Reproduction Fabric

Even though reproduction fabric has been around a long time, I still love it. I like the bright colors, the fun patterns and the nostalgic essence it brings to an old art -- quilting making. I have several of my own quilts that are done in reproduction fabric. Every spring I like to use them on my bed and to decorate with. Doing the quilt pictured for a customer was a treat. It is a beautiful quilt, especially with the black border that accents the quilt. I enjoyed quilting it. The center has an overall pattern that I designed and the borders have a new twist to the feathers. It was fun to try some new ideas and be please with the results.

New Quilt Designs

I received a quilt this month that is to hang in a hospital in the area. It's not very big but because of the attention and potential to be viewed by so many people, I wanted to put some extra work into quilting it. So this small quilt took about 6 hours to quilt! Way to much work to make much profit on it. I'm very happy though, with the results. I tried some new ideas with a focus on circles. Designing a quilt for a couple quilt shows this year is my motivation for trying new quilting ideas. Hopefully some if these ideas will appear on a quilt, that as of now, only exists in my head. I have not been into designing quilts very much. Probably this is because I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to quilting. I can appreciate all the quilt art that is out there but I still prefer traditional blocks and traditional quilting.

January Quilts

I'm almost finished with January customer quilts. This last one I'm doing will hang somewhere at Meridian Park Hospital. I hope some day I see it, but not as a patient! I usually do approximately 2 quilts a week for customers. Sometimes that is 10 or more hours of work and sometimes it is less. I'm glad this is just a part-time business, there are so many other things to do. I love to work in my yard, crochet, read a book, read online blogs and other news information, cook and just be with my family and friends. Life is good and it's even better as a machine quilter!

One Thing Lead to Another

Most often when I start a quilt that's more of a custom job, I have only a few sketchy ideas on what I'm going to do. Usually as I roll down further into the quilt more and more ideas take shape or just seem a natural fit and the quilting all comes together by the end. I prefer it that way, though sometimes I can get really stumped over what to quilt. Not this quilt. I could see so much potential right from the beginning. It was just a matter of one thing leading to another and then another and finally it was done. I'm very happy with the result and think it is an exceptional quilt. If I can convince this customer, it should be put in a quilt show this year.

Leah's Quilt Being Published

I'm so excited! A couple weeks ago I sent photos of Leah's Spring quilt to a quilt magazine and today received an email saying they wanted to publish the photos with a short article on the quilt. It's so exciting. The best part is just being able to tell her story again! I miss that little one and each chance to share the blessing of her life is still a miracle. I don't know what issue it will be published in and they want new better resolution photos of the quilt, but when the article comes out I'll try to post a link or take a photo or something.

Being Creative and Having Fun

Just before the new year began, I bought a new planner. I have used a notebook for many years, but decided I didn't want to carry the notebook around anymore. There was way too much stuff in the notebook that wasn't used. So I went hunting for the perfect planner. I finally found one I really liked. It has a page where you can see the whole month at a glance with a space down the side for lists. Then it is divided into weekly sections, with the days of the week on one side and a 'to do' list on the other side. Each page has a sidebar with either menu or grocery list. That's pretty much exactly what I need in my planner. The inside was perfect, but the outside -- never had I seen a more unattractive cover. Even several of my daughters made a comment on it. There was also the need to have a cover that closed so whatever gets stuck inside remains there. So into my fabric stash I went and pulled out some coordinates from a Paris line. I made my own piping for the trim, quilted the cover on my longarm and then spent a couple hours trying to figure out how to get it to go together! That was a task that required several times of ripping out stitching. But in the end I'm very happy with the way my planner looks. The button is an antique and the pink loop adds a spash of color. Now I can plan away!

First Quilt of 2010

I think it will take awhile to get used to writing or typing 2010. For some reason my fingers just don't want to adjust to that pattern. It also seems like 2010 is a bigger jump in numbers than say going from 2008 to 2009. I still vividly remember it turning 1980 and feeling then like life was going by too fast.

