This week's lesson learned

The title should be two weeks ago lesson learned, since I actually composed it then but forgot to actually post it. Anyhoo.....

Every quilt I quilt brings me new knowledge.  My most recent one is one of my own, so the lesson was not that hard to learn :0)  So what is this new knowledge added to my small brain you ask?

There is a reason why we longarm quilters ask for an extra 4 inches of fabric and batting all around.  How did I acquire this knowledge?

Because this quilt and backing were made before I was considering a longarm machine and I seem to be really good at not buying enough backing fabric. Due to this fabric buying deficit I had to add a few pieced blocks to the backing to make it large enough, and it was just the right size top to bottom.

This becomes a problem when loaded on a longarm machine because you actually fold over the edges a bit on the backing top and bottom then start the top a few inches down on the backing.  So when I got to the bottom there was not enough fabric.  It was a pretty easy fix since the outer border was 6.25 inches wide.  I simple trimmed about an inch off and the earth started rotating again.





















Other lessons learned? Just because you tell the computer to not change the ratio/size of a pattern does not mean it will not revert back and change it anyways.  Result, one section of the meander on the outer border is "stretched out."

Anything else? Oh yes. I unzipped the quilt and used a second set of leaders to load another quilt.  That went well. I completed the other quilt with only minor panic learning opportunities. When I reloaded the first quilt I forgot to change the bobbin thread back to the darker variegated thread I had been using.  Fortunately, the backing fabric is so busy you can't tell.  I also got a lot of practice in placing patterns in borders.  There are technically four borders on this quilt.

The last tip for today, keep all elements of a project together in a box or bag of some sort.  While pulling out the binding for this quilt that had been prepared a few months ago when the backing and piecing were done, I found the binding I had originally made for the Red and White quilt.  I had just finished turning the binding on it the night before. Not to mention I am not super happy with the binding I picked because reds are so hard to match.  I settled.  The binding should have been the same floral as the outer border.  Oh well.  It is still cozy to snuggle under!

Next week I am going away for three full days of quilting fun with a new group of gals.  When I get back I will have a quilt to do for someone in my StitchIts group.  I will be working on Hunter's quilt, a comfy quilt for charity, and the "X" block swap blocks while away.

Has my "luck" turned?

 I got this wonderful prize in the mail a couple of days ago! What is so amazing about this is that I am probably the UNluckiest person to walk the  planet.  I have won things, but those are things I worked hard to win (such as band medals way, way back when, or completion medals for races).  But random ticket drawings and such, never.  It is an ongoing joke in our household that dad always wins, mom never does.  So that is why this is so exciting.

Clover binding clips, just in time to bind my red and white quilt and a dresden plate template.  I never  throught of doing one, but might now. 

A charm pack of Robert Kaufman fabrics, fun and bright. 

Another charm pack of Moda

Bad picture sorry.  I was so excited I couldn't hold still :0)
A snowman candle mat kit.

A great tote bag.  I have already used it to haul my stash to a workshop.

More patterns.

Simply Minnesota book of patterns.

Yay, candy, to keep up energy for all the quilting I need to do with all my goodies.

And last but not least, McCall's quilting magazine. 

Thanks Paula for all the wonderfulness in my box of goodies.  I am sorry it took so long for me to rave about it.  Life happened and I haven't had a chance. Maybe I will enter more contests now :0) 

I made a logo

Happy, Happy Tuesday.

I got a little Brother embroidery machine on sale a few weeks ago (before Cinnamon arrived) and never got the chance to figure it out. Over the weekend I bought some designs and today I got the chance to play with it.

The red is the quilt carrying bag you get as a first time customer, so this will be Dianne's. I am doing a shirt for me too.

logo going on a shirt

I already have quilt #2 loaded and ready to go. I am still deciding how to quilt it. I am probably going to do a little free motion on it.

Lastly, happy, happy, I got a prize in the mail yesterday. I will tell more tomorrow.

My first longarmed quilt

My red and white quilt loaded and ready to quilt

I did it! I completed my first quilt on the longarm.  By the way, her name is Cinnamon, thanks to my friend Christy who said," She looks like a cinnamon red hot."

This is a first quilt in more than one way. Back in 2009 when we lived in Texas, I found a great quilt shop The Old Craft Store in Carrollton. That is where I discovered what a quilt block of the month is and this was my first one of those. I learned a lot every month when I took my completed block back in to get my next one. The ladies working would look at my block and give me pointers on how to get mis-sewn seams to lie flat and butting up opposing seams to get them straight, etc.

