Digitized Edge to Edge

I have a computer (the Pro Stitcher) that drives all the edge-to-edge motifs on customer quilts. If they request it. I don't like using it. I'm not in control, and whenever I leave the room, the thread will break and then all that's happening is hole poking. 

I'd rather just drive myself and have the control I favor over robotics. However, sometimes I can't convince a customer to just let me drive (they want a specific themed motif or whatever) and so the Pro Stitcher is called to duty.

Today is a Pro Stitcher day. I've gotten up early and will be starting said machine as soon as I get the blog done. I have to sit and babysit DW while the thing is running so I can correct any errors during stitch out. UGH. Not my jam that's for sure.

Meanwhile, Lynettes Tilda Snowmen are just about done. I have one small border to finish and will get that done once I'm convinced DW is going to behave himself during his time at work.

After "working" I was able to get my bag done and here's the result...

I love, love, love this bag!

Here are all the dividers and my zippered pocket inside...

See the zippered pocket?

I started two more blocks on the Pineapple top but that was about it for my day. I got pretty tired even before 7:00 (????). I think this cold, windy, snow weather was getting to me?

Mom is stopping by later today after her art meeting and she'll just love the noise DW is making while he's stitching out this quilt today. NOT! But that's my job and she'll just have to accept that fact. Maybe that's why she doesn't come over more often?

Pea Soup

It's a sure sign it's going to be a hot one today when letting the dogs out at 8:00 the temperatures are the same outside as they are in; 75 degrees. 

The humidity outside is much higher than in the house though making it feel like pea soup out there. We're cold weather people and this really affects Jim. I hope he stays hydrated out there working in the field.

Customer bags. I'm now making customer bags to help eliminate the scrap pile I have. I worked on about four of those this weekend...

Bags for customers

I'm currently tackling the greens in the dresser with the bags and the scrap quilt I've been working on...

Pieces and parts and blocks already made

I still have a little more than 50 blocks to make. Here's some more quilting going into Amish with a Twist III...

More quilting details

Jim trimmed the dogs yesterday after he gave them both a bath. They will be much cooler with this awful heat we're expecting this week. And, it's only the middle of June. More work on Laura's log cabin quilt on DW. Since it's so big, I don't think I'll be getting this one done today, but since Jim isn't coming home for lunch, maybe?

Short Week

This week is going to be a short one for Jim and I. We have a Masters hooding on Thursday (DIL) and a Military Commissioning ceremony (Son) on Friday. Saturday we have a birthday party (G-SON). All of these take place in Lansing/East Lansing in the mid-afternoon with luncheons and dinners prior to and after the activity. 

Because we know we have a short week coming, we worked most of yesterday morning and part of the afternoon. Jim attached the boards onto the porch/deck and I quilted Justin and Sabrinas baby quilt. 

I had to set up a temporary sewing station in the backroom and then attach the binding onto said quilt. After I located my walking foot which was MIA for a bit there. 

Cute set!

DW is currently empty but I'll be frame ironing the next backing while I'm working on Dianes quilt some more. It's nice to have a quilt on Bernie to fill in the gaps between DW quilts. 

Small Project Sunday

I did end up sewing something yesterday while Jim was down emptying out the fire pit...

Tote Bag

The inside

I want to start giving customers their "trimmings" in a more suitable bag. I give them a not-so-hefty bag now and I've noticed they are easy to rip. And, they're not eco friendly even though they are made of paper. Cutting down trees for such use seems wasteful to my mind. 

I tried making a drawstring bag a few weeks ago, and it seems too...I don't know...just not right. I like this bag. I only wish it had more structure to it, but even if I use an interfacing (aside from inner foam) I think it would still be a little lifeless. And that would mean another couple of steps in the process.

I think I'm probably going to stick to this process. I like it. It's not too hard, It only took me about an hour and a half to make (not bad considering this was my first go around with it), I can make it any size I want, and it'll use up some of this old fabric hanging around the place. Hopefully, returning customers will bring the bag back with their next quilt and we can keep the recycling going. 

Donna's quilt is going to receive my utmost attention today. I have nothing else to distract me (yet) and I need to get this quilt done. It's been on DW way too long already. 

Family Reunion Week

The family reunion this year is right on the heels of Independence Day, which is weird. I usually have a week in between. But the trailer is up and cleaned out. Now we have to start packing it up. I'll be long arming here and there today to fill in the gaps. 

I'm taking tomorrow off of everything. I need a day to just get the house ready for the kids to come and stay next weekend (they aren't camping this year because Zechariah doesn't sleep through the night), and to get our inventory done for shopping on Wednesday, and get the trailer all packed up. 

I did play in the studio yesterday. I have this many blocks in the 100 blocks challenge...

22 blocks completed so far

I know I'm way ahead of the game, but I know after tomorrow, there's probably zero chance of working on this for about a week. 

DW is still down in Lansing (he'll be there until the 10th), so I'll work on finishing Lynn S.'s quilt before Wednesday gets here. 

I also made this little bag late last night. Took under an hour. Isn't it cute?

Scrap bag

I better get to it. The work isn't going to get done by itself. 😁

Two Off and Running Days

Yesterday morning I had a Zoom call first thing with my web designer. From there, the girls and I ran to get them some chow since they were out. Once I got back I tore right into the next top loaded on the frame...

Pat R's Log Cabin

I love the colors in this top! This top will be worked today as well since it's a big one but here's some of the quilting going into it...

