Let's Get Rollin...

So I finally have the quilt for Quilt Market nearly finished. I think that is record time for piecing, quilting and binding a quilt! I finished the quilting (stitching in the ditch) on Thursday afternoon. I made and sewed the binding on the front. I am now in the process of folding around to the back for the final hand stitched finishing. It is so huge, it is really heavy. It measures 110inches square.

I also wrote the first of the clues for the mystery quilt for the Quilters Club of America, which went live this morning. I will be busy all day with questions concerning fabric choices and yardages, I am sure. That's what makes it fun. I try not to give too much away in my clues and do all the little stuff first to keep you guessing!! I am so looking forward to this. Hope you can join in the fun! quiltersclubofamerica.com

I will be working on the border for the mystery today. It will be pieced to finish off the quilt and give me a few extra inches for our big bed. I will also finish the binding on the International Quilt Market quilt. My fingers were just too sore to finish last night. I also have a teddy bear here with no face yet. Poor thing is nearly a month old and still can't see, smell, or growl! I also am testing for the December Mystery at the Quilt and Needle. You should check her mysteries out, she's brilliant... thequiltandneedle.com

Hope you have a fantastic weekend. I hope you have some time to do the things you love. I know I will be busy quilting and teddy bear making (hopefully I will have time for the teddy bears!). Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you. Hope you join the fun with the mystery on the Quilters Club of America. Its free and FUN!!

happy crafting,

Debi 

Ticking Away

Yesterday I stitched the back of the quilt together, got it all pinned, and began quilting it. Here it is laid out on the floor. I worked until my shoulders and arms were hurting so bad I had to stop for the night. I reckon I will be sore till it's finished. I only have a few more days before I have to send it back, I need to keep pluggin away. I have to finish stitching in the ditch, then I will put the binding on, then ship it to the Market.

I also finished the center of the mystery. I used the measurements I had worked out to make a test quilt. It is looking very nice. I had a friend look at a picture of it and she loves it. I am so glad others like it as well, that's exciting. We will starting this Friday. I need to write the clues, sort out the pictures, and get it all to the Quilters Club of America before then so they can post them on the appropriate Friday. I am really looking forward to starting. There is still so much to do before Friday though! 

What are you working on? I hope you are enjoying yourself and you aren't too stressed with your workload at the moment. I am a bit overwhelmed at this present second, but I know if I just work through it, everything is going to be just fine! Besides, I have a lot of help, for which I am truly grateful.

Thanks for stopping by,

Debi

 

Priortizing...

I have been so busy over the past couple of weeks that some things that I want to do, aren't getting done. I have learned to prioritize my time. With the children here for a while, we are homeschooling, I am working on the quilt for the Market, and another for the Quilters Club of America's mystery. There just isn't enough time in a given day to get everything I WANT to do done! I guess as long as I am having fun, that's all that matters, RIGHT?????????

Here is a classic example of how my days have been going recently. I was sewing along yesterday, after tidying my table a bit for the large quilts I am working on when....BOOM....my teddy bear shelf fell EEK! My sewing machine is right under this as is a window. We are all fine and survived without a scratch. The teddy bears were all safely caught and laid aside while the engineer comes and replaces molly bolt or whatever they are called to put their resting place back where it belongs! Yesterday..shelves, the day before..my husband ran out of gas in the four-wheeler in the desert and I had to go tow him and the quad out after dark, Saturday..sick children, NEVER a dull moment!

The mystery quilt is all together now, just working on the border. The quilt for Market is in the quilting process. Since time is so short, I chose to stitch in the ditch. The designer says this is a wonderful idea as we are trying to show off the pattern of the quilt and the fabric as it will be hanging at a fabric manufacturer's booth. Stitching in the ditch is much easier and quicker. Just need to get this honkin big thing pinned and ready to go!

Well, I need to get back to it. Thanks for stopping by. Head over to Patchwork Posse and pick up the pattern for the rabbit and watch this space, more patterns coming up soon. Thinking of putting the mystery quilt on here too so all my friends can join in the fun!! Let me know if you want to make the mystery (lap size to king size) and I'll make sure you get an email with instructions.

I appreciate you,

Debi

Done at Last!

