Verny's quilt

Dave and I made it back home on Wednesday. We had a very nice visit in Moab. I delivered wall hanging patterns that were ordered to 'It's Sew Moab' in Moab, Utah. She also purchased my new pattern of Yucca and Hummingbird. I finished the sample and took it back by the store before we headed back home. 

Our trip home was good. Dave drove the RV and I followed in the little car. We stopped in Green River on the way home and I got a couple of water melons and a couple of Cantaloupe. It is amazon how much better Green River melons are!

I got Verny's quilt finished today. I think her choice of fabric was really fun. She used the texture magic in a few of the baskets. She also machine embroidered a few spider webs, spiders and witches. It is really cute. The Sewing Center of Southern Utah is teaching this class. They are featuring Holiday baskets. Of coarse you could choose what ever fabric you like. But the holiday baskets are fun. It is amazing how using different fabric changes the look of a pattern. If you are interested in making one of these quilts, check them out at the Sewing Center of Southern Utah. located on Bluff street in the K-mart shopping center.

I used Superior Thread on this one. Magnifico and Mono-poly in the top and bottom line in the bobbin.  I  used mono-poly to stitch in the ditch around all the baskets and the items within the larger baskets. I did the spiderweb background fill with Superior Thread's Magnifico in a neon lime green and used gray bottom line in the bobbin. Verny chose wool bating. I love the way wool quilts. It has just the right amount of loft and hangs so nice.

I also finished the border on a wall hanging.  But don't have a photo to post right now. 

Now.......... time to do a little book work and then go to bed. This day went by very fast.

Janet's quilt

I finished Janet B's quilt yesterday. It was a big one. Large enough I had to purchase batting from a quilting friend who carries 120 70/30.  I really don't like to piece batting unless I can't find batting that is wide enough. If am  doing an heavily quilted art type quilt then I have not problem adding or subtracting batting. But for a bed quilt, one that is going to be used and washed and washed and used and maybe passed down to family, the batting should be one piece.  I have pieced batting before, using a serpentine  cut and then stitching it together by hand. I have sewn batting together on my domestic machine and used it. I have client's that bring me pieced batts. I will use what ever the client wants, but my mind set is..... you spend a lot of money on the material, time sewing the top, you pay to have it quilted........ you should put a quality backing on your quilt and have a nice piece of batting. Why chance having the batting pull apart when it won't cost that much more for a nice batting.  I compromise on some things. I have used sheets for backing. If I can find a cotton sheet that is not to densely woven.  That is kind of what the big back are.... .sheets just have hems. 

It is late and I need to hit the sack.

Happy Quilting!

Peggy's quilt

I am close to getting this pattern ready for the shops. I still haven't figured out just how to sell them digitally from this blog or a web site, someday maybe. This wall hanging is 14 x 24 inches. This had been in my head for a long time. While we were waiting for a belt for my Innova I got this one drawn and put together ( it still needs binding). But it is done enough for me to photography it for the cover of the pattern.  I will be making another with different  background and border fabric. Also think I will choose a less, in your face, green for the Yucca leaves. The patterns will be available at 'It's sew Moab' located in Moab, Utah and soon at a shop in St. George. 

I finished Peggy's quilt. I love the colors she choose. This quilt was a challenge, I used 3 batts to fill up the extra fabric areas that I could.  I think she will really like it, I hope so anyway. This was a custom job, so it isn't cheep. For hours I put in it the price is more than reasonable though. 

My Innova had a major problem. I should have paid attention to what was happening, but didn't. I had been cleaning up little black flecks on the table under the long arm for a while. DUH! You would think I would have realized that the belt that operates the hook assembly was shredding.  It took us a while to figure it out. My husband is an expert at timing the machine now.  My Innova was one of the older machines, newer ones have gears not belts around the hook assembly...also a hand wheel that is on the side of the machine and not the top. Anyway....... the belts usually only last 2 years. I don't know if mine had been replaced or not. I was lucky enough to have John to take care of my machine. Now that he and Teryl are no longer the dealers....well.....  Anyway, If I purchase another machine I will look at a different brands before I decide on a machine. Had the current dealer pushed a little teeny bit and made me an offer to trade for a new machine, she probably would have gotten a sell. Now..... the machine is running and sewing great. It is still very loud and has a weird issue that I don't know if my husband has the belt to tight, the timing looks fine to me. Anyway....... I determined I can not live with out a long arm, even if I quite quilting for clients.

