Two more projects - just like that!

OH -- I'll have to review the supplement comments tomorrow. It's spin class day and I'm a bit short on time! 

I had to laugh, though, at one comment because they caught me! The quilt I showed you the back of yesterday is a very OLD UFO. If memory serves me correctly, it was started in 2000. And YES -- someone knew which quilt it was! I like to choose something for the back that relates to the front, and this one is no exception. 

After the quilt hangs at the Buckhorn Quilt Show this coming Friday and Saturday, then I'll tell you the story about it. When I start a serious downsizing of my quilts, anything without a story goes. Everything with a story - I'll keep it as long as I have room. And I think I'm going to start documenting all those with a story. Those without don't need to be documented. They are "just" quilts. Oh goody --- another project!!!!

I have one more of my quilts to quilt for the show. The backing fabric has been sitting on one of those current project tables for a very long time. I pulled it out yesterday and made the backing. 

The backing fabric for my next quilt

I have an entire bolt of this fabric, and let's say it's unlike any other fabric. Well, that's a lie. What I mean is, this bolt is probably more than 20 years old, and it's REAL fabric, with a high thread count, and you can't see through it! It's heavy! The difference was so noticeable when I opened the bolt. Those were the days! And just shows how the world of shrinkenomics has hit our industry. 

Anyway, the backing is done, the top got pressed as it has seen a ton of action, and I found a "scrap" of batting that was the perfect size. It's now loaded and ready to be quilted - maybe later today or, for sure, tomorrow, as I need to bind it. While it's technically also a UFO, at least this one is more current. As I loaded it and looked at the top, I got a chuckle. There is something on the quilt that is so appropriate for me. I guess that's why I put it on there. Again, I'll share all the quilts with those who won't be able to make the show, and I'll identify what I mean.  

The next quilt is ready to go

There will be ONE quilt that will go to the show without being quilted, but that's OK. I want to try some semi-custom quilting on the long arm, and there isn't time to fiddle around with that. 

Speaking of the long arm, someone came forward with the answer to my question about the stitch area. What's hilarious is that I do what this person does, but in a slightly different way. I've opened the User's Guide to take a closer look at that tool and see what else I can do. But we called it something different, so when they said they set the stitch area, I'm like, ' What? I don't do that!" As I said, I've never heard that tool referred to in that way. Different teachers - same software! Thanks for the information!!!!

I learned something else yesterday. I have a quilt on which I hot-glued some embellishments. The embellishments have sadly become damaged and need to go. I've already made new embellishments that will not get damaged. You have to come to the Buckhorn Qult Show to see the old and the new!! But how to get the gobs of hot glue off the fabric? That was easy. I got out my heat gun and within a few seconds, the gobs of hot glue were soft enough to pull off without damaging the quilt. 

A heat gun is good for removing hot glue!

I also got a lot more machine embroidery done yesterday. This time, there were close to 140,000 stitches in the hoop. I still have about 30,000 left to complete later today. But gosh, I love being able to just shut the Designer EPIC 3 down in the middle of an embroidery (I usually wait until the end of a color change), and then it starts right back up at the correct spot. You have to love that. 

The start of 140,000 stitches

I also love working with Aqua Magic water-soluble stabilizer. It's my go-to stabilizer for 3D embroidery, and it holds up to thousands of stitches without moving. It's all about learning to hoop properly and use the correct tools. I have a few things to share about this project with my embroidery group this coming weekend. 

I'm still amazed at how many people struggle to accomplish things, and the bottom line is that they do not know what tools are available to them and therefore don't explore them. They make life so much harder for themselves!!! I put myself in that same category because I don't always know how to use the tools I have properly. But I'm trying to learn! And I'm humble, acknowledging that I don't know everything, and I'm willing to ask. That is HUGE!!!!

So, as if this month isn't already busy enough, I'm adding a massive project to my plate. Do NOT yell at me - it's not that big of a deal, and it's something I can do at the upcoming quilt retreat. My vet of MANY years is retiring - I believe they closed their doors at the end of August. I have already moved Miss Lexi and Miss Murphy to a new vet who is close enough for us to walk to. They don't know that yet, and I'm sure will be disappointed that they are losing out on a car ride several times a year. Trust me, I'm excited about that. They are way too enthusiastic about the car. 

Anyway, I had wanted to make some quilts for the staff, but there wasn't time over the summer. The staff will still be around until the end of the year (some of them). Then, I found out that a friend of mine has a friend who is the mother of several staff members. What a coincidence! Anyway, I've got the total number of staff (eight), and now I'm off to make each of them a quilt. DO NOT YELL!!!! This is what quilters do, and this is what I want more time in my life to be able to do without it becoming a huge chore. 

I have a giant basket of pet fabric (mostly dog), and this is an excellent opportunity to get rid of it. I pulled it out yesterday and emptied all the fabric into two bags. 

My pet fabric collection

There are some large panels and small panel squares, but it's mostly yardage. My plan is to cut it up into 6½" squares and make eight quilts. Simple - then they go on the long arm with an overall dog paw pattern. Bind by machine, and I'm done! I will be finishing them in October, as I doubt I'll get to quilt them in September, although at the moment, there are only three or possibly four customer quilts on the schedule. I haven't opened the bag that was dropped off at the house. 

I also have this roll of fabric (it's a bolt on a roll, not a bolt), and I might use this for the backing, or I'll take some of the larger pieces from the basket and make backings. I'm not sure yet, but that's why I'm taking the entire basket with me. I'll make up the eight quilts as I go. 

A bolt of fabric on a roll

Please tell me that I will make a dent in that basket after eight quilts! And if I ever buy another dog-related fabric in my life - THEN you can yell at me! 

We had a blast at the Virtual Retreat yesterday. So many different topics, so many questions asked and answered. It's a great way to stay in touch with many people, whether they're close or far away. Even though I'm not the most productive at Virtual Retreat, I love it!

I now have three days left to finish prepping for the Buckhorn Quilt Show. I'm getting excited about it and have pulled all the quilts, and they all need a paper label. There are a few more things to embroider, three quilts to bind, and a few other tasks that I need to attend to. The nice thing is that if I don't finish something here, I can always do it there, as I'll have my sewing/embroidery machine with me. 

I must run as I'm off to spin class. Yes -- even though it's technically a holiday, Joseph is hosting a spin class, and I want to get back into the swing of things. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!