Another finish! Annika's quilt.

This is Annika's quilt. My new Great Niece born in January. Its 45" square with 6" mosaic blocks.
Here is some of the stitching. I used very lite colored thread so it does not show real well.

And here are some more.

Another one down and dozens to go <VBG>. My goal is to make quilts for many family members. It may take me 20+ years but its an expression of love that I can give. Several are in the planning stage. I have had 2 finishes the year! If I can continue at one a month that will make a very productive year.

Back to sewing!

February and new beginnings

Well there has been 2 new beginnings! Actually one was on January 22 when my new great niece was born. Annika Brooklyn! Here is the top of the quilt I am making her.

I used a Mosaic pattern and designed the quilt in EQ. I think it turned out great! Now to Longarm it and send it off.

Now to the next new beginning................I am working again! I did not get called back to my old job, its just not happening, I got a whole new career. I am now a United States Postal Worker. I am what they call a PSE, Postal Support Employee. Its a new category they are transitioning in. I will not be a carrier, I will work the counter with some facility mail sorting. In fact I am working in 3 different offices as they need me. Its so nice to be needed <G>.

It hard work, I am on my feet nearly the whole day which is something my poor feet are not agreeing with. But I am enjoying working with the customers. Some weeks I am full time and some are part time so my sewing will be sporadic. But at least now I can afford my hobby again! LOL.

As soon as Annika's quilt is done I can concentrate on Antique star again. I have half of the 6 pt stars done and the rest are half done. So nearly 2 more finishes for the year.

later!

First post of the New Year

In this new year I have decided it's time to get things done. I have been out of work for over 6 months and accomplished very little. Well I did set up an entire new studio with my longarm but did I use it? No. At Christmas I got motivated to make a few presents.

This quilt was made for my sons girlfriend Sara. The center of each logcabin is a picture I printed out of album art from her favorite bands.

I made 5 sets of Bedding for my Grandaughter Kate for her American Girl dolls. Each set, in a different color, had a quilt-mattress and cover-pillow and cover, square, heart and bolster pillow. Enought to make any little girl happy!

Now that I have started it's time to continue. I have entered into a Challenge with a group of friends. We listed all our UFO's and projects into a database.

I have had one finish so far this year. This UFO was started about 10 years ago for my eldest daughter. She had a fuzzy blue blanket with lambs all over it. It was used and washed until it literally fell apart. I promised her a replacement. I started it, completed most of the blocks and put it away. 2 weeks ago I dug it out, made a few more blocks, did all the applique and finally put it together. I pulled it off my longarm a few days ago and put the last stitch in the binding last night. Its 102" square.

It's all flannel on the front and a cotton backing and batt. I outlined the appliqued lambs and machined curly lambs in the blank blocks.

 Here is some of stitching. I am pleased with how it turned out. I can't wait till I give it to her, she is going to be surprised.

And here is the current working on project. My antique star. I saw the antique quilt in a magazine and fell in love it, so this is my version drawn up in EQ7. The center is 48" square, whole quilt will finish out about 82"x82".

Well thats a start to this year. Another goal is to keep posting on my blog. New updates as my challenges continue!

Till next time............

Winter is here!

Its been ages since I posted. Life just gets so busy some times. My dear hubby decided to live a life long dream of owning and running a Firearms business. I know alot of people do not believe in guns but we live in an area where hunting is prolific. When my children were young I did  not want them in the house but as they grew they all took gun and hunting safety courses. Now that we are all adults in my home we have become dealers! It has taken since June to get operating and I am still building a website for the business but we are in business. D&D Firearms has been born. Its his business but I do all the work <G>. Sound familiar anyone?

Now to MY business. It has taken the back burner but as you can see my studio is shaping up. My LA is 12' long and unfortunately my rooms are only 12' long. That leaves me moving the machine out a few feet everytime I need to get at the backside. Hubby wanted to open up the wall between the two rooms but I am not in a contruction frame of mind. Its been 2 years and my downstairs bath is still not finished!

I have a nice large ironing board, full of stuff, along the wall by the door. Love it!

 I love this cabinet, found it at an auction for 19.00! An old crate modified to hold old tin bread pans that slide out like drawers.

I love this window, gets great sun. My plants love it even in winter. I am using the top shelf to showcase my collection of antique toy sewing machines. Once day I'll get a better picture of them. I have about 10 of them and am always looking for more.

I have decided to do this more often, hopefully. Next time I want to have sewing pictures! Have a great day!

Well summer is full blown in and HOT. 4 weeks ago I was layed off from my 11 year job of making mascot costumes that traveled the world. As most people who are layed off from long time jobs I was madder then a wet hen, I had senority in the job, but that senority is part of what hurt me. Being the highest paid member of the floor team made me a prime candidate to save money, or so they say. There are always under lining reasons.................Needless to say after the mad calmed down I was more lost then anything. Now what? I work with my hands and there are just no jobs out there that provide that. I am finding my way slowely along and rebuilding myself in a way. I'm 50 and not able to do what those young ones do anymore and working factories and fast food joints are just not in this body's future LOL.

So back to the Quilt studio. What was going to be a fun hobby will now, hopefully, become a business. The first 2 rooms are done, I am now bringing in my supplies and hanging the first of my quilts on the walls. I need curtains but have blinds up. The other rooms will go more slowely because now I need to sew!

