First Order of Business

Wow, did I get some things done in the studio yesterday. I think I was making up for the past two unproductive days. 

First: All the pieces for the Granny Squares top are cut, organized, and ready to head to a retreat. Check. 

Next. Finish the Book Nook quilt on DW. Check.

Next. Get binding on said Book Nook quilt and shoot a photo before putting it away. Check.

The pumpkin was still sweating from the cold night we had so was finally able to get it dollied up for the fall season. Check. 

Get new top loaded onto DW for the 9-Patch Quilt-Along with Natalia Bonner. Check.

Decided on a different border treatment than she put in because I know this quilt-along is a bit simpler than the one I'm doing with Sam from Quilting Curve Studio. How about this?

I'm now ready to actually participate in the QAL since I have the borders and sashing started. Yay!

Because I had spent a lot of time on DW yesterday getting things finished and started, I pulled away from him around 7:00 to do some cutting for the next block on the Quilt Room. 

But today I'll not be doing that. In fact, I should be heading to Crosswell for a fantastic fabric sale going on but it's a 2 1/2 hour drive one way and the sale started yesterday. Chances are, everything is picked over and it's too nice to be in the truck all day long (again) today. 

Jim has applesauce he wants to start. There is another sale next weekend in Harrison with even better prices than Crosswell and I'll just attend that on Friday (Saturday, we have family coming up). 

I need to run into town sometime today to find a foam core board for the super-mini design wall I'm going to need for the Granny Square planning. I also need to wash down the trim and ceiling fan in the guest bedroom to prepare it for painting so I'll start there and later we can run in after Jim fends off all the mean bees out right now while he's peeling and coring apples outside. 

Was It Monday?

Jim and I kept thinking yesterday was Monday. Probably because we took Tuesday and Wednesday off. Here is some of the quilting going into Dianes baby quilt...

Clouds and rainbows

This still needs to be removed from the frame and trimmed but after working late it's completely quilted. 

I did a Flower Power block. I removed the table runner, and, while talking to Andrew on his way home from work, got the binding on it. I did choose another quilt to load onto DW so started frame ironing the back for that. After that I started cutting out for the next block in the Quilt Room. 

Garden Table Runner

Later last night we had a lunar eclipse. I tried to capture it 'on film' and here's the beginning phase...

The beginning of the lunar eclipse

I did stay up late enough to see the totally dark landscape, but my bedroom is in the opposite side of where the moon can be seen. I didn't think Jim would appreciate me stalking around the house at 12:20 in the morning so didn't capture the entire eclipse.

I have one customer coming sometime today to pick up and while I'm waiting for her, and until I can get it loaded, the next quilt top going on Marty has to be entirely marked beforehand. I'm still debating how I'm going to do it (Pounce, manual chalk, or blue marks-be-gone). Anyway, happy Friday. 

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. 

Enough

Ever have one of those days when you wake up and think to yourself 'I have to thoroughly clean all the bathrooms'? Today was one of those days. I could not take it any longer and everything needed to be dusted, washed, and rust-removed. I just finished.

We headed to Standish, Pinconning and Alder yesterday. When we got home and right after lunch we headed next door to visit our neighbors. It was a particularly unproductive day in the studio. I did, after returning from the neighbors house, get the binding on this wall hanging.

I'm hoping to hang this from the center beam in the studio today but Jim is out spraying around the house and then inside for bugs. We do this periodically to keep critters outside. I can't have bugs in here.

Not much else going on for the remainder of the day today. While snuggling with the dogs later I hope to work on the last embroidery section for the Quilt Room quilt and then I can start piecing it with confidence that all of the embroidery work is complete. 

Just got word from my friend over in Crystal that the pontoon registration for my grandfathers pontoon hasn't yet arrived. We may not be getting it after all if this thing doesn't show up. 

Nearing a Milestone

I have three more quilts to long arm and I'll hit a milestone. More when I get there. 

Reunion is next weekend. Jim will be pulling the trailer out probably Sunday night or Monday morning. My life will be split between work and getting ready to go since we basically do everything that's required to run the thing. Let's not even go there. 

After getting Berndadettes quilt done on Marty (the Farmyard Friends by Lori Holt), I planned on spending the rest of the day for just me. Which I did.

While I was attaching the binding onto the first project, I had to take this pic...

There's going to be a seam in the turn

Why is it I check, check, and check again yet I seem to get a join at one or more of the corners?

Here is the table runner finished...

Welcome summer

And then, because I love binding so much 👿 I thought I'd do another one. Here's the Judy Niemeyer Woven Ribbons complete...

Woven Ribbons by Judy Niemeyer

I started working on getting the third table runner finished but after reading the pattern, decided I didn't want to production line sew 60 flappy pieces onto the pinwheels I've been building for the past month or so. I'll add flappy pieces on as I construct other blocks in the future.

