Welcome to Winter

Ugh......That's the best (polite) word I can come up with at this point....

They say timing is everything and I'm sure glad my Open House was before the snow hit!!! 

Of course we could live a little further north and this weather would be inviting.  It's all in the perspective of where you live!!  I'm wishing all those in Buffalo, NY (and surrounding area) are safe and the snow goes a way quickly!! 

I kind of like the snow.....what I don't like is temperatures below 35 degrees.  I prefer them to be higher...but as long as it doesn't get below 35 I'm ok with winter.  

My husband and I try to ride our motorcycles at least once a month.  Yes you heard me right....once a month, that means all months.  Normally November isn't hard because the beginning of the month may be cold, but never snowy.  We will take advantage of the first nice day because you never know!!

December through February can be a challenge, but we have made it so far (since 2009).  I have to add at this point, I'm not as dedicated as I once was, but hubby hasn't missed.  Although, I have been known to take the ice pick and pick a path out of the driveway the width of the tire.....just to go for a ride.   We both so enjoy those bikes (ok some could call that  crazy and I guess I couldn't disagree) and it's hard to wait til spring. 

Heidi found these snow bikers and gave them to me as a present...I turned them into a quilt....I think this one could be me.....

I did name my longarm W. Harley, W standing for winter.  Handle bars are handle bars and I can honestly say that I'm happy whether is nice or yucky out!!!


Ok....back to the present.....Since the open house,  I've been settling into my new digs and loving my Studio!!  I'm pleased and excited from all the new people that are stopping by to "check me out". 

Having 3 machines is awesome!!  I'm getting to know my new Autopilot and it's able to make short work of my customer quilts!!  My bestie has named him Ka-Chow after Cars Lightning McQueen.  It has Lightning Stitch.  

I call him my best employee!!  I still get to load hand guided quilts on my other two machines, which makes me happy....hand guiding is what I fell in love with....so now I feel like I have the best of both worlds!! 

I don't know if I mention to you all....I'm renting my hand guided machines.  I am so excited about this program!  It gives everyone the opportunity to do their quilts themselves if they want. I wish I would have had the opportunity to rent a machine when I first became aware of longarms!! 

Today, I'm working on....this blog, and Kathy's quilt!  It's a beautiful bright quilt.  I love Kathy's color choices.  I've done a few of her quilts and love her use of bright colors and fabric design choices!

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Back of quilt.   Thankfully no one walked in as I was laying on my back under table to get this picture   :)

I'm also taking this pile of fabric:

and turning it into:

I love Quiltmaker's Patchpal patterns!!!  This cute monkey is being made for a customer as a gift for her nephew who will be entering the world next month!!  

So....I need to end this blog and get busy sewing!!! 

Happy Sewing!!

Jill

What A Journey

The last few months have been an incredible journey!!

What started out as what I thought was a funny idea....blossomed into a dream come true!!

Once my husband and I decided to create this studio.....the support and guidance we got from Valerie Schlake owner of Virginia Longarm Network, www.virginialongarm.com was unbelievable.  I truly admire and can't say enough about this woman!  Her business sense is phenomenal not to mention her talent and her willingness to provide help to others.  I have learned so much from Valerie over the short time I've known her....I always walk away with something new to use!! 

Next on my thank you list is Michelle Eno!!  Michelle is a fantastic teacher and is also willing to share her knowledge with you!  She has great insight on things and is very patient (I need someone who's patient.....lol).  She is always positive and never gets stressed!  She has taught me a lot, professionally and personally!!  Ok enough of that....this is the part when I start to get teary eyed and overwhelmed with emotion.....usually that's when people start to run.....  :)

Duane and I jumped in head first and once we found a location, we worked many long hours to get ready for our Open House!  Our friend Bruce also pitched in and showed up pretty much every day and lent a hand!!  Thank you Bruce!! 

On one day when we figured we should start adding the class room furniture....we decided to go to IKEA. I love IKEA.....it was a great trip and we got pretty much everything we needed.

Note the space between the tire and the fender......this was the Element prior to loading it......

Note the lack of space between the tire and fender....this was after we loaded it with our IKEA purchases.....

(a picture says a 1000 words)  LOL

We got busy putting our new purchases together.

Duane being quality control.....

 

Classroom all set up and ready for students!!

 

 

Windows done and we got to the big day!!!! 

 



Time to cut the ribbon!!  I love this picture!!  We all worked so hard to make this day happen and we were happy doing it!!  Can you say TA DA!!!

What a great turn out!!  We had a nice group of ladies to share in the ribbon cutting....

Shortly there after the place was buzzing with activities!!

I had so much fun and got to see a lot of people I know and got to meet a bunch more quilters!!

Every hour we had a give away.....

First winner was:

Sherry .....she came down from Angola, NY!!

Next up.....

Noreen.....from what I understand from several of her friends.....she always wins something!!  I'm glad she was one of my winners!! Noreen is a beautiful person and I'm glad she is in my circle of friends! Let me side track a second and say Happy Veteran's Day Noreen!!  Thank you for serving!! 

