Catching Up

I didn't blog yesterday because I was busy, busy, busy and it actually slipped my mind. That's what happens when the routine is skewed. 

I left for the quilt show up in Oscoda as soon as morning chores were done and left Jim here to his own devices. He canned, broke a jar of salsa, burned the stump by the barn, and hung my screen door. He was busy.

I, on the other hand, was socializing and looking at some beautiful, magnificent quilts. We sure have a lot of talent in that group! So, much to my surprise after walking around the show, was greeted with some ribbons but not surprising, some very missed friends.

Here's a rundown of the ribbons...

First Place, Multiple Technique Large

1st Place, Machine Pieced Large

Award of Merit (Best of Show) For Outstanding Achievement in Quiltmaking

And then non-long arm related...

Domestic Machine Quilted, Small

This was a class I taught earlier this year and about how to piece curves and she did a stunning job with her monochromatic color! 

Once I returned home, I was helping Jim with the last of the screen door installation and then headed to the studio. Have you ever used Acorn Pressing products? OMG. I was looking for some Best Press to fill up my spray bottle that is just about gone, and a few of the guild members, as well as the shop owner (vending at show) sold me on the Acorn stuff.

I had to make my BOW and the surrounding log houses for both last week and this week. While I'm not working with tiny pieces (which do not like to lay nicely) I was impressed at the feel of the fabric and how nicely my seams matched...

Block #1

I pieced the second block but haven't yet made the house surrounding it. There were a number of errors in the second block and so wanted to make sure the directions for the houses were correct before cutting for the next set. 

Sleep Issue Last Night

I. Could. Not. Get. To. Sleep. Last night. At 3:00 I finally got up and took a few baby aspirin (which I hate doing) just to relax a little and give my aching hand (the one with the broken finger) a little pain management. I fell asleep shortly after doing that. So, five hours is good, right?

Yesterday started out with me babysitting DW while stitching out Pats quilt...

Civil War Quilt

I did the research to see what most civil war quilts were quilted with. Pat wanted something simple and as it turns out, during that time period, three motifs were generally used to quilt these. Crosshatching, clamshells, and Baptist Fans. I opted for Baptist Fans because it seemed the simplest to get in there.

See how nice it looks?

That took well into lunch hour because each time (twice) I walked away, DW broke thread. As long as I was standing there, everything was a-okay. 

After lunch I removed Pats quilt and started frame ironing for a small project I need to get done this weekend. More on that later.

It was time to get onto Marty and do some work on the Tilda Sampler. Here are two of the blocks...

The third block was hastily interrupted by a pretty large thunderstorm that rolled through. When a crack of lightning lit and then a thunder was right behind it I had to shut the machine down. Again, surge protectors (no matter how good they are) are no match for 1.21 Gigawatts. 😉

While I was waiting for the thunderstorm to roll through, I did my homework for my Quilters Groove Academy class...

Homework

Just as I was about to get back on Marty a second wave of thunderstorms came through. It was past 5:00 and I thought maybe somebody up there was telling me something. I gave up long arming for the day and instead opted to finish cutting out my second quilt for retreat...

Two all ready to go

Well, the second one is nearly ready. I would like to bunch each block up and clip them so I don't have to spread out and go searching for the correct pieces while I'm on a confined retreat table.

And, it's pretty spread out there on mine already so lets wrangle this thing into a more manageable situation.

I'll be on Marty all day today. I wanted to get more done yesterday and my goal is to have this piece completed by days end. And, here I am blathering on about yesterday and not working. Okay...let's go. 

Congrats Caleb and Lia and Happy Birthday Tristan

First, let's talk about continuing education. As a professional in the teaching and nursing field, we were required to attend a LOT of continuing ed classes throughout the year. It was constant. I didn't understand at the time (hated the term 'best practices') but now that I am in charge of my own business and see how quickly change occurs even in the quilting world, I am more aware of the need for con ed. 

I have not taken a hands-on or on-line long arm class in a long time. Probably at least three years. Okay, I did watch a number of YouTube videos on how to do one motif or how to handle a problem situation, but attending a class on actually working through a quilt was nil.  