Hubby and I are back to auctioning. We've been attending at least 1 weekly sometimes 2. While the vintage and antique market is kinda busted right now the machinery market is strong and thats hubbys field, and I am learning real fast. I still buy my antiques, cannot pass up certain things, but those items will be mostley kept or sold in my tiny store front along with vintage sewing supplies and hand made items. I love greenware, fireking and depression glass.

And check out the super iron bed I found for a whole 25.00! Its complete too, all I need are full mattresses. Do I leave it chipped and seal it? Or strip and repaint? I am leaning towards sealing it as is.

My greenhouse has become too hot for most of my plants, temps are usually in the 100's inside so only some of my carnivours remain inside.

We have since added a planting section around three sides of the greenhouse and a shade inside since I took these pics. I'm having alot of fun playing with my plants this year. My carnivours have doubled over last year and I have added a few new varieties to my collection.

Well enough for now. My studio is calling!

Spring and New Beginnings

Check my new quilt studio! We bought this house 18 months ago and moved my son and DIL into it but that did not work out. Son now lives else where with his perfect girlfriend (yes former DIL was a mess) and I have an empty house!

Hubby decided rather then renting, I have it for 3 years to make a go of my Long arm and quilting business. A dream come true! I have a living room, dining room, kitchen and small room with french doors off the living room downstairs. Plus a fully enclosed front and back porch. Upstairs are 2 bedrooms and a small full bath, charming with with a claw foot tub. The basement is full size with 2 storage rooms and can be easily finished. The thought is maybe in the future to do quilt retreats. This house sits behind my main residence so is next door and we have alot of empty land in between.

Here's the front. We need to replace the one banister, we have it it just needs to be put back. can you see nice flower boxes on the front? I love plants and its the perfect time of year for planting!

This the view of the dining room from the living room. There are several nice big blank walls, can't you just see a quilt hanging there? This is the room where my Long arm will go, there is a nice big sunny picture in there. You can just barely see it to the right.

This is the living room and will be my main sewing room. I just love the hardwood floors. These rooms are both about 14x14. I will have so much fun looking for furniture for them.

Garage sales today netted a small desk, book case and TV stand. Acquired a new antique quilt as well <G>.  Oh and a patio table and chair set for the deck. Above picture is of the french door room. I plan on making this a sitting room with a few nice chairs and TV plus shelves for storage. It has a nice wide closet that will work nice with added shelves too.

I am sooo excited and just had to share. Its been ages since I blogged. Hopefully in the next month I will have the after pictures with rooms full. The house already has phone and will have satellite installed next week. Internet we are still working on but within the next few weeks.

Isn't his a great quilt? My next reproduction project I think. The fabrics say late 1800's and I just love it. the picture is from Rebecca's Haarer's Antique shop in Shipshewana Indiana. If you are ever in the area you really need to see her shop.

Fall is here!

I promised pictures of my studio. This is the back north west corner. Still a little cramped as I am finding a place for things but much more organized! See my new ironing board? Its 18" wide by 5 1/2' long and has folding legs so will fold up to the shelves in front of it and latch to them so I can use the floor space underneath.

This is the same west wall but the south corner. There is a window behind that TV <G>. And next to all that thread hanging there are two windows in the north wall so I get alot of light. I do manage to cram alot in my 12x14' studio. This picture shows my Embroidery machine and serger. I have a quilting/sewing machine on the other side of the table.

This is the north east corner behind my quilting/sewing machine where I sit most of time. Its the messiest! My scrap basket, stereo, laptop, printer ect is all there. fabric shelves and rolled up design wall. I actually have a double design wall in front of my shelves. I work on several projects at a time so just flip back and forth by rolling up the front wall. I even bought another two for the hallway outside my studio door to do the same thing. I use 72" felt for my design walls.

Have you collected those freebie patterns from the Internet? Those year long BOMs? Patterns you want to make 'someday'. These are my 'someday's! Well not all of them........each binder is labeled for something. Applique, paper piecing, antique patterns, BOMs, Templates and so on. I am a bit anal about organizing. And I figure when my time comes and my daughter has to get rid of it all at least it will be labeled! haha

Oh and my alcove. Additional storage for overflow. Actually it holds 2 shelf units that hold my quilt magazines and books. A dresser that holds my feedsack collection, several bins of feedsack that sit on top of the dresser and a closet that is also full. You can usually see the floor just fine since I keep this area neat and orderly  but my daughter just cleaned her room and tends to put her garbage at the top of the stairway which is right at the doorway of my studio and alcove.

My home was built in 1888, has 4 bedrooms, a bath and said alcove upstairs. We are in a constant state of repair. While my studio looks nice right now honestly those shelves are full for a reason...............they are holding up the ceiling! At least that's what my husband claims. I have the only room where the ceiling is cracking, just my luck. So next year I will unpile it yet again so we can do a ceiling. Yuck.

As for sewing, here are some of my BB civil war blocks. 1-4. Now for 5-39.........And here's another treat for you, a garage sale find.

Its a gorgeous double pink for a whole 10.00. Some people just don't know what they have or just don't care. That's OK, I'll take them home and love them.

Well, enough for one night. Thanks for visiting!