What a Difference a Day Makes

The way our weather is in Michigan is astounding sometimes. Here was our view off the deck yesterday morning...

Yesterday morning

Here's the view this morning...

What a difference

It's so pretty. While I was waiting for this pic to download, I noticed my downloads file was getting pretty messy, so I just deleted off about 500 pics from there. I'll empty the trash when I log out in a bit. 

No long arming yesterday because I got all of these done...

The big dipper

Not sure about the name of this one

The BOW is now a top!

I have two more blocks to work in the Alaska top before I can start the next phase. I have the first block already cut out and will make that this morning. Jim is out cleaning off snow from the drive so I have a few hours to amuse myself in here. 

And these pics were snagged from IG this morning...

Don't they look happy?

Grandbaby (daughter) due in January

This will be number seven for us and the kids are over the moon excited! Wait until they can't sleep anymore because little one is up wanting attention at all hours. Then they may not be as excited. LOL. 

Tech 0, Colette 2

When we got our new router last week I had a LOT of trouble trying to get the printer back up and running. After two days of monkeying around with it, FINALLY got it back up and running yesterday. Then, for some reason, our Apple Music Library decided it didn't want to have our music anymore and deleted ALL our playlists.

I'm not too worried about the general music as we have an extensive library backed up on the external hard drive but the Christmas library was gone. I've spent years cultivating this library and it was just...gone!

I fiddled with it for an hour or so and decided technology was NOT going to win this weekend and managed to get most of the holiday music back into the library. I had to sift through duplicates and unwanted arrangements yesterday and this morning but I think I've got it nearly all set. 

Meanwhile, I was able to make my last BOW block in the afternoon...

The last block

I was sweating this one. I had JUST enough white background left over to finish it. And I stumbled upon the last two 3 1/2" blocks by accident while filing away all the left over fabric not needed any further. 
Whew!

I laid them all out to get a feel for what I needed to do next...

Figuring out what to do next

They haven't given out finishing instructions yet, but that doesn't stop me anymore. I auditioned fabric from the pic, and I checked what I had left over and think it'll be good on what I come up with today. 

We have the house all decorated (which prompted the discovery of the music library disappearing) because who can decorate without holiday music playing in the background? I know I can't.

This morning we were warned via the Ring app we have a winter storm on its way around the early evening. The skies were red this morning and while the sun was rising I managed to get a great pick of our first ice skim on the lake...

I may do some long arming today. I miss being on the machines and Christmas isn't getting any further away for those customer deadlines I have looming over my head. But first, the BOW finish. 

Decorating Without Help

It's been a tradition in our family, since the grandkids were very little, to have them help decorate the house after our post-meal Thanksgiving walk. The weather was atrocious yesterday so no walk. The grandkids weren't here so no decorating. And Jim and I were up very early in the morning and it was nearly dark when mom did leave so no decorations were even brought in. 

While I'm technically "open" today I'm not long arming quilts. I'll field calls (if I even get any) while we are doing the decorating.

While Jim was watching MSU basketball, I did get these trees finished after mom left last night...

Another block in the Alaska quilt

I have my last BOW to make this afternoon after we are done spreading Christmas cheer throughout the house. And since it's the last, I'll also start constructing the top and maybe have it completed by nights end. These blocks are pretty big (21 1/2" square) meaning it's going to take some time. 

Happy Turkey Day

What are you thankful for? My list is way too long and I've talked about this previously the past few days. But mostly, I have a warm house, food in my belly, a loving husband, two great dogs, and a business that's currently keeping our heads above water. 

Here's some more quilting going into the horse quilt...

I love working on DW again!

Since DW was my first long arm, we've developed a wonderful relationship over the years. It's great to be back on him after having 'retired' him for a while. 

I may do this?!?!

A Christmas countdown (the first item at the top of the list). It's free and I have a fat 1/2 yd. bundle I picked up at the Shipshewana yard sale that would be perfect for this quilt. It starts on Monday and if I put the Alaska quilt aside for a spell, it would be doable. This is going be called the BOD since it's a block-a-day type of quilt. 

Because, you know, we all need more stuff to do. 

The last BOW is releasing tomorrow and it'll be a quilt top before the end of the weekend...hopefully. 

I'll be frame ironing a back on DW while working on the meal. I may have some time to work on the tree block in the Alaska top. I started them last night, but because I've been getting up pretty early lately, I'm pooping out quicker at night. 

Find something to give thanks for and let's not forget it IS an important celebration. Let's let the turkey have his day in the spotlight. After all, he was almost our country's national bird. 

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

It's the day of prep work, although, for us this year, it's just a meal for three. The B's have been sick and had other plans anyway. Of course, the A's live in Ohio and Andrew cooks for his family as well as Laura's. The C's are headed to Jims Nieces house, who also live in Germany for the holiday.  

But that will give Jim and I plenty of leftovers for the weekend because we ARE making a traditional turkey dinner to celebrate the thanks we have for the life we currently live. 

