Quilting on the edge.....................

I know that some of you are probably exhausted just reading about my schedule. However, I'm thriving on it! I know that sounds absolutely bizarre, but I did write the other day how obsessed I am with this hobby/career.  Which of course has only gotten worse now that I'm officially "in" the industry.

I was chatting with another designer yesterday who is madly making quilts for Spring Market. She received fabric for FOUR quilts last week. All have to be done by next Wednesday. She laughed and said she is having fun. She LOVES the rush of adrenline. And I totally get that!

It's like we're out to prove a point - how much can we shove into one day? how many quilts can we make on a dime? Bring it on - the more the merrier!

So I'm going to officially declare that quilting is a sport! Sometimes it's an aerobic sport and sometimes it's not. Now I wouldn't say that quilting is like sky-diving (which I've done - well technically, I've parachuted TWICE). While we quilters can get an adreline rush, it's not like jumping out of a plane. Is quilting like mountain climbing?  Nope - not quite the same.  Nope - I would compare quilting to cycling.  I KNOW - who knew!!!  Why?  Because both are activities that you can do all day, everyday. You can do them alone, you can do them with friends, you can see your accomplishments (well if you're cycling from A to B like cycling across Canada - which I've done!), both are exciting (at least to me!).   That's how I'm justifying not being on my bike these days because I'm behind the sewing machine. Now if I could only figure out how to get exercise while sewing?  Oh yes - I need one of those bikes that fit under your desk - then I would be set. Better yet, I need a sewing machine that operates from pedal power. I did see that on YouTube once. Let me try to find that video.

Well - I didnt' find that video, but I found this.  Seems there is one problem - I'm not sure I can ride the bike AND sew at the same time. Or how about this one - same girl as I was looking for - different video.

Speaking of videos - ACK - I knew this day was coming and well it's arrived!  I made a video. Well - I didn't make it, I "starred" in the video. I tell my quilting students that when they are learning a new motif, they need to stitch the first one, stitch the second one, and maybe stitch the third one and by then all the kinks will be worked out.  Well, here's the first one. A few kinks to be worked out.  But it's all about having fun. NO ONE is allowed to laugh, unless you're laughing WITH me. There are several goofs - can you spot them?  There will be more videos - BUT they will be shorter. This was ambitious!!!   If nothing else, look at the cool stuff in the background.  M?  - Do you recognize any of those things????

And now for a progress report. The one quilt is winging its way to the US officees of a magazine in a FedEx box. Yeah!!!!  I sewed the sleeve on at work. Done!  Check!   I'm working on the last quilt that technically has to be done for Market - well, last quilt top that still remains to be sewn. There is one and a half borders to sew on (bobbin ran out and I need to clean the machine - sounded like a good time to take a break).  The backing is made and all will get loaded on the long arm this morning. I'm debating how to quilt it?  I have several ideas and we'll see once the top is completed.

Got several "story lines" for the blog lined up. Need a major picture taking session and uploading those. That's for later today when I need a break from quilting. Finished that first row on the other one that will be "nice to have".  I would like to put two more rows on if possible which should be doable and then there is my 3-D item.  I will cut it today and see how it goes.

Let's keep that adreline running. My only problem is that I'm older than the designer that I spoke to yesterday. She can pull an all-nighter - I can't!  If I don't get my sleep?  I'm cranky!  But I can go to bed early and get up really early which is what I did today!

Here is a picture of an art quilt that I bought several years ago. It was part of the TrendTex challenge at CQA.  Judy Morningstar is the artist.  It's called Quilting on the Edge!   Yep - that's me in a heartbeat - that's why I paid a lot of money to get this. I absoltuely love it and it hangs in  my studio where I'm reminded every day - quilting is a SPORT!

And on that note, I have two impatient girls who would like to be driven to the dog park!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

For my American readers, the video is about a Canadian quilt, but you could easily substitute one of Northcott's American panels in there as well.

Another one bites the dust!

It would appear that the moment that I get one quilt out the door, the next one comes barging in!  Yep - got confirmation of ANOTHER quilt that has a deadline - June 16.  Don't even have the fabric - I'll get it cut this afternoon. Thankfully the fabric has arrived in the warehouse!

