Great customer quilt makes for fun work

It's always a good day when I get to work on a beautiful and challenging quilt. This one was made by a friend for her husband, all hand embroidered! Picture type quilts are a challenge, because I have to make sure the quilt doesn't have 'baggy' spots where the pictures are, but not quilt over the picture while securing it down. What you may not realize about the longarm quilter is that we spend a long time staring at the quilt on the frame, waiting for the spark of inspiration to light the quilting fire. Sometimes, this can be a long stare! Fortunately, this quilt had a clear theme and it only took a few minutes to get the mojo going and start quilting. I did all the stitch-in-the-ditch and sashing while contemplating the pictures, so it was an easy transition to them on the second day of quilting. I am pleased with the result.
Today, I'm back at the machine, staring, ditch stitching and waiting for the spark! I do love my job!

The back is a hoot to look at!

Back in the swing of things

Beard is GONE!! I like this smiling face much better.

We have been very busy around here, getting quilts done and out the door. One day blurs into another until a whole week has gone by without a blog entry.
The quilt I was hurrying to finish for a class sample turned out to be quite a bugger to make! I am currently using it in the evening when the air conditioning gets a bit cool on my feet. I even tried to make a small quilt using the same technique, but it was also a challenge. The education committee decided to have me teach a different quilt altogether, so I didn't have to hurry at all. Oh well, I got two quilts out of the exercise!
Here are a few of the pretty quilts that were finished this week.
To all the veterans, thank you. My daughter is an Iraq war vet and I am so grateful to have her home safe and sound. Have a wonderful day with your families and take a day to remember why we can enjoy the freedom to do so in our great nation.

Here's the finished quilt...at the ready for cold feet.

This is the 'simpler' version. 

Isn't this the cutest kid quilt?!

It is called Mom and Me. My customer did a fabulous job!

This is a bed runner. They're all the rage right now.

Close up of the quilting

More detail

Time to prepare for classes!

It's been a great week here and we have gotten loads of work done. I have two classes coming up and have to get my samples ready, so in the odd hours, I have been sewing up a storm. The first class is for beginners in my evening guild, so the quilt is very simple, but pretty. I'm calling it 'One Dozen Donuts'. I am making the second quilt, for a project class at my day guild in July. I have decided to make my sample from my stash of Liberty of London. Today I made the 9 patches, and when I get time, I will finish the blocks and get the setting started. I hope to have it finished by Friday to take to guild. Aren't the fabrics nice!? I hope you like the pictures.

Customer quilt I did earlier this week

Detail

More detail

Another customer quilt finished yesterday

some detail

My Wisconsin quilt, all finished

the pieced back

One Dozen Donuts

48 Liberty 9 patches

the stack ready for the next step

Three quilt finishes!

I did finish the project quilt for the last retreat, a baby quilt for a friend in Wisconsin, as well as the quilt my Mom started in 1944 for my older brother. It is needle turn applique and hand quilted. Then I soaked it to get the yellow-brown age out of it. I can't wait until July to show it to her in person!

The kit baby quilt my Mom started all those years ago.

Baby quilt for a friend

Project quilt for the May retreat, 'Dottie' from Moda Bakeshop

May 2014 retreat in Sebring, Florida was a blast!

We just got home from another fun time in Sebring, and I am already back at work on customer quilts. Our friend, Donna, had a nasty fall and cut her knee quite badly, so I hope everyone will keep her in their thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
We had a fun time sewing, chatting and snacking in the Kenilworth Lodge, and here is the slide show to prove it! Enjoy!

Free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

My sister's quilt, and what's up today

Sometimes, I have the honor of quilting for my sister who lives in Texas. She makes really wonderful, colorful quilts that are fun to look at while I quilt. The added bonus is that they are always square and flat!! If only I were as precise as she is...
I have done a quilt like the peacock one before, so I decided to do this one a little differently. The quilted part is rolled up, but I will post a photo of it when I finish quilting it.
Ta for now!

My sister's king sized Irish chain quilt

Pantograph, Splat

Lovely turquoise backing

Peacock and pinwheel quilt in progress

Un-quilting, re-quilting, and Mr Wazoo's beard

Today will be a rip-it day. I finished the interior portion of a customer quilt and began feathering the border, but the thread choice was really wrong and looked bad, in my opinion. Now, I will be taking out a feather that covers half the top border. Rats! I figure it's better than giving the customer a quilt with a glaring error on it. Should take a few hours, but with some lively bluegrass and folk music playing, it shouldn't be too painful. I will take a picture of it and another after I fix the problem. For now, I will be in 'un-quilting' mode.
Stay tuned!

Oh rats... I don't like this at all.

The design and thread  just aren't nice. So I took it all out.

Here is the quilt all done

This looks waaaay better! Brown thread and a swirly feather border treatment.

One month beard on Mr Wazoo. Looking good!

Back to work!

With the repairs done and a sample quilt done without a problem, I am back to work. The sample was from my unfinished stash of tops I've finished at various retreats. Some blue binding on and it is almost done! Miss Marple and I will pass the time while I sew down the binding.
I have loaded a king size customer custom quilt, so it will be a couple of days before I'm finished with it. She has a diagram of how she wants it done, so I will be charting new territory; lots of straight lines. Oh well, get out the rulers and quilt!
Later gators!

quilting sample piece all finished

Pantograph is called Quirky

A bit of the back. Nice even stitches. Yippee!!

Hooray for Mr Wazoo!!

Well, he got the quilt done for me, but my machine has been quiet today. I sewed a quilt top for Love Quilts at my evening guild, made the back and binding, and then hung it up with the other 30 or so quilt tops waiting to be quilted. At least the retreat sample is almost done. I'll get the binding sewn down tonight after I do a customer binding. Deadliest Catch starts tonight, and then a Miss Marple on Netflix and I should be finished!
Time to make supper. The man needs some pampering after his last couple of days.

Retreat sample all quilted, with it's binding on

Pantograph, Splat!

Soft plaid backing. See the cool striped binding?

Leftover bits made it to the back, too.

The binding will be totally cool after I sew it down. The entire quilt is from my stash.