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!

Happy 36th Birthday to Ben!

Well, my middle kiddo is on his last mid-30's birthday. I can't believe it! The time goes so darn quick!

As well as having a customer come yesterday and getting two tops set onto Bernie and DW, I worked on this piece...

Jim is working in the kitchen this morning (making a cake and Salsa) and I've gotten some admin stuff done from last Saturday's pick-the-donated-quilt project. I had to fiddle with Jim's phone to get some of the pics transferred and mess with his Cloud backup.

I started to work on our memory book from Alaska, hence the delving into Jims phone, and then got side tracked so that is still in the planning phases.

Meanwhile, I'm heading to the studio. I didn't clean it last night like I usually do on Friday afternoons so I should probably start there. Or not. I want to work some more on the Tilda blocks since I obligated myself to attend a retreat with the Hale group in October. If the blocks are done I can set them on the design wall and get them put together easier.

I also have a few other things to work on. This Tula Butterfly for one...

This one is going to take a while! Or not?

This is a queen-sized quilt meaning it will probably be donated. Do I want to take the time to custom quilt it or just do an E2E with meandering butterflies all over? I'm torn. I made this specifically to do some custom in it, but I have to watch my time. I'm not getting any younger and that's going to be a lot of work.

While I was digging this one out I found three others in the tote that frankly, aren't going to make the cut. They were even too ugly to donate so they are now in the trash. Yep, I threw away three quilt tops. 

Well, that day isn't getting any younger (nor is Ben now) so off I go. 

What The Heck?

Two finished quilts in one week that needed to be reloaded onto the frame...

Filling Gaps

This is why I really don't like doing digitized work. Despite my doing a drag and drop on each pass of this quilt, the last two rows separated themselves more than what my screen was showing and it was clearly visible. The customer had to bring it back for me to fix.

She had already bound the quilt so I had to load it as-is and fill in with swirls and pebbles; the same elements in the motif that went into it.

Guild up in Hale first thing this morning and then back here to get started on two new quilts. Yes, the two Tilda Samplers were finished late in the afternoon yesterday which is how we're seeing the above quilt on the frame.

After I got the above quilt fixed and the Tilda quilts billed and put away, I got the next two quilt tops out and started frame ironing backs. The first one is pretty small so I'll be starting on that when I return later. The other is flannel so the backing is taking a while to "dry" between each roll. 

Packages

I received a package yesterday from Fat Quarter Shop with a pattern and some fabric for a table runner I'll work on throughout the winter. With the package was something else I ordered. They are called Alphaclippies. Instead of having to write letters/numbers on small post-it notes, I can use these instead...

I made a hanger for the Alphaclippies

This will assist greatly when piecing. Where were these while trying to put together difficult quilts like Amazon Star?

At any case...here's some more eye-candy on the Tilda Samplers...

Today should be the last day of these two quilts. I have one large last block to do and the border. However, I have a customer coming later this morning who likes to chat and we have rain coming. I don't know if the rain is carrying stormy conditions with it, but there's always that chance. Let's quilt!

Donation Day

Here is some more eye candy on the Tilda Samplers...

I worked until past 8:00 last night and still have one more row to go, plus a filler block. Maybe on Monday or Tuesday these two will be done? After long arming, while Jim was watching our first Spartan football game of the season, I made the binding for the Farmers Daughter quilt. That will be donated as well and need to get it done. 

I had to clean and rearrange the loft upstairs this morning which is why I'm blogging so late. The grandkids' bookshelves were a disarray of art supplies, books, and a few games. Not to mention dusty as all get out. 

Once I got that done, my shower taken, everything put away that another shelf up there was purged from, I started in on the donation log/labeling. The first five are ready for pick up...

#4-Happy Camper

#1-Pastel Skates

#5-Rainbow X's and O's

#3-Rainbow Chevrons

#2-Cute Monsters

I'm very sad to see these go. Making a quilt sometime takes longer than making a child and I love them just about as much as a child. But they aren't doing any good here. I have to keep telling myself this. Somebody may (or may not) appreciate them but once they are picked up next week, I have to hope they bring a kiddo some joy and comfort during their trying time. 

Jim's at a township meeting and after lunch we'll start tackling the quilts in the garage. These five were just hanging around here in the house waiting to head to a tote for storage. The Gravity and Town and Country quilts were spared donation. There are a few I will NOT part with and these two made the cut so far. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend

I'll be working on Monday, but I will not be open. I have these two quilts that are taking soooo long to complete and I feel like they need to just get done. I have at least two days worth of work yet to go. The hardest block (the bee) is probably on today's venue which will take an hour or more each because of all the marking that needs to happen to make it come to life. 

Here's some more quilting eye candy...

I don't know what's going on with Blogger, but it decided to place this photo on the left today.

I had not two, but three ladies in yesterday to drop off a total of seven tops. Yup, Seven. Thankfully there's  no hurry to get them done.

While I was working on Marty/Bernie I got the next back on DW frame ironed and this is what is sitting in wait...

I LOVE this quilt!

I would normally do a custom treatment on this, but since I'm giving away all 'under king-sized' quilts, this will now be an E2E. And it's funny how all of a sudden I'm surrounded by pastel colors on all three machines.

Jim and I have no plans this weekend with the exception of going through totes in the garage. 

