Friday Snow Day

Yesterday, with the big snow storm heading out way, I decided to play the wuss card and I worked from home all day. I was super productive working without the distractions usually encountered in the office and I hope that I can do more! It's so nice to be able to get work done and relax a little in the comfort of my own home!

Before I logged on, I watched a bit of news and did a little piecing on the Split Nine Patch blocks.



After I worked, I quilted on this photo quilt.



After I got the quilting done, I went back to my blocks. I now have 19 blocks done and I need 48 for the layout. Not too bad!

And here is the final total of snow from yesterday and overnight. It sounds like the evening rush hour was pure hell and I am so glad that I wasn't out to get stuck in it!

Friday Night Sew In - 11/1

I worked on quilts! I basted this quilt on the frame so that I can work on quilting it on my domestic machine.



The chevrons are so cute and the backing is just adorable!

Once that was basted, I loaded this log cabin quilt and started quilting it.



And all the while, I worked on framing the witches' boots blocks. Woot!

Friday Night Sew In - Quilt #19

I finished the straight line quilting on Heather's quilt last night. I used a So Fine off white in the top and silver Bottom Line in the bobbin. I also used a #18 needle and had a lot of issues with the thread splitting. When I changed to a #20, everything was better. I guess that I need to stock up on some #20 needles!



I got all of the threads buried last night and it is ready for Heather today.



I used a ruler and tried to put 5/8" between each pass, but it seemed that I still got closer on some passes. It's not too terribly noticeable though. And I used the channel lock devices from HQ, but I found that the machine still moved forward and back a little when I went from right to left. Next time, I might add binder clips to see if that helps any.

Friday Night Sew In - 6/7

Last night, I quilted quilt #13 on the frame. I got Moon Pie finished. I used white Glide on the top and my go to silver Bottom Line in the bobbin.



I did have some issues with the upper thread looping on the top. I haven't had this issue with any thread other than the Glide, but I had a few spots like this. I try my best to regulate my speed, but it seems to happen when I do free motion and not when I use a panto.



Once I got that done, I loaded the next quilt on the frame and then did a bit of cutting.

I cut out the pieces for the pieced border for the Sweet Treats quilt. I'm ready to get this quilt top finished and ready for quilting!



And then, I pulled out the Easy Street to see where I was with the steps. I had stopped when I got to a lot of cutting - 169 3.5" green squares and then white strips for more strip piecing and more cutting.

I'm ready to get a few UFOs finished to start a couple of new quilts!

Friday Night Sew In - 3/1

Last week, I got a quilt top that needs to be quilted and returned by next Wednesday. I didn't realize until the next day that it would need the binding done as well, but that is OK with me. The mother brought me the quilt that her daughter had asked the grandmother to make for her for her cheer leading. The quilt is very patriotic, but I think that it matches their cheer uniforms as well. The grandmother wouldn't have been able to hand quilt it before the next competition so they reached out to me.

There were a couple of spots where the seam wasn't fully picked up so I spent some time earlier this week fixing those.

Last night, I quilted a stars and loops pattern in red Connecting Threads Essentials thread and a black Bottom Line in the bobbin. The backing is navy, but I figured that the black would not be very visible.



I also got the quilt trimmed and the binding made, but I stopped there because I enjoyed one of these after the quilting was finished! A mango margarita!! It was yummy!



The mother also dropped off a second quilt tonight and it is larger than this quilt and needs to be finished by Wednesday as well. Today will be spent pressing and then loading the next one to the frame. I think this one will just get a simple stipple to save a bit of time. And I will need to run to Joann's to get more binding fabric. I see a Sunday full of binding in my future!! :)

Friday Night Sew In Results - 1/25

Darn that Dateline!! I stupidly turned on the TV to keep me company and a new Dateline was on and I got sucked in immediately. I need to leave the TV off.

I ended up knitting on my sock a little.