It's amazing how the quilting changes things

But I had a border issue I'm hoping starch will fix.

Uh oh!

Once my back said I was done for the day (and we were experiencing gusting winds which was making me a little nervous), I moved on to the small project I started last weekend while the starch was drying on that border. And it's a finish!

Cute everything bag

And all the blocks are done for the striped top I was working on. Just need to get them together and decide whether I want to get a border on this or just leave it as a couch-size quilt. 

Does it drive your vision nuts?

This morning started out with a customer dropping off two tops and getting sheets hung out on the line. Now I can finally work and get Pat's quilt finished today (hopefully). Happy Thursday!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

I had customers through most of the morning and part of the afternoon yesterday. Loading the next quilt didn't happen until well after lunch. I did, however, get a chance to finish my retreat bag while waiting for said customers to arrive. 

Let's go to a retreat!

I haven't done that much appliqué/blanket stitching since I finished Town and Country. Once the customers left and I wolfed down lunch, I loaded this...

Kaffe Diamonds

The customer was very specific about how she wanted it quilted so here's what it's getting...

Not a very good pic, but the idea is there

While rolling forward on the frame on this very bias-edged quilt, an expected (though not welcome) thing happened... 

Oh look! The quilt top is waving at me. 

This also happened on the other side. I only got half of this done yesterday afternoon before Jim came home and we were in desperate need of food. And given it's a holiday weekend, thought we better go last night instead of waiting for any other day this weekend. 

While we were gone, Tina B. dropped off an emergent top that needs to be done. Now I have two of those in the queue. Once the "fun" chores are done (bathrooms and bedding) I'll continue on with the Kaffe diamonds and get one of the "needs yesterday" loaded for the weekend. 

Post-Retreat Check-in

Here are a few things I was able to get done at our weekend retreat...

A new "crazy" quilt top

Two Pillow Cases

Elijah's new big boy quilt top

The center of the Cotton Cuts BOM and a new carry bag

Once I was home and had everything put away yesterday, I started right in on the Dream Bigger. I'm not sure how many petals I actually did do but here are the pics...

It looks to be about eight. Today (and tomorrow, and probably the next day) will be spent chipping away on this piece. My goal is to have it off the frame by this weekend (Memorial Day) because we are expecting all the neighbors up with the holiday (despite not having a lake). 

Small Project Weekend

I think I'm going to need to call in the cavalry on this one once I get further into it... 

Sewing, Quilting, and Appliqué all in one

So far it's been pretty easy. I'll see once I get more invested this week. 

Sue L.'s quilt was taken off the frame late Saturday night. I haven't replaced it yet because I started diving right in on this project. It'll be a surprise for tomorrows post.

Getting Ready for the Wedding

Our youngest son is getting married Friday afternoon. Most of yesterday morning was spent pressing out clothes and gathering items for him still here at the house. (He's in the military and is stationed in Washington state). But throughout the day I made this back pack bag.

Something to bum around town with over the summer

And, because it was a nicer-ish day out, some yard work had to happen (of course).

Today is gloomy. A nail appointment is scheduled for this afternoon, so studio time this morning gets to happen. Yeah!

Whirlwind Weekend

The kids from Lansing came up for a visit on Friday and Saturday, so no studio time for those two days. Yesterday I squirreled and completed this wonderful little toiletries bag for the next time I travel.

Small Project Sunday

And doing this all while there was a snow storm happening outside (see the snow in the background behind the bag?).

It's April, right?

But it's also northern Michigan and this is what we get. I'm not complaining AT ALL! I love the snow and cold days because then I don't feel guilty about not working outside in the yard while I am sewing.

Hazel seemed to perk up over the weekend after all the meds she's currently on. She loves the snow too!

I seem to be feeling better and the snow helps

The vet didn't find anything specific wrong with her after her visit Friday. But we have a direction we're headed in getting this problem of hers rectified. So far, it seems to be working.

Today it's sunny and I'm up early so on to a great sewing day.

I'm Going to Utah!

My long arm machine is a Handi Quilter Fusion. His name is DW. DW and I entered a contest to win a trip to the Handi Quilter headquarters in Salt Lake City last month. Guess who won?

Amongst the thousands of entries they received, I was one of 12 who was chosen to go in March! I still can't believe it and I was notified a few weeks ago. I couldn't tell anyone because they haven't released it to the public yet, but now I'm able to do so. I'm pinching myself almost daily because it still doesn't seem real.

Hazel is now 22 weeks old. Here she is on her weekly birthday yesterday, enjoying more mud.

Look at me mom! I LOVE the mud!

What have I been doing in the studio the past week? Lots and lots! But again, I didn't want to disrupt the Project Quilting story, so haven't posted.

Tristan's Fire Engine top is completed.

Stripe Me Happy

Strip me Happy top is completed.

I have pulled off the Seasonal Silhouette from the long arm to put on and take off, two customer quilts.

Still needs to be stuffed

I made a turtle.

I made a bag.

For my Utah Trip

Aunt Lil is "roughed in" with the borders yet to go,

Aunt Lil

and I'm still trying to decide what to do about this weeks' Project Quilting challenge piece. I may have to skip this one since I'm coming up with about nothing that I can do well in the next few days.

Here is a better (not muddy) pic of our little girl being not so little anymore.

She likes to sleep by the back door now. I think she's waiting for dad to get home.