Scrapped

The AQS state blocks have been scrapped. The Oklahoma block started turning into frustration and I was not liking what I was doing. Time to move on at this point. 

I've been hearing about something called a temperature quilt. I started delving into these through IG, Pinterest, Google, and other smaller sources. I wanted to see pics. Layouts. Options. I love house quilts and I've chosen to not only make a temperature quilt, but it will be very simple houses showing the daily highs and lows in Gladwin for this year.

Obviously, I'm already way behind. I can catch up throughout the year and since I already have 50+ days to make up, and the houses are fairly simple, working on them at a retreat or to fill in between projects shouldn't be earth shattering. 

The first thing Jim and I did yesterday out in the studio was to get pockets aligned and sewn down to keep things under control. He was a big help in that while I was sewing, he was clipping and putting pockets in a cute color order. We got all 31 done...

The next step(s) are to line up each pocket with the side of the backgrounds and baste in. After doing that the bottom of each short side needs to be folded up a half inch and stitched down to hide the raw seam. I have done two. I'll chip away at those as time permits. 

While we had decent daylight in the scrap dresser room I started pulling colors for the temperature quilt. The cool thing about Michigan is we have a large range of temps and I have plenty of scraps to fill in those ranges. I'm probably narrowing the temps down too tightly, but ya know what? There are really no rules to this thing. It's all in how YOU want to do it and I'm pinning my mid-year temps down a little tighter than the winter temps. 

After pulling, sorting, bagging, and labeling, (thank you again Jim for your assistance in this) I headed in the studio to do some 'real' work. I don't have a pattern for the houses and was relying on my brain to work through measurements. I did two sets of test blocks and found where I needed to head. Then, I did a Fireworks block and completed my daily strip on DW. 

I only have two more Fireworks blocks to go so I think I'm going to get those completed so I can clear those fabrics away and tidy up the work area from that project. I'll take the blocks to retreat in April and put them together there. 

Going Back In Time

Today feels like an absolute repeat of Monday. Rainy, cold, and a gray type of day. Ahhh...early spring in Michigan.

I love these days because quilting and working in the studio doesn't give me any guilt about not working around the yard. 

I worked on the quilt on Marty yesterday morning and part of the afternoon after my friend Linda stopped by to ask about this top she just completed at retreat...

I don't get to quilt this. Unfortunately!

Linda has her own long arm, and while I will do some of her custom work for her, she's not putting custom quilting into this. But she was consulting with me about what threads to put into it and how closely it should be quilted. We also made a lunch date for Monday.

After working on Marty, and cutting my work day a little short, we ran to Midland to get groceries and do some other errands. When we got home, Andrew called on his way home from work and while talking to him, matched the respective pockets together for the caddies so they are ready to start assembling. I also made a Fireworks block.

After hanging up with him I did my daily strip on DW and then started working on the Oklahoma block. I'm not a fan of EPP and after struggling with those tiny triangles, gave it up. I watched a few videos on how to tackle the little tips that hang past the 'cardboard' being basted around and I'm still not convinced this is fun.

While going to sleep last night, I decided, since all of this needs to be appliquéd onto the background fabric anyway, I'm going to appliqué the whole dumb thing. There's more than one way to skin a skunk in quilting and I'm going to do what I know. 

Can't Even Celebrate

Everybody on IG are posting their caricature pics with what they love to do. Here's mine...

Yep. That's me!

When I finish a quilt for a customer, much like our Olympians, a celebration day would certainly be welcome. Unfortunately, the beat must go on and today I'll be working on this quilt on Marty...

For a nephew

This has a March deadline and it's quickly approaching meaning more quilts get pushed back to meet deadlines. 

I'm trying a new-to-me batting today. It's called Dream Puff and it mimics wool but is 100% denier poly. It's a dream to feel and snuggle with and will bring absolute warmth to the quilt. 

After getting Julies quilt quilted (I still need to do the post quilt work on it), I made myself walk away from the machine. It was nearing 5:30 and I knew if I started doing other things with it...well, you know how I work. One things leads to another and before you know it another hour has passed.

I pieced a Fireworks and a Scrappy block last night before jumping onto DW to do my 11th strip. I checked out the AQS block for this week (New Mexico) and it has me printing templates. WHAT? Didn't we toss templates out in the early 90's? This should be interesting. 

Why Do I Keep Losing Days?

I figured with Jim home every day I'd have an easier time keeping track of what day it was. I thought Wednesday was Tuesday and Thursday was Wednesday. Today is Friday already? UGH!

Blocks 11-15 are complete on Ila's quilt. No pics though. I'll be tackling 16-20 today but I have a few interruptions to deal with so that may be a pretty high goal. I have two customers coming to pick up (if they decide to venture out post impromptu winter storm from yesterday/last night), and we have the Spectrum guy coming to switch us over. All, first thing this morning. 

After working yesterday the weekly state block came through. Arizona.

It was supposed to be done in soft pinks and olives but this is what I had in the fat quarter bundle. I may need to pick up another one because I'm afraid I'm going to run out of these fabrics at this rate.

