Getting Back Into It

I've discovered I get less tolerant of junk food as I start to age. I ate a bunch on Sunday and I was a complete slug yesterday morning only finally perking up later in the mid-afternoon. Here's what was on the frame yesterday...

New customer Eileen's top

Putting in some "dock" around the "water" area

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

New Customer Gail's top

I'll start Gail's top this morning before I have to shuttle Hazel off to the groomers later. 

Andrew finally called back about his top (next out the of the WIP tote), which used to be a quilt, which is now just a top again. Only, its a very hole-y top and needs some TLC and minor repair work. I needed to know if he was planning on using it again once it was repaired or if he was just planning on hanging it once the repairs were complete. He's going to hang it downstairs in his "sports" room.

Then, I offered to make him a new one that he could use. He said he wouldn't say no to a new quilt. But we'll get the original one fixed first...which is going to take a LONG time to do and will be worked at night after long arming. 

Afternoon Project

After the dolly tops were made into quilts in the morning, work on this last dolly quilt was started. I kind of had a goal to get it completed yesterday but didn't really think it was a realistic goal. And with the leftover block from the next WIP in line, made a potholder since Jim said ours are getting holes in them. 

Dolly Quilt #8

Quick Pot Holder

Jim headed back out to his work shop after lunch and Hazel was tired from the morning activities, so she slept. I was left in relative peace so started piecing the top below. Before retiring for the night the top construction was complete. 

There is one block of the "old paisley" in here. Can you find it?

On to the next WIP...

Hmmm???

These are beautiful blocks, but there are a LOT of seams in here. I don't have a sashing fabric (I don't think) to get these together today. And those two extra blocks will have to be made into a pillow leaving me with nothing quilting to do today to work on. I guess I need to dig around in the tote and see what else is in there. 

Blogging Late Because...

...I did not have the energy to actually finish these dolly quilts last night. Six sets of customers yesterday and I was just spent. Five new quilts in queue and the tree skirts are gone. 

The frame was empty so the last two dolly quilts were done on the long arm. I quickly loaded them up and whipped out some quilting just to get them done within my self-appointed schedule of one week. 

Done on the long arm Dolly Quilt #6

Done on the Janome Horizon Dolly Quilt #5

Done on the long arm Dolly Quilt #7

I have one more dolly quilt to actually piece together.

Still needs to be put together

I was debating on whether or not to sash in between these but have decided against it. If it turns out too small I'll put a little border on it. 

Once those houses are put together I have found several sets of WIP blocks that need to go on the design wall to work through. 

We have a sunny, albeit chilly, day out there today. Sheets are hanging on the line and the mattress pads are also being washed. Is it too early for spring cleaning? No, because I've been working at it for a week now with the backroom and the studio. 

 

Empty?

Well, the long arm still has the tree skirts on the actual frame, but they are done as of 8:30 last night. There are no more customer quilt tops in the queue!!! I was hoping upon hope it would be a day or so before new ones snuck in. But, after the carousel of phone calls yesterday, that hope quickly faded.

When a customer brings me a top, rarely do we spread the whole thing out. Generally we just open it up part way and work through the blocks in that fashion. Often I will find things within the top as I'm quilting it that probably should have been addressed; missed seams, holes, cuts, or, like this top, stains and/or smudges.

That's not thread

And that's not thread either

Even if we did open the whole top up, we wouldn't be able to find the imperfections because we'd be looking for them. I see every millimeter of the top while I'm quilting it and that's when these little issues rear their heads. Which is okay. I know how to compensate for the problems. But I take a picture of each and every issue I come across to cover myself should there be a need for it later. You know, CYA?

A litany of people are expected today. Six at the last count not including any friends they may be bringing with them. I've got the comfy boots on and am at the ready. 

Spring Winds

We had a storm pass through last night. Ever notice how the next day after a storm it seems to be windy as all get out? They're screaming out there predicted to reach 40 mph at times. Which is a long arming concern. 

But, I'm not doing any computerized quilting and so will have to just power through today's windy situation.

More tree skirts today. Yesterday was a heavy phone day and not as much was completed on the skirts. Today is probably not going to be much better since I have mom coming to visit, another customer coming to pick up and I have to deal with my web site hosting situation. Maybe I can get the guys to deal with the web site problem???

I did get a small dolly quilt done after spending eight hours at the long arm. 

Dolly Quilt #4

Stinky Water

We've been dealing with stinky water here at the house. After the plumber replaced a part in the new water heater we finally have not-rotten-egg-smelling water to shower in. So happy! And, now, if I have to wash a customer backing I'm not worried about the smell issue either.

Still working on the tree skirts. The first two are not yet completed, but here's a little detail of what they are receiving...

Sorry it's upside down

And yes, that's a meander next to the trees. There was no other filler that would've worked in the irregular space. Even after drafting an echo or swirls, they didn't seem to fit the bill.

After long arming for nine hours, Jim arrived home just after the plumber showed up. Long arming any more was not going to happen. Once the "dust" settled with the replacement/repairs, I started in on this dolly quilt and completed it before calling it a day.

Dolly Quilt #3

Mom's coming over tomorrow. She hates the noise the long arm makes. I need to really dig in today on these tree skirts because I think the customer will be here Friday to pick them up (per our conversation of yesterday afternoon). 

Etheyl called yesterday from her shop (Aunt Effies...which is closing their doors in April). Her long arm decided to take an early vacation and conk out on her. She has a couple of customers who have to have stuff done in a timely manner and she's referring them my way, which is cool! 

Internet-less

Could not blog this morning because the internet was down. And...then I got so focused on long arming I didn't find the time to come back over here and blog. Not that the internet came back any time soon because an 11:30 check said it still wasn't back yet.

Here's what's on the frame today...

Pat's Tree Skirts

The fame has two of four that I have to do and should keep me busy for at least a few days.

Another two WIP's were completed yesterday.

Doll Quilt #2

Doll Quilt #1

Both the doll quilts were quilted on the Janome 1600P (Jay) and since I haven't free motioned on a stationary machine in a while, I'm getting myself reacquainted with the process. What took me a few hours to do could have been done in minutes on the long arm, but it's still fun to sit and quilt for a change of pace. 

Another WIP tonight hopefully on the sit down after long arming tree skirts.