Unexpected Day Off

But so worth taking the time to spend with my best friend, Jim. We scooted around to all of the appointments that we were scheduled to deal with. I have PT I need to perform 3x's per day to strengthen the finger, but I'm finding my wrist to be more of a concern.

Typing is much easier, but because my wrist is extremely stiff and sore, I'm still slower than prior to the accident.

Hello!

Since after we got home and put everything away, it was nearly 4:00. I called the day a day off and didn't even work on customer things. Nor am I going to do customer work today. I'm excited to get onto DW because I started into the colors last night...

Aren't all these pretty cool?

I'm trying to not squeal with delight about how these are turning out. Jim is trying to set us up having the grandkids the week after the fourth. The B's said they'd think about how that would work and the logistics of them coming up. Meanwhile, it's kind of cloudy, warm, and very humid outside. A good day to stay inside and play in the studio I think. 

Appointments All Morning

First, nails. Second, Meijer. Third, hand specialist. Fourth and only if x-rays show it's okay, PT. That's my morning. I think we may need to stick a trip to Pieces in there to pick up some scissors for Jim and the girls.

Here's what's on Marty for the next few days since I finished the quilt on Bernie...

Carla's Hearts and Houses

I've started ditching and did the two outer borders, but I'm still sketching the negative space and can't decide what to do here. Too many options. 

I had one customer come to pick up yesterday and after working until 4:30 I moved over to DW.

My toe is feeling a little better so thought I would do some stuff on my quilt top...

The black diamonds

The fifth set of gray diamonds 

I have two more dark gray diamonds to do and then I can start working on the colored sections, which I'm pretty jazzed about as each section will be a completely different motif/section of work.

Jim took work off and he's going to appointments with me and we'll just enjoy each others' company. I don't know how much "work" I'll get done today meaning a long day on Monday, but that's okay. If I don't get that quilt done by Tuesday (Carla's) they'll understand.

When You Find Something You Love...

...order like 100 of them. I have a pair of MTA Sport Capris I absolutely love. They are not too thick, they fit well, and they hide my ever growing mid section (thank you broken bones). I wanted to order some more because the other capris I received from Amazon aren't the greatest quality. 

I discovered that MTA is a Meijer brand and the only place to get them (other than thrift sites), is, of course, at Meijer.

Guess I'm going to Meijer tomorrow after my hand appointment.

Not much to share in the way of quilting. I'm just plugging away at Carla's Grannies Garden some more today, although it should be finished later this afternoon. 

Here's the new Dahlia we planted earlier this spring...

Just outside the studio porch

I had two customer visits yesterday. One to pick up and drop off; the other one was just a pick up. She was not very nice. AT ALL. I don't think I have ever had a customer get so pissy with me and almost called her back here to give her back her money.

I called Caleb and Lia to ask their advice about it and they said absolutely not. I did what I said I was going to do. The work order was made with her present the day she dropped the quilt off and I have nothing to be sorry for so returning her money because she threw a tantrum was not a good business practice. 

It was that jean quilt I did a while ago and with the [wool] batting, backing (I picked that up for her) and the quilting it came to less than $200; she expected to have it bound as well. I don't do binding people! And it wasn't trimmed because it was done after the hand breakage. It's a free charge I offer anyway. I guess if she gives me a bad review I'll have to address it when it comes out.

More rain this morning and then it should be out of here around noon time. Great quilting weather!

Does Anybody Listen/Read Any More?

I've had  several customers lately who have referred to the business as Quilting on the Lake instead of Quilting at the Lake. If I was quilting on the lake, I'd only be doing it in the winter because certainly water isn't going to hold up three long arm machines.

I also stress the "at" part when I introduce who is calling and all my literature clearly has "at" on them, yet checks are made out to "on" and when they talk about the business they always say "on" instead of "at".

I think grammar and the understanding of the English language is under educated in our school systems.

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

Same but different

This is actually the pic from Diana's quilt but I'm doing the same in Carla's except for the feathers. I'm doing bump-back feathers in Carla's where I did traditional feathers on Diana's. 

