Bustin' Fanny

It's funny how I revert back into second shift mode when Jim is not here. I was in the studio until after 9:30 last night and I still had some steam left in me. But, my back and knees were telling me it was enough and I still had a good hour to go on Jodies second quilt, so decided to call it. 

Here's some of the detail in her third quilt...

A nice hook-swirl

This one (above) is still on the frame. I immediately moved from this one to the one on Bernie because I got another call from a customer about a quilt she dropped off about a month ago that needed to be brought forward in the queue. Ugh!

When it rains...

Working on Sunday

I don't generally do any 'customer' stuff on Sunday. It's my only day to do my stuff and spend time with Jim since we run so much during the rest of the week. But, with him leaving yesterday afternoon to work downstate, I did actually do real work in the studio.  

Here's what's on DW this morning...

Jodie's third quilt...Shadow Box

This is getting an edge-to-edge treatment, but once again, I'm driving. I'm thinking some hook swirls would look nice in here with maybe a grey or green thread. 

I did manage to get some small things done. Here's two FGV2 blocks I completed while Jodies back was being frame ironed...

You think my tractor's sexy...

What's a quilt without a star block?

I have the next block all cut out and ready to go for whenever I can construct another one. I'm expecting two customers today; one to pick up and one to drop off. 

I'll be chipping away at the quilt on DW until after hours and then I'll be working on the one on Bernie (it takes a lot of concentration) once customers are done coming and going. 

BOM's

Pieces of Thyme is offering a block of the month beginning in March. My Cotton Cuts BOM is already on month seven (out of 10) so I'm thinking the one at Pieces would be fun. 

I opted to not do Build-a-Quilt with Angela Walters this year; I wasn't really all about the color choices this go-around. My Call Me Crazy is on hold and that's a block of the week situation anyway. I don't have a sewing machine permanently set up to work those blocks and quite frankly, I'm really not all that into it now that I've made three. 

Here's some texture candy on Jodie's first finished quilt...

This turned out pretty cool!

I worked on her second quilt for a little while yesterday afternoon, but after putting in five hours total (on what should only be a two hour day) was enough. 

I made a FGV2 block yesterday...

Caawww, caawww

Stupid crows. We have a plethora of them around here, and I've recently learned, they will terrorize our Eagle. Crow season opens in March. 

It's Small Project Sunday and I'm going to work on my Cotton Cuts BOM that arrived in the mail this week. I hope to make a tractor on the FGV2 piece and after those are done, who knows? Jim is leaving this afternoon to work downstate for the week. Maybe I'll put on some soft music, put a 'fake' fire on the TV and just relax and read the rest of the day. Or...sew. 

I Had A Thought

I'm trying to figure out a way to set a camera onto the long arm so folks can see me quilting throughout the day. I've 'talked' to a number of folks to see how this is best accomplished. It's just a thought and I know that when I watch others quilt it's kind of soothing and mesmerizing at the same time; like looking at the flames around a campfire. 

Most of yesterday was working on Jodie's first quilt (the one on DW). Here's what's going into it...

Can you even see the straight-line quilting in the blocks?

I would have gotten more done, but had a [new] customer call and asked if she could bring over a top. That makes eight quilt tops in two days. 

I didn't work on Bernie at all yesterday, but did come up with some drawings on the iPad for some ideas on the Drunkards Path blocks in Jodie's second quilt. But here's what I've have into both the borders so far from the previous night...

Love the texture!

Last night was errand night. We're preparing for Jim to leave for a week and took advantage of a good stopping point in my work. The Spartans play today so I'll be in the studio most of the afternoon. 

Happy Friday

Jim is off being on-call. But, he's headed downstate on Sunday afternoon and will be working there for a week. I don't know which is the better of the two. 

I have plenty of things to keep me busy around here. Seven new tops came in yesterday. Four of them are for my hospice girl who are extremely time sensitive. Of course. 

Here's what's on DW today...

A very soothing top for sure

Funny story about the backing for the top above. I started loading it onto Bernie, but then re-read the work order and knew using the channel locks/computer on DW would be easier for the straight lines going into those stacked pieces. Unload. Reload onto DW. Except I reloaded the back 90 degrees the wrong way. Unload again. Reload. Now I think we have it right.

Here's what's on Bernie this morning...

Dragonflies flitting around the studio

I love this top! I was so excited to start working on it and I actually did a little bit last night once I got the backings all frame ironed. Both are basted in and ready for me to tear into this morning, but I have to place a thread order first. 

And that's going up as well. Can't we just skip this upcoming recession and move along onto better things?

Sunny Customer Day

I have several customers coming today. One to pick up, two to drop off, and one that, thankfully, rectified her thread situation and doesn't need to come over. Not that I don't welcome her, it was just a quick thread fix and she doesn't need to waste the trip over.

Pat's second quilt is done. It's still on the frame, but that's first on my to-do list this morning. It was dicey about whether the thread we had chose would be enough to finish it. Here's where it was when I shut DW down...

Not much left on there

Barbs quilt is nearly done. I have two blocks and the remaining border to do. I'll chip away at it between people today. That's the nice thing about Bernie in that I can put him into a kind of sleep mode and with a quick push of the button, can wake him up easily enough.

I did get another block done in FGV2 last night...

Just a blocky block called cross stitch

The sun is shining again today (this makes three days in a row). Having customers coming by will be an extra treat. 

Calls and Deliveries

When I order batting from my supplier they have, in the past, sent it via USPS. I've received notes in the mailbox that 'the item is too big to fit into box' and it's no wonder...

How the batting arrives

Our road hadn't been plowed until yesterday because the [now] UPS guy said he wanted to deliver this yesterday but couldn't risk coming down our road. The batting company is charging me a delivery charge (it used to be free) but I'll pay the extra to get it here via UPS because our mail guy isn't too bright.

Pats second quilt is almost done. It was 7:30 when I called it. I have another hour and a half (at least) of work to do on it and that would have put me in there until well after 9:00. I think 10 hours is enough for one day.

Needless to say, Barbs quilt didn't get worked on at all.

I received a text from a 'regular' customer of mine about a thread situation into the quilt I just did for her. She's coming over Thursday to take care of that. 

I had a new customer call and she'll be over today after 1:30. 

I had another guy call who wanted me to finish three quilts he just purchased at an estate sale. They needed hand quilting so I'm trying to find the Amish lady that does Ruths hand quilting west of town. 

And, one of my new regular customers called after hours yesterday. Hospice has been called and she needs to get some quilts done before...

Cherish every day you can just because.