And eventually, I got a customer quilt pressed and loaded on the frame. It's ready for quilting on Sunday!



As I was pressing, I decided on how it should be quilted. I am hoping that it will give the piecing and embroidery just the right amount of Ooomph while not overpowering the quilt. :)

I also prepped for a Sew In tomorrow with local peeps and I am excited to meet everyone. I am taking 3 projects and hoping that I can work on each one - 2 Midget blocks, 2 pillowcases and Easy Street!

This is how the pups spent most of their evening!

On the Needles and FNSI - 12/21

Because I finished the Dresden Plate quilt, I have been able to knit a little bit - a very little bit - on my sock. I turned the heel, picked up stitches and worked a couple of rows of decreases.



Last night, I worked on quilting an Ohio Star quilt in Ohio State Buckeye colors for Heather. I just quilted a stipple, but I used matching thread colors.



And all the threads are buried!



Not bad for a few days of work! I have another quilt to load on the frame and get quilting, but I think that I am going to take a few hours today and work on some piecing on the new Featherweight. She has been waiting long enough! :)

FNSI and Quilt-A-Thon weekend

If you are looking for the Modern Designs for Classic Quilts book giveaway, that is in this post.

There is still time to enter!

 

Last night, I worked on quilting the quilt that is on the frame. The panto is the Daisy Duo and is a little dense so I took lots of breaks and did a little housework. I finished up the quilting around noon today.

This quilt is for a new customer that is teaching a class on this pattern at a local quilt shop. I used a Connecting Threads yellow and orange variegated thread on the top and a baby yellow Bottom Line on the bobbin.

I still need to bury threads in 6 spots. They are designated with the bright blue painter's tape.

Here is a better picture of the quilting from a tone on tone fabric on the backing.

And the pieced backing.

I really love how this one quilted up!

FNSI results

Last night, I finally got busy and got a couple of things done.

I worked on binding the ice skating quilt and got about half of it done.



And I loaded another quilt on the frame. But I didn't get a picture of it. I should have it done by the end of the weekend to show off though. :)

And since I haven't show any dog pics this week... This is Max who spent Sunday afternoon watching me after I got back from retreat.

FNSI tonight!

I am participating in Friday Night Sew In tonight! You can go here to sign up if you haven't already done so.

I have been trying to get things done tonight to set myself up for a productive weekend, but I have been pretty worn out. Hopefully, I can just make great progress on the binding that I am working on. And I will be ecstatic if I can get another quilt loaded to start quilting this weekend!

What are you working on?

Things are looking up!

Last night, I had my own personal Friday Night Sew In and I was very productive. I worked on my Scrap Squad #4 and got so much done on it.

Oh my goodness gracious but this quilt is looking fantastic! I can not wait to share it with you, my lovely readers!

Since I am assembling this quilt differently than I do most of my quilts, I am taking snapshots of my design wall as it is going together and I will post them on my blog when I can show the quilt off. As I scroll through the pictures, it is pretty cool to see the progression from one night to the next.

Today, I spent a few hours out of the house. While I really wanted to finish the assembly on the quilt and start on something new, I had plans to meet up with a friend and pick up a quilt from her and then I headed to Joann's. I got a backing for the SS #4 and fabrics for SS #5. Yes, I already have the pattern for the fifth Scrap Squad quilt and I have my color scheme all sorted out.

Right now, I am working on the final 3 rows on the SS #4 and then I have a couple more long seams to sew. I have to decide on a border fabric. I think that I am going to have to hang options on the wall and see if one just sticks out at me.

I am sending this quilt off to be quilted by someone other than me. I know my limitations with my quilt machine and frame set up and this quilt is just screaming for some custom quilting that I just can't do comfortably with my set up. My goal is to have this ready to be shipped tomorrow night.

I keep gazing at the design wall as I type and I am just in love with this quilt. It just might be one of my favorite quilts!

Now, I need to get back to my assembly while this 'helper' is napping. I can finally move around the quilt studio without having to worry about rolling my chair over a tail.

