Rainy Day

We needed the rain. Badly. And it's supposed to come down most of the day. Did I tell you about the quilt at the white elephant auction? 

I decided to keep it in the trailer. If somebody asked during the auction about the quilt, I'd drag it out and put it up for bid. If nobody even mentioned it or questioned its whereabouts, I'd skip it this year. I still have the quilt if that tells you how much interest there was. 

Here's Jane's quilting detail of what is going into her quilt...

Some of the detail in Janes quilt

This would be done but mom stopped by yesterday and visited for three+ hours. Which is fine. I hadn't seen much of her since her return from her Colorado trip. She brought us a few goodies from her trip with Chad over the weekend and we did some catching up.

A Good Sleep

Isn't it amazing what a good sleep can do for the body? And the mind? And everything else? I'm a new person this morning after having had one (for a change).  

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

Jane's Granddaughter's Quilt

This is a combination of computerization, free motion, and ruler work, which I love to do because I don't get as fatigued as easily. And she only wants one thread color throughout and that makes it a bonus project!

The girls are still pretty sleepy from their daycare excursion during the reunion, but that won't last very much longer. Mom is supposed to stop by today after her art meeting, and it's pretty quiet around here after all the weekends activities. I'll have to crank up the tunes and get some life back into the place once I'm done here. 

Back to the norm I guess. 

White Elephant Auction

We have a  white elephant auction every year at the reunion. I have, in the past 10 years or so, donated a quilt to the cause. The more money we obtain can cover lot rent for those who are strapped financially, for all the weekends food, and any other incidentals that pop up. 

The quilt last year only brought $150 dollars. I get half and the reunion fund gets the other half. I decided to take one and, IF, nobody asked about it, would not get it out. And, nobody did until a half hour after the auction ended. Which made my decision for me. I'll have one in the wings.

We are still trying to get unpacked/cleaned up from the weekend but I plan to be in the studio after lunch and get back to some normalcy. 

Just a small portion of auction attendees.

Zoom Calls

Zoom calls are fantastic and provide the ability to connect with people around the world. Including my new web hosting company (which will go live in about two weeks). This morning I was talking to the UK about this very thing. 

Meanwhile, I had to ply the dogs with hidden treats in their toys to keep them occupied. Which worked well. 

Monica's third quilt is quilted, but still hanging out on the frame. I have a customer coming to drop off later this morning, sheets are in the dryer (there is a threat of rain in the air) and at some point, I have to start packing. Jim and I have to mow this afternoon, get food tonight, get the fridge going in the trailer (which can often times be a real hassle) and whew, breath somewhere in there. 

Lucy has discovered the lake. Which is not good. So she is basically on-leash while we are outside because otherwise that's where she makes a beeline for every time we let her out. And the lake is starting to get really stinky (warm water, sludge, algae, and mix that with the wet dog....yum smells there). 

So here she is begging me to come inside of her pen so she can escape out the back door to head to the lake...

Let me in mom so I can go swimming

Little stinker anyway. 

No more quilting until next week. Monica's quilt may get removed and the last one put on (although we may have an issue with it as it appears the backing may be too short). I'll have to wait and see what the day brings and how much time I can squeeze into the business. 

What a Perfect Weekend

Relaxing. Family. Great Neighbors. Fireworks galore. Dogs playing. Kids laughing. Campfire. Kayaking. It'll be even better when we get our lake back I'm sure. 

I did manage to get some sewing in this weekend during "nap time". 

Bag Two

Bag Three

And my new chair is labeled

And I started a new project yesterday after finishing bag #3. But, it's logistically Monday here in the studio and that means a regular work day. I'll continue on with Monica's third top today. Here's some of what's going into it already...

Nice!

Tonight, I should probably start packing the trailer with some of the barest of necessities; sweatshirts, a coat, extra things like that. Jim pulled it up to the house on Saturday and what. a. mess! We had a mouse get in, give birth (in the stack of extra pillows in the shower), and then died while having complications with the next little mouse. Her and her new baby were dead next to each other along with all of their bodily fluids. 

But before she found a place to have this little mouse, she had to explore EVERYTHING and left little deposits everywhere she could. I spent all of Saturday afternoon cleaning bedding, floors, furniture, surfaces in the kitchen. Yeah, basically everything got a good washing. Isn't family reunion time fun?

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

Thank those that have served our country and let them know you appreciate their service. It's a small token of gratitude for all they have given up for YOU!

Here's what's on the frame this morning...and many more mornings to come because I'm taking this weekend off to enjoy neighbors, activities, and getting ready for our reunion. 

Monica's third quilt. Plum Garden by Tilda

I love the colors in this quilt and would like to make one myself. But alas, I have other things in my bag-o-tricks to work on right now. 

Happy Weekend!

What Do You Do?

I understand seaming threads. You know. The threads that peek out from a seam juncture that should have been cut off during the piecing and/or ironing process. But aren't, and now they poke out of the top for the long armer to deal with. 

Because if they aren't trimmed, the quilting looks trashy and so does the quilt itself once it's done. And, the longer threads can get caught on the hopping foot bar (ask me how I know this).

How do I convey to my clients that trimming these is in their best interest and really isn't part of my job. Nowhere, in any of the long arming videos, do ANY of the instructors say, "First trim all threads that poke out, and then ditch around all...". 

I've reached out to a few of my fellow long armers and have asked them about this. They don't seem to have a problem with many threads that are missed. So why am I having this problem? Because it's probably not taught enough (I think instructors assume you should know this) and don't address it with students. 

That's my soapbox today. Sorry. It's just very time consuming, it leaves me liable for a possible fabric slice when/while I'm trimming these threads, and there is also a possibility one of those threads is an actual thread that holds the blocks together. 

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

Monica's second quilt top

I've actually already started getting the thread in there this morning. She just wants an all over and DW is doing the work. Except, on his second row, decided he was tired and just quit working. I quickly discovered his computer battery was (once again) low, so I'll give that a little bit to charge before I continue. You'd think I'd check this the night before when I'm loading!