OMG I can't wait to get this stupid ass cast off. Two more days. Meanwhile, I still limp around with my toe. Storms expected today so the machine may be off for a bit if that happens. 

Broken Toe

Maybe the quilt Gods are telling me I'm not supposed to long arm? Here's the latest injury in the elder DeGroot household...

Broke my toe

And man did it hurt yesterday while working. It's a bit better today, but then again, I haven't really done a whole lot yet. 

Bunny's Flea Market quilt is done but not yet off the frame. Here's what I'll be working on today once I get the other quilt off...

Look familiar?

Yep. Grannies Garden #2. This one is for Carla. She has another one in the queue that'll be next onto Marty. At least with this one I won't have to think much about what I'm doing since I've already done one and she wants it done the same.

And, that's pretty much going to be my day while hobbling around the place. 

Beautiful Day

It was a gorgeous weather day yesterday, yet we spent most of the late afternoon/evening in the living room watching movies and eating junk food. Jim and I are so busy during the week we need a half day to just relax, take naps, and ramp up for the upcoming week. 

While Jim was grooming Hazel, I was doing some minor chores and then I remembered I had something I purchased down in Ohio (the scene of the "crash" if you will) at the one quilt shop Chad took me to. It doesn't take much to lob off a rough 20" square, mark lines, and put the mostly precut letters/shapes onto the square...

With Kaffe fabrics too!

All of this will need to be blanket stitched, and then of course, quilted. I'll probably appli-quilt it and then do some straight lines once the appliqué is secured.

Need to order mom some business cards yet this morning and call my hand specialist about PT on Friday before I head into the studio but I'll be working on Bunny's quilt most all of today. 

Happy Fathers Day

When somebody makes an appointment and then, when the time passes for them to arrive, they haven't yet shown, it's very disappointing. I called the people and the man said they were just at Pieces and they'd be there a while. 

Nope. My appointments on Saturday are until noon. It was already 12:15 and we had yet to even start lunch; chicken and waffles which take a solid hour to prepare. We were getting hungry and told the visitors maybe another time would be better. 

I have to call my dad and then text the boys for Fathers Day. We have already talked to Caleb but I need to take into account time zone differences (I have one in Alaska and one in Germany, so an 11 hour time difference). 

While waiting for my "visitors" I worked first on Bunny's quilt and then moved over to DW after one pass on Bunny's...

The fourth set of diamonds

Still debating on whether to put pebbles on the outside set of channels? 

Jim is trimming Hazel up right now and I had a haircut before she did. Not sure what else Jim is going to want to do afterward, but it's his day and he's driving. 

All Wool

All three of the quilts being worked have wool batt in them. That's highly unusual in having all three be the same batting, especially with all the batting varieties available out there.

It's a cloudy day today and I was able to snag this pic this morning of the exterior of the studio...

Hello!

I hadn't yet put the flag out for Flag Day. I'll be in the studio this morning working on either Bunny's quilt or my own. I have a quilting visitor (not a customer) to come and look at the studio later this morning. Jim is canning berries. It's Father's Day weekend and he gets to do whatever he wants this weekend.

Bunny's quilt is about a third of the way done. Mine wasn't touched at all yesterday as we went grocery shopping after Jim groomed Lucy. 

All Three Long Arms

I did actual work on all three long arms yesterday. First, Bernie...

A nice hand guided edge-to-edge 

Hand guided means I did the driving, not a computer. Bernie doesn't have one anyway. 

Once that was taken off and the customer was notified I have three of her quilts done, I moved over to Marty...

Look Familiar?

Number 14 of the Flea Market quilts and I'm told, this isn't the last. Piano keys in the border, ditch and echo on the flowers/leaves and then I think I'm going to run a leaf meander in the negative space. Bunny doesn't want it as tight as I did with Carla's (which I believe had pebbles in the background). 

After working on that past 4:00 I moved over to DW. The Gravity quilt was loaded...

Gravity by Jaybird Quilts

This has been in my bin for a long time. It's kind of wrinkled but they'll smooth out with the wool batting I'm putting into it.

