Love Letter Top Done!

Lunch with friends is fun isn't it? And then the icing on the cake was a phone call from another quilting friend later in the afternoon. I miss talking to people of like mind and the retreat in September can't get here fast enough. 

Although, Jim is pretty supportive of my quilting passion. He visits the studio usually every day. Which is a great thing because I've heard awful stories from other ladies who quilt whose husbands/partners are not nearly as enthusiastic as Jim is. That's sad. 

I did get the first row completed on the Flea Market before leaving for lunch and the second row started after getting back. 

The quilting in the background

While on the phone I stuffed my earbuds into my ears while talking. I was working on Love Letters and after I hung up realized I only had a block or two to go to finish it. So, that's what I did. Not only that, I ended up taking the time to actually get it all together.

Love Letter top is complete!

I don't have enough floor space to get the whole top in the pic, but you get the idea. I think I'll finish the table runner I've been working on while using it as leaders and enders before I start anything new on that machine. But then, once that is done. HA! I get to start something new. Yay!

I picked up background fabric for each of the three patterns I have hanging around that I want to start so now I'm all ready to start digging into a new project! Don't ya love starting new projects? First, work. Happy Friday! 

Retirement

Jim is retired and it's funny what he does around the property throughout the day. He helped the neighbor get his tractor back upright when the neighbor decided to try to move his new sand pile. 

Mid way through my work day I buzzed over the Pieces for a few backings and one other fabric needed for the Quilt Room quilt I'll be starting shortly. When I shut Marty down for the afternoon I completed one Love Letter block, one Flower Power leaf block, and then proceeded to bind the table runner I quilted the previous night.

DW was my next target. I am basically going from the top of my UFO pile and working my way through. No more picking my way through. They all need to be quilted so I'm just doing them. This was the next one up.

I did custom quilting in the borders and a sewing machine motif throughout the center section. It's ready for binding and today (after we get back from Standish and Pinconning) I'll load the Raven. That was one of the backings I needed.

While we're in Pinconning I'll see if Jim wants to let me run into Bittersweet. I can always find something there. 😆

The Babies Are Growing

Not only is our youngest granddaughter starting to roll over, the goslings on the lake have lost all their yellow fuzzies and are getting big very fast. We have very few this year since most nests were lost in the high waters in April, but we've spotted two families that did make it. 

Here is what I worked on yesterday...

Quit Diva Pattern by Amy Bradley

Isnt' she funny peering at me through the bars? It made me chuckle every time I looked up.

This is a problem

I love doing raw edge appliqué! There is very little the turns me off about it except what you see above.

Some fusibles leave a nasty ball of glue on the needle. I've recently picked up a new fusible (don't know the name) from Pieces recommended by Susan, but I could not, for the life of me, tell you the manufacturer. It is NOT gumming up the needle on the cowboy boots. 

This however, is not the cowboy boots but the Quilt Diva. From what I can feel I would hazard to guess it may be Heat N' Bond as it has a tendency to do this. And, it leaves the fabric feeling pretty stiff even with the Ultra Lite stuff. 

As I'm long arming this piece, I'm having to clean the needle very often and have already had a few shreds with the build up. 

Today we have to run to Bittersweet to pick up my Tilda Make Do and Mend quilt from her event two weeks ago. I had totally forgotten about it until yesterday. Oops. 

Hanging out until the next one is loaded

Oh...and the Strip quilt is done! I did finish binding it last night as well as making a Love Letters block and blanket stitching another cowboy boot. 

A Non-Productive Productive Day

For not working on the big machines all day yesterday we certainly got a lot done. Our first stop was to test and pack up DW to come back home...

Going for a truck ride (again)

We always seat belt him in when we travel with him. Just in case. From there we headed to lunch (at the Pizza House) and then off to the shoe store in Okemos (Playmakers, which I highly recommend!) to get another set of tennis shoes to work in over the summer. My others have started hurting my feet.

We grabbed a dessert at Traverse City Pie Company in East Lansing once we found a pair of shoes and then headed to Meijer in Alma for our weekly groceries. 