FNSI Results - 9/21

Yesterday, I was able to finish the table runner that I started earlier this week. While nothing else was really worked on, I was very happy to have even a small finish!



I just did really quick straight line quilting on my machine.



But it is enough to make this a nice Christmas gift.

I can't wait for the next FNSI because I will be on retreat! Woo hoo!

No Review, FNSI

I don't have a book to review for Book Review Thursday. I didn't get much reading in last week while I was recuperating because I was so exhausted just healing that I didn't stay up to read anything at night. I am working on 2 books right now that are getting interesting and I have a 3rd book that I picked up from the library this week so I might have at least 2 to review next week.

I did sign up for Friday Night Sew In that is tomorrow night. Go here and sign up, do something creative on Friday night and then blog about it on Saturday. Easy Peasy!

So go sign up now! What are you waiting for?!? :)

Friday Night Sew In Results - 8/17

I'm a little disappointed in myself that I didn't get more done. I made myself a list while I was at work and I have a ton of things that I need to do this weekend, but since I didn't get my Friday night list done, it will set back the rest of the weekend. sigh

I have been working on the next Scrap Squad quilt for QuiltMaker magazine and I needed to figure out how to make blocks that finish at 8.5", but I didn't realize until last night that they needed to finish at 8.5". I thought that they needed to finish at 9". So glad that I realized that last night!!

I had found the block that I wanted on EQ and printed the rotary cutting directions for a 9" finished block and this is what I got when I made up the block.



Just a 'tad' off on the rectangle pieces. This is the first time that I have ever been disappointed with EQ in finding new blocks and getting rotary cutting sizes.

I looked through some books that I had and searched the web for a while. I also decided to turn on the first season of Downton Abbey to see what all the fuss was about and eventually I got sucked into that. But I kept making blocks to try and find the right size for my Scrap Squad quilt.



I finally got the sizes right on my 7th attempt! SEVENTH!! And that last attempt was actually this morning after a good night's rest**.

Now, my cutting and ironing area looks like a tornado hit it and I feel like I must sort through my scraps before I go any further. Oh bother!



** Maybe not such a good night's rest as I was worried about the baby of the house.



Lula had a visit with the vet yesterday to get all sorts of work done... Mani, teeth cleaned, spayed... They called me before they started on her and kept referencing LOLA. I wanted to tell them, "It's LUla. She's not a showgirl. She's a reformed hooker working for Vinny, the bail bondsman."


PS - for those on my FB, sorry about reposting my status, but I thought it was just too cute to not share.

PPS - I apologize to those of you who now have the song in your head. But I have been dealing with that since Friday at 8:40 AM. I'm happy to have the company now! lol

Friday Night Sew In and Machine Envy

What a productive day!! I was super busy at work and got so much done and when I got home, I kept going!

Last night, my friend from the quilt shop that I used to work at stopped by and we discussed quilt frames and our machines. I showed her how to use the red snappers and we loaded a quilt on the frame. While she was telling me about her machine, the beloved HQ Avante, I got so envious! I really want that set up!

I spent every free moment I had today trying to think of ways that I could upgrade my set up and the only logical way is to bring in more quilts and get more quilting done. At the beginning of last weekend, I had 4 quilts to quilt for others and that is the most that I have had at one time since last November. I quilted one last weekend and just finished up another. I'm going to get another one loaded on the frame this weekend and should be able to have the 4th done by the end of next weekend.

Then, I won't have any quilts to quilt for others and I will have to work on my quilts. Isn't there someone out there who needs something quilted? Something queen size or smaller to be quilted in an all over free motion design or a panto? My prices are on the quilting tab. And I have a FB page as well with updates and pictures of the designs and my work. And for the rest of this year, I am paying half of the return shipping on any packages that need to be shipped back.

OK, enough of my begging for work!