I pieced a Fireworks block and then I moved over to Mike to work on the binding on the Produce Section. It's done! I really want to hang it today, but that remains to be seen whether I have to deal with customers or the Spectrum guy (who is here now btw). 

Lots of Pics

 The quilt on Marty has yet to be finished. I worked well past 6:00 last night in hopes I could call that one done. Nope. There is still a huge chunk of borders to do on the sides as well as all the bottom borders, and all the sashing on the last two rows are yet to be finished. BUT, I did get all the interior blocks compete before shutting Marty down. Here they are and I don't remember who is who (order wise)...

I didn't get on DW last night (I mean, c'mon, really?) but did work one Fireworks block and completed this weeks AQS state block; Alaska!

Alaska!

I plan on spending the bulk of today on DW. We have two digitized E2E's that need to get on that machine. I also have a quilt-along that starts tomorrow and need to get that top onto the machine so I can participate. 

Squirrel-ing and RIP Barb Smith

Yesterday morning, while perusing through emails, one was received from AQS. I generally just glance at these before deleting them, but something caught my eye. They are hosting a state-by-state weekly block quilt-along. I've always wanted to do one of these and decided to participate this year. They are starting with Hawaii and here is my block...

Paper pieced Hawaii

I don't know if they are all going to be paper pieced, but it's okay if they are since I like doing PP. I'm using a fat quarter bundle that's been sitting in my stash for quite some time so will start with those until I feel the need to supplement with other fabrics. That was how my evening ended.

I did do my one Fireworks block before starting the Hawaii block, and during the day while I was working on Marty Jim replaced the closet doors with two flimsy's he found in my queue. Here are the new door openings...

Closet doors gone

I received a text message from a previous guild member down state informing me a member had passed on Tuesday. Barb was passionate about quilting, genealogy, and her family. She'll be missed by many people whose lives she touched. And, she isn't the only passing notification I received this week. Another member of the new guid in Hale also passed last week but I hardly knew her since I'm so new to the area. 

I've been asked if I'm getting caught up on customer quilts yet. Here's a pic of the closet before hanging the new top in front of the customer queue...

Flimsys hanging in wait for me to work

The pic above was an eye opener. I know my queue stays about the same, but to see it in its entirety is kind of intimidating. I have plenty of work to keep me busy, which I am eternally grateful for and it is with appreciation that this many customers trust me to finish their quilts for them. 

One more day on Marty. I wanted to get the Grannies Garden quilt finished for Bunny, but Marty and I were not getting along in the late afternoon. Shredded threads (I changed his needle), balking at all the bulk (I changed his foot), throwing up and getting the bobbin area nearly seized (running out of bobbin), and it was a little after 4:00 I decided we needed to take a little break from each other. 

I'll finish Grannies Garden this morning and then move on to the next one on Bernie (wall hanging), which hasn't been photographed yet as I'm still waiting to dig out the quilt top that goes with said wall hanging. 

Gut Instinct

Have you ever had a feeling in your tummy about not doing something? I had that yesterday morning. Something told me not to go to Grand Rapids yesterday, which was a bummer, but I heeded the warning. I stayed here instead and worked.

BUT...

I did not turn on my phone and concentrated on finishing Sandy's quilt instead. I have a lot of time sensitive quilts coming/in queue and knew I needed to get some of these "old" ones completed. 

Some of the quilting going in

It's a good thing I "forgot" to turn my phone back on because there were four messages from people. I would have been on the phone all day and would have not gotten this quilt done. As it was, it was well after 5:30 before DW was put to bed. 

This morning will be spent on the phone returning those phone calls while I'm removing Sandy's quilt. Linda was one of the callers and I know her quilts take priority; she'll probably be dropping them off later and who knows who else will be coming by.

Meanwhile...before Linda arrives, I have this one to work on on Bernie...

Wait! I've seen this before

Yep, number two of the Lori Holt Quilted Witch. They take forever to quilt, but are rather fun to do. Lots of pebbles and swirls in the background. Lots of detail in the blocks and accessories. But lots of thread changes too!

I may be working this weekend depending on how the sensitivity of Linda's quilt(s) are. I know we have a lot to do around the outside here, but Jim may be doing a solo. Happy Friday. 

Show Goodies

Well, I did it. I think. Still trying to get the financing end of things worked out, but I purchased a second long arm. And another no-frills piecing machine. And Jim bought me a Critter Cutter for my birthday. DW got a new set of leaders sitting here waiting for me to put on. I purchased two new patterns for Caleb and Lia's new apartment, and we got to meet up with old and new friends and customers. We stopped by moms on our way through Gladwin and finally got home around 8:30. What. A. Day!

Linda's quilt is still on the frame, but we had errands to do this morning starting with getting the girls. From there it was off to Pieces to drop off brochures, run to the produce stand for tomatoes, pick up the new (used) snow blower, stop by the butcher to get chicken breasts, and then back home to unload said snow blower out of the back of the truck. It was well past lunch time when we got everything done. 

I'm just getting on the machine now but thought I better at least share the news about the new machine coming. 

Now I have to think of two new names for these machines. I think the Elna (this machine is exactly like my Janome 1600P but cuter) will be named Ellie, but the new long arm (a Bernini Q20 on a 10' Frame) still needs a name.