Block of the Months

Do you like BOM's? I do, but when they offer it as a "lump sum" situation, I prefer to take that option so I can work on them at my own pace. The Cotton Cuts BOM top, which was a true BOM without a lump sum option, is nearly together. I have one more set of borders to construct (there's a middle flying goose) and attach and it'll be complete. But here it is so far... 

Signoria from Cotton Cuts

By the time I get the borders attached it won't fit on the design wall, so thought I'd share it as it is now before it gets put into the "To Quilt" totes under Bernie. 

Let's talk about markings. When I make a mark on a quilt top, it's with air or water soluable products. Period. I do NOT use the heat removable products such as Frixion pens. They leave a very subtle waxy substance behind that never comes out, even after heated. I've proven this and seen it with my own use here in the studio. 

So here is Margery's quilt marked out for today...

Chalk and water removable pen

I did the marking for today last night after I finished (finally) Linda H.'s Kim Diehl quilt. It's still on the frame and I have to trim it yet, but the quilting is completed. 

So today I'll be loading another top onto Bernie and working on Margery's quilt while the Bernie back is being frame ironed. See a trend here? 

And let's talk about Bernie. He was purchased to do a few customer quilts here and there, but moreover, to get some of my own almost 50 tops done. But because I'm so busy, that's not working out like I had originally intended. So, I'm looking for a third machine.

I don't know how the studio is going to be reconfigured to accommodate this, but I've got about a year to work through it. I'm not going to stop making tops so something has to change here to make sure I continue to provide good service to customers, but not become frustrated at the growing pile of my own tops sitting down there just patiently waiting. 

Committed

When I start quilting a quilt everything is beer and skittles; it's new. I haven't gotten bored yet. And all the fabrics are fun to look at. Then, after doing the first roll, I realize just how labor intensive the work is going to be for the next day (or three). I have committed to what I started and sometimes my decisions are questionable. 

I have learned over the years to start with a framework and see how the basic motif goes. From there, I may (or may not) add additional pieces into the framework depending on how the quilt is pieced and how much time commitment I want to put into it. At some point, I have to keep things relatively under control as I have other quilts waiting for me to work.

Here's what's on Bernie this morning...

Cotton Cuts BOM 2022 made with Tula Pink fabric

Here's the bonus quilt top I pieced yesterday from the play quilt I just took off Bernie. 

Bonus Quilt

This came with a bonus quilting motif as well but since I added the upper/lower borders, I may do my own thing in here. 

After I pieced this top, and while Jim was giving Lucy a groom, I made this new spring banner for the studio... 

Using as many of the scraps I can

I deleted out the background but while I was making this yesterday, we were in the middle of a snowstorm. Yet, today, it's supposed to be near 50. Ahhh...March in Michigan. 

I'm going to be binding this morning on the little coffee table in the living room, which should prove interesting. Jim needs the backroom table to groom Hazel today so I have to make do with what I have available. Thank goodness quilters are flexible people. 

Small Project Sunday

Our grandson, Zechariah, was baptized yesterday down in Lansing. I was supposed to go. Our doggie daycare lady wasn't available. So just Jim headed down. And, he assisted the kids in the construction of their deck. Which they are replacing. So it was like a normal work day with him being gone all day. Except, I didn't do that. Work, I mean. 

This is what I made...

A new shopping bag

This is one of three I hope to make. It's from this pattern...

Sorry about the sideways pic

After I finished the first one (because all three bags are included in the kit), I looked down next to the thread cabinet and found a WIP I had completely forgot about. I figured I better finish that before starting a second or third bag. Here's the finished top. 

Cotton Cuts Mystery BOM 2021-2022

My fabric selection for this project was Tula Pink and I can't wait to get this on the long arm. But, alas, I will have to since I have many more customers ahead of my own needs. 

When I was nearly done getting those borders on, Jim arrived back home and we spent some time sharing our days' activities as well as a reunion discussion and playing with the girls. 

Good Tuesday Morning

Here is some more quilting detail going into Beth G.'s quilt... 

Lines and circles

This piece is requiring a LOT of thread changes. See where the orange at the top and the green at the bottom meet the black in the middle? I can't just quilt all the blacks, or oranges, or greens, because I don't know where the circle is going to end. Each one of those is a thread change. And that takes up a lot of time. 

