Well, RATS!! The Handi Quilter won't go...

 I thought I would be in the clear with the Handi Quilter after getting the APQS out of the studio. Yesterday I quilted a QOV just fine, then loaded another one. I cleaned the bobbin area and changed the needle and started to baste the top. The needle went down, then lights flashed, the machine beeped wildly and a message appeared on top of a bunch of Windows screens. Yikes! The dealer isn't open on Monday, so today I called them. "You have to call Handi Quilter with this one," she said, after we tried all sorts of re-booting, unplugging and replugging and clicking buttons. Handi Quilter tech did all the same things again, and he decided he would send me a new computer part (sound familiar? Its deja vu!). My dealer will come out and fix things when the part comes. Sigh...no quilting for a few days.

First this...

then this exploded onto the screen accompanied by several beeps...

The final message.

Here is the QOV that flew under the radar and was quilted before the breakdown.

Panto: Star Streamers

Cool helicopter fabric for the back.

I finished the last three blocks for the Jacob's ladder quilt and sewed the top together today. Moral of the story? Don't use two machines to sew blocks for one quilt. Some corners don't match together like they should, but I am over it and left them alone. My new Janome does not make a 1/4 inch seam and despite my adjustments to the needle position, the blocks were just a hair too small. Tomorrow I'll add the blue inner border and the beautiful floral outer border. It won't be perfect, but not will be pretty!

Wonky but nice. I like it.

This is my border fabric. Gorgeous!

I need to put away the two giant duffles full of quilts from my talk and trunk show. The ladies loved the quilts and asked lots of questions. Then I need to clear off the Gammill table and rev up the machine for a couple of small projects for a lady who is in assisted living and can't get out enough to take them to a quilter. I'm happy to help her out. After all, it will keep my mind off the Handi Quilter elephant in the room!