Why Some...

long armers don't long arm anymore. 

Notice anything out of sorts?

And the backing is too short

I called Sue to ask her if I could trim off the sides to obtain extra backing to add to the bottom. She couldn't believe she shorted me like that, but hey, I even do it to myself.

An hour later, and with Jims help, we removed the quilt, trimmed, sewed and sewed again, and then one more time to attach the extra needed at the bottom, and then reloaded. The reloading; that's where it's much easier with two people to assist with the weight of the whole quilt. 

There are many long armers out there who have given up the "sport" for reasons such as the two listed above. They were tired of wrangling these issues. I'm not so sick of it. Yet.

Because I had this little hiccup to deal with, and my eldest called to chat for a while, I did not get this quilt done. Today should be the day and I'll get right to it after my early nail appointment. Not expecting any customers and I have only one delivery coming in, so minimal reasons not to finish this one.

Not much to show. Or Tell.

I had two intricate quilts come in yesterday (Floral Felicity and the Tilda Sampler) and that was the highlight of my day. Still working on Sue S.'s Kaleidoscope quilt yesterday and today both. I have a new customer coming later this morning with another Tilda Sampler but that's the extent of my excitement.

The IG Quilt Fest is going on right now. Yesterday's prompt was...

A good question 

My answer is a little more detailed than the one I left on IG. I didn't want to bore anybody with my artistic journey and how I finally found it through needle, thread, and the big machines. But that's really the reason. It's an outlet for the artist in me I'd been searching for basically my whole life. 

And, it's a give-back pastime. What I make is useable and can be given to anybody who needs a hug of love. 

Today's prompt is Quilty Fashion. Yeah, I got nothing here. But I'm working on making a quilt coat. Well, I have the pattern. I have an idea in my head. Does that count? 

The winter weather has returned. Cold temps, a little snow, and high winds expected all day today. But with yesterday's rain, the lake has come up a good foot. Our dock is entirely in the water (ice), the Beller coyote has completely disappeared, and the fishing boats back end is getting very near the edge of the water. 

Why Do I Need Two (Three) Long Arms?

We get asked this question. A LOT! This is one of many reasons why...

Frame ironing a backing

While I am over working on DW, I'm prepping the next quilt to head onto Bernie. Frame ironing is only one of many steps it takes to get a quilt loaded. Let me ask you this...do I question why you need more than one set of anything in your line of work/hobby? 

The third machine is just for my quilts. This was a personal purchase (not a business purchase) I felt I had a need for since my flimsy pile was just growing instead of reducing. 

I could probably get away with one machine. I did for years. But I'm about a third faster now in my "quilt production" than in the those previous years. Would any of my own personal tops ever get done? Not. A. Chance. 

While I was working on Sues quilt on DW yesterday, this came to my attention...

Well, that ain't right

Coming completely detached from her top. I've found three of these so far in here and I'm having to tack them down for her as I go along. 

I have two new quilts coming in later this afternoon but my morning is free. I'm up early. I worked late last night (almost to 7:00) because I have some deadlines in April pressing down on me. Thankfully our electricity came back on (we all lost it around 11:45 for no apparent reason). Better get to it on this rainy early spring day. 

Ever Wonder?

Do you ever wonder what other people are doing at that very moment you're thinking about what they're doing? My mind drifts when I'm long arming. What are the kids/grandkids doing at that moment? What are friends doing? Other quilters...are they long arming, at a retreat, or just piecing? I believe I have too much "think" time. 

The QOV is done. It's hanging out waiting for the markings to disappear...

Ready to remove and trim up

To revisit, I'll be working on Sue's Kaleidoscope quilt on DW for the next few days...

Ready for my attention

It's not even basted in yet. I was waiting for Jim to shim those legs before starting to do any work on it. Now that that's done I can proceed.

While I was getting ready to quilt on Foster last night, the sun broke through the clouds and showed me this yuck on my cutting mat...

Look at all that mess

Your mat has all of this as well. I took my gum eraser to it and it's much cleaner now. What I need to do is get it in the shower with some Dawn to thoroughly clean it, but I'll do that when the weather gets warmer.

Rainy and chilly today. It's probably going to melt whatever snow we have left. If not today, then definitely tomorrow as temps are supposed to stay mostly above freezing with rain for the next day or so. 

Not so Snuggle Sunday

Okay, so we did snuggle a little after lunch and before the game, and then again after it was finished in the early evening. Meanwhile, in the morning I worked on Foster...

What's going in the "mint" section

And in the afternoon I started pressing, cutting, and piecing for the first block in what I'm calling the Scrappy Susan quilt. 

The first scrap block (of 40)

You can see my focus fabric in the background; what I pulled all the scraps from to make it a little more cohesive. 

Today is QOV work on Bernie. It should be done by the end of today barring too many interruptions. 

Taking the Girls

We had errands to do after getting morning chores done and we took the girls with us. Something we haven't done in a while, but we weren't going to be in any one place any too long. They were so tuckered out when we got back home they were very quiet the rest of the day. They get so excited going bye-bye.

One of the stops was Pieces of Thyme to pick up some background fabric for this new project...

The newest project

After lunch and a movie or two, I headed out to the studio to read the directions for this project and started cutting the background pieces...

Backgrounds all cut

Jim was out in the workshop cutting and making shim pieces for the two north/south long arms. DW is wearing his latest "heels"...

A new set of shims

During our second movie the medium I had purchased Friday for the Girl with the Pearl Earring was applied. Here's a before and after treatment with said medium...

Before

After

Yep, just some fabric medium on those InkTense pencils brings out the life of the party.

Not sure where I'm headed today but it'll be low-keyed. 

More of the Same

Yesterday was free of any distractions but I'm still not finished with the QOV. Here's another few blocks going in...

America the Beautiful

And here's one of Lady Liberty...

Does this block make me look fat?

While the furnace was running I loaded the two big machines for their next project(s). Here's what's on Foster...

Left overs from a previous project

I dug this out of the flimsy tote. With all of that light negative space, ya know I have to custom quilt this one. Here's what's on DW after the QOV is done...

Sue's beautiful Kaleidoscope Quilt 

This is, of course, going to be custom done. But not until that QOV is finished. 

We ran to Midland last night to UPS out Ginny's three quilts. I stopped into Joann's to find some fabric medium. They were, of course, out. The store is a skeleton even after only one week into their closing. Hobby Lobby had what I think I needed. I have to check my test section to see if it's the right thing.

The Bellers came up for the day/night last night and we headed there after getting groceries to catch up and visit. 

Today is a crap shoot. Jim and I have been doing chores all morning and are now heading to Pieces to pick up some background fabric for the next scrappy quilt I'm going to do with folks around the country with Susan Smith. She's hosting a sew-along and I need to dump some scraps.