Here's the first couple of grays on the outside...

3rd gray

1st and 2nd grays

It's Friday the 13th and while others view the 13th as bad luck, Jim and I were married on the 13th so we feel like it's good luck instead of bad. 

Familiar Sound

While eating my breakfast I thought the neighbors were doing something. I heard the sound and it sounded vaguely familiar. Then I realized what it was. They are [once again] working on the dam! In under a year we should be getting our lake back!!!

Here's what I'll be working on today on Bernie...

A little baby quilt for Patty

This is going to get a quick E2E in here. I have customers coming in a little bit so it'll be easy to pause and resume when they get here and then after they leave.

I had a brain fart moment yesterday when I talked about Jims passion and dah, what was I thinking? The guy loves to can and freeze things. He likes to make food to share and for us to have all through the non-growing months. It's been seven months since he's been able to do it but now the season starts...

Canning season begins

While he was doing that I finished Scrap Happy (or Colorful X's and O's) on DW and started frame ironing the next back. I'm going to load Marty today too while working on the quilt above on Bernie. A full day all around. 

Thank you also to Jim for helping to cut batting for the next couple of quilts because it's so nearly impossible with my dumb cast to tackle it. Eight more days with this stupid thing!

Find Your Passion

I know I've talked about this before but it's that important. I have an idea about my family and what they like to do. My mom loves to travel and shop. Although she paints as well, I think her passion is more likely found on the road or in some art studio.

My eldest loves to garden and cook. My middle kiddo loves to work outside, and my youngest loves music and technology. I'm still not sure what Jims is. Puzzles or fiddling with wood maybe. He loves to solve things and socialize. And, we all know what mine is.

Here's something Jim finished yesterday showing his wood passion...

Welcome!

As we age we need to find our passion. It keeps us young and our minds busy. It's that one thing that when we are doing it our BP is lower, we feel happier, and it makes us feel accomplished. 

Speaking of my passion, here's some of the quilting going into Diana's quilt...

Some light custom work

I'll be on this quilt at least through the morning and possibly in the afternoon before heading to Bernie to work on another Patty quilt.

Getting Involved

There is a horse on M-61 that isn't looking too well and I've placed a call to our animal shelter to report it. Maybe educating the owners about worming and why their horse is skinny, dull-coated, and still shaggy despite all other horses being sleek this time of year. 

Every rib and his hip bones are visible

Getting involved takes bravery and it isn't any different when it comes to something passionate in your life. Of course, mine is quilting. I am now a member of two guilds and I'm on the waiting list for a third. While my business is thriving and I have to utilize every hour I can to working said business, it's also important to spread your wings and become further engaged. 

It improves awareness, education, and social skills. Something we are all sorely lacking since Covid and moreover, with our electronic devices. 

I'm having lunch with one of my customers today and I'll spend way longer with her than I would otherwise had I declined her invitation and stayed home. BUT, it's crucial not to get in a rut and become so isolated we forget how to cope with life. 

Until she arrives, I'll be working on Diana's quilt...

Lori Holts' Granny's Garden

I've already started this but I'll save those pics for tomorrow. 

No Small Project Again

Because of my hand cast, there will be no small project made this week again. We are heading over to my moms instead to visit.

I was working on DW yesterday morning until my new customer arrived. Talk about 'right to the edge'... 

Too, too close

This is one of those, don't-do-as-I-do situations. I didn't give myself nearly enough backing and am having to be really careful when quilting this last border. As you can see, I didn't get it done because Carrie arrived and needed to shut down the machine.

During lunch the kids called from Germany with some news and then we headed over to Colonville hardware to grab some things. Happy Sunday.

C'mon People

It's summertime. Memorial Day has came and went and out come all the travelers. I have an appointment today for a new customer to drop off and I have another appointment next Saturday for a new quilter. This is because people travel in the summer and are actually in the area. This area gets pretty quiet in the winter. 

Patty's baby cow is done and now I'm moving on to Diana's quilt. Here's one of the blocks...

