I Have NEVER Done This!

We spent most of the late morning/afternoon with mom. We went out to lunch, cleared out some stuff she needed to get rid of and I think we've acquired a new bedroom set. We'll see if she actually gets a different one for her bedroom.

Despite being gone most of the daytime hours, I was able to get the State of Michigan quilted, trimmed, and then did something I've never (ever, ever) in the 32 years I've been making quilts, faced the finished piece. 

I like the facing!

It was way easier than I thought and I believe all my future artistic wall hangings will get this treatment from here on in. 

I cut out and then pieced the next block in the Quilt Room. Jim was watching MSU get their butts kicked by Notre Dame and I didn't want to hear his grumblings about how the team was playing. 

These are supposed to be spools but to me they look like boxes of presents stacked up. When I quilt this, I'm going to really have to emphasize the 'spool' part. 

Haircuts have already been done this morning and I'm not sure where the rest of the day is going. Since it's nearly noon it probably won't go very far. 😉

A Day of Small

Diane's quilt is done (those small ones usually go pretty quick) and I'll be working on a Trip Around the World on Monday. Meanwhile, after I was able to get Diane's quilt off and trimmed (and all that goes with it), I loaded this onto Bernie to work today. 

I didn't actually baste it in but it's ready to work when we get back from town. Since Bernie is free and DW is not, and since I'll have this done before Monday and having to load another Diane quilt I thought I'd get this done toot sweet. Prior to loading the State of Michigan, I did this little project for my tools I use on DW...

A travel case for teaching

With all DW's things inside

Without anything in it

It was still early so I began piecing the next block in the Quilt Room.

We are headed to visit my mom this morning since she just got back from her up north trip. The game tonight is at 7:00 so I'll be in the studio quite late tonight. I suppose I'm going back to my second shift days at the hospital. 😊

What's Taking So Long?

Those who aren't into the whole long arm scene do not know what we do as long armers to actually do their quilts. It's not just putting in stitches. As I've discussed before about the 'after' process, what about the 'during' process other than the quilting?

The first item up is unlocking all the ratchets to actually roll forward. 

After the quilt is rolled it looks like this.

Since this isn't straight and flat this has to happen.

The quilt top is brought up and the batting is smoothed first. Then the top is moved back into position to smooth it out. 

Once that's done and the quilt is squared up on the frame, the side leaders/clamps have to be attached.

And now it's time to baste in both sides after everything is checked and ready to get started.

I baste in at about 1/2". Oops, one more check. All the seam threads need to be pulled in that row.

Now it's ready to start getting more quilting put in. This whole process above takes about 10 minutes to perform. This particular quilt gets a roll for each sashing row and each block row so nine advances on the frame. That's an hour and a half just for rolling each section. 

Remember those little squares I took a pic of yesterday? Well, this is what they turned into last night. And after that I did get all the sections together in the Quilt Room.

Diana's quilt will be finished today if all goes well. Jim is at PT and then the dentist so I'll have a quiet morning. The girls are sulking because he's not here. They'll get over it. 

I May Have Went Too Far

I'm actually feeling worse this morning than I did yesterday morning, but better than Saturday or Sunday morning. I noticed when I came out of the studio last night that I wasn't feeling the greatest.

But, I'm going to continue on today like nothing is wrong. I've got things to do. I'm nearly at the half-way point of the Dresden quilt for Diana. At least it's off the floor this morning. After working I needed to complete the block in the Quilt Room that was started on Saturday. 

I finished the block and have matched it up with the two blocks above. 

Still needs borders, etc.

It still needs to be bordered and the embroidery hoop block will be set in there as well. I wasn't up to wrestling with something big last night. Still kinda achy. 

What's going on here?

Gridding out the interfacing

There is pre-printed interfacing for purchase in increments of your choosing, but it's just as easy (and way cheaper) to make your own gridded interfacing for a smaller project. I would not attempt to do this on something huge. I did that once already and it was a nightmare. 

Here's what went onto the interfacing. 

Hmm?

You'll see later this week what's happening here but I think it's going to turn out well. 

Today will be a repeat of yesterday except for the weather. I should be less apt to squirrel since the weather outside is rainy for now. Yesterday was a beautiful fall day with temps around 70 with the sun shining; who wouldn't squirrel with weather like that?

