Me projects

I have a couple of finished quilts today. This one..... it's not really a Christmas rush quilt but I finished it anyway. This is the left side.


This is the right side. This is the first customer quilt that actually left off the embellishments until after its quilted. I try to get people to understand the doodads cause quilting problems when rolling the quilt up... or... when trying to quilt around them.


I know you probably can't see it but I did mittens in the border....


So here is what they looked like when auditioning the design.


I also finished this me quilt. Left side...


Right side.....


I was just playing around with color threads and different designs.


This is the back so you can get a better look at the thread color changes.


And another view of the back..... gee, look at all the tension issues in there... ok, it's a me quilt.... tension is not an issue to be picked out on this one.

Back at work

Blogger wouldn't act right this morning so I'm here in the evening.

The next to last Christmas quilt! I thought I only had this one but forgot about another one. It's on the machine ready to work on tomorrow.....maybe.



I've been working on this one. I thought I was only going to work on it for a few minutes this morning but really got into it and couldn't stop. I finished the lady and almost finished the man. I couldn't wait to start auditioning backgrounds. I kind of like this one.



The background fabric was a couple of remnant scraps I picked up a few weeks ago at the LQS. The top edge had the edge cut out like you see it. Hmmm....works anyway. The sky is a left over scrap from another art quilt I've been working on for the guild challenge. Can't show a picture of it until April. It's against the rules of the guild.

What do you think? Does the background overpower the lady? It won't be so 'busy' when I get the man in there too. Is it too dark for a background?

I've been looking for a pebbles fabric to use for the path the people are walking on. Which is the very reason I hate being disorganized. The quilt gremlins play havoc with my fabrics when its not all contained in an orderly manner.

I may come across something different for a background (as I sort fabrics) but I really think this will be the one I choose. I'll live with it a couple of days to think about it.

I was asked what different types quilts I make. Actually, I can't decide which type quilt I like best so I make them all. I make clothing memory quilts for the family of someone who passed away. I make traditional quilts. I make t-shirt quilts. And I make art quilts like the one above.

This is a quilt that started out as just an experiment and ended up being the reason I started doing art quilts. It's my very first art quilt. I plan to make another one for my granddaughter. This one is never leaving me. It's my good luck charm. My daughter will inherit it.



Another view.

So while you enjoy the eye candy, I'm going to make a few phone calls before bed.

Started another blog

Here is today's finished quilt. I used the circle lord swirls template.


A close up of the quilting.


I spent a great deal of time on my computer yesterday. It had been running extremely slow. I found out my recycle bin was very, very full. I clicked on empty recycle bin and it took a little over an hour for everything to automatically delete out. That's a lot of trash!

I did create a second blog yesterday. I hope to eventually make it more click able and user friendly. How is it different than this blog? Well this one is about my daily activities. I try to keep it short and interesting for visitors.

The other blog is for really long posts full of pictures and many details about how I do things. Yup, I couldn't wait until my traditional January 1 date for starting to reorganize. The urge to start making changes around here was just too strong. So if you get a chance, go to my sidebar and click on the organizing 2008 link to check it out.

Waiting list late arrivals.

Today's finished quilt. This lady has improved so much since her first quilt a couple of years ago. What's even more remarkable is that she has Parkinson's. It's difficult enough to get matching corners but to get them while the hands and body are shaking is outstanding.


As a special little something for her on this one; I did a rose in each corner with color threads. I don't usually change thread colors unless requested to do so. Now I can hardly wait to finish her other two so I can hear her say....Oh....my.....gosh! Same thing she says every time but this time will be special.


I did a feather in the border, curlies in the pieced border, le lace in the inside border, and crosshatching in the center pieced area.


I'm having a problem that must be handled this week if I'm going to manage getting my vacation early next month. I have 5 tops here to finish before Christmas. BUT.....I also have 12 (maybe 15) still on the waiting list for this month. I've called to ask that the tops be brought right away. In fact I called all of them November 1st. The customers aren't bringing the tops.

One person was supposed to be here after work last night. I waited and waited (way past my quitting time) but she never showed. Second time she has done this. What I'm afraid will happen is that all of the tops will arrive the last week of this month. This won't allow me enough time to finish them all before my scheduled time off for organizing and visiting my kids. I will either have to disappoint the customers or disappoint myself.

I'll make a last phone call to everyone today explaining that I need them here or they won't get done. It's not good for business for me to say it that way; but, the customers have to understand.....if it were a grocery store the manager is not going to hold off on closing just to accommodate a customer. Just because I live where I work doesn't mean I have to be open 24/7 and never a day off.

Yeah, right. I say that now. If the excuse is good enough, I'll give in. Why? I'm a softy. And because I need the money to pay the bills.

What I keep thinking of are those I had to tell I couldn't quilt their tops until January because my waiting list was already full. It's really unfair for someone to put their name on my list if they know that they won't bring the top to me in time. I could use that spot for someone else who would love to have their tops done before Christmas. I can't even call the January people because just as soon as I do....the December people will show up too.

Ok, I'm rambling.....time to go to work.