Grannies Garden by Lori Holt

I didn't grab a pic before folding it up for the weekend but will add one on Monday. I'll be working on DW this morning until these people show up. I need to get that quilt done on him; it's starting to get pretty dusty.

Happy New Cast

NOT! This cast wasn't put on like the previous as it impedes my third finger movement much more than the first cast. But, good news. Only two weeks for this one!

See how far over the ring finger cast goes towards the middle finger?

Yesterday morning was spent up in Hale and I'm now a new member of the Hale Country Quilters. They do lots of community work, retreats, and education. They are also really good about eating so that may be a problem.😀 I picked up a quilt top from a new customer while I was there and then headed out after the official meeting for the doctors appointment.

I'm a member!

After the guild meeting, and after the doctors appointment, Jim and I scooted over to Costco to get some sugar for Jims jams and I got a few new tops. From there we headed to Meijer and picked up our weekly groceries. We never got home until nearly 7:00 and we were bushed.

I have one customer coming to pick up this morning. I'll be working on the baby quilt on Bernie during most of the day and then getting Diana's quilt ready for Monday. She called on my way up north yesterday morning to clarify some open ended items on her work order. 

Starting a New Guild

I've worked with this guild before in that I've presented, taught, and have a few of the members as customers. I'm going up today to join the Hale Country Quilters! So excited to be able to visit and share with people of a like mind.

Here's some of the quilting going into the Moooo baby quilt which I'm still working on...

Continous curve and piano keys

I won't be able to stay for the whole meeting today. I get my new cast on later this afternoon. The current one is getting so gross...

Icky!

I had a dream that I took it off before my actual appointment and was running around with no cast and screwed up the hand worse. I never remember my dreams. Ever. So that was really weird.

I'll do some long arming once I return back home later this afternoon. More like this evening I think. 

I called the customer about the quilt being loaded onto Marty and (long story short) let her know I close at 4:00 and sure enough, she called at 4:02. My phone forced it to voice mail, but dang it, I have to have perimeters. She said she'd call back today and all I really need from her is the type of batting she wants in the middle. The rest is being left up to me (and I already have a lot of ideas). 

She'll probably call back this morning while I'm in my meeting. UGH! Do people really not have any more respect for others any more?

Moooving Along

I have Bernadettes quilt all finished save for the marks removal, meaning I'll be working on this piece today... 

A baby quilt Patty made

Even though this is a baby quilt, I'm gong to custom work this. I don't want stitching going through the cows face. At least not random stitching. And, of course, I'll be frame ironing the backing for whatever goes on Marty next. 

It's a cloudy and somewhat rainy day; my favorite kind to quilt in. 

Moving Purses

I started moving stuff from my old purse to the new one; it's harder than you think since the pockets are not in the same location(s). 

Here's some of the quilting going into Bernadette's Pumpkin quilt...

Pumpkin vines, flying geese, and some straight lines

The poopy guys never showed at the neighbors yesterday because their truck broke down. Hopefully the wind will work in my favor if they show today. 

I'm so over this cast crap! It's getting really gross and stinky. And smell is my super power. 

More of the pumpkins quilt today--I'm a little over a third of the way done. Those straight lines above were excruciatingly nerve wracking. My ruler kept slipping over the hopping foot and I was so afraid I'd knock the machine out of time should I have hit the needle, all because of all the embellished areas. 

Wore Out Puppy

My Saturday was productive with mom at the Art Festival. I got a new purse, ankle bracelet, and a new spoon rest for the kitchen; ours was the original when we got married and screamed 1980's. 

Jim was productive too in our dead evergreen by the barn is now down. I let the girls out when we got home to go play with the neighbor dogs (Walter and Winston were both visiting). I let them out again to play yesterday morning when I was out helping to rake up sticks from the fallen tree. Lucy was plumb wore out yesterday afternoon. 

Awwww...tired puppy

I'll be working on this quilt for Bernadette over the next few days...

Pumpkin Village

She has already embellished it. This is going to be interesting...

This is my favorite one!