The next stop was Pieces of Thyme to get a backing for both the Puppy quilt I did at retreat last weekend and for the quilt top Jim skinned for Virginia. 

Once we got home we had to unload everything and while doing so got a phone call from Andrew. They are moving. Holy cow the new house they're buying is gorgeous! 

Now everybody is back in the studio and we have the strip quit reloaded onto DW's frame. 

Everybody has something on them

It makes me uneasy when I have empty frames. Not sure why, but it does.

Jim was exhausted from driving. We ran into a lot of construction and some pretty dumb drivers out there. He took a nap while I cut out the rest of the wedges going into Love Letters...

Ready for piecing

I have three customers coming today. Of course, I get zero calls all week and then boom, we hit the road and my phone rings itself out of its case. All three are dropping off. That means I'll have taken 10 quilt tops in this week. I need to retire. 

Along with customers coming today, Joe and his son Joey are coming to start on those stairs to the lake. Happy Friday. 

Did You Know...

...that fabric manufacturers offer free patterns on their web sites? We had a fabric rep demonstration on Sunday morning at retreat showing lines of fabric available from Free Spirit, Blank, Studio e, and other textile producers. It was a delightful presentation. Each of her 'cards' with fabric samples were passed around and on some of those cards were a few free pattern samples. 

I snagged a pic of one of the patterns I liked...

Here's the problem with the situation. IF your local quilt shop orders from that manufacturer it's a crap shoot whether the owner of said quilt shop orders the exact fabric you like. At that point it turns into a search and seek mission from other quilt shops around the country.

I would definitely make the quilt shown above as I tend more towards colorful and whimsical quilts. But, I know for a fact Susan at Pieces does not order these fabrics from Studio e because the fabric rep has tried (and tried again) to get in to see Susan to start supplying her shop. 

This morning I'll be working on Floral Felicity on Marty until customers show up. They'll be here some time around 12:30 and then after she picks up and drops off her quilts/quilt tops, we are going to lunch as a group since this particular customer has moved away and only gets up here twice or so a year. 

After I worked on Marty last night (all while talking to Ben on the phone), I headed outside to do some spring clean up; the north flower bed was looking pretty gnarly. And, Jim and I had to unload the boards/posts for the stairs going down to the water that'll hopefully get started later this week. I'm sore!

Post Creative Passions Retreat

It. Was. Fun. BUT...I'll probably not be retreating there again. 2 1/2 baths with a group of 12 women? Cheap soaps (Dollar General), Cheap foods (Our Family), and Cheap Coffee (Folgers) to me does not warrant the $210 I had to spend for the three nights. We had to make a meal each lunch and dinner as well as clean up from said meal. The hot water upstairs where I stayed was not very hot and our room faced M-57 (Broad Street) which was very (very) noisy throughout Friday and Saturday night.

I came home yesterday and didn't even unload the truck. I was that tired! In fact, Jim had lunch ready when I arrived around 1:30, I ate and then promptly snuggled up with the dogs and took a 2 1/2 hour nap. Which, as you know, I never do.

On the flip side, I did get to know my Hale quilters much better, I got some things put together, we had some real good stories that we shared, and, laughed a lot. 

Here is what I did the past four days...

Love the quilt, but not the fabric

This was the kit I picked up at Pieces on Wednesday night at their tent sale. Don't they look like flannels? They're not. They are fabrics by Wyndham and I'm not impressed. They feel cheap and flimsy even after I treated with Acorn prior to cutting them out. I had enough left over to make a pillow to go with the quilt though.

That was Thursday night and Fridays work. I did wander down to the Creative Passions quilt shop on Friday afternoon. The weather was nice and the walk through Chesaning was pleasant. The shop was okay, but again, I'm probably a little spoiled having Pieces of Thyme right just a shot distance away. 

Friday night, after finishing the top above I started in on the puppies. When I left yesterday, late morning, this is what I accomplished...

A Quilt for Paul

There are a lot of seams in this so when I quilt it, it's going to have to be pretty tight. And, as I look at this, it appears I've reversed the middle puppy's neck pieces. UGH. I'm not pulling it apart. Paul (who is four) will never care. 

