Couch Camp...Again!

I did work yesterday morning and that about did me in. A delivery was made yesterday afternoon and here's what the mailman brought... 

These will help when I'm having to do hexagons in quilts that require them. Previously, I would have to de a bazillion markings and measurements to get the hexagons to work.

Today I'm still fuzzy headed and a little dizzy. My left ear is almost completely plugged. I'm not sure what long arming (or anything else) that will occur as we have a few appointments this morning and we haven't went grocery shopping in two weeks. 

Welcome Spring-ish

The morning started out on Bernie working on this next piece for Diane...

Some celebratory ribbons

Now I'm stuck again on what to put into her center panel. I'll think more on that today while working on Marty. Virginia's quilt is coming along slowly. My goal is to get it done before tomorrow's close of business. Meaning, no guild today. 

Yesterday was one of those days when I LOVE working out in the yard. It was sunny and warm-ish and no bugs. Can't stand bugs. But everything is still frozen into the soil and I had 'real' work to do in the studio. Jim got a lot done though. He loves being outdoors. 

 He also made me this...

Long Arm Ruler Rack

My rulers are getting pretty banged up with me transferring them from the pressing/planning table each night so I can do personal stuff in the evening. I mentioned to him about making something like this because rulers are VERY expensive and needed a way to keep them from getting scratches all over. He's the man!

Another beautiful sunset last night as I was making a caddy, quilting my strip on DW, and working through the Scrappy Goodness blocks...

Just breathtaking

And phase 1 sewing the scrappy goodness blocks together is complete. I pieced the remaining six strip sets and then they had to be joined at the top and bottom to make a tube. Next step? Cutting out (160) 2 1/2" strips from the tubes. Oh boy. 

Ready for cutting up

Since I'm not going to be at guild this morning I'm jumping straight onto Marty and working pretty hard to get through as much as I can today. Crank up the tunes, drink lots of water, do lots of stretches and go!

Is the 13th Lucky For You?

Friday the 13th. One of those days I'm glad I no longer work OB at the hospital. Births on this day, full moons, and storms seem to bring in laboring mothers. Odd isn't it? But the 13th has always been lucky for Jim and I. We were married on the 13th and we put our offer in on this house on the 13th. Hopefully today will be a lucky day in the studio. 

Here are a few pics of the quilt being worked on Marty...

Not much to see is there? It's because batiks are so busy and are hard to see when quilted. This quilt will have a lot of texture because of the Dream Puff batting, but that's about all. Every other block is getting some free motion in the center and the offset blocks are getting something linear. The outside of the block is alternating between linear lines and wishbone quilting. 

New Mexico

Despite my reservations about using templates in this weeks AQS block, it turned out okay. Not great, but passable. Although, I don't generally pull threads unless it's a blatant positioning mistake; I can fix inaccurate piecing on the long arm. 

I also did a Fireworks block but did not do a scrappy block or my strip on DW. 

I had time and the energy to do my strip, but Natalia (the host) messed up and duplicated day 12 with day two. She suggested waiting until later on in the process. She has some bonus strips after the 99 are done and I'll park one of those into slot 12 when we get to that point. 

I'll be working on the quilt above this morning until I can get the backing finished (frame ironing) for Ila's second quilt. She mentioned it on the phone yesterday morning and I guess I didn't realize she had a second one in queue. 

Meaning, the one on Marty will be parked for a few days while I work on hers, which is fine. If I can make it easier on customers not having to make multiple trips up/down here I'll do what I can to accommodate them. 

Have you ever heard of Shapermint? I have a job where I have to be pretty flexible. I bend, stretch, squat, reach, contort, and of course there's some dancing in there. My old bras were becoming pretty tired and riding up in places they should not ride. Jim purchased me two tanks for Valentines Day and I gotta tell ya. game changer! I'm mentioning this because they are that much better than the old, tired, traditional bra already and I'm not going to have to constantly readjust myself throughout my day. Check 'em out if you have never heard of them. 

Looks Simple Enough

This is the sashing I'm putting into Ila's quilt per her request...

The sashing

It seems simple enough, right? This is all the markings and leg work that need to occur to get that 'simple' sashing motif into the quilt...

Getting the sashing in

The center point needed to be found. Then a measurement between blocks divided by the number of curves required for each curve has to be calculated. And they aren't always the same. Most of them are measuring at 2 7/8". Then, while quilting them, I have to be sure to hit that exact point where they intersect otherwise it throws off the whole motif. 

