Blank Wall

Right now there is nothing on my design wall.  To see what I had there until Friday check out my last post here.

I have, however been busy. 

I belong to a Yahoo list, Homequiltingsystems, and their Frame Friday encourages me to keep something on my HQ.  So on Friday I put this QAL from two years ago on so I can get it ready to give as a comfort quilt. 




I got everything loaded and set up and began quilting.

Then, suddenly, everything came to a stop and I couldn't move the machine forward.  I checked the wheels, if there was something on the track, if I had left something on the panto table, if a cord was caught up on something, and anything else I could think of. 




And here is what I finally found.  The track on the carriage had moved.  Can you see how far off of the carriage it has gotten.  Only the back part of the track is off so the first part was still in place.  And, I couldn’t pick up the machine and move the tracks.  Besides, I would also need to figure out what to use to more permanently stick the track down before I put everything back.  So I packed it in for the night.












Saturday DH and I spent spending money at Lowes: pool supplies, plant supplies, weed eradicator supplies, and metal to metal glue.  Then we went home and glued.  The directions said to wait 24 hours before using so I spent some time stitching applique teapots.





Sunday afternoon found me back to quilting.  Yea!













I am really happy with how this is looking.














This is the panto I am using. I like how it is showing up in the large white spaces and then seems to disappear when it comes to the blocks.  I am using a very soft pink.











Here is the name: it comes from Urbanelemtz. 












This is my Walmart gardenia bush.  I am so happy with it as it almost died the first winter and now look at all those blooms.

















Beauty and scent, what a wonderful combination that is greeting me every morning. 










And, of course, this is just above that beautiful bush.  Life is good.

Have a great week.

Blank Design Wall

So today I am sharing three things: my newest creation using the My Memories software (giveaway coming next  week), the above completed quilt top, and further down the quilting I am currently doing on my batik Underground Railroad quilt.

First, I really am enjoying the above software.  I am beginning to be more creative in how I document the process of making my quilt tops as well as the backing and quilting ideas.  For each project one creates an album in the software so it is set up to be able to have several pages with both pictures and “journaling” which I call words.  I have several earlier pictures of this top in process so will add those to the “album” and hopefully will have a finished product by the time this quilt is quilted.  Then, as I have just begun working on some Christmas gift ideas, I also plan to start albums for them which I can’t show you since occasionally family members read this blog.    I will, sometime this week, begin working on a label for this quilt and we will see if the software will allow us to be more creative in this area also.

 

Quilting on the Underground Railroad is coming along nicely.  As of last evening I have completed a little over half of the quilt.  I am quilting it lengthwise, 107”, so it takes me quite a while to do one pass. 

 

This is the pantograph I am using.  It is somewhat complicated as there are several switchbacks.  Just about the time you think you are moving along toward the end, the thing takes you back in the direction you came from. 

 

I really like how the teal thread looks on the different fabrics.  I use a poly thread so it shines on the darker fabrics and blends or shows off on the lighter fabrics.

 

This is the panto I am using.  I found it at a guild sale table at a quilt show ($1) and I really like how it looks on my quilt.

 

 

And what is this, you might ask.  Well, this is the stage set for Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain.  We went to see him Saturday night.  We were not allowed to take pictures during the performance so I shot this before he came out.  I have to say that I have always enjoyed Mr. Holbrook’s performances but this was wonderful and I now have a new appreciation for Mark Twain.  If you have a chance to see this performance, run, don’t walk, to get your ticket.

I hope to work on my Christmas gifts, finish quilting URR, make a backing for the above quilt, plan a setting for another set of swap blocks, and get caught up on my BOMs.  Opps, I think I am setting myself up for failure.  But if I can get a little done on most of them, I will really be happy.

And another thing that makes me happy is visiting Judy’s blog at Patchwork Times and seeing what other quilters are making.

Little News and Bigger News

This has been a week of working and a weekend of accomplishments. I embroidered, pieced, pressed, cleaned, washed, read, played, and rested Wednesday and Thursday. And, I did get the Eleanor Burns BOM block done.













Then Friday I was off to NWFL to visit with friends. My friend, Nita O’Keefe, was in Ft. Walton Beach, at the LQS doing a trunk show of her embroidery designs.

See that table? That was 1/3 of the samples she had to show. She and Holley Pike have formed a union with Becky McNeal, Gal Pals, to sell their designs. For the last two years their designs, along with thread, have been part of a subscription so I already have most of them but it was great to see them stitched out. And did I get pictures? No, I forgot to lift my camera I was so entranced with what she had to show.

Also while there I got the swap blocks I completed in March. It seems that some people signed up for the swap but didn’t do their blocks so others had to be recruited in order to complete the swap.


These are the blocks that I now have to work with. They range in size from 11 ¾” to 12 ¾” I see this as a challenge but as of right now I have no idea what I will do with them. As you probably have seen, I really like bright fabrics but I also like a challenge so we will have to see what my fertile imagination will come up with: a UFO all ready for next year.

After the show I was able to go out to lunch with another friend, Jeannie no blog (a wonderful seamstress), and then spend a little time, and money, at Joann’s and one of my favorite quilt shops, Margie’s.

The big news:


South Seas is quilted. The panto came in on Thursday but, except for setting it out on the frame, there was no time to quilt. However, this morning I was in the studio, ready to quilt. This is the panto, a 9” swirl.

I guess I have been spoiled by the pantos I have been getting from Urbanelementz. They come with 2-4 rows printed and nesting designs. As you can see, this is only one row and I would have to move the panto for every row to make it “nest” with itself. So, I quilted the rows as you see them and then was left with large blank spaces. So this is how I decided to cure what I saw as a problem: click to enlarge.



I quilted a water-like meanter between the swirls and I really like the effect.

So my husband said “I am doing a paid project and I thought I would share with you so you can have some money to buy that quilt table you keep talking about.” After asking the polite questions about his project I asked how much money I could expect. I unfortunately “snorted” when he said “$100 – 200.” “So how much is the table,” he asked. “$2500,” I said. “Oh, I thought it would be around $500 – 700.” I guess he just had not been listening.




On the good front: Saturday I completed the strips for my March calendar challenge, including the potential appliqué for it. I wanted to get it done so I didn't have to do it in April. LOL


I had gotten up early so I got these done, just prior to DH’s decision that we should drive to Pensacola (100 miles) to get bird seed and dog toys (and of course eat out). So off in the rain we went and had a good time.


This morning I spent some time working on a guild challenge idea. We have two “ugly” fabrics that must be used and can add 4 more. It is not due until September but an idea came to me in the middle of the night so I started drawing. I will share pictures of the fabrics next time (forgot to take pictures)


This afternoon I practiced on my first
pantograph.

I did pretty well on the first pass.

And the second pass was part of the first pass, so no problems there.

But when I had to advance I didn’t do so well: missed it by about 2 ½ inches.

I was able to adjust and the last 2/3rds was ok.

I also noticed that I got more comfortable with it and was not as tense toward the end. I think I will use the good part of this to make a notebook cover to go with my datebook.