Archive for June, 2008
Barbara’s RWB top
I finished the binding and labeled this donated top from Barbara last night. Once I finish my RWB Rails both of these Quilts of Valor will go to Alycia. The quilting on this one was simple – stars and loops. You might be able to see some of the stars in the larger blocks if you click to enlarge the photo but for the most part the quilting here just adds texture.
If you want to help Alycia hit her goal of 100 Quilts of Valor for 2009, visit her blog. I had some comments asking what size quilts she wanted – I’d suggest you check with her – I emailed her about the RWB Rails quilt and she responded quickly.
How do you work?
I was reading Ruth’s blog and she mentioned that she works on one quilt at time. As I started to make a to do list to finish out the week I realized that this week is a perfect example of how I work. I have a binding to finish, I finished piecing blocks and am in the process of assembling the RWB top, and I had a HeartStrings top loaded that I quilted today.
My best day quilting is one where I’m doing a bit of everything and seeing progress being made on a piecing project, a quilting project, and finishing up a binding.
Here’s today quilting project – a donated top from Deborah. I quilted Wonky Feathers from the Pajama Quilter DVD – and it’s now ready to be trimmed and bound.
I also finished up the blocks for this RWB Rail fence and started assembling the top. After consulting with Alycia about the size of the quilt – I won’t be putting a border on this one although I do love the pieced border in my original design - I’ll have to do this in a different colorway and use the border for another quilt.
So what’s the optimum number of projects for you to be actively working on??
Here’s a list for you
Do I need to start a new project?
Do I need to spend the afternoon in the HOTTEST room in the house, standing over a hot iron when the A/C isn’t working?
Do I need to make string blocks from yardage when I have bins overflowing with them?
The answer to all the above is NO but in spite of that I was ready to use the basket of RWB fabric I’d pulled from stash 3-4 months ago intending to make a wonky rail fence.
The A/C guy has been back for the 2nd time today and it finally seems to be working – just in time for me to leave and meet Keith downtown for dinner.
I hate waiting
We’re having problems with our A/C – the only thing they weren’t able to check in the home inspection before we bought the townhouse and I’m waiting again today for a repairman. They’ve been out twice already…..so this morning I sat around and went through all my email…..did some blog reading….then went up to the sewing room to sew a binding on….then pieced a couple backs…..back downstairs to get a bite to eat….more computer time….and they’re still not here.
I have a quilt loaded on the longarm but I’m waiting until after the repair guy finishes today to work on it. I just wish he’d get here!
I HATE waiting!
I’m home!
Rather than focusing on what I HAVEN’T done today – unpacking, laundry, and going through the mail and bills that came while I was gone – I’ll focus on what I have done!
I did run to the post office and mail off the RWB HeartStrings blocks to Sue, mailed a quilt top I purchased on eBay several years ago that will be finished by Faith in the UK, and a DVD to Chris with photos from his Memorial Day trip to Minneapolis that he forgot to take home with him.
I picked up Chesty from boarding – he’s very tired and has been quietly sleeping while I quilt.
I had this donated top from Barbara in FL loaded before my trip so I quickly quilted it with loops and stars and it’s already unloaded, trimmed, and ready for me to bind. Once it’s done, it will go to Alycia who has a goal of 100 Quilts of Valor for delivery in 2009.
I loaded this donated top from Deborah in MD and it’s ready for quilting. She sent along a pieced back which is nice – I usually piece backs just before I’m ready to load a quilt but that does slow me down some since I’ve been known to procrastinate piecing a back and loading a quilt.
And finally, I washed and dried the Double 4 Patch that I finished before my trip so it’s ready to be sent off when it’s time.
One of my problems here in the townhouse is I don’t have a good place to measure and cut my batting. I do have a generous size closet to store it downstairs just outside the room with the longarm but I have to stand it up to measure the length, clip my spot with the scissors and then..
…. set the batting down to finish cutting it. I had to go through this twice today to cut batting. I know a lot of you have less quilting space than I do but I get frustrated at times and wish I had a large studio space like I did back in Marietta.
Sunday progress report
I only had a few days to work this week before heading to Toronto but I made some progress – the Double 4 Patch is finished and I’ll add the yardage used to my sidebar but I also had a birthday shopping spree to replenish some of my basics.
A wonderful day!
This afternoon we took a ferry ride to the Toronto Islands – here’s a view back toward the city.
We walked along the boardwalk.
Watched the geese along the shore.
We almost DIDN’T go because of these crowds going to Centre Island….we asked at the ticket office if there was somewhere we could go AWAY from the crowds and she suggested we take the Ward’s Island ferry – it was perfect!
It that wasn’t enough fun…..we attend a conference event – A Taste of Toronto – at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The food was good, the band fun…and after an hour or so, we found the Library Bar where we sat in a dark corner and had a nightcap!
I’m not a social person
I know that it may surprise some of you – I probably seem very chatty online but I’ve never been one to have a bunch of friends and I like my social events to be infrequent and small gatherings so it always surprises me when I enjoy meeting and spending time with someone new.
Today Irene braved the traffic and drove into Toronto to meet me for lunch. She was so easy to talk to and I had a wonderful time. She’s a fellow longarm quilter who like me doesn’t quilt for others and we had a lot in common. Irene obviously knows I love wine from reading my blog because she bought a gift of Canadian wine for me – wasn’t that NICE??
