Veering off the Path

Jim surprised me yesterday and took us to Frankenmuth for a holiday day. We ate how we wanted (no diet) and we just took in all the holiday festivities. The place was unsurprisingly busy. Once of the shops we visited was the Woolens shop and I was able to find two wide backs at a very reasonable price. 

We actually got home before dark and I then finished the binding on the cathedral window quilt.

All finished!

I pulled and started prepping for the pencil cases for the grandkids. 

Getting ready to put together

I'm making three. Two for each family and then another for me since I think these are so stinking cute. 

Mom stopped by already this morning dropping off some of the bigger presents for under the tree. Our Christmas here with the family won't be until Saturday. We'll head over to moms on Christmas day and make pizzas and visit for a while. 

I have scarves to work on all afternoon today while we watch holiday movies and relax. It's already been a crazy busy weekend and I'm ready to unwind a bit to gear up for the week ahead. 

Making a Quilt In A Day

Yep, this quilt was completed in less than four hours. Yes, I did cut out petals/footballs over the course of four sessions, and I took a few hours in an afternoon to grid out the background, but essentially, I have a completed (binding excluded) quilt in a day.

A completed quilt!

Getting it started

The second pic is starting the piece at around 2:30, and first pic is around 6:00. I have the binding made and will be attaching that first thing this morning. Afterward I'll be making two pencil pouches for Christmas gifts for the grandkids.

Okay, I did work all of yesterday morning and part of the afternoon on the customer quilt on Bernie, so I didn't slack off all day. I also had a customer come and pick up and she was here for a while (her husband and Jim were busy talking). 

The body is together

While I was waiting for the furnace to quit running a few times yesterday I assembled the body of the Alaska top. I have two borders to attach. One is going to be pretty easy. The other is something I have to come up with because the one given isn't going to happen. 

While working on things today I need to find the next quilt/back to load onto DW. If I keep him naked, a customer quilt will end up on the frame and I need to stop doing that. 

Changing up the Day

I didn't get out into the studio until well after lunch yesterday. We did shopping for food and then by the time we came home and unloaded everything and made and ate lunch, it was well after noon. Jim brought me home a gingerbread house kit from his earlier trip to Lansing on Monday and I constructed that while he was out removing giant chunks of ice from our eaves...

Once that was all constructed and cleanup of said house was finished, I headed out to the studio. Finally.

Here's what I'll be working on today...

Look at all those HST's!!!

I have an idea on how the HST's are going to be quilted in my head. I have to get my preview paper out this morning to make sure it's going to flow correctly before I start this though. This quilt was made by a LQS to honor our country's 250th birthday. How cool is that?

Once I fiddled around on Bernie and got this on, I moved over to DW and removed the table runner quilted the previous night, made the binding and got it finished. It's ready to head to under the tree.

I did not feel like working on the Alaska quilt and DW had an empty frame. I noticed something I gridded out earlier this fall and decided to find a back for it (and I did), pieced said back, and started loading for the project I've been wanting to do for some time now. Do these look familiar?

Petals for the upcoming DW project

If (and this is a big if) this works out, it's going to be pretty cool. I got the idea from another long armer out there who not only quilts quilts on her machine, but uses it in other useful ways as well. I'm thinking, if she can do it, I can too. 

One customer expected today for pick up and Christmas is less than a week away. I have a LOT to do around here for gifting so I better get to work. 

At a Stand Still

I'm kind of at a long arming stand still. I finished the Sue Spurge yesterday at closing time. Now, I'm frame ironing two backs...

Bernie and Marty sitting in wait

I have the table runner quilted...

So until I pick the next project to get onto DW nothing is sitting waiting there. 

Speaking of DW; seems like every time he goes downstate for "fixing" he comes back with another issue. Yesterday was an electrical issue day. If his throat lights are plugged in, his handlebar lights do not work, and the button that selects his speed is also dead. And he stitches at about 4spi. Once I unplugged him and let him reset, he fired back up but the throat lights are unplugged as well. Guess we won't be using those anymore. 

I pieced the blocks together to make big sections for the Alaska top...

And that's where I ended last night because I had knitting to work on for the holidays. Still do have knitting to work, but the other four scarves are much smaller than what I'm making for the DIL.

We are off to get groceries this morning. We have poopy weather coming tomorrow afternoon and we don't want to go to the grocery store the weekend before Christmas. Today is going to be bad enough. 