Spartan Bow

The bow was worked most of yesterday. Here I am quilting it with straight lines on my DSM,

Doing some quilting

My Spartan bow looks like camouflage. But it was up for a bit. 

It looks great here!

And then while relaxing for the night, I heard it fall. The Command hook isn't sticking to the bumpy siding very well. 

I'm going to try the door later this morning to see if it sticks better there. That's about all I did yesterday.

Today I'll be starting out on Bernie on this little winter quilt.  

Diane's second quilt

All while I'm frame ironing for Diana's next quilt on Marty. I have a Diana and Diane both and their quilts are going to be done on each of the Bernina's. Isn't that funny?

A Little Sewing

Prior to our having to head to the picnic I got a little sewing done on the bows. Then we were off to the dam. Here is a one-time-only pic as people are not allowed up here ever again (unless authorized).

Looking north off the catwalk towards our house

That's our first gate looking down over the catwalk

We buzzed home real quick to grab Ben's muffins and to let the girls out one last time before heading down to Lansing. Aren't my grandkids silly?

Hannah is so pretty!

From left to right: Zechariah, Hannah, Elijah, and Jacob

On the way home we picked up a new TV for the studio and I'm going to fuss with that most of the morning. And then more bow work since today is a holiday. 

On a Whim

The morning started out with the Temperature blocks and then I had to make a prototype of a notebook cover to see if I liked the pattern I've selected for that. 

This is the before

Here is the after. 

I messed up the measurement (which is why I always do trial run) wrapped cover. There shouldn't be any of the blue polka dot fabric peeking out of the right side. 

I made a fabric bow last year around the holidays and wanted to make a few larger ones for the door to the studio. There are plenty of free videos on how to make one of these. Kind of. They give you the general instructions, but aren't specific about cuts/amount of squares, etc. 

I purchased a pattern from a maker on Etsy (must support small businesses) for the full pattern since I plan on making many of these.

Here's where I left off late last night.

It looks like I'm making a camouflage bow doesn't it? It's all the left over Sparty fabric I have in my stash along with a few other fabrics that worked well here. Before the picnic I want to get started sewing these all together. 

From the picnic we have to head to Lansing for Bens birthday. Don't know what time we'll get home so this morning may be my only sewing window. 

Work After Work

I've mentioned this before. I don't just quilt customer quilts. I have plenty of work to do even before setting needle and thread into their fabric. I have even more work to do after the quilt is quilted even if they don't want me to trim their finished piece. 

One of those 'chores' is removing all the markings. Here is a before and after. 

After

Before

Because this customer wanted cross hatching for the background, the whole quilt was premarked before even loading. Not that I use the marks all the way through (because they become a little off during the quilting process), but they are a road map for me.

After I got done working, Jim announced that last night was the first Spartan football game under the lights at Spartan Stadium. Hmm?

Summer is 'over' since it's Labor Day weekend and the watermelon banner could be taken down. Jim and I made this together. 

That took a few hours to make and then Jim was ready to relax for the day. He wandered out to his man cave. I cut out the rest of the Santa top and got that ready to head to a retreat. I wasn't in a long arm mood so I cut out for the next block in Quilt Room.

I still had a lot of steam left in me so I started putting that block together. Here's the finished block. 

Block eight

Jim and Joe are at a Township/Association meeting this morning. I'll be working on the Temperature blocks until he arrives home and then I'll probably be on DW for part of the day. It's a holiday and I'll wander wherever I want to wander I guess. 

Despite All Odds

Okay, let's be honest. I can't go more than a couple days without some kind of sewing. Evie is not up 100% of the time so I take that time and work out in the studio. In the past two days I've gotten the binding started on the Raven.

Getting the binding going

Notice, this is being hand sewn rather than machine bound. My DIL wanted something to do and she left her embroidery downstate, so she's sewing the binding down on the back. I did the machine part on the front for her. 

I was able to get this pieced...

This is the table runner I've been using those whirlygig blocks as leaders/enders on. It's finally done. Well, it's pieced anyway.

