After Visiting

We had a delightful visit with mom and Chad yesterday. Tried the new Char House restaurant in Gladwin. Great food but freezing in the place; it was 44 degrees outside and yet the radiators in the old structure were stone cold. 

Once we were done with lunch we headed home via Pieces of Thyme. The original backing I got for the cousin quilt was too small by only a couple of inches so found a perfect back in flannel instead. Got that loaded on DW and am just doing an E2E on it.

After one pass and happy DW's stitch regulator is working after having taken all the computer components off, I was back in on Christmas gifts. The girls' pillows are sewn and all I need are the inserts. 

I also got caught up on the Temperature quilt blocks but had to go back and rip a few seams because I forgot the monthly placeholder between October and November. With that fixed I cut more green strips for our garland and then started gridding out fusible for another big [holiday] bow. I could have bought the premarked stuff but am watching the pennies before Shipshe. 

Once that was done I started pulling fabrics to begin cutting today. I'll be working on the bow at retreat and need to cut all the 2 1/2" blocks before I leave. Cutting here is much easier than trying to talk and cut there. 

I was on the phone with the Germany kids this morning for over an hour so I"m blogging late since after the phone conversation (and shower) decided the bathrooms all needed a good scrubbing. Now I can play the rest of the day. 

Visiting with Family Today

My brother is up from Cincinnati. I only get to see him about twice a year meaning we're taking today off to go visit him at moms house. 

I have made exceptional progress on Sandy's quilt and worked well after quitting time. From there I blanket stitched the two grand-girls' pillow tops and then made the backing for each of them.

Blanket stitch detail

I made zippered backs for each of the boys' pillows. Boys naturally don't take care of their stuff so I'm assuming the pillows will be all over the house without regard to dirt. The girls' pillows are getting an envelope back so they can still take off the cover to launder. I nearly broke a needle doing the zippers for the boys and the new zips I purchased (on line) are more for heavier projects like jackets. Not pillows.

Just watching the game

Jim's new Spartan fleece throw is getting good use and Lucy finds it very snuggly as you can see. She was watching the game with dad and I couldn't resist getting a quick pic of her in all her cuteness. 

Jim Has a Busy Day

My day will be here working on Sandy's quilt. Jim, on the other hand, has plenty to do today. Dentist and food pantry stuff will keep him busy all afternoon. 

Because he needs the truck and I don't get back from Hale until well after 1:30 I won't be heading up for our monthly meeting. Again.

Once back yesterday I didn't really have a game plan in mind other than lunch. Once that was done and I got out into the studio I was super focused on getting Tristans pillow done. 

Hope he likes it!

Now for the girls. Hannah still has a quilt coming with her pillow but why I was making templates and getting fabric out to do Penelopes pillow I decided to do both of them in tandem.

The applique is adhered but both still need blanket stitching. I'm going to purchase pre-made pillow forms for these instead of making my own like I did the other four. They were an odd size. These are going to be 20" square. 

So here's where the Christmas situation is currently. I need to finish the two pillows above and I need to get the cousin quilt quilted and all the other stuff that goes with that. Then Hannah's quilt needs to be loaded and quilted. Except for Hannah's quilt, I'm hoping to get all the other stuff done before next weekend. I want them off my to-do list before I head to Shipshewana. 

And, I have two Holiday deadlines looking at my on the business end of things; one before December 1st. Once the Tilda Sampler is done I think I'm going to have to park Sandy's other top to the side until the holiday things get finished. She's in no hurry so yay!

DW Is Stripped

Off to skate with my getting-to-know-you "geezer" friends. I am past the half-way point on Sandy's Tilda Sampler. I haven't grabbed any pics because, well, we've seen this quilt so many times previously. 

I did get Elijah's quilt bound and here is the set he'll be receiving for Christmas. 

While I was working on Marty yesterday, Jim was working on this project at the other end of the studio. 

The carriage drives the motors for the ProStitcher

A naked machine

He has removed the ProStitcher off DW. I don't use it. I don't like. I don't have control and it adds a LOT of weight to my free motion work. 

