A Little Bit of This and That

The DeGroot Christmas is actually this coming Friday. Yesterday seemed like just another Sunday where we go visit mom, eat something and catch up with each other. We did celebrate Jim's belated birthday and he opened a few gifts for that. 

Mom identified that we didn't get a Christmas this morning and gave a few little gifts to us. But the weather was not Christmas-like and the empty tree here just cemented the non-Christmas feeling. 

So, this week holiday preparations will be happening; making cookies, a gingerbread house, wrapping gifts, and cleaning since the kids/grandkids will be up Friday. I'll still get some quilting in there though. And, since yesterday (and the day before) were just "normal" days for us, I played in the [old] studio a bit. These are ready to start assembling...

Metro Rings

This will be my first attempt at a full-size wedding ring-type of quilt. Should be interesting since precise curves are fairly new to me. 

Mom is supposed to stop by today to drop off her first load of gifts, and while I am officially closed this week, I'm going to check the phone in case anybody wants to drop something off next week. Squeaking in big machine time will definitely be in there because I can't go that long without actually working. 😉

Computer Issues and Merry Christmas Eve Eve

I didn't blog yesterday because I think my Mac is end the end of its life. It's showing signs of distress and it is nearly seven years old. They just don't make things to last do they?

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

Tulips

Sunny Days

The mighty Mac

After working on Anns quilt and after having customers come and share some holiday cheer, I started back in on Stars and Shadows. 

Trim, trim, trim, trim, trim, trim...x256!

Yesterday, the machines weren't turned on at all. I had a busy appointment morning, Jim came home for lunch, I worked some more on Stars and Shadows, and then once he came home from work we ran in to get more wood for the west end of the new studio. Here's what we did last night...

West wall bottom portion complete

Not a great pic because it's not a great weather day outside-37 degrees and raining; not very Christmas-y.

Today I'm going to be going in and out helping with drywall and trim (I think). Jim works on whatever strikes his fancy that day and I never know when I'm going to be needed. I'll be on standby in the old studio. 

While I'm waiting for him, and since Stars and Shadows are all ready to head to retreat next month, I'm going to start something else this morning. Or, at least read through the directions and see if this is something I should be starting right now. Don't you love starting new projects?

Chore Day

I was off and running first thing this morning cleaning bathrooms, dealing with trash, laundry, etc. I can finally do something fun.

Here's what's on DW for the unforeseeable future...

Take a Closer Look

There is no pattern for this quilt. Take a closer look at it! It's all about our great state of Michigan. I'll take pics as I add quilting into it, but Ann made this pattern up herself and it's a stunner!

Speaking of making up their own patterns, here's what is on Bernie for the unforeseeable future...

Vrooommm, vroom

A Harley Davidson quilt for her brother that was also a self-designed pattern. I have the most talented quilt makers right here in central and eastern Michigan. 

These two quilts will be done at leisure (to some degree). I'm basically on holiday from now until the new year. All the Christmas quilts have been completed and now I can slow down a bit and enjoy the process instead of cranking under pressure. 

While I was getting Anns quilt started last night, Jim ran to Mt. Pleasant to pick up the rest of the sub floor material and the door for the west end of the studio. Here's where he left off last night...

Getting the people door in

The handle and lock still need to be installed but it's starting to look pretty great! After long arming for the day I started making [stupid] HST's. Not my favorite. 256 are needed for the Stars and Shadows quilt top. If I would have even realized that this kit would not have come home with me. I'll trim these up while I'm talking on the phone. It's a quiet activity and makes it go faster.

Got some trimming to do!

Almost Empty

The boys are almost empty this morning. Still frame ironing both backings so here's what's on the machines today...

Bernie

DW

It'll be a mystery on what I load later this morning. Meanwhile, I shall do some long arm and studio cleaning while I'm waiting for these guys to dry. 

In the outside world, I noticed all the wonderful quilting sales going on right now. Have you taken advantage of any of those? Unfortunately, I can not this year due to the huge project out there on the south side of the house. But that's okay. It would be fun to hear if any of you are taking advantage of the amazing sales!

Taxes

The last thing most anybody wants to think about during the holiday are taxes. Seriously...not an uplifting subject. Unfortunately, the saying is true that the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes. Today I have a 1:00 to meet with my tax preparer. Wheee.  

Meanwhile, I'm half-way done with Kathy's Tilda Lanterns...

Lots of texture here!

Even with the 1:00 appointment, I'm aiming to have this done by days end. I had to knock off early last night to get all my paperwork around for today. 

And, I like to compile end of the year information (just for fun), like what's the percentage of custom versus edge-to-edge work I do. (That would be 80% custom btw). I haven't fashioned other figures yet but a report on a year-end review will be forthcoming later next week. 

Family Time

The holidays for me anyway, is spending time with family and friends. We did just that yesterday and continue on throughout the next two weeks because you just never know. Luann's death made that very clear to me. 

After our errands on Saturday, and while Jim was watching the basketball game, I made 128 four-patches for the new project I'm working on. I just looked and it's called Stars and Shadows. I'm planning on getting all the pieces together before retreat next month and then I'll put it together there. 

The beginning

One customer coming sometime today to drop off. I'll be working on Kathy's Tilda Lanterns most of today and probably tomorrow too. It has a tight fill going in and may take a while, not to mention all those horizontal straight lines. 

Running Errands

We have to take some particle board back, get groceries, and run to dumb-dumb mart to get fusible. Here's what's on DW for this next week... 

Kathy's Tilda Lanterns

I really, really, really wanted to load this so the lanterns were running vertically. But the back is pieced and the seam needs to run parallel with the belly bar, so this is how the top needed to be loaded. Why did I want to run it vertically? All those lanterns get a 1/2"-spaced straight line in them. Running straight lines is easier going up and down rather than across. But, I'll deal with it.

Virginia's quilt is done, although still on the frame. I finished it later last night. Since we are out and about here shortly, it'll probably hang out until later today or even Monday (we're going to be gone all day tomorrow).

While I was working in the old studio, Jim was working in the new. Here's what he worked on last night...

Isn't that tongue and groove pretty? 

We've changed our mind so many times on how the east/west and south wall were going to be finished. We're leaving the south wall all into drywall. This gives me a blank canvas to hang quilts on. And the east/west walls are getting the cedar tongue and groove. He doesn't have enough cedar to complete the west wall so we'll price that while we're out and about.