Innocence

Ya know, I like to feel like the magic of Christmas still lives in this mature mind/body. To be innocent again and just...believe! Belief for goodness, kindness, caring, and most of all, laughter isn't a crime so I'll continue to be just a little naive and believe in the holiday.

I'm at the half-way point on Reta's monster quilt. With any luck and very few interruptions I should be able to get 'er done today. 

Some of the quilting going in

After getting a call from my eldest and shutting down the machine for the night, and while Jim was puttering out in the new studio, I was finishing up the bowl cozies for the kids for Christmas. Those are now done. 

It looks like I may scathe sweat shop Santa this year. I'm not finding anything else the kid(s) would like or find of use so I feel like our sewing for Christmas days are officially finished for the year. WHAT???? Is that possible? Maybe the other shoe will drop here in a few days when something else comes across my IG/YouTube feeds but for now all is clear. 

Unexpected

I received a phone call yesterday from a gentleman whose mother passed away last year, but left behind some unfinished quilt tops. He asked if I could get the last one quilted for him by Christmas, and since I'm almost caught up on holiday quilts, accepted the quilt. 

Since he's not a quilter, I need to run to Pieces this morning to obtain a backing for it, as well as some binding material should the backing not suit for the binding. I'll take the top with me to make sure we can get the most out of the shopping trip. 

Meanwhile, I'm working on Reta's second quilt on DW today and here's what's on Bernie this morning...

Virginia's Wooly Snowmen

Since I have this new rush that came in yesterday, and since Reta's quilt that's on DW is HUGE, it'll be a while before I get to Virginia's. But it's so darn cute to look at isn't it?

Let's talk about backings. I've had two backs, back to back (lol), that have been so short I've had to pin baste in front of my red snappers. This takes a lot of time, and since I don't needle well, a lot of pokes in the finger. Here's what I mean...

See all the pins?

And yesterday I had to use safety pins because the leaders on Bernie are so thick, the flower-headed pins won't flex enough to get them back through to the front. UGH. Please, please, please, give me enough backing material to at least get the top and bottom on without having to pin to the canvas leaders.

Lightly Falling Flakes

That's the backdrop of this morning as I arose. And it's still lightly coming down.

Worked on Reta's All Hallows Eve intermittently yesterday between getting Tina's quilt off, getting the backing ready for the next one on DW and dealing with customers. I'm going to continue on with what's on Bernie today as it needs to get done. 

Here's what's on DW for when I am done with the one on Bernie... 

Another big one

Each border will be treated differently and the center will get a free motion wandering feather/swirl. But not until I get Reta's first quilt done as this one on DW is her second. 

While Jim was putting the new door in on the east side of the new studio...

The permanent door

I was making bowl cozies. I have three nearly completed; they just need to be pressed and the edge stitching done. I found another gift I wanted to make all the family members (a State of Michigan pillow), but I'm not sure that's going to happen (again) this year. Purchasing supplies for such an undertaking may not be the wisest decision right now. 

Oblique Fracture of the 5th Metatarsal

That's the diagnosis for Hazel. She is to remain quiet for the next three to four weeks. Yeah, right. 

This means she'll be in the house when clients come to visit. The way she hangs out on the bench when she's outside when they come will do her foot zero favors. 

Meanwhile, I did get some quilting done in the late morning hours and the late afternoon hours. I was on the phone with dad during the early morning hours. We don't talk a whole bunch of times, so when we do, it's usually a rather long phone call. 

Tina's quilt should be finished today...

Loving all the texture in the panel portion!

I received a call from my youngest and his wife earlier this weekend and he generally doesn't ask for a whole lot of "sewing" things from me. But, they are loving their bowl cozies from last year and requested another set for this year. I'm making them six so they can alternate with holidays and the like...

Sitting in wait

Cloudy and cold today but no snow is expected. The tree has its ornaments (which is what we were doing between the long arming and making bowl cozies) and so I think getting that Christmas music on during work time sounds like a great idea.

I have one customer who's been trying to pick up her quilt now for a few days and I think she may be by today to grab it, but other than that, it should be a fairly quiet day. Good for Hazel. Bummer for me. 

Getting the Tree

We have our tree and it's lit with lights. But, we haven't decorated with all the ornaments yet. Not sure what happened with that? Maybe tonight we can get to it. 

In between customers, tree getting, rearranging the house to accommodate the holidays, and moving mattresses/box springs between beds, the Irony blocks are all "roughed" in. Here's all 16...

Block 1-8

Blocks 9-16

OMG this thing is going to be so cute. I'm going to wait until retreat next month to blanket stitch the appliqué and get them together into a top. I don't have anywhere here to set up the machine to do it. 

On to the big machines today. I have one customer who is picking up sometime this week, and that's about it. I do have to take Hazel to the vet today. She's due for her annual shots/tests and she's still limping around here on three legs. They can get her in at 2:00. 

A Little Bit

I did get a little bit done yesterday. All these cute wall hangings are ready for their recipients. Namely, our grandkids. 

Ready for wrapping

I had an issue with the ties on the side. The wall hanging wanted to curl inwards or flare at the corners if pulled a different way. 

While I was not sleeping two nights ago, I came up with a solution to make a knot on the corner to alleviate the bad situation. Problem solved. Projects complete. 

I have a customer coming this morning (from far, far away) to come and pick up her quilt and then Jim and I are off to fetch our Christmas tree. Before Julie gets here though, Helen Godden has posted up her 2023 Christmas Quilt-Along pattern and I'll be getting that prepped and ready. 

No work on the big machines yesterday. Still a little light headed and not feeling 100% yet. 

Did Anybody Miss Me?

I missed me which is probably what counts the most. Still not quite up to par, but I'm going to take the day hour by hour.

After customers came and went on Wednesday, the remainder of the day was spent napping off and on on the couch. And then I slept a full eight hours in bed. 

Yesterday wasn't spent sleeping at all, but just resting, taking it easy, doing minimal chores, and no long arming. What was attempted Wednesday morning has to be taken out and redone. Hauling 50 and 60 pound machines around when one is weak and can't see well (part of this thing goes into your eyes) the results are not pretty.

I am feeling a bit better, yet still pretty weak. And, for some reason, I could NOT sleep last night. It was well past 3:00 this morning before I finally settled down and then was awake each hour after that. I got up before 7:00 so I think maybe today may not work on the big machines.  

First thing this morning is a nail appointment. I can not miss this one because it's been a month tomorrow since they were last done and they are getting way too long!

So, there's no pictures to share today. Just keeping track of why I haven't really done anything much in the past two days in the studio. I miss sewing. I'm going to try working on the DSM for those banners I'm making the grandkids. I'll see how that goes since I can't really mess that up too badly. 

If I start progressing in a forward direction, then maybe (this is a big one) I'll fire up Bernie since he's the lighter of the two big machines, but I'm not going to push it and don't want to have to rip out more stitches. That's never any fun.