Third winner.....

Deby can run...but she can't hide....LOL  just kidding!  Deby wasn't at the studio when I drew her name...but I knew I'd see her at the guild meeting!   I look tired....LOL  well I guess I deserve to be a little tired ....but I'm getting my second wind back....watch out world!

Last but Never least.....Cathy is such a sweetheart!!!  Really fun to be around.....

See the ladies in the background....they were back there planning a retreat!!  Those are my life line buddies that I retreat with twice a year.....family and friends....but all are considered my family!!

I do believe all had a good time!

Here's my hubby getting caught with his hand in the cookie table...LOL  I have such good friends!!  They made such yummy treats!!  What a great bunch my friends are!!  And my bestie Melly....truly out did herself!!  She is not only a wonderful friend but she also bakes like nobodies business!!!  I'm so thankful she is in my life!! 

Annie and my Aunt took a turn playing with the Innova!

 

Annie taking a turn at Pantovision. 

I think Anut Martha was having a great time running the machine!! 

Another person I need to stop and thank........

Jeff Benedict from Accomplish Quilting www.accomplishquilting.com !  He is also a very important part of this dream coming true!  He stopped by to check out the festivities and I was so touched that he did!!  I know I'm thankful that I stopped by the Accomplish Quilting booth last March.....not sure he knew what he was getting into....LOL   Between Valerie and Jeff....I have learned so much and am so thankful....words can not express it.

But I do know two words that kind of says it all for me these days......

 

Hope to see you all at the studio very soon!!

Happy Sewing!!!

Jill

Time Flys When Your Having Fun!!!

It's hard to believe that it's Sunday morning already!!!


What a great time this retreat was and always is!!!


With my Studio just about to open, I did debate whether I should attend or not, but that took me about a nano second to decide.....WHAT was I thinking....I couldn't miss a Turtle Rock Retreat!!! 


It's always fun seeing Dick and Candace Mayer!!!  I'm so glad that Candace decided to open up the Turtle and have a place for crazy ladies to come and sew!!! 


Saturdays, are always fun.....we try to eat up the left overs, but I have to say....the Calico Beans were yummy!!! Then after dinner, the games begin.....


Melody found the game Trader's Dice from Stitchin Tree (www.stitchintree.com) when we were in Paducah 2013.

Who needs a casino......LOL


Throw your charm squares (we put 6  in the middle and roll the dice!!!  It's a really fun game!!  Once you roll the three dice you either: trade with someone, hold (don't get to do anything), or take out of the kitty.  Once the kitty is gone...game over and we count our squares....


It's so funny watching people when they have to trade with another.....stripes wasn't the favorite squares this time...and boy did they keep getting traded. 

But 20 minutes later, the game was over and I ended up with the most squares....woo hoo!!!  AND  none of us had to call the gambling addiction toll free number!!!


However, I may gave won the game.... I think Melody wins for most projects done on a Saturday!!  I love this table runner!!  We all want to make one now!!!!

Then she made this Quilts of Valor (QOV) quilt!  AND she did several more zigging around snowflakes!!

Heidi continued to "use up" fabrics and worked on two quilts at the same time.....

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Mom continued on her string piecing


Arelene stippled like a champ!!


Aunt Martha made over 100 1/2 square triangles for her next project.


Me.....I made a tree!!  It's paper pieced and so cute!!  I'm planning on hanging it at the Studio and decorating it for each holiday.  Ok.....those who know me, know that decorating isn't necessarily a strength of mine.......but a strength of mine is to know the strengths of others and "barter".....have I mentioned I love my  bestie....hehe 

Last fun of the weekend is discovering the "bong".  We started this little tradition that each retreat, whoever had the "bong" the retreat before, fills it with a goodie and hide it someone's stuff to discover.  This retreat, Melody had it from before and gave it to my mom!  It was a fat quarter from Missouri Start Quilt Co......my mom's first item from them... woo hoo!!!

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Oh ya, we either check the daily deal before we go to bed or we do it first thing in the morning!!  It's a bonus of Turtle Rock....WIFI!!!


Well.....I have to head out early....because I have to start getting things organized for the opening of my studio!!!


SO excited and I hope to see most of you at my Open House on November 8th, 10am - 2pm!!!  This new adventure is something I've wanted to do for such a long time....hard to believe it's only a few weeks away of becoming a reality!!!


More to come on that topic in the next few weeks!!!


Happy Sewing!!!!


Jill

Happy Saturday.....and the progress continues!!

Happy Saturday Everyone!!!


I hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are at!!!   Me, I'm having the best time!!!


These ladies crack me up....and of course, I always crack myself up...  :)


What is said at Turtle Rock, stays at Turtle Rock.....You will just have to use your imagination but I will give you a snippet of what I over heard....(yes I participated)......my  mother said something about making miracle broth and it got turned into miracle brothel.....LOL  not pointing any fingers, except to say....none of us are innocent!!! 


