Feathers and More Feathers

I have been longarming for 3 years now. It really does not seem that long, but, it has been. In that period of time I have never been asked to put feathers on a quilt. Therefore, I haven't really practiced them. Wellllllll, guess what. I have a top in the que that has feathers requested. I really want these to turn out very nicely. So, I am spending a few days watching videos and practicing feathers on my white board and my sketch book. I can draw them, and most of the time they look pretty good. This is a confidence issue. That is why I have 'messed' around for 3 days and avoided putting even a practice piece on the frame. I draw feathers while watching TV. I draw feathers in the air while stopped at a red light. I draw feathers in my dreams-----------Those really look good.

The time has come to at least put on a practice piece. This is a 'Love' quilt top from Devine that I am going to use for 'feather practice'. It will be interesting to see how it does turn out. I will be using dream blend in the mid loft for the batting so that I can, hopefully, actually see the feathers. The 'real' quilt will have wool as the batting.

Practice Piece Backing and Batting

I am taking the top to Design Group for input on thread and the path to take across the top since it is a rail fence. I plan to use So fine thread both top and bobbin. I think that I know the color that I want to use, but, want to see what 'the group' has to say. We have plenty of opinions floating around, but, no one gets offended if we don't take their advice.

Practice 'Love' Quilt Top

I know that I can do this. I have learned that I just really need to slow down with my freemotion or my curves get really loopy. This will take a lot of concentration to get done and Kim Brunner makes it look sooooooo easy.

Olivia

The top that I am practicing for is a log cabin in black and white. The feathers will go in the white/light areas and I intend to use some type of angular quilting in the black and white/dark areas. I plan to put a feathered heart in the center. I will take pictures and show you the progress as I go. Remember that I am using Olivia who is a hand guided Gammill Classic Plus. The plus is a stitch regulator.

Wish me luck and I'll post as I go.




POST SCRIPT:  Don't forget that registration for May Mester closes March 30. There are still spaces available in both classes so don't be shy..................Register now.

What a Week

We started our week with a birthday party last Sunday. My daughter turned 40. I am really not sure how that happened and I don't know where the time has gone, but she really is 40 years old. Rather nice young woman too. She is a practicing Dental Hygienist and a Mom to a wonderful little girl that will also be having a birthday soon.

Monday night was the Devine Guild Meeting. Our meeting did involve food, so I took a tomato pie. Not a crumb remained when it was time to go home. The food was fantastic as usual. Our program for the evening involved 3 demos. Kim and Geri did a great one on their applique techniques. Those 2 are doing some beautiful applique. Roada of course inspected it all.

Mary showed us how to piece and chop up a 9 patch and Lynn demonstrated how to inset circles. Good demos. Good meeting.

As usual Roada was welcomed by all who attended. She seems to draw a lot of attention.

Two clients picked up their projects this week and were pleased with the results. Somehow, I stayed busy and actually completed a top for another client. This is a Auburn quilt for the sister of a friend. He is a staunch Alabama fan, so, paying for this Auburn quilt will really hurt his feelings.

Mr. OLT also had a birthday this week. It was either Wed, Thurs, or Fri. we are not really sure which day. I think I know, but he says that he has legally changed the date so that it won't interfere with the President's celebration.

Friday was nail day and Roada went with me. You can read more about that later on her blog. I have not had time to load those pictures yet.

Saturday was spent trying to re-adjust the tension on Olivia. After months of perfect stitches, she stumped her toe and now her stitches look like __________  terrible. I also spent Sunday (today) doing the same thing. I put a practice piece on the frame and worked with her all day. One minute everything was wonderful the next minute it wasn't. I have an email into Pat and Richard for a 'house call'. They want me to bring Olivia to them and I just don't have time to do that with Summer Fun Quilt Camp coming up. Hopefully we can work out a time that Richard can come to Columbia. Anyone else need some service on their Gammill machine?? Maybe he could make a day of service calls around Columbia.

We are down to 10 days until Summer Fun 2. I really need to get started on everything that needs to be done for that. I will have to spend some time out in the shop taking inventory and making sure everything is in working order. There are somethings that I won't need to take this time since we will all be sewing in a new location (at least I think that we will). However, there are somethings that will have to be added for the same reason. I am really looking forward to the chance for all of us to be together in one room. It will be loads of fun. I will be at Gravatt on Wednesday to make sure that this is going to work and I'll post to the blog and facebook regarding the outcome.

OK, that's enough for now. Signing off and going nite nite.

SUNDAY FUN

I put this little top on the frame today, just to play. I think that it belongs to Greater Columbia Guild. I was playing along and doing loops and having fun. I forgot that Piper was suppose to spend the afternoon with me.

Well, once she arrived we decided that she could 'help' me with the quilting of this top. When I got to the end we stood her up on a stool and she held the handles and I helped her guide Olivia. Her first question (remember she is 6 years old) was how do you do smooth loops. Well, she decided that maybe this was a little harder than she thought. She did help me finish the top and the picture below is what we did. I can't tell you how much fun that was.

I'm not real sure that you can see her quilting. She was amazed at what it felt like to drive Olivia. However, she assured me that a little girl would love this quilt. She was quite impressed that it was being given away to some special little girl.

Out of my 2 granddaughters I am sure to get at least one quilter------maybe both.

See you later this week.

My Design Wall

This is currently on my design wall. I am working on 'Newport Beach' from the book 'Scraps' by Judy Martin. I bought this book years ago just for this quilt.

Don't you just love the optical illusion? This is so much fun. I have found the instructions a little confusing, but, that has not stopped the progress.

I work on this for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evenings. The rest of the day is spent with Olivia and whatever she has going on. You can keep up with what she is doing by following her on facebook.

OK, my 2 hours have ended. Back to Olivia.

Magic !!

This has been a magical day. First this elf Mr. OLT put new wheels on Olivia. I have felt that she was not moving properly since the beginning. These are the new EZ Glide Wheels that are available from Lakeside Quilt Company  . The instructions for installation were good, but, we did run into some problems that were solved by contacting people on the Gammill Yahoo group. These wheels are sooooooo sweeeeeeet. I can't believe the difference in the movement of the machine. I loved her before, but, I love her more now.

Then, would you believe!!!! Mr. OLT is decorating the Christmas Tree. He has not done this in at least 15 years!!!!!!! Has anyone seen my husband? If so, tell him not to come home, I like this guy better.  Mr. OLT has really out done himself today.

Now, if I could just get him to finish this project. He has left the tree with lights on only half of it and the lights are dangling down on the floor. He did not realize that he was going to have to 'shape' the tree as he placed the lights.  This is the small tree that I will leave 'put together' for the next several years. I only put up a large tree every 4 years and this is not that time.

I have a new top on 'Olivia' right now and I am putting a cute pantograph on it. I Love Olivia!!!! she is a very hard working girl.

Maybe more tomorrrow.

Drum Roll Please !!!!

I would like to present OLIVIA!!!!

Yes, I have finally named my girl. Believe it or not, I have had her now for a year. Now she has a name. She has the same name as one of my favorite patients. Such a smart young lady.

So now I can feel better about talking with and about my Olivia.

I have had a very busy weekend and I will post more about that later. I will tell you that it has been two busy Fabric Allocation Road Trip(s).