All three long arms are pretty empty right now. Jim is frame ironing on Bernie for the next load and I haven't take the quilt off Marty, but there's nothing there to long arm. DW had these two above pieces removed yesterday so he's totally naked.

Once I get done with temperature blocks later this morning, something will be next on DW and it's a mystery which one will be selected. Hmmm?????

Ah, Such is Life

My eldest closed on his new house yesterday. The buyers for his [now] old house backed out on Saturday. Now Andrew owns two houses. Since the house sold quickly the first time six weeks ago, I'm sure it won't take long for it to sell again. Such is life.

A Love Letter block and another cowboy boot commenced after working yesterday.

I was still moving and hadn't fallen over from the lack of sleep the night before so I quilted up Rita the Ripper...

I made the binding for it once it was quilted and will hopefully get that on tonight so I can load another something on DW.

More of the same today; working on Marty (Farm Girl Vintage II for Evelyn), etc., etc., etc..

No Sleep. Again!

Last night was the third night this week I have fallen asleep only after 3:00. Good thing I'm taking today off. 

Not because of the "holiday", but because we are going to the lake I was raised on down in Crystal. We are reconnecting with people I grew up with and visiting the ole stomping grounds. I moved a lot when I was a kid but every summer until I was a teen were spent with grandma and grandpa at the cottage on the lake. I've only been back a handful of times since getting out the Army 35 years ago.

Mom sold the cottage when grandma had to be put into a care facility. It had been in our family since the 50's. The cottage was torn down two years ago and a new monstrosity now sits in its place. But the memories are still there and some of the people we knew growing up are still living right next door to our old lot. 

Today we are taking a pontoon ride around the lake. Something we used to do often as kids with the whole neighborhood. Bring your own chair and a coffee and away we'd go for a two-hour ride around this beautiful body of water in central Michigan. It's a hidden gem and property values there have skyrocketed because of it. Which is why we aren't living there instead of here. 

Anyway, pics from todays adventures will post tomorrow. I started in on Evelyns Farm Girl Vintage II quilt yesterday morning first thing. 

Border(s)

Corner

Let me show you the difference in custom versus edge to edge quilting. If this had been E2E quilted, this wonky block would have never laid down correctly...

Notice all the lifting and weirdness happening here

This is the after pic after I got it quilted...

Pretty much fixed

I got a Love Letter block done after working and then did my daily cowboy boot...

The second star boot

I got the baby quilt off DW and bound that...

And then I loaded this onto DW...

It's all basted in and ready to get quilted. Maybe later tonight if we get home at a decent time?

Weird Weather

The hot, muggy days like yesterday are bound to produce some interesting weather. Thankfully, we're up here in a valley where we get very mild weather. It's rare for us to have to seek shelter or worry about a storms fury. Unlike those folks downstate. They have all the fun. 

Ila's quilt is done and I'm moving over to Ginny's quilt on Bernie today. I've already started ditching and have been quilt planning since loading it yesterday afternoon.

A row by row

I'll be working on this cute piece most of the day. 

While getting this quilt above started I was frame ironing on both DW and Marty for their next projects. I'm ready to load on DW but have another couple of advances on Marty. I was waiting for Jim to get back from the food bank yesterday and blanket stitched this cowboy boot...

Howdy, howdy, howdy

Once that was finished I started to bind the Firework quilt until we left for our weekly groceries. I had, throughout the day yesterday, made a back for the baby quilt going onto DW and made two bindings. One for the baby quilt and the other for the Firework. Can't work on the baby quilt until the other one is bound. My rules. Otherwise nothing would get bound around here. 

Jim is off to the dentist this morning. Went yesterday and they didn't think anything was amiss, but had another tooth in front of the offender bother him throughout the night so he has an appointment to get that looked at. All of this without insurance. Just great. 

Date Day

Jim and I still try to date. Sometimes it's nothing more than getting groceries and then a mini mixer after at Culvers. We had a hot day on Thursday when we went to get groceries and so Culvers was out. Last night he took me to the Country Corner (I think that's its name) and we got an ice cream there. It was very yummy!

Here's some more quilting going into Iilas quilt...

Those echos take a long time to work

Each of the echo's are a start and a stop so they take a while to get in there but they are so worth it. The customer who stopped by yesterday was in la-la land admiring them. 

After working all day and going to the ice cream parlor afterwards we came home and I did a Love Letter block. I was also able to get in another pinwheel. From there I did this cowboy boot...

Out in the desert

I was able to get the binding finished on the puppy quilt for Paul...

Woof!