I invested in myself (as well as the business) last night and am now attending the Quilters Groove Academy with Lisa Calle. She's a multi award winning long armer and her works are just stunning. I wanted to have the ability to make a quilt go from nice to oh wow! 

I've only delved into the introduction phase and have some homework to do before continuing in the class but I'm so excited to not have to stop and stare at a quilt to decide what goes in, or, better yet, just put in the old standbys to get through it. I have a tendency to do that with my personal quilts.

In the meantime, here's some quilting going into the Tilda Sampler I'm currently working...

And we got some good news last night about the grand baby we're expecting in late January. Caleb got out of the field yesterday and Lia waited until she could tell him first, before letting the world know, but we are going to be welcoming a new baby girl into the family. I'm over the moon because I'd been saying it was a boy all along. I was secretly hoping I was wrong. So glad I was! 

A happy birthday to our eldest grandson, Tristan, who turns 12 today. Holy cow. I have a grandkiddo nearing his pre-teens. UGH! 

I never did fire up DW yesterday. I didn't want to listen to him screaming behind me all day (bad headache day) but maybe today I'll get Pat's quilt worked through. 

After working on customer stuff, I started cutting out tops for the retreat I'm attending in about a month. I like to have everything cut out and ready to just sit and sew allowing me the ability to chat with people while I'm doing that. This is a new group and it would be nice to get to know everybody on a more personal level.

I have the first one all ready to go and will work through the second one probably not tonight. I have to get my homework done for the Academy before being able to move along in my "studies". 😊

Frustrated

Do you have that place in your house where you keep all the blank cards so when an event presents itself, you're prepared? I do. And in it are several cards for get well, thank you, holiday, and a few birthdays. But nothing resembling a pre-teen birthday wish for a boy. UGH! How is that possible? 

Our grandson is in sixth grade now and I don't think he'd appreciate a card with kittens or dancing bears on it. 

I'll be working on the Tilda Sampler some more today while DW is possibly stitching out across the room.

Here's some of the quilting going into this sampler...

Here's the first block to be completed

I'm having a bit of trouble with this one. Here's why...

See the problem?

Look along the batting and top and tell me what you see. I'll just have to deal with it as I go along. 

I've been on the phone all morning with a friend and now mom. I had a neighbor stop by last night as I was finishing up so didn't get a long time in the studio. 

Do You Ever Wonder Why?

When I'm long arm quilting, especially those repetitive filler motifs that are automatic for me to do without much planning/thinking, my mind wanders to why things happen. Why do people make quilts? I mean I know why I do it, and I'm sure my reasons parallel with others, but some other people probably do it for perpendicular reasons from mine. 

Jim calls it 'windshield time'; that time to reflect and wonder about life/things.

The Coffee Break table runner is done...

Deb H.'s Coffee Break

Some quilting that went in...

Can you even see anything?

After I finished that I pulled the next October deadline out and started frame ironing it. I also noticed a notation for another quilt that needs to be done soon and it's an E2E on DW (digitized). I worked on Marty on the Tilda Sampler during business hours...

See any difference?

The swimmers leg on top has been ditched. Look how much nicer the fabric and batting lay. The leg on the bottom has not yet been ditched and her legs look like mine; all dimply. 

Ditching takes a LONG time! Maybe that's why these Tilda Samplers take so long because each of those legs needed a start and stop done. I could not just move from one to the other without doing a tie-off to get there. 

Anyway, once I worked on the Tilda Sampler for a while, (well past quitting time), I moved over to DW because he needed to have that background stuff stitched down before I could start frame ironing for Pat's quilt backing. 

It worked out pretty well

Once I got that stitched out/down I pulled it off and started frame ironing the backing for what I need to do on DW for my customer. All three long arms were used yesterday. That's unusual, but kinda cool.

I moved over to my DSM to get those bindings done and here is Rayola quilt #115...

Tula Butterfly

And once that was cataloged, photographed, folded and tagged I started and finished Rayola quilt #116...

Half-square Triangle Baby

While I was working on the above two quilts, Jim was working on getting the old wood removed from our permanent dock since we're supposed to get our lake back next spring/summer. The angle iron on the end needed to be removed first, and then the boards after. Once the new boards are in place the angle iron on the end will need to be welded back on. Welding and water don't mix so this needs to be done before we have water to deal with.

