People coming and going all day!

I had a busy day in the studio! Almost all the waiting quilts went home with their owners and more came in to fill up the rack.  I had my jelly roll quilt quilted yesterday, but it was after 6:00 when I tossed it back over the machine and took these photos. No trim here...yet.

As usual, I like it better after the quilting is done. I do think it will end up a charity quilt, though.

Panto: Woven Wind

I've had this backing for a while, and this project was perfect for it!

This morning, I trimmed it and added solid magenta binding. I will be doing the hand sewing tonight.

I did a customer quilt yesterday, as well, but only the one because of someone trying to scam me on the phone. I called the company they said they represented and was encouraged to contact the FTC and file a report. All this took much of the morning to accomplish. Things like that make me so mad...

Here is yesterday's quilt, a very lively ombre strip quilt for the customer's daughter. 

Daughter wanted a colorful quilt and I think this fits the bill!

Panto: Fanciful Flyers

The customer requested butterflies, and these are the prettiest ones I have.

I started on the 54 year old wedding quilt repair, drafting the block, making templates and making the components. I made one block with individual templates before quitting for the day. I made another just like it today, but using the drafted components. They were the worst old blocks in the quilt. Now that I have the templates, I can make just the needed components for the rest of the damaged blocks.

The worn out block

My replacement block. The second one went together smoother after I got my mind around all the partial Y seams. The original blocks are hand pieced, so I couldn't make my templates from them...every component in the quilt is a different size! Once I get all the new pieces made, I will start the hand sewing.

The first and only quilt today was a giant Dresden plate quilt. The customer did a good job keeping everything straight for such a big quilt. The fabrics were vintage looking. I think most of them were from the 1950s. She also used an unusual decorative stitch to sew them onto the background blocks. It was fun to quilt.

The plates were really big, maybe 14 inches across or so. I love how different they look depending on where the light and dark values are placed. Nice!

Panto: Alfresco

If you click on the photo, you'll see the stitch she used.

Beautiful backing!

I spent some quality time pressing two hand pieced, but never pressed, quilts from a customer. The two quilts are made from 4 inch squares, all hand pieced together. Wow! They are both 85 inches square. It took almost a full can of spray starch to get them under control. I think I can safely quilt them, so they are now in the queue on the rack.

That was the end of there day. Now, I had better get busy and sew that binding.

The two quilts, waiting to be pressed.

Poor Ted...

 

Are your days all running together? Mine are...

 Was yesterday Wednesday?! I'm starting to lose days quite regularly in this Covid haze. All is calm here in my little bubble while the world seems to be in chaos around me. I am so thankful to have this occupation that I love to fill my time and keep my mind off the disintegration of our country. What do people who don't have some sort of pastime to fill their time do all day? I've never been the stay at home mom, always working and falling into bed tired from the day's toil. Last night was one of those kind of nights. I laid down at midnight, and didn't stir until 8:15 this morning! I miss Molly...she always woke me up at 7:00 no matter what. Anyhoo, I feel refreshed and raring to go.

After moving the blocks around for a couple of hours, I finally landed on a configuration I liked, and started sewing .

Where I started

Nope

Maybe...

Nope

Nope

Nope

Hmmm...

No!

Getting there...

Okay, I like this

I ended up turning the whole thing on its side and sewing it up. 

Needs a border, then , on to the next.

Millie had a couple of hiccups, but behaved pretty well most of the day. The first quilt was this table cover. It will be one of eight the customer has made for her relatives for Christmas.

The blocks are turned so everyone at the table has something interesting to look at. Very clever!

Panto: Bush Berries.

I love the backing. Delft plates all stacked together.

I had a Quilt of Valor patiently waiting for quilting, so I loaded it up and got to work. I like doing these.

The block pattern is something I haven't seen before. I noticed the diagonal vibe going on while I was doing the quilting. Someone will enjoy this, for sure!

Panto: Ribbon Stars

An appropriate, vintage look to the backing.

I washed the fifth vintage quilt after the binding was done, and it fluffed up wonderfully! So soft and cuddly. I love it.

I thought I took a picture of the quilt laid out on the floor...but I guess I dreamt it. It is the one on the top of the pile of five finished quilts. Five done, two more to go!

With the cooler weather, things are starting to look more like Autumn here. I noticed the red tint starting on the dogwood tree, and all the hydrangea are shaded with pink. Mr Wazoo is busy over-seeding the lawn with winter rye. We always have the most beautiful yard all year round because of his efforts.

My coffee cup is empty, I need some breakfast, then, it is off to the studio and the peaceful solitude of my bubble.

A bit of fun in the studio

 I got a lot done yesterday! I started a little early and went straight to it, loading another John Deere quilt from the same customer as before. This time, she chose green threads, solid on the top and variegated on the back. 

This one wasn't quite as wonky as the first one, but it was still a challenge!

Panto: Farm Tractors

It really shows on the solid backing!

I next loaded up quilt number five of seven vintage quilts from the same customer. This one only needed a few repairs before it was ready. 

All done. I attached blue floral binding and did the hand sewing last night. It's in the wash as I write!

Panto: Time warp

The backing is another sale fabric from the flat fold sale. $6 a yard!

During the quilting moments, I finished making the blocks from the jelly roll, but ran out of green fabric for the background. I added a magenta with lime stars for the last few blocks. Then, I messed around on the design wall until I had a layout I was pleased with. I may get it sewn today...

I started here

Then, I did this

Next, this. I kind of like this. There may be a star today if I can figure out how to make one from what I have. Stay tuned!

I love the little dog...

Monday in the studio

 How much time do you have in a day? No matter how early I start, I never seem to finish! Time flies by and another day is behind me. Another Monday?! Then, SNAP!, its gone.

I started with the bedspread from yesterday, did the last row and had it trimmed and in the bag by 11:00. 

This will be on an antique bed in a room filled with beautiful family heirlooms and memories. I look forward to seeing how it all comes together!

I wasn't kidding when I said it was huge! This is a picture from the back of the machine where I draped the quilt for these photos.

Both the top and backing fabrics are lush and charming. You can't see the quilting at all! It is Climbing Roses in dusty pink thread, but gets lost in the fabric pattern. I think after washing and a fluff dry, it will show better.

The backing is the same pattern in another colorway. That makes the spread reversible.

Next, I loaded up the Christmas quilt I worked on yesterday. It took the rest of the day to get the quilting done, but it looks so wonderful, I'm happy with the panto I chose.

I am really proud of myself for taming this project into a beautiful, flat quilt.

Panto: Holly Berries in gold thread

Most of the backing is this poinsettia print. I added a wide strip of solid red to get the backing wide enough for the quilt.

I spent the time, while Millie did the heavy lifting, cleaning and rearranging things in the studio. It is amazing how much stuff I have kept for no good reason. I purged and organized the work cart at the end of the machine, and cleaned off the top of my notions cabinet. If I do a little every day, I should have a tidy studio before too long.

I really wanted to get started with the Tula Pink jelly roll, so I stopped cleaning and started sewing. I didn't get very much accomplished, but did get some blocks on the design wall. This isn't what layout I am thinking of, but its a good starting point . It should be fun. I like it.

We'll see how it looks when I get more blocks done.

Monday workday is done, and I have to switch gears and get ready for Tuesday workday!