for this morning's binding task. Funnily enough, todays IG prompt is 'binding'. I'll be snapping pics to post for later. 

Digitized Edge to Edge

I have a computer (the Pro Stitcher) that drives all the edge-to-edge motifs on customer quilts. If they request it. I don't like using it. I'm not in control, and whenever I leave the room, the thread will break and then all that's happening is hole poking. 

I'd rather just drive myself and have the control I favor over robotics. However, sometimes I can't convince a customer to just let me drive (they want a specific themed motif or whatever) and so the Pro Stitcher is called to duty.

Today is a Pro Stitcher day. I've gotten up early and will be starting said machine as soon as I get the blog done. I have to sit and babysit DW while the thing is running so I can correct any errors during stitch out. UGH. Not my jam that's for sure.

Meanwhile, Lynettes Tilda Snowmen are just about done. I have one small border to finish and will get that done once I'm convinced DW is going to behave himself during his time at work.

After "working" I was able to get my bag done and here's the result...

I love, love, love this bag!

Here are all the dividers and my zippered pocket inside...

See the zippered pocket?

I started two more blocks on the Pineapple top but that was about it for my day. I got pretty tired even before 7:00 (????). I think this cold, windy, snow weather was getting to me?

Mom is stopping by later today after her art meeting and she'll just love the noise DW is making while he's stitching out this quilt today. NOT! But that's my job and she'll just have to accept that fact. Maybe that's why she doesn't come over more often?

A Little Bit More

I'm up to the construction portion of the main bag and lining. This is where things always go a little sideways for me...

Ready to sew together

It won't be this step or the boxing step that will throw me. It's when I have to put the two pieces together. And chances are that won't happen tonight.

I have a customer coming this morning. The wind is howling and we have to take the girls for their annual heart worm check and physicals later this afternoon. We received about an inch of snow last night; I miss how pretty everything looks after a snow during the summertime. 

I'm going to get Lindas top on DW basted in and set up to go first thing tomorrow. After that's done, I'm going to continue on with Lynette's Tilda Snowmen on Bernie. I can't chance starting the E2E on DW because of the winds and the chance of losing power. 

And MSU is on to the next round of tournament play beating New Mexico last night. Go Green!

I Don't Know Why...

...on the weekends I really don't like to piece. I love to long arm, but Foster is "put away" until Marty arrives in another week or so.

I also love to make smaller one to two day projects but before I could get out into the studio we spent the better part of mid-day getting phones transferred, music moved, phones deleted, and cases ordered. What a pain in the rear. 

While we were spending time doing all of that this arrived...

I finally have a clock in the studio

After getting the phones back to where everybody wanted them I wandered out to the studio to see what I could drum up. This is what I found...

I could use a summer bag

I've gotten to page two on the four-page set of instructions. BUT, I'm going to modify the inside to include a zipped pocket. This should be interesting since I don't really know what the heck I'm doing. But hey, this is what YouTube is for. 

Wish me luck! Oh, and Go Green since we won our game on Friday. We are up against New Mexico at 8:00 tonight and hope the Spartans can keep it going. 

Happy 39th Birthday and Technology

Our eldest turns 39 today. Actually, he turned 39 during the MSU game last night while in Cleveland since he was born at 12:56 a.m. and the game never started until 10:00. 

Andrew is the one on the right. Caleb is left and as usual, Ben is in the middle

While they were headed to Cleveland for said game, Jim and I were at the Verizon store getting our new phones. What a pain! We actually closed the store because the first phone they brought out for me was defective (locked itself). 

I have just transferred all the apps from my old phone (which Jim now has) and have to get ready to transfer the music library from the Mac. UGH, I could think of better things to do today. 

New phone

I need to check out the pattern for what I need to do for next weekends coat-making class once I get through all of this who-who. Not sure what the rest of the day will entail, but I'm sure something sewing. 

Happy First Day of Spring

It's sunny. The birds are singing. And the temps are at 29 degrees. Yep, early spring in Michigan. 

I have three sets of customers coming today. Thankfully I've gotten the Floral Felicity done and can chip away at the Tilda Snowmen on Bernie between appointments. 

One Final Pic

I do have the back frame ironed and the quilt is sitting in wait for me to get the E2E set on DW. This is a big quilt (104"-ish) and will take some time to get stitched out.

Isn't this gorgeous?

Today is the first day MSU plays in the NCAA tournament in Cleveland. I'm wearing my lucky Izzone sweatshirt and hopefully we can advance to the next bracket. Go Green!

Day Five

This will be our final day together. This Floral Felicity will be finished and of course, on a cold day, I'll be switching back over to Bernie while I frame iron the next back going onto DW. You know, more furnace runs with cold weather. Oh well, more breaks I guess.

It's actually snowing outside. Anyway, here's another block framed in before getting the inside quilting done...

Final Floral pic (until the next one is loaded)

Yesterday's IG prompt was thread. Actually, I later discovered it was tools, but thread is one of my favorite tools, so here's a few of my threads...