Anyways.....besides the eating and laughing....here's what we have been up to:

Mom insisted Melly take a picture of me cooking....I decided to make Calico Beans....I made them yesterday so they could sit over night....because as we all know.....some things taste better the second day!!!!

Heidi is on a "sew it all up" and out of a fat quarter, she got two 10" sqs, two 7" sqs, and one 5" sq.  So she made three different quilts using her version of "Double Slice Layercake" from Missouri Star Quilt Co.  How cool is that!!! 

Aunt Martha got her purse done and is on to another project!! 


Mom is working on her Roll Roll Cotton Boll....




Arelene has finished binding that butterfly quilts and is working on stippling a baby quilt.


Melody is such a wonderful mom and aunt!!  She is making two "Frozen" quilts for her daughter and her niece!!

Look at these snowflakes....each kit has 22 of these snowflakes....she is "zigging" around each one!!

She did several of her pinwheels for the Beach Ball quilt.....me....I quit....maybe I'll pick that idea up again....but not at this time..... :)


Now she almost has a Turning Twenty quilt done!!


Me......

I bought these kits when I was done at Oaks!  I love them all and so I bought all three kits.  I didn't have enough double sided fusible to make all three.....but I at least got these two done!!

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Here's what I'm working on now....

How about all these piles.....


It should  look like this....

Ok....I've got to get back to sewing....or laughing....or eating....or ALL THREE!!!




Happy Sewing!!


Jill

TGIF!!!

Hello everyone!!!




I swear this is my last out of town adventure (not last escapade tho) for this year.




I couldn't possibly miss my normal quilt retreat with what I call my "life line" friends and family!!!




There are 6 women that I share this retreat with twice a year....these ladies are each unique and add so much to my life!!!  I truly cherish these two weekends (May and October) each year.

This is my view for the weekend!!!  From Left clockwise around the table:  My mom, Judy, My Aunt Martha, Arlene, My bestie Melody, and last but never least!!!!!!  Heidi, Melody's sister.

So far we have ate way to much....haven't stopped laughing and somethings will have to stay at Turtle Rock Retreat (www.turtlerock-retreat.com) ....hehe ....and sewing like there's no tomorrow!!!

Arlene made these two butterfly hanky quilts and I quilted them for her.  By the smile on her face....I think she's happy with the quilting!!  She's working on the binding now....


A few years back, my mom and I bought a quilt kit for the pattern Gentle Breeze from my cousins Jeni and Gretchen's shop.  We both have been working on it, but my mom is better organized than me.

  I can't find my finished blocks....however, when I went looking for them, I found my pressing cloth that I had miss placed....so it's still a good day!!!  Heidi suggested I look in one of my Ikea bags....and I think she may have solved the mystery.  But I'll have to wait til I get home to verify.  

In my defense...Although I'm not trying to say I am organized...but we are replacing the ceilings in our house and everything has been move and miss placed....that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

Anyways.....back to our progress....

Isn't this beautiful!!  Mom hand pieced the pinwheels....and hand appliqued the cone flowers.  I'm taking it home with me to baste it for her and then she's going to hand quilt it.  

Me.....I tried hand piecing the pinwheels but my guess it hand piecing accuracy skips a generation and I couldn't get two blocks to turn out the same size.  I did hand applique my cone flowers but machine pieced the rest...so WHEN I find my blocks that are all stacked and ready to be sewn together....I will be machine quilting mine.


Melody and I have been working on the Missouri Star Quilt Co's Beach Ball....which was one of their tutorials.  

Side note.......Judy Fenton has secured Jenny Doan for her big quilt show next year!!!!  Jenny will be in Erie PA!!!!!   Visit her website to get details!!  www.millcreeksew.com.


We both have decided to change the layout/design a bit.....

Here's Melody's version so far.  I love her color's!!! 

Here's mine.  I'm using my fav....Wren's and Friends. 


We both saved the corner's of the first half square triangles we cut off and created a 2" half square from them.  We are planning on making them into pinwheels and incorporating them into a border!!  

Stay tuned .....hopefully we will have more progress on these this weekend!!


Aunt Martha is working on a purse pattern.....it's not together enough for a picture...but it will be completed shortly and I'll post a picture later.


Heidi started her weekend out by finishing 17 project Linus baby quilts!!!  

Heidi also did the foldy thing that's been featured in Quiltmaker magazine.  This started out as the hexie in the middle and a 10" background square.  No cutting of the background....it's a fold and sew method....pretty slick!

Next up.....Eden Sewing Center.....Scott beware...the crazy ladies are on there way shortly and we are looking to have a good time!!!  Stay tuned!!


How CUTE is this:

Aunt Martha made us all these Apple Mug Rugs!!!  I love her!!!  I call her FAM - favorite aunt Martha!!!   but I do have two FAM's.....favorite aunt Mary too!!  This chick is very blessed to have my mom and her two sisters as family.....acorn doesn't fall far from the tree!!




Happy Sewing!!!!


Jill