Not Going to Ohio

We were supposed to be leaving this morning to head down to Andrews. Tristan (our grandson) isn't feeling well, but moreover, Hazel had to have five teeth removed yesterday. She has stitches, pain meds, and is on antibiotics. Too much for the dog sitter to deal with. We had to cancel.

I'll be fussing around the studio today. Not necessarily working but, yes, working. To shorten a lengthy story, I came home with a crap load of fabric from the retreat and have filed most of it away. But I have other things to take care of. 

Here's what I accomplished in four days.

Day 4: Potty Humor

Day 4: The Quilt Room

Day 3: Ho, Ho, Ho

Day 3: Cowboy Boots

Day 2: Flower Power

My birthday was amongst the retreat happenings and Jim not only got me a long stemmed rose for the retreat table, but he got me these for the house.

Gorgeous!

From the pics above, I managed to get five tops put together. The piece I worked on the first day was not going together well. And, quite honestly, I was being lazy. I didn't trim each block as I was building them and it's not going together very well. I'm hoping to rectify that soon since all my big projects are now all together. 

In-Between Weather

It's the time of year when putting on almost winter clothes starts the day, layers get shed throughout the day, and layers reemerge later in the evening. I'm back in a turtleneck under the sweatshirts. I don't shed many clothes knowing in a few hours I'll just have to put them all back on. 

Diana's quilt was finished yesterday morning and here's what I started working on after lunch.

Diane's third quilt

This one is pretty straightforward. The border is a braided block extended to just have ditched and a 1/4" echo inside. The background is a loopy flower but the challenge comes inside with all the white area. That's all embroidered and will need to have ditching done around. 

While I was cleaning up from Diana's quilt and getting the next one prepared for frame ironing, Jim was working on some new thread drawers for me. The beautiful thread containers that were under the pressing table have been relocated to make room for new thread cones. 

Relocation

This pic turned out weird?

I have thread coming out my ears around here, which is great! I need thread in my job and just to have to piece with. 

Speaking of piecing. Since I was sick on the couch Saturday, I didn't work the Temperature quilt blocks at that time. I got caught up on those last night while talking to Andrew.

After having those built and put into the ever growing top, I moved over to DW to work on the Book Nook. One more book row to go. Oh, and hey, that was all three long arms yesterday. Haven't done that in a while. 

The sun was shining in over the back of the top

I was going to continue on but it was approaching 8:00 and I was starting to get a little tired. I got up too early yesterday I think. 

One customer coming to pick up sometime today and I'll be working on Dianes quilt trying to get it finished before the weekend hits. 

Was It Monday?

Jim and I kept thinking yesterday was Monday. Probably because we took Tuesday and Wednesday off. Here is some of the quilting going into Dianes baby quilt...

Clouds and rainbows

This still needs to be removed from the frame and trimmed but after working late it's completely quilted. 

I did a Flower Power block. I removed the table runner, and, while talking to Andrew on his way home from work, got the binding on it. I did choose another quilt to load onto DW so started frame ironing the back for that. After that I started cutting out for the next block in the Quilt Room. 

Garden Table Runner

Later last night we had a lunar eclipse. I tried to capture it 'on film' and here's the beginning phase...

The beginning of the lunar eclipse

I did stay up late enough to see the totally dark landscape, but my bedroom is in the opposite side of where the moon can be seen. I didn't think Jim would appreciate me stalking around the house at 12:20 in the morning so didn't capture the entire eclipse.

I have one customer coming sometime today to pick up and while I'm waiting for her, and until I can get it loaded, the next quilt top going on Marty has to be entirely marked beforehand. I'm still debating how I'm going to do it (Pounce, manual chalk, or blue marks-be-gone). Anyway, happy Friday. 

Some Good, Some Not So Good

We visited several shops to and from Shipshewana. Some of them were meh, and others were OMG! We discovered our favorite in Middlebury, Indiana. What a gem!

Anyway, if I liked the shop, I would purchase something. Here's the haul I took from Quilts at Marshall House, Quilts at Essenhaus, and Yoders. I did not find anything at Lolly's (which was weird). 