I was in the studio early yesterday morning so here's some of the quilting going into the horses quilt...

Borders

Light thread work

I worked until nearly 6:00. I'd call that a win day since I did finish up the 'Tis the Season quilt for Susan. 

After long arming I moved over to work on another block in the Alaska quilt top...

Lupine

Not sure how much long arming I'm going to get done today. I have a nail appointment first thing and Jim is going with me to do errands while I'm getting those done. The wind is howling out there and I'll have to wait to see if it's a good idea to turn on the machines once we get back.

And, prep work needs to commence at some point for our meal tomorrow. 

A New Retreat

I was in a couple of meetings yesterday. One was with my co-pilot on the retreat we are trying to springboard. The second was with the folks at Riverwalk Place to discuss and view the logistics of our pending retreat, and the third was here to discuss quilting on a HUGE Judy Niemeyer quilt due for the holiday. 

I only got a few hours of long arming in but will be finishing up the 'Tis the Season quilt today. Here's some of the quilting going into it...

This looks familiar

I made one of these myself a few years back and she wanted it quilted pretty much the same way I quilted mine, making things easier all around.

Meetings wear me out and at about 6:30 I was done long arming and moved over to do some paper piecing. That requires very little brain power or energy, so here is the next block in the Alaska quilt...

Alaskan Cache

I've gotta get the quilt on DW done in the next day or so. The large quilt just dropped off needs to be put onto DW just for throat space reasons. Meaning, I'll be moving over to that one next. 

Meetings and Such

I have a meeting this morning with Linda (Lakeview Quilting) and Selena (Riverwalk Place) to discuss the retreat we're trying to get together for early next spring. But that isn't until late morning. In the meantime, I'll be working on the top on Marty.

I also need to remove and reload Bernie. And maybe I'll sneak over to DW and do some work on that quilt. Time dependent. 

Here is the next block in the Alaska quilt top...

Can't even really see the error

I've been doing some cross stitching on Sundays to make some more ornaments for the tree that goes into the studio. I made these two yesterday...

I don't know if I like these two as much as I like the previous two I made...

Kind of small

My favorite thus far

This one is cute too

These are from different pattern writers, so that's the reason for the difference. I may have to search out some more patterns and see if I can come up with better ones.

I Lost A Day

Ever have one of those weeks where you think it's one day and it's actually a day later? Last week was one of those and yesterday I thought it was Friday, which is why I blogged what I did. Having Jim home retired is throwing me even more off than usual. 

But it's great to have him here everyday now that I've started adjusting to it. We did a little sightseeing on our way home from groceries. We checked out the Secord Dam and then drove down to the end of ours to see what was happening. There were guys actually working down there. Probably taking advantage of the beautiful (and very dry) fall we've been given this year.

I snagged some pics of our house as it looks from across the lake...

A view of the house from across the lake

I should have probably edited this pic a bit. Once we got home, put our groceries away, and installed the new router that arrived yesterday, I started in the studio on this...

The binding is on and ready to give for Christmas

This is gift number three for the holiday. I moved over to making binding for the book quilt from the previous night because I like to include the binding with each top (now). 

All made and ready to attach once it's quilted

I started this project in Shipshewana and will continue on with it throughout the coming weeks...

The quilt I'm making now

I did this block in Shipshewana...

The first block for the Alaska quilt

I made these two blocks yesterday while Jim was watching MSU get beat [again] in Iowa...

These were pieced blocks and now I'm moving into paper pieced blocks. It's been a long while since I've paper pieced and got the first of four done for the next block. I messed up the center placement, which is okay because I'll be putting that behind the appliqué that goes there...

Oops

I'll continue on with these next three snails trails this morning and then this afternoon I need to work some more on my cross stitch Christmas things. Thursday night and Friday we decorate for the holiday, and unfortunately, our grand kids won't be here this year to assist. It'll take a full two days to get everything set out and Jim has been stringing lights for the past week. 

Happy Early Morning

This weeks BOW

I needed to color my hair this morning and I was up early anyway. Jim is in the shower and we're running for a few groceries before we start our day. Here's some things going on in the studio though not exactly in order since I batch sent these to the Mac...

Next up on Marty

Background fill on the polar bear

Background fill on the moose

For a customers granddaughter for the holidays

The book top is done!

Once we return I have to install a new router that came Fed Ex yesterday. Our old one is getting weird. I'll also be working the quilt on Marty most of the rest of the day since Rae's quilt on Bernie is done. And if time permits, I'll start on the one on DW. Yes, that's a customer quilt for a granddaughter for Christmas, not mine as DW is intended to be supposedly.  

Just Can't Do It

I loaded up Christmas music this morning instead of the usual 'favorites' playlist because I'm working on Christmas quilts for customers. One half of one song and I had to change it. I feel like Thanksgiving gets buried. 

