Yay, Apple!

We often get iOs updates preventing hacking and scamming. This was one of those mornings. I'm thankful we are an Apple family because I've heard horror stories from non-Apple users about getting their phones, computers, and identity hacked.

Here's some more eye candy from Bernadettes Tilda Sampler...

Me and my Dog

Do ya think my tractor's sexy?

Fly away

More on this piece today since these are taking a looooonngg time to work. After working well past "quitting" time I tore into the Koalas and we have a top!

Ready to quilt

One customer expected later this afternoon and the sun is shining (for now). I've opened all the blinds to let the beautiful day into the house so working today will be extremely bright. 

Hello, hello!

Well, I'm back from the retreat. This one was SUCH A GREAT time. We laughed and ate, and laughed and ate some more. I only wish we could see this group of people more often than once a year. 

And, I was very, very productive. Day one:

First to be put together...the orphan block baby top

My Creative Grids pineapple blocks baby top

The QOV from just a jelly roll and a few yards of fabric

And I was thinking to myself I was way (way) ahead of schedule in my head. 

Day two:

Produce Section is a top

Day three:

Notice the 3-D napkin hanging

And day four:

So cute!

All of these but the table runner need borders and/or setting pieces put into them but they are constructed correctly and are ready for me to make them whole. Look at all these new quilting projects I have just created for myself. I had one of the retreat members give me a quilt to take home to work for her, so it wasn't just a 'vacation' for me but also a working situation. 

Here's day five (because technically, the retreat was still happening):

Taking the morning slow

I finished crocheting my slippers and did nothing else but put everything away and sort out the many lovely gift bags we received. 

So warm and comfy!

Today I'll be working on Bernadettes Tilda Sampler on DW while watching the snow falling slowly from the sky. Not expecting any customers with the snow/freezing fog we had last night and the continued snow we're getting today. 

Closed Until Monday, February 3rd

I'm leaving for my annual Creative Escapes retreat in about 45 minutes. I won't be here so obviously there won't be any work in the studio. However, there will be a LOT of work at the retreat getting (hopefully) four tops together and, if time permits, working on the Koalas.

What did I decide on those? I'm going to cut the two on the top row down a half inch to make them work with the one that was messed up. 

I worked on Bernadettes Millies dresses while frame ironing her Tilda Sampler quilt back on DW. Once that was "ironed" I loaded her quilt and this is what I'll be working all of next week...

Tilda Sampler

I did get one block quilted before calling it a night last night...

Swim, swim, swim

I have to be careful about the amount of ruler work I do in this one. This is double batted (cotton and wool both) and it would be easy enough to snag a ruler under the needle with all the poof.

In between heater runs when I was working on Millies Dresses I did another Koala...

I love this one!

The new seam tape replacement is now a little to light (meaning I'm taking too small of a seam), but I can remedy that by using the 1/4" line to the center instead of to the left. You'll know what I'm talking about if you are familiar with the stuff. 

Once the laundry is done and I've packed my lunch I'll be off to have some great sewing fun. I'm hoping to post pics of the tops that are completed over the next few days but until then, happy rest of the week. 

Health

It's funny, how when we get older, our health starts to get stupid. Jim had an anxiety episode on Saturday morning so we found ourselves at Urgent Care. We wanted to make sure he was not precursuring into a stroke or heart attack. 

He has an appointment with his GP tomorrow morning to discuss this event. At any case, his BP and HR were about normal, so it didn't look like anything too severe.

After we returned from Urgent Care and Pieces (found a backing for my Kaffe top) I did get another Koala done...

The newest on the bottom

For some reason this one turned out a smidge too small. I replaced the seam tape on Ellie, so I'm thinking I got it a little too wide when I set it. I'll have to remake that one and replace it. I'll use this one for a pillow to go with the quilt.

While Jim was watching Spartan basketball I went from piecing the Koalas to Foster to start quilting the Camping quilt...

Love putting in swirls

I was going to custom quilt this (I want to custom quilt all my own quilts), but this one was a bit too whimsical and honestly, I think this was the better choice. And I get to use up all the Omni thread I have in my bin that I want to get rid of.

Yesterday was a lazy day. Jim was still a little tired from his Saturday episode and I was just drained. I was productive however. I crocheted the base and started the first slipper from the yarn we bought last weekend...

A partial first slipper

I'm putting a different colored cuff on these, so this is only partially completed. Hazel seemed to need a lazy day as well...

Isn't life tough?

I'm all recharged today and ready to face Linda's intricately quilted quilt. The sun is shining, the neighbors are gone (I can have the music a little louder) and I'm not expecting any customers at all this week. Which is a good thing because I'll be at retreat from Wednesday on. 

Speaking of retreats. A big thank you to Jim for helping me put in the larger spacers on my SewEZ table because I'm taking Ellie along to this retreat; she's deeper than Lilo so different spacers are needed on the table base. 

Anybody Out There?

I posted the milestone (ya know, 100 million stitches) on IG last night and absolutely nobody responded. I find that odd.

Oh well. The long arm clinic went well yesterday and lasted until well into lunchtime. I started in on Bernadettes quilt on Bernie right after lunch and in between heater runs I loaded the next quilt onto DW (will post later) and picked threads out for the Yoder Sisters for sit-down work. I also started picking fabrics for the next project (I'm not going to do the Pineapple scrap quilt just yet). 

Here's some of the work going into Millies dresses for Bernadette...

Love the texture

The Yoder Sisters are under the needle...

Getting them quilted down

And here's the next project in the very beginning stages...

Another Elizabeth Hartman pattern

I picked this up at the rummage sale in Shipshewana this last November for $2. I couldn't pass it up and since I'm deeming 2025 'Shop Your Stash' year (I guess a few others out there are doing this too), I'm going to use up some of the many batiks I have in-house. The background is a nice medium teal with lighter leaves woven in and ALL of the fabrics are right here in the studio. No need for any monetary outlay and all I've gotten into the whole thing so far is the pattern. Yay!

I have a new customer coming this morning. She has a memory quilt I need to look at made out of denim. I may not take this project on. I'll have to take a look and see what's what with it but she indicated it was made from her late Uncles jeans. Hmmmm?? 

Frigid temps again this morning. Minus 2 at daybreak with a southeasterly wind that's becoming rather brisk. So blessed to have a warm house/studio to keep us comfortable and all of us safe. 

Working Late

Because I had nails yesterday morning, and because Jim took the day off, we headed to Midland to pick up Turkey Day stuff. Jim treated me to lunch and then, after taking care of the groceries, I headed to the studio. That was around 2:00. I got out of there at about 9:50 last night. 

I'll be right back at it this morning once I get done here because Elleens quilt isn't done yet.

Let's talk about "light custom" versus "show custom" quilting. What Elleen wanted me to put into this quilt is show custom work. I need to educate folks about the difference. This has to be marked first, and then stitched out and each quilt block is individually done. It requires creativity and brain power. 

Marking the quilt before stitching out

I did get Bernadettes quilt stitched out...

Dog Houses and Bones

I'll be finishing Elleens quilt today and then moving onto the next one being frame ironed on DW right now. Happy Saturday.