I haven't tested him out yet to make sure we have all the necessary connections for the stitch regulator, but I'm sure it'll be okay. 

I also started Tristans pillow top. Jim assisted on the color selections and this is what we came up with. 

Election Day

Please go vote. If you don't, it provides a vote for somebody you may not want to get elected. Although, I am the most unpolitical person you could probably meet, I have morals and obligations as a U.S. citizen to uphold the right to vote. And keep this country I've vowed to protect, safe. 

I was finally able to get my first roll in yesterday on Sandy's Tilda Sampler quilt. I was kind of out of it yesterday so was working in slow motion. Jim threw up last night so I'm wondering if we had a little bug? Thankfully, we feel fine this morning. 

Elijah's pillow is done (see above) and his quilt is half bound. I have the back side attached and will hopefully attach the front tonight. Once we get done voting this morning I'll have a regular work day ahead. And, the temps today: High of 74. This is November, right?

Wow Am I Sore

I started following a professional skater on YouTube and she has me doing all sorts of exercises and stretches to strengthen my legs. While I do stand all day long at my 'job', the strength in my outer and inner thighs is lacking. Clearly from what they're telling me this morning after skating yesterday.

Anyway. I had to make room to work on Elijah's pillow cover so started piecing the blocks together for the baby quilt for Jims cousin. 

The direction I'm heading with that top

Once I got the area cleared on that portion of the sewing table, I started back in on Elijahs pillow top. I had to do some background quilting before applying and appliquéing things down. We stopped by Park Bench Quilt Shop between skating and groceries to pick up the background fabric.

That carried me through to about 8:00 and I was tired from our busy day so called it a night. Customer coming to pick up this morning and I'll be working on Bernie most of the day to finish Diane's quilt. 

Solids

Do you have solids in your fabric stash? I have a lot of small pieces left over from both
the Amish with a Twist quilts, but very few large pieces. 

I was working on Elijah's pillow top last night. I was to the point of setting all the appliqué pieces on the background but could not find a background piece that would work. Black, red, and dark blue (all the big pieces I had) are not going to work. That's on hold until I can run over Thursday to get a piece that may be more suitable. Of course, a six year old isn't going to care, but I will. 

In the meantime, Janices quilt was finished at about 4:45 last night. She was coming this morning to pick it up but called already and rescheduled for Thursday instead. 

Drying from the markings

Today I'll be working on Diane's fifth quilt top while continuing to frame iron a new back on Marty. 

A simple quilt that needs some serious quilting

Jim has town stuff to do today; new tire on the truck (defect), doctor appointment, and attending the delivery of moms new bedroom furniture. 

I did get the Temperature quilt all up to date while we talked to Andrew on his way home from work. That took a while since I was two weeks behind and I had to add a row to the already existing top. No work on DW. 

Not Sure How To Make It Clear

I've changed my hours both on Google and the web site. I had two people this morning near 9:00 texting me to ask work questions. I answered them right back but maybe being considerate or aware of others has went by the way side?

While I do eat, sleep, and breathe quilting, I like to enjoy waking up gradually. Business related items before I've even had my coffee is not cool. 

I have a customer coming today to drop off and I have another full day on Janices quilt on Marty. I got three rows done yesterday and I work tirelessly on it all day long. I have five more rows to go and since I have two more tops coming in today it won't get done until at least Monday.

Elijah's quilt is sitting on DW but  not basted in as of yet. 

Ready to begin

I wanted to concentrate on getting Jacobs pillow done. Here is his Christmas set ready for wrapping. 

Jacobs Christmas gifts

When you have seven grandchildren, the holidays have to start earlier around the house. Jim was working on our little strip project while I was working on Jacobs pillow. It takes a village. 

New Wednesday Norm

Since I am now closed on Wednesdays we have a new norm. IF the weather cooperates, we'll be in Midland in the morning, maybe lunch after but definitely grocery shopping after that since we're already in Midland. 