However, I'm getting good at getting things done. And with the exception of labels (tacking on my business card is as good a label as my quilts are getting these days!), I'm getting them done. One was finished yesterday and it's now on its way to Spring Market in the crate which left yesterday.

I got this one quilted last night. Don't be silly - of course, you can't see it! But here's the back.

Magazine quilt - quilted!

While I was piecing this quilt, I was wondering how to quilt it.  The fabrics are quite busy, pretty but busy. What to do?  What to do??  Should it be custom quilted? What color thread?

As I was putting the last of it together, I decided that it needed a pantograph or overall design.  Whatever quilting I would put on it would be lost in the fabrics, so why bother. Time was also a factor. As for the color of thread?  Oh god - I used invisible thread.  I know - I used to hate invisible thread, but I popped invisible on the top, some pre-wound bobbins in the bobbin and I was away. Barely any adjustments on the long arm - well I did loosen the top tension and adjust the bottom ever so slightly, but it was easy.

Close up of the quilting

Then off to bed and YES - I broke my rule. It was after 9 PM when I closed up shop.

Up nice and early this morning and in two hours, I got the quilt trimmed, made the binding, stitched it down (front and back), made the sleeve and pinned it on. I'm going to hand stitch the binding this morning and get the quilt in a FedEx box before 3 today.  DONE!!!!

I have to say that my binding skills are getting better - it's like anything - the more you do, the better you become.

Binding - DONE!

Let's see - that leaves one more quilt top to be finished, quilted and bound before Wednesday AM. One more top to mess around with, but if I don't complete it, that's OK - at least the concept will be apparent with a few more rows. That's also for Wednesday morning. One more quilt to bind that someone else is quilting. Let's not forget my 3-D project that I think I might be able to eek out and lastly, the QUILTsocial posts which I'm formulating in my head as I'm working.  All by Wednesday AM?  Oh yes - I've NOTHING scheduled this weekend!

On that note, I'm out of here. Got loads to do.

Have a super day!

Ciao!

Teaching old dogs new tricks

You know the saying - you can't teach an old dog a new trick.  Well - I'm the old dog.  I mean what is wrong with me?  

I have that brand new cutting mat - remember?  It was hidden under stuff on my cutting table. Then I decided to clean up the cutting table and move the mat to the other side where I always cut.  No problem.  Well - guess where I'm cutting these days?  YEP - on the old mat on the opposite end of the cutting table!  I mean really!

Still cutting on the old mat

However, that really isn't what today's post is all about.  Nope  - I wanted to share with you how crazy my life has become.  That isn't true either. Let me explain.

Some of you may know this story, but years ago (1998), I started to seriously quilt. And in a very short time, I became addicted to the hobby. Sometimes, I wonder how I managed to be a Mom!  M probably thinks I wasn't a good Mom!  Anyway, in 2000 or thereabouts, I decided to take a one-year leave of absence from my very good job with an excellent salary so I could get quilting out of my system.  Little did I know how obsessed I would become.

Needless to say, I never went back to that job and was lucky enough to make a career out of quilting - a part-time career of teaching, making quilts for others and long arming. I had NO TIME for a day job.

Then the ultimate day job came along that was an offer too good to refuse. So I went to work for Northcott. Imagine when your hobby, part-time career, and full-time job are all one and the same thing? Oh yes - we're talking a very serious addiction here.

The reason I mention all that is because guess what I did last night?  Yep - I was sewing until 8 PM. I try not to sew past 8 PM. Usually, it's because I'm just too tired at that point and well, I guess that's it - I'm just tired by then. But guess what I do when I wake up?  Yep - about 10 minutes after I'm up, I'm downstairs plugging in the iron, turning on the sewing machine and turning on the radio - ready to go.

Shoot - that wasn't even what I wanted to tell you either!  What I really wanted to tell you is how lucky I am to have a dedicated sewing space. When I shut things down last night, my cutting table had stuff all laid out ready for the morning to start sewing. Imagine if I had to put things away every day?  I'd never make anything!

