Rest Day

I didn't do a thing in the studio yesterday. By the time haircuts were done and cleaning thereof, and by the time we finished morning chores, it was time to prep for lunch. 

MSU lost last night but at least we made it one step further than Michigan. 

I'll be working on this piece all day today...

Lots of work here

Since I really only have one working machine right now, this is going to be my entire focus for the next day or so. Pics of quilting to come tomorrow. 

Class, Quilt Show, and Moving

Class was very fun and I have all the pieces cut out for the quilted jacket. Talk about an emotional thing to do; cut up a completely finished quilt... 

A repurpose exercise

The coat in chunks

So, after we were finished with our class (around 2:00) I wandered over to the Midland Quilters Guild show at the Midland Center for the Arts. What a beautiful venue and what a great show! Several quilts I've worked on for customers were displayed and it was nice to see them in their full glory instead of laterally on the frame. 

I purchased a quilt kit from a quilt shop in Chesaning related to our lake and talked to a LOT of people during both the class and the quilt show. I have one business card left and I had zero intention of doing that. 

After getting home around 4:00-ish I inhaled some lunch and then Jim was able to show me what he did while I was gone. 

Getting ready for Marty on the east wall

DW is now facing the garage

The room looks kind of empty on the east side but only until Thursday morning. Haircuts this morning first thing and then I think I may piece a little before lunch. 

Now We're Moving

No, we're not moving away. But the studio is getting a shift in long arm placement. Quickly before I head off to my class...

Stripping DW down

Disassembling Foster

Jim has to run to get the moving dollies from our neighbor and I'm going to class. DW should be moved by the time I get home since he's going to where Foster was.

Marty will be going where DW is currently at since he'll be my new primary machine with Bernie. DW will be strictly used for my stuff and ONLY digital edge to edge for customers. 

Saying Good-bye

Saying good-bye is very sad. Usually. In this case, hugely. We will only see Caleb and Lia one more time before they depart for Germany in two weeks. He's stationed there for at least three years.

Such great kids!

Not sure how I took this pic, but it's cute

We are going to miss them so much. 

Subject change. Karen's quilt is through the custom work and now I've rolled back to the top and will begin the E2E maybe later today. I think we're going to move DW over to where Foster is so I need to get Karen's quilt off the frame. 

I also have to start to prepare for a class I'm taking tomorrow in Midland. I need to find one of my own quilts or purchase an old quilt from somewhere to cut up and make into a coat. I'm going to hit a few of the shops in Gladwin this morning after my nail appointment and see what I can find because cutting up one of my own quilts makes me shudder.  

If I can't find something in town, I'll hit Pieces of Thyme on my way home and see what kind of panel/backing fabric I can throw a simple E2E on. If that doesn't work, one of my own quilts is getting murdered. 

So, I have a busy day ahead and didn't sleep worth a poop last night. Well, I did sleep well actually, once I got to sleep sometime after 2:30 this morning. Note: Don't get into intense or heated discussions just before going to bed. Your brain will oft times not want to shut itself off until much later. 

Moving

The little kids are getting ready for their big move to Germany. They have to be out of the apartment on 4/1 but everything has already been shipped out so it's basically a cleaning game. And getting rid of things they aren't going to transport with them; cleaning supplies, boxes, etc. We are meeting them downstate tonight to get some of that stuff. 

It's going to be hard not talking to him every few days. I'm getting sad thinking about it, so let's change the subject.

Here's what DW is wearing...

Karen's Christmas Quilt

Here's why I do not like packaged batts...

Letting it relax

This batt was packaged and it's a cotton/wool blend by Pellon. Karen probably purchased it at JoAnn's. It's full of wrinkles and one end is very crumpled. While I was washing her backing this hung to try to remove those long arm hurdles. It didn't really do much and when I loaded it six hours later.

Meanwhile, this was loaded onto Bernie...

Ronda's applique top

I didn't have much time to work through how I was going to quilt this but started out with the borders and worked my way in. I now have a quilting plan for both of these and will work them simultaneously since Karens quilt body is E2E with the borders being custom. 

It's funny how one can amuse themselves when between projects. I finished Linda's binding right after lunch and then had to wait for the back of both of the quilts above to be ready to load. With that time I: 

1. Cleaned both machines and their carriages. 

2. Selected threads for the bobbin and top. 

3. Updated the computer queue to match the written one

4. Cut up the blocks on the design wall for the Pineapple top

5. Started getting stuff off Foster for his trip next Thursday

6. Snagged a pic of Rondas quilt to make sense of how it was going to get quilted

7. Reset the design wall since it was now empty from the previous project

After working until about 6:00 last night, I played with some more Pineapple blocks. I have a customer coming today to pick up and will be 'closing' early to leave to meet the kids later. 

Empty Long Arms

Here is some of the quilting detail that went into Linda's quilt...

The front

The back

I have it all trimmed and ready to bind for her. That's this mornings project. Bleh. Before I can bind anything though I need to get out the queue sheet and get something on the two empty machines...

Here's what's on DW😧

Here's what's on Bernie😔

All three machines are currently not loaded with a thing. Foster is holding onto Linda's quilt until I move it over to the sewing table but he's not getting anything loaded anyway since he's leaving a week from tomorrow. I finished Lynettes quilt and need to get a hold of her later to let her know it's finished. 

So today is a bit of a change from the norm, which can be good. At times.

I constructed three more Pineapple blocks last night after doing work stuff then all of that needed to be cleared off to make room for this morning's binding task. Funnily enough, todays IG prompt is 'binding'. I'll be snapping pics to post for later. 

Digitized Edge to Edge

I have a computer (the Pro Stitcher) that drives all the edge-to-edge motifs on customer quilts. If they request it. I don't like using it. I'm not in control, and whenever I leave the room, the thread will break and then all that's happening is hole poking. 

I'd rather just drive myself and have the control I favor over robotics. However, sometimes I can't convince a customer to just let me drive (they want a specific themed motif or whatever) and so the Pro Stitcher is called to duty.

Today is a Pro Stitcher day. I've gotten up early and will be starting said machine as soon as I get the blog done. I have to sit and babysit DW while the thing is running so I can correct any errors during stitch out. UGH. Not my jam that's for sure.

Meanwhile, Lynettes Tilda Snowmen are just about done. I have one small border to finish and will get that done once I'm convinced DW is going to behave himself during his time at work.

After "working" I was able to get my bag done and here's the result...

I love, love, love this bag!

Here are all the dividers and my zippered pocket inside...

See the zippered pocket?

I started two more blocks on the Pineapple top but that was about it for my day. I got pretty tired even before 7:00 (????). I think this cold, windy, snow weather was getting to me?

Mom is stopping by later today after her art meeting and she'll just love the noise DW is making while he's stitching out this quilt today. NOT! But that's my job and she'll just have to accept that fact. Maybe that's why she doesn't come over more often?