I did some knitting yesterday while we were chilling in the man cave and finished a small scarf that I had left over yarn from. I finished another small square of something or another (again, left over yarn), and then I actually started to crochet something to see if it would bother my hand. It didn't seem to, but today it's sore, so maybe not yet?

We did visit my mom on Saturday. She doesn't do well with babies. Never has. Proof positive I was basically raised by my grandmother. 

While Evie is napping this morning I plan on working a bit. I need to get Sandy's quilt basted in and started on Marty. With a seven month old (as of today) it's kind of hard to get much done, but her mom and Jim are both here, so it's not like she needs me all the time. In fact, Jim is having a ball with her. 

Lots of Stuff and Things

There was some outdoor stuff we had to do (dig up trees at the beach and move rocks at the campfire spot) and then while out working with Lia a customer texted and wanted to drop off a quilt. I let her know as long as it was before noon we could make that work. I made some binding, added sashing on Quilt Room, and started a Flower Power block before they arrived.

Once the customer came and went I finished the Flower Power I was working on and then we had lunch. We headed back down to Midland for a yard and estate sale as well as a trip to Michaels for some supplies; Lia needed an embroidery hoop, we found ribbon for Evelyns banner, and then some yarn for later this winter to knit with.

I finished the banner later last night and here it is with a happy recipient. 

I'm going to putter in the studio this morning with Evie and see if I can get anything done with a seven month old on/near my person. We are visiting mom later this afternoon and I don't know if anything else will be accomplished in the studio later today?

A Little Of This

Even though we have out-of-country visitors staying until next week, I had to work yesterday morning and early afternoon. I did get Virginia's quilt finished and called to let her know that it was done. 

Customers came right after lunch (actually, during lunch) and once they left we were headed to Midland. We missed the estate sale by a few hours but we did get some other shopping done at Meijer.

Lia and I decided to make a name banner for Evie's room and here's where I left off last night after Evelyn went to bed.

I'll work on this some more later tonight. Not much studio work planned for today since we have company. But who knows how much the kiddo is going to sleep and what is in store for our day. 

Did We Move Back to Arizona?

And of course, while we still don't have a lake, the temps today are reaching nearly 100 degrees. UGH! How many more days until cooler weather? For those who don't have A/C (and I know I have a couple of customers who don't) I hope you're doing okay!!!

After messing around with reunion stuff, I was pretty much done by lunchtime in what parts I play in the whole thing. It helps that we are handing over the baton, but we are still in training and follow-up mode so most of what we normally have to do still has to be done.

After lunch I wandered into the studio and started sewing something. The house was still decorated for the 4th (so had to put that away and get out other stuff) and I didn't have a bunting for a summer theme on the fireplace. This is what I ended up making.

Jim said they looked like pizza slices so I put some watermelon seeds in there after the pic was taken. Now they are definitely watermelon slices.

After finishing that I jumped on DW. I wanted to get the quilt done on there. Since it was just cross hatching throughout the blocks it was easy enough and I ended up finishing the quilting. I am going to use the dark green to bind it so I measured and cut all of those. 

It was nearly 8:00 when I got done and I called it a night. Today is a regularly scheduled work day and I'll be continuing on with the Pickle Dish for Virginia. 

It May Be Time

The computer I'm on currently is a Mac. This Mac is about 10 years old and it's getting kind of sick. Slow to load. Slow to respond. Often items just disappear or the machine tanks. I think maybe during back to school sales I need to investigate a replacement.

It's DeGroot family reunion week. I'll be dividing my time between the studio and the camper getting everything loaded. The shopping has been delegated out to other folks, but we still have a majority of the reunion stuff. That's supposed to be distributed out when we arrive but we'll see. I don't think people realize just how much we do and how much space it takes to do it. 

We wanted to go somewhere yesterday just to get out of the house and the truck took us to Elm Creek; about the only place that was open after the holiday. Here's what I brought home.

Something for the grandkids, the kids, and me

Those pillows are personalized and I'll get started on those this fall (or sooner) so I don't have to sweat shop Santa this winter. 

I'll be working on this quilt today and most likely the rest of the week...

Virginia's Pickle Dish

This is the quilt Jim had to skim and now we're getting ready to make it right. The previous long armer really messed it up and I'm hoping to give the customer back something she's proud to have in her home.