Really unsafe right now

Today I'm working on more frame ironing in both Bernie and DW while I work on the Tilda Sampler on Marty. 

Quiet Sunday

Since the weather was nice this weekend, there was plenty of ruckus going on around the lake. This lead to very little sleep so yesterday was a rest day. 

We did head up to West Branch to pick up a different track system for the batting closet doors and a new door for the queue closet since one of them is just too big for me to be able to see in there clearly.

We also had to stop at one of my least favorites stores (Wal-Mart) to pick up pens and the bungees for cutting the batting... 

Marking pens and bungees

We ran in. We grabbed. We quickly got out. The we went over to the Home Depot where we also purchased a new screen door for the studio entrance and the other stuff mentioned above. 

I'll be working on Bernie today (pic not available) getting the Carrot table runner off and getting the Coffee Break Table Topper started. 

Crazy, Busy Day

We started out with this project...

The "Before"

The "After"

Four of the battings are hung. I did not have the wool hung because after you open the package from the roll, the thing gets about 3 times bigger. Taking up that much room would have only allowed for three batts to be hung.

Before we started on this project though, we had to move the sewing table about a foot and that's a large undertaking in of itself. Talk about dust bunnies!

After lunch I had decided I was sick of moving the Tilda blocks/sashings around and tore into it to get it finished...

Getting things organized

It's a top!

Ready for the long arm

That was one long project taking up most of the sit-down summer months.

Once I got that measured, folded, and put away I jumped on DW to free motion quilt this HST baby quilt...

Ready for binding

I made the binding once this was quilted and have that and the Tula to bind yet. Which goes against my "rule" about not starting another quilt on the long arm before the previous quilt is bound. Oh well, it's my choice.

I loaded this onto DW next...

What the heck???

Let me explain. She (Laura Heine) builds the backgrounds in the traditional manner where by everything is pieced before the flower appliqués are applied. I'm not doing that.

These are being held onto the batting with spray baste and I'm going to free motion a zig-zag between each block to make the background even more scrappy. I'm not sure how well this is going to turn out, but I'm hoping for the best. 

Today we have to run to West Branch to research closet door tracks. Jim's not happy with how little room I have to dig around into the queue closet and how tight it's going to be to get the batting out of the new batting closet. He wants to pull the track from inside the closet to outside to give me more "open" space. 

I also need to pick up marking pens (for long arming) and bungee chords to use as a straight line on said batting when cutting. I'll attach them on each side of the bracket to give me a visual and not have me cutting downhill. 

Weird Day

Appointments and errands in the morning. Long Arm a bit. Lunch. Long Arm a bit more. More errands. Long Arm some more and then start working on my BOW Christmas project. BUT, I did get that table runner done that was loaded onto Bernie...

Can you see the two rabbits?

I'm waiting for the marks to come off (used a Marks-be-Gone blue) and while doing that I sorted through the fabrics I purchased for the BOW...

Making it not modern; more lower tones

Here's my first block...

Santa's Hat

We have houses/barns that will be surrounding each block, but those come out next week. In the meantime, Jim and I will be working in the studio rearranging things to get the batting in the batting closet rather than in the little alcove where it's hanging out now. 

Busy Morning

Unfortunately it won't be busy in the studio this morning. I have nails first thing. From there I have to buzz over to moms art show just on the other side of town. After I attend that I'll be heading to Pieces for fabric for a BOW I'll be attending for the next 16 weeks. It's Christmas themed and pretty cute, so I'm going to participate. It's free through my batting supplier so no pressure.

I finished the Nativity quilt for Deb P. in the morning and then had a new customer (through a referral) drop off her 'Tis the Season top for me to do. They stayed for about 45 minutes and they no sooner left and a strange truck pulled in. They thought I was a quilt shop (apparently didn't read the header on my web site). We chatted for a bit and then they left. Time for lunch.

While I was waiting for the new customer to arrive (around 11:00) I didn't want to start on Marty so I pieced backing for this next Rayola quilt on DW...

Ready for quilting

I also pieced the batting and since this was an orphan block top, the whole thing is pieced together.

During the afternoon, I worked on this on Bernie...