Flower power quiltng

This is today's finished quilt. I can't seem to avoid the darkness in the photos. I've tried adjusting the camera but I still get dark areas.


I adapted a flower power design from Diana Phillips' new book. I put a large center flower into the center of the flower power flower. Oh my, that's a lot of the word flower in one sentence.


And...a smaller flower power design in the center of the appliqué piecing.


I didn't get to do much quilting or playing on the internet over the weekend. I had other things that required my attention. Like paying bills and making out a grocery list for next weekend and going to the hardware store. Yuck! I know, I know, boring stuff but oh so necessary.

Actually; going to the hardware is a pleasant task. It's one of my favorite places to shop. I like new things for my house but I also get new ideas to use in my quilting. I went to get a sheet of insulation board to create another design wall. For now the board is just sitting. I went while I had a ride with someone who could fit the board in their car. I'll get back to creating the wall later. Before I get back to making the design wall I need to take a trip to the fabric store. I'll need some white flannel. That will have to wait too.

Christmas rush busy

This is today's finished quilt. It has designs in the solid blocks that are Diana Phillips' new book Flower Power. I've been one of several people testing the designs and the book for her. The book creates new possibilities in custom quilting designs. The flowers are easily combined with line dancing and with other types of quilting designs. I love all her books!


This is a view of the back of the quilt. It shows up better for viewing the designs. It is the yellow thread flower in the center. I combined it with a feather design for a quick custom quilting job.


At the end of the day I decided to start on a rug to test out my new rug frame. Hopefully this will get finished and become a gift for my SIL for Christmas. She already has enough quilts.


Now that the Christmas rush has me staying at the machine overtime I will be spending less time on me projects for a while.

Searching for fabrics

The fabrics I'm searching for is below. If anyone can help it will be appreciated.

These are the finished quilts from the other day when I didn't have the pictures. I used the circle lord clamshell on this one.

Used the circle lord square dance template on this one.


Ok, I could really use some help if anyone happens to read my blog and knows more about internet fabric searches than me. I must be looking in all the wrong places and I'm getting frustrated. I've had people searching through all the fabric stores in Kentucky while going on the shop hop this past week. There is one person checking the fabric stores along her way to Florida. No luck so far.

If anyone happens to see this anywhere, on any site, please send me the link so I can order it. It is "Naturescapes woodgrains by Deborah Corsini for P & B Textiles" I'm extremely doubtful either one can be found. I checked the P& B Textile site. I couldn't find it there either.


I also need a link for a red brick fabric to recreate this into the background behind my Victorian man and woman. If need be; I could over dye some fabric, if it represents the scale of the brick. The brick would be a very tiny scale.


Hmm....maybe this art quilt stuff is not going to be as easy as I thought. Finding the right fabrics is the hardest part of being creative. I could draw and paint the house but that's not the type of art I want to do. If I did that I could just use a canvas to paint on. I want to use existing fabrics in my art.

Ok, I'm going to stop blogging and start more searching.

Feeling guilty!

This is today's finished quilt. I'll only show one half as both sides are alike. It's very large.

It has a pieced back too.

I did a feather in the outside border, le lace inside border, flowers in the squares, and leaves in the alternate blocks.


I tried getting close ups of the stitching but the light in the studio isn't the best for pictures early in the morning before daylight.


The last minute calls for doing Christmas quilts has begun. For many years; I've felt guilty all during the Christmas season. I'm only one person and can only work 16 hours per day before exhaustion takes over. Yes, I really do work 16 hour days, 6 days a week during the Christmas rush. Starting late August I switch to the longer hours and work like that until two weeks before Christmas. I don't have family obligations like others do.

I really hate saying no but my rush schedule has been booked for weeks already. If a really good customer calls for a last minute quilt it makes me feel just awful to say no. What else can I do but be honest and tell them I can't possibly squeeze another one into the schedule? Even when they say it's just a tiny one. What the person doesn't realize is I have several 'try to work in' quilts already along with a full waiting list.

I try to explain this to the people calling at the last minute. Yet; they have a way of making me feel like I'm betraying a friend. I hear things like;

*Awww... I can't go to another quilter; I don't want anyone to quilt it but you because I just love your work. (haven't heard from this person since last Christmas, not even to just say hello)

*its for a cancer patient (a former customer) who is not doing very well; can you do it right away (will my stress help them feel better; if it will, yes I will do it)

*Remember on the trip to Paducah you said I could use your machine to quilt one of my own for myself; this one is too big to quilt on my domestic machine; can I come next week. (the trip was in early April and she has never been a customer)

*its only 36 X 36 and wouldn't take you long to do because you are so fast (haven't heard from this person since ?) (even small quilts take time to attach to the machine and think of a design)

*my publisher has a deadline; only you have the ability to help me finish in time; you will be given recognition in the book. (many books may give the name of the quilter but they do not give contact information) (she has been doing this book for months already, why hasn't she called to schedule the quilt)

*our charity has chosen you to be the featured artist to do a quilt for us to auction in January, there will be lots of publicity for you (charities don't understand art quilts can't be done in 24 hours or during a Christmas rush)

*if you do this 'one' for me I will be sure to pass out your business cards at the guild meeting; you should get lots of customers from that (so why haven't my cards been passed out already)

Yes, yes, I know, I sound like I'm whining. I am. It's the stress of long hours trying to stay ahead of the waiting list during the long Christmas rush. Now that I've got this off my chest, I'll go get started on today's quilting.