So here it is, a new year and now my first quilt of 2010 is done. It was a fun one to do once I finally decided on the quilting pattern. The design was quite simple. I added a new twist to the feathered wreaths in each block by alternating each feather full size and then half size. I like the way it looks and will use it again. Many times when doing a feather block I put a different design in the center rather than the inside row of feathers. It's hard to make the inside row look perfect without using a template and that adds so much time on to the quilting that if I'm going for a less expensive way to do a customer's quilt (per their request to keep the cost down) I usually find another design to do inside the feather wreath. This design allowed me to only have one stop and start in each block. I followed the seam down to the center of the block with SID so it would be hidden. Start to finish this quilt only took about 4 hours.

Starting a New Quilting Year

2010 has arrived. I have now done over 1,000 customer quilts. That's a milestone and quite an accomplishment. Now it's time to start a new year. I have a pile of quilts stacked up waiting their turn on the longarm. Tomorrow the first will be loaded and then it's off and running. I still need to do some annual maintenance on the longarm. The bobbin case and check spring need replacing. I'll also clean and oil it really well. My machine has run very well for almost 10 years. When I first got the machine I tried to think of a clever name for it, but nothing has really ever stuck, except maybe mac (short for machine). Mac has needed very little maintenance over the years and has only once been retimed. I'm impressed with the sturdiness and dependability of the Gammill machines. I don't think I'd trade for a different brand. I've thought of upgrading to more bells and whistles and that day may come, but right now I'm content with the way things are. My mac and I work as a team. I can hear when the bobbin is running low; I know when it needs oil or when the needle sounds a little dull. Familiarity is a good thing. So Mac and I are ready for 2010.

Happy New Year

There is only 6 hours left of 2009. I think time accelerates with each passing year. There was much to be thankful for in 2009. For me it will always be remembered as the year of Leah Grace's short little life. That makes it harder to leave this year behind but I do look forward to 2010 with all of it's unknowns. There will be quilts to finish, new ones to start, new quilting friends to meet -- it should be an exciting year. Here's wishing happy new year to everyone who reads this blog.

The photos are the quilt I made for my daughter-in-law for Christmas and my sister's table topper that I absolutely love.

Planning for the new year

I love the break between Christmas and the New Year. The busyness is basically over. Sure there's the clean up from Christmas but the pressure is off. So it's time to think about a new year. I like to plan, make goals, compile a few lists, etc. I have to see things checked off in order to feel the sense of accomplishment. My lists will be projects to complete, financial planning/goals for my business, family projects, personal goals and things I hope to accomplish around my home. This year is exciting because it looks the kitchen and dining room will get a mini-make over. It would be nice to do something major but finances won't permit that. New floors are going in and hopefully that will be followed by a little rearranging of the dining room and new countertops. That's very exciting to look forward to. The flooring already sits in boxes piled up downstairs. It helps to have a son-in-law in the flooring business. I'll post pictures as this starts to turn into reality.

Winners of the Give Away

There were three gifts given away through a drawing at my open house. The winners are (drum roll): Cindy, Marcia and Janice!!! Congratulations

Open House Event

Yesterday was so fun at my open house. About 25 came and visited, had coffee or tea, ate a bowl of soup, wandered around my house and just had a great relaxing time together. I enjoyed it so much. My two daughters and son-in-law worked the espresso machine. The coffees and chai teas were absolutely amazing. It really helps to have a daughter who works at Starbucks and also owns her own fabulous espresso maker. My granddaughter came over too and I was able to give her the Christmas quilt that I had finished for her. It had machine embroidered pictures of the nativity story in each block. I traded a customer work for the embroidered blocks. It was great to see lots of quilt customers and friends drop in and celebrate Christmas with me.

The open house turned out so well that I think it will become an annual event.

The photo is of my quilt studio tree -- all decked out with spools of thread, buttons and measuring tape for the garland.

Give Away at the Open House

I can't resist making Christmas things. Yesterday I decided to get into my Christmas fabric and have some fun. I made pillows, new bed shams, a covering for my cedar chest, a new Christmas wallhanging (from a panel), new pillowcases and the tops for 4 quilted pillows. One of the snowman pillows will be given away at my open house on Thursday. In order to win you must come! I know that's bribery but it's the easiest way and lots of fun to make things to give away. I'm also giving away a Christmas apron.

