Two at Once

While DW was stitching out the Harry Potter edge-to-edge, I was working on the bikini ladies with Bernie. Talk about cool!

The first set of tattoos

I finished the Harry Potter quilt and then loaded this late in the afternoon...

Ann V.'s paper pieced deer

I have all the ditching done and the borders quilted, now I just have to decide what to put behind that deer in the blue area. 

I finished the sewing machine cover for Ellie...

New sewing machine cover for the Elna EF1

After working outside for a bit on the deck screws (we have to tighten them down a couple of times a year), I came back in, made some new mini canvas side leaders for DW and Bernie both (the only set I had was falling apart)  and worked some more on the bikini ladies while Jim was putting up cider-as well as other things around the neighborhood. 

I have a customer coming shortly to pick up and drop off both, and that's all I'm expecting so far today. 

Not on Vacation

No. I haven't been absent because I was on vacation. This is where I've been...

Ding. Covid Round 2.

Don't I look excited?

I'm going to try to function today somewhat. I'm already nearly an hour behind my normal day but most everybody has been told to stay away from here. I took advantage of it and caught up on a few chores, slept in, and lallygagged this morning. 

I'm still kind of weak and shaky. I'm not going to be breaking any speed records for anything I do but this is day five and frankly, my butt can't take sitting around any more. 

Jim did some stuff in the studio for me while I was quiet. He hung my autumn banner, vacuumed the studio floor, and got the new Elna set into the table that the HQ Stitch used to sit in. He did a marvelous job!

Ellie's new home

I did get the machine threaded and tested yesterday. It sews like a dream (as does her brother, the Janome 1600P), so I'll be piecing with this machine going forward; when I have the time/health to be able to do so. 

Thunder Boomers

Just after waking this morning I heard thunder off in the distance. By 8:30 this morning it looked like it was 8:30 in the evening. Even the mercury and solar lights in the neighborhood were lit. Thankfully, it passed through rather quickly and now it's just really cloudy. Jim called and said there was a rainbow in the NW.

Huge rainbow

I don't long arm during thunder storms. I can't chance the machines getting hit. 

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

We've seen one of these before haven't we?

This will be on the frame for the next four days, which is how long it takes me to do one of these Dream Bigger panels. 

The small piece on Bernie is still on Bernie. I've got it about half-way completed and am just putting swirls in there to get a feel for the buttons, machine weight, the performance, and how to handle rolling. 

Jim's been working on the new Elna location. He's modifying the HQ 210 Stitch table to accommodate the more robust machine for me. 

The new machines name will be Ellie

He worked until almost dark on this and said he still has some more stuff to do to on it . He's such a great husband!

One last pic of the quilt I took off yesterday. Eye Candy!

Show Goodies

Well, I did it. I think. Still trying to get the financing end of things worked out, but I purchased a second long arm. And another no-frills piecing machine. And Jim bought me a Critter Cutter for my birthday. DW got a new set of leaders sitting here waiting for me to put on. I purchased two new patterns for Caleb and Lia's new apartment, and we got to meet up with old and new friends and customers. We stopped by moms on our way through Gladwin and finally got home around 8:30. What. A. Day!

Linda's quilt is still on the frame, but we had errands to do this morning starting with getting the girls. From there it was off to Pieces to drop off brochures, run to the produce stand for tomatoes, pick up the new (used) snow blower, stop by the butcher to get chicken breasts, and then back home to unload said snow blower out of the back of the truck. It was well past lunch time when we got everything done. 

I'm just getting on the machine now but thought I better at least share the news about the new machine coming. 

Now I have to think of two new names for these machines. I think the Elna (this machine is exactly like my Janome 1600P but cuter) will be named Ellie, but the new long arm (a Bernini Q20 on a 10' Frame) still needs a name.