Well, amidst working on the mystery, I have been able to finish the huge quilt top for Jessica at The Quilt and Needle for the International Quilt Market. I will be sewing the backing together next and cutting binding so I can get it finished for Market. Here is a pic of it on my king bed. I just threw it over the pillows at the top and didn't smooth out the wrinkles, sorry! It is so big, the drop is long...I love it! It is called "Outside the Box". It will be hanging at the Fabri-Quilt booth at Market. If you go, have a look!! My next job will be to quilt this very large thing. I think since time is short, I will just stitch in the ditch and add other things when it returns to me after market.

The mystery is coming along nicely. I have the "prototype" on my design wall and it is looking beautiful as well. It is a king also, but I have done the math for the other bed sizes and crib or baby quilt. It looks like we may start next Friday, that gives everyone a chance to sew over the weekend before heading back to work. Looking forward to the challenge of moderating this.  We are going to have a lot of fun. Join us if you can: quiltersclubofamerica.com and it is "Mystery Quilt 11". 

Other than that, I got a bit of sleep and food along the way! Hope your week has been not so busy and you had some time to do the things you love! I may have been busy, but I loved every minute of it! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you.

enjoy your day!

Debi

Never Dull!

I think this has been one of the busiest weeks I have had in a very long time! I am making the rabbit pattern available today on Patchwork Posse's Blog. I am a guest contributor and Becky asked me to make it available. She's adorable and I'm sure you'll love making her. I am also working on a quilt for the Quilt Market. The designer is re-writing the pattern because the fabric producer wants a king size quilt. I am making it as she sends me the directions. In between the parts, I am working on the mystery quilt for the Quilters Club of America. We are nearly ready to get it out there...the site admin is a new hire and we are working out some details.  As soon as they are ready, I'll let you know. I hope you join me. We already have 20 quilters in our group! I'm excited :-D

Here is the quilt I'm working on for Market. I have it folded here, it's huge. This is only a quarter of the quilt and it is too big for a picture! I am hoping to get a better pic with a different camera. It's called "Outside the Box" by Jessica Smith of The Quilt and Needle. She's an amazing designer. I am making it with some lovely Fabri-Quilt fabrics.

Why don't you hop on over to Patchwork Posse and get the rabbit pattern, then go to Quilters Club of America and join the mystery quilt. Even a beginner can make this one, I have made the directions quite simple. And of course, watch this space for a final pic of Outside the Box before it heads off to The International Quilt Market. Thanks for visiting me today. I appreciate you. Please share your current projects. I saw Alecia is making costumes for her children (my grandchildren!!) for Halloween, how fun! What are you working on??

Don't forget to take time to breathe!!

Debi

It Works!!

I have been madly cutting and sewing on the mystery for two days. I did the calculations and had my husband (the engineer) check them, they are all correct. Everything is coming together beautifully. I love the pattern Mackenzie and I came up with. I wish I could share it with you, I have taken tons of pics, but some who follow my blog are making it and I don't want to spoil the fun! I am just waiting for the Quilters Club of America to give the official go ahead. If you love to sew and make a quilt, please join the fun. I promise I have made this pattern as easy as possible and even a beginner can accomplish it. Be looking for the first clue soon.  I'll keep you posted.

The fabric didn't come for the quilt I am making for the International Quilt Market. I also need to finish the quilt on the quilting frame so it is ready for the Market quilt when I get it completed. This has given me time to work on the mystery. I am loving the quiet time to just plow forward. Today I hope to finish the mystery or at least get the center finished so I can work on the border. I have to take measurements and work out angles as it is a pieced border. Maybe I will even post the clues on the blog to save some followers time joining another "club" although it is free. The site (quiltersclubofamerica.com) has lots of good tips and a large quilting community. You wouldn't regret joining if you love to make quilts...or even sew.

My family will be home tomorrow, part at the crack of dawn and the rest at the crack of dusk. I will be heading to the airport twice! It will be nice to have them home. They have had an awesome time at Grandma Montgomery's 100th birthday. It has been so quiet around here.