The haul

Now I have plenty to do at both retreats and during the winter months here. Jim also found some fun things (he LOVES puzzles) to work on this winter. 

We encountered some weird weather coming home. I was able to snag a slight rainbow pic north of Saginaw while heading back from saying goodbye to Lia and Evelyn. 

Can you see it?

Here's some cute pics of Shipshewana in the fall...

Roasting marshmallows

Run, Forest, Run

And now it's back to our regularly scheduled programming. Jim is at PT this morning and I'm catching up on some laundry while already working in the studio. I had to wait for the mouse to recharge a bit before I could blog. It was completely dead.

I'll be working this quilt today on Bernie while frame ironing the back for the next one on Marty. I've already had to flip this quilt 90 degrees because of what I'm planning to put in here. 

Diane's little Noah baby quilt

It was a great few days spending it with my best friend. We ate way too much and traveled a lot of miles in a little over 24 hours, but we needed to get away for a few days and now Jim knows where I spend a week every November. BUT, it's GREAT to be home!

No Sleep. Again!

Last night was the third night this week I have fallen asleep only after 3:00. Good thing I'm taking today off. 

Not because of the "holiday", but because we are going to the lake I was raised on down in Crystal. We are reconnecting with people I grew up with and visiting the ole stomping grounds. I moved a lot when I was a kid but every summer until I was a teen were spent with grandma and grandpa at the cottage on the lake. I've only been back a handful of times since getting out the Army 35 years ago.

Mom sold the cottage when grandma had to be put into a care facility. It had been in our family since the 50's. The cottage was torn down two years ago and a new monstrosity now sits in its place. But the memories are still there and some of the people we knew growing up are still living right next door to our old lot. 

Today we are taking a pontoon ride around the lake. Something we used to do often as kids with the whole neighborhood. Bring your own chair and a coffee and away we'd go for a two-hour ride around this beautiful body of water in central Michigan. It's a hidden gem and property values there have skyrocketed because of it. Which is why we aren't living there instead of here. 

Anyway, pics from todays adventures will post tomorrow. I started in on Evelyns Farm Girl Vintage II quilt yesterday morning first thing. 

Border(s)

Corner

Let me show you the difference in custom versus edge to edge quilting. If this had been E2E quilted, this wonky block would have never laid down correctly...

Notice all the lifting and weirdness happening here

This is the after pic after I got it quilted...

Pretty much fixed

I got a Love Letter block done after working and then did my daily cowboy boot...

The second star boot

I got the baby quilt off DW and bound that...

And then I loaded this onto DW...

It's all basted in and ready to get quilted. Maybe later tonight if we get home at a decent time?

Not Responsible

I was cruising around on IG last night while listening to another season of Alone. One of the fellow long armers made a sign for her studio that said: I am not responsible for stray seam threads, pet hair, puckers (should you fail to measure your borders), and your back being short. I think I need this in my studio. 😉

Ginny's quilt on Bernie was finished in the late afternoon. This is what I'll be starting today...

Evelyns Farm Girl Vintage II by Lori Holt

We have attempted to load this quilt twice already and maybe the third times a charm? I investigated how others have quilted this including Lori Holts long armer (or maybe she does her own long arming?) and EVERY picture I found has this quilt edge-to-edge quilted. Weird!

We're not doing that per the customer. She said to just have fun so that's what I'll be doing. 

After getting this on the frame I did a Love Letter block, a cowboy boot and I finished quilting the baby quilt on DW. It's still on the frame, but it's quilted.

This one only took a little over an hour to stitch

One customer expected today to pick up. I have to do some batt ordering and a little other admin work first though. Bleh. 

Doing Pinwheels

I forgot to mention about making pinwheels for that little garden table runner. Instead of tying off I run a HST through the machine and construct pinwheels while make the love letter blocks. I think I have about 10 of them made already.

 Here is some of the quilting going into the RxR for Ginny. This is row two.

Lady Bug row

I completed row three before taking a roll in the afternoon but forgot to take a pic beforehand. On to row four today.

After working I made a Love Letter block and have the first row together in section three (there are five sections). I moved over to Mike and did the daily cowboy boot...

