Quilt Detail

It astounds me how long custom work takes. Ruler use isn't fast. Here's a little detail of what's going into the addresses quilt top...

Only 29 more to do

Here's some good news; the Sew by Row top is completed. This is a portion of it as I was finishing cleaning up last night...

Sew by Row

Since Sew by Row is a top it's now time to see what may be up next. I have a few ideas and a few bins/bags to go through to see what spikes my interest. It's a mystery!

As soon as the Grass Dries

This is probably going to be one of our last summer-like days for the year. Temps in the 80's with a breeze and a nearly cloudless sky. Rain expected for the next four days so mowing needs to happen today. 

Here's what's on the frame this morning...

This is kind of a big one

It's a moving diary with houses and addresses showing where the creator has lived. It's being completely ditched and custom quilted so will take a few days to complete. After working on this for most of the day (and only completing one row of the five), I moved to Sew by Row.

All the rows are built and I spent the remainder of the night cutting for the row sashing and all the borders. Here's where I left off...

Sew by Row with all the rows built

Today I hope to do a little long arming after mowing this morning (still waiting for the dew to go away) and then starting to get this top together somewhat. It's quiet around here with all the neighbors gone which is both good, and bad. But I won't have the distractions I usually have into the evening when they are here. 

Eating Trends

In the autumn months it seems our metabolisms tell us to start eating comfort foods. I know my appetite usually increases two fold and the kinds of foods I crave are carbs and fats. Oddly, the opposite seems to be happening with both Jim and me. What's up with that? 

Here's what was on the frame yesterday afternoon...

Paulette's second QOV

I had to text Caleb to ask about the center sculpture and what it was called. The Battle of Iwo Jima thus naming the quilt after it. What our fellow soldiers have endured during war time. The loss. The sadness.

These two QOV's will be finalized today and since it's Friday, I may slip one of my own tops onto the frame to do quickly before loading for Monday. 

Not much was done on the Sew by Row because I was tackling two quilts at once with Paulettes projects. Oh, and my burger quilt is now bound as well. I figured since I was working two bindings, why not three?

Future fabric bundles

Is Normalcy Good or Bad?

Jim and I like to think of ourselves as a little not normal. But sometimes getting back to a schedule and normalcy seems right too. It's the question of the day. 

Here's what's on the frame today...

Paulette's first Quilt of Valor

This will be completed today and her second one will be loaded right behind it.

The Sew by Row is coming along fairly fast. I don't normally (see, getting out of the norm again) cut my pattern pieces all at once, but for the last two tops have somehow went in this direction. The last row won't be as quick as the previous two because there are about a million 1" squares that need to be diagonally sewn, trimmed, and pressed before even thinking about putting the block together. But here is where I'm at this morning...

Sew by Row with only one more to go

I'm sure there is sashing in between each of these rows because the rows seem to be melting together. 

And that'll be my day. Long arming first; Sew by Row behind that. And...maybe the asphalt guys will actually show up today to throw a little zinger in there. 

Change of Plans

If you didn't already know...I DO NOT run my long arm when it's storming. Particularly if high winds and lightning are present. After lunch yesterday, we had both. I was able to get the burger quilt at least done before the bad weather hit. 

Because of what turned into an all afternoon and early evening weather event, I spent the remainder of the day working on Sew by Row. Here's where I left off.

Sew by Row progress

I'll be loading another customer quilt top today after pulling burger off, while waiting for the driveway crew to get here. Which is any time after 9:00. I guess my time isn't very valuable since it's almost 10:00. 

What. A. Weekend!

 The lake, on a whole, was very quiet this weekend despite it being a holiday. With the exception of our little curve of it, which was rockin' all weekend long. Games, music, fireworks, movies, campfires, kids, dogs, and the endless food. Needless to say, I slept in today. 

And I stitched approximately zero on the long arm and very (very) little in the studio on the sewing machines. 

The company who made my sign wanted a pic of the final hanging when Jim got done with it. Here's what you would see upon your arrival here.

What you see while pulling in

Long arming the burger top this morning. They are predicting horrible storms for this afternoon (despite it being cloudless and rather mild this morning) and except for a load, I'm not sure how much more long arming I'll get done.

Working on the pincushions for the Sew by Row top and will commence with those later when (if) the storms hit like they're predicting.

All the party goers have left except three by now and I'll see them off as well. 

Before the Weekend Commences

I was able to get a little sewing in yesterday in between customer drop offs and weekend festivities. 

Here is the scissor row put together in its entirety.

Sew by Row; Row 1

How's this backing for the burger (Blue Plate Special) top?

The burger backing

And my neighbors' daughter and son-in-law didn't know what I was talking about Thursday night when I mentioned my long arm (they've never been in the house I don't think). I snapped this pic so I could show them what a long arm actually is. 

DW

I'm off to visit with friends, make new friends, and watch the weekend unfold for all the kids, dogs, and adults to enjoy. Happy Labor Day!

Wild Weekend Planned

Many birthdays this weekend; Hazel, Ben, and Daves (neighbor) birthdays are all being celebrated this upcoming Labor Day weekend.  

Tomorrow I have an appointment first thing in the morning, two customers coming to drop off after I return and then the fun begins. But I have today to get all the washing done, getting Jodi's second quilt finished, and getting another loaded before all the weekend chaos ensues. People are going to start trickling in beginning this afternoon.

Here's what is on the frame this morning...

Woof!

I'm stitching dog faces into this and it's turning out so darn cute. I still have about a quarter of it yet to stitch this morning so will work on that first thing. 

The Sew by Row was started yesterday while this was stitching out. These blocks are pretty intense and are not going as quickly as I thought they would. That's okay. I'm not in a hurry and there is no timeline; just enjoying the piecing process and the time I have with my machines while fall is threatening to come early this year.  

Sew by Row by Lori Holt

This project book was in the bin...

Sew by Row by Lori Holt

I've done a few of Lori's quilts already. She has excellent instructions, options, and pictures/diagrams to assist even the most novice of sewers. While DW was stitching out Jodi's top yesterday, I started pulling fabrics.

Here's the pull

I started cutting fabrics for the first row first (scissors) and then decided, since there are so many fabrics, and rifling through them with each row would cause some mix up issues, I would precut everything. Since precutting the fabric for The Blue Plate Special (burger) top worked out well I started right in cutting. I worked until almost 11:00 last night (started around 3:00) and still have five or six fabrics to cut yet today.

But then piecing can commence tonight. 

I made a mistake yesterday saying Jodi's quilt was the one I finished; it was actually Deb K.'s quilt. Jodi's was the one loaded yesterday morning...

What's on the frame today

It's still on the frame since I can only stand DW screaming at me for so long. It'll be finished today though once I get all my Sew by Row bags off of DW (he's helping to sort).