When I get home I may or may not long arm depending on the time. Yesterday it was nearly 4:00 before we got home so no long arming on Janices quilt. But, there was lots to do after Jim and I watched (as we are naming them) Fred and Ed across the lake attempting to build a pole barn. And, it was too nice to be inside.

First, get the binding on Jacobs quilt. 

Check that off the list

Next was picking out and making backing for Elijah's quilt. I'm frame ironing today while working. 

Getting ready to load this tonight

Once I had the back made, loaded, and started on frame ironing, I moved over to Mike and blanket stitched the pillow top. 

Top and back/binding selections

I had to decide what colors I was using for the pillow back and binding and have those all figured out. By this time it was nearly 8:00 and I was tired from the Midland activities this morning. My knee has a little twinge in it so I'll not be running any marathons today. 

We are also dealing with mom stuff. She is showing continued decline in her mental faculties and we had to put a bedroom set fire out throughout the day. Well, Jim did anyway. She's supposed to come over later on to explain what happened but we need to have a discussion with her about recent developments in her spending and thought processes. I'll be working all day until she decides to show up later. 

Taking A Me Day

Technically we are supposed to be in Ohio, but because of Hazels situation right now, we postponed that trip. I had already, in my head, scheduled a day off yesterday so I 'played' in the studio working on holiday gifts for the grands. 

Here's Zechariah's set all complete. 

They call him Zecky but I spelled it like I wanted

After working all morning and most of the afternoon on his pillow (took way longer than I thought it would), I jumped on DW and worked on these three blocks.

Block 15

Block 14

Block 13

The QAL from Sam Alberts and Quilting Curve Studio is going to Jacob. I have to get this quilt done so I can get his gift(s) finished. But I did start his pillow.

We have to run to town to get some ingredients for dog food. We are making it here because Hazel is on soft foods for a few weeks. We replicate the Farmers Dog recipe in our insta-pot. I'm hoping to jump on DW to work the remaining five blocks later today. 

Funeral Day

We are headed downstate here in a few minutes but thought I could blog before we left. Putting together sandwiches didn't take as long as I had anticipated. 

I got my BOW done...

Need to post yet on FB

After that was completed, I loaded the VW bus onto Marty and started quilting that...

Cute!

After lunch I quilted some more and actually got it done. I pulled it off the frame and Jim had a ball game to watch so started working on the back part of the pillow. I put a zipper closure in the back so the exterior could be washed.

Andrew called on his way to Michigan and while talking to him, got the back done and then bound it. I had JUST enough stuffing to get the inside form made and here's the finished pillow...

A Christmas gift for Jims sister

I hope she likes it. After I finished that in the late afternoon, I turned to designing the strip quilt top for the QAL with Natalia Bonner. I think I have everything worked out and it's a good thing I did lay it down on graph paper because I would have did it wrong as I was thinking about it in my head. The fabric for the background strips is ironed and waiting for me to cut out. 

DW's encoder won't make it tomorrow as it is Columbus Day which means no mail delivery. GRR!

Short Week

Another short week in the horizon this week. I'll only be open today through Wednesday. Thursday we leave for reunion. I'd rather be working if I'm being honest. 

The reunion, for most, is a vacation. For Jim and me it's work, work, work. And it's not just the four days we are there. No, it's the three days preceding and the two days after packing and unpacking, cleaning, etc. I could go on all day about this, but this is a quilting blog, not a bitch blog.

Here's the quilting that went into the Lake pillow...

Looks like gentle waters

Once that was quilted, I moved along to another project I started on Saturday; the Helen Godden pattern I downloaded a week or so ago...

Not sure how I'm going to color these yet

This is going to be an alphabet quilt that will be quilted on the sit-down. After tracing all the letters, I now have to color them in. Not sure yet how I'm going to do that; whether it's going to be my luminary paints or with my InkTense blocks. I have plenty of time to think about that though. 

Here's what's on DW today...