A Happy Retirement Birthday

My best friend, my husband has his first "retirement" birthday today. It's still weird having him here all day long, but we're adjusting. Slowly. 

Yesterday was a mixture of all sorts of stuff; appointments, long arming, appliqué,
piecing, putting long arms back together, and watching the neighbors yard get torn up while it appears they are going to build a barn. The weather is a mixture as well. Six inches of snow on the ground and today it's raining. 

I finished the quilt on Marty and moved over to this one on Bernie...

Sue Spargo Woodland animals

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

Can you see anything?

After working on this piece into late afternoon, I found a quilt we needed to do a little work on. I had to get a couple of straight lines placed in an area that wasn't quilted...

Inserting some straight lines

After finishing that I finished appliquéing and putting the borders on the last block in the Alaska top...

I checked to see how this quilt top is constructed and I'm floored that I have to use a partial seam to get all the blocks set in around the center block. UGH. I like partial seams about as well as nothing. 

Jim had a b-ball game to watch so while he was doing that I found and attached leaders to the absolute perfect backing for a table runner going to the B's for the holiday. Once all the leaders were temporarily attached I loaded this onto DW...

I had a hair brained idea to knit scarves for all the grandkids, but I've got one in the works for my DIL so I finished getting everything ready for today's work and then went to work some more on that. I don't know if my goal will be accomplished or not? Just gotta keep plugging away at things I suppose. 

Dental Appointment

I have a cleaning later this morning and I can't put it off. I have a tartar issue and if I neglect these cleanings, the next cleaning is so painful. Here's the catch. Jims company cancelled our health/dental/optical insurance on October 31st. So I'm paying cash today. Why do all of these things hit right during the holiday's? This isn't our first low-on-money-because-of-circumstances Christmas. 

Speaking of expenses, DW is back home. Part of the needle that broke off last week was still stuck in the race. They found it and Jim said while Jason was stitching it off, it was running great. We'll see. And the bill for not only his repair but the y-axis encoder was given to Jim yesterday. Cha-ching. 

I have one more day on Marty and then I'll be moving over to Bernie for the beginning of the evening. After I worked into the evening on the long arm, I moved over to framing the three blocks I had blanket stitched the previous day...

Looon

Polar Bear

Lupine

I have one more block to blanket stitch and frame. Maybe tonight? Meanwhile, I'll be in the studio until I have to leave for the dentist. 

Alaska Blocks

I worked on a few more Alaska blocks yesterday. 

Here's one of them. 

Moose in the trees

I have the polar bear and loon both blanket stitched and I have the salmon block appliqued but not yet blanket stitched. That leaves four to frame in total to complete the blocks. After all those are framed and constructed into a top, the pattern has a pretty pieced border that will go around all of it. But, I'm getting way ahead of myself here. 

I'll be working on Marty all day on Toni's Christmas quilt. Jim is downstate taking DW to the shop to get repaired since I knocked him totally out of time with that broken needle situation. Jim is also visiting the kids/grandkids while he's in the Lansing area and he has license plates to renew on my truck. Many birds with this stone. 

Customers on Saturday

Jim and I cherish our quiet time throughout the weekend, but we cherish talking to kind and friendly folks even more. Our customers that came yesterday were so nice and we took over an hour out talking to them.

Two more quilt tops were dropped off; Lori Holts Marketplace. Remember those? I've done about 10 of them already and two more came in yesterday. 

I long armed prior to them showing up and once again after we ate lunch for a total of about four to five hours. I lost track of time when I'm long arming. 

Well after dark, I started working on more Alaska blocks and completed these three last night...

Orca by the Sea

Ursa Major

I don't remember the name of this one

I'm planning on working on more of these today. We actually have some sunshine today which is the first day in a week or more where it's not clouded up right after sunrise. It's very bright out there with all the snow on the ground and will be nice to work with in the studio.

Lost Day

We had expected to be back to the house at a decent time yesterday. Mid-afternoon at the latest. It was early evening before we finally made it home and I had some things to take care of and put away before doing anything else.

Wanderers Path

Cache

Since last night did not lend itself to long arming, it did work for some small projects. I completed two more blocks in the Alaska top...It was 6:30 before I was able to look at a machine. Long arming did not occur because we totally lost yesterday as a production day. So, today I'll be working on the big machines.

And I have a customer who made an appointment last month to come today to drop a top off. Jim has a basketball game at noon and we'll end up with a late lunch time because of it. Which is fine. I received another email from a customer inquiring to her quilts whereabouts. I know! I'm so behind right now and I'm trying to catch up. 