And, that's part of my job. Math. Speaking of math. Jim was babysitting DW again while he was stitching out this motif on the princess quilt for Sharon...

I like to overstitch motifs on E2E's so there isn't any negative space on the sides or the top/bottom. More math involved to ensure the motif isn't distorted or skewed. Once that princess quilt was finished, Jim started loading DW with the backing for my quilt-along that started on February 1st. Obviously I'm late getting to the party. 

I have never (ever, ever, ever) had two duplicate backs on the three frames, and here we are, loading a duplicate back to the one being frame ironed on Bernie for a customer...

I have pics of the blocks I worked yesterday in Ila's quilt, but won't post them today since I've already spent enough time blogging this morning. I worked late again getting blocks 11-15 completed before shutting down; around 6:15. 

I did get a fireworks blocks done last night and got the two tops on Bernie and DW set and ready to start basting in. I'll be working Ila's quilt today (blocks 12-16) and one customer is scheduled to come and pick up. I don't know if she'll actually make it since it's snowing pretty good out there and we are expecting an all day event so we'll see about that. 

Forgot To Mention

When I went to Guild last week up in Oscoda, I stopped at a new quilt shop I hadn't been to ever. Erin Matthews Quilt Shop. Such lovely ladies and a cute shop to boot. They found out I was the quilter on one of the shop hop quilts and we did a quick live feed on FB and then I found some stuff to purchase for the long arms...

Some new rulers and cleaning swabs

Those cleaning swabs are priceless! They are small enough to get into the bobbin race to eliminate the oily lint build-up. Her price was the best I've found yet. The rulers are a set of Amanda Murphy circles I've had my eye on for quite some time and again, her prices were pretty good.

I stayed out of the studio the whole weekend since Friday was a quilting marathon and I wasn't feeling well. I still have a cough, but I'm on the mend I guess.

My baby turned 31 yesterday and we chatted with them in Germany for a while. They seem to be enjoying their new digs and life there and are settling in well. 

My cast is becoming gross. Dirty. Stinky. I'm so over this already and have hardly even started this portion of healing. Bleh. 

Here's what I'll be working on today...

Bernadette's Summer Village by Laundry Basket Quilts

I've checked on how others quilted this and I didn't care for much of what they did; meaning I'll do my own thing...as usual.

All Of a Sudden

I looked up yesterday while working and all of a sudden the leaves were starting to pop out, our neighbors apple tree is in full bloom, and the grass shot up in the girls' pen a mile. Spring has sprung.

Lots going on today. Customer coming to get her quilt. I'm working on Kathy's quilt on Bernie; I finished Linda's yesterday and did capture this little bit of quilting in it...

Can you see the Poinsettias? 

Here's some of the quilting going into Kathy's quilt...

Clean sashing/border lines

Once I got done working on the big machines, I went outside and mowed the girls' pen and then headed to the flower garden just off the driveway. We call it the rail fence garden. Where did all that crab grass come from anyway? 

After I finished that long project I came in and pulled out the new rulers I had purchased at Country Stitches last weekend...

These looked like fun

This is how I'm going to use up some of the scraps in the dresser that seem to be multiplying in there. I'm starting with a green/blue/teal quilt first. Here's the first four blocks I completed. 

Aren't these fun?

These can be set in a pattern or just randomly. I'll see what I get when I'm done to decide on how they'll end up. 

Meanwhile, while I was doing all of that, Jim has been working on the closet the past two days. Here's where he ended last night before running out of wood...

So stinkin' cool!

The door in the back is just being stored there until he can get it hung. It's not actually part of the closet. 

Tonight we have to head to Midland and I'm hoping to visit my third machine. I have left her a message and until she commits to us coming over, I won't know for sure if that's in the cards or not. I sure hope so because I have a lead on another machine in West Branch which is less costly than the one in Midland.

Noodles

After the dentist and after all the chores were done, it was lunch time. After lunch, my limbs still felt like noodles after Sunday's work day. I was sore, my head was pounding, and I wasn't my usual perky self. I knew long arming was probably not a good idea since I'm on my feet for all of what I do. I spent the afternoon reading. 

Once Jim got home, I felt a little more like myself (sure wish I could take naps). I first worked on a BOM from Pieces. Here's what I got done on that...

