Jinx I Did

RIGHT AFTER! Right after I posted an update on the blog earlier this week, I received a call from a new customer. And then a regular customer. And then a text from another regular and I now have nine tops to work on. And I think there's another coming today. 

Jim is off for a bit with a torn muscle in his right shoulder. We had to run around yesterday and get screenings done (required when getting hurt on the job), and did some other errands. Mom happened to be over and she tagged along in our travels. 

Today I have to start the new customers tops and get something done before we leave for a mini vacation we're taking across the U.P. of Michigan. Jim has never seen the Soo Locks and neither of us have seen Tequanamen Falls or Pictured Rocks along Lake Superiors' southern shore. There is a quilt shop up there in little town called Paradise that I'm told by the Oscoda girls is a great place to do some quilt shopping. That's on our list. And then there's always a day at Mackinac Island. But first, a visit to Jim's mom in Traverse City.

Here's what I'll be working on today.

Patricia's Wall Hangings

This one was already brought in and picked up from earlier on this week. 

Linda's Grandson's Hockey Quilt

And this one is being picked up today.

Pat calls this the "Quilt from Hell"

It was only ditch quilted, but still took two days to complete as it was kind of a large piece to work on.

Another (Nearly) Week

 Yep, it seems like the weekly thing in the summer is what the blog posts run. 

Getting Ready for a Quilt-Along

This is a nine patch I'm making for a quilt-along with Natalia Bonner beginning in September. A panel could have been purchased instead of having to make the actual quilt top, but I'm a rebel and am choosing to make my own top. Not to mention, the panel is VERY expensive. And, I'm making it bigger; more usable!

Hey! This is actually one of mine!

The Angela Walters Build-A-Quilt from 2018-19 is now complete. Two years? That's not bad, right?

Small Project Sunday

A cover for Lilo was needed and Pieces of Thyme had just the project when I shopped on Saturday. Isn't this just one of the cutest machine covers?  

On to customer quilts. 

Linda's Hockey Quilt for her 7-Year old grandson. 

Pat's Charm Square Nightmare (her words, not mine). :-)

Pat's will be completed today. I have another few on their way, but until they show, maybe (just maybe), I'll get to throw another one of mine onto the frame. HA! As soon as I utter the words, I'll jinx myself. 

Haven't posted Hazels cute face in a while. She says, "Good morning everybody." 

Still kinda sleepy this morning

Apparently...

 ...I should only blog once a week during the summer. Nice weather does it.

Here is what has been happening around the studio.

Paulettes top for photo op

I had to snap a pic of her whole quilt to get an idea of what was going to be put into it. After loading it though, I changed my mind...imagine that? Her quilt was completed yesterday. 

After Paulette's was completed, this top was loaded. It's the Angela Walter Build a Quilt from 2018-19.

Some of the quilting detail being put in

Chipping away at this top

After a day on the long arm, it's nice to be able to sit down and just work on some piecing. This top has been in the works now for a good month. And there's still a lot to do with it yet. Primarily the borders.  

Nice Days, Less Quilting

I did do some quilting yesterday, but it was minimal. 

Emily's Yellow Brick Road

This is receiving an edge-to-edge wandering flower motif, as well as binding once the quilting is completed. 

Today is another beautiful weather day; not too hot, not rainy, not too cold. I spent a better part of yesterday afternoon and evening working outside in the flower beds and rock garden. I don't know if I'll repeat that again today. I'm kinda sore and need to work in here today. 

It Has NOT Been A Week!

My last post WAS indeed a week ago. I have been quilting. Honest. I have. 

Ummm...problem?

I can see from the first couple of passes we are going to have some issues

T-Shirt quilts are different beast altogether. This particular one did not have stabilizer on the back of either the t-shirts nor the border. But it's finished and being delivered downstate today. Hopefully she'll understand the four tucks and the finagling I had to do with it. 

A Cute Little Double Wedding Ring Wallhanging

This is actually one of mine. I haven't a clue what exactly I'm going to do with it, but I was waiting for a specialty thread to arrive for one quilt, my new iPad to arrive for another (I'm going to customize the top instead of quilting the individual blocks and need my iPad to sketch my plan before starting to mark the quilt top itself), and so found the time to slip this little cutie in between those. 

The one below came in yesterday and because I'm still waiting for the iPad, and, of course, the specialty thread came in yesterday after this one was loaded, will quickly do this for Emily before loading Cathy's specialty thread piece. The iPad won't be here until Thursday.

Emily's Yellow Brick Road which will get a wandering flower motif throughout

We have to head downstate later today for another one of Jims dentist appointments. So quilting much today isn't going to happen, but I can get a little started before we actually have to leave. 

Progress

After meeting with a customer yesterday to pick up her quilt, I was able to load and start the t-shirt quilt for Joanne. This one is going to be a challenge as it has no lining on the t-shirts and they aren't behaving very well. 

After working on that top for most of the day, the evening found me making, pressing, and trimming the corner triangles for the Stack and Whack Kaleidoscope top. I have all the squares made now and just need to start joining into rows.

Stack and Whack Kaleidoscope blocks

Mom is coming over today and working on her change of address stuff. The kaleidoscope blocks are right up her color alley and I'll see if she likes it. If not, maybe this will be the next DeGroot reunion quilt? 

Since mom is coming over today, I'm not sure how much progress I'll make in the studio. Her visits vary in length and sometimes we end up taking off for whatever we find interesting to do. 

Hurdles

It wasn't hurdles so much we had this weekend, just lots of away-from-the-house time. Saturday was a complete wash. On the road and downstate all day long. 

I did manage to get three backings from The Hen House while downstate. We were actually there during normal business hours to be able to shop a little and catch up with old friends. 

Yesterday was a recharge afternoon. Errands and shopping in the morning. But I did manage to get another little bit of sewing in before leaving; working on the Stack and Whack Kaleidoscope top. 

In our travels this weekend, I had two [more] people ask about the long arm and what exactly it is that I do. Since DW is currently naked, thought I'd grab a pic of him to show how big he is to better explain to folks the machine I sling around for hours.

A good pic of DW naked

One of the kaleidoscope blocks 

This morning customers are coming to pick up (Sue L.) and then I'll have the rest of the day to work on DW and get rid of his naked-dittity. :-)