A Quick Blog Today

Jims birthday is next week so we are heading out this morning to do errands and have lunch with mom. 

Here's what I'm working to end out this week...

Toni's holly quilt

Jim helped in the studio yesterday...

Pulling bad stitches

Some of the quilting going into Toni's top...

Quilting detail

A small project I quickly made last night...

Brochures for the retreat in April

I had to made a quick basket to hold the brochures we have for the retreat Linda and I are hosting in April.

And we all make mistakes in our piecing...

Oops

This happens to the best of us. 

We're heading out soon and I'll have to long arm later this afternoon when we return from town. 

Ever Have One of Those Days?

Yep, shoulda stayed in bed yesterday. Between the frigid cold temps and wind, the snow, and the studio mishaps, it was all telling me to something else yesterday.

I was working the very last border on the Judy Niemeyer quilt; doing the last channel at the bottom and then all went to hell...

Broken Needle

Since I've had broken needles before, this wasn't the issue. The unfamiliar grinding noise and the error message I received on the screen was the issue. I popped open the throat plate and found this...

That little metal thing is supposed to be straight

Not only was the little metal thing not straight, but it was hitting the bobbin race. I unscrewed it and straightend it out. Did a little adjusting. Put in a new needle and hand cranked it down to see if it was going to "time" correctly. 

Nope. Not even close. The needle is coming down on top of the bobbin race and not even connecting with the thread loop. I threw the machine completely out of time. Meaning, it has to take a trip down to Lansing. UGH!

And I was dealing with this too...

Lovely straight border

How are you supposed to do a straight channel in this? Well, I was done working on DW so had to strip the quilt already loaded onto Marty and move this quilt over to him so I could finish this thing once and for all...

Moving hour

Ever try to off load and reload a super king-sized quilt before? Jim was out working on his workshop so I didn't want to bother him to assist and therefore just handled it myself. I WAS going to get this quilt done yesterday no matter the problems. 

And, by 6:00, the quilt that was on here was reset and this one was removed. I don't have a pic of the one I'll be working on today on Marty because, well, it was off the frame for most of the afternoon yesterday trying to get the one above completed. 

But, I'll be working on Marty all day today. This customer is concerned about me getting her quilt done for the holidays and I have to focus on it to meet the holiday deadline. And, of course, it's not a small one. Not huge like the last one, but not small either. 

So Happy!

This is one of those morning where I am so happy I don't have to work outside the home. We had a DJ back in Grand Rapids who, one time during a snow event, announced he would read off all the schools that were open. Dead silence. Yep, that's pretty much what we have today.

And here's another happy time...

Nearing the end

I took a new roll when I shut down last night. I have this pass and then the last pass (three borders) and we'll be calling this one nearly done. Jim still has to pull out some channeling stitches near the top, but my portion will be complete. 

Meaning, this will be the only thing worked today. Notice I haven't done any sewing this week. Nope. I've been working through my sewing time on this quilt above. No customers expected today, and even if I was expecting anybody, I'm sure they would have called and rescheduled given that snow is still coming down. 

Don't Ask For Channeling...

Okay gang. You want your sides channeled before I set in the motif we discussed at the planning session. But, you only leave me this much backing...

2 3/4"? Really?

I can't attach the side clamps to steady the sandwich when left only this much backing. And since this quilt is so big, I can't even attach my leader grip bracket because I'm that close to the side of the frame. I've pulled multiple stitches on these channels, and I'm done with doing that. 

If you don't provide me with the minimum requirements of at least 4" all around, I can not be responsible for shoddy looking work. There is a reason long armers need that much extra. Too many to list today, but it's not because we want you to spend the extra money. We NEED that much to get things aligned and stable on that 12-foot frame.

I had the quality control crew making sure I was staying on task yesterday...

Hazel (l) and Lucy (r)

We have a beautiful snow coming down right now and it's supposed to stay with us until around noon. Then, it'll be kicking back up again later this evening. New snow is always soooo pretty and will be nice to look at while I've passed the half-way point in the Judy Niemeyer quilt. I knew this one would take over a week to complete. 

Reset Day

I had totally planned on long arming yesterday afternoon, but after decorating the tree,

and attending the virtual baby shower for Caleb and Lia, it was time for lunch and it still need to be made.

And then Christmas movies just kept queueing up so we spent the afternoon snuggling with the girls and relaxing. I was just still. Enjoying the down time and resetting my head and body. I know this week is going to be killer, as is next week. 