Once of my fellow long armers located in Canada is doing a block-by-block quilt along over the next 19 weeks. Sam and I quilt nearly identically and she's a relatively new find in my long arm world. She's basing this quilt-along using grids with the blocks and solid fabrics as her background. Guess what I pulled last night?

Angela Walters has a quilt-along she's hosting also starting in July. I have to purchase the panel to play along but I just don't have the money right now to do that. Which is unfortunate because this one is a feather-featured quilt along and if you know me at all you know I love to do feathers!

Jim is off to do some volunteer work at the food bank this morning. He was able to get my bell polished yesterday while he was in town. Doesn't it look marvelous?

I'll be playing ALL DAY in the studio. First, I'll be making those 12 1/2" blocks out of those solids I pulled. I'm going to do some long arming on DW on the Fireworks top, make a Love Letter block, do a cowboy boot and then start piecing the quilt-along blocks together. 

I won't be able to get that on the frame for a while, but each block needs to be pre-marked and that takes some time so I'll be ready in a few weeks when I can jump in and catch up with Sam on the quilt-along. 

With Good Intentions

Today is guild day. I'm supposed to be there 16 minutes ago. Since that last time I looked at the clock this morning was 3:42, I didn't figure I'd get up in time to attend. Dogs barking all over the lake (and beyond) and my head would not shut down last night. Maybe I need some sleeping gummies?

The embroidered quilt is done. Nothing on Bernie right now. Here's what I'll be working on today on Marty...

Iila's beautiful reproduction

This is another June deadline and it's a biggie! The vine in the border as well as all the embellishments are hand-turned appliqué. Such patience! It doesn't look like many thread changes though, so that helps. 

Not only did I get the quilt above all ready for today, I had a little time in the late afternoon to get the puppy quilt stitched out. 

A little more loose than what I would normally put into a quilt, but I'm using this as a teaching tool tomorrow; how to machine bind, and needed to get it done quickly. And the little guy I made this for isn't going to use it long since he's almost nearly 4-years old. 

Getting ready to join

After trimming the above quilt I started attaching the binding. This is where our lesson will begin. How to invisibly join and how to turn and continue on from the top. 

I did a Love Letter block and then worked on a cowboy boot. This one is now blanket stitched and took a long time to finish!

I'm frame ironing for the next quilt on DW already and I made one pinwheel on the garden table runner started a few days ago. Only 58 more pinwheels to go. 😗

Getting Things Finished

The t-shirt quilt is done! A day ahead of schedule.

When the customer came yesterday to pick up her quilt she was asking about the machine binding that I do. She said she was having trouble getting her stitches to 'line up' on the backside of her quilt. I grabbed the strip quilt and we loaded up the machine with the correct threads and I did a quick lesson with her. I LOVE teaching!

Since the quilt was started, and while Jim was in the shower, I started the rest of the binding...

It didn't get finished because we needed to get our weekly groceries. Always a sticker shock at the check out counter.

Today I'll be working on this cute Amy Bradley Quilt Diva wall hanging for Ginny...

Quilt Diva pattern by Amy Bradley

...until Jim can get the backing loaded onto Marty for the next show quilt that's due like right now. 

Customer already here and gone to pick up the t-shirt quilt and the rest of the day/weekend is mine alone. 

Shipshewana

I just found out my non-quilting mother is heading to Shipshewana tomorrow. She's staying at the same hotel we stay at during our retreats (Blue Gate Garden Inn). I'm so bummed! There are a few seats left on the bus, but I have a customer coming tomorrow and a meeting (retreat related) on Friday at 11:00. And, it's not just the expense of the trip, but the shopping that'll get ya.

Sigh.

Here's some more quilting eye candy on Judy's Tie quilt...

Center of the middle ties

Perimeter of the center ties

I did my strip last night on DW, two Scrappy Goodness blocks, attached the sleeve binding on the coat, and sewed the last binding around the perimeter of the coat as well. I started hand stitching that down and am nearly half-way done. Jim may take the remainder over since my middle finger is now numb. 

I have all the temperature houses caught up and the frames are ordered for the caddy's. 

I received a message from a lady wanting pricing on E2E quilting through my web site. She must have missed the banner at the top indicating I wasn't taking new customers any longer. I called her back (got voice mail) and let her know the situation. I referred her to Sarah across town for E2E services. 

More on Judys quilt today. I'm past the half-way point so the schedule in my head is good. 

UGH...Technology. Geesh!

For some reason blogger is defaulting to their menu of selecting other bloggers to follow. And, despite my deleting old blog accounts, keeps defaulting to a deleted account I've already gotten rid of. 

I hope this isn't a precursor of what's to come in technology because I have to fire up the Pro Stitcher today to get those two E2E's done. Sometimes the long arm computer (PS) can be a finicky thing as well. 