Even if my house were small, I'd still make that happen. I'd give up the dining room, the living room and most of the kitchen to quilting if I had a small house. Gosh - even the bedroom. It's all about priorities. And should DH ever say anything about the mess, if it were to invade the rest of the house or the amount of time that I spend at the sewing machine - goes in one ear and right out the other!

Now I wonder if there is a quilter anonymous? I might need to join one day.  What will I do when my body won't let me sew anymore?

The best part is that I'm having a blast. Last night after I finished the quilt top that has to be in the mail TOMORROW (I'll be quilting it later today), instead of working on the next quilt top that has to be in my suitcase on Wednesday, I thought I deserved a little bit of fun. So I started to work on one of my "would like to have done by Wednesday" projects.  It's a bit of an experiment and I just needed a break from the other stuff.  OH - I'm loving it. The first row is almost on. This one is the hardest because everything had to be fussy cut. The next rows are just grunt sewing. I'm super excited about it. Not sure it would make a good class - it's very dependant on the fabric and the first row is very tricky. ZERO room for error.

Oh yes - the quilt top that I finished last night? It's for a magazine. It's so funny to actually see the quilt top made. I've been carrying my design for a couple of weeks and OH - the actual quilt looks just like the design (thankfully!)

On that note, I've a ton of stuff to arrange to ship. Whenever I get to my hotel on a trip, there is always lots of boxes waiting for me. It's like Christmas!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!

What a novel idea!

Despite the fact that I've moved my big computer up to the office and despite the fact that I complain bitterly about the S L O W  speed of the laptop, I continue to use it. So yesterday when I finished the blog, I moved my chair in front of the big computer so I would be reminded to use the other computer this morning. And here I am on the other computer which needed to be rebooted this morning after installing updates.  I just can't seem to win!   And of course, this keyboard is different than the laptop so I need to move that pinkie over just a titch more in order to get the caps! Now I'm surrounded by computers and laptops with three of them going at once!

I'm going to update the photo editing software as well and then I should be good to go.  

While I was in Paducah, I came across my favourite bookseller.  I've mentioned them before and gosh - I don't even know their name, but they have all kinds of back issues of some of the magazines which I need to take inventory of. But guess who I saw?  Yes - those quilt novel authors that I had met at Road to California. 

I really enjoyed the mystery series  - well the first book, which we are unable to get through the library and the library won't order "old" books.  I bought the second one. I think I will donate these books to my guild library as I certainly won't read them again and I don't want the darn things taking up valuable room on my bookcase (OK - the real reason is that someone will have to dust them - no not that either!).  Nope - once I read a book, it's gone because I'm trying to make every effort to get rid of things that I no longer need or want. 

Someone talked about hitting their closet and I was thinking the same thing.  I did that a number of years ago and since I haven't really bought much since then, it wouldn't take that long to go through everything and get rid of what I don't wear.   That will have to be a July job as my schedule is pretty packed until then. 

Book 2 of the Harriet Truman/Loose Threads series

Arlene Sachitano is the author of the Harriet Truman/Loose Threads series.  Harriet is a long arm quilter and the genre of the book is a mystery.  I quite liked the book. In the picture below, Harriet is holding her 10th book which was just released.

The second author that I met at Road to California is Patience Griffin.  She writes about the quilters in Scotland. The books are romance and a touch racey!  I mentioned that to her and that is what her publisher wanted!  I hate when that happens.  I liked the premise of her books and those one (go figure) are available through the library! Anyway - it was good to see her again and she was all cute in her Scottish outfit.

A third author was with these two. Her name is Marie Bostwick.  She also writes quilt novels and I have one of them which I have never read!  Oh - I better get that out and read it.

A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick

And here are the three authors.......

Marie, Patience and Arlene

I have to say that I'm bogged down in my reading right now.  I'm reading Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini.  It's not about quilting, but Jennifer has written a lot of quilt novels.  Too much politics?  Too much going on right now?  I'm not sure, but I might have to abandon it!  (GASP!)   It is taking forever to read and not for lack of time.

