Scrapped

The AQS state blocks have been scrapped. The Oklahoma block started turning into frustration and I was not liking what I was doing. Time to move on at this point. 

I've been hearing about something called a temperature quilt. I started delving into these through IG, Pinterest, Google, and other smaller sources. I wanted to see pics. Layouts. Options. I love house quilts and I've chosen to not only make a temperature quilt, but it will be very simple houses showing the daily highs and lows in Gladwin for this year.

Obviously, I'm already way behind. I can catch up throughout the year and since I already have 50+ days to make up, and the houses are fairly simple, working on them at a retreat or to fill in between projects shouldn't be earth shattering. 

The first thing Jim and I did yesterday out in the studio was to get pockets aligned and sewn down to keep things under control. He was a big help in that while I was sewing, he was clipping and putting pockets in a cute color order. We got all 31 done...

The next step(s) are to line up each pocket with the side of the backgrounds and baste in. After doing that the bottom of each short side needs to be folded up a half inch and stitched down to hide the raw seam. I have done two. I'll chip away at those as time permits. 

While we had decent daylight in the scrap dresser room I started pulling colors for the temperature quilt. The cool thing about Michigan is we have a large range of temps and I have plenty of scraps to fill in those ranges. I'm probably narrowing the temps down too tightly, but ya know what? There are really no rules to this thing. It's all in how YOU want to do it and I'm pinning my mid-year temps down a little tighter than the winter temps. 

After pulling, sorting, bagging, and labeling, (thank you again Jim for your assistance in this) I headed in the studio to do some 'real' work. I don't have a pattern for the houses and was relying on my brain to work through measurements. I did two sets of test blocks and found where I needed to head. Then, I did a Fireworks block and completed my daily strip on DW. 

I only have two more Fireworks blocks to go so I think I'm going to get those completed so I can clear those fabrics away and tidy up the work area from that project. I'll take the blocks to retreat in April and put them together there. 

Batch Sewing

Still working the quilt on Marty and will be all day today. Maybe even part of tomorrow. It has a LOT of tie offs and restarts. And thread changes. And, unfortunately, the quilting being put into it will barely show. 

After working all day on Marty, I shifted over to DW to do my daily strip. I constructed a fireworks block after that and then I started sorting and cutting the Tula fabrics I have in my stash for the upright caddies being made for retreat in April. 

How am I going to make these? One at a time? In sections of five or ten? Or, one step at a time? I'm thinking, one step at a time since I seem to be on that path already. I mean, I've made the backgrounds. I've cut all the pieces. The next step is to match pieces into their respective groupings for each caddy. 

All cut out and ready to blend

We have to head to Meijer at some point after working so I'm not sure how much on the little caddy's will be done. And...the new AQS block came out last night. Oklahoma. Get this...it has FPP, EPP, piecing, and appliqué all rolled into one block. I don't think I'll be getting this one done in one night. It'll be a miracle if it goes together well at all. 

Notice how I'm blogging very late this morning. I was awake every hour last night and finally, around 7:00 this morning, slept for a two hour stint. So, I didn't even get out of bed until after 9:00. 

Why Do I Keep Losing Days?

I figured with Jim home every day I'd have an easier time keeping track of what day it was. I thought Wednesday was Tuesday and Thursday was Wednesday. Today is Friday already? UGH!

Blocks 11-15 are complete on Ila's quilt. No pics though. I'll be tackling 16-20 today but I have a few interruptions to deal with so that may be a pretty high goal. I have two customers coming to pick up (if they decide to venture out post impromptu winter storm from yesterday/last night), and we have the Spectrum guy coming to switch us over. All, first thing this morning. 

After working yesterday the weekly state block came through. Arizona.

It was supposed to be done in soft pinks and olives but this is what I had in the fat quarter bundle. I may need to pick up another one because I'm afraid I'm going to run out of these fabrics at this rate.

I pieced a Fireworks block and then I moved over to Mike to work on the binding on the Produce Section. It's done! I really want to hang it today, but that remains to be seen whether I have to deal with customers or the Spectrum guy (who is here now btw). 

Lots of Pics

 The quilt on Marty has yet to be finished. I worked well past 6:00 last night in hopes I could call that one done. Nope. There is still a huge chunk of borders to do on the sides as well as all the bottom borders, and all the sashing on the last two rows are yet to be finished. BUT, I did get all the interior blocks compete before shutting Marty down. Here they are and I don't remember who is who (order wise)...

I didn't get on DW last night (I mean, c'mon, really?) but did work one Fireworks block and completed this weeks AQS state block; Alaska!

Alaska!

I plan on spending the bulk of today on DW. We have two digitized E2E's that need to get on that machine. I also have a quilt-along that starts tomorrow and need to get that top onto the machine so I can participate. 

Squirrel-ing and RIP Barb Smith

Yesterday morning, while perusing through emails, one was received from AQS. I generally just glance at these before deleting them, but something caught my eye. They are hosting a state-by-state weekly block quilt-along. I've always wanted to do one of these and decided to participate this year. They are starting with Hawaii and here is my block...

Paper pieced Hawaii

I don't know if they are all going to be paper pieced, but it's okay if they are since I like doing PP. I'm using a fat quarter bundle that's been sitting in my stash for quite some time so will start with those until I feel the need to supplement with other fabrics. That was how my evening ended.

I did do my one Fireworks block before starting the Hawaii block, and during the day while I was working on Marty Jim replaced the closet doors with two flimsy's he found in my queue. Here are the new door openings...

Closet doors gone

I received a text message from a previous guild member down state informing me a member had passed on Tuesday. Barb was passionate about quilting, genealogy, and her family. She'll be missed by many people whose lives she touched. And, she isn't the only passing notification I received this week. Another member of the new guid in Hale also passed last week but I hardly knew her since I'm so new to the area. 

I've been asked if I'm getting caught up on customer quilts yet. Here's a pic of the closet before hanging the new top in front of the customer queue...

Flimsys hanging in wait for me to work

The pic above was an eye opener. I know my queue stays about the same, but to see it in its entirety is kind of intimidating. I have plenty of work to keep me busy, which I am eternally grateful for and it is with appreciation that this many customers trust me to finish their quilts for them. 

One more day on Marty. I wanted to get the Grannies Garden quilt finished for Bunny, but Marty and I were not getting along in the late afternoon. Shredded threads (I changed his needle), balking at all the bulk (I changed his foot), throwing up and getting the bobbin area nearly seized (running out of bobbin), and it was a little after 4:00 I decided we needed to take a little break from each other. 

I'll finish Grannies Garden this morning and then move on to the next one on Bernie (wall hanging), which hasn't been photographed yet as I'm still waiting to dig out the quilt top that goes with said wall hanging. 

Aaannnddd...it's a quilt! Wow it felt good to get back on the machine!

U.S.A.

After completing the U.S.A. quilt I moved along to the DeGroot Reunion Cross. Section 13 is built. Sections 14-16 are set up and ready to be pieced. I'll work on those today.

Sections 12, 15, and 16

We have a freezing mist coming down right now and the roads are treacherous. Jim came back home this morning after attempting to get to work. It's just not safe currently.  

I'm debating on how safe it would be to start customer quilts. I'm itching to get back into them but want to maintain the safest possible situation for my customers. They will certainly understand my waiting. I don't know that I have enough time to load any more of mine since all the tops left in the tote are large to huge sizes.

This means I'm at about a two-day stand still with the long arm. Again. Hmmm?? I'll think about this why I'm piecing these sections together this morning.