So last night, while Brian was out to LOPSA, I watched four new training DVDs about my ProStitcher system.  Boring to the rest of you, I’m sure but exceedingly informative to me.  I’m going to work on my hired sewing tonight and tomorrow night and hopefully finish all but the one pair of pants for which I need new thread.  Then I’ll be able to start working on the quilting stuff on Saturday– can’t wait!!

I’ve already got a plan of attack: I’m going to draw quilt blocks on my muslin (practice fabric, batting and muslin again) and then, follow the videos to see if I can do what I need to do.  Hopefully, I’ll do it without breaking the machine!  ;>)

JK, Babe!!

I need to figure out how to set up links here so that I can remind all of you that I’m referring to Brian as “Babe”.

So I get done with work and I retreat to the basement to sew– there’s a shock, eh?

While walking Lexi this afternoon, I met a neighbor that is catty-corner to our house and, guess what: she needs a 100% guaranteed all cotton quilt.  Wow– I think I know where she can get one.  I’ve gotta start remembering to take my business cards with me!

This weekend I’m going to the JoAnn’s to pick up some thread– yes, believe it or not, there’s a color of sewing and serger thread  that I don’t have– so I can finish up those pants I’m altering.  Tomorrow night, I’ll finish up the rest of the pants and then I’ll have Thursday and Friday to work on the skirt and, possibly, even finish one of my wall hangings.

The wall hangings that I’m working on are a new concept for me. In a way, it is foundation piecing but it is also “quilt as you go”.  At this stage, I’m joining blocks together, and adhering the back-bindings with a fusible like “stitch witch”.  While it is fun to put together, it is HOT on my finger tips!

I can’t wait to finish them so I can take pictures!

Frankly, everyone on the Yahoo groups for sewing always spell “so” as “sew” which is one reason why I never spell it that way.  It just seemed appropriate this time.

I told Brian that I tend to apply my natural work ethic and, when choosing between client sewing and my sewing, want to get the client sewing finished first.  To that end, while I need to make some nursing tops for my sewing student, I need to fit the pattern to her before I can begin those projects but, I have my new client’s alterations to work on in the interim.  I spent 2 hours yesterday and 5 hours today sewing for the client and, as I recall, I’ve got about 8 pairs of pants taken in and shortened up.  I’ve got three more pants and two skirts to go– probably another five hours but we’ll see.

I did do a little rearranging of some “tiles” of fabric for wall hangings that I’m making in the evening but, stopped that to string some beads for the wall hangings with more details and embellishments to come.

I have a new client for my business– a neighbor has about a dozen pairs of pants and two skirts to take in and/or hem up/down.  Lovely.  I really don’t like doing alterations but, for the bucks, why not?

My sewing student is also having me do some sewing for her since she can no longer sit in front of a sewing machine for any length of time.

New stuff I like to sew way more than alterations– alterations, especially on lined skirts and pants, can be tough.

Well, I’d better get to it!

I’m not used to WordPress, needless to say– I got my first comment from my second user.  That was very cool– one of the Paducah Pals saw Brian’s quilt and liked it.

I’ve gotta figure out how to do this but, right now, it’s off to the sewing room to have fun!  Later I’ve got a new client coming over for some alterations work; don’t get excited– I’m going to stop doing alterations after I finish her stuff.  I’ve got to spend time on my craft sewing!

. . . he still makes me laugh.  This morning my hair was doing “interesting things” . . . Brian went to kiss me goodbye and glanced at my hair, bent to kiss me but before connecting, glanced at the same spot in my hair again.  Yes, it was a bad bed-head bump and it was funny but his reaction was all the funnier!

The fun part for me is reliving his facial expressions throughout the morning and chuckling to myself.

13 years and he still makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.  I love that man!!

. . . getting a box of 12 new bobbin threads that is so exciting???  I’ve got an order for thread that I’ve been waiting on since I got the HandiQuilter.  It requires “certain” threads for both top and bottom (the top threads are pretty much anything, really) and the bottom threads are particularly critical to the function of the machine.

The machine “came with” a spool of thread (whoopee!!) and one bobbin already wound (yeah, I know, it ain’t much but it’s mine!) but, let’s be real– this machine is huge and can do GREAT big sewing projects and, as a result, needs GREAT big spools of thread.  Yes, I know– I’ll take a picture, okay?

How many of these pesky “End-O-Quarters” have I been through in my career?  More than I’d care to admit to and certainly more than I’d care to repeat– please!  Once was enough!

Sometimes the EOQs are worse than other times and this appears to be one of the easier ones.  I have a really GREAT manager and she keeps things on target for the whole month so that we end up with a lot less pressure.

Well, who knows how long this will go tonight.  It will, however, go . . .

Ya know, when I told Brian that I wanted to start posting again, I’m pretty sure it’s because I had something to say but, I just wish I could remember what it was!

Took receipt on a package from HandiQuilter today– contained 10 bobbins (size M) and two packages of each of the needles that I’ll need if/when I break one.  The machine requires some specialty equipment but, in case you ever doubt what you can get me for a birthday/Christmas/whatever gift, they have a handy-dandy website from which you can order “stuff” or you can simply get me a gift card.

Yes, I know that’s a shameless plug but when I first started looking at the site, they didn’t have ANY of that so I was pleased to see that they had updated the site so that _*I*_ could order things for myself, rather than going through a dealer and paying the mark-up for it.

I promise that someday I’ll get over having this machine but, I’m afraid that it will still take some time so bear with me!

It’s been a long time since I did a daily blog.  Other than complaining about my hip hurting (yes, I’ve managed to develop arthritis there, too!), is there really enough to talk about?  Hmm, let’s see . . .

For my anniversary present to Brian, I gave him this quilt . . .

"For My Hero"

Brian gave me . . . the Fusion 24 from HandiQuilter . . .

Fusion24 with ProStitcher

The ProStitcher part is the bit that’s going to help me make more beautiful quilts.  Drawing flowers has never been a strong point for me so this will help — A LOT!!

Since our anniversary on May 30, I’ve been sewing for my student who is 8-1/2 months pregnant and learning my machine.  Well, after it was installed on the 16th of June, I began learning my machine.  I’m doing pretty well considering I’ve not had any formal training but I’m not going to declare myself a “professional quilter” until I at least work on my own quilt tops (yeah, that stack I have in the closet!).

It’ll come with time and I have to be patient.

And NO, I won’t be retiring any time soon– I still have to HELP pay for the Fusion!!  He wouldn’t really GIVE me a gift that expensive!!  (Or would he and I just figured I had to help with it?)

Hey, Brian . . . Honey?