The Catalpa Tree

The Catalpa tree outside the studio window blooms for about a week this time of year. It will bloom longer if we have a decent spring/early summer but since we've been in a dry spell, it's already shedding its flowers. It started blooming on Sunday.

After working here's the cowboy boot completed...

Lightning McQueen?

I did do a Love Letter block prior to doing the cowboy boot. I moved over to DW to quilt out the flag table runner after doing cowboy boot. I was still rocking so I trimmed it up, put it on Mike to bind, and we now have a new table runner for the holiday. It's already in the dining room.

Do you wonder how many more Love Letter blocks I have to do? Well, there are 64 blocks in total, so it'll be another while since I'm currently working on section three of five. 

The quilt on Marty should be finished today if the t-storms hold out until later this afternoon. Here's crossing our fingers and toes to wish that's what happens.

Never Have I Ever

Have you ever played that game called 'Never Have I Ever'? Well, yesterday was one of those situations for me. I worked on Marty, did the daily Love Letter block. Blanket stitched the cowboy block...

The second horseshoe boot

Put binding on Rita and got it hung on the design wall (aka the art wall) and then reset Mike to do more blanket stitching today.

Rita the Ripper is finished!

And then I started a table runner and actually finished the top all in a matter of hours. It usually takes me a whole day to design, pick fabrics, press, cut and sew together something like this. I did it in under three-ish hours. I've never done that! It's on DW and ready to be basted in...

Flag table runner

It matches the banner design I made Sunday and will be put on the table for the upcoming holiday. I'm hoping to get it quilted later tonight after all the other quilting "chores" are done. The pic doesn't really do it justice so hopefully I can get a better one later today. 

Getting a Way Late Start Today

My neighbor has been fighting one kind of cancer or another since we've lived here. Last night she was up either coughing or getting sick until well past 3:30 this morning. My bedroom window faces their house. And, I couldn't settle down last night so I never even got up until past nine.

I did get a small project done yesterday in the studio...

I didn't have any July 4th banners for the fireplace and modified this pattern to shrink it down. Appropriate for our countries 250th anniversary coming up.

I'll be on Marty all day working on the Farm Girl Vintage II quilt for Evelyn. Beyond that, I'm just going to try to get through the day without falling asleep on my feet. 

Beat the Clock

I was playing beat the clock yesterday with the humidity and the air erasable pen I use to mark with on quilts. I was also playing against mother nature who decided to cut my day short (more than once) with thunderstorms. Not only did I get off Bernie before 3:00, I couldn't even get on DW later in the evening.

Here is row four of the row by row for Ginny...

Textured wood and some flowers in the background

So I did some sit-down work and as the storms continued to roll through I continued on with more sit-down work. I got a love letter block done before 4:00. I moved over to a cowboy boot...

That was done by 5:30. Jim was still canning so I had plenty of time to do something else. I decided to get Rita the Ripper out and work on that. Turns out I had more than enough time to work on it and even put a border around (which the pattern did not).

Rita the Ripper

This pattern is still available on-line and in some stores. There is a whole series of them available including bobbins, thread, and other sewing notions. I thought this would go well with the needles wall hanging I have on the 'design wall'. 

Well, I still had some more energy and started going through my bag-o-tricks to see what I could start next. I have to have a half-dozen things going in the studio at once. However, only one or two appliqués are permitted. I can only take so much blanket stitching. I know this next project needs to be pieced first and the cowboy boots should be done before having to blanket stitch things here so this is my next project...

I've quilted a few of these for customers already and mom bought me this kit for Christmas two years ago. I'm NOT going to fuse these down. That's a lot of layers and the long arm isn't particularly jazzed about it all. Neither am I frankly.

They are large pieces and I feel like I can stitch them down as I build the blocks. I may get some fraying, but I'm okay with that. In fact, I may just promote it because that would be stinkin' cute as heck. 

Today is another round of beat the clock. Very humid and we have rain (maybe storms) coming later this afternoon. Ginny's quilt would have been done yesterday had I not had the interruption. And I have a customers' husband coming to drop off this morning, so I should be able to get the quilt done.