Very (Un)Accomplished Yesterday

I didn't get nearly enough done in what it was I was initially working on...

Some continuous curves in the triangles

Jim was having some tablet issues on DW. Here's what he's stitching out in Mary's quilt...

He kept touching the work portion of the screen and hosing up his progress. We had to restart the machine a few times because he lost connection. It was just one of those days I guess. But we did make it to the bottom with a few inches to spare on that backing. 

By the time he wrapped up his quilting and I trimmed the piece, it was past quitting time so I shut down Marty for the day. 

Jim asked what was next on DW. We have to get these two baby quilts done and in the mail headed for Germany. Customs goes through everything and last time we sent a package it took five weeks to arrive to the kids. We want to make sure these get there sooner rather than later. 

Having said that, this was loaded last night...

Baby DeGroots first Spartan quilt

I haven't actually quilted with DW in months. His buttons and weight are vastly different than the two Bernina long arms, yet, we fit together like peanut butter and honey (I prefer honey over jelly). 

And since I already had him loaded (we had to put a panel his his backing to make it wide enough), I decided I hadn't had enough long arming yesterday and tore right into it. 

Me doing free motion

Yep, this is NOT computerized but rather me doing the driving. After an hour or so it was finished and is now waiting for me to get it off the frame and trim so it can be bound. 

But the B's are headed up today (pending their alternator repair on the van) and Jim is pressing cider. I'm going to work in the studio for a short bit to get my BOW done. I had made great progress on it last night but then the Bellers decided to have a fire (Kathy's cancer is back) and we knew we needed to spend as much time with them as possible. They are headed to Florida next week for a month. 

If the B's don't come up, then I'll continue in the studio getting the next DeGroot baby quilt loaded. I have to find a back for it and that's another something I'm going to do this morning. I may need to run to Pieces. 

Good-bye Summer

While our summer is quickly fading with our fall rains finally arriving and colder temps starting to show themselves, I'm preparing for next summer. Now that we have an actual dining room table, I made this Tuesday/Wednesday...

Ready for the lakes return

From there, I assembled the new baby girls Spartan quilt. I didn't snag a pic of it but while parading it around the retreat floor, I fired up the Spartan fight song and danced with it in my hands. It was a big hit!

And what a GREAT bunch of ladies I was privileged to spend four days with. I'm hooked and I think I found a wonderful group to share our love and passion of quilting with.

Today is leggings and sweatshirt day since I'm not appointment obligated. Some of my retreat stuff is staying in the truck and I've brought in about all I'm going to need until I have to return to the Quirky retreat on Monday morning. 

The Halloween quilt should be finished today and I'm overseeing Jim attempting his second quilt on DW.

Ever Wonder?

I am thankful every day for the life I have. I'm truly blessed to have the greatest family and friends...

Missing Andrew who had to take care of his kids

This is Calebs military commissioning which occurred on Friday. 

I was able to give Caleb his first salute as an officer...

That was a pretty moving moment for me

Thursday we were here...

Lia's Masters hooding

Lia and Caleb are now both Masters recipients and the weekend rounded up heading to Lansing again for Zechariah's 2nd birthday party on Saturday. 

Okay, so Sunday the girls needed baths and after that I HAD to sew something. Since I was sick on Tuesday and Wednesday, and you see what we were doing Thursday-Saturday, Sunday was spent intermittently sewing stuff. I finished the Cabin quilt (didn't get a pic), got the binding put on this little piece...

Ready to head to the new studio when needed

And I'm working on getting the blanket stitching around the Welcome piece for our RV. Sewing machine is hanging out in the back room while I'll be working on that for the next few days. 

So, now it's back to our regularly scheduled programming. Expecting a customer drop off later today. I'll be on DW working on Pat's braided quilt, and getting Dianes quilt off Bernie and another loaded. Wow do I miss long arming; I can't wait to finish the house chores and fire up the big machine!

Happy Game Day!

