Update on thread for the long arm

I'm not sure what it is about my scheduling, but I always seem to be getting to the long arm later in the afternoon, rather than early in the afternoon as I originally planned. Why is that? It doesn't matter; another quilt got done! I'm usually finished with the sewing/quilting day by 7:00 or 7:30 PM. Good grief - I'm a morning person!

Customer quilt - DONE

Yeah -- I love this quilt. It's Spice Market from the class I taught last year. I have some trimming to do this morning, and then these quilts will be ready for pickup. I have two more on my "urgent" list, and then I can take a break for a week. Well, no more quilts will be quilted until I'm back from the quilt retreat. I'm pretty much up to date with customer quilts after these next two, so all is good. 

And then when I'm back, I'll tackle those "favor" quilts (11) and the last basket of flannel quilts (7). I should be able to quilt all those quilts by the end of this year, leaving me to start fresh in the new year! Fingers crossed. 

I didn't get anything done on the dog quilts - I knew that. I had other things to do! 

Here's my collection of Superior Bottom Line threads. I'm not sure if I have all the colors, but when they first came out, a friend of mine and I splurged and bought every color they had. These are what I use for invisible machine applique, along with the Invisifil and Decobob (both from Wonderfil), which I've picked up along the way. What's interesting is that ALL thread companies are touting these finer threads for the long arm! I missed that trend! Decobob is Wonderfil's choice for the long arm. 

My collection of the Superior Bottom Line thread

These are random spools of 60, 80, or 100-weight thread that don't sit in a pretty box. They are also used for applique, but some of those larger spools could be used for the long arm and wound onto bobbins. I might just have a better peek through there and pull out the larger spools. It all has to be used up eventually, and to use this all up for machine applique? That won't happen quickly. I could also use it for machine embroidery. The thing is - I need to start using it faster! Especially if I want to buy more! 

60, 80, or 100-weight thread

And here's the bucket with the thread set aside for long arm bobbins. Somewhere along the line, I picked up spools of bright orange. Hmm - I wonder when I'll ever use those? Oh - probably for a quilt of mine! Because I had all my threads stored in that cabinet, it was easy to find what I wanted and to further refine it. I'm on a roll!

The new basket of bobbin thread for the long arm

I also went to pick up an order of batting, and we had a discussion on threads. I still have a bit more investigation to do, but I think I'll be good going forward. 

Just as I was leaving the house to pick up the order, I spotted this box on the front step. At last, some supplies I requested for a few blog posts have arrived! You might think there is more thread in that box, and the answer is yes! Now I must get busy, and hopefully I remember what projects I wanted to make with those supplies! 

More supplies arrived!

It was also seniors' day at the thrift store, so I had to go. The two quilts that I had spotted last week were gone. That's OK - I was going to buy them and donate them to Quilts of Valour, but someone beat me to the quilts. One was obviously a quilt made for Quilts of Valour, featuring all the 'Oh Canada' (Northcott) fabric. The other was created by a somewhat local guild, and both appeared to have never been used. 

However, I also had my eye on this book, and it was still on the shelf. It's a picture book of different quilt styles. My favorite kind of quilt book these days! Although my SIL (I have two from DH's family, and I'll have to give them specific names to keep the narrative clear!) wants to make a quilt after seeing my trunk show. I bundled her off with some fabric and a couple of books about scrap quilts. 

Found at the thrift store

There are days when I would love to see the processing that goes on behind the scenes. There is only a partial wall between the back and the store, and on some days, it sounds like they are madly throwing things around. I wonder how much of the donations gets thrown in the garbage? 

I also bought a few "craft" things. Hey - they were on sale and as I bought them, I told myself that I probably didn't need to buy them. However, I was drawn to shiny objects. 

My thrift store finds

And I spotted a huge piece of fabric, which I can use to make a jacket. I know --- do I need to? And will I? One of my SILs is getting married next year, and the color scheme is burgundy. The wedding is in Italy. Wouldn't this make a great sweater-type cardigan? The dress code is casual! So I'll be taking all that I learn in my jacket class to make such an item! I think I'll line it and do some embellishments on it. It was $8, less the discount. 

Grandma - this is so soft! Is it for me? 

A certain someone thought it was for him! However, everything I brought home yesterday now has a place to call home, and that's the whole point of buying things! I also made good progress on my prep work for the classes this weekend, and I hope to be almost done with both of them by the end of today. Yeah me for not leaving all that work for the last minute. And without having so many classes, it's a breeze to find time! As much as I miss those classes, it was an excellent decision. And there will be one less class starting in January! 

Poor Lexi. I was home alone all day, and when I started working on the quilt in the late afternoon, I put her outside and forgot about her. As I was quilting with my headphones on, I heard some banging, but I didn't investigate. When I came up to feed the girls and the boy, I realized that she was outside. Oh dear!!!! We need to get her a doorbell or something. Those noise-cancelling headphones really do block out the noise!

And what was with Murphy yesterday? She dug into her toy box and rattled around some items. She has a toast-and-jam toy with a squeaker and crinkly paper inside. This is the first time she grabbed it and really played with it!

MOM - the toast and jam are really yummy!

And of course, there is the little troublemaker! He is truly a handful, despite his small size. Let's just say that it's not fun to have TWO incontinent dogs in the house. One is inadequately house-trained, and he is really pushing his welcome to the limit. While poor Murphy just needs to be taken out frequently, because when she is let out on her own, she doesn't always do her business. I swear, the two of them are like small children. Especially when you are getting them ready to play outside in their snowsuits. Do you need to use the bathroom? No - I just went. And then when you get them dressed up, now they need to go!

So it's a constant vigil to keep their two bladders as empty as possible. One dog does his mess intentionally, while poor Murphy has no control and doesn't even get the urge, and then a weak sphincter doesn't help. Keeping her bladder somewhat empty allows the medication to work effectively. 

But here is the little guy as he attempts to "help" me downstairs! Yes - he's cute - thank god or I would have shipped him home!

Bear and I

I must say that I'm not spending as much time on Facebook and Instagram as I used to. What's the point of watching the SAME thing over and over, and most of what is posted is just silly. I very quickly check a couple of times a day to see if any family member has posted something (IG), and then I check my groups on Facebook, and VOILA - I'm done. I'm so done with most of what people post. Who needs all that? 

I need time to watch my instructional videos, and I'm working my way through over 100 short videos! I think I've watched 15 of them, A few each day, and I'll get there!

Plus, I'm reading some interesting books, so there is plenty of time to do the things I want! 

On that note, I'm off to spin class.PLEASE don't let Ryan be in the class. This guy is a talker, and on Monday, he talked for half the class. He thinks he's god's gift to women and is annoying as all get out. His voice over the music grates like fingernails on a chalkboard. I was so tempted to get off my bike and go over and have a wee chat with him! Thankfully, he doesn't come often. 

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!