Rainy Day

Because it was so rainy I spent all of yesterday in the studio working on stuff. I started with Foster until I ran out of bobbin thread. The color I need is the same color I need for the customer quilt I'm working on DW. And the thread cone is looking pretty low. I need to wait until the thread order arrives in the next week, or, when I get done with the customer quilt, if there's still some left, I'll wind more for Foster.

The next project was tackling the three sets of blocks I found on Friday night. I started the smallest pile first. 

A nice size baby or dolly quilt

The next project was the next smallest pile. Here's what I got out of those...

A nice-sized baby or small child quilt

I'll work the last pile today since we can't seem to find anything to do today.

Much Needed

We have finally received a measurable amount of rainfall since yesterday afternoon. More is expected today. Jim is happy since he won't have to bring water to his garden. I'm happy because I don't have to be outside working and can play in the studio.

Here's a little of what's going into Gails Chevron quilt...

The marks have been erased since quilting

She wanted peace signs in all the setting triangles which is why those are there. 

I'm not "working" today, but instead working on Foster for more Amish with a Twist quilting. There are a LOT of thread changes and also a lot of ruler work and stops and starts for the way I'm quilting this.

Jim and I had to lower Foster down one notch on his frame. With me quilting barefoot, and his 24-inch throat span, I felt like I was at the big dinner table as a five-year old because he was up just a little too high. I was reaching too far with the rulers and that's a big no-no. Happy Saturday!

Appeal Denied!

There's been a group formed trying to appeal the special assessment of our dam reconstruction. Until the appeal ruling came in, the dams were going to cease construction soon. We just received the ruling yesterday that the appeal was denied. Maybe the construction will continue now that we're past that?

Meanwhile, I had a new customer drop off yesterday morning. She was very nice and her previous long armer is out of the picture and therefore looking for another. She gave me her first (maybe a trial of sorts) to see how I do (I think). Another customer came and picked up in the mid-afternoon. 

Despite all the customer work, I was able to get Deb B's quilt finished. I'm loading a back now for the next one on Bernie. DW is all loaded and basted in and I'll be working on this today...

Another big one

Sorry about the pic. I didn't have the lights on when I was buzzing through shutting down the studio for the night.

After finishing Debs quilt, Jim was home and we needed to run over to get his truck. When we returned home I had every intention of working on Foster while Jim was mowing the lawn. Our eldest called and we were on the phone for over an hour. I did some quiet work while we chatted and ended up getting all the remaining pieces cut for the green scrappy quilt.

I was going to go and mow the girls' pen but Jim waved me off and so went in and put all the blocks together. They are all pieced and just waiting for me to set them into rows.

Ready for a retreat

I squirreled after looking down into my ruler area and found these...

Crumb blocks and a few 25-patches

I'll get some sashing around these and make them into smaller kids or dolly quilts. It was almost 9:00 before I left the studio and I never did get to the flag block I had intended to make. Maybe tonight? 

Donating

I have't donated in a while. To anything really. Shame on me. I saw an IG post this morning from a quilter in Missouri (I think) who is collecting blocks to create some QOV's for her area. She's trying to get a block from every state. Count Michigan in!

Of course, the blocks are easy (a simple flag) and I'll be making one of those for her tonight to get into tomorrows mail. It's a small donation, but at least it's something.

Easy Peasy

More on Deb B's quilt today. I had one customer pick up and another customer came to drop off. That always takes up a little time out of long arming.

After I was done working for the day, I went to Foster to work more on the Amish with a Twist III and am now ready to roll. 

Once that was done I moved over to cutting more green pieces for the scrap quilt. While I was pressing the fabrics I ran across this piece...

My very first fabric purchase

This was the focus fabric in Calebs baby quilt; my first quilt EVER! This is the original fabric and after 30 years, it's still in pristine condition. It came from Country Stitches down in Lansing. I sent a pic to him to see if he recognized it and he quickly replied back that yes, he did know this fabric and was pleased I still had a piece.

More on Debs quilt today. I should be able to finish it up as I only have two more rows to do but the first of those is partially done. 

I have a customer coming to pick up this morning and a brand new customer coming around 11:00 to meet me and discuss what she has going on in her quilt top world. Not sure what time the other customer is coming; she wasn't very specific on when she'd be here. 

Guild Meeting

Yesterday's work day was cut short to head up to Oscoda for our monthly guild meeting. Yeah, it's a haul, but this is an amazing group of women who are friendly, helpful, and giving. Even though I don't see them often, we connect as soon as we see each other. 

We had a guest speaker last night. She is from Saginaw and she's pretty nationally known. Her name is Beth Ferrier and her appliqué techniques are dy-no-mite! No plastic glue (fusible). No hand sewing. My kind of appliqué. She was kind enough to provide us each with a few patterns to try on our own...

This quilt is spectacular

Not only did we get this free pattern book, but she gave a very long trunk show identifying how she has improved over the years; how her growth has pushed her into discovering new ways to do piecing, appliqué, and quilting. 

Jim and I didn't get home until after 10:00 last night.

Today I have one coming to pick up. Laura's quilt is done and I'm frame ironing Gails next up on DW. I'll be working on Deb B's quilt today while frame ironing the rest of the back for Gail...

Back on Bernie

This was loaded once already but pulled it off to do the second of two for Rae last week. 

Short Life

I often wonder why those sweet smelling flowers and trees only stay in bloom for such a very short time. Like the Peonies and the Irises. The cherry and apple trees; they're quick to go as well. My Northern Catalpa tree is no exception. He just started blooming on Friday; he's already losing his flowers. 

Not even a week

I don't think this extremely hot weather is doing it any favors. It isn't doing anything any favors. 

Laura's quilt did not get finished yesterday. I had to run and pick up Jim from the mechanics and lost long arming mojo upon my return. I have the last row and the last border to do this morning. 

I did make some more green scrappy blocks while Jim did a little drywall sanding and then moved over to do one block on the sit-down machine when he headed to the shower...

Lollipop Chain

I did the center block and almost moved to another one, but it's pretty labor intensive and it was nearly 8:00 by then. The heat is zapping our energy and we were done for the day. It's not supposed to be as hot today, but the humidity is making up for the heat. So thankful we have central air. 

Pea Soup

It's a sure sign it's going to be a hot one today when letting the dogs out at 8:00 the temperatures are the same outside as they are in; 75 degrees. 

The humidity outside is much higher than in the house though making it feel like pea soup out there. We're cold weather people and this really affects Jim. I hope he stays hydrated out there working in the field.

Customer bags. I'm now making customer bags to help eliminate the scrap pile I have. I worked on about four of those this weekend...

Bags for customers

I'm currently tackling the greens in the dresser with the bags and the scrap quilt I've been working on...

Pieces and parts and blocks already made

I still have a little more than 50 blocks to make. Here's some more quilting going into Amish with a Twist III...

More quilting details

Jim trimmed the dogs yesterday after he gave them both a bath. They will be much cooler with this awful heat we're expecting this week. And, it's only the middle of June. More work on Laura's log cabin quilt on DW. Since it's so big, I don't think I'll be getting this one done today, but since Jim isn't coming home for lunch, maybe?