Catch Up Time... what?

It's been much too long between posts - I know! So much has been going on over here - I'm still down to only the one machine. And with still being only one machine I have been like a crazy woman working on quilts. Working during the week on my already behind client schedule and quilting all weekend long on secret stuff for market peeps and a couple of other things (and no, I can't share any of that stuff - secret or other) -- I lie, I'll share that they were amazed by my quilting. I don't care who you are, hearing those words feels great! On another note, I truly have to laugh (out loud) - I've been posting my client quilts on my client Facebook page as well as my other blog and every one is like OMG you're so fast. Not really, I'm just quilting every hour of every day... it's like being an accountant at tax time. I'm just working really long days which online appear as being really fast.

So, back to the many things going on in my little quilty world. Let's start with the sample quilt I stitched on for Quiltworx - OMG, what a beautiful quilt. I've already posted it on my other blog with many more photos, but I'll share the full picture again here. This is one of the quilts for market that I am able to share:

Weathered Windmill - Quiltworx/Judy Niemeyer

Isn't is awesome? Click on the links above for more details. I know that you will be able to see this at market, it'll be in either the Quiltworx booth or the Timeless Treasures booth -- as it is pieced in Quiltworx new fabric line, Reclaimed West -- so if you're at market check it out and feel free to send me a pic! I can't wait to be able to share the other stuff I've worked on -- absolute beauties, hopefully you'll see them soon!

Next we'll jump to the MQX Quilt Festivals - Midwest show. I had entered The Thing with Feathers and also True Colors (aka White Lines). Honestly, I wasn't expecting much so let me tell you how tickled I was last week when I received the email stating I had won a ribbon... OMG really?!!

Let me tell you, the excitement I feel when reading those words never gets old! Unfortunately I wasn't going to the Midwest show so I was depending on my peeps to keep me informed, and they did! Turns out, The Thing with Feathers won an Honorable Mention - wooohoooo!  I love this quilt, but then, you already know that. Several of my friends snapped the pic for me (thanks again to all of you):

Ooooohhhh lookie there, that's a beautiful ribbon next to that quilt (with some awful fold lines)! But wait... the news gets even better! Turns out True Colors (aka White Lines) snatched up a Faculty Ribbon as well (thanks Linda for snapping the ribbon pic and letting me know). For those that don't know this about me, any choice ribbon (teacher, viewer, judge) is one of my favorite ribbons -- it means that my quilt was some one's absolute favorite -- how can you beat that?!! So here's a picture of True Colors and also her ribbon:

Winning anything on this quilt is pure amazement to me... seriously, super sweet icing. There were so many issues with  this quilt creating, quilting, the lines, blocking, painting, etc -- I truly just wanted to share her with people so they can see that mistakes and problems can still turn out beautiful! 

Now on to the non-quilty stuff. In all that craziness I did manage to sneak away for an afternoon of family fun - it was much needed and even more appreciated. It all started when the littles came over with a surprise:

One of those is mine!!! OMG, pure deliciousness. What started out as a quick visit turned into an all-day adventure.  It was one of those super-amazing unplanned days! Aren't they the best?!

Some of you know this has been the year of pool issues. We've been fighting with the pool since March -- chemical balance, crazy algae that wouldn't go away, broken salt generator, etc. I have been in my pool a total of 3 times since March... really!  It has been depressing, disappointing, I've actually gone numb to the entire pool issue. Well, in the past two weeks we have finally resolved ALL the issues - and yes, I spent yesterday afternoon floating my stress away - it was nice! 

Oh and last night I found out we are the proud grands of a little fluffer-nutter! She weighs in at a whooping less than two pounds!

I hope all of you have been enjoying life - both quilty and non-quilty. Til next time... 

Just a little catch up...

That's all I'm doing anymore - catching up.  Come to think of it, I can't even recall when I was ahead of myself.  Perhaps it has never been?!!  Hmm, I might just have to ponder on that...

Until that answer arises, let's see what has happened in my little quilty world:

Client quilts - still behind, but working some crazy overtime (kind of morning, afternoon, and evening stitching).

Old Gam had a maintenance check up.  Well, it turned into a maintenance pick-up as she had to go away for repairs.  So instead of having my usual two machines for multiple chaos I am now down to just the one for a few weeks.  Here is Richard (Pat's Calico Cottage) prepping old Gam for her road trip for some heavy maintenance and new parts:

I finally ordered the purple fabrics for Lucy.  I went back and forth between solids or prints, it was all I was thinking about, but finally decided on solids.  Shocking, I know!  I ordered them from Cherrywood - the eggplant 8 step gradation - because yes, my Lucy will be purple!  I can not wait to get started on this!

Oh, remember the JTA field trip a couple of weeks ago? I had purchased the ladybug fabric for place mats.  Well, I made them:

True Colors was chosen as The Quilt Show's quilt of the day on 9/5 - that was cool!

I wrote a little article for Gammill on the AQS QuiltViews blog - check it out when you get the chance - http://www.quiltviews.com/light-it-up-or-not-a-how-to-from-gammill  - I'll have a couple of more of these in the very near future.  I will definitely let you know when they become available.  In the meantime, check out the other great stuff on the AQS Blog!

I think that's about it... for now!