Meanwhile, the neighbors septic pump is out (I wondered why I kept smelling sewage all winter) and it may get very aromatic around here today since the guy is coming to fix it this morning. Thankfully the wind has shifted from coming from their place to going away from their place.

Craft Day

There is an art and craft festival in Midland today that mom and I are headed to here in a little bit. Here's some of the quilting that went into Patty's table runner...

Ribbons and curls

When Jim and I were in West Branch last night we stopped at Culvers and got a concrete mixer with a side order of onion rings. It's our weekly "naughty" treat. I must be destined to be a quilter...

Q is for Quilting

It's kind of cold out there this morning so I'm dressed in layers for the art thingie. Jim said he was going to play Susy Homemaker while I was away all day which actually sounds funner than what I'll be doing. 

Old and New

 

Where I spent my summers

This is our old cottage. This is two occupants later after my mom sold it. There used to be a huge Poplar tree in the center of that yard. The lake is right behind the photographer from this angle. 

They tore this down last summer.

Here's the new cottage...

Nothing cottage-y about this place

It's not a cottage anymore but rather a rather large house. That closes a chapter of my life I'll never see again. 

It's funny how time marches on and waits for nobody. I can't believe it's Friday already. I have two customers coming today and I'll be working on that table runner I showed yesterday. Off to my nail appointment. 

So...

Life is cruising along with a cast on the hand. I can't believe what a chore it is to do what may seem mundane to most. Typing, brushing teeth, and rethreading a machine. Try threading a long arm needle with a bulky cast on. Ha!

Bernadettes quilt should have been done yesterday. When I finish it later today I'll be moving over to Bernie to work on this birthday table runner for Patty...

Such a great idea!

Or, maybe not. Yesterday was a sluggish day for both Jim and I and hopefully today will be better. He's getting my cold (I think) and I'm at the coughing portion of mine; but am fighting these [new] allergies too...hopefully that's all this is.

Music Genres

I listen to a variety of music genres. It depends on what I'm working on, and, what my mood is. Yesterday was old light hits from to 70's and 80's; gotta love Lionel Richie. Today feels like a country music day.

Here's some of the quilting going into Bernadettes Summer Village...

Lots of texture!

I have the first pass done and will be working on this for a few days. This stupid cast sure is slowing me down considerably, but at least I can do a little something.

Jim mowed last night and the yard looks GREAT! But talk about firing up my [new] allergies. He stopped by this morning to let me know his bulk truck is broken and they are running to West Branch to pick up a different truck for him. He won't be home for lunch. Bleh!

Forgot To Mention

When I went to Guild last week up in Oscoda, I stopped at a new quilt shop I hadn't been to ever. Erin Matthews Quilt Shop. Such lovely ladies and a cute shop to boot. They found out I was the quilter on one of the shop hop quilts and we did a quick live feed on FB and then I found some stuff to purchase for the long arms...

Some new rulers and cleaning swabs

Those cleaning swabs are priceless! They are small enough to get into the bobbin race to eliminate the oily lint build-up. Her price was the best I've found yet. The rulers are a set of Amanda Murphy circles I've had my eye on for quite some time and again, her prices were pretty good.

I stayed out of the studio the whole weekend since Friday was a quilting marathon and I wasn't feeling well. I still have a cough, but I'm on the mend I guess.

My baby turned 31 yesterday and we chatted with them in Germany for a while. They seem to be enjoying their new digs and life there and are settling in well. 

My cast is becoming gross. Dirty. Stinky. I'm so over this already and have hardly even started this portion of healing. Bleh. 

Here's what I'll be working on today...

Bernadette's Summer Village by Laundry Basket Quilts

I've checked on how others quilted this and I didn't care for much of what they did; meaning I'll do my own thing...as usual.

Feeling Used

I drove to my appoitnment on Friday and was introduced to one of the oldest machines I'd ever laid eyes (or hands) on. 

This was the machines insignia

Not only did the customer not have any bobbins wound but the thread she purchased for quilting was serger thread. Serger thread is not strong enough to handle high speed long arming. Her husband came in to try to help with the bobbin winder and he achieved zero success.

