Show N' Tell

I made this Quilt from a kit which I got from Connecting Threads awhile back. I'm always on the hunt for kits, that once made, will offer me lots of good Longarm Quilting opportunities. In quilting this one I decided to go for a light custom look because that's about all my customers are willing to pay for, although the entire quilt is SID which would bump the quilting price up a notch.

I'm pleased with the overall result except for the borders. Not fond of the stars in the corners nor wavy line piano keys I did along the edges. 

I used my Terry's Twist Rulers www.sallyterry.com in the corners of the 15" Star blocks. I really love these rulers, makes the job so easy when I remember to use them! In the other blocks around the star I used DeLoa's Boomerang ruler www.deloasquiltshop.com at first I was going to crosshatch this area but remembered I needed to keep is simple overall so I just stitched a few lines instead, actually I like the way it looks. The star points I did freehand CC's  and boy do I need more practice. In the braded area between the blocks I did Freehand feathers. I SID around both borders, stars and brades. SID is just something I do...although I never use monopoly type thread, I use whatever color of regular thread best matches the entire quilt. I really don't like to change thread colors so my limit is 2 thread colors per quilts. I don't like to{rarely} frog so I go slow. The EZ wheels on my machine really does make a big difference for doing SID work.

As I said the blocks on this quilt were 15" sq. and for the first time I was able to quilt the entire block without advancing and with room to spare...all because of...meet {no name yet}....

Gammill Vision 22-10 with EZ glide wheels and a camera. I was simply so impressed by the iimprovements made by Gammill on the Vision 18-10 Premier model that I owned for a short while...I just had to inquire...if the next step up machine would dare fit in my little 10'x 17' room. Actually all I really intended to do at first was to only upgrade the frame...they say good things happen...well they did and I couldn't pass it up. Used as a Demo machine for a very short period...it runs so quite and smooth my DH can't even tell its running except when it beeps. I could have gotten the new breeze wheel system but I loved the EZ wheels on my other machine so I stayed with the EZ wheels. I'm just thrilled with the entire system and so far it loves and stitches out perfect with every type of Thread I have in my huge collection. Now about the space {footprint}..overall I have more room behind the machine now than I had before, both frames sit 22" from the wall, this machine sit differently on the frame than the Premier did so I have more room behind the machine which is good because most customers want panto's. I've bought a few larger pantos. Although my goal is to PPP and be able to offer more "Allover" freehand designs that can be quilted from the front, plus I'm working towards a lite custom signature to offer as an alternative to pantos.

Thanks for stopping by.

Miles of Practice and A New Vision

 After finishing my last customer quilt a few weeks ago I decided to spend my free time practicing my freehand backfills. This seemed like a good idea beings I want to focus on Longarm custom quilting and I don't see a computerized system in my future anytime soon. All the white fabric hanging over my rack are filled with Freehand Micro quilting. All that work was also done on my "OLD MICHINE". Then My new much awaited Gammill Premier Vision arrived on Thursday, I really do and will soon love it I'm sure. But it's almost feels I'm starting from scratch. Now mine you according to the counter. I've only actually stitched for 23 minutes even though I've played with the machine for 2 days now. I think I've just been staring at it. Not that I'm glad business is slow, but I'm sure glad I'm not backed up with Customer Quilts and will have time to bond with my new machine. I really feel the biggest thing that's throwing me off balance is the new machine is sooo quiet and smooth. My other Premier certainly wasn't loud at all compared to many LA's, but now I realize I depended and quilted to the beat of the nice rhythmic sound that it had. I'm missing the beat so to speak and my stitching isn't as pretty as before. It's funny how you suddenly find out that you were dependent on things you weren't  even aware of. 
Who would have thought, I'd ever say I miss the noise. Good Grief I come home from my other job and all I want is peace a quiet. Guess the sound was music to my ears and I didn't even know it.

Now enough about the old, and in with the new. I really am thrilled with my new machine. So many new features but Those will have to wait for another post. No I didn't get the camera. I really like the New type off feature, I thought this was a feature I wouldn't ever use. Now it just dawned on me, Maybe the reason the machine has a radio is because the machine is so quiet and they knew we'd miss the noise, so they gave us a radio.
Thanks for tuning in.