Busy week

I spent the day yesterday at the quilt shop learning to use my new Scan and Cut machine.The first class had me doubting I could ever get the computer part and actually use the machine, but the class yesterday was much better. It was a light bulb moment, and I finally got it and cut loads of tiny pieces for the snowman wall hanging we are making. I'm anxious to get this project done so I can move on to one of my own quilt patterns. Stay tuned for that!
Today, I am off to my charity sewing group for some quilt top construction with friends. I'll be at the quilt shop again, and will get the backing for a couple of antique quilts I need to finish for a customer. Nothing exciting, she wants muslin.
Tomorrow, we are off to Cumming for the Q&A meeting at the Subaru dealer. If we attend, we get a $50 gas card! Mr Wazoo is stoked to go, so we're off. I'm hoping for a quick stop st Hobby Lobby to look for the blue dot fabric I am searching for to finish another customer quilt.
Thursday, I am going to Dahlonega with a friend who doesn't like to go over the mountain alone. She has an appointment there, and then there will be some quilt shop therapy before coming home.
Friday, the retreat committee meets. Otherwise, I will be in the studio getting my homework for the Scan and Cut class done.
It seems like time flies by at a jet-propelled pace these days. It's already July and Summer is half over! Mr W's 'veggie garden' is growing, but the deer, raccoons and bears seem to be keeping pace with the ripening of the crops. One tomato, two cucumbers and five beans have come in so far. I don't think we'll need any help picking or eating the food! ha ha. It keeps him busy and happy, so it is a worthwhile venture.
The only quilt to show you is this little one Mr W did yesterday.

This customer is always busy with kid quilts...her daughter has seven kids and one on the way! Yikes!! The new baby is a boy, so she made this cute whale quilt. Panto: Ebb and Flow

The fishy backing is a perfect choice for the quilt.

Time to get my sewing stuff together and get going. See you on the flip side!

A Perfect Weekend!

We were pleased as punch to have our daughter come for the weekend to visit. Fortunately, I was well along on the two big quilts on the frames, so I could take some time to enjoy her company. We binge watched a series on Amazon, had a nice cook-out (thank you, Mr Wazoo!), and spent some time rocking on the porch and chatting about life. I wish all my kids lived closer, but I am happy to see them when I can.
Meanwhile, in the work-a-day world, I finished the pillowcase quilt and it went home this afternoon. Turns out, I got the story a bit mixed up. The quilt is for the quilter's sister in law and her husband for their 50th wedding anniversary. The sister in law's Aunt made the pillowcases. It will be a lovely gift to remember her by.

There were 27 embroidered blocks

I used several different fill patterns in the blocks.

Border quilting

The back was pieced with the fabrics from the block frames.

While I custom quilted the pillowcase project, my Millie quilted the other quilt for an art quilter friend. I think she designed the blocks and their unorthodox placement and colors. I had a dickens of a time coming up with a pantograph that looked good on the design. The one I settled on is called Radio Waves. I was trying to mimic the zig-zag kind of pattern in the blocks. The customer didn't want the quilting to be too tight, so I think this will satisfy her. I hope so. This is one of the oddest projects I have worked on.

I think the blocks kind of look like sailboats.

Just one block has a blue 'sail'.

The Radio Wave panto shows well on the back, white Grunge fabric.

The weekend is over and I have my stuff ready for my second Scan and Cut machine class tomorrow. I haven't had a moment to practice or study the booklet since the last class, so I hope I don't look like a dope in class! 

Mr Wazoo had the weekend off and worked in the yard as well as washing his truck. My daughter commented on how tan he is and how my side of the family is on the opposite end of the tanning spectrum. We are really fair, and burn rather than tan. She put her arm next to his and we all had a good laugh. Ah...family.

Finish, finish, finish, and not finished

Ooh la la! What a couple of days. This evening I am tired but content knowing the African quilt is finished. I quilted all the colored bits and the border, then it was quite done. I am pleased with the result.

Big and beautiful

Some of the African symbols and the other quilting

more symbols...

There are 196 squares, so the symbols are used several times each.

Border quilting

The back is an Indian spread with borders sewn to it.

Here's the border quilting from the back.

I had a second quilt from the same customer, so I decided to get that one done and send them both home tomorrow. This is the second quilt.

Wowsers! I really like this quilt!

The quilt maker carefully placed the colored squares as well as fussy cutting the cornerstones so they have words and little pictures in them.

Panto: Yodel

White on white backing.