Back to the usual today as well as unpacking from retreat. Jim has hauled everything in for me. Laundry is in the dryer and it'll be good to get back on the big machines. I needed the time away more than anything to remind me how well I have it here and how wonderful my life is having my own business, my own bathroom, and to eat my own food when I want to.

A Cool $300 Later

I picked up five wide backs, a fat quarter bundle, and a kit at Pieces last night all for under $300. Considering the wide backs were normally $54 each I call that a win. 

Here's the quilt I'm working on Marty...

Another Floral Felicity in the making

Recognize this? It's the Floral Felicity pattern Bittersweet quilt shop sells. It's not a very pretty quilt until you get it quilted (the makers' words, not mine). I've done a half dozen of these already and as I remembered yesterday, these are not a quick turn around time.

Some of the quilting

It took nearly all day to get the background fill in the first pass before I could start getting the colors incorporated. I'll be working this all day intermixed with packing for retreat.

I just brought down my suitcase so that part of packing is done and I'll be packing the sewing stuff as I progress throughout the day on quilting. I leave tonight around 7:00 to head to Chesaning for our Creative Passions retreat with the Hale group. I need this break!

In the meantime, have a great weekend and I'll be back here Monday to share all the fun and creativity I was able to experience downstate. 

Zoning Out

Have you ever driven someplace and when you got there didn't really remember the trip because you were zoning out? I haven't been sleeping worth a poop lately and yesterday was one of those zoning out days. Needless to say, I did a lot of frogging when I realized I wasn't paying attention.

Can I take a day and just sleep please? 

No. I have too many deadlines and unfortunately, naps are not something I can usually do. I can't say I've never napped but it's very unusual for me. I feel worse when I get up from a nap and then I definitely won't sleep that night.

But I'm so damn tired. All. The. Time. 

Soapbox empty. Moving on. Today is the Pieces of Thyme annual sidewalk sale kick off. VIP's are personally invited tonight and then tomorrow it's open to the public. I'll be going tonight. 😀

The Cats in a Row quilt is done for Joyce and I'll be unloading and trimming this morning. Once all the non-quilting stuff is finished, I'll be loading and starting this...

Sitting in wait to be loaded

Floral Felicity. A HUGE eight-day project because it's a huge quilt and I have a lot of marking to do during the quilting process.

I got another call from a new customer wanting me to do some custom quilting. I referred her to Jen down at Gall Sewing in Lansing. I then called Sarah at River Acres Sewing across town to see if she did custom. She called me back later and no, she only does E2E mostly. There aren't many of us hand-guided custom quilters around. Only digital and E2E. Huh?

After working late last night, I was able to get the two remaining puppies cut out and have that pattern all packed up and ready to head to retreat. I have to pack up the Pineapples because they are going as well and that's about all I'm taking for the three days I'll be there.

How I'm Super Productive

I've kept track of my productivity over the past few months and I've come to some conclusions. I'm very productive when...

1. It's poopy weather outside

2. I'm talking on the phone

3. Jim is out doing errands

4. I'm not expecting any customers and can really immerse myself in the music playing in the studio

Yep, Yesterday number 3 and 4 occurred and I managed to get Virginia's quilt finished at around 2 or 2:30. Since I worked over a few days this week, that gave me permission to run over to Pieces for some fusible and the fat quarters missing in the cowboy boot quilt. 

Once we were finished shopping, one of the workers' sister came in with something she made while we were checking out. I fell in love. Asked how hard it was. She was NOT a sewer or a quilter but managed to make a stunning piece of clothing. 

I asked her about the pattern and Susan (owner of Pieces of Thyme) now carries the very pattern she used. Guess what else I came home with? 

Looks easy enough!

When I came home I put the purchased items away except for this pattern as I wanted to look through it and see what I was up against. OMG! So simple. And the lady I talked to at the quilt shop said the only hard part was the pockets. She said to look at the pictures first and then read the instructions, otherwise they are sort of confusing. Good thing I already do that anyway!

She made the one in the center in the picture above. I was even able to try hers on (I'm glad I did or I would have under sized it) and have decided to put a hood on mine. The pattern has many size, style, and extra options including hoods, zippers, rounded corners, etc. included. Now I'm on the hunt in my flimsy pile to see what would be cool to make into a coat. 