We actually build two blocks each month

I've noticed my piecing is getting a little better now that Ellie and I have come to an understanding. 

It was still daylight out and decided rather than messing up a customer quilt I would mess up my own quilt instead. And I did. I hadn't really understood the instructions Amanda was giving in the row I was working on a did this...

That's not right

It should have looked like this...

Much better

Not that the second pic is perfect, but that's how one learns. 

I caught the sun briefly shining in the studio windows this morning while running around doing chores, and thought I would share some of the tools of my trade...

About half of my rulers

Snow expected this morning and mostly cloudy the rest of the day. Will Bunny's quilt get finished today?

Errands Before Snow

Snow is (finally) expected this afternoon so I need to quickly head over to Pieces to replenish their brochure supply. 

Let's talk about cutting rulers. I started out as an Omni Grid/Grip user in the earlier days of my quilting journey. Then I started slowly switching to Creative Grids rulers. Some of them are getting pretty dinged up and scratched (I'm very clumsy). I bought a Quilters Select ruler last week at Pieces to assist with my long arm registration lines on tops. 

Have you ever tried Quilters Select rulers? The reason I steered clear of them before is because I thought they looked kinda dingy and the Creative Grids rulers looked more clean. OMG! You have to try one. I'm in love. They grip much better than CG's, you can see the cutting lines easier (which seems counterintuitive given their smoky look) and the markings make more sense to me. I'm hooked. I may have to look at a few more rulers when I'm over at the shop this morning.

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

Jean's Crabapple Hill Witches of Salem

This is the piece I started about a million years ago and here Jean has it all finished. And it's gorgeous! So excited to be able to finish this one for her. I'm kinda jealous actually. Maybe I'll give her back my unfinished pieces and keep this one for myself. 😜

Here's what's on Bernie today...

Barb's Old World Santas

This is Barbs fourth (and last) for me to do. 

I've got both of these basted in and bordered. Mom came by just as I was finishing Jeans borders and she stayed for a visit for a while. By the time she left I was done with long arming for the day. I put this block together instead...

Three skeins of yarn. Red heart of course

I didn't have the energy to cut for another block so I'll maybe get to do that tonight. And off I go...

Almost There

I worked almost a full day in the studio yesterday. It was well after dark before I came out. I wasn't breaking any speed records but it was wonderful to be back in there!

Here's some of the quilting detail going into the Dream Bigger panel I'm working on...

One of the smaller leaves

Always have to have one spiderweb

I'm just about at the half-way point on this huge project. Here's what's on Bernie this morning...

9-Patch Quilt-along with Natalia Bonner

Natalia is a wonderful quilter, who until recently, quilted for other people. Now she teaches remotely and has her own line of rulers; some of the best in the industry as far as I'm concerned. She has hosted a 9-patch quilt-along three times over the years. I'm going to pull my favorites from her three "classes" and just play with my new ruler base on Bernie over the next couple of days. 

I had to machine piece the backing for this 9-Patch and Ellie sewed it together perfectly. The only other thing I have to do today is make a pot of chili...which I'll do later this afternoon since I don't want to smell like cooked onions all day long. 

Thunder Storms

It's been thundering to our north all morning...like literally since I got up around 7:40. I thought everything was going to miss us, but low and behold...here it comes. And it's still thundering out there.  

I can not fire up the long arm during thunder storms. Unfortunately. So I'll get some housework done (bleh) until it passes within the hour. Meanwhile, Paulette's quilt is finished and now I'm on to the next one. Here's what's on the frame this morning...

Becky B's Alaskan Fun

I'm doing a lot of ruler work in this one so it's going to take most of the day and maybe another one after today to complete it. 

When Jim got home from work yesterday, he was very kind in finishing my thread/ruler rack and here is the finished piece!

Thread in the middle...rulers on the side.

I have about 60 or so more threads to order to get her filled, but it's a great start and what a time saver when trying to match threads to customer quilts. Hmm....maybe I'll work in the studio and get that a little more cleaned out while this storm pitter-patters on the roof. 

Sore, Sore, Sore

It got a little warmer yesterday and found myself out working in a rather overgrown flower bed to eradicate weeds/grasses. It should have been an hour job at the outside but turned into a three to four hour situation. And...I'm still not done. 

I have laid out the new perimeter blocks but will have to actually take those back up to get in some landscape cloth before laying down wood chips. The wind was being stupid up until sundown so that wasn't going to happen last night. 