On that note, I'm out of here.  Got an appointment (at last) to get my snow tires removed. This is why I hate them - a pain to maintain and store (I know - the practical side of things!) but the car is overdue for a tune-up so I can't wait any longer!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Motivation Monday (yes - I know it's Tuesday) and PUBLISHED!!!

I'm sure we've all been in this position. Loads of work and we all look calm on the outside, yet on the inside, the wheels are spinning, the thoughts are processing. Yep - we've all been there and for some reason, I can't seem to slow down! Just when I say, "just one more quilt and I'll be caught up", something else pops up!  

Nothing new on the radar (at least not last week - but maybe this week!).  I'm getting loads of stuff done, just not necessarily on my own stuff. But I've got hope!  July - that's when I can get back to my own stuff - July!   Of course, that will depend on other people's schedules.  

This past Saturday was a UFO sewing day with my guild.  I wasn't going to go, but then I thought - "why not?  I'm just going to sew at home by myself. I might as well go and be with the group."  I'm so glad that I did. It was a lot of fun, I got loads done and was worth the hassle of going there and coming back!  And did you know that it is at UFO days and workshop days when you really get to know the members of the guild? NOT at the meetings as those are meetings and not a lot of time to socialize. 

I had done a lot of prep work the night before so I was ready to sew. I got one quilt top done, made the binding and the backing. That was all in the first hour (the top was almost together before I went). 

One quilt top - done and ready for quilting

When I got home later that afternoon, I couldn't load it on the long arm as I had this small quilt that needed to be done first.

But it's quilted and just needs to be trimmed and bound. It's part of Canada's Big Quilt Bee and will be donated to Ronald McDonald house.

Community projects quilt - DONE!

Then I got the other quilt loaded on the long arm. That was Saturday night.

Quilt loaded on the long arm

Sunday after my volunteering session, I was in a funk. But there is no time to be in a funk when Spring Market is looming on the horizon. I managed to get the quilt quilted and off the long arm. Of course, I can't share it with you, but here is the back.

Quilt - DONE

I got the quilt trimmed and the binding is now on. I'll be putting on the label and sleeve tonight. One more done and off the list for Spring Market.

On Saturday after I finished this first quilt, I started another quilt top that has to be done for Spring Market. I made good progress on it. I managed to get more of it together and all the cutting and half square triangles are done (or almost done).  I think there are three more rounds/borders to put on and it's done. I MUST remember to get backing today so it can go on the long arm. This one will be carried in the suitcase because there are a couple of other urgent things to be done. Like the quilt that has to be in the US for Monday.  It's for a magazine and I started assembling the quilt top this morning. Nope - you are NOT allowed to make any comments!  None!!

I must remember to get backing for that one as well. I have a pretty wide open schedule for the next week so I'm not worried, but again we are in a situation where NOTHING can go wrong or I'm in trouble.  And then there are still the two bonus projects that I would like to take to Market as well.  And prepping the blog posts for QUILTsocial.

One of my magazine projects is now out!   It's in the latest issue of A Needle Pulling Thread - see the cover below.

Spring Issue 2017 - A Needle Pulling Thread

And I have TWO items in the magazine.  One is a quilt project and the other is an article on scrap quilting.  Be sure to rush out and get your copy!!!

Two items by me!

I seem to be motivated by a deadline - at least in the quilting world.  Although that housework story from the other day did motivate me to tidy up a few things on Sunday night. I'll be making a trip to the donation center this weekend and I spent a bit of time last night deleting e-mails. I deleted thousands of e-mails.  You know you have all the intentions of reading them and I get duplicates of some of them at work, so I just happily deleted a bunch. I really need to go in and unsubscribe, there are some which I want to keep being reminded of the product so when I need it, the info is there!  How silly is that!

So while I'm motivated by a deadline, how are the rest of you doing?  Thankfully I have my Task Master list because if I didn't, there would be a lot of items that would be totally forgotten!  I'm still plugging away at them and I guess I know what I'll be doing at the next sewing retreat which is just a couple of months away!  I can do it!  Just need to keep on track.  NOTHING new is to be added to that Task Master list except stuff that has a deadline!