After looking through the pattern and trying not to squirrel, I made a caddy, quilted my strip, and then re-made the first block in Scrappy Goodness after Jim pulled all my seams. He's such a trooper. This is more like it...

I was so happy with the results of this block that I made another. 

Today will be a caddy, a strip, another Scrappy Goodness block, and I have to get this weeks temperatures recorded and houses made. From there, who knows?

Not Much Studio Work Yesterday

I mentioned in a previous post the permanent dock situation and how the ice and weather have beaten it up. Jim pulled the boards a few weeks ago and we finally picked up the new boards yesterday. Prior to that we headed over to Pieces to pick up the background and frame/sashing fabrics for the Alaskan BOM. 

Here are the fabrics I picked up from Alaska to compliment...

Blues, green, turquoise, and a little red for a pop of color

I had every intention of working in the studio while he was down there getting those new boards in, but I ended up at the lake helping him out. The bugs were practically non-existent and it was a gorgeous weather day (mid 80's) so we took advantage before the crappy (but I love) weather hits in a few weeks. 

Here's the new dock...

20' of new lumber

Per the usual, the pic doesn't do it justice. I was taking it from the top of the hill on our deck. We had our struggles and also per the usual, it took us to get half-way through the project to figure out how to make things go a bit more smooth. 

Even though today is supposed to be a repeat of yesterday (weather wise) we are only planning on working around the place in the morning. We need a day of rest. I will be in the studio this morning working this weeks BOW (Santa's belly) and still need to cut everything out while Jim is doing Pestie, giving the dogs a trim, and hopefully, replacing the water filter under the house. 

A BOM x 2?

I have several projects (five) cut out for upcoming retreats. We picked up a retreat tote last night so I could put everybody in there along with all the extra fabric and directions. Now I can work on something here a little more complex. I have one BOM I started...

A little more traditional than my usual

I picked up this kit at a white elephant auction at The Springs last January and decided I could start this. I have my BOW to work today and then should I start another BOM? I have a book and fabric I picked up in Alaska just for that purpose. I probably need background fabric though? 

I'll also be starting to get together the stand mixer. But first, we have to run to the lumber yard to get boards for that dock Jim tore out last weekend and I have to at least pick up background fabric for the Alaskan BOM even if I don't start it today.

Busy Morning

Unfortunately it won't be busy in the studio this morning. I have nails first thing. From there I have to buzz over to moms art show just on the other side of town. After I attend that I'll be heading to Pieces for fabric for a BOW I'll be attending for the next 16 weeks. It's Christmas themed and pretty cute, so I'm going to participate. It's free through my batting supplier so no pressure.

I finished the Nativity quilt for Deb P. in the morning and then had a new customer (through a referral) drop off her 'Tis the Season top for me to do. They stayed for about 45 minutes and they no sooner left and a strange truck pulled in. They thought I was a quilt shop (apparently didn't read the header on my web site). We chatted for a bit and then they left. Time for lunch.

While I was waiting for the new customer to arrive (around 11:00) I didn't want to start on Marty so I pieced backing for this next Rayola quilt on DW...

Ready for quilting

I also pieced the batting and since this was an orphan block top, the whole thing is pieced together.

During the afternoon, I worked on this on Bernie...

Table Runner #1

Deb H. has three small pieces for me to complete before she can come get her Tilda Sampler, so I have to get those done. Here's some of the quilting that went into it...

Table runners get lots of thread

Here's the next one I'll be working on today once I return home from my morning errands...

Cute Carrots

I've already did some pre-marking on this and couldn't sleep last night, so I did some head quilting while trying to get relaxed enough to go to sleep. 

After I marked and prepped that piece I made and attached the binding to one side of the Tula Butterfly. I just need to flip it and finish it later this weekend. 

I'll be working late tonight I think since I'm not working this morning. That's fine. I like working in the studio no matter the time. 

Campfires

During my nail appointment yesterday, all the girls were talking about autumn and how this summer has been such a hot one; we're ready for fall-like things. Like campfires, the crunch of leaves, the smell of the rain, cozy socks and leggings, boots, and sweatshirts. 