Eventually, even after pin basting her quilt back onto both leaders (she helped very little here and I was working with my broken hand), we unloaded the back, gathered everything up, and headed here. Her husband would come get her later. This was at around 11:15.

Did she want to stop for a bite to eat? No money. I bought lunch because there was no way, with the way I was feeling (coming down with a summer cold) was I going to able to work five hours without gas in the engine.

We arrived back here around 1:00. I immediately got to work. She kept trying to show me pictures. He arrived a few hours after we did, to pick her up, and kept crowding my work space. Leaned on my machine. Brought coffee into my studio (NOT ALLOWED!). She did nothing to help (I had to chalk one of the borders) until the very last two blocks in the last border and even then I had to ask her to do it.

More pictures, more chatter, more questions. Jim and I measured the quilt and "billed" it out for her to give to her client she was so pressed to get the quilt done for. I charge $.55/mile when I teach or go to an away location...

This is one half of the trip

The whole day billed out to over $300. When they finally left a little after 6:00 I received $25 in payment. W.T.F.?????????????????????? 

Jim and I were so damaged from the audacity and inconsideration we were mentally bruised through the rest of Friday night and most of yesterday. I lost a whole day of actual customer work, I racked up milage on my truck, not to mention the gas I ate (at $3.19/gal.), I was getting sicker by the hour and the $25 she paid me didn't even cover the lunch/tip I forked out that afternoon.

Never. Ever. Again!

EVER!

Quilting Urgency

I received a text yesterday for a request to come on-location to teach/complete a twin-sized top west of our house about an hour away. This weekend. Ummm...no, it's a holiday and like all other businesses I'm closed until Tuesday once today is finished.

Could I come today? Well, since I had finished Evelyns quilts I said I could. Because I'm nice. Because I love sharing the art of long arming. Because this lady sounded pretty panicky. 

I'll be working on a very (very, very) old Singer Stretch. I could not find ANY information on this machine. AI didn't even know a thing about it let alone Google or YouTube. Adventures are fun, right?

Once I get back I'll be starting this quilt for Bernadette if I get back at a decent time... 

Another Tilda

She initially wanted just an E2E in here, but we're not going to do that, are we? Here's the other thing...I've been getting tired way easier than usual the past few days. Like, at 6:00 I'm done for the day. Then yesterday afternoon I started coughing a bit, eyes itchy, sore throat, a little achy. Yep, I think I'm coming down with a cold. 

Every time I go down state to visit the grandkids I get sick. Since my symptoms started on Wednesday, I'm thinking that's where I probably picked up this stupid bug. Well, off I go to see what this old Singer long arm will do.

Goofy Week

I did long arm yesterday but the morning was spent on the phone with customers and other people. This morning is beginning to start out the same.

I'm on phone with the kids in Germany right now and texting a customer about going to her house for a long arm lesson tomorrow morning and receiving a spam call all while blogging.

Here's some of the quilting going into what I'm working on for Evelyn...

Hydrangea quilting

After working on this quilt all day between phone work, I moved over to DW and had to call Jim in to re-level and adjust his rails. He was pinching so badly that I could hardly move him. OMG my cast is already starting to get a little stinky. Two more weeks on this one? UGH!

Customer coming sometime today and I'll be working on Evelyns quilt(s) some more. Another cold (40's) and cloudy, damp day which is a recipe for quilting success. 

Half Day

Only worked a half day yesterday and still managed to get Amandas quilt done...

A meander was all that would work

Since I was working with exterior and interior seams, bulk, and a variety of jeans material, about all that was going to be able to go in here was a meander.

I had to contact the boys on how to figure out the area of the next three pieces...

One of three

There are two small (like this one) for placemats and then one large for a table topper. I'll be working on these today once I get them loaded. I'm still frame ironing the back.

Meanwhile, guild was great last night and it was wonderful to see quilt people again! We did a long arm Q&A with Ethyl, Tracy and me answering questions from members about what we want from a piecer when we get a top in to be quilted.

Rain, rain, and more rain expected today with temps only in the mid-50's; great day to work in my little corner of heaven.