So Fine

Glide and Bottom Line

Glide

I only use three types of thread now. So Fine! and Bottom Line by Superior Threads and Glide by Filtec. I not only long arm with So Fine, but I've switched to using it while piecing. The Bottom Line and Gide 60 weights make great bobbin thread. I do have to have some smaller spools of Aurifil for Lilo (the small retreat machine), but these are all I use anymore. They are little to low lint and they perform well in ALL my machines.

Remember yesterday when I said I wasn't expecting any customers. HA! The phone and the Ring were all fired up yesterday with people. I received three more quilts in and I have three appointments for tomorrow. I'm not going to say anything about today. Nope. Not gonna happen. 

Day Four

Yep, I remember now that these Floral Felicity tops take about five days total to complete. Today is day four, but IF nobody comes over today, I may be able to get her wrapped up since I've been working an extra two to three hours a day on it.

Here's some more eye candy...

Without the center sections quilted

I hadn't yet quilted in each of the flowers, but here's one of the backgrounds quilted out. Same routine today. Isn't my life exciting? Actually, it may not be exciting, but it's damn rewarding and very relaxed. 

Technology at its Finest

I checked my [work] phone before heading upstairs to do my morning stuff, and lo and behold, a message from a customer sent last Thursday. It just came through today. WTH????

Time to trade those phones in. 

Meanwhile, I'm supposed to go to the QQQG meeting tonight but I didn't get to sleep until about 5:30 this morning. I should have been exhausted since I worked nearly 10 hours yesterday. But a rather nasty headache and other sorts of things were not letting me go to to sleep. Needless to say I was up late this morning.

But I've made up some time and will be working on Sharon's Floral Felicity again today (and tomorrow, and maybe the next day). Here's some of what's going into it...

The sun shows all the texture

We don't have much sun today but it's supposed to be a bit warmer. No customers expected...oh, wait, my phone just dinged. Yep, change that. I have a drop off coming sometime today and I had a last minute one come yesterday to pick up her quilt. Looks like another busy day in my future. 

The QOV

Today's prompt for IG is A Quilt of Significance. I thought about this while doing my morning chores and I went through the repertoire of quilts I've made over the years. Many of them stand out in my mind; struggles with a new technique or color. Triumphs with piecing or quilting. 

But this quilt, which was made specifically for me, is probably the most significant to me. 

My very own QOV

I don't use this quilt. It's put away in one of the totes to be given to Caleb eventually. I was awarded a certificate and recognized for my service. I didn't know it was happening that evening at guild, but I was so overcome with emotion I could only make jokes and walked around in a haze all evening. It wasn't until the next day it finally hit me how much that quilt meant. 

Paulette actually pieced the quilt, and unbeknownst to me, she gave it to me to quilt and bind. So, I did have a hand in it but I got to do all the fun stuff. It identifies a time in my life where I discovered loyalty, pride, and most of all, teamwork and friendship. Thank you Paulette!

Shift. Change.

I've shifted from the parallelogram top to the Pineapple top using the Creative Grids Pineapple ruler to trim each fabric addition. Here's the first three complete. I'm making a queen-sized quilt so I'll need to make a total of 81 blocks. I'll be at this for a while.

I'm thinking (already) about how I'm going to set these

Before working on these guys, I did a small project to make my long arm notions basket a bit more robust...

It has Bosal Interform and interfacing both

The other cute frog one I made was collapsing under all the stuff and is going to be over between Bernie and Marty (once he arrives) since the Bernina's require less "toys". 

Today's IG Quilt Fest prompt is our favorite quilting book. These two, by far, are my absolute go-to resources when I get stuck working a quilt...

Favorite books!

Not sure where I'm headed today. Probably not very far since I slept in this morning and am already trying to get some house crap done. 

Threads, Ahoy

I have switched back over to DW to work on Sharon's Floral Felicity top...

I've seen this one before

I'm going easy on the hopping foot rod and marking every line I'm quilting so I don't pressure it too much.

While working this piece, I noticed a LOT of threads...

Just one little area

The top is loaded with them, so a lot of stopping to pick off and clean up the next area. That increases my finish time for sure.

Today I'm working in the morning and then taking the rest of the day to "play". Jim has a game to watch later (we beat Oregon yesterday 74-64) and today we play Wisconsin at 1:00. Meanwhile, I've implemented the thought of not doing the parallelogram quilt and made this test block last night...

Shifting gears

Yep, I'm having much more fun working this piece then I was with that other confusing top. Rainy but warmer today. A great day to hang out and play around the house. 

No Apologies Needed

I was on the phone with Jason and Jen at Gall Sewing yesterday morning. Jason apologized profusely about my new Q20. He thought they had one in stock but as he opened the box to inspect/test it he discovered it was a demo model. Given our history with Foster, we're opting to order a new one instead. But the frame is in so there's that. 

