Next Up

I've decided that I need to practice doing Feathers and background fills. I also want to use some metallic thread here and there. Wish me Luck, I've used "Yenmet" and "Superior" Metallic thread on my Long Arm with sucess, but at the time I only quilted a small area. I belong to the MQR forum and Adam showed a sampler quilt using the Turning 20, Again pattern. At the time I thought it ended up longing great and later I'd do the same. So now that I was looking for something to do... low and behold in my closet of quilt tops I found this "Turning 20, again" quilt. Having so many different size areas, it should make a good sampler, although I'm not sure it will end up being a quilt to show off. I really don't care for the fabric plus I'm using muslin for a backer. I'm using muslin so I can easily see and adjust my tension for the different thread combo's I plan to use. I'm not afraid to dink with the top or bobbin tension although I 'm still learning the in's and out's of the Long Arm tension beast. Well if I want to make progress today I'd better sign off for now.

Circle Lord Sampler

Here is a lap size sampler quilt I did using the Circle Lord.

You can do millions of motifs with this gadget, now I wished I'd noted which template I used to create each of the designs. Live N' learn they say. It's an easy tool to use and sew much fun. Wish I had more time to play. I'm still trying to decide what to load next.

Finished, What's Next?

Today I finished quilting this quilt for a customer of a friend of mine. I really like this pattern and the fabric she used. I'm really happy for the opportunity to quilt it, as the pattern is one I really wouldn't want to piece myself. One of the beauties of being a Long Arm Quilter is that you get to admire and quilt other peoples beautiful quilts. Ones that you yourself might never have the time nor the experience to piece. Most of the time its a Win, Win situation for the Piecer and Quilter alike.

In returning this quilt to my friend I saw some new fabric and an autumn panel that just arrived. I really don't need a panel nor do I need any more fabric...but I couldn't resist. although the panel should be good practice on the LA, and I have visions about what to do with the beautiful rose wide back fabric...I see a new Bedspread and Pillows... so stay tuned.

Now, What to put up on the rack next? I have a Flag Quilt, A couple of Turning 20 Again, 2 Log Cabins, 3 House Calls and a least 20 other completed quilts to choose from. I really want to practice my feathers and SID, but then again I just bought a New Autumn Panel that lends itself to some really neat quilting opportunities. So once I make up my mind.. I'll will show you next time what I have decided to do.

On to Quilting

Now that Family, Pets and Home introductions are out of the way, I can begin to focus my blog on quilting. That was the main reason I started this blog in the first place. My family is a little bored with my hobbies, they just don't get as excited as I do about my quilts or my Long Arm quilting. My outside full time job is a bit stressful and physically harsh on the body so I really need a low key relaxing hobby when I'm home.

A couple of my good friends, Myree and Martha are into quilting so I do have someone to chatter with and who understands, gets excited and motivates me. Myree until recently owned a quilt shop, now she works from home. She does BOMs and among other things she sells kits. She also has a Long Arm that I named Busy, because he sure kept me busy. She does E2E quilting for customers and I think Busy is still busy. If you need a quilt quilted Edge to Edge I have a link on this blog to her Blog. Although I also have a Long Arm named I'ma I generally don't do customer quilts yet. I really loved doing customer quilts, it's so exciting to see what they pull out of their bag, but for now I just don't have time. I want to practice custom quilting on my own quilts and would like to enter a few local shows in the future. Time will tell what tomorrow brings.

My friend Martha does alot of embellished Art type quilts and wall hangings. She relies on her DSM to quilt them and I must say she does a fantastic job. She is so creative. And she has many other creative talents such as furniture and sea shell painting, knitting, basket weaving, and has even blown glass.

I'm done rattling for now as I have to get busy quilting. Myree did twist my arm and talked me into doing a customers quilt for her on my rack. The customer wanted and actually needed a custom job done because she'd already started quilting it by hand. I've got it finished except for the borders, now I'm a bit stuck on what to do.

Rock Garden

As promised here are the pictures of our rock garden and raised beds. The pretty rocks were all collected from the central oregon coast. We have 4 tumblers going most of the time. Each load takes about 6 weeks of tumbling to completely polish each batch. The raised beds take up a good portion of the back yard. We took out the grass area.

Our Beach House

Well I'm still learning. Here is the Picture of Our Beach House and the Beach where we collect pretty rocks that Hubby tumbles. He has tons of polished rocks. Recently he made a large rock garden in our back yard in town, it is really cool. I'll take a picture and post it later. We can't see the beach but we can hear it pounding in the distance. It's an easy walk and we have good access. On a good day the Central Oregon Coast is breathtaking. Most days are good days at the beach.

Happy 4th of July

It sure was hot, got up to 92 today. My hubby and daughter went to our beach house, I have to work this holiday so I couldn't go. I really don't mind because I

get a lot more done when I have the house to myself. Actually I'm not alone, we have an ugly white cat with 2 different colored eyes that keeps me company. She leaves her hair all over my quilts and makes sure I know who's boss. Meet Snowflake. My hubby found her at work and brought her home. You'd think she'd be more thankful to now have a nice cozy place to call home.

This is a picture of our quaint little beach house, it's small but very nice inside. We gutted the inside. Actually the bathroom and kitchen are larger than our house at home and nicer too.