Good Morning Retreat Day 3

We are laughing, eating, laughing, eating..... Oh wait.... We are here to sew!!

We are getting lots done and having fun doing it!!

This is my view from my seat this morning.... 

But this is what it looked like last night....

What have we accomplished so far....

Heidi got her Bonnie Hunter Grand Illusion together!! And how about these cute coasters.....

Yove them!!!!  (My sayinging for things that I really really love)

Myra got one quilt quilted and one quilt put together!!

Next up....

Melody whipped this up ... So nice!!!

Some lucky niece will cherish this!!!

There was another quilt top completed.... But it's secret.... But I will share that ...... someone will love it!!!!

My Aunt Martha has been busy with fabric books....

And she finished the binding on this baby quilt!!

How lucky she is..... Both of her son's are adding baby girls to the family.... Two months apart!!!  They are good boys with beautiful wives....and they were polite enough not to have the babies near our next retreat date!!

Mom is working on finishing a few projects....

As I type this and take pictures....mom is the only one who had gotten ready for the day....the rest of us are hiding behind quilts and the camera.... 😀

Next up on moms list.... Working on Bonnie Hunter's Roll Roll Cotton Boll circa 2011

Ok.... Time to get some breakfast and then to sewing.... I'm working on the Missouri Star Quilt co Sailboat Quilt with Tula Pink fabric!!!!

Happy Sewing!!

Jill

Day 2 of Retreat

Having a great time and getting lots done!!!  

Got my Tree done so it's ready to quilt!!!   Didn't call it a Christmas Tree cuz I'm going to decorate for each season!!  My bestie, Melody is in charge of the decorations!!

Up next for me..... I have been designing a quilt in my head..... I am making this quilt for Sammy..... She is a sweetheart and is very thoughtful!!!   She is out waitress at our favorite restaurant.

My hubby and I are creatures of habit and we just have to walk in and pretty much nod at Sammy and she brings us our beverages and meals!   

She also listens to us.... Poor girl.... Lol.  But always a smile.... Well for the most part.... Hehe.  After all she does have to wait on us and my hubby thinks he's funny ALL the time.

One day she got a call from a friend who had some things from a family member who past away.....they offered Sammy some of the belongings.  While she was there, Sammy thought of me and gave me some quilting items!!!

Between that, graduating from college, and putting up with us over the last few years.....this girl is getting a quilt!!!

So I gathered up my fabric of her favorite colors and began the process of creating a modern type quilt.

I sorted through, pulled out strips and went to work ......

I got excited and started sewing pieces together.

I didn't plan one bit of this quilt and maybe when you see the end result you will say "that was obvious". I hope not.... But I will blame it on starting it late at night and going to bed late!!

I will say when I went to bed last night with a smile and couldn't stop thinking about what I was going to add next!!

My goal was to have the top done before it was time to make dinner.....just a few more areas to fill in!!

Ta Da!!!!!

Can't wait to get this quilted!!!  This process was so much fun and I really enjoyed every minute of this process!!  I only matched one seam because I choose to plan it that way.... 

Ok I'm not the only one making progress!!  More on that later.....I'm going to try to do the normal posting and praying my blog, twitter feed, and Facebook will talk again!!!!!   I bet I spent close to 2 hours messing with that.... AND there's sewing to do!!!!

Happy sewing!!

Jill

Turning Pre-cuts into quilts....

I've been busy at the studio with new renters and customer quilts.... Throw Paducah in the mix and poof it's mid May!

So here's what I've been working on:

It started out with a Missouri star quilt company daily deal of a turnover called tried-and-true.

And half square triangles of Kona cotton. 

I love the daily deals we always have fun buying them and Bonus- I am using them and enjoying every minute of it!  Which means I just made room for more Daily Deals 😊.

I sewed them together using my "15 minutes of sewing a day" plan.  Before I knew it I had them all ironed open and ready to trim.

The Kona cotton half square triangles were bigger than the turnover so I had to trim them down but it was well worth it.

Did I mention that I started doing this project prior to going to a quilt retreat.   LOL ....I guess I got excited and started sewing early it only took me a few nights to get it all together.

This worked well because when I got to Turtlerock which is located in Angola, New York all I had to do was add the two borders which took no time at all.  So now I look like I have made major progress in a very short period of time LOL.  It measures approximately 53 x 69!  