Here in Michigan there is a HUGE college football rival: Michigan State University (MSU) versus the University of Michigan (UofM). MSU's colors are green and white. UofM's colors are Maize and Blue. We bleed green heavily in this family because all the boys graduated there as well as all three of their wives. And...Jim used to work there.

Go Green! Go White!

Here is our fall pumpkin ready for Halloween tomorrow decked out in the MSU green and white. 

There is a lot of superstition in this family about game day (and I won't go into all the detail here), but one of the situations is my watching the game. Either I have to watch the whole thing (and I mean start to finish without any interruptions) or I don't watch it at all. I'll be long arming during the game. I can't sit there for three or more hours doing nothing but watching the television.

Here are the threads going into Lois' second top... 

Picking threads is fun

I received my Angela Walters panel and borders yesterday, and the prior day the thread arrived. I don't know how much I'm going to be able to participate in this quilt-along because the week it's happening is the week mom is having hip surgery. 

After working on the long arm for what felt like all day, I made two more pineapple blocks while Jim was out working on the toy box. Here's the seven I have made so far...

Seven Pineapples in a line

And of course, last night while building them, I couldn't help thinking about how they would be quilted. 

I think I need to run over to Pieces this morning to get some white for the unicorn pattern I just bought on Tuesday. I won't be starting them any time soon, but would like to have it handy for when I do dig into them. And it's always nice to go over and visit with the girls. 

Quilted and Ready to Bind

Please take note! I'm going to actually hand bind this quilt. I know, I know, I usually don't. My exceptions are the following: 

1) An art piece (such as this), or 

2) An Heirloom piece that won't be used on a daily basis and will be used for guest beds and decoration. 

All other quilts (baby, utility, etc.) get a machine binding. And even some of those art quilts that would benefit from a decorative stitch in the binding may be machine bound.

For me, hand binding is done on those rainy days while watching a movie, or while visitors come to call and we are just sitting and chatting. Many of the later days will occur since Jim can't go visit other people. 

Here's the quilt on the rail sitting patiently for the binding to be completely attached.

It almost looks as good as the day it was made

Katie asked earlier what I was up to today. While Jim and I were getting the new pressing/cutting unit put into the studio, another few WIP's were found. I don't even remember what those were because we were trying to get that done and getting ready for his surgery as well and I just laid them in there until I had time to deal with them. 

Today's studio work is a mystery because whatever's on top in that tote is getting worked on next. Let's hope it's something fun!

Crusin' Along

Here's where the bookmark went in last night...

The bottom half of the "S"

Doing matchsticks over and over (and over again) is extremely time consuming. I think even more so than pebbling. 

I may finish this today depending on Jim's needs and any visitors who happen by. Although, we aren't expecting anybody today since this is Easter weekend and most of our neighbors are staying downstate with their families to celebrate. 

We obviously can't go out at all so I guess this Easter weekend is a wash for us and we'll do it up grandly next year. 

New Routine

Now that Jim is convalescing a new routine is being established around the house. His life needs get attended to first in the morning. Sponge baths (he can not shower AT ALL), making his "nest" on the couch for the day, shaving, hair washing, meds, meals, and all other things he normally does himself. 

Then my day begins.

So daily blogging and getting started in the studio will, of course, be later. 

I did manage to get some quilting done yesterday on Andrew's (re)quilt. While getting Jims new room ready for his time downstairs, I was able to locate my old quilting journal and found this!

Sorry for the sideways pic

This was the quilt right after it was finished in 2000. It doesn't look that good now by a long stretch but I'm at least trying to get it as fixed as I can given the damage. 

Because this top is so, (so, so, so) fragile, I'm matchsticking EVERYTHING except the outer border, and that's receiving a 3/4" piano key. Andrew's planning on hanging it in his new man cave in his basement (which is just as nice as his main living area actually) so I want it to look as well as I can make it. It's taking a lllooonnnggg time to match stick each and every square, but from the looks of it already, will be well worth the effort.