Table Runner #1

Deb H. has three small pieces for me to complete before she can come get her Tilda Sampler, so I have to get those done. Here's some of the quilting that went into it...

Table runners get lots of thread

Here's the next one I'll be working on today once I return home from my morning errands...

Cute Carrots

I've already did some pre-marking on this and couldn't sleep last night, so I did some head quilting while trying to get relaxed enough to go to sleep. 

After I marked and prepped that piece I made and attached the binding to one side of the Tula Butterfly. I just need to flip it and finish it later this weekend. 

I'll be working late tonight I think since I'm not working this morning. That's fine. I like working in the studio no matter the time. 

Just About There

Because I had to cut yesterday short with the mammogram appointment and then having to run to Midland to UPS out two quilts heading to Germany, I didn't get Deb P.'s quilt done. We also had to head over to Home Depot to pick up some type of dowel or tubing to hang a few of the batts in the batting closet.

Here's one more pic of Debs quilting...

Can you see the stars?

I'm sticking with a star theme on this quilt since there are a variety of them throughout. I'll finish that up this morning and then move over to Marty where I'm doing...

Another Tilda Sampler

This one has no borders so it won't take as long, but still a weeks worth of work. I will not be solely focusing on this though. I have three table runners that have to get done before customers can come and pick up their Tilda Samplers.

Speaking of Tilda. All the blocks are now constructed because that's what I worked on when we finally returned back from Midland...

Ready for sashing

After I got those all constructed and put aside, I took the Tula Butterfly off DW, got it trimmed up and the binding is now made and ready to be attached. 

I also sorted through the upper most part of the pile of tops I have on the totes. There are a number of orphan block tops that are smaller in size I'll knock out in the next week or so. I have some scrap backings left over and I'll piece those to make backs for them to get as much use out of the fabric that I have since these too will be donated. 

Flash and Smash

Yep, it's that time of year again. Flash and Smash later this afternoon. We have to run to Midland RIGHT after I get done with that appointment to get two of the kids' quilts to UPS so they can be hand carried to Germany next week (long story I won't go into). 

I'll be getting right in the studio once I'm done with this since it'll be a shorter day for me. There's a lot of marking going on with this quilt I'm working on...

Chalk it out

Here's some of the quilting going into Deb P.'s Nativity Quilt...

When I'm prepping a quilt for long arming, it's usually just hanging out on the frame the day before so I can get right to it when I'm ready. That's why I have two customer machines (with DW on reserve). I don't like the quilts to drag on the ground so I fold them up onto themselves. This gives me a chance to check how the quilt was pressed (open seams or otherwise) and it allows me to check how square the top is. 

Ummm...

There is always an over/under lap of some sort when I do this. Less is clearly better. This one overlapped by a good inch meaning I'm going to have to adjust the quilt as I work on it throughout to try to get it more square-ish. 

Honestly, everybody obsesses over this "squaring" thing and in the scheme of things, it's never going to be noticed by the user. Even you, if you're the end point for it's destination, aren't going to know if the thing is off square. It's a senseless 'worry' by the quilt maker because it's going to be loved regardless. 

I did get four of the 10 'sewing' blocks put together on Tilda after working until 7:00 on Bernie. How do you complete a very intricate quilt top with the work situation you're faced with during the day? One block at a time. 

Think about it. If you piece for just 10 minutes a day, that's an hour a week if you take one day off. I've been working on this Tilda piece over the whole summer. How am I completing it? By taking small bites of time here and there and just getting stitches in when I can.😀

Goals Set...And Reached

I had set a goal to finish Linda's Flannel Stars yesterday, and frankly, didn't think it possible. But I hunkered down and only took a few breaks throughout the day and by 7:30, it was off the machine and ready for me to call her today.

Here's some of the quilting that went into the body of the quilt...

Just about done at this point

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

Deb P.'s cute nativity scene

There is an awful lot of negative space in there so I need to think about that while I'm working on the top section.

I did get the binding pieces sewn together for the Tula Butterfly and I'm frame ironing for the next one up on Marty; another Tilda Sampler. 

I'm trying to get a 'summer' version of my logo and here's what I snapped this morning as the sun was rising...

Did I hit the mark?

Ready. Set. Quilt!