Diane's beautiful EPP and hand embroidered top

Diane does such beautiful work. Actually, most of my customers do. I won't be long arming for a bit though because I have two quilts to pull and trim off Bernie and Foster and two backs to get back on them to frame iron. And, we have another thunderstorm going through this morning.  

Shopping Day

Mom texted this morning and asked if I wanted go to Menards with her in Mt. Pleasant. Since I need to start getting fixtures for the [new] studio, and since it's supposed to be a beautiful weather day, decided to take advantage of the fact my mom is still alive and we can do things together.

Once I return I'll be working on what DW is wearing today...

Pillow Covers

These will match the Flea Market quilt I just finished for Debbie. Great use of the leftover fabric from the project.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

Jim took today off and we ran errands this morning. Hazel went with and enjoyed the truck ride. Not much to report except that I'm still working on Cathie's fourth quilt. I should be able to finish it up this afternoon now that we're home for the day and not expecting any additional visitors or interruptions.

I need to, at some point, start getting ready for the holiday. So. Much. To. Do! Wrapping, baking, cleaning, washing bedding, preparing other foods, making gifts and wrapping them. Sorting what I've been accumulating throughout the year first before wrapping can even begin.

Maybe today, after Cathies quilt is off and I load the next one, I can start working on those pillow covers, which are one of the kids' gifts. The tops are stitched out but need to make the inserts (I'm going to use zippered ones this time so they can be washed too) and need to research on how to do that since "sewing" isn't part of my usual wheelhouse. And the backs aren't on the tops yet. UGH!

Oh, and there's a new wide back fabric out there with kind of a satin feel to it. Mickey purchased some from Pieces and I took a pic of how it looks after stitching it out. 

Stitches sink right down in

I thought the stitches would just sit on top because of the smoothness of the fabric, but with the bamboo batt it really stitched out nicely. Win! 

Broken Needles

I seldom break needles on the long arm. I mean, I can count on one hand the amount I've broken in all those stitches on the machine. But, yesterday was needle number three (or four?). It was an old needle and I wanted to get these pillow covers stitched out before I changed it for Mickey's two quilts. Apparently I was supposed to change it sooner.

Here is what the green buffalo plaids turned into.

There are six covers total

Four of the covers are Spartan heads, the other two are just flowers as shown. 

Here's what was on the frame after the little needle incident. 

Mickey's first top 

I didn't snag any pics of the quilting in here because I was rocking yesterday and actually completed this a little after Jim arrived home from work. And, it was all custom!

Here's what's on the frame this morning...

Mickey's second top

I loaded and actually started the border work last night. DW is going to drive the center section today, but I'll still have to ruler the borders as the quilt is being advanced.

Late Getting Started

Not sure when it was we've had a rainy Sunday morning. The kind of morning perfect for lounging in jammies, catching up on blogs, reading, YouTube videos, and Instagram posts. And I don't even feel guilty. 

Yesterday I loaded another one of my tops onto DW and here's what he's wearing today...

Pattern designed by Linda McGibbons

This will take a while to quilt I think.

I finished the heart top and got the AQS pillow tops made as well as the binding done on the AQS quilt.

I ventured out yesterday afternoon to deliver a quilt and do a little yard sale shopping at a customers home. I did manage to pick up a new sewing machine for Katie as a back up for her should her other one decide to conk out on her. At least she'll have something to do until she can get a new machine. 

And Jim put my new sign in the yard even with one foot barely walkable and the other wrapped up in gauze and post surgery stuff. He rocks!

Isn't this cool?

Not sure how motivated I'll be today. I'll see what comes along and interests me. I exchanged quilting for a few kits at the yard sale yesterday and may delve into one of those sine the other ones are done??

Another Surgery

Albeit it was a small one, Jim had to have a tendon cut on his other foot yesterday (opposite the ankle reconstruction) to relieve a hammer toe issue. This occupied most of our afternoon. I did manage to get the AQS quilt quilted before we left as well as two pillow tops to match.

Pillow tops to match the quilt

I'll often do this with orphan or test blocks to get some use of the fabric in a positive way.

