Next Day Air?

I learned another lesson yesterday: Time constraints cause machine failures.

As I've mentioned here before, I'm exhibiting two quilts this weekend in the Ann Arbor Quilt Show, and I have to deliver them to the venue first thing Friday morning. It is now Tuesday morning, and only one of the quilts is complete! I put the second one (shown above) in the frame on Sunday, and quilted a couple of rows before bedtime. I was planning to finish quilting yesterday and today, which would still allow time to bind it, label it, attach the hanging sleeve, and wash and dry it before Friday. You can probably guess that my trusty Pfaff refused to cooperate; the free-motion quilting foot would not stay centered. Every time I crossed a seam the foot shifted position slightly, and eventually the needle would hit the rim of the foot, jamming the machine and making a frightening grinding sound. I broke two needles before I figured out what was happening, and then I couldn't find a way to prevent the foot from slipping. Buying a new foot seemed like the quickest fix.

It wasn't. I called three shops. The first one, where I bought the machine, was closed. The other two don't carry Pfaffs, but said if I brought in the broken foot they might be able to match it with another brand or a generic. They couldn't. They seemed puzzled that I hadn't thought to order the foot online. I had. But I also thought it would be faster to pick one up locally. It wasn't. So.....

I ordered one online, and paid $50.oo to have it shipped next day air. The foot only cost $24.oo. I couldn't sleep last night for worrying about the looming deadline and berating myself for procrastinating. (See previous post!) It's now 9:00 am, and the foot isn't here. I've never used next-day air, and am not at all confident that I will have the foot in time to finish the quilt. I'll keep you posted!

Coming Off The Frame!

I did it! I was able to quilt the entire project without turning the quilt, and "floating" the top worked very well. I'm really happy with the way it turned out! Now I just have to finish binding it, add a label and hanging sleeve, and deliver it to the show site on July 25. GULP! That's coming way too fast, especially since I haven't even finished assembling my second entry yet! I may need to recruit some volunteers for the second quilt's binding and sleeve. I will never procrastinate again. I will never procrastinate again.I will never procrastinate again.I will never procrastinate again.I will never procrastinate again.I will never procrastinate again.I will never procrastinate again.I will never procrastinate again......

Framed At Last!

Yesterday I finally got one of my show quilts in the frame and started quilting it. It has to be done by July 25th, and I have to quilt a second entry as well, so I don't have much time to spare!

This one is queen sized, and is the largest quilt I've ever done by
machine. I am "floating" the top and batting rather than rolling them on feeder bars, which is another first for me. I'm hoping I can finish it without having to turn it top-to-bottom, since I'm not sure how to do that! Luckily this quilt is going to be mine, so if it's a little off it won't matter too much. (And the back, where the mistakes are likely to be most obvious, won't be in view at the show!)

Quilts and Cats

If you are a potential quilt buyer, please read no further! This post is meant for you quilters. You know who you are, and I know what you are hiding! Apparently, quiltmakers are not supposed to like animals. At least, most of the item descriptions I read proudly announce: "Made in a pet-free and smoke-free environment." Well, smoke-free I can believe. But frankly, quilts are cat magnets, and so are quilters, so I just can't believe all those "pet-free" claims. I imagine I know more quilters than the average person, and I know that most of them have pets. In fact, most of them can probably produce photos similar to those above! But still, those ads keep saying "pet-free."

I do try to keep the cats off the quilts-in-progress, but I don't ban them from the studio while I'm sewing/quilting. And, honestly, they seem very interested in all phases of the creative process. If only they had opposable thumbs, they'd be excellent assistants. And for me, one of the perks of working at home is enjoying their companionship. I wash and double rinse all my quilts upon completion,and tumble them dry. From that point on they are kept in a strictly imposed cat-free zone. (All of the quilts shown belong to family. None will be sold while I'm still alive! ) No customer has ever complained about fur or dander on my quilts, so I guess this works. I don't mention the cats in item descriptions, but I don't claim to be pet-free, either. Do you? Are you?

Strolling in the Garden

I love flowers, and have always wanted to have an English garden. Unfortunately, I'd need an English gardener, too. I don't particularly like to work in the garden; it's too hot, it's too messy, and it hurts my back. (Other than that, I'd be okay.) Anyway, I enjoy looking at flowers in other people's yards, and buying bouquets, and using floral fabrics in my quilts. I have floral paintings on the walls, needlepoint flowers, floral upholstery and linens. And I love checking out the floral art of my fellow Etsy Interior Design Team members, examples of which are shown at left.

Lovin' the Craft

The EtsyBlogger Street Team carnival theme this week is"Lovin' the Craft." Everyone on the team has an Etsy shop, of course. But our blog carnival post is supposed to feature crafts other than the art we sell.

Over the years I've enjoyed ceramics and needlepoint, but my favorite hobby was building miniatures. Starting in 1985, I built and decorated the dollhouse shown above, and made most of the furniture from kits. The project took almost five years, and I loved every single minute of it! Miniature building is an expensive hobby, so I'll probably never make another house, but I have this one on display in my home and I enjoy seeing it every day. You can read about the building process and see many more photos on my web site.

Featuring Alicia Mae!

Alicia Mae is the featured EtsyBlogger Street Team member for June 2008. Alicia has three Etsy shops: AliciaMae offers jewelry, masks, and trinket boxes. AliciaMaePrints carries photographs, artwork, and bookmarks. RandomSupplies sells....well, random supplies, for the crafter in you!

Alicia ships worldwide, and combines shipping charges across all three shops. If you hurry you can take advantage of her big "Moving Sale." This week only, as Alicia prepares to move from North Carolina to New Hampshire, she is offering sales in all three shops. Then they'll be closed until she's settled again, in mid-July.

You can read more about Alicia and her artwork on her blog. Have a good move back to snow country, Alicia!

Pup & Duckies

When I make a baby quilt I always use the leftover fabric to make a coordinating mini quilt, which I attach to the paws of a stuffed animal. I include these with the baby quilt. The puppy and mini quilt above mark the first time I've sold these separately. One of my steady customers requested it for a baby shower gift. The mom-to-be likes duckies, and the gift-giver loves dogs (she has FOUR yellow Labs!) So I used a rubber ducky print for the stars, and the puppy to hold the quilt. I think I'll make more mini quilts for the shop, just to have a wider spread in the price range. Probably more table runners and placemats, too, for the same reason. Also, these smaller items will be easier than quilts to transport and display at craft shows.