I'm FREE!!!

If you didn't get a chance to go to the Etobicoke Quilt Show yesterday, then you had better get to the show today (Saturday).  I went yesterday and it was so nice to see so many quilters out. The show seemed to have great attendance even late in the day when I was still there. I met so many people and chatted up a storm - I almost didn't have time to see the quilts.

But I did and oh boy - there are some great quilts. I got a few machine quilting ideas, I got a few ideas for future projects (colorways - OK - a couple of patterns too) and just being immersed in walls of quilts is fun! I didn't win any of the mini-quilts in the draw. Oh - well, not like I need more mini quilts!

I did take a peek into the members' boutique which consisted of a lot of finished items and of course, older books, magazines and fabric. You'll be happy to note that I only spent $6. But what did I find? It's hilarious as the FIRST box of books that I looked in and the second book in the box was a book that I was looking for! What are the chances of that? And the book was reasonably priced at $2.00.  I bought two other book items for a total of $6.  I was very good!

The book that I was looking for

I think it was referenced in one of the quilt books that I just finished. I believe the library didn't have the book. So now I can read it. Along with the 23 other books that I have from the library. How does that happen? I plan on having a wee bit more free time in the next couple of weeks. OK - who am I kidding. That's not going to happen. But I do plan on a little more relaxed pace for sure.

I also found some red FQs for the 150 Canadian Women Quilt. There was only one vendor there who had red FWs (reds that read as a solid). I'm not using red/white or any other color in my quilt.  And I got a few different values which will help with those blocks that have 2 or more reds. I ran into someone who offered me their reds when they're finished their quilt. Well, I plan to be finished in 10 or is that 11 weeks, so unless it gets to me prior to that, it'll be too late. I'm on a roll with that quilt.

More red FQ for the quilt

I did buy a few other small things. Some stuff to experiment with.

I know - you're wanting to know about the long arm? And the quilts? Right?  I managed to finish the last project at 10 AM. It took me two hours to finish the blocks. Yeah - my brain was like a laser beam - never deviated from the task at hand. I counted down those blocks as I completed each one. I'll share that with you tomorrow as I have permission from the designer. I LOVE the quilt and I LOVE the quilting. I wanted to be able to get that box to the courier BEFORE the quilt show so I could cross that off my list.

At 10:05, with hex keys and screwdriver in hand, the machine started to come apart. The two back rails - GONE. The head came off - it's not that heavy, but awkward. Then as I waited for the instructions of what needed to be shipped - I still didn't find my copy despite going through everything (obviously NOT everything), I started to strip the machine down. Removing everything that I could. It's all laid out on the table below.

The long arm or what's left of it!

That space feels so absolutely empty!!  I do feel a wee bit lost without it in the house. Isn't that silly when I have many other sewing machines to keep me company.

Here's the machine all tucked away in its shipping box. I added all the other bits that needed to go with the machine. All nicely wrapped in bubble wrap that I found in the office! Go figure!

The long arm being prepped for shipping

I was surprised at how little it cost to ship the machine (weight of the box - 60 lbs) and that was including insurance. I mean we're talking several hundred dollars, but considering what I pay sometimes to ship a quilt - well I thought it would be more. I'm happy with the cost!!! It should arrive by Friday next week so it'll be ready for its spa treatment and upgrade during the first week of April. When I was getting the box ready, I noticed the date that the machine was shipped to me. January - 2005!!!  I always thought it was 2006.

I was in the studio this morning prepping for my three classes today. I'm not quite as far along in all three as I would have liked to be, but I've got enough done for what I need. The rest will come later. I had to rifle through the huge pile of stuff on the tables in order to find all the supplies, but I know where everything (mostly) got piled on the tables.

The "stuff" to deal with

Hm- I'm off to a sewing retreat in a couple of weeks. I should vow that whatever is left on the tables will come to the sewing retreat with me!!!  Once I get those quilts trimmed and delivered, it will make a huge different.

Today is weigh-in day at the gym. I've been really good this week. I'm shocked (I know I keep saying that), but I truly am shocked at how I do not crave sugar any more. While I can eat something like a few dried cranberries or fruit, that's enough to satisfy me. Wow - who knew it could be this easy as a detox program to make that happen. And let's not forget my newly found willpower and focus.

I figure I only have one life and I want to get the most out of it as I can! And I'm just choosing to eat better. It's as simple as that. But I do know that when I'm stressed out (which thankfully doesn't happen often), but stressed for time, I have two choices, get flustered and crave bad food or FOCUS and crave nothing. I've chosen the FOCUS path and boy has it made a huge difference.

I did manage to get the fourth blog post written, but it needs editing and one more post to load pictures and write. And one more pattern that's due. I think I did very well with that insane list of things to do. I've already got the outline for the next series of blog posts and am digging out the supplies for that tonight. And next week, I'm back to the mornings filled with paperwork and the afternoons quilting - ON MY OWN STUFF. Imagine that!!!!

