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. 

For a Few Days

I’ll  be gone for a few days dealing with Jim’s surgery.

I have, however, loaded a long time ago built quilt. I don’t have any current pictures of it, but this is the latest WIP I found in the tote. It’s Andrew’s old Spartan “S” quilt in dire need of repair. It’s so unstable and needed to get on the frame to start getting some thread into it. It’s too fragile to just leave in the corner where it has lived for the past week since dragging it out of the safety of the fabric bag it was in. 

I started with the outer dark green border quilting piano keys three quarters of an inch apart with a shiny Glide thread. The second off-white border is going to need some marking and a lot of planning. I’ll be using a muted Premo Soft linen color in there and have a feeling the more thread I put into this piece the better it’s going to hold after it’s re-hung in Andrew’s man cave. He was instructed to never “use” this quilt again since it’s barely (and I mean barely) holding together now. 

I still have customer quilts in queue, but decided since I’ll be minding Jim for the next week or so, didn’t want to not have my complete attention on one of their quilts. Better to sacrifice one of my own I suppose.

Sleepy Girl

Hazel was sleeping funny earlier and I grabbed a pic while she was doing so. She’s going to day care for a few days which totally wears her out. She needs it though and will be sleeping like this (again) when she gets home on Tuesday. 

Finally on the Frame

The quilt shop near my house, Pieces of Thyme, had a lingering sidewalk sale this weekend and Katie and I happened to wander over on Friday. She had some very (very) good deals on things to include a roll of backing fabric I happened to spot, which was JUST wide enough to get this big top onto the frame.

Need a name for this quilt.

I haven't named this quilt yet. I call it the colorful rail fence with black and white checkerboards. But that seems too long of a title. Any ideas?

Our Spartans did well in Evanston yesterday and while Jim was being entertained with their playing abilities, I made this.

Go Green! Go White!

I also got the borders pieced for the Roundabout top.

Jim is pressing apples this morning for his annual cider canning. The weather is being sewing cooperative so I'll be in the studio most of the day.