Great customer quilt makes for fun work

It's always a good day when I get to work on a beautiful and challenging quilt. This one was made by a friend for her husband, all hand embroidered! Picture type quilts are a challenge, because I have to make sure the quilt doesn't have 'baggy' spots where the pictures are, but not quilt over the picture while securing it down. What you may not realize about the longarm quilter is that we spend a long time staring at the quilt on the frame, waiting for the spark of inspiration to light the quilting fire. Sometimes, this can be a long stare! Fortunately, this quilt had a clear theme and it only took a few minutes to get the mojo going and start quilting. I did all the stitch-in-the-ditch and sashing while contemplating the pictures, so it was an easy transition to them on the second day of quilting. I am pleased with the result.
Today, I'm back at the machine, staring, ditch stitching and waiting for the spark! I do love my job!

The back is a hoot to look at!

Back in the swing of things

Beard is GONE!! I like this smiling face much better.

We have been very busy around here, getting quilts done and out the door. One day blurs into another until a whole week has gone by without a blog entry.
The quilt I was hurrying to finish for a class sample turned out to be quite a bugger to make! I am currently using it in the evening when the air conditioning gets a bit cool on my feet. I even tried to make a small quilt using the same technique, but it was also a challenge. The education committee decided to have me teach a different quilt altogether, so I didn't have to hurry at all. Oh well, I got two quilts out of the exercise!
Here are a few of the pretty quilts that were finished this week.
To all the veterans, thank you. My daughter is an Iraq war vet and I am so grateful to have her home safe and sound. Have a wonderful day with your families and take a day to remember why we can enjoy the freedom to do so in our great nation.

Here's the finished quilt...at the ready for cold feet.

This is the 'simpler' version. 

Isn't this the cutest kid quilt?!

It is called Mom and Me. My customer did a fabulous job!

This is a bed runner. They're all the rage right now.

Close up of the quilting

More detail