As soon as I began quilting the black and white quilt, the phone rang and a customer wanted to know if her quilt was done. She brought it before I went to Wisconsin, and I didn't know she wanted it ASAP. I informed her that I had a very large quilt on the frame and wouldn't be able to get to hers until it was finished. I promised to get hers done by tomorrow afternoon. With my nose to the grindstone, I soldiered on and finished quilt number one and loaded the anxious lady's project. Three and a half hours later, it was also finished. Whew!

The simple pattern really shows off the beautiful fabrics.

Panto: Frolic

A surprise of green on the back

While the APQS rattled along on the two pantograph quilts, I worked steadily on a customer quilt for another quilter on a timeline. The quilt is lovely! All the blocks feature expertly hand embroidered pillow cases made by a relative of the maker. I gather the woman is having her 50th wedding anniversary and the quilt will be a gift for her and her husband. Wonderful! I'm enjoying doing the quilting, and hope to finish the background fill and outer border tomorrow.

After the stitch in the ditch, I quilted the block borders and the yellow striped sashings. The rest of the quilting will occupy the day tomorrow. 

I didn't post yesterday, so I need to take the opportunity to remember our country's day of declaration of independence. We flew our flag and had the all American cook out. There is no other country like ours, and we will all weather the ups and downs of the various administrations and still be proud Americans. I watched fireworks on PBS as well as the New York ones. When you sit in a dark room and watch, its almost like being there...except there are no mosquitoes and crowds of people to fight your way home with when the festivities are over. Grandma fireworks!

See you tomorrow!

Long may it wave!

Routine work and a bit of hand sewing

 I worked on the African quilt most of the day yesterday, and will be working on it again today. I really want to get it finished and out the door due to pending custom work that needs to be done by the 15th. I'm not a fan of pressure, but it does keep me plowing ahead and focused.
After the workday ended, I did get the binding for the Wisconsin quilt made and attached. Last night, and a bit this morning, I did the hand sewing and finished it. Mr Wazoo will get it mailed straight away.

Binding on!

Binding finished and label secured!

The sun finally came out and I'm sure the yard man will be outside doing some power washing on the decks. His work load is under control, so he deserves some outdoor time. I'll have the tunes cranked, and be in the studio quilting like mad!

Grandma's day off

After a week away from the studio, and bringing home all those shop hop goodies, I needed a Grandma day. One just for me, doing whatever I wanted to do. So, I did my favorite thing...I made some quilts.
The first thing on the list was the Antique block quilt. I made and applied the binding, as well as labeling it with the story of it's metamorphosis from unrelated blocks made in two different centuries, to a finished quilt. I like it, even with the cut off points and funky 1960s backing.

All done! 

I'm liking the turkey red binding.

I quilted the kid's quilt, too, and made the binding. It turned out so cute! I'm sure some youngster will love it.

Ready to make someone happy.

Quilted with a loose stipple

The bright, cheerful backing and striped binding.

Mr Wazoo spent a couple of hours in the Man Cave today, quilting and muttering until he finally gave up and went out to play. He finished these two small quilts. There is hope for an employee of the month in July. He's already snagged one for June after all the work he did while I was away.

I'm a fan of bow tie quilts, and this cutie makes me smile.

Panto: Check and Chase

Perfect backing, too.

This one is sizzling with hot colors.

Because of the modern vibe, he used the panto Retro leaves.

And a fiery red backing to top it off.

I finished piecing and quilting the Wisconsin quilt kit from Loose Threads in Milton, Wisconsin. It was the last one quilted today! I hope to get the binding on tomorrow. I know exactly where it's going. To our good friends in Door County Wisconsin. It will make a nice couch quilt for the cool Autumn and Winter nights.

This was a fun quilt to make, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
Oops! I see a photobomber...

All the picture blocks have something to do with Wisconsin.
Panto: Greenery

The backing has Wisconsin things on it, too.

After a perfect day of relaxing quilting, nothing is better than a cuppa and a movie on TV. My traveling buddy from last week sent me a surprise gift of a magnet for the fridge (I collect them) and a Packer sticker for my car. She also recommended tonight's movie, A Walk in the Woods, which had Mr W and I laughing and enjoying the story.  I bought a Wisconsin mug at Starbucks, and enjoyed my first cup of tea from it. I may live in Georgia, but my heart will always be in my home state...Wisconsin!

The magnet with the 100 on it is new. It is the 100th season for the Packers.
Thanks, Georgia!

This is the back of my new cup.

This is my favorite side!!