Becky's quilt is half finished and here is some quilting detail going into it...

What rulers can do

I'm posting this pic, which looks almost like the previous pic, to show how much ditching makes a difference (which is the only difference in the two pics) on a quilt. 

Borders not yet ditched

I'm turning into a ruler junkie I think. Caleb and Lia got me a set of the swag rulers for Christmas and I love them! Here are some of the tools of the trade being used on Becky's quilt...

The rulers being used on this project

I have a new quilt coming in later this morning and mom is stopping by later this afternoon. I'll long arm in between as much as I can and hope to get Becky's quilt done today. No Town and Country blocks were completed last night (sad face) because of the flower bed situation mentioned above. 

Don't Sew Over Your Finger!

Yesterday while working on Patricia's table runners, I tried to sew through/over my little finger. I was being careless and not watching the placement of my hand on my ruler and bam! Everything went a little haywire there for a second. My little finger is sore but I'm glad I get my nails protected with a shellac topcoat because I would have definitely sewn through my finger had I not. The glitch in my nail is proof. 

I'm glad I had this ruler yesterday too!

HQ Mini to the Rescue!

This is what's on the frame today.

Debbie M's Simple and Fun Top

I'm going to do a simple swirl (aka "The Katie") in here today. It wouldn't be prudent to try to customize anything since it would get lost in the translation. It's a simple design with simple implications and doing anything complex wouldn't work within its structure.

After long arming last night, I was able to get a few more Crumb blocks put together. Remember when I said I probably had enough for three or four blocks? Try eight more for a total of 11! Here are all the pinks constructed. Tonight I'll move on to another color...probably purple. 

The Pink Crumb Blocks

Today I'm thankful for our service workers; those who plow roads and pick up the trash. Those who make sure our electric lines are connected and who provide heat to our homes (that's you Papa Bear). I'm thankful for all those people who are willing to work a mini wage job so I can shop when I have/want to and even though you're getting screwed, you remain cheerful and positive during my visit. 

Happy Thanksgiving to everybody and remember to give thanks whenever you can, not just on a specific day of the year. 

Summertime

Even though we don't have a lake, per se, with the flood and with the state and feds having to inspect our dams, summer still brings the projects forward that are otherwise weather neglected. 

This keeps me outside much more and inside the studio much, much less. Unfortunately. 

But I'm still quilting here and there. This was completed this weekend.

Paulette's Frog Face

This is on the machine right now.

Not a good pic, but a better one will come

Using the HQ Swiss Cheese Template works out excellently on this particular section of border! Will continue to work ruler work and free motion on this piece today.

Bought a new truck on Tuesday. Traded in the yellow Jeep (Skittle) and now we can travel with more than two people in our vehicle. And...when DW needs to go down for service, I can actually take him and not have to rely on mom to want to take him downstate for me. 

Meet Rudy

Friday the 13th. Full Moon. More Storms.

I'm just glad I'm not working at the hospital anymore in Postpartum. These days were nuts when combined together.

Long arming did happen yesterday morning and it felt great. With the Long Time Gone pattern this ruler, called the Handi Quilter Straight Edge ruler, works great. It's longer than most of my other rulers and when doing a long set of borders or sashing strips to ditch, this is a great tool to have.

Long Time Gone being ditch quilted with the HQ Straight Edge Ruler

I started another pattern yesterday called Roundabout by Saginaw St Quilts. It's chewing up even more of my scraps and so far it's been pretty easy to piece together. Of course, yesterday was the large ovals. The small ovals will probably be a little tougher as their curves aren't as gentle.

I think I need to rebuild my blog. It's starting to get old looking to me and I LOVE change. Maybe later when the storms are back (expected later this afternoon) I'll do that.

Short Post

Rulers! Gotta love them or ya gotta hate them. I'm getting to love them. I'm using the Handi Quilter BIG Swiss Cheese Template to work on the Steam Punk top. It certainly makes doing circles much easier.

Using rulers on the long arm

The rest of yesterday was mostly getting my new Secret Drawer put together and installed under DW's frame. It arrived around lunch time and after installing it, I had to rearrange the studio a bit to accommodate all the new space I now had. Maybe another drawer for the other side would be a benefit?

I've also started chipping away at my Poppins bag. I think I'll just go at it bit by bit so the other projects being worked on don't feel left out.

Another gloomy day in Michigan today so I'm going to take advantage.