Nearing a Milestone

I have three more quilts to long arm and I'll hit a milestone. More when I get there. 

Reunion is next weekend. Jim will be pulling the trailer out probably Sunday night or Monday morning. My life will be split between work and getting ready to go since we basically do everything that's required to run the thing. Let's not even go there. 

After getting Berndadettes quilt done on Marty (the Farmyard Friends by Lori Holt), I planned on spending the rest of the day for just me. Which I did.

While I was attaching the binding onto the first project, I had to take this pic...

There's going to be a seam in the turn

Why is it I check, check, and check again yet I seem to get a join at one or more of the corners?

Here is the table runner finished...

Welcome summer

And then, because I love binding so much 👿 I thought I'd do another one. Here's the Judy Niemeyer Woven Ribbons complete...

Woven Ribbons by Judy Niemeyer

I started working on getting the third table runner finished but after reading the pattern, decided I didn't want to production line sew 60 flappy pieces onto the pinwheels I've been building for the past month or so. I'll add flappy pieces on as I construct other blocks in the future.

All three long arms are pretty empty right now. Jim is frame ironing on Bernie for the next load and I haven't take the quilt off Marty, but there's nothing there to long arm. DW had these two above pieces removed yesterday so he's totally naked.

Once I get done with temperature blocks later this morning, something will be next on DW and it's a mystery which one will be selected. Hmmm?????

Weather Cooperation

It was a wonderful day yesterday with the storms. I didn't have to shut the machine down for lightning and hopefully, with any luck, I'll be able to get the Farmyard Friends quilt done today. 

Here's some more quilting going into the right side of the quilt...

Quilt detail of the right side of Farmyard Friends

Getting the backgrounds prepped for the circles

To give my arm a reset I sewed the corners on each of the background blocks for Flower Power. Once those were finished I jumped on DW. If I had to stay up all night I WAS going to finish the Judy Niemeyer that's been sitting there for over a week.

I didn't get much sleep the night before but my determination won over and I powered through getting the piece done. 

I must like binding (which I DO NOT) because I'll have the table topper and the table runner to both bind this weekend once I get the marks off this piece below. I had to do a second spray this morning.

I'm technically closed today but I am still working on customer stuff. Once the quilt on Marty is completed though, the rest of the weekend is mine to play and enjoy our countries 250th birthday. 

After working for the day and then receiving a [past closing time] customer for both a pick up and drop off, I finished the cowboy boot I was working on while waiting for the customer to arrive.

This one went quicker because we were talking to Andrew while working on it

I have one more cowboy boot to blanket stitch and then we can start matching up the checker board sections with the boots. 

I didn't want to fire up the iron before the customer came (no burning the customers) so moved to Love Letter block. Well, that was the last one in that row/section so now sections A, B, and C are together.

Love Letters sections a, b, and c

I may take a day off from Love Letters since I have other stuff to do today and I did so much on it yesterday. More on that in a bit. I had set up DW to do two projects at once.

Bathing Beauties

I just ran a straight line situation through that table runner (better pic later) and then I started this Judy Niemeyer table topper/wall hanging.

Getting the straight work done and now filling in

I'll work some more on that later today too. BUT, since Jim and I were out and about last Saturday and next week is the 4th, I better get the temperature quilt caught up. I also have a new quilt-along starting on Monday. It's the 9-Patch quilt-along with Natalia Bonner. She does it on a panel but I'm going to just take all the solids I have and cobble something cohesive together. 

Sort of like I did the flag bunting and table runner. Lots to do and a beautiful day to work. Sunny and mid-70's today. 

A Little Under the Weather

I started out gangbusters yesterday, but noticed I was real thirsty. Like I was getting a sore throat. As the day progressed, I also became a little achy and lethargic. I took the rest of the afternoon and just hung out on the couch watching movies. I'm feeling a lot better today with only the sore throat hanging around. Maybe still a little fuzzy headed but I'm thinking a slight summer cold visited me. 

Here's some of the quilting detail in the table topper I quilted yesterday morning...

From Quilt Maker Sept./Oct.-22

I never did get to the bunting/banners. 😞

No pics of what's going on the frame today because mine is just being unloaded. But I think Ila's Convex Illusions is going on next. Her black batt came in over the weekend (which is what I was kind of waiting for) to get into hers (I ran out somewhere along the line).  

Oh...and I now have "real" bamboo. NOT the mixed bamboo/cotton/silk that's a little heavier, but the nice, drapey, snuggly bamboo. Did I mention batting prices have increased? I'm astounded how much all of our quilting things are increasing. Fabric, notions (my marks-be-gone pen has went up $2.00 each), needles, thread, and yes, batt. 

Yet, I haven't raised my prices?!?!?

Web Site Back Up!

And it's a new site, so if you actually read my blog, enjoy the new web site experience. My new brochures were delivered last week as were a couple of new batts I ordered from Winline Textiles. I usually get all my batt from BattingSuperSale.com but they don't have the black or bamboo I was seeking for my customers. One of my fellow professional (and amazing long armers) recommended Winline (she ONLY gets her batt from here since she only uses bamboo). Now I'm all stocked up. 

