At Last

That Nat King Cole song comes to mind, At Last when I saw Jim pull into the driveway with both of the "guys" with him.

Here he is bringing DW in during a snowfall...

I'm glad I married a manly-man

Once DW was set onto his carriage, I started getting everything put back on him (side light, Command hook that somehow got lost during his trip downstate and back), and getting everything plugged in. Then came Marty (did not get pic).

We had a LOT to do once the machines were back on their carriages. The frames needed to be leveled. Marty's frame is new and had to be "pole" adjusted which was a feat. Jim had to run into town to get a different carriage bolt for the dead bar. Then Loring (the tech who was here Thursday) called Jim and told him to just knock off the spinner and bolt it instead. He ended up doing that because the bolt he went and fetched was not long enough.

Now to re-level again. During all of this I was frame ironing a back on Bernie and making this for Marty...

A Tool Bowl

Each of the machines has their own tool bowl so when adjustments need to be made I know exactly where to go.

Once DW and Marty were set, frame ironing immediately started. Long story short. Hers is what each of the boys are wearing now...

Sue S's Log Cabin on Marty

Evelyn's Flowers on Bernie

My Scrap Happy on DW

Evelyns quilt is basted in. The Scrap Happy on DW is basted in and started. Not without some issues though. While basting in I kept hearing a "click" with each stitch and upon investigation, found his new hopping foot mechanism was set too low. The back side of his foot was hitting the throat plate. Jim helped me raise the foot one turn.

That wasn't the right thing to do because then he started skipping stitches. Back down the foot goes and I'll have to call Gall today to see if hitting the throat plate is going to become an issue. Regardless, it gives me very little clearance on the layers.

Sue S's quilt is not basted in nor has Marty even been turned on yet. But here he is all tatted up and ready to work today...

Welcome Marty!

Did not get time to make a video with the studio all situated. I've managed to lose a pair of scissors and a compression glove in all of this. They'll turn up eventually. I hope.

Dentist appointment first thing this morning. Customers coming shortly after I get home to drop off a top. And then I can relax, enjoy the "new" studio and get back to work. It's been a long five days!

New Airbuds

Jim got me an early anniversary gift and purchased some Air Buds to surprise me. They are so very terrific! I've listened to some music, talked to Jim, and am listening to the rest of my YouTube clip after doing my morning walk. 

Speaking of my man, he's taking today off to head south to pick up the boys. He's actually already there since he left at his normal go-to-work time. So excited to see the frames filled back up again, which, if all goes well, should be later this afternoon or early evening. They are all currently empty.

I worked on the dungarees yesterday and was able to finish them while Jim was giving the girls a haircut. They are NOT figure flattering but oh, are they comfortable!

See, not figure flattering at all

But something that fits me loosely during those few blazing hot days we get is what I was going for.

Meanwhile, I have my Friday student texting me already this morning and I have to get the studio heated up (set the temp low this weekend since we were going to me mostly gone on Saturday) to start my week. I was to have had a customer drop off and pick up later and then go to lunch, but she just called and is sick today so will not be coming over after all.

It's snowing this morning but I don't think it's supposed to continue much longer (although the grass is already white) so winter has opened its door again. A great day to get the studio put entirely back together and a new, updated video shot of what the studio looks like when it's finally right! 

Class A Success

I was able to finish my coat in class yesterday. Well, I need to press the inside arm seam but I have a finished product and here it is...

Was it worth it?

This coat received glowing reviews from the shop owners, the fellow students, and customers in the store shopping. I guess it's a win. I love it! Jim even said he loved it and that it was cute. 

So, on to my next "garment" project. I can no longer show my knees. My over-sized thighs (thanks skating days) are heading south and heading towards my knees. They are UGLY! Summer is coming and while I do have a few pairs of capri jeans, it would be nice to have something a little cooler and freer flowing in those unbearable 90-degree days.

I love my bib shorts, but again, they show my knees. I tried ordering capri bibs and there are only a few available out there and what is available are ridiculously expensive. 

YouTube produced a vast number of bib overall/coverall/dungaree patterns and then I stumbled upon two Australian ladies who teach beginning garment sewing and how to draft your own patterns. I have hit pay dirt I think.

I have my pattern pieces drafted and cut out. I pre-washed some inexpensive fabric I picked up yesterday at Material Mart from their sale section. I got enough for four pairs of "dunga's" for under $60. One of the few pair on-line I liked were $89 without shipping. 

I was so excited I kept on going. I have the pockets made, the straps and loops made, and will be continuing on today while Jim is trimming the girls. 

Pieces of dungarees

We had a wonderful dinner yesterday after class at Lucky's Steakhouse and just before we left yesterday morning, Jason called and said both the "boys" were ready to pick up. But they were in Grand Rapids. Ummm...no. I have plans and can't make the trip before you are finished with your vendor event. 

Jim is going to take tomorrow off to run down to fetch them in Lansing. Yay. The studio looks empty with two vacant frames, and now nothing on Bernie's frame either. I have a HUGE work week ahead of me I think. 

Life Long Learner

I'm the first person you'll hear say something like, I did not know that or Hey, that's a really cool thing you did. 

My student yesterday came up with a motif I had never really seen occur in the quilting world before, so here's a pic of what she ingeniously invented...

The bottom motif

I like it!