Oddly, Kathy texted last night that she was having a campfire down at the "beach" and asked to join. We spent a few hours down there, but Mike wasn't feeling all that great, so we called it a night even before 11:00. 

Here is what is next up on DW since I finished Sue L.'s quilt last night...

Linda's Dinosaur top

This is getting an edge to edge and I'll be working on starting it this morning. I had to cut Jim's hair first and get some chores done around the house. Now that all those are finished I can head into the studio to see what kind of mischief I can get into. 

Oh, I had to run to Pieces yesterday to pick up a pinching cutter for thread. It didn't solve my problem, but why I was there, picked up this kit to work on during my Shipshewana retreat...

A cute Raven kit

Alaska has a LOT of Ravens and thought this would be easy and fun to work on to commemorate (one of two I'm planning on making) our Alaska trip. They have kits on sale over there and took advantage. P.S. My ear is still plugged. 

Just Couldn't Resist

The last thing I need to be doing is making another quilt top. Despite my previous blatherings about not starting something new before the Pineapple quilt was done...well...

This is a must

The quilt on the far, south wall of the studio has been up nearly a year now. It's time to replace it. This one is perfect and while I love the Tilda fabrics, have never made anything out of them. Pieces had a kit with all the necessary fabrics and I dove right in after lunch. We never did make it to Bittersweet but I got a fair amount of books to get me through the summer from the library sale. 

I have the top portion of the sewing machines all constructed; the easiest of all the segments needed. All the background pieces are also cut for the entire sewing machine area and will only have to cut the colored pieces as I go.

The neighbors are getting a new roof and it sounds like we've walked into a Latino party with the music they are jamming to out there. Don't know if they'll be working tomorrow since it's Cinco de Mayo. 

Spring Flowers

That darn bird is trying to make another nest in the rafters of the studio porch. It truly is spring. 

Here are a few of the flowers around the yard blooming in their glory...

Errands to run this morning: The semi-annual library book sale, Pieces of Thyme, Bittersweet Quilt Shop, and Family Farm and Home. Grilled cheese and soup for lunch since it's not any too warm out today and it's overcast and dreary looking. I'm hoping to hop on one of the long arms later this afternoon. Or, hey, how about some piecing that I haven't done in ohhh, like three weeks. 

Taking the Girls

We had errands to do after getting morning chores done and we took the girls with us. Something we haven't done in a while, but we weren't going to be in any one place any too long. They were so tuckered out when we got back home they were very quiet the rest of the day. They get so excited going bye-bye.

One of the stops was Pieces of Thyme to pick up some background fabric for this new project...

The newest project

After lunch and a movie or two, I headed out to the studio to read the directions for this project and started cutting the background pieces...

Backgrounds all cut

Jim was out in the workshop cutting and making shim pieces for the two north/south long arms. DW is wearing his latest "heels"...

A new set of shims

During our second movie the medium I had purchased Friday for the Girl with the Pearl Earring was applied. Here's a before and after treatment with said medium...

Before

After

Yep, just some fabric medium on those InkTense pencils brings out the life of the party.

Not sure where I'm headed today but it'll be low-keyed. 

Another New Project

My husband, Jim, loves to do puzzles. Now that we have an actual dining room table (only used about three times a year) he has a surface to work on. He has two Spartan puzzles from last year and this year both to work. I asked him if he liked starting them or finishing them; what was his favorite part? He said all three phases (start, working, and ending) were enjoyable.  

I'm the same way with my quilt projects. I love all the facets of working a project from picking fabric, to cutting it out, piecing, quilting (probably my favorite), and yes, even binding (least favorite). 

Here's a new project I started yesterday after going to Pieces and getting that dark, dark blue I needed for the background colors.

This is going together fast!

I'm going to work that some more today while Jim works his puzzle(s). We should go in and visit mom, but I just need a day to "play" and relax. We're eating our New Years crab legs today (we were still both sick to eat them earlier) and going to snuggle with the girls while watching it snow every so lightly out the living room windows. 