Rayola

My life this week seems to be like a shampoo bottle; lather, rinse, repeat. Here's some more of the quilting going into the two Tilda Samplers...

Not originally in here

This was originally just a cross-hatch, but I wanted to try a new stencil I got a few years ago. Yep, it took me this long to give is a whirl. It's a pain to work, but so worth the effort!

When I moved over to Bernie in the afternoon, I found this...

Fabric too short

I had to give it a good amount of thread to keep it from coming apart later. Once I was finished on the work quilts, I shifted over to DW and stitched this out...

Part of a Farmers Daughter

I started the Farmers Daughter and then lost interest. This is about as far as I got with it. Here's what I put in...

A loose flower-y swirl

I got the small wall hanging bound I finished yestreday while DW was doing his thing...

Notice the embellishments?

I have now this hung in the studio bathroom. After the Farmers Daughter was done stitching I got it all trimmed and ready for binding...

Gotta find some binding for this now

And I'm frame ironing for the next quilt going onto DW. I'll continue doing that while working on Marty this morning. At some point later today, I have two customers coming to drop off five new tops. Thankfully, she's not in any hurry to get them back. It's a good thing because it'll be a while.

One more thing to report; Jim and I have decided that anything under a king-size quilt will be donated to Rayola. With the exception of those very dear to me (365, Town and Country, etc.). We are going to sort those out this weekend since it doesn't seem there's anything else going on during the holiday. Hopefully, it won't be too hot out there in the garage going through all of those totes. 

RIP Teresa

We got news yesterday morning that Jims sister Teresa passed around 10:30 in the morning. She's had a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer and just as one mass disappeared, shortly after another would surface. The last one was in her brain. She lived in Tennessee but there will be a Michigan service later this fall. She will be laid to rest next to Jims dad in Olivet. 

Teresa and I didn't get along particularly well. She was a "Christian" but laid judgement towards me at virtually every turn for one thing or another. A few years ago, she and I got into a physical altercation at our home downstate and I never recovered from that. I am just glad she's no longer suffering. Nobody should have to suffer like she did no matter the circumstances or relationship with others. 

The house was very cold this morning. Near 60 degrees and it's because it got down to the low 40's last night; the lake was even steaming this morning.  Jim cranked the main house furnace on and then I went out to the studio to plug in the iPad and it was nearly 60 out there too. Not living in a cold house. I cranked up that furnace for a spell just to get the chill off. I'll turn it off once it's done cycling. 

But the first furnace burn is the first smell of autumn this year. I love it!

So, I got caught up on Marty where I was at on Bernie and here's some of the quilting going into either one...

I believe all three of these are actually on Marty, but the one on Bernie is getting the same treatment long-arm-wise.

And, more of the same today. I am expecting one customer to come and drop off later this afternoon. Yep, that's my day today. Whee!

After working on the "work" boys, I moved over and finished out the Sewing wall hanging on DW...

This one is quilted and I'll probably bind tonight

I was waiting for the marks to disappear before binding this, so once that was trimmed and sitting in wait, I started loading the next back for the next top of mine. I had to piece the backing first before loading it, which wasn't a big deal.

While frame ironing that back, I worked on my Tilda piece. I did get section three of the "A" section done. This quilt is taking me a lot longer to make than I thought it would, but I'm okay with that. I'm not in any hurry to have something more to long arm. Although it would be nice to have it on the wall. 

Tilda in Tandem

Well, that'll probably happen today. The one on Marty has to "catch up" to the one on Bernie, but here's some of the quilting going in, not that this hasn't been seen before...

I'm not going to even comment because these are repeats of months past. After working until past 5:00 I jumped onto Mike to finish the binding on the Gravity quilt. It's all finished and folded and put away.

From there I got onto DW and did some stitching on my next wall hanging...

Leaving the paper piecing alone

I'm quilting around the paper pieced motifs because, honestly, they aren't that big and I'm putting a lot of thread around them.

Once I got the second row finished, I decided to work on my Tilda piece a bit on the sewing machine. Around 8:00 I started getting tired and my ear was starting to really bug me, so shut down for the night.

And my ear is still plugged this morning. I have a feeling I'm going back into the med center tomorrow to discuss this with them since my abx are only two more days worth. More on Marty and perhaps Bernie today working in the Tilda Samplers. 

Cooler Temps, Better Working!

It looks like signs of autumn are starting to show. Leaves are starting to lighten, cooler temps at night, and today's high isn't even supposed to reach 70. I love autumn and it's perfect quilting weather. 

I did get two of the three pieces bound yesterday...

Isn't Lewis so cute?

Already on the design wall!

I started the binding on Gravity...

Half done

And that's as far as I got before having to stop and make lunch. I talked to mom yesterday while working on this binding and she did a cow similar to what I did on Saturday assisting with an art class in Beaverton. Weird, huh?

I have one customer expected and she's picking up while I'm working on both Bernie and Marty. Oh, what's on Marty? Let me show you...

[Another] Tilda Sampler

I think I'm going to work these in tandem. It will eliminate me from having to constantly refer back to the photos of the original I did and these gals want them both quilted the same as the original. This one on Marty, however, is double batted, so there will be a little more of a challenge there. I haven't actually "loaded" it yet, it's just waiting for me to start getting thread in. Happy Monday.