I made a couple of cherry pies and now need to get busy. I am taking dinner to a friend this evening, and it is almost noon! Good grief time just moves to fast.

Happy Quilting!

My machine is down for a while

Well....... I am currently with out a working long arm. My Innova was one of the first produced. The hook assemblies in the older Innovas were belt driven. I don't think my belts have been changed and they have sewn a million miles. I have been in contact with the dealer in our district, Renae Haddadin from Quilts on the Corner in Sandy,Utah. She is such a nice gal. Dave called the tech at ABM and he fills he can put the belt on with no problem. Thanks the Lord...  I thought I would just put this out to you Innova owners. If you have a machine that has belts and you are seeing black flecks when you change your bobbins, it's time to change your belt!
I feel so relived that I won't be spending thousands on a new machine !

June 25, 2015

I finished quilting a quilt for Linda Williamson, took photo and can't figure out how to get them onto this blog. Some program has up dated and it does not work like it used to on this iPad or on my regular computer. I really with they would quit 'improving things' and just leave them as is.  I need a grandkid to do things like this for me.😀  when I can figure out how to get photos from the camera or from one program or app to another I will post the photo.  I got the photo of Shirl's quilt loaded just fine.  But for some reason that I can't get these off the memory stick or out of the camera program on the iPad on to the blog.

Shirl's Quilt

I made it back to St. George Tuesday at 4:30 or so. I hated leaving Moab but wanted to get back home. It is awful to be torn between to places. My Dad was sad when I left. But.... this is where my life is. I will be making the trip back to Moab more often. It takes 6 hours to get from here to there. It is a long way to go by myself. I get tired when I get in the car. But the trip back home was not to bad. I stopped every so often and walked around. I am so thankful that Megan (my youngest) was able to stay and be one of my Dad's caregivers for a couple of months. Hopefully by that time we will be able to get someone we all feel comfortable with to stay with him. If not, I don't know what we will do. But I am not going to worry about that today. Worrying about such things does not good. I just have to trust that the Lord will work it out. 

I finished Shirl's quilt today. She will pick it up on Monday and drop another off. This one is a little bit smaller than the other quilts I have done for her.

I love the colors of this quilt and the way she combined the colors. She let me pick what pantograph to use and also what thread. I choose gray thread and I am very happy with the outcome. I love the way this pantograph looks. 

I cut the batting for the next client quilt. It is a t-shirt quilt that is really neat. I have not seen such cool t-shirts ever. Usually t-shirt quilts are just done with a simple edge to edge. This one is special we decided on custom quilting. 

This day has been a long one. I am going to get ready for bed. 

Happy Quilting!

A long week

I have not posted anything in a few days.  I am in Moab and have been for a week.  I am not sure when I I will be heading home. My mother passed away June 1, 2015. She had not been well for some time, but no one expected her death. Her funeral was good, if a funeral can be good. We are trying to get all the things done that have to be done.  I will probably be here another week or so. I am glad I can help my father. I have connected with a few friends from high school and church here. I am  missing my own life in St. George.  I have one quilt I need to get done for a client and deliver one that is finished to a client who lives around Cedar City, Utah. I have been cleaning out closets....getting moms clothing and shoes ready to take to my aunt who lives on a farm close to Dove Creek, Colo. my mom's passing left a hole in our family.
My dad is doing pretty well for loosing the love of his life.  He is 82 and so was she.  They had been together since they were 19.
My mom taught me to sew and quilt as well as many other things.  I learned how to work hard and make do with what I had. She was a good cook, although she cooked everything really done. She was pretty selfless, giving freely of her time.
Our friends here in Moab have been wonderful! I love st. George and am glad we moved there. But it does not hold a candle to Moab.  I don't think there is any place as beautiful as Moab  and Moab will always be home.
I will be spending way more time here than before.  My dad needs 24 hour care.  His lungs were very damaged when he worked in a uranium mill in Monticello, Utah. He has received money from the department of labor for being a down winder. But we would much rather have him have his health back over the money any day of the week!
I won't be doing as much client quilting until we get his care set in place.  My youngest daughter is here from New York.  She is going to be applying to a PA program and this requires 400 hours of clinical work or a CNA certification. She tried to get into a CNA program here in Moab, but was to late for this course.  We are hoping she will be approved to be one of dad's care givers.  That way she would receive the clinical hours she needs plus allow her to spend time with her grandpa Purcell.
I must get my dad ready for bed.  Good night to you all.