Today's finished quilt. One of three I spy quilts a customer brought a few days ago.



The customer wanted simple panto work on it. I used the Circle Lord spiral template so my apprentice could learn how to do panto work.

I don't think you can see the quilting on the border because of the matching thread. I did a freehand flower and leaf meander design.

I stitched a swag design on the inside border.

After my apprentice left; I started loading the next quilt on the machine. I got the backing on and reached for the batting..... oops! No batting. My order hasn't come in yet. I checked to see if I had the ones needed for the next in line. Nope, not for those either. So, no quilting for customers can get done until it arrives. Now I'm kicking myself in the behind for not ordering sooner. The batting may arrive today or tomorrow. In the mean time I'm going to be working on the custom order quilts that are for Christmas. If I can get all the pieces cut and put into kits that's a head start on the work.

Hmmm..... I guess today is an in house retreat for me even if I didn't plan it that way.

I hope blogger acts right today. I'm still working on this quilt. I thought I would show you what I'm doing in the alternate blocks. I was wrong yesterday when I said these were 8 inch blocks. They are actually 9 inch blocks. I didn't realize it until I looked at these.

This is all freehand. I got about half way through the quilt before calling it a day. If I can finish this one today; I can put an easy quilt on for a change of pace before moving on to the next intricate one.

I'm hoping to use my weekend for doing some work away from the machine. I have the binding to do on a couple of quilts. Repairs to do on a vintage top. A drawing to do for guild challenge. Some fabrics to fold and put away. That sort of thing. I need to finish these up and call the owners so I can make room in my studio.

It dawned on me a few days ago that I don't have any leader and ender pieces near my domestic machine. I can't have that!! Leader and ender pieces are how I create charity quilts. Yes, I've got to get organized and cut some leader and ender pieces. Hmmm... it also occurs to me that I haven't had a weekend for ME in quite a while. I guess it's time I had myself an "in home retreat" to do a litte planning and cutting of fabrics. I'll have my sister in law to come over to keep me company. She hasn't been here in several months. She needs to do a little planning too.

Ok, it's settled, a weekend in home retreat it is.

Time for me to get to work... it's not the weekend yet.