A Pause

I have paused my work to contemplate what has just happened. My hopes and prayers are that our country will again be the shining city on the hill, revered and respected by the world.

I am so proud to be a Democrat and an American. 

Waiting and working

No decision yet on the presidential race, but I haven't been watching...I've been working. Some people have asked why I took down my election day post. It was for my own safety.and mental well being A  couple of die hard Trump supporters wrote threatening and vile emails, voicing 45s lies and Fox News corruption theories in defense of their candidate. Ending with the hopes that my candidate, his running mate, and I would all die horrible deaths for our choice.These aren't  the run of the mill nut cases. These are quilters I have known and laughed with for years. Quilters!! I'm sorry for stirring the pot, but I am also an American citizen, entitled to my opinion. No more mention of it here. Thank you.

I worked on the embroidered quilt yesterday, and I am ready for the sashing and borders! Yippee!!

Rolled back to the beginning and ready for the last tour to the finish.

On the opposite side of the room, it is a race to the finish on this beauty! As you can see, 6:00 came and I quit for the day. Mr Wazoo was preparing a steak dinner, and I'm never late for steak.

Customers came and went all day, filling up the rack to the point where I had to leave a couple of them in their bags until there is a space open to hang them up! Yikes!! I figure if I just move along at the same pace I am at right now, everything will get done and Christmas will be full of happy recipients of home made quilts.

Customer batting and a couple of quilts are stored in bags beneath the rack.

What an awesome display of color and talent!

Oh dear...

Another very busy day!

 I hit the ground running this morning before ten o'clock because I knew customers were coming and I still had quilts piling up on the rack. This isn't a new thing. Every year about this time the Christmas gift quilts start coming in and I speed up the process by quilting longer each day and working seven days a week on only customer quilts. I have 26 pantograph quilts in the line right now, and at two a day (if I'm lucky) I figure I am a bit over two weeks out on my turn around time. Closer to Christmas, I tell people not to count on getting their quilt before the 25th, but usually get the job done. Everyone is happy. I am being extraordinarily picky with any custom work I take on. With the repairs and tee shirt quilts, I just don't have the time I need to devote to doing it anymore. I did take on the eight embroidered quilts, though, and am working along as time permits. I did another row today! Eight more blocks to go before the sashing and border home stretch.

I'm making steady progress. I think two more days will do it.

Mr Wazoo spent some time with me in the studio today, moving all the quilts out of the bathroom and replacing the small mismatched shelves with one sturdy unit. He also hung a hand towel ring instead of the bar type next to the sink.

Behind Mr W is the new towel ring. Now, I won't drip water all over turning around to grab the towel!

He put the unit together in the tiny space while sitting on my new soft-close toilet seat! I'm getting a pretty swanky update in there.

We moved out all the quilts to the studio, where I sorted them into piles that belong together on a shelf. 

Vintage, utility, show, modern, ethnic and wall size. 

The quilts on the table are going to  charity. Family Connection in Blue Ridge and our guild's Heart to Heart nursing home and hospice outreach. I certainly don't need to hang on to all these quilts! I hope they will bring someone joy.

A few stayed in the bathroom while Mr W worked.

I worked on quilting while he drilled and pounded.

My customer made this quilt from a block of the month program in the 1970s. 

I remember fabric like this. It seems every doctor's office and lawyer's waiting room was done in these colors back then. The vintage look of it is rather pleasing.

Panto: Fresco feathers

Calico backing

Meanwhile...

Whoa!! We almost saw a bit too much of Mr Wazoo.

Say NO to crack...

That's better.

I refolded and moved all the quilts back to the new shelves. So tidy!

A big box of quilts for the Family Connection,

and a big pile for Heart to Heart! It feels good to spread some love.

Once again, it was 6:00 and I have one last row...

Unit tomorrow!

Take a deep breath

After my morning meltdown, I went to the studio looking for some peace. On Dish TV there is a channel (199) with a mill on a rushing stream. Autumn trees are dropping their leaves and birds are chirping in the background. I listened to it for about an hour, sat in the sun outside and watched the real birds on the feeder and the fountain going about their business. Like the hymn says, consider  the lillies, they neither toil nor spin. Birds don't care, flowers don't care. I leave it to a higher power to sort it out. 

The last row was quilted by noon and the raffle quilt went home to get binding put on and get to raising money for the Blue Ridge animal shelter and fostering program.

Santa in his workshop with puppies and kittens

Panto: Twinkling stars

Nice red backing

Junkos, finches, tufted titmice, chickadees, sparrows and small woodpeckers all having their breakfast.

Followed by a quick bath with a friend

And a morning chat!

This customer turned a serene panel into a gift for her husband.

While I was quilting, I counted four trout hiding in the water. I scoured the picture for other hidden animals, but it was just the fish.

Panto: Rounded diamonds

The backing is this birch tree fabric.

I advanced a row on the custom quilt, making the tally of blocks left to do at twelve!

It was a hectic day, and I stayed busy with customers and more quilts coming in and some going home. I'm hand quilting the repair quilt again this evening. Mr Wazoo is tucked up in bed and Hallmark is on the TV with another formula Christmas movie. My lack of sleep last night has caught up with me.