I think it's important to take time out to be still. Just relax and enjoy what you have, like the dogs and a warm place to live.

Today I'll be working on DW (of course) and looking out my window at the beautiful snow and be thankful I'm in a place where it's not 0 degrees (that's what we woke up to this morning) all while doing what I love to do. 

Not Much To Share

Jim got the lights on the tree and I worked on DW for about four hours yesterday. Our neighbors came over for a visit. MSU lost their b-ball game. I did get the new bow tied to the top of the studio tree. Not much else happening in the studio.

When Jim was digging out the Snow Village from under the stairs earlier this week he found this in the closet... 

Newly hung thread rack

I'm not sure what it was doing in the closet, but fat lot of good it does me in there. He hung it up for me and any spare threads we have are on it. BUT I need to make better use of it and add more "odd" threads hanging around that I only use on occasion. 

Thankfully I have a good duster to go over these when needed. 

I have a virtual baby shower to attend for the little kids later this morning and don't know if mom will remember to come or not. It's been snowing a little bit so she may not try to venture out. Hair cuts already occurred and we have to trim the tree as well so we have a busy Sunday planned. 

I've Discovered...

...I can not long arm until I do my daily blogging. I've also discovered, after getting my nails taken off (can no longer afford with Jim retiring) that cracks near the side of the nail are very painful. I have two right now.

If you wonder why it takes long armers so long to work on your quilts, here are all the tools I'm currently using in the Judy Niemeyer quilt...

Just some of what I have available to work a quilt

Here is some more quilting going into the quilt...

After working very late last night (again), I started this and then finished just now this cute bow...

I put this on my little Christmas tree in the studio

And this is what Jim and I went and did this morning after 'doctoring' Lucy (she has developed a cyst on her behind)...

Oh Tannenbam

We have to let it dry out (it was covered in snow) and rest for a day before we get to decorate. We decided on a skinnier tree this year since we both are having back issues. To get a larger tree in the house would have been pushing our physical boundaries. 

Why Jim is watching MSU basketball, I'll be working on the Judy quilt on DW. It's not getting any further away from the holiday and I have three quilts to finish before Christmas arrives. Onward Ho, Ho, Ho!

Just A Little Bit Of Quilting

Here is the first border in our week-long project on DW...

I LOVE feathers!

Yes, that's me driving...not the computer! The second border also has a different set of feathers in it but won't photograph well since it's such a busy print and I'm using a complimentary thread.

Can you even see anything?

I worked on this top until well after 7:00 last night and decided that was enough. From there I moved to the Alaska blocks and completed this one...

Bear Paw

I had a surprise pick up yesterday and I have another scheduled pick up this morning. 

Meanwhile, I'll be shifting my energy this weekend away from the Alaska blocks to something a little different. It may not look like much when I'm done, but I'm willing to give it a try and feel like doing something a little new for a quick change of pace. 

Jim has to move the computer this morning since where it currently lives is where the Christmas tree is supposed to go. I'm sure I'll have to direct "traffic" in this endeavor since not only does the computer have to move, but so do the two chairs in the "office" and in the living room. 

On To Long Arm #3

Since I finished the sheep last night after closing time, I'll be today, and an unknown amount of subsequent days, I'll be working this quilt on DW... 

Linda's Judy Niemeyer 

This is what will be going into said quilt...

Look at all the fun!

This is a digitized pattern available for purchase on line. It's several hundreds of dollars. I'll NOT be doing that. I am, instead, going to be driving, with the customers permission.

I have a lot more marking to do this morning to get me started, but the quilt is basted in and the preliminary markings are in, as are the first couple of thread picks. 

I have a customer coming to pick up today. I think. She said Thursday, and I don't know if she meant today Thursday or next Thursday, and I didn't question if it was this Thursday because I thought yesterday was Tuesday instead of Wednesday. 

While I was working yesterday, Jim started on a holiday project we haven't tackled since we moved up here in '18...

Our little Snow Village by Department 56

Here it is in the daytime...

I got the wings blanket stitched down on the dragonfly last night and have gotten all the black shapes cut out for those blocks that have them. I have to construct those and work on the non-black shapes still. 

While I like Misty Fuse appliqué product for pliability, it's not the easiest to work with. I may just start spray basting things down or using a glue stick, because honestly, I have to clean my iron this morning (I wasn't paying attention) and I have plenty more shapes to make (salmon, parts of the loon, and parts of the orca) as well as others I can't remember right now.