I am here with my mom, my aunt Martha, my bestie Melody, her sister Heidi, and Myra.  Skackers because they don't have anything finished yet..... Hehe.  I have the only laptop.... So hopefully they will not use their smart phone to read the blog until after we leave....  Love Ya ladies!!

I'm so excited to be away and having fun with these ladies -they are my lifeline as I always say!

 I can't wait to start my new project which is going to be The Christmas tree pattern that I started prior to the studio opening up. I'm looking forward to getting it done so stay tuned more projects.  BTW....the ladies are working hard!!!

 

Happy Sewing!!!

Jill 

Latest Sewing Project

Ok.....so I got off to a good start and worked a little bit on Grand Illusion (last post) but I put that aside.....

I felt the need to make a (very dear to me) former co-worker a quilt.  Since I don't have a lot of time, I came up with a great idea!

I decided to do a whole cloth quilt with a theme.  She loves football so I went to my Autopilot and loaded a black wide back for the top and bottom and used gold thread.   I had purchased a football design from Kim Diamond ( site:  www.sweetdreamsquiltstudio.com  )

I love her designs!!! 

So off to quilting:

In no time flat, I had a whole cloth quilt!!!

Then onto binding!  My fellow Innovian, Terri shared a technique with me.....but before I continue with that...I have add...Teri is an awesome quilter and she is a beautiful person!!  She, like me, is a sharer....no ego involved....if you see something neat, if you find a new technique....you share it!!  She's also a biker....which makes her even awesomer....hehe

Ok...back to the quilt....

It's a way to glue on your binding....Yes I said glue on your binding.  Just temporarily but it really helps!! 

I'm using 2" wide binding strips these days....wondering if there is a special reason for that, do I know something that is great and everyone should use 2" binding....NOPE   I can't find my 2 1/2" binding tool.....hehehe   When we were boxing things up and getting ready for the ceilings to be replaced, I had some sewing things upstairs and I distinctly remember thinking...I don't need my binding tool and I will put it "here" for now.  I can't remember where "here" is....LOL  so I have  been using my 2" binding tool. 

With glue and sewing both sides of binding down by machine, even if I found my 2 1/2" binding tool, I wouldn't use it!!!  I really like this new method I'm using...don't think I invented any of this...but I did figure it all out by necessity!!

Back to the process...

I sewed the binding on the back side of the quilt using the binding tool.  If you google Missouri Star Quilt Co binding tool.....there is a great tutorial on it!!!

Once the binding is all attached, I iron the binding first from the back so when I turn the quilt to the front side, the binding is laying flat and I just need to fold it over.

I gather what I need.....Quilt with binding (check). Elmer's School Glue (must be school glue because is washable) check, Iron (check).  BTW....I usually use the white Elmer's School Glue....but I had this at the Studio....either one works!

Take the glue and put  small bead in the salvage area of the binding

Then just fold the binding over to where you want it and press with a hot iron (I didn't use steam)

AND......TA DA......

 

Your binding is secured!!  Then I took my sewing machine and did a decorative stitch to hold the binding in place.  If any glue squeezes out of the binding and makes a mark....it will go away when you wash it.

 

If you are not planning on washing the quilt....this may not be a method you want to try.  I washed this quilt and any glue marks were gone!!! And as always....test the glue with the fabric before you use it on a quilt...you may not like it or it may do something to your fabric....there..that's my disclaimer....have fun at your own risk!!!!

 

I hope to see my friend this week and I will post a picture of her with her new quilt for you all to see!!

 

Happy Sewing!!

 

Jill

First Day!!!

For those of you who don't know.....I finally took the plunge and am totally self-employed!!

What a journey the last week has been.  I've been very excited, very nervous, very sad, and a whole lot of other verys I just cant recall!!!

I have worked for two companies in my adult life.  First one was for 16 years and just recently almost 13 years.  Isn't that what we were brought up to do....get a job, be loyal, work hard and when you get to 65 (hopefully at 65) you retire and try to do all the things you've wanted to do but was waiting to retire to accomplish them.

I've never been known for following the rules.....  That statement just cracked me up.  You see, I have been a Human Resources Manager/Director for the last 20 or so years....I am the rules keeper and I was made for that job...LOL  However, everything has it's place!!  In the working arena, there are rules and someone has to keep an eye on things....that's me.  I bet my children would totally agree with that.  I do have to say....I am my mother's daughter and she is the ultimate rules keeper!  That's not a complaint or I am not upset by that.  But every so often I'd like to break the rules...but I can't...it's just not in me.  Well.....except for certain parts of my life....  I couldn't follow the rule of "working until retirement".....oh I'll be working....but it's my passion so I really don't call it work. 