We're all human. Stuff happens and he didn't need to apologize, although I appreciated the sentiment. When they come to set Marty up, they are taking DW back downstate for a fix. His hopping foot is severely loose and needs to be replaced. Cha-Ching. 

Since I was frame ironing for the next quilt on DW (I'll have to limp it along for another week or so), I was working on Lynette's Tilda Snowmen on Bernie. Here's what the snowmen are getting...

Pretty!

I forgot to mention about the previous quilt on DW. When a quilt has a lot of starts and stops, sometimes the tie-off bobbin thread doesn't get pulled through all the way. I use the sun (or a flashlight when no sun is available) to seek out those threads to get them trimmed before removing from the frame...

See that little sucker?

Much easier to do on the frame before offloading. 

I've made a decision. The scrap quilt I started that's on the design wall isn't getting me all excited to work on anymore. I've screwed up the strip part and, well, I'm just not feeling it. I think I may chop all those parallelograms up and restart with a different pattern. One that I like doing and one that leaves me excited to work on at night. I have to take a look at my pattern and see how I can get the most out of what I've already cut up.

MSU plays at noon today in their first game of March madness. Jim is hoping to get home early to watch said game, but I'll have the doors shut to his man cave so I can't hear him giving the TV a batch of crap while I try to work. Happy Friday! 😀

Uno Mas (One More)

One more day on Sharon's quilt. Only the last border but it's a lot of starts/stops since I decided to be a bonehead and not connect the circles between each of the piano key border sections. 

I noticed this when I took the last roll...

Some discoloration

I'm not sure if this is bleed from another fabric or a stain from the fabric purchased. At any case, I've noted it on the work order and will show her this pic.

Nothing else was worked on yesterday; this was worked on until nearly 7:00 because I had a customer come by and was here chatting for about two hours. The longer customers and I chat, the longer I have to work at night. Which is fine. With the time change, it doesn't even seem like I'm working late. 

Sunny today and warmer temps mocking a spring-like day. But I heard a Killdeer last night so maybe we'll be in for an early one this year?

Let's Talk Wrinkles

So many of my customers are worried about a) the quilt top being square and b) wrinkles in both the back and the front. Neither is a concern actually. Here's why: There is no such thing as a square quilt. The second it's picked up at each of the border corners, it's been stretched and is now out of square, whether that's to put on another border, to show your friend, or to get it folded to come to me.

Wrinkles on the back I take care of when I load the quilt. Wrinkles on the front magically all but disappear when I quilt it.

Here's a before... 

Look at the white area

And here's the after...

Pretty much gone

DW is having an issue with his hopping foot rod. It's becoming loose(r) than before and I've contacted Gall about getting the part ordered and having this situation serviced. The new machine (Marty) can not get here soon enough!

After working on Sharon's Flower Power quilt well after normal quitting time, Jim came in from doing outside stuff (fenced the white pine in the girls' pen for one) and assisted me in getting those parallelograms hung on the design wall. I can start filling in with my scrap pieces now...

I've gotten a few of them done already

There are more scrap pieces that are finished, but they are for the bottom section(s) we could not get on the wall.

I have one customer coming to drop off and I'll be continuing on with Sharons quilt most of the rest of the day. 

Wide Variety

I did a wide variety of quilting things yesterday. First, remove Donna's quilt from DW and get the next backing loaded and started on the frame ironing.

Oh wait, I need to wash and dry this backing for the customer before I can do that. While that was in the washer and dryer I trimmed Donna's quilt, got it billed out, and packed up. She has been called (LM). Once the backing was done drying it was loaded and started the wrinkle free process.

Meanwhile, I worked this on Bernie... 

Another Tilda Snowmen

Here's the start of what's going in here...

Just like the picture

This is how I did the quilt for Bittersweet Quilt Shop and this is what Lynette wanted.

Once the backing was done on DW this was loaded and will be worked today...

Sharon's Flower Power

This one is going to be minimally quilted, BUT there are four layers of fusible in there, so it's going to be slow going around the circles. And look at all those thread changes!

After that was basted in and threads were selected for today's work I got the binding on the baby quilt that was on Foster...

It's a quilt

Jim was very late getting home last night so I started to play with all those threads I've been saving...

Doing some playing in the sunshine 

I love/hate the time change. Love because I get a lot more sunshine in the studio for my work day. 

Here's what it finished out to...

Isn't this weird?

Can you tell it's an apple? Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but I think it's fun. I did not put any batting or a back of any sort on it. It's just a "thing" right now. I'll have to think about this. 

Meanwhile, I'm probably pretty much done with anything on Foster. I'm so excited to be getting the new machine and I know his capabilities so I'm holding off doing any more of my quilts until he arrives.

I attempted to lay out the scrap quilt I'm doing with Susan Smith of Stitched by Susan, but I was having a heck of a time turning things around in my brain and couldn't seem to get stuff right on the design wall (yes, I cleared it off to work on this). Jim is going to have to help me with this one I think. My brain just doesn't work that way.

Off to enjoy another sunny (yet, colder) day in my beautiful place to create.