As you all know, we purchased a Fusion from HandiQuilter which will be the only long arm machine I will ever need, ever again.  Man, I love that machine!  It quilts like nobody’s business but, I am finding that I am drawn to learning how to do quilting “free motion”, where I do it instead of a computer program (like the “ProStitcher” which is part of the machine that we purchased).  That’s not a bad thing– it’ll make doing whole cloth quilts and even some themed quilts easier.

I am finding that the more I go to HandiQuilter Club, run by the folks from whom I purchased my machine, the more I realize how little I know about machine long arm quilting.  Micro stippling– REALLY small meandering lines– is gorgeous and can make an applique or embroidery design POP from a quilt.  I don’t know how to do it but I tried it yesterday and I’m hooked– I love it already and I am really lousy at it!

One thing that will help ME during this time of learning is that I have a stitch regulator on this machine and it wasn’t on the other machine that I had.  That will make a huge difference because I can slow down and make consistently sized stitches as I make the design.

Can’t wait to keep learning!

In addition to making my finger a permanent part of clothing, I also plan quilts while trying to go to sleep.  If I get really excited about one, I don’t get to sleep for HOURS.

Guess what I’m doing?  I’m currently planning a quilt that has me REALLY excited– it is going to be a reversible quilt with flashy batiks on one side and an almost bargello-like block on the other side.  I’ve never done a reversible quilt before but for my friend, it is worth it– No, it’s not free to her (not by any stretch of the imagination) but it is going to be fun to make up, none the less.

I just wish I could stop planning it and get some sleep!!

I posted this on Facebook, too: In more than forty years of sewing, I’ve poked myself with every size of pin and needle except a sewing machine needle– until today!  Today, I ran over my finger!!  I didn’t hit the nail itself, I don’t think, but the needle did go all the way through the finger at the top corner of the nail bed.

I was shoving/pushing some fabric through– I was altering some clothe$ for a client– and I just ran through my finger without stopping!  Yikes!!

I took an hour off after Brian helped getting the Bandaid on– I was a little shaky since there’s a bit of pain involved with that, ya know?  When I went back downstairs, I noticed with interest that the needle broke on my machine– who’da thunk?

I’m trying to remember the week and where it went, what I did, etc.  Why didn’t I put up a post or two?

Monday was work and sew a little, Tuesday the same, Wednesday was quilt guild, and Thursday was out to dinner with Friday back to the beginning of the week.

Last weekend I complained of not getting enough sleep and this morning, Brian and I were able to sleep until 9am!  Silly dog– she was too warm to get out from under the blankets, me thinks!

Not so much anymore!  Saturday morning started with a hair cut at 8:30, a run to Joann’s and then back home in time to take Lexi to the vet.  Then some sewing in between laundry loads.  Saturday night, while I fended for myself, Lexi made me nervous.  I’m usually not all that bad when I’m alone but Lexi, feeling the need to guard me, was a bit jumpier than usual, including barking at everything she could and then, running behind my legs to hide.  Seriously.

Today I ran the grocery shopping with Brian so I could get a feel for what I’d want to have to eat for the next few weeks.  I’m bored with cooking (I think that I mentioned that) so I’m trying to get excited by trying different things.

This afternoon, I went to “HandiQuilter Club” which was fun.  It’s one of the perks of owning the machine– they have these meetings once a month or so– to show you tips and tricks and techniques.  I know many of the functions of the machine but there’s always something new to learn.

Tonight Linda Rose came over for dinner and dessert and an episode of Babylon 5– we WILL get through this series, some day!

Back to work tomorrow . . . need more naps!!

I absolutely hate cooking and anything that takes me away from my sewing/quilting.  You know that about me, right?  If you didn’t, you haven’t been paying attention.

I have to figure out new things for my breakfast and lunch meals (those two in particular being the larger meals of the day) so that I feel my hunger is satisfied.  The food needs to be cookable on the weekends so that I can warm it up during the week and, of course, there has to be some variety.

I’ve been looking around the web and have found some recipes that look like they may entertain me without raising my cholesterol level and, perhaps, even allowing me to lose a bit of weight.  Wouldn’t that be lovely!

I’ll let you know how I progress, okay?

I’m having a lovely disagreement with Lexi as to who gets the bigger portion of the chair in my office.  Apparently, I’m only allowed the front two-thirds of the chair while she, of course, gets the rest of it so that ALL of her little body can get on it while mine seems to require constant reposition to un-sleep the bits that have fallen asleep due to poor circulation because I’m only “allowed” 2/3 of the chair!

Some dogs, eh?

I’m off this week– no, it’s not “vacation” in the truest sense of the word and that’s about all I can say.

Monday, as you already know, was spent in Michigan and Tuesday was spent running around with MANY errands that needed to be done.  Vestibular Rehabilitation appointment (which, other than making me dizzy, I’m not sure that it is succeeding) and an appointment with my wrist doctor for a cortizone shot.  He had suggested excision of the ganglion cyst but, since I’ll need that wrist to be fully operational in a couple of months when I go for my knee replacement surgery (Yes, it is the “IN” surgery this year!), we decided we’d wait until April or so of 2012.  Works for me!

Today, I’m home all day– YAYYY!!!  I’ve got to finish refolding/sorting through my fabrics and then I get to start some sewing.  A neighbor has asked me to make a quilt for her son for Christmas– I’d best get started on that soon!

Later a friend from church will be coming over to quilt some charity quilts that were sewn together over the weekend– that should also be lots of fun!  Fellowship and laughter is a good thing on a Wednesday!

Nope, pictures didn’t get downloaded yesterday but hope springs eternal!

I went to Michigan this past weekend– I flew out on Friday and back on Monday evening.  I saw my step-daughter from my last marriage and her family, including her 9 month old son.  Beautiful family and wonderful time spent catching up on 14 years!

We went to my sister’s house on Sunday afternoon where we were joined by all of my Michigan-based siblings for a lot of laughter and talk and some sandwiches and salads.  Kortney and her husband, Oliver, and the baby, Aiden, left at about 7:30 or so but I stayed overnight and spent time with Karen and Sue (my sisters) on Monday.  That was nice, too!

I flew home and Brian picked me up at the airport.  Lexi stayed at home but was glad to see me when we got there.

Pictures will be forthcoming but right now, the camera isn’t hooked up to the dock for downloading.