Tonight, I got all three of the pups to play even though Maisy didn't want to do much. And after I ate, I tried to quilt a little, but I was having issues with my thread and needle combo. After the third break, I ripped out all of the quilting - it totally was less than a row, but still a bit irritating. I decided to straighten out the backing a little and realized that I have the directional backing the wrong way and it would have been upside down on the quilt. It's a very good thing that the needle and thread didn't like each other!

Once I got everything straightened out and the top flipped around, I quilted one pass with a size 14 topstitch needle and it worked beautifully with the Coates and Clark thread! So I took the dogs for a walk! When we got back, the dogs napped while I finished quilting the quilt.

They are definitely getting more used to each other and Lula is making herself at home. And there have been 'words' between her and each of the other two pups. No blood has been drawn, but I am still keeping a close eye on all of them. Lula and Maisy made themselves at home on dog blankets in the basement while I quilted.

Tomorrow, I will take pictures of the quilt I finished tonight. It is just adorable and I can't wait to show it off!!

Friday Night Sew In - 5/18

I didn't sign up for the Sew In last night, but I got a lot done!

I loaded this quilt on the frame. And this morning, I got it quilted.





I also made the binding and got it attached to the second Scrap Squad quilt. No pictures, but my quilt will be revealed next week and I can show it then.

And so far today, I am doing laundry and cleaning the house. Prep work for going to see Regina next weekend and the dog sitter that will be staying here with the pups. :)

Stash Report Week 16, 2012, FNSI results

Friday night, I cut fabric and sewed strip sets for the second Scrap Squad quilt. Saturday, I got the sets cut apart and this is about all that I can show.

It's not much, but it's something busted. And woo hoo for no new fabric purchased!

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added YTD: 17.67

Fabric used this week: .67
Fabric used YTD: 50.73

Net Fabric Used: 33.06

And woo hoo that my pup is so interested in what I am doing. lol

Friday Night Sew In

I haven't been sewing much, but the iron is warming up as I type. I was hoping to spend the day sewing after a nap because I took the day off to have a root canal this morning. I haven't napped or sewn today, but I am ready for both now. lol





Sign up for this month's FNSI here.

FNSI Results - 3/16

Last night was not a very exciting FNSI for me. I got a bit accomplished, but no sewing. Just a lot of organizing and prep work.

I pulled fabric for the next 10 Midget blocks for my Tiny Tuesday posts. Well, I pulled for 9 blocks because there is one that I am sort of refusing to do at this point. I am contemplating just supplementing that block with something else. It's the one that is sticking out to the right without any fabric on the paper.



I also pulled fabric for a quilt that I am making for a co-worker. He is working with the SPCA on their yearly fund raiser, the Fur Ball, and he asked me to make a quilt. I have been saving these fabrics for something and I think that they will be perfect for this quilt. And I will use the Between Friends pattern from the Happy Hour book. I haven't decided whether to use the black with the white stripes or the red with the black dots for the contrasting stripe in the middle of the block.



I am leaning towards the red with the dot right now. Although, if I use that, can I still use the red with the dog bones in a block? Or should I find a tan or a brown to use as the contrast and the rest of these fabrics in the larger parts of the block? Any thoughts would be appreciated!!

And I will probably use the dog fabric across the bottom as the border fabric.

The last thing that I did was prep some fabric to mail out. Two packages to send to Sue and Regina for the 2012 SIS quilt. I got to pick the pattern and color scheme this year! :)



Not too bad for a FNSI! I also got some things cleaned up in the condo and got myself organized for running errands this morning. And now, I am off to sew!

Friday Night Sew In!!

Tomorrow night is the Friday Night Sew In for March. I am SOOOO going to sew!!! I have 2 different projects ready to progress and a couple of things that I can start pulling fabric for.

If you want to sew or craft tomorrow night, sign up here!

 

I can't wait to start my weekend with sewing tomorrow night and Saturday since Saturday is National Quilting Day!