There is ONE more trade show after Spring Market and there are a number of items that I need to have done for that. One for the booth and several for my demos.  But I have a funny feeling based on the appointments that I have booked for Spring Market that I'm going to come home with a HUGE list of things to do. Maybe not immediately, but - well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!

Do any of you watch Your Morning??  I don't, but someone alerted me to yesterday's episode.  Have a look at this link and go to minute 37:15.  Don't be horrified by what the lady says when introducing the segment - it will make you cringe! We so need to educate the world about quilts.

On that note - have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

On cleaning house....

Today I did something that I really didn't want to do. I got roped into volunteering with the Good Life Marathon a number of years ago. "You can drive a truck? - We NEED YOU!".  I didn't do it last year as I had just had surgery on my knee but when I got a call a couple of weeks ago, the word NO didn't come out of my mouth. With the forecast for rain this weekend, I was NOT looking forward to the day!

I dressed in layers and as the day wore on, I slowly peeled the layers off. I even wore my rain boots and NO rain!. I was quite happy about that. The day was uneventful, but there was a ton of clothes at the start line as people dressed up to keep warm and once the run started, they shed clothes like a snake sheds its skin.

I told the volunteer leader that I could NOT stay until everything was done - at least I did that much. As I have a lot of work to get done for work.

There is always a shortage of volunteers (or so it seems). Anyway, I got paired up with this very nice lady from the Philippines. We got to chatting about what she does.  You had better sit down for this one. While we were chatting, I was excited, but afterward, it left me depressed.

So what does this lady do? She cleans houses.  OH NO - I should restate that - she is a housekeeper. And I wish I could afford her!  She works for ONE family - FULL -TIME. Seriously???  Four full days a week and two half days. Of course, my curiosity was peaked - what the heck does she do all day?

She works a nine-hour day from 9 AM - 6 PM and two half days. The house is large and they are moving to a brand new house this month. There are the husband and wife who own their own business. And two teenagers (I can't remember whether boys, girls or combination of both).

Monday is cleaning up the shoe closet. I know - I almost drove off the road. The shoe closet?  Yes - she keeps all the shoes clean, probably takes them to the shoe maker if they need repair - oh silly me - those that need repair probably get replaced. I bet she cleans, polishes, buffs or whatever else is needed to keep shoes clean. That would be hard at our house since I mostly wear ONE pair of shoes - she wouldn't be able to clean them since they are on my feet!

She also cleans a room on that day but I can't remember which one. She also tidies up in the morning, making beds and cleaning up the kitchen. The breakfast stuff.

Tuesday is laundry day - she washes and irons all the clothes and puts them away.  STOP drooling!!!!  And this is the day she cleans the dining room which seats 12 or 14.  I think Tuesday is the dining room day.  Baseboards, chandeliers, pictures, buffs the table, vacuums the rugs, etc. Whew - I'm exhausted just writing that!

Wednesday is clean the library day - yes even those FAUX books get removed from the shelf and everything gets dusted. I think she also cleans the billiard room (which we probably call our family room).

Thursday is a big day as more laundry. This time it's all the bedding and towels. Oh, towels on Tuesday as well. All the bedding gets ironed and back on the bed. I would HATE that as I can't stand stiff, tucked in sheets. And then she also cleans the kitchen - top to bottom. The fridge gets emptied and cleaned. The cabinet faces are cleaned and all the cutlery is wiped, the cutlery trays are removed and cleaned out, the pantry is emptied and cleaned. I believe that twice a year, pots, pans, plates and glasses are removed from the cupboards and washed.  Seriously?????   Is that a huge make work project or what?

Friday is tidying and one more room gets cleaned. Let's not forget that there are five bathrooms and a spa/gym in this house or in the new house. Probably both. There are FOUR balconies that need to be washed and kept tidy.

Saturday is more laundry - oh yes - let's get a new towel every second day or could be more clothes.

While that lifestyle seems wonderful, I would DIE to have my house that tidy. And what appreciation for life and life skills will those two teenagers have?