We are on the last frame iron section and then we can get those loaded and queued up for Jim to babysit. 

I, on the other hand, once the PS is starting to do its thing, will be over on Marty trying to finish the quilt for Judy. We are going to move Ila's quilt over to Marty after I get Judy's off. It's too big to handle on Bernie. It's amazing what a two foot frame difference makes.

I did one Fireworks block yesterday. 

I did get the Produce Section off DW (clearly) and trimmed. We searched everywhere for the binding I know I've already made for it but could not find meaning more had to be made. Maybe tonight I'll tackle that? 

Ready for sewing on

I was summoned to jury duty all this month, but when I called this morning I had been excused so that was dodging a bullet. I don't have time for that. Weather report today says mostly cloudy with no precipitation. It's been snowing since I got up. 

Pushing

I love long arming. It's my passion and I enjoy having the quilts come to life with stitches and texture. What I don't like is the pressure. I have people texting me already this morning (not even open yet) wondering where their quilts are. 

When I HAVE to do something, it puts undue pressure on me and what I love to do starts turning into a job; something I have to do because somebody else is dictating when I do it. 

If I haven't called you, your quilt is not done. I'm working as fast as an artist can work and honestly, I was dreading this Monday because I know I have quilts in the queue I've had for far too long and I'm pressured to get them done. 

Which makes me grumpy, irritable, and not wanting to actually get on the machines. My mind tries to push back the stress and fights with me on the pressure, meaning, it's less focused on doing the artistic side of quilting.

And, if I'm being honest, am thinking about not taking any more quilts at all. Yep, I have three machines. Yep, I have the business. Yep, I'm loving what I'm doing. BUT, I don't love the deadlines, the stress of having tops too long in the queue because I feel like I'm letting somebody down by not getting them done fast enough.

Well, here's what I did yesterday...

Finished!

Jim has a puzzle missing a piece on the table right now, and until he finds said piece, the table runner is a little off kilter here. 

It's back to the normal work week and I'll be cranking on a few quilts over the next seven days. I have retreat a week from today but I'll get as much work done as I can to meet expectations for others. I am only one person, and I do have other things I like to do. Remember, you're not the only customer I have, and like you I have a life too. 

Veering off the Path

Jim surprised me yesterday and took us to Frankenmuth for a holiday day. We ate how we wanted (no diet) and we just took in all the holiday festivities. The place was unsurprisingly busy. Once of the shops we visited was the Woolens shop and I was able to find two wide backs at a very reasonable price. 

We actually got home before dark and I then finished the binding on the cathedral window quilt.

All finished!

I pulled and started prepping for the pencil cases for the grandkids. 

Getting ready to put together

I'm making three. Two for each family and then another for me since I think these are so stinking cute. 

Mom stopped by already this morning dropping off some of the bigger presents for under the tree. Our Christmas here with the family won't be until Saturday. We'll head over to moms on Christmas day and make pizzas and visit for a while. 

I have scarves to work on all afternoon today while we watch holiday movies and relax. It's already been a crazy busy weekend and I'm ready to unwind a bit to gear up for the week ahead. 

I Lost A Day

Ever have one of those weeks where you think it's one day and it's actually a day later? Last week was one of those and yesterday I thought it was Friday, which is why I blogged what I did. Having Jim home retired is throwing me even more off than usual. 

But it's great to have him here everyday now that I've started adjusting to it. We did a little sightseeing on our way home from groceries. We checked out the Secord Dam and then drove down to the end of ours to see what was happening. There were guys actually working down there. Probably taking advantage of the beautiful (and very dry) fall we've been given this year.

I snagged some pics of our house as it looks from across the lake...

A view of the house from across the lake

I should have probably edited this pic a bit. Once we got home, put our groceries away, and installed the new router that arrived yesterday, I started in the studio on this...

The binding is on and ready to give for Christmas

This is gift number three for the holiday. I moved over to making binding for the book quilt from the previous night because I like to include the binding with each top (now). 

All made and ready to attach once it's quilted

I started this project in Shipshewana and will continue on with it throughout the coming weeks...

The quilt I'm making now

I did this block in Shipshewana...

The first block for the Alaska quilt

I made these two blocks yesterday while Jim was watching MSU get beat [again] in Iowa...

These were pieced blocks and now I'm moving into paper pieced blocks. It's been a long while since I've paper pieced and got the first of four done for the next block. I messed up the center placement, which is okay because I'll be putting that behind the appliqué that goes there...

Oops

I'll continue on with these next three snails trails this morning and then this afternoon I need to work some more on my cross stitch Christmas things. Thursday night and Friday we decorate for the holiday, and unfortunately, our grand kids won't be here this year to assist. It'll take a full two days to get everything set out and Jim has been stringing lights for the past week.