Marathon Quilting Continued

Here's what hit the frame yesterday...

Monsters, (Inc?)

This was completed a few hours after lunch to include the binding.

Next on the frame yesterday was this one...

String Top

Because of all the scrappiness in here I just went with a simple double/triple loop meander in a light gray color. This one did not get bound yet but the binding is actually ready to go.

Quilting detail

Today we are headed to Grand Rapids for the day. That means, no productivity in here until later when we get home tonight. And sometimes, when we spend all day on the road, the quilting mojo just isn't there. 

E2E? Can't Do It.

This is Becky's top. She said it was a utility quilt. Utility quilts generally get an edge-to-edge done on them. This top said "No." This is what's on the frame now.

Becky's braided top

This top is getting so pretty!

See what I mean?

It screamed for some custom work and so, that's what it's getting.

Hazel has been shaking her head repeatedly which I could even overhear yesterday with my headphones on. She has some kind of infection or something going on in her off ear so she's going to the vet tomorrow.

After changing my mind on the string quilt block settings, quadrant one went together last night. Quadrant two is already started. 

Will continue with Becky's top today (since custom work takes way longer than E2E), have a meeting with a returning customer first thing this morning and a nail appointment in the afternoon. A fun day ahead and it sure beats having to punch a time clock!

Water

Since our flood 9 months (has it only been that long?) our water quality has begun to deteriorate. Rapidly. Our softener and R/O system can't seem to keep up with the ever changing extremely low water table. And then we had a power outage two weeks ago and that seems to have really sent the softener into a tailspin. 

This is my sterling silver ring after noticing last week the rotten egg smell and the high salinity when rinsing out my mouth after brushing my teeth. 

Water issue

Culligan will be here Thursday morning.

Did not do any long arming this weekend AT ALL! Had my top draped over the machine admiring it before folding it up today to put it away until a backing is obtained.

But I did do some long arm communication with the AIQ squad via Zoom yesterday. That was fun. But we are all feeling a little neglected and shoved aside from the HQ folks. I know "the thing" has a lot to do with it, but an occasional bit of communication would be stellar.

I did do a little sewing though while Jim was called on out Saturday. Another 10 string blocks and a new layout. And since this layout pretty much calls for an 8 x 8 setting, I'm deducing the blocks number to 64 rather than the 100 originally planned. It's going to be a nice size quilt top even with the reduction since the blocks are finishing at 10 1/2". 

New string layout

I'll put them together in 4 x 4 quadrants, but these are not nearly as strict in their placement. Clearly. 

Loading a new customer quilt today. I don't know which one but there will be a pic tomorrow of who was next in line to get completed. 

A Late Studio Start

Jim had to run to a call-out and after our quilt deliveries/food pick up jaunt this morning I'm able to get into the studio for a spell.

It's a top!

The Rail Fence top is done. It finished at 86" x 94" and I wanted to load it so badly last night. But, no backing. It's probably just as well since I still have a few customer long arm things to work on still hanging out in the "holding cell". 

After the rail fence top was finished, I pulled out #2 of my year-to-elminiate-scraps project. Strings!

Reminds me of the framing wall at Hobby Lobby

I don't know if I'm going to leave them in the chevron format, turn them into large squares on point, or what? Still unsure of that yet. But for now they're like this so I can view them better while constructing them. I plan on making 100 11-inch blocks which should yield a pretty tidy quilt top...and eliminate most of those darn strings. 

Flooring, Not Quilting

 I did exactly ten string blocks over the entire weekend. This is what we were doing instead.

Before

After

This is our entryway in the back of the house where all my customers come into first. The flooring in there was NASTY! Almost three years later we were finally able to get it replaced. Just need to trim it out.

Today I'm long arming Janes first quilt. DW is doing a cute meandering daisy in it and then maybe I'll have time to load and start her second quilt. 

The Janome 1600P (Jay) is finally back home! I've started the two tops I'm working on the HQ Stitch 210 but I think I can get the Rail Fence blocks together on Jay since it's just joining rows...once I get them laid out. Which may be interesting since my design wall isn't going to be nearly big enough. 

Shopping, Visiting, and a Mess

Friday was a shopping day with mom. Here's my Aunt Effies haul.

For a little over $100

10 yards of muslin, two types of hand sewing needles (for all those hexagons I've been making over the years), batting tape, a purple thang, three 1-yard coordinated cuts for that last minute project, and a bundle of 24 fat quarters for a project I have in mind utilizing an Alison Glass pattern I have on order. 

I did come home after our shopping day and start these...

The start of 100 11" string blocks

Yesterday we were on the road again. All day. Picked mom up around 9:00 and didn't get home until 6:00-ish. Visited with the kids/grandkids, stopped by Gall Sewing to get some needles (which they didn't have) and a 1/4" presser foot (without the rail) for my little HQ Stitch 210 (Lilo). Mom needed vacuum bags for her antique vacuum...and of course, Gall had them.

Lunch at Red Robin and then off to Lowe's. Picked up some flooring for our back entrance, some double sided tape for my long arm foam mats (because they are becoming slippery with all the lint), and two more totes to store quilts in.

After a quick trip through Culvers for a Concrete Mixer, we were headed back home. After getting in the back door, something didn't smell right.

Now, we leave Hazel often by herself. She's 2+ years old and generally, other than ripping out parts of her tail, is completely fine. But yesterday did not appear to be a good day for her. She ate/got into something that just didn't agree with her and left three large soupy green poop messes on our off white carpet. Clearly, she didn't feel well. Clearly, we're still working on getting up the stains.

Don't know if we're going to get to lay that flooring today. It's a beautiful sunny day so working back in the back room would be stellar, but Jim needs to find tools and see if we can actually get to this project.