I read Jo's Country Junction blog after supper, and her description of what voting meant to her was an inspiration. I feel a little better, but am still grappling with the chasm that divides us.

Tomorrow has to look brighter.

Crawling to the finish line

 I have been working on a giant repair project for a couple of months now, and I can see the finish line! I thought I was done, laid it out on the floor, and there it was...one more block to do. I may be able to get it finished during my double feature movie night if I keep at it. There are six pieces. My limit so far has been four a night, but I am determined to get this done and move on to the quilting. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, in the studio yesterday I cleaned up and vacuumed before starting on the day's projects. I took in three more quilts but didn't send any home. 

Waiting, but still here.

The first quilt was another tree skirt for the holidays. I have done this same pattern before, and I think the customer said she has made more to be given as gifts at Thanksgiving. I don't recall the panto I used on the first one, but this one was perfect for the fabrics. 

The quilt is an eight sided log cabin style.

The background is gold swirls and vines on a cream base. I used the panto, Delicate Vines because it looks just like the pattern on the fabric! Gold Glide thread was just the ticket.

The fabric on the back is the same as the background.

On Big Gammill, I loaded up the next embroidered quilt from the customer who has made eight of them for her siblings. I have custom quilted five so far, and have three here right now. The one I started is done in a dark red. After some deliberation of how to quilt it, I started. One row is done and four more to go. I will be repeating the quilting in each block 20 times! Then do the sashing and borders. It takes a while for sure, as it is all hand guided quilting. I have a December 12th deadline. The customer turns 80 that day and is having a birthday party where she will present the quilts to her brothers and sisters. Lucky people, for sure!

Advanced and ready to start row two!

Millie has been busy quilting this entirely hand pieced from vintage sheets nine patch quilt. So far so good. Sometimes hand pieced tops won't behave and lay down for the quilting. This one has been pretty submissive so far. I should have it done later today.

My son called on Facetime Halloween night. They live in Wisconsin where the Covid virus has raised it's ugly head and surged to high infection numbers. No trick or treating for my grandson. I got to watch the fun they created in their apartment for the trick or treat experience. Hiding candy all over the apartment, Dechen hunted each piece and when found, said trick or treat and played a game of rock-paper-scissors with his Mama to get it. Soon, his plastic pumpkin was full and everyone was happy. Very clever. My son sewed the Power Ranger costume with the Bernina I gave him for Christmas last year! I am astounded at how beautiful it turned out . Set in sleeves from slinky fabric?! Wow! He also made the helmet and sword from paper mâché. He has always been an artist, and Halloween was another chance to stretch his talents. I was blown away with the finished product. And glad to have the machine put to good use.

Mighty Morphin Power Ranger!

His birthday is this week and I sent a Viewmaster and some reels. I hope he likes them as much as I did as a kid. I still have my three viewers and a box of reels. When we can be together again we'll have something to share.

Once again, my sister came through and had me laughing with this one. 

As you can tell, I have quite a warped sense of humor.

Stay calm and we'll still be Americans in the morning no matter the outcome of this horrible election.

I'm so boring! Work-eat-sleep

I heard from a friend that she was worried something was up with me as I hadn't posted. I hate to admit it, but my life is really boring right now. All I do is work, eat and sleep. We don't go anywhere except doctor appointments and the grocery store...my kids aren't coming for the holidays, and there are no quilt guild meetings to go to. I bet your life is much the same.

I finished the tee shirt quilt and Mr Wazoo will mail it off tomorrow. I quilted a vintage quilt and gave it a good washing, and repaired another, both for the same customer. My class sample quilt is quilted, and will get binding tomorrow, too.

Tee shirt quilt before binding

Panto: Jetty with a gray/blue thread

The back has the leftover shirts on it

I used the same baseball fabric for the narrow strips.

Here it is with binding.

Baseballs on the binding, too.

This is the vintage quilt, all finished. Before the wash, I might add.

Backed with this pink print, and sporting the panto, Texas fan.

I can't believe it took me all day Sunday to do the repairs and quilting on this. 

All the red squares are mine, these slightly darker green ones, too.

I replaced the dark square.

My square here is in the lower right corner.

Here is my quilted class sample

This is the last of this wonderful fabric. Boo-hoo!

I used the panto, Modern Twist

I also did a couple of customer quilts while sewing or repairing. Christmas is coming fast and I have been inundated with quilts to do! Here are the ones I have ready to go right now.

Half square triangles on display here! The maker did a really good job not cutting off the corners. 

Panto: Woven Wind

The backing is black, but looks gray in the picture. It is a tiny geometric pattern of black and off white. I guess that will look gray, right?

This cute table cover is done with a Christmas jelly roll.

Panto: Falling Snow

Retro Christmas backing. The customer came and picked it up  saying she has another one made!

Sometimes a day is brighter when I get emails from people I have sent or given quilts to. Our best friends from Door County, Wisconsin welcomed their first grand baby three months ago. I sent a simple but colorful quilt for the little man, with the promise of a bigger quilt when he is older. The young couple wrote a wonderful thank you to me along with a photo of their son with his quilt. You can tell they have washed and used it. Just what the quilter ordered! It made my day.