I'm thankful every day for what I have; the customers who are currently keeping our lights on and the roof over our head. For the warmth our furnace provides and for the love of my husband and for our dogs. I'm thankful for our family, even though, sometimes, they drive us nuts. I'm thankful I'm not hungry or thirsty and I'm just hoping others appreciate what Thanksgiving stands for instead of getting caught up in the commercialism Christmas has provoked. 

I love (love, love) Christmas, but too much of a good thing starts losing its luster. Just like ice cream or cupcakes. 

Back to quilting things. Here's some of the quilting going into Rae's quilt body...

Peppermints

Swirly Holly

I had a customer drop off late yesterday afternoon so pulled off that table runner that was on DW and started frame ironing the new backing. Another holiday gift for a lucky granddaughter. 

Today I have one customer coming to pick up and I'm hoping to get this quilt on Bernie nearly finished. I may work tomorrow morning to get it finished up.

After working on the big guys until well after dark, I got the borders made for the quilt top sitting on the chair that I didn't get done the previous night only to discover it wasn't even a top yet. Sashing needed to be added to the rows and the rows needed to be joined. 

Not quite together yet

I'll be tackling this at some point throughout the weekend. I'm starting to see a dent in my cluttered studio. Yay!

Cleaning up the Messes

Here's the quilt I'm working on Bernie...

The next holiday project

Here is a little of the quilting going into the borders...

Some of the quilting

After working until around 5:00 last night, I was at a good stopping point (bobbin ran out) and I then moved over to DW. I finished the table runner that was on him, but didn't get it off the frame as of yet. I have my reasons.

I proceeded on with my two BOW's and here's the results...

Too stinken' cute

I'm a little concerned about my fabric availability on the next two blocks. The background white is getting pretty darn low and don't think I'll have enough to finish with that particular fabric. ????

What I thought was only one quilt to get borders on, discovered there's another one below that one to also get borders on. Well, at least one was completed...

Life IS better at the lake

Since I don't have a BOW to work on tonight, the second top requiring a border should be able to be completed. However, we were on the phone last night with the B's and that lasted until almost midnight. Jim and I were both up at 5:45 this morning turning over last nights conversation so I'll be pushing through the day on sheer fumes.

And, I have two customers coming today to drop off; one this morning first thing and another later this afternoon. Customer presence seems to wear me out more than it used to. Not sure why? Age maybe?

The Older I Get...

...the more the messy studio bugs me. I have projects laying around all over; binding that Jim is working on, my two BOW's, a top I didn't get borders on, a Laura Heine I'm working on for my brother, and the petals for the quilt I want to make entirely on DW. I'm sure there are more, but this is just off the top of my head. 

I think once the BOW's are done, I'll have to start getting things completed. 

This just arrived yesterday...

A challenge for next year

The girls in the Wisteria Room at Shipshewana had three of these hanging. Two were complete, and one came home with me to be quilted. Then they said they were having a challenge for next year to bring one of these completed. Challenge accepted! Because, you know, given what I'm complaining about, need something else to do. Lol!

After getting (not Rae's) but Sue S.'s quilt off Marty I found the next holiday quilt that needed to be loaded and got started right away in frame ironing. 

After getting that going I worked a little on the table runner on DW. I put this into the center rather than what I did in the previous customers' quilt...

A little more 'controlled'

I still have the outer border on the table runner to do, but the rest is complete. I moved over to the sewing table and worked on my BOW's. I actually cut for the remaining four barns/houses around the pieced block, which is why these didn't get done last night...

Aren't they cute?

Hopefully tonight I can finish those two up because on Friday there is another one to be delivered. Today I'll be working on this holiday quilt on Bernie...

This is actually Rae's

While this isn't a huge quilt, the notes I took when she delivered it for quilting are pretty extensive. Code for time consuming. Meh, it's what I love and that's okay. 

For a Monday...

...things went pretty well considering I hadn't turned on a long arm in eight days. It felt so good to get back onto the boys.

Before I started anything, I had to find a quilt to load onto DW for Jim to work on. However, EVERYTHING in the queue is custom work. I did find one customer quilt Jim could have did some mark and quilted by block work on, but when I made the backing for it (she asked I do so), it was about four inches too short. I decided to get on Marty instead because I was so frustrated.

Sometimes less is more

Since I could not load a quilt for Jim to do I instead taught him how to hand bind. My hand just isn't liking the process and since Jim can't quilt, he can do this. Here's his little work station in the studio...

After working until around 5:00 on Marty, I moved over to DW and loaded this...

Look familiar? The customer I did this for had an extra kit and we exchanged quilting for the kit since I thought this would make a nice gift for my DIL in Ohio. It's basted in and the ditching has been started.  

When I got done on DW I cut and started the two BOW blocks I missed while in Shipshe. I didn't want to take all the fabric with me to have to sort through while there so I'll get caught up this week after 'work' when I can here. 

Today I should be finishing up the quilt on Marty while Jim works binding before he goes back out hunting later this afternoon.