Same But Different

Here is the second Ann V. quilt I'm working on today...

 

Look familiar?

This one is getting different quilting in it than the first one. The first one received a LOT of tiny straight lines in all the color sections and intense feathering in the dark sections.

See all those tiny little lines?

Gorgeous day out there with the weather today and the lawn is looking wonderful after Jim trimmed and we both mowed last night so a beautiful setting to work in the studio on this very colorful top!

Typical Day at the Lake

A productive day yesterday! Here's what I have on the frame this morning...

Ann V.'s Kaffe wall hanging

This one is interesting in that she had already layered the back/batt with the top and had barely started quilting it. She's letting me finish this one and gave me another nearly identical one to do as well. I'll be working on these today.

Sues quilt was finished in the early evening and here's a little of the quilting that went into it... 

A lot of work, but so worth it!

I think it's a mowing day since we haven't mowed in over two weeks. It's been so dry nothing has really grown except the buckhorn. But we have had some recent rains that is causing the lawn to go a little bonkers now so my day will be cut short. 

Better Late

I've been meaning to blog most of the day; but got sidetracked doing something else. Like receiving a customer. Letting Jim do his training on the "big" computer where I blog. Cleaning and other chores. Oh, and working on this...

Isn't this just darling?

The creator of this quilt (Sue) has velcro sewn in so the animals can have different outfits put on them once the quilt is done...

Hmmm...what shall I wear today?

She didn't leave the outfits with me, but if you want to check this quilt out, it will be in the Quirky Quilters Quilt Show later this fall. 

I did finish the turtle yesterday and it was great to work on one of my own pieces, if even only for a few hours. Still chipping away on Sues quilt for the remainder of the afternoon/evening. 

Something of Mine?

I finished the quilt for Sandy yesterday. Here's some of the quilting that went into it... 

Making something a little pretty

Since it just so happened that I was able to complete this on a Friday afternoon, I was able to get something of my own onto the frame.

Another turtle shell

Jim and I had to run a plethora of errands this morning and when finally getting home we wolfed down a meal and are just getting started onto a normal day. 

Going to the Beyond

Jim's cousin passed away two weeks ago. Jim's great aunt back in May. My brothers girlfriend had a daughter who hung herself on Tuesday. Jim's moms boyfriend just passed away this morning. With the way the world is turning out, they are probably all in a better place.

This is why I quilt. It's my passion and it's where I want to be ALL THE TIME! This is my "better place" until the next one is ready for me I guess. 

Nail appointment first thing this morning, had to do a little shopping, ran over the Pieces to pick up a backing and some insert fabric for the turtle sitting here waiting to get onto the frame. Now I'm home and have to finish chores before I get into this quilt...

One of the blocks

It looks to be a portion of the Stitchers Garden I've done two of, but not quite. I see some similar or same blocks from that quilt in it. I've already mapped out the first portion of the quilting so it should go rather fast. 

Meanwhile, Chris is coming to pick up her quilt this afternoon and it's a good day to stay in and long arm since it's supposed to be a hot one out there today. 

I received something in my email this morning from Quilted Joy (the place where I get all my thread). It's a color card with the colors arranged in numerical order and a sample of each color next to it. I printed this off and I'm going to stick them into plastic sleeves so I can dry-erase the ones I'm getting low on for reordering. Very convenient! 

Maybe Today?

Chris' quilt is still not finished. Maybe today it'll finally get off the frame. Yesterday morning was a wash. Bug guy, lightning storms, and getting things reorganized from the previous two days.  

The girls after doggie day care

After lunch, we had another round of storms pass through and I took the quiet dogs to an advantage and actually took a nap. I can't even remember when I took a nap last. But, like usual, I felt worse after waking up and slogged through the rest of yesterday afternoon/evening. 

I'm still a little groggy this morning, but much better than yesterday. Oh, to be 40 again!

Beautiful purple Coneflower with a friend

While I was waiting for the bug guy between storms, I was able to find out what kind of flower was growing in my "rustic" south fence garden. Back to the long arm I go and it's a beautiful sunny day out there to enjoy my time in the studio. 

Unproductive Two Days

Monday was moving day. My brother wanted a pic of the kids in their new apartment. I sent him this to be a little bit of a smart aleck...

They've made it back home.

We spent all of Monday in East Lansing and Lansing visiting with the B's, unloading and unpacking the C's, and we never got back home until around 9:30. We were exhausted!

Yet, we had to unload the truck (there wasn't much), reload the truck with stuff for my trip to Pinconning for yesterdays Quilts for Kids show. I was vendor-ing and what I thought was going to be a pretty sedate day turned out to be go, go, go nearly all day long. 

And I thought I was tired after Mondays activities? Ha! I was a walking zombie when I went to bed last night. I got back home around 7:00, had to unload the truck despite my knee being swollen, my back screaming from standing on uneven ground all day, and my head screaming from not enough water and being "live" with customers educating, explaining, answering questions, and promoting my abilities. 

Needless to say, I slept in a little bit this morning only to be awaken by the thunderstorms rolling through. It was a sound sleep though. The quilts were hardly moved when I made my bed this morning. 

Orkin is here this morning to spray us and the neighbors so I have to deal with that before getting on the frame. And here Chris' quilt sits yet another day unfinished.