But it's looking pretty stellar given the small amount of time I was able to work yesterday. The girls were real fidgety and didn't want to settle down to let me work much. Once Jim got home I was able to do an actual "full pass" with one advance in there, but it's slow going. 

I have two customers coming today but I'm hoping to get another pass done throughout the day and then maybe (????) get this one done by the nights end. 

My last Cotton Cuts BOM came in the mail yesterday. It's still in the package. Untouched. I can't consciously go there right now with the work load I have here. Taking three days off last week wasn't a smart choice, but family comes first, and spending time with grandkids is priceless. I just hope my customers feel the same way as they wait for their pieces to be completed.  

Piecing? What's That?

Because the girls were pretty sedate yesterday, I was able to long arm a full eight hours and had some time left in the day to actually put together my latest Cotton Cuts BOM...

Month #9

While I was on the phone yesterday afternoon with a customer, I rolled the quilt forward on the frame I'm currently working and noticed this...

Hmmm????

Well, after further inspection, realized there was a large amount of stiffness and perhaps some glue(?) holding this seam together. 

I'll ditch what I can, but there is a slight possibility this part of the bead board won't get quilted. I'm not going to risk (again) throwing my machine out of time. It's too costly and puts me behind another 2-4 days. 

I understand having to repair tops. I have done the same in the past. But I hope anybody who looks at this quilt later is told what the situation is on why the quilting isn't consistent (if that's what it comes down to). 

Interesting Story

I don't like to bash those who are in the same industry as I am. Here's what's on the frame today...

Donna's Quilt

Notice I didn't say quilt top in the caption? About a quarter of this quilt is completed. And the previous long armer took over a year to get that far. I wasn't sure why since what she started putting into it isn't all that time consuming or difficult. 

Then Jim and I loaded it onto the frame and figured out why the previous quilter didn't want to work any further on it. Again, I'm not going to pass judgement, so we just fixed the issue(s) the previous quilter created and I'm on my way to successfully completing this for a very patient new client.

There is much more to the story than what I'm sharing here, but if you really want to learn all about how to select the correct long armer and how to deal with long armers that seem rather difficult, let me know. I'll share this story with you and you can make your own decisions. 

Meanwhile, I had planned on working on my Cotton Cuts BOM (that came in the mail last Friday) last night because the dogs seemed rather sleepy yesterday and actually let me long arm during the day, but it just wasn't to be. Maybe tonight? 

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. 

All In Good Times

We have to take the opportunities given to us and transform them into memories. Life is too precious and short to think 'maybe tomorrow'. When friends are only here on random weekends and random times, you grab the moment and enjoy the journey.

Our north neighbors stayed an extra day yesterday and we finally got Rose (aka Rows) out of Marina prison and brought her home, although not yet launched for a variety of reasons. We criticized the deck being built on the other side of us, and traded dog, kid, grandkid stories. We talked about life. 

They had to leave by mid-afternoon and we were once again quiet around the place. Too quiet. I turned on the tunes and worked on a customer quilt to devoid my mind of how much they were already missed. Here's what I worked on yesterday...

Emily's Table Runner

Jim brough some good news in from the mailbox after the quiet ensued. My mystery block from Cotton Cuts arrived and I started on it after working on Emily's piece. I didn't get far. Mom wasn't answering her phone and we needed to go over and check to make sure all was okay. Which it was. 

This morning, Jim and I are tackling some deck upkeep (missed screw placement, etc.) and then in the studio this afternoon to work on Pats wallhanging. More mystery block after that. 

A Purple Yertle Turtle

After an impromtu rain storm yesterday we were all able to gather together in our yards again. Meanwhile, we watched a movie while eating lunch and I finished the turtle.

The Purple Turtle

He didn't photograph well, but it's done nonetheless.

Most likely doing some long arming today. I have two small customer quilts that should be loaded and taken care of. One of our neighbors had to leave early this morning, but the other one is still up through until lunch so not sure when I'll get on the machine. 

Not sure what "sewing" project I'll work on this evening after getting off the frame?!? Maybe my Cotton Cuts mystery block will show up in the mail. It was shipped on July 30th and should be here any day. So excited to work on it.