Quilting is not a rules keeping area!!  I like to break the rules and I say at the Studio - "There are no Quilt Police here"! 

I think my creative side has been trying to get out over the last few years!!  If anyone would of asked me 5 years ago...."would you think you would ever be owning and operating a Studio?"   I would of replied "Heck NO!"  but  would of secretly been thinking....I hope I can someday!!

So here I am....Day 1 of no longer being employed and LOVING IT!!  I wondered if I'd wake up this morning and think What the HECK did I do.....but that didn't happen!!

 The sadness of leaving co-workers behind is still fresh...but I hope to see those who I've been close to...It doesn't mean it's an ending...just a beginning and all are still welcome in my life!!

What's day 1 look like?  I have decided to a little routine......

First up....15 minutes of sewing.

Timer set.....

Go

I started Bonnie Hunter's last mystery quilt but only sewed a little bit on it.  I think this is a good place to start...I had pieces cut just waiting to be sewn....

Boy it felt good to piece again!! 

Next up...Ironing....

So what did I accomplish in 15 minutes....

30 half square triangles!! 

There's no race to get this quilt done....so I'm pleased with my progress and there is no hard fast rule I can't sew for more than 15 minutes....just a minimum of 15 minutes!!  Rules aren't always bad!! 

Well I'm off to the Studio....(as I type this with a big ole smile on my face)....I have a couple renters coming in today to complete their own quilts and I have customer quilts to work on.

Happy Monday Everyone!!  I can honestly say.....I think I LIKE Mondays....NOW!!!

Happy Sewing!!

Jill

Where did the last two months go????

I swear sometimes when you blink days just fly by!!!

I have been a very busy girl these days.  I figured I should do a quick update and then get back on my routine of posting!! 

So what have I been up to since my last blog.....

I finished the cat quilt and the lady who bought it took it home.  I got the kids approval!!!

 And when she gave it to her sister....she cried!!  Now that's a good response!!  Christie told me later that she had never given her sister a present that made her cry!! They were all so touched by the quilt.....now that's what it's all about!!!

After that....I got to travel to Virginia Beach to the annual Birds of a Feather quilt extravaganza!!  Valerie and the whole Virginia Longarm Network team put on a great event!!  If you do longarming or sitdown....you need to attend!!

I got to teach Pantovision and Blogging for business.  I had a great time teaching and I even took a class.  Lisa Calle's Divide and Design class was awesome!!  I learned  lot and it will definitely help in the future!!!

This is my Blogging For Business Class!

The Erie peeps..... Debbie (on left) Betty (on right).  Debbie, her daughter, and I rode down together.  Debbie's son is stationed there!!  We had a great time in the car!!!  I am glad I had them with me to share the long drive!!!  Pride and Prejudice was the book on tape we listen to....all three of us are big fans and had fun quoting our favorite parts!!!

My class with Lisa Calle

Me and Cathy Frank..... Love her!!!  Glad I got to meet her!!!  I had the greatest and I mean greatest dinner with her, Jo Ann Blade, Kim Diamond, Mary Reinhardt, and Nancy McNally!!!!  These ladies are not only very talented..... They are funny!!!!   I will cherish that dinner for years to come!!!

I got to "angel" one of Nancy Wicks Autopilot class!!!  How lucky was that!!!  She's a great teacher!!!   

What a great time..... I met so many new people and saw those I already knew but don't see often!!!

Then it was back home where I've been busy with customer quilts and teaching the QMR class to new renters!  

Last announcement.....I am taking the plunge and I have given my notice at my "day job"!  It's bittersweet!!  I have worked for the Achievement Center for almost 13 years.  I will miss the agency and the great work they do with children.  But as someone, who stopped by the studio to ask what it was all about, pointed out...."my passion for longarming really shows".  I have to agree, I love what I'm doing and am excited about this new venture!!!

We just need it to get WARMER!!!!  These below zero temp days are for the birds....actually I don't think the birds liked it either!!!

That was the lowest I saw ever.... Ugh is the word for that!!!

Where ever you are....I hope it's warming up and you are sewing and being happy!!! 

Happy Sewing!!

Jill