Short post today

There were two quilts that left here without getting their picture taken but these are the other finished quilts from this week.










I had hoped a couple of days ago to post about how I schedule and make custom made quilts. I had to choose between computer time and finishing those quilts for my customers. Needless to say, I choose to work on the quilts instead of sitting in front of a computer screen.

Speaking of computer time, it really can eat away at the hours! I tell myself I will just get on for a quick look at email or to look at blogs and before I know it half a day has gone past. Then I am mentally kicking myself for spending so much time at the computer because I realize that a deadline is half a day closer without me ever accomplishing a thing. Shame, shame, Anita! I could have done a whole lot in the time I sat in front of the computer screen!

With that said, instead of writing a long post today I’m going back into the studio to work on a couple of fair entry quilts before my daughter picks me up for our Sunday shopping.

Today's finished quilts

Here are today’s finishes…. The countdown is 24?  I think I've lost count.

Blogger is still not letting me reposition the photos. One is a clothing quilt from the 5 I am making and the other is a topper’s quilt I put on the machine Saturday. See how heavily it is quilted? It took 3 days to finish.

I always feel as if there is a race going on between me, my waiting list, and time. Time always moves fastest with the waiting list a fast second. Me….I’m left way behind. Today I feel as if I’m catching up to them again. Maybe it’s just that I am a little more relaxed today. My 24 year old grandson is on his way home to Alaska. I love him dearly but his being here has been very stressful.

Now that he is not occupying the fabric storage room; I can get in there to sort through for what I might use in my guild challenge quilt or one of the charity quilts I’ve committed to creating. Or maybe I will have time to quilt one for the fair. We shall see…. First, I have to make phone calls to the next few people on the waiting list.

I know the toppers in the quilt world wonder why the waiting lists of machine quilters are so long. I’ve even read on the internet the anger over it taking as long as a year to get a top quilted.

I’ve thought about it and thought about it for many years but have yet to come up with a really good way for predicting how many names to put onto my waiting list each month. If I over book I’m continually stressed about staying ahead of the work and want to quit. If I put too few names on the list then I worry about paying the bills on time. Maybe while I am taking my vacation from quilting I will come up with a solution.

Later….

This is Tuesday?

This is Monday's finish.

The other half.

I also finished piecing this top together on Saturday. I’m still working on the borders which will have letters in it to spell out the customer’s name.

The stars create a display of the photos.


This is how many leader and ender pieces I sewed together while trying to make that quilt top. I was constantly taking something apart and doing it over because I wasn’t happy with the way it looked. Maybe I’m just being too much of a perfectionist.

The pieces I used for the leader and ender blocks came in this plastic bag as a gift from an internet friend. Hi Riea! (wave, wave) I just want her to know that what she sent me is actually being used, not just sitting in a drawer.

I have an idea for another 8 to 2 quilt design. I have someone coming over on Thursday for a day of piecing lessons. I think this would be a great project to try out. If the technique works to create the design (the way I vision it) I will post pictures of the steps on Friday or Saturday.

I finally thought of a name for my technique until a better name comes along. I will call them the 8 to what quilts. If anyone has any suggestions for another name please let me know.

On another subject --- A few days ago someone in another state sent me an email asking if I could help her get organized which is why I wrote a post about how I got myself organized. Then I get another email from the same person saying their stuff was piled up in every room and ready to topple over and create a disaster. She needed to get it all organized in one week. I replied that it sounded like they needed a house clean up more than quick organizing.

I hope I didn’t offend her by what I wrote. I meant it in the kindest way. My daughter pointed out that the person may have thought I was referring to their house keeping. Not at all! So just in case that person is still reading my blog I will explain a little more.

In every organizing show, book, website, or whatever; the first thing that is to be done is a clean out all the stuff to be organized. Boxes are brought in to sort through the home owners stuff. There are boxes for charity, boxes for moving stuff to other rooms, boxes for sorting in all kinds of ways, and plenty of trash bags for tossing stuff. One tv show even has the people take “everything” outside to an area in the yard for sorting.

The point is that cleaning out unwanted items and boxing up everything else just sort of gets the ball rolling toward organizing it. Once all the stuff is sorted and boxed and stored out of the way; it is then just a matter of finding the right organizing tool, hook, bin, box, basket, drawer, cabinet, etc. etc. etc. to put it all back into a workable order.

When everything is boxed up and out of the way it is much easier to take measurements of floor space where a new storage unit could go. Or measure the height from floor to ceiling where some shelves might be put on a wall. You see the picture? With stuff out of the way you can freely move about to reorganize – one box at a time. Each box is brought back and the stuff is put into its new space.

Some people swear by someone called fly lady? She seems to be the internet guru of home organizing. I don’t know anything about her so I can’t say one way or the other if her suggestions work.

39 and counting down