On the other hand at our house, I bet I could vacuum up a liter of dirt at the moment. Those dogs keep tracking in the mud like crazy and when it dries - well there is dirt.

DH has been away all week and he's on his way home and I'm on my way to the airport in a bit. I managed to empty the dishwasher and put all my dirty dishes for the week in there. Must set it to run before I hop in the car. And I best get the vacuum out. There you go - the house is all clean! And that took how long?  AHA - his plane is delayed - I might just get that mud cleaned up!

I know that this family is not alone in employing a housekeeper.  I think it's great if you can afford it and it does employ someone, but to clean to that extent?  I can't imagine!  I would like if someone would come in and help get rid of all this paper which I seem to be totally incompetent to do. I keep saying I will and my heart isn't in it. Well - since I don't seem to need it - I should just toss it all.  Plead insanity and toss it!

While I'm trying to get a quilt quilted today and I'm making progress, the enormity of what has to be done is weighing on me a slight bit. So I took a break and watched an episode of Project Runway from Season 8. Oh boy - that puts things in perspective!  I don't feel so bad now and can actually get moving!

Now out of my way - where's that vacuum?

Have a super day!

Ciao!

Sew Fest

Oh, my god - the rain has stopped for the moment!  Actually, the pavement is dry in parts meaning that it hasn't been raining for a while. My kitchen floor looks like a mud pit. Those girls love to be in and out even in the rain and well - they're having a riot. Dogs are like kids - the dirtier they are, the more fun their having!

I'm embarking on a Sewing Fest for the next couple of days. Nothing official, just my own personal Sewing Fest as I attempt the impossible. How to get FIVE projects done in a few days!

I know - this has to stop because it's getting old.  OH NO - did I actually say that?  It's not that I'm about to give up quilting, it's just that every weekend, every evening, there seems to be something urgent to do and I'd like to mess around for a bit!

But I'm OK with that.  Spring Market is mere days away and that is the reason for this round of sewing.

I had a cutting session last night and here's the scrap basket.  Lots of pretty fabrics - brand new - you can't get your hands on them yet!

Pretty scraps in the basket

And here is my project box. There are four quilts in the box and one 3-D item.

Project box

One quilt is almost together, the backing and binding are cut and need to be sewn together. Perhaps one hour for that one. Needs to be quilted, bound, sleeve, and label by Friday.

Project two has been cut and parts of the fiddly units are sewn together. I've been doing it as enders and leaders and will continue. It has a very urgent deadline, has to be in the US by May 15.  Hopefully, finish piecing the top tomorrow.

Project three is cut out - lots of half square triangles which I hope to make today. Technically it should also be quilted and bound by Friday, but if not - TUESDAY next week.

Project four is partially cut out. It technically doesn't  have to be done by May 16, but I would like to take it to Spring Market with me. Of course depending on what it looks like. It's an experiment.

Project five is the 3-D one.  It doesn't have to be done, but I would like to take it to Market as well. It is super cute!

Wish me luck!!!!   We have a guild UFO day today and why not sew with the group than sew at home alone. I'm all packed!

The other day, I was rooting around in one of the closets upstairs where (YES) more quilting stuff is stored. Guess what I found?  Something that I wasn't even looking for.  A pair of scissors for clipping rag quilts!

Rag clipping scissors

 I knew that I had a pair and knew that I had no idea where they were, so I bought another pair when I needed them a couple of months ago.

Two pairs of rag clipping scissors

I know - that's what happens when you don't put your tools in their HOME location.  Both pairs of scissors are now with all the other scissors.  I wasn't so much into the organizing tools and notions when those scissors got put with the project that they had been designated for.

I'm smarter now (well maybe just a little!).  I have no choice, I can't afford the time to look for things!

And once this Sew Fest is over, the next one is lined up as I have a couple of lectures at Quilt Canada in June and there are a few projects that I NEED for the booth and for my demos. After that, a couple of quilts for magazines and then a breather for the summer!  Yeah, summer!

Speaking of summer, what happened? Did I miss something?  It's freezing outside and I'm about to go to the dog park. I guess I had better dress up like it's winter! The girls - they don't care!

Have a super day!


Ciao!!!!