The Back

I used to not change out bobbin threads. But here's the deal. If you were to have a top hand quilted, the thread would be the same on the top and bottom. And quite honestly, changing out the bobbin is less of a deal then checking tension with each thread change. 

Here's the back of Mary's quilt showing just how I did change out bobbin threads...

Showing four different bobbin threads

Not much of a difference actually. Of course, that depends on what backing pattern/color I'm dealing with too. 

One customer expected this morning to drop off, and I'll be working Tina's Flea Market for the next few days.

Just as I was getting Mary's quilt off the frame, Jim arrived home from work and we headed into the new studio shortly after to prime the drywall. Here's the result of the first coat (and remember, that center section is going to be a beam so we needn't do a whole lot with it right now)...

First coat of primer

We started this at dusk and then had to finish by "candlelight" and with daylight being a better judge of how we did, realize we have several touch up spots to do. But honestly, the way the drywall was absorbing the paint, I'm pleasantly surprised at how well it turned out. 

Not Safe

If anybody ever said a bunch of quilting ladies would be a safe place to hang out, think again. During our last night together, I inadvertently leaned up against my neighbors travel iron and received this...

Burn

And it's one of those places that keeps getting bumped. Ouch!

Nothing but unpacking occurred in the current studio yesterday. But here's some progress in the new studio...

Cutting in

Now that everything is cut in, the primer coat will be starting. I should go out and do that this morning while we have some sunshine, but I've been away from the big machines for too long and I know I have a time sensitive top coming at weeks end, so I need to focus on my "normal" work today. 

Mary's quilt will be worked on Bernie primarily, and then IF I get that done, I'll be moving over to Tina's quilt on DW to make room for the next one arriving in a few days. 

Retreat Almost Perfect

All but one of my projects were completed. Well, the third one still needs borders attached, but until I obtain some more fabric, that isn't going to happen. Here it is on the wall...

Metro Rings

I'm loving this quilt! The borders will be a 2 1/2" white, and then a 5" black to tie in the center squares. Apparently I forgot a few things up at The Springs and Monica so graciously dropped them off this morning already. I love Monica!

I've already unpacked, logged in the three quilt tops I received for business, and am ready to dive right back into it tomorrow morning. Paulette gave me an AQS magazine while we were there and enjoying a rare sunny day in February with a good magazine sounds like a plan. Jim worked yesterday so we are looking forward to relaxing a bit this afternoon with some good food and Rom-Com movies.

Retreat Accomplishments Thus Far

On Wednesday this top was completed...

New Years Day Quilt-Along

Yesterday this top was completed...

Irony

And I'm working on the Metro Rings today. 

Prior to going to retreat, I was waiting for Jim to arrive home and getting more stuff around for retreat and I made these...

Michigan Pillow

String of Hearts

Here's a pic of the room we sew in...

Lots of room!

There are about 20 of us this week and we're having a blast! Nail and eye doctor appointment this morning so I'll be arriving late to retreat this morning, but some things just can't be avoided. 

Retreat Week

I forgot to mention in the previous couple of days' posts that retreat starts tomorrow. It's just up at The Springs, but long arming doesn't occur when I'm up there. I'll be back on Monday in full long arm mode.

I love going to retreats, but it takes me away from the big machines for long periods of time, and I really miss the guys when I'm away from them. Isn't that silly? But I am noticing my attitude lately and need to readjust my head with fellow quilters. Maybe it's lack of sunshine, but I've been blue and kind of down and not feeling the best. This should fix things. 

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

Loving all the feathers and a sprinkle of modern

I'm going to continue on with that today and see how far I can get. Later tonight I need to start packing for retreat but will pull stuff out I normally forget as the day progresses. 

DW was loaded with his next project...

Another Flea Market

This one is done in the primitive color way, which I've only done one other one of. And it's not a huge one. This will be tackled once I return next week. 

After long arming yesterday, and while Jim was working on his truck in the garage, I put the last border on the Mary, Mary top.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary...

Once again, the pic doesn't show the color saturation very well. It's a little brighter than what is being depicted here. I'll have many more completed tops to show after retreat. I'm thinking I have at least four I'm going to be working on during the next five days and look forward to adding to my pile. 😉

Nothing Yesterday

I did absolutely zero in either studio yesterday. No construction. No quilting. No piecing. We went and got groceries, new studio paint (the primer anyway) and some other things (ceiling fan, exterior lights), and some totes for packing away quilts I've finished and that need to be put away. 

Just a few to get stored

I'll be working on that first thing this morning before heading to the studio. I have a customer coming to pick up and another to drop off today and I'll be getting a new piece onto DW as I work on Mary's quilt on Bernie.

Here is the wool prior to washing; clearly my favorite

Saturday morning I did some experimenting. I wanted to quilt out batting samples using the same motif to show how the quilt feels afterwards and to show how the quilting "popped" depending on the batt used. I also wanted to show how the batting reacted to washing and unfortunately, that portion did not go well. The muslin I used shrunk beyond what I thought it would and distorted what I was trying to portray so I can use those as rags around the studio for dusting. 

Finished and Finished

Sandy's quilt is finished. The drywall mudding (in the main room) is finished. Now the work begins. On, the [new] studio, not Sandy's quilt. Her quilt is all ready to be picked up. No, the mudder left a nice mess for me to clean up. I didn't want to pay him to do it so it's on me. And talk about fine dust. OMG, it's going to take forever, especially on that very large south wall.

Before and after cleaning the floor. 

But before I start in on that today, I have customers coming today to pick up and while I'm waiting for them to arrive, I'm going to do something I've wanted to do for quite some time...

???

I'm not going to report on this until it's done in case it doesn't work. But it will be to everybody's benefit when trying to pick out the right batting (nice clue, huh?). 

So, that's my forecasted day and Jim is out there working today too. Another repeat of last week(end).