Chugging Along

The boys are behaving so well. I only had two thread shreds yesterday in total, which is saying something!

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

The log cabin blocks

The bear paw blocks

I'm keeping this pretty loose, because given its size, it's not going to be a wall hanging but rather a bed quilt which we want to keep snuggly.

Here's some of the quilting going into Sue W.'s quilt...

Just getting started in the "big" areas

I'm letting the ProStitcher do the channeling because to run a straight line that far is a certain recipe for disaster. I then free motioned in the feathers myself. 

More of the same today, although Jim mentioned going grocery shopping tonight, so I won't be working as long on both of these. Judy's will be this morning and then Sue's this afternoon. We haven't shopped since before we left two weeks ago and the fridge is looking pretty darn bare. 

Updates

Every once in a while I have to update the blog, or the web site, or my IG account. I like doing it but when it's only done every once in a while, I have to refer back to my notes to remember just how to do it. Is this an aging thing?

Here's what's on DW today...

Christmas Poinsettia

Another Linda McGibbon creation from Lakeside Quilting. She is so darn talented. And, of course, since Island Batiks has a deadline on Linda, that means it passes down to me. 

Here's what's on Bernie...

Kathy's very serious owl

This piece won't even get basted in until I get Linda's poinsettia done because of our time crunch. But it's there and ready for me to work when I'm ready to dive into it.

And then, there's yard work. It's was decently nice yesterday afternoon, though a bit on the chilly side. Since we had a break in our spring rains, and since we've had so much rain, the lawn decided to explode. Push mowed the back yard, started weed wacking, and then Jim fired up my rider. Spent the next couple of hours mowing the entire yard. 

After I had enough yard work for one day (I mean, let's not get crazy the first time out), I came in and worked a little on the "Welcome" sign for our camper. All the blanket stitching is done and the next step is straight line quilting the piece on the DSM. It's all marked and ready to go for whenever I can get to it. 

Nobody expected today so should have a pretty productive day on the big machine. 💖

Deadlines

Okay people, if you've given me a deadline, I'm going to meet it. Period. I've never missed one yet and I have no intention of ever missing one. There is really no reason to call or text or email to see how I'm coming along on your quilt. This takes time away from the actual quilting process and it puts me even further behind. 

Soap box done for the day.

I soap boxed because lately I've had a lot of folks calling to see where they are at in the queue and how soon before their quilt is done. And, then giving me deadlines after initially telling me there wasn't any hurry on getting their quilt back. 

Here's the math: It takes me an average of three days to do a quilt. I have nearly 40 in queue right now. 3 x 40 = 120 days. Any questions? 

Here's what's on DW this morning...

Memory Quilt Top

I have two similar quilt tops to do back to back. This is for one of my customers/friends down in the Lansing area and since we're heading to Lansing on Saturday, it would be awesome if I could get these both done beforehand so I can deliver them instead of having to have the customer come way up here to get them. 

But then again, I didn't realize these were so large and that may be a stretch. Here's hoping!

Blankets are not Quilts

While talking to folks at the funeral, they often refer to my quilting as "making blankets". To a quilter, that's like fingernails on the chalkboard. At least, to this quilter it is. 

Did I mention my mishap with my coffee last week? I spilled coffee all over my sewing machine table. I got it up fairly quickly and went about my normal day. 

But I kept smelling coffee. So I washed the floor again. The sewing table again. The rug. My boots that are right there. Yet, I kept smelling coffee. I figured out why this morning while sewing a temporary leader onto the rush quilt I'm doing today. The coffee went down into the bobbin housing into the actual sewing machine. 

Here's what's on DW this morning...

Bbbbaaaahhhh

Jim is up in TC with his family. This quilt is due tomorrow (dropped off on Monday while we were at the funeral) so I couldn't go up with him since I needed to work. It's sure acting like it's a Monday though with all the mishaps I've had so far. 

Here's hoping you have a better Wednesday/week than mine has started out to be. 

Pressure

Does anybody out there have any artistic/crafting abilities? Painting, drawing, wood working? Quilting? How well do you work under pressure? With a deadline? 

I have two tops that need to be quilted quickly. This one...

Pat's baby gift

I was informed needs to be done by tomorrow. She called Monday to let me know this but had not indicated, when dropping it off, that it had a deadline. I had to pull Bernadettes top off (only a quarter of the way finished) and put this one on Bernie so I could make the rush. 

The other time sensitive top is still on DW. I crossed the half-way point last night before loading Pat's onto Bernie. I'll work on Pats today and get it done and then move back over to DW to work on Joyce's. UGH!

I have to stop this. Somehow. I want to do an amazing job on these quilts, but with time putting pressure on me, it's hard to set in some really cool (and oftentimes intricate) quilting because I have limitations. Mostly, time. 

Meanwhile...Jim is out hunting. He didn't bring anything home with him yesterday, so maybe today the deer will be more cooperative. And it's going to be a beautiful day to work; the snow last night and the sunshine this morning makes everything look so pretty. I love winter!

Cloudy, Snowy, and a Chance of Quilting Today

No, more than a chance...it's a definite since I'm on a tight deadline with the next quilt on the frame...

Isn't this spectacular?

This is a Linda McGibbon original design given to me to quilt by none other than Linda McGibbon. This pattern isn't even available to the public yet (but will be soon). Linda usually does her own quilting, but a recent turn of health events will not permit her (with deadlines) to do this one. So, I've been asked (and am honored) to complete the quilting on it. The quilt is already basted in and the first set of ditching is done, but that's the easy part isn't it? 

Watch future blogs to see what I decide to get in here as I'm working along. 

The Downside

I'm very ready to start my holiday fun. Late next week (we're keeping our fingers crossed with this "thing" looming over our heads) our youngest son and his wife will be back in Michigan. They'll be up here a few days after their impending arrival.

We will be celebrating the holiday at the middle sons house the day after Christmas. Which, isn't that far away. Unfortunately, and because of the "thing" we will not be seeing our eldest. Don't even get me started. 

Except for decorating the house and seeing our lights beautifully lit every night, we haven't shopped, wrapped, prepared, made, or cleaned for the holiday season. Our tree isn't even here yet. 

And this is the downside to having a business where Christmas deadlines are hanging in the wings. I can only focus on so many things at once, and right now, the tops still sitting patiently in-wait are the priority. I think next year I'm going to limit the amount of tops received for the holiday, leave a space or two for those 'last-minute-because-I-can't-plan' tops and then maybe it'll be a little less stressful. And somewhat enjoyable. 

My problem: I can't say no. I like to please and make everybody happy even if it's at my expense. That's who I am and I need to find a way to maybe alter my ways a bit?

So, here is what was done yesterday morning/afternoon.

Mary Kay's second son's quilt

It was pulled off the frame around 3:30-ish. Her daughters top was loaded next,

Mary Kay's daughters quilt

I had no intention on completing this one yesterday except I got a call from Jill who wanted to bring over a few tops to do. One, of course, for a Christmas deadline.

Jill's table topper for gift exchange

I'll work on this most of the morning and then load Carla's top next. 

I think somewhere in my [next] brochure I should add something about artistry and creativity being an unhurried task. I'll have to think about it. I have a while to come up with something because my new brochures are en-route currently.

Jim was perusing his FB Marketplace a few days ago and a lady up in Houghton Lake is depleting her fabric stash. All yardages are $5. We are headed there tonight to do a little "me" shopping. I suppose if the downside to not making cookies is buying fabric, well, I really have nothing to squabble about do I?