Moo

From there I fired up DW and did some quilting in the baby quilt. Why can't I just do E2E on these things? Oh, because I know how to do custom and it looks better. But I did do a hand guided (not computerized) E2E design in the center panel section...

Swirl flower edge to edge

While I was out playing in the studio Jim was playing in the kitchen. He loves doing this stuff (which is good because I DO NOT). Here's his accomplishments for the night...

Some of these are for customers

I'll be giving away a small jar of jelly to anybody who visits after Thanksgiving. These are all strawberry, but today he'll be doing strawberry banana and strawberry rhubarb. We don't actually eat this much jam throughout the year. Some of these are given away to family and friends. Mostly family. 

Windy Day

After working on the temperature blocks yesterday morning it was almost time for Jim to get home. After lunch the wind was roaring but I didn't feel like staying here. We jumped in the truck with the girls in search of strawberries and a place to walk the dogs. We also stopped at a garage sale and to look at a yellow Jeep alongside M-61. Too high millage and they had smoked in it. The Jeep, not the garage sale.

We found strawberries (OMG the price [$6.00/qt.]) and then Jim dropped me off at Riverwalk so I could follow the trail back to moms condo. He met me there and we thought we'd visit with mom if she was home. She wasn't.

It was after 5:00 when we returned home. Jim searched out more strawberry resources (found one for $4.00/qt.) and I appliquéd another cowboy boot...

I was going to call it a night, but still had plenty of energy left. I fired up DW and started quilting the cousins quilt...

Of course, I can't just free motion the whole thing! I'll do a hand guided free motion in the center portion but the sashing, border, and geese get custom work done.

Nothing in the studio today. We have to go visit mom because when we were there yesterday she was (of course) out running the roads. It's no wonder the woman needs a new car every four years. 

Row #1-11 Color Changes

I've started getting into the rows on the quilt being worked on Bernie. 11 color changes so far and many more in the future as I look ahead. 

Here's some of the quilting going into some of the row by row...

After I worked for the day I was able to get the Fireworks quilt bound...

Fireworks!

I did a Love Letter block and then afterwards, did a cowboy boot.

I'm going to finish loading the baby quilt on DW this morning and get started on it. I'll work some temperature blocks as well while Jim is at the food pantry working this morning.

Weird Weather

The hot, muggy days like yesterday are bound to produce some interesting weather. Thankfully, we're up here in a valley where we get very mild weather. It's rare for us to have to seek shelter or worry about a storms fury. Unlike those folks downstate. They have all the fun. 

Ila's quilt is done and I'm moving over to Ginny's quilt on Bernie today. I've already started ditching and have been quilt planning since loading it yesterday afternoon.

A row by row

I'll be working on this cute piece most of the day. 

While getting this quilt above started I was frame ironing on both DW and Marty for their next projects. I'm ready to load on DW but have another couple of advances on Marty. I was waiting for Jim to get back from the food bank yesterday and blanket stitched this cowboy boot...

Howdy, howdy, howdy

Once that was finished I started to bind the Firework quilt until we left for our weekly groceries. I had, throughout the day yesterday, made a back for the baby quilt going onto DW and made two bindings. One for the baby quilt and the other for the Firework. Can't work on the baby quilt until the other one is bound. My rules. Otherwise nothing would get bound around here. 

Jim is off to the dentist this morning. Went yesterday and they didn't think anything was amiss, but had another tooth in front of the offender bother him throughout the night so he has an appointment to get that looked at. All of this without insurance. Just great. 

Data Centers

The new controversy out there are these data centers they want to put in our state. HUGE water and electricity consumers and thankfully, the little town of Mason we used to live in (about 12 moves ago) said "NO" to one in their community. Not to mention they are loud, loud, loud, and provide very little employment. And, as we're researching the situation, the electricity they use is passed down to the neighboring communities and population of that area increasing their already high bills.  

It seems they could find an alternative to the resources these places take?

I did work on Illa's quilt for about two hours yesterday before Linda showed. The rest of the afternoon was spent with her. When I finally got home it was nearly 4:00. I knew I had a couple of hours more worth of work on Marty so I decided to wait until this morning to try to finish her quilt up.