I have a garment class today I'm attending and Jim is heading in with me to do our weekly errands. We're going out for our anniversary celebratory dinner after class.

The girls have already had baths today and while we were getting around for our trip into town Jim noticed two calls from Grand Rapids. Well, two means somebody is trying to get a hold of us. Jason had called from the Plainfield store and said both machines (DW and Marty) were ready to be picked up. BUT, they are in GR not Lansing.

Jim is going to take Monday off and run down to Lansing to pick up the "guys" instead of us having to run the additional two hours to get them. And, quite honestly, I won't be doing much on them this weekend because we're going to be gone all day today...and I don't long arm (usually) on Sundays. 

Do You Remember?

Your parents told you something fun and exciting was going to happen and then because of weather, work, or car issues, it didn't happen. Remember how let down you felt? Yep, that's kind of what happened yesterday.

First, Gall Sewing and Vac showed up with their van to deliver Marty, his frame, and to take Foster away. Oh, and to take DW down for servicing. Well, three of out of four isn't bad.

Foster is gone, DW is heading for repairs, and the frame is up...

He's here!

The new frame is up. 

See the box on the left. That's Marty in that box. But when it was opened I heard the installer utter an "Uh, oh". 

No, no, no! No uh oh's! 

Apparently, the head wheels come with the Bernina frame. I did not get the Bernina frame because a Q20 only has an affordable frame up to 10'. I need 12' so we found a Grace frame that would work. Grace does not provide the head wheels. Obviously.

And Gall forgot to include them in the shipment. sigh

When I go to pick up DW next week (hopefully, Tuesday) I'll be getting Marty's head as well with his wheels attached. Meaning, we have to set him and adjust him on the frame ourselves. Not to mention, the "helper" the installer was to have with him had "fish poisoning" and couldn't make it. 

Guess who had to help unload and reload that box truck?

Since this was such a CF and after talking to Jason on the phone at Gall, we decided it would be okay for me to run down and get both of the machines (and them not have to come back up to finish their job) in trade for the ruler base for Marty (a $300 option). I don't think Jason was even told about the helper not showing up for work. I'll be mentioning that during my visit. 

All in all, I probably couldn't have played with the machine last night anyway. I was up early yesterday (oh and today too) and was feeling it around 5:00. The leaders that came with the Grace frame did not have the rod sleeve sewn in for my Red Snappers so I had to sew a double line down each 12' leader (three of them) which took over an hour. 

I had to put the studio back together, and Andrew called in amongst all of that. It was nearly 7:00 before we finally shut down the studio for the day. I was frustrated, let down, exhausted, my feet were killing me, and yet I was not in a bad mood because I'm one step closer to getting this studio perfect. 

Among all of that, the electrician showed up to figure out why we didn't have electricity in the garage (which meant no door opener and the chest freezer (which is full) was not working). Oh, and the Bellers' facia was flapping in the high winds so Tim was out to deal with that as well as help my long arm tech pick up styrofoam and cardboard he stupidly left outside the box truck when putting the long arm frame together. 

Today is going to be better! I'm teaching a one-on-one long arm class here. I have no other customers coming. I am down to one machine (Bernie) which isn't good but I won't feel overwhelmed next week to work 13 hour days, and we'll be using that today for class. Oh, and it's sunny and not blasting wind. 

Today is the Day!

Say good-bye to Foster...

Getting ready to leave

I really, really, really tried to like this machine. And he was great the first week he was here and the first week he came back after getting serviced. But then he started slamming, crunching, and started having electrical issues. I didn't feel like we were gelling all that well.

Marty is on his way to replace Foster as "we speak" and I'm so excited. 

Yesterday was spent on Ronda's quilt. After shutting down around 5:00 I had to move some more stuff in the studio to make way for today's arrival. I also had to prep backing and fabric swatches for class tomorrow. Once that was done, three more Pineapple blocks were made. 

In amongst the machines leaving (DW is going down with Foster for service) and the machine arriving, I'll be finishing Rondas quilt as I only have the two sets of borders and the side sashing to finish. I could have done that last night, but I didn't want to dive into a whole new quilt while the guys were here asking questions and making disrupting noises.

I've gotten to where I'm getting pretty regimented and while I'm happy about Marty's arrival, it does disrupt my day and I need to focus when I'm starting a new quilt top so I thought it prudent to keep to what I know for the work I'm doing while they are here. 

Yesterdays weather started out with about an inch or more of snow. That changed to freezing snow/rain. Near lunch that changed over to thunderstorms, then it rained and was very windy the rest of the day. Ahhh...spring in Michigan. Another windy day today, but the sun is peeking in and out of the clouds. No precipitation is expected so the guys will be dry while running in and out of the studio. Can't wait to show pics of the studio all put back together tomorrow!

It's One Of Those Days...

...I'm so grateful and thankful I work from home and don't have to go out into the weather. Windy. Snowy. Cold. Bleh!

Here's some more quilting going into Ronda's quilt...

One of the pieced blocks

The customer that had an 11:00 appointment just called to reschedule for next Tuesday so I'll be able to finish this piece (hopefully) today. 

And then I have some finagling to do around the studio to prepare for Marty's arrival tomorrow as well as the class I'm teaching on Friday. I've already got notes and handouts roughed in. Making the practice piece will be done later after finishing Ronda's quilt along with moving furniture and things around.