Don't Ask For Channeling...

Okay gang. You want your sides channeled before I set in the motif we discussed at the planning session. But, you only leave me this much backing...

2 3/4"? Really?

I can't attach the side clamps to steady the sandwich when left only this much backing. And since this quilt is so big, I can't even attach my leader grip bracket because I'm that close to the side of the frame. I've pulled multiple stitches on these channels, and I'm done with doing that. 

If you don't provide me with the minimum requirements of at least 4" all around, I can not be responsible for shoddy looking work. There is a reason long armers need that much extra. Too many to list today, but it's not because we want you to spend the extra money. We NEED that much to get things aligned and stable on that 12-foot frame.

I had the quality control crew making sure I was staying on task yesterday...

Hazel (l) and Lucy (r)

We have a beautiful snow coming down right now and it's supposed to stay with us until around noon. Then, it'll be kicking back up again later this evening. New snow is always soooo pretty and will be nice to look at while I've passed the half-way point in the Judy Niemeyer quilt. I knew this one would take over a week to complete. 

Reset Day

I had totally planned on long arming yesterday afternoon, but after decorating the tree,

and attending the virtual baby shower for Caleb and Lia, it was time for lunch and it still need to be made.

And then Christmas movies just kept queueing up so we spent the afternoon snuggling with the girls and relaxing. I was just still. Enjoying the down time and resetting my head and body. I know this week is going to be killer, as is next week. 

I think it's important to take time out to be still. Just relax and enjoy what you have, like the dogs and a warm place to live.

Today I'll be working on DW (of course) and looking out my window at the beautiful snow and be thankful I'm in a place where it's not 0 degrees (that's what we woke up to this morning) all while doing what I love to do. 

Not Much To Share

Jim got the lights on the tree and I worked on DW for about four hours yesterday. Our neighbors came over for a visit. MSU lost their b-ball game. I did get the new bow tied to the top of the studio tree. Not much else happening in the studio.

When Jim was digging out the Snow Village from under the stairs earlier this week he found this in the closet... 

Newly hung thread rack

I'm not sure what it was doing in the closet, but fat lot of good it does me in there. He hung it up for me and any spare threads we have are on it. BUT I need to make better use of it and add more "odd" threads hanging around that I only use on occasion. 

Thankfully I have a good duster to go over these when needed. 

I have a virtual baby shower to attend for the little kids later this morning and don't know if mom will remember to come or not. It's been snowing a little bit so she may not try to venture out. Hair cuts already occurred and we have to trim the tree as well so we have a busy Sunday planned. 

I've Discovered...

...I can not long arm until I do my daily blogging. I've also discovered, after getting my nails taken off (can no longer afford with Jim retiring) that cracks near the side of the nail are very painful. I have two right now.

If you wonder why it takes long armers so long to work on your quilts, here are all the tools I'm currently using in the Judy Niemeyer quilt...

Just some of what I have available to work a quilt

Here is some more quilting going into the quilt...

After working very late last night (again), I started this and then finished just now this cute bow...

I put this on my little Christmas tree in the studio

And this is what Jim and I went and did this morning after 'doctoring' Lucy (she has developed a cyst on her behind)...

Oh Tannenbam

We have to let it dry out (it was covered in snow) and rest for a day before we get to decorate. We decided on a skinnier tree this year since we both are having back issues. To get a larger tree in the house would have been pushing our physical boundaries. 

Why Jim is watching MSU basketball, I'll be working on the Judy quilt on DW. It's not getting any further away from the holiday and I have three quilts to finish before Christmas arrives. Onward Ho, Ho, Ho!

Just A Little Bit Of Quilting

Here is the first border in our week-long project on DW...

I LOVE feathers!

Yes, that's me driving...not the computer! The second border also has a different set of feathers in it but won't photograph well since it's such a busy print and I'm using a complimentary thread.

Can you even see anything?

I worked on this top until well after 7:00 last night and decided that was enough. From there I moved to the Alaska blocks and completed this one...

Bear Paw

I had a surprise pick up yesterday and I have another scheduled pick up this morning. 

Meanwhile, I'll be shifting my energy this weekend away from the Alaska blocks to something a little different. It may not look like much when I'm done, but I'm willing to give it a try and feel like doing something a little new for a quick change of pace. 

Jim has to move the computer this morning since where it currently lives is where the Christmas tree is supposed to go. I'm sure I'll have to direct "traffic" in this endeavor since not only does the computer have to move, but so do the two chairs in the "office" and in the living room. 

On To Long Arm #3

Since I finished the sheep last night after closing time, I'll be today, and an unknown amount of subsequent days, I'll be working this quilt on DW... 

Linda's Judy Niemeyer 

This is what will be going into said quilt...

Look at all the fun!

This is a digitized pattern available for purchase on line. It's several hundreds of dollars. I'll NOT be doing that. I am, instead, going to be driving, with the customers permission.

I have a lot more marking to do this morning to get me started, but the quilt is basted in and the preliminary markings are in, as are the first couple of thread picks. 

I have a customer coming to pick up today. I think. She said Thursday, and I don't know if she meant today Thursday or next Thursday, and I didn't question if it was this Thursday because I thought yesterday was Tuesday instead of Wednesday. 

While I was working yesterday, Jim started on a holiday project we haven't tackled since we moved up here in '18...

Our little Snow Village by Department 56

Here it is in the daytime...

I got the wings blanket stitched down on the dragonfly last night and have gotten all the black shapes cut out for those blocks that have them. I have to construct those and work on the non-black shapes still. 

While I like Misty Fuse appliqué product for pliability, it's not the easiest to work with. I may just start spray basting things down or using a glue stick, because honestly, I have to clean my iron this morning (I wasn't paying attention) and I have plenty more shapes to make (salmon, parts of the loon, and parts of the orca) as well as others I can't remember right now. 

Last Day of Sheep

Once the sheep are done, I have to move over to DW to start working on the HUGE Judy Niemeyer. That one is going to take days and days to complete. 

We did run and get some groceries after lunch. When we returned I jumped back onto Marty to work on the sheep and did so until after 7:00 last night. Because Jim was watching the Spartan basketball game, I started making HST's...

48 of them

Now that those are all made, I started constructing the first block with the frames that go around...

That looks nice

And just when you think you can move onto the next block, realization hits you in the face. I have to blanket stitch the appliqué down yet before moving on. I do have the machine set up with the correct threads and am ready to start tonight after long arming.