I did a Love Letter block, did a cowboy boot, and put the borders on the baby quilt for Jims cousin...

After taking a quick break, I started in on DW and actually got the Fireworks quilt done. It's off the frame and all trimmed. I'll have to make and bind that maybe yet tonight? I have to make the backing for the baby quilt and get that on the frame ASAP since it's going to reunion in less than a month from now. 

I'll be starting on Marty to begin the day. Hopefully I can get that finished up?

Only One Pic

With all that I did yesterday I have only one pic to show for my efforts. 

First, Marty long arming on Illa's quilt top. This should be done by weeks' end. I made my first Love Letter block and then moved over to Mike to work on another cowboy boot. 

After blanket stitching that for the day, I got out the new baby quilt I have to make for Jims cousin. Except for the final borders, it's all put together. 

I moved over to DW to work on a Fireworks row and finished that just before 8:00. 

More on Illa's quilt this morning and then I have a lunch date with a customer/friend at Riverwalk. We usually do some shopping afterwards so I don't know if I'll be getting back on Marty when I return. 

Simply Marvelous

We had a beautiful drive over to Elm Creek and struck gold in the baby quilt department. I'll be making this pattern...

With these fabrics...

Baby cottons for the top and flannel for the backing

Since it's a girl quilt we needed to be not so blue. While I was waiting for Jim to shower before we left I did get three squares marked on the Quilt-Along top...

Starting the marking

Jim is working on the yard today and I'll be starting on Marty. Iilas quilt is probably going to take the better part of this week; it's pretty labor intensive but certainly well worth it. 

It's Good To Be Home

I am so sad on the last day of a retreat. Leaving friends behind is always hard and the laughter we share will be missed until the next retreat. But, I love our home and while I do miss the girls already, it's good to be back.

I did not get as much done as I usually do at a retreat. Miscuts, undercuts, and other circumstances (lots of shopping) resulted in the slower progress, but I did manage to get the BOM top done...

BOM top ready for quilting!

I also completed two table runners for holiday gifts this year, but neglected to get pics of them. 

We spent yesterday unpacking and getting everything back in its place in the studio. I organized a few things I purchased in Shipshe and then we started working. The quilt Jim quilted while I was gone needed trimming and then I attached the binding to the front. Hand binding commenced after lunch and after only getting about four feet done, had to quit for the day. The hand can only handle so much,,,

Hand binding (bleh)

I received word this morning from the kids in Germany and all four quilts made it!

The quilts made it to Germany!

That's my kids' head above the pineapple quilt. lol. 

I missed blogging during the week, and I really missed the 'big guys' so I'm starting early this morning to take stock in where I left off, what I need to load onto DW for Jim to work on, and get my head back in the game. Vacation is over and the holiday season will be here soon. Let's quilt!

My Own Rules

I started the day out on DW getting the wall hanging that needs to get to Germany quilted. This was all before or near 10:00. Jim had to head into town to run some errands and get some personal affects from his desk (unsuccessful) leaving me here to do some quilting...

I finished Carrie's quilt on Bernie just before 4:00 and then looked behind me. 

I have a rule about DW. Once a quilt is taken off (mine) then the next one can NOT be started until the binding is on the one just removed. Yet, this was staring at me all last week as well as this week thus far...

Four ready to bind

Yep, four of them. I started around 4:30 and ended around 7:15. Enjoy the show!

Originally for Rayola but going to Germany now

Baby Spartan

Baby Hedgehog

Baby beds

Jim can ship these out next week while I'm gone. Speaking of next week, I popped open my tote to see what I had left to sew at next week in Shipshewana and it isn't good. I have one (ONE!) project in there and that certainly isn't going to keep me busy for a whole week.

I have the BOM I can cut out and take as well as Chads flying pig I could work on. Jim drug out my wagon for transport of things up to the room(s) and so tonight I need to start thinking about my projects being taken to Indiana and getting things around for that. 

I have two customers coming to day to pick up and this is what I'll be starting on Marty today...

A few of her favorite things

Another holiday deadline.