But, like everything else, batting has started to increase in cost. Just a few pennies per inch, but still...

Ann V's Deer from Hell was finished yesterday afternoon. Here's some of the quilting that went into it...

Tight swirls to push the deer forward

After finishing Anns quilt I went through some treasures I purchased from a lady who is retiring from quilting. And, her husband was just given a 4-month living sentence; liver cancer. Once that was sorted (most of it is going to be donated), I finished the new table topper I started earlier this week and then got it on the frame for a quick quilt this morning. 

From the latest Quiltmaker Magazine

I say quick, but I'll probably over think the thing and it'll take me all day. I'm hoping to make my A-U-T-U-M-N banner/bunting for the studio this afternoon once the table topper is done. But I'm having a hard time finding my template for the letters to get attached to. UGH. And I always think I'm so organized. 

(More) Updates

Whenever the computer does an update, it seems like it takes a while to get back on track. I've been fighting with it most of the morning, but we've come to terms. Finally.

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

Kathy's cute table topper

This is going to require invisible thread in the flowers and flower centers. I'll do all the regular thread first and then change out since the tension needs to be tweaked to facilitate the invisible thread.

Happy 37th Anniversary

Jim and I celebrate 37 years today. That's more than 2/3rds of my life. I can't imagine my life without him! And, while I'm thinking about it, Lucy has been with us a whole month as of today. WOW!

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

Paula's t-shirt top

This isn't the usual (meander please) quilting request on this one; each block will be custom quilted and the sashings/borders will hold the unity.

Here's a little bit of what I put into yesterdays quilt...

Janes Table Topper 

I'll be working the t-shirt quilt as long as I can before storms later this afternoon head our way. Lightning and long arms do not mix. Not sure what I'll do when I can't long arm...maybe get some sit-down sewing in? But do I want to risk my sewing machines? Probably not. Hmmm??? Something to think about while working this morning. 

A Spring Morning

It's hard to stay in the studio and work when the sun is (finally) shining and the temps are starting to warm. I noticed the frogs starting to sing yesterday after a booming thunderstorm came through yesterday morning. But I have a customer coming to pick up today, discuss another top she left and has changed her direction with it, and another pick up (possibly) later. 

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

Jane B.'s table topper

See all that sun?

Here's some more detail of what went into Janes last quilt...

Some more quilting detail

The dogs don't seem very cooperative this morning so I have already taken them out for a quick run to maybe settle them down a bit. I think they want to enjoy the spring weather as well. 

What Happened?

I wasn't expecting anybody yesterday and was I completely out of the ball park on that one. Customers one and two dropped off one top each. Fed Ex came and delivered my new long arm bobbins. Customers three and four picked up a quilt, yet, and even though I had to work late, got Diane's first top complete!

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

An Urgent Project

This and another top are pushing all the others a little in that they need to be done quickly. With moms upcoming surgery, I can't afford to miss deadlines with customers, so these two that came in yesterday are going to quickly get the long arming done. They both need binding attached (two of the three I'll actually bind for), so I need to get them stitched out to be able to work on them later. 

While this is stitching out I'll be working on another customers table toppers on the domestic machine. And making binding. And babysitting Hazel who doesn't seem to be feeling all that well this morning. 

The Downside

I'm very ready to start my holiday fun. Late next week (we're keeping our fingers crossed with this "thing" looming over our heads) our youngest son and his wife will be back in Michigan. They'll be up here a few days after their impending arrival.

We will be celebrating the holiday at the middle sons house the day after Christmas. Which, isn't that far away. Unfortunately, and because of the "thing" we will not be seeing our eldest. Don't even get me started. 

Except for decorating the house and seeing our lights beautifully lit every night, we haven't shopped, wrapped, prepared, made, or cleaned for the holiday season. Our tree isn't even here yet. 

And this is the downside to having a business where Christmas deadlines are hanging in the wings. I can only focus on so many things at once, and right now, the tops still sitting patiently in-wait are the priority. I think next year I'm going to limit the amount of tops received for the holiday, leave a space or two for those 'last-minute-because-I-can't-plan' tops and then maybe it'll be a little less stressful. And somewhat enjoyable. 

My problem: I can't say no. I like to please and make everybody happy even if it's at my expense. That's who I am and I need to find a way to maybe alter my ways a bit?

So, here is what was done yesterday morning/afternoon.

Mary Kay's second son's quilt

It was pulled off the frame around 3:30-ish. Her daughters top was loaded next,

Mary Kay's daughters quilt

I had no intention on completing this one yesterday except I got a call from Jill who wanted to bring over a few tops to do. One, of course, for a Christmas deadline.

Jill's table topper for gift exchange

I'll work on this most of the morning and then load Carla's top next. 

I think somewhere in my [next] brochure I should add something about artistry and creativity being an unhurried task. I'll have to think about it. I have a while to come up with something because my new brochures are en-route currently.

Jim was perusing his FB Marketplace a few days ago and a lady up in Houghton Lake is depleting her fabric stash. All yardages are $5. We are headed there tonight to do a little "me" shopping. I suppose if the downside to not making cookies is buying fabric, well, I really have nothing to squabble about do I?