Large Quilt Trend

It seems like I'm getting a lot of large quilts in lately. Large queen and king-sized seem to be the norm for some reason. These take A LONG time to work; four days minimum, unless they are an E2E. I'm not complaining, just wondering why all of a sudden I'm getting these larger quilts more than any other sizes?

Here's what's on DW for the next few days...

Martha's very large farm quilt

I haven't a clue what I'm doing in here yet. It's a very busy and full of panels quilt, meaning things could get a little wonky if I'm not careful. 

I worked on Bernie yesterday while frame ironing the backing on Martha's piece, and I'm about at the half-way point on Jodies last quilt. 

I also got the three pieces worked Sunday all trimmed, and the zipper is in the belly of the turtle too. 

Two customers coming today; one to pick up and another to drop off. The neighbor has work being done to his new deck, the guy across the street is prepping for a new structure (???), and the dam work started right in early this morning. The busy-ness of spring. 

Family Visits

My brother only comes to Michigan about four times a year. This weekend was the weekend he chose to visit. We spent last night and this morning with him and my mom and so am getting a late start to my day. And...I had a customer appointment at 10:30 this morning so there was that too.

Here's a little of what I worked on in between family...

The McKenna Ryan is now quilted

And so is the turtle front and back

Once I got my little things quilted up and pulled off the frame, Jim had to help me load this one onto DW...

A unique situation

This is the second quilt for Margery, but I didn't do the quilting. She had it edge-to-edged somewhere else and had already bound the quilt. She decided later on, to make the Dresdens and then have them attached by me. 

So, I don't have any extra backing to work with, resulting in us having to pin a faux leader onto the quilt. The white clamps in front are giving me some stability on that end of the quilt and then I'll use the side clamps to get it even more stable. The Dresdens are just getting some circles put in to adhere them down and she wants the points to be free, so nothing there either. 

This one should (I'll emphasize should here) only take a day to do, but I'm already an hour and a half behind in my day. Thankfully, it's nice weather so that's making things okay. 

Just a Workin' Girl

After getting nails done, and spending some time (and money) over to Pieces, and returning phone calls, that came in during m absence, I started right in on Margery's quilt. My goal was to get it done. And I made it around 8:30 last night. Wow, was I tired!

It's still on the frame. Jim's going to need to help me get it trimmed and folded. The next quilt being loaded is already quilted. I'm attaching some 3-D Dresdens to the top of it with the long arm. A previously quilted [large] quilt is quite a feat so Jim is going to have to help with that too. 

Is it here officially? Finally? 

We are going on some errands this morning so won't be in the studio much until later today. 

The Balcony

Fisher Contracting is working on our dam (two hips and a hurray), and their work schedule seems a bit disconnected. Some days no noise is heard until later in the afternoon. Some days (like today) they start right in first thing in the morning. The noise is extremely loud today; maybe because the air is still and clean after last nights rain. But we're just in the balcony. I'd hate to be in the front row down river. 

I'm not complaining. At all! Just glad they're making progress. Still working on Margery's Carpenter Star today and this is what will follow on Bernie...

One of Jodie's last quilts

This top makes me sad. This is my customer who passed away earlier this winter from cancer. She was working on this one right up until she left the Earth. She had helpers since she was so weak; and it's an honor to be working on one of her last creations. 

Nails first thing this morning, then to Pieces to deliver Linda's quilt. And I'll have to get into any kind of mischief I can find to get into in a quilt shop. 😃

Block of the Months

Do you like BOM's? I do, but when they offer it as a "lump sum" situation, I prefer to take that option so I can work on them at my own pace. The Cotton Cuts BOM top, which was a true BOM without a lump sum option, is nearly together. I have one more set of borders to construct (there's a middle flying goose) and attach and it'll be complete. But here it is so far... 

Signoria from Cotton Cuts

By the time I get the borders attached it won't fit on the design wall, so thought I'd share it as it is now before it gets put into the "To Quilt" totes under Bernie. 

Let's talk about markings. When I make a mark on a quilt top, it's with air or water soluable products. Period. I do NOT use the heat removable products such as Frixion pens. They leave a very subtle waxy substance behind that never comes out, even after heated. I've proven this and seen it with my own use here in the studio. 

So here is Margery's quilt marked out for today...

Chalk and water removable pen

I did the marking for today last night after I finished (finally) Linda H.'s Kim Diehl quilt. It's still on the frame and I have to trim it yet, but the quilting is completed. 

So today I'll be loading another top onto Bernie and working on Margery's quilt while the Bernie back is being frame ironed. See a trend here? 

And let's talk about Bernie. He was purchased to do a few customer quilts here and there, but moreover, to get some of my own almost 50 tops done. But because I'm so busy, that's not working out like I had originally intended. So, I'm looking for a third machine.

I don't know how the studio is going to be reconfigured to accommodate this, but I've got about a year to work through it. I'm not going to stop making tops so something has to change here to make sure I continue to provide good service to customers, but not become frustrated at the growing pile of my own tops sitting down there just patiently waiting. 

Dust or Quilt?

Dusting is one of those chores I detest. Jim doesn't mind doing it so I don't have to. It's one of those age-old questions: What came first; the chicken or the egg? In my book, quilting always comes first, which is why, when customers visit, they get that "down-home" feel. 😂

I'll be working on Bernie most of today. I want to get Linda's quilt done so I can deliver it on Friday after my nail appointment. What happens when you forget what you put at the top of a quilt? You roll it back and take pics...

Can you see the quilting?

From this pic, you probably can't see the quilting. But when I blow it up on the iPad, I can see where I've been and make some drawings for further reference while working the quilt.

Three customers yesterday (one was a call I got after blogging), but only one expected today. A total of two drop-offs and two pick-ups. The weather is still hanging in there for great quilting (overcast, windy, and chilly). I love these kind of weather/quilting days!

Got Borders?

I had to run out to vote this morning so am getting a little later start. Here's what's on DW this morning...

This is a BIG Carpenters Star!

This is Margery's quilt and look at all that real estate to quilt! This is the before...

Just getting the first border in.

This is the after...

Look at all that texture!

A lot of long armers cringe when they see this many borders, especially with solids that show EVERY little bobble and mistake. I relish them!

I'll be working on this most of the morning and early afternoon. After that, I have two customers coming to drop off and pick up mid-afternoon/evening. 

I'm at the half-way point on Linda H.'s quilt on Bernie. I'll be working on that some more this evening. That is, if our north neighbors don't show up, which they are supposed to do sometime this week. It's rainy, cold, and windy out there so a great day to stay in and jam to some tunes and work.