But the next three days are filled with fun activites outside the house.

Don't forget to visit the Etobicoke Quilt Show TODAY (Saturday). I believe the show is open until four or five. You better check this link to get all the details.


On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a super day!!!


Ciao!!!

What does it cost??

These days are just jam packed with activity. I wonder why or how that happens?  I guess it boils down to having several part time jobs and still trying to do my own thing!!   Well the part time job show cased today is quilting. Here is the latest group of quilts that I have quilted.

Customer quilt - done  (so cute with snowflake design)

Customer quilt - done (spider web design with invisible thread!)  The one time that I like using invisible thread

Customer quilt (OK - table runner) - DONE - well it was loaded on the long arm here

Now it is done!   That is one LONG table runner

Nice leafy design

Customer quilt - done

 This quilt is bigger than you think it is. It is 81 by 87 and guess what the backing was?  Yep - minky!!!  Do you know how wide minky is?  It is 60 inches wide. So yes - I had to join the back. Well, I must be getting really good at it, because I had to put two seams into the back and it loaded on the long arm no problem. It also quilted up like a dream. But it is going to be a heavy quilt - it had batting in it as well!!!!

Joined seam in the backing - yes I used orange thread (that was in the serger at the time) - you CANNOT see the thread from the other side

The quilting

 Many people are curious what it costs to have a quilt quilted on the long arm quilt and since I am sharing some of the quilts I have done recently, I thought I would share with you what it costs.

Not that I am looking for new business - I have 30 + customer items that are waiting to be quilted - never mind my own stuff which is way more than 30!!!!   So if you want a quilt done - I am booking into August (very few) and September (back up to speed) - hey there is a lot of retreats and summer vacation plans in there.


Let's say that you have a lap quilt like my generous lap which measures 60 by 72. For an over all design which works in MOST situations, I charge $2.75 per square foot regardless of the density of the pattern. I use hand guided patterns NOT a computer so the design will not be perfect, but close!

The first thing with my example is to figure out how many square feet in the quilt. (some quilters charge by the square inch)

1, Multiply the length by width (60 by 72) = 4,320 square inches
2. Divide the number from  Step One by 144 (number of square inches in a square foot) = 30 sq feet
3. Multiply the number from Step Two by $2.75 = $82.50 to have the quilt quilted in an over all design.

I trim the quilts so they are ready to be bound (I will be having a BIG discussion on the blog about binding next week, as well as a tutorial for making binding). The trimming is included in the $82.50. You can choose the pattern and the thread colour or leave it up to me. The cost of the thread is also included in the $82.50.

I have batting (Hobbs 80/20) if you want to purchase or you supply your own. The three layers (top, backing and batting MUST be separate).

I will make the backing for $10 and I will make the binding ($10) and sew it on ($10), computer designed labels ($5).

Custom work starts at $4.00 a square foot. I do NOT do dense (heirloom) quilting for customers. It is very time consuming and I don't have time to do it and it is very expensive.


I do believe that all long arm quilters have a minimum. price. In other words - you cannot bring me a 12 inch square and expect to pay $2.75.  Nope - my minimum is $35 which is very low. So anything smaller than 40 by 45 will be the same price - baby quilts, table runners - $35 each.


Anyway - I hope that answers your burning questions regarding the cost of long arm quilting.

Don't forget the Etobicoke Quilt Show opens TODAY!!!!!   It runs for three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday.    Remember to take your camera - you want detail pictures of quilting designs that you like and dislike. Take pictures for colour combinations - again - those that you like and those you dislike. You are NOT allowed to criticize someone else's quilt. You are allowed to make comments and suggestions for YOUR learning purposes only. Instead of saying - I don't like that - you MUST state WHY - if not - you are not learning anything!!!!   Get the pictures printed. Use them as inspiration to develop your own quilting designs. Put your new designs in your inspiration book.

Visit the vendors - some great vendors - I must leave my credit card at home!!!!

The Etobicoke Quilters' Guild

 

presents a Quilt Show and Merchants Mall
to celebrate their 40th Anniversary.

Friday March 27 10-5
Saturday March 28 10-5
Sunday March 29 10-4

 

Highlights:

Vendors, raffles for handmade quilts, handcrafted items for sale and a tea room.

Vendors:

•  KALLISTI QUILTS   kallistiquilts.com
•  
• GREENWOOD QUILTERY  greenwoodquiltery.com

• DYE-VERSISON  dyeversion.com

• SOFT IMPRESSIONS BY LISA

• QUILT JUNCTION  quiltjunction.ca

• CREATIVE SISTERS QUILT STUDIO creativesisters.ca

• VILLAGE SQUARE QUILT SHOP villagesquarequilts.com

• GITTA’S CHARTERED PETIT POINT INC. gittas.com

• HYGGELIGT FABRICS hyggeligt.ca

• NANCY’S QUILT DESIGN nancysquiltdesigns.com

Location:

Located in our community art space, Neilson Park Creative Centre, Etobicoke, ON. www.neilsonparkcreativecentre.com 
 

  On that note - I had better get moving. It's going to be a nutso day and I have lots of looming deadlines - OK - so I missed the first deadline. Now working on the contingency deadlines!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!