Particulars on the open house: Thursday, December 17 from 10:00 - 1:00. Callie will be our Starbucks barista and serving whatever kind of fancy coffee drink you want. My address is 20578 SW Colville Ct., Tualatin, OR

OPEN HOUSE

You are all invited to a Christmas Open House, Thursday, December 17 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00. There will be tea and coffee (made by my own personal Starbucks Barista - Callie) and other goodies. Tour my home and quilt studio, view lots of quilts and enjoy a festive time with friends. Drop in for 15 minutes or a couple hours and celebrate this season with me.

Marathon Quilting

How many quilts can a quilter quilt in one day? That's almost a tongue twister and it certainly was a challenge. On Sunday I had 7 quilts still to do before a Christmas break from quilting. I decided Sunday night to try and do them all on Monday! Now granted none of them were big and in fact two were just table runners. The time it takes to pin on is always a sizeable chunk of time so trying to do 7 seemed almost impossible. But I was up for a challenge. I pinned the first quilt on Sunday evening (that probably is a little cheating)! I was up at 6:00 a.m. and in my studio by 6:30. By noon I was on my 4th quilt. I took an hour break for lunch and then a 2 hour break around dinner time. My last stitch was put in about 9:30 p.m. 7 quilts, one day, sore hands and back, but feeling great with this accomplishment.

A diversion from cooking and cleaning

Lots of relatives are arriving later tonight. Tomorrow there will be 20 people at our Thanksgiving meal. So that meant a lot of preparation today. I cleaned bathroom, bedrooms, kitchen, the studio and I baked. It would have seemed like one very long day of not the most pleasant tasks, except that I took time out this morning to arrange a Thanksgiving decoration on our mantel. It was fun and turned out better than I even imagined. I took my small pumpkins and gourds and coated them with glue and then sprinkled glitter on top. Lights were laid down on the mantel first, then moss, then the pumpkins. Next the letters were suspended from the edge and last rafia and rose hips that were recently cut from my garden were added. I love the way it looks. It is truly one of many things to give thanks for!

Last Quilts

I finished up my quilting this morning. Right now I only have two quilts in my studio that are customer quilts. They should get done sometime in December but I'm into working on lots of my own projects right now. Today after finishing the customer work and delivering the quilts (yes I do sometimes deliver), I worked on a wallhanging, made two pair of flannel pajamas for my son, and loaded a quilt for my daughter-in-law on the longarm. It felt good to be free of the pressure of having to get quilts for customers done. I can play this week. I also have to get ready for a whole lot of relatives to arrive on Wednesday, but they are some of the easiest people to have around so there's no stress. It's time for me to create a few new things, make some Christmas gifts and enjoy many of the other fine things of home. I'll post pictures of what I'm doing.

Here's a couple customer quilts that were just finished.

Last Minute Gift

Last night before I went to bed I thought I should bring a gift for two friends who I am meeting for lunch today. I decided to make two table runners. My machine was empty, I had a couple stacks of the 5 inch squares and the morning free. Up and in the studio by 7:30 I started. By 9:30 I had the table runners done and on the machine. They were quilted in about 45 minutes and then the binding was put on and stitched down by machine. I am done with 20 minutes to go until I have to leave for lunch. That's what I call a perfect last minute gift!

Cats and Quilting

We lost one of our cats this summer. He probably was injured and disappeared, but we never found him. It was really hard for me because he was a favorite. Even though his name was Data, most often we just called him 'boy'. When I was working around the house he often found a place to sleep close by. He was always interested in what I was doing. So the loss of boy was really hard.

In January a new kitty adopted our family. I just found him in the garage one day and he decided to stay. He obviously had not been fed as he was skin and bones, but he seemed really friendly. We tried to find a new home for him but after several tries on Craig's List and asking around, it was decided that our home would be his new home. So we named him, New Kitty. It's interesting that since losing boy, new kitty has kind of taken his place. He now follows me around and often sleeps where I'm working. If I lay out a quilt on the floor, he immediately comes and sits in the middle of it (why do cats do that?). I'm glad to always have a cat around while quilting. I've renamed him Buster but the rest of the family still calls him new kitty.

Christmas Quilts

I've already completed a few Christmas quilts for customers. They are always some of my favorites to work on. I love Christmas so it's only natural to be drawn to Christmas quilts. I'm working on 3 Christmas wall hangings and have a pattern bought for a new Christmas quilt for our bed -- next years project. Here's a few photos.