Have a fantastic day. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you. Please share on one of our Facebook pages...The Crafter's Thread or Pieces Squared. I love to see what you're doing and hear what going on in your life.

happy day,

Debi

Too Quiet

It is just crazy weird being able to get things done so quickly. I worked all day Friday on my mystery. I made a ton of progress putting it together. I had Shane re-check my math and we agree on the numbers. YAY!!! The mystery takes four fabrics, or you can use scraps as long as you stay with four very specific colors. You won't need much of each unless you are making the king. My biggest piece is 4-1/2 yards. This includes the border as well! I am pleased with the use of every scrap.

I expect the fabric to arrive today or Monday for the quilt for the International Quilt Festival. I will be busily working on that for the next week or so. That's why I'm working so hard to get the mystery finished and written. I need to pour my time into that KING SIZE quilt!

It is really quiet around here. The dogs are just sleeping and hanging around my feet. I am so not used to this! There is no one needing Nana time, mom time, or wife time. I am not sure I am going to cope too well! 

I hope you have a great weekend and have time to do the things you love. Please join us for the mystery on Quilters Club of America. The website is free and to participate is also free. Just join the fun. Or, you could email or pm me and I will send you the clues as they go live. I would love you to join us, the group is growing daily. Please post your projects on our "Crafter's Thread" or "Pieces Squared" page on Facebook. I can't wait to see your progress. 

enjoy your day,

Debi

Off and Running...

Now that the group is live on Quilters Club of America, you can join in and make the mystery quilt with us. Go to quiltersclubofamerica.com, hit the "Groups" tab and you will find "Mystery Quilt 11 - Coming Soon".  That's me!! We will be starting as soon as admin works out all the kinks and I can easily post everything, basically they have to grant permission for me to be the group admin. 

Above are my fabric choices for this mystery! The pic is kinda dark, the fabrics are black, grey, white, and red. Gonna be gorgeous!

Also the children, Leah, and Dylan are headed to the east coast to visit family, so I have a little over a week with no school and no children around the house. I will be off and running with these two quilts I need to do VERY QUICKLY! My husband is gone for the weekend. It is his grandmother's 100th birthday. They are all going for the party. With dogs and money, it wasn't viable for me to go. I wanted to clean while they were gone, but alas, I can't....I need to sew, poor me :-D

For the quilt for Jess and the Fabri-Quilt booth at the Quilt Market, the fabric is in the hands of the USPS right now. It has been priority mailed to me, hopefully I will receive it Saturday or Monday. I only have a two week turnaround time! AND, the rabbit pattern goes live October 6th on Patchwork Posse. Woo Hoo!

Off to the airport to drop everyone, then the fun can begin! I can sew in my pjs and NO make-up! Have a fantastic weekend. Hope you have some time to do the things you love and get a lot accomplished. Please post your pics on the Facebook group. Can't wait to see what you're up to.

happy crafting,

Debi

AMAZING!

I am amazed by the happenings of the past couple of days. Not only am I doing the next mystery for the Quilters Club of America, but I have been asked to make a quilt for the Fabri-Quilt Booth at the International Quilt Market. I need to have the king size quilt top completed, quilted, and back to them within three weeks. They are priority mailing the fabric to me today! How lucky is this girl?? I am in quilt heaven right now:-)

The pattern is one of Jess' (the amazing quilt design guru I test for) called Outside the Box. The good thing is I have made this pattern before. She asked me to make a king size this time and I get to have the quilt after the quilt market. It is an amazing pattern. Here is my first one, sandwiched and ready to quilt (it has since been finished and gifted!!). I love it! Can't wait to dig in and get 'er done!

I have also been busy on the fabric requirements and color hints for the mystery quilt to get posted on the Quilters Club of America site as soon as admin has my group up and running. I am having WAY too much fun. It is quite busy with deadlines and "hurry up and wait" aspects, but I work very well under pressure.

What's your best work environment? I do work well under pressure, but love the peace and quiet to just get the job done. If I need to work fast, I put the fast music on loud and lock myself away. If I need to do creative work, I usually sit on my bed with my headphones in listening to classical music, eating crackers and fruit!! In my bare feet, nonetheless! Always in bare feet, no other way to work! 

Please let us know what you're up to and your best work (play) environment. I love to hear how others do things, maybe I can change my way of doing something to make it tons easier.  Can't wait to hear from you.

Thanks again,

Debi