Crazy for Curves!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had an awesome day yesterday. I taught a class on curved piecing at the Etobicoke Quilter's Guild. This group is very lucky as they have a beautiful spot for their workshops at the Neilson Park Creative Center. Not only do they get to have workshops and meetings  in this beautiful facility, but they have sewing several days a week as well. Yes - they have to pay for it - but it is worth it.

We had a full house or almost. I love to teach this class.  I show the class the tools and the techniques and I let them go wild. We had a few design elements that "had" to be incorporated but for the most part - they just attacked the project and cut and sewed and made some beautiful artwork. Making a project in a workshop can be very stressful and sometimes the creative juices are NOT flowing, but I think you will agree with me that the end results are pretty amazing.

Sit back and enjoy the show..................

This is my sample that came about after I had taught the curved piecing workshop several times. The class was initially designed strictly as a technique workshop and the students made THREE separate samples. Then I noticed the students started putting all three techniques on the same background and VOILA - I stole that idea from them!!!

Kay - oh yes - we had fun with Kay!  Let's just say that we had a bit of a challenge with cutting, but the end result is awesome

Diane was definitely in her element as you can see from  this end result. She took the techniques and ran with them!  

Janice is going to leave the wonky end as part of her piece.  I love it - we don't need more square quilts!!!!   Love the STACKED circles on top of each other. 

Angela - Oh yes - we had fun with this one as well and the end result is pretty cool. I really do like those skinny rings in her quarter circle! 

Paula - LOVE her reverse egg yoke/white!   The off center circle is fabulous. There is a bit of fullness in this one which  will quilt out or she is going to try the soak it in starch method (once it is basted) and I think it will be just fine.  See how she added that yellow in the corner - those free form seams can be used everywhere!

Sylvia - the fabrics used were very dramatic and I love them!!!!!  We did learn a thing about adding the piece to the corner (now if I told you - you wouldn't come to my next class!) But she also fussy cut the quarter square in bottom left. Not quite as centered as we would like, but HEY - we were in a class!  Everything becomes an experiment in class. 

Mardi has a very subdued colour palette and see how that curved strip on the left acts as a border!

Susannah  was getting creative and inserting the circles that she was cutting out. Well you have to take the class to know what I mean.  But keep in mind that the circles in the center of all of these pieces are NOT applique.  No those circles are SEWN in!!!   Oh yes !!!!

Teresa had to make a piece larger than the rest of the group!  But I LOVE LOVE LOVE those rings in the bottom left. 

Sarah - has a fabulous piece of background fabric. This would be one of those "I don't want to cut it up pieces".  But it provides an awesome background for her circles. She did the third technique separately as she was very happy with this piece and I have to agree with her. The more I look at that background - I more I LOVE IT!!!!!

Val started out with a smaller piece than the rest and then she decided to enlarge the background by adding that strip. I LOVE that. And note that she started to insert circles in that extra piece.   Oh yes - NOTHING stopped this group from getting the project done.  They came against a problem - found a solution and moved on!!!!   

Lynda didn't quite get to the third technique, but she has her fabric chosen.  If you look closely at her white fabric - it has circles with strawberries on it.  She is going to add some more circles using singular motifs of that strawberry fabric. It will look awesome. Hmmm - maybe a few on that red strip????   Ooops - I am NOT supposed to suggest design elements!

Chris was the the workshop coordinator and was dealing with some electrical issues and so she wasn't able to get as far as the others, but what she has done is gorgeous.  I LOVE the rings. Nice choice of fabrics/colours and the size of those quarter rings are great!!!

Wendy was having a blast with her project.  Do you see what she did on the far right edge.  She had two fabrics with mirrored curved seams.  I LOVE that and all free form!!!!!!!!!!

Irene also did the third technique on a scrap of fabric.  I love this one and it brought up an interesting concept.  If you have an cool fabric with a continuous pattern on it - it would be great to position those circles so it appears that you are looking through the background to the fabric beyond.   

And there you have it - an awesome show n tell by a VERY TALENTED group of ladies. I was very impressed, had loads of fun and I learned a couple of things as well.  I think it was a win win for everyone.


If you want to see more of their work, the Etobicoke Quilter's Guild will be hosting their quilt show at the end of March. March 27, 28 and 29 to be exact. Click on the link above to go to their web site for further information. But MARK THOSE DATES in your calendar.  I will remind you closer to the date.


On that note - it is time to get to work!!!!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!