More Snow Then Expected

We were only supposed to get a little over an inch of snow yesterday. 3+ inches later...but it's so pretty.

Jim headed off to work with my truck after he cleaned up the driveway. His tire went flat again. He said the tire place could not find a leak yesterday but something certainly isn't right?

Here's some of the quilting going into Anns QOV...

Lots of pebbles

The plumber was here most of the morning. New customer received. And this heater thing is either going to be my nemesis or a positive thing. I work on piecing or my own quilts on Foster when it's running. Lucy likes it though...

Right in front of the blower

I managed to get all the blocks together for the Pineapple top and that'll go to retreat in a few weeks...

Ready to be assembled

Once I was done with "working" for the day and got the Pineapple quilt blocks packed, I started a new project to replace the Christmas mat under my utility thingie in the middle of my sewing table...

It matches my thread bin

I love, love, love Tula Pink fabrics. These were 10" squares left over from the Shipshewana rummage sale two years ago. I've been waiting for a project to use them with and this was perfect!

Jim and I were up very early this morning (like around 5:00) for whatever reason. Who knows? I've already cleared the studio walk, the back deck, did a load of laundry, showered, unpacked and installed the new printer (the grandkids broke my other one), texted my mother and brother (she had another heart situation last night), made rice, and ground a new canister of coffee. It's barely even 9:00. 

Not sure what direction I'll head in the studio yet. I haven't even had my second cup of coffee. I do know I need to run to Pieces to get that dark blue fabric for my next project. Jim said he should be home before they close at 2:00. He's driving since I'm sure the roads are pretty dicey. 

Almost There

I'm at about 97% this morning, but, Jim is home sick today. I think he picked up something at the viewing/funeral on Monday or Tuesday.

I have nails first thing this morning and have a few other errands to do. Jim thinks he's driving me as we received a dusting of snow last night, but he's asleep on the couch right now so I'm not sure how that's going to work.

I did do some long arming yesterday between making the pineapples and starting the blueberries, but only for a few hours.

Here's the pineapples...

Yum!

I'm hoping to get the blueberries done today, although they are really (really) intense. Pieces is having 15% off their kits and I want to stop by there to take a gander. Haven't been over there in a long while. I also need to check in with mom to see if she needs anything and the lugs have to be retorqued on the truck since we got new tires a week or so ago. 

More long arming in the mix there somewhere I hope. Happy Friday. Happy 2025!

Don't Ever Get Old

As I approach the big 6-0, I find my energy level not nearly what it used to be. I work for an hour or so and then have to stretch and play with the dogs for a bit. Work some more and do the same. After six hours on the long arm, I'm spent. I power through but have to really (really) push to get through the next couple of hours.

Grandma use to say, "Getting old isn't for the faint of heart," and wow that woman was wise. Aches and pains crop up out of nowhere, sleep isn't what it used to be, energy level is zilch. I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to cut energy steps in my day; as long as I'm going upstairs with the laundry, I'll grab the water container and water plants, and grab the vacuum to do that up there too. When did I become so thrifty with my steps?

Yesterday was one of those days. It started out fine. Bernadette came over to fetch her quilt. We chatted for quite a while. It was lunch time. Jim left to go back to work, and my energy level tanked. After long arming for about two hours, that was it.

I headed over to Pieces to grab some more background fabrics for the Bee Happy quilt top, and the background fabric for The Produce Section so when I'm ready to begin that I have it available. 

Here's some more quilting going into Judy's quilt...

I love feathers!

And more feathers

All the "blades" in the Pickle Dish need to have echos done because she pressed her seams open. Twice the work but a better result nonetheless.

The trip to the fabric store put a little more energy in me so I switched over to Foster and got the black and border done on the first block. Jim got home from work and decided we were going to get groceries.

I have to attend moms art show this morning and after lunch I'm not sure which direction I'll head. Got a call from Caleb at lunch yesterday and he has received his permanent duty station after he gets done with training in Oklahoma. Vilseck, Germany. For at least two years. 

I'm excited for him and should get some great fabrics out of Europe, but I'd rather have the kids nearer than across the pond. Ah well, the life of a soldier.