So while quilting it I discovered a few things. Upon close

cross hatch pattern and small flower

inspection this is not a well pieced quilt. I don't think of myself as a perfectionist, but I do like things to be as close to "right" as possible.  There are pleats and puckers that are sewn in and quilting will not hide those.  Buttons might though! Since it is not my best work it was a perfect first project for the long arm. All in all I am very pleased with how it turned out.

Picture of the computer screen near the end of the project

I learned about sizing borders better and combining patterns so the machine doesn't stop and start between each connected one and I dealt with thread breakage.

Back detail

The two full days of training with Mark from Stitch N Frame from Vicksburg, MS was a great start but some things just need to be learned hands on.  I know I can do this now and that feels great. My next project will begin Monday. I will do one more of my own and then I have my first "real" one for a gal from my StitchIts group. Thanks Dianne for your vote of confidence!

Almost open

Beautiful Bee Quilting is ready to accept quilts. The machine was delivered yesterday evening and set up/training day one was today. It is amazing to say the least.

There is one small problem. My feet hurt from wearing the flattest of flip flops on an industrial type floor all day. I am not used to being on my feet so much. I think I will need a pair of Birkies. (picture Kevin rollong his eyes, he hates those) Bit that's what I wore when working 12 hour shifts on my feet and I never had back aches or sore feet.

Training day two tomorrow. Yay!

OTYA or Operation Twenty Year Anniversary

Yep, it's true. Kevin and I have been married for 20 years.  My husband could be described as "not having a romantic bone in his body." But then again, he's a guy. Actually that's not true, I think it is deep in there it just has a hard time showing itself.  That little part of him came out last week.

Our anniversary fell on a Wednesday and so we didn't celebrate until Saturday. All week he hinted at OTYA. (He was channelling his inner Jack Burns for you Meet the Parents fans). I was able to figure out where we were going for dinner, but I had no idea he would plan anything else.

I was told to be ready at 5 pm sharp. But I wasn't. So around 5:20 he is rushing me out the door and what do I see?

A limo! We didn't even have a limousine for our wedding day. We pulled away from our reception in his mom's blue Chrysler sedan, picture a late 80's model. It was better than my Diahatsu Rocky or Kevin's white with orange/red/yellow stripes Toyota 4 x 4 truck for the occasion I have to admit. 

Not working gondola at Bridge Street

Our driver took us to Bridge Street town center which is an outdoor mall.  We were scheduled to take a Gondola ride.  Apparently there is only one gondola and it was not in operation. I thought gondolas were powered by a human. This must be a "knock off" gondola with a motor haha.  (Sorry about the picture quality. I took it on my phone and had to crop and zoom so you could even tell what it is). So we headed on into Connor's steakhouse for a cocktail.  They have the best (and most expensive) margaritas in town. 

Kevin at Big Spring park

From there we were going to go watch the sunset from Monte Sano, but it faces east, good for sunrise, not so much sunset. Instead we walked through Big Spring Park. Kevin had never been to this part of town. It was fun to see his reaction to how cool this area of downtown is. There are tons of geese there and huge Koi in the lake and creek there.  At the other end of the park is the Embassy Suites hotel. We stopped in for another yummy beverage. This time it was some crazy fruity martini. 

Frank the limo driver picked us up and drove around the block to the Cotton Row restaurant for dinner. It was delicious and definitely a go-to place for special occasions. The peanut butter and jelly phyllo dessert - speechless really. 

We headed home after dinner. I gave Kevin his gift on the way home- no not that! Just a golf gadget, a range finder for determining distances. I figured the night out was my gift, but I had one more surprise in store for me! Kevin knocked on Frank's partition and he handed him a little box. I said, "Little is a good sign!" and boy was it!

He got this beauty at Alexander's here in town which has estate jewelry. I am going to have to get it sized because it is a bit big. When I do I will get the history if I can.  I have been dreaming of having an antique piece.  I don't think I have even mentioned it to Kevin, but he knows I love old things and knew I would love it.  His story of shopping for it is pretty good too.  The way he tells it he physically fought off about 3 other women who also wanted it! I am glad he won that battle! 

And that is Operation Twenty Year Anniversary!

Go Huntsville Sting

Pictures from Chandler's football jamboree last Saturday. He played great for his first time! His main position is defensive lineman, for now.