Slow and Steady wins the race

I finished the big pantograph quilt and a baby quilt this week, and I think I can have a couple more done next week. It has been slow going, but I will get them done. Still hurts and I am still frustrated...aaah, old age is creeping up!Meanwhile, here is what I got accomplished in a week.

Frustrated...slow going

I worked two rows on the quilt I loaded two days ago, and the pain was unbearable. I had to go sit with ice on my pelvis and back for awhile. I can see it is going to take eons to get through the quilts I have here, but I intend to do it. On top of it all, I must have caught cold somewhere, too. Coughing, sneezing and blowing the nose...oh joy. Not such a fine day today. Thank you to Gloria for the lunch and walk. It was good to venture outside for a few minutes. Until tomorrow...

Feeling better

I think it has been a good day. I walked outside around three cul de sacs with my friend Bee, had a nice soup lunch (thanks, Carole), then crashed for a while before loading a quilt on the machine. That's as far as I got before it was too much. Tomorrow, I am going to quilt a couple of rows if all goes well. Standing up isn't too good because it exerts downward pressure on my pelvis, and that is where I am the most sore. This too will pass. Thanks to my sister and to Karen and Sherry for the lovely flowers! And to all of you who have called , emailed or sent cards; Thank you! Quilting friends are the best friends to have, no doubt about it. Oh yes, Kate...I ate my blueberries this morning, Yum! Until tomorrow!

Step on a crack...

Hello blog followers. Last Thursday I had the misfortune of taking an ugly fall and breaking the T-12 vertebrae  and bulging out the L-3,4,and 5 disks. Not a happy camper! I underwent a miraculous surgery called percutaneous kyphoplasty and am able to walk (shuffle) with a lot less pain. However, I am now sore all over and unable to do the simplest things for myself. Bummer. Quilting is on hold until the stiffness and soreness abate enough for me to stand and load a quilt, so there will not be too many lovely photos to see. Dear Hubby has been very helpful with picking up the slack around the house, taking the dogs out and (gasp!) doing the dishes...that sort of thing. I will be leaning on the quilt buddies for the  real work, mostly the cooking. You are a loving bunch, you quilters, and without you I would be in a world of hurt...oh shoot! I am in a world of hurt!! You know what I mean...we take care of each other. I thank you.
Here you see pictures of what I did "Before the Fall". I promise there will be new quilts later.

Weekend winding down

I'm happy to be humming along with the backlog of quilts, and am feeling good about my progress. Three more done and I'm ready for tomorrow's projects. Sometimes I think maybe I should cut back on the customer quilting, but it gives me such a feeling of accomplishment and joy, I know I should keep on quilting. So I will!
I did take Sunday off for my own quilting, and have my latest project well under way. I'll share it when it is farther along. Until then, enjoy the fruits of Saturday's labor!

Tidbits

Well, it was inevitable...Leo has charmed Sewphie and they are now kibbutzing behind the Gammill and sharing stories. He never looks happy, but I can tell he has made a friend for life. Poor guy has been alone since his 'birth' back in the 80's when my sister-in-law made him for us. I'm glad he finally has a companion.

On Friday, after guild, some of us went to Fort Myers for their show. My friend Diane Kline won best of show for her stunning radiating star quilt. It was a bit dark in the venue, but the quilts lit the darkness with their beauty. Here are a couple of my favorites. Now, back to the machine and more quilting for the shows coming up!

Busy week back at the machine

My Gammill was humming this week as I quickly returned to the business of show quilting. I can't show you one of them, but here are two that are going out of town on Saturday. I'll be taking a well deserved break today to go to the Fort Myers show with friends. More to come!

New friend in the studio

My friend in Wisconsin sent me a wonderful surprise today...a quilt buddy! My husband and I laughed out loud when I opened the box and took her out. See what you think. I'm going to call her Aunt Sewphie. (I have introduced her to Uncle Leo, but he doesn't seem interested...) Aunt Sewphie sits on my batting, keeping a watchful eye on things in the studio while she stitches on her quilt top. Thanks, Marcia!

WOO HOO!!! Back in business!

My Gammill man came Saturday and we replaced loads of parts as well as the motherboard on my machine. After some tweaking to make the stitch perfect, I was off and running. What a horrible week! All in the past now, and my finger is back to its normal color with just a line on it where the belt caught it.
I did a couple of test quilts before re-zipping the show quilt I had been working on when the machine quit. The quilting went smoothly and I am so happy, I have to show you a few pictures!
Back to full speed work tomorrow. Yippee!!

The long, long, long day

Oh my goodness!Tim and I now know way more about the guts of my Gammill than we ever cared to. I have had to take off and put on the back parts three times and replace the switches, too. I have cleaned every inch of it and adjusted the belt.Yet it still sounds awful and runs without turning on the switch!! I almost lost a finger when the machine suddenly started at breakneck speed while I was fussing with the belt. (Expletives deleted)I am so tired and frustrated, I told my dealer/mechanic I had to quit for now and start fresh tomorrow. He's trying to avoid a trip from Georgia and I am drowning in technology and mechanics. The motherboard comes tomorrow, and I may not need it in the end. I'm frazzed, but as you can see, Molly is chill as usual. Stay tuned!