After we returned home from his little surgery, I constructed the flying geese that will be used for the border for the heart project I'm working on. 

Flying geese for the border

Today is a quiet day around the "lake" so a great opportunity to work in here most of the day. I want to get the AQS quilt off, bound, and the pillow backs made to prepare for forms. I'd like to get the heart quilt top completed (great, another UFO to add to the stack of tops needing quilting) or maybe I'll just get it quilted???? 

I have to run a finished quilt over to a customer later this afternoon but that won't take up too much of the day with plenty left for me to enjoy the studio. 

Back on the Iron Hunt

There used to be a commercial out there where a woman was screaming "Calgon, take me away," as her day kept getting more stressful. I feel like screaming out like this about irons.

The iron in the background in the pic below lasted maybe a week before it started showing illness symptoms; auto shut off shorter than eight minutes, steam sporadic if at all, burst of steam usually not present and when it was it was a 10-12 second delay in reaction after pushing the button. And yesterday is started randomly peeing. 

The debunked iron and a small project

So this pillow is the result of trying those scrappy blocks out that turned out I wasn't really all into...too many restrictions on light/dark placement. So I made a large pillow, but, I need some more batting scraps to get the insert finished (which I also made). 

I did about 15 of these this weekend.

The Oranges

This is a nice project for after my long arming day. Not much thought and they go together fairly easy. 

We started moving Jim's things into the downstairs bedroom preparing for his ankle surgery in six or so weeks. As usual, something like that always takes longer than you think its going to, and we are just starting.

Today I'm working on Paulette's king quilt intermittent with a visit from my mom later this morning/early afternoon. 

Holiday Homecoming

Two of the kids are back--from Washington state and we're over the moon having them back home. Once we met them in Midland, shopping, and general merriment here at the house ensued. It's been a year since I've seen my big and my little kid and at least, this season, we'll be with two out of the three. The big kid is abstaining this year due to the "thing", which means we don't get to see our big kid and his wife, or our grandkids either. <sigh>.

The last Christmas order is being delivered today.

Getting the pillows quilted and ready for couching

The three custom ordered pillow casings

I had to wait until yesterday to get the pillow forms and neglected to get a pic prior to getting them packed and ready to be delivered.

I've also been whittling away at that darn WIPs pile. These are ready to have their sashing attached to them but don't know how much sewing I'll get in this week, which is okay given the trade-off of spending time with my kiddos. 

Sugaridoo BOM from 2020

Hazel missed the kids too.

"What you two doin'?"

She laid in front of their door this morning waiting for them to get up. The kids, however, are still on Pacific time and haven't yet adjusted back to EST so are still snoozing away.

Christmas and Birthdays

I had a customer contact me earlier this morning that she received the Christmas card I sent to her. She also let me know her baby was born on the 9th. Poor thing has to share her birthday with the biggest holiday of the year. As does Jim.

It's usually hard to make the day special and not-Christmas-like when Christmas is becoming so commercialized. But this year is different. This year we are all dealing with the "thing" and very few holiday activities are actually occurring. Maybe with this shoulder shake the masses will wake up and smell the coffee about what Christmas actually means. And birthdays too.

This is what's on the frame this morning. 

Linda's Present top

After quilting most of this last night I worked on more UFO things. 

Orphan block already quilted

A leftover from the Twirly quilt that just had to be made into a pillow top. I don't have enough fluff to make the actual pillow portion inside, but I got it squared and assembled into a pillow cover. 

Next.

Two test sandwiches used when DW was being naughty

These have a relatively nice batting in them and to just throw them away wasn't in the cards. I've square them up and, once again, will make large throw/floor pillows out of them that we can use without worrying about their demise. I've also run out of muslin to make the pillows out of so I'm afraid a trip to JoAnn's is in my future. Groan. 

That about covers the sewing projects sitting immediately on top. Mom's top is next in the pile so once I complete Linda's quilt today I can get moms loaded and worked on before Christmas actually arrives. It was supposed to be her birthday present. Thankfully, she's very understanding.