Last Customer quilt that must be ready for Christmas....

Here is a sneak peak at the stitching...the panto is called Meadow flowers.

It's Here....

This is the before picture.

Although the machine arrived okay, the case was shattered.

I am looking into getting money back from the shipper as it was insured.

This is what she looks like with the first layer of dirt off. Her needle moves up and down. Her hand wheel turns as smooth as butter. Just need to find time to get her switched into my treadle and find a place to store the older machine, as the case for this one no longer is an option.

The motor, light and foot peddle are at the shop getting new wiring. It looks like it melted during storage. Not sure if I will put it back on the machine ,but I want the option.

Ordered my Christmas present....

I have been looking for quite awhile for a really nice Red Eye Machine on Ebay. Tonight I finally found one at a good price, so I jumped on it, as I had gift money to get myself something nice for Christmas. It is coming from Florida and I can hardly wait to put it on my treadle frame. 

On the machine...

 Working with glow-in-the-dark thread and about two thirds of the way done. When I started having problems with thread shredding.....Grrrrr.

Put on this test sandwich and rethreaded the machine, put in a new needle, still problems. Next I took off the needle plate cleaned out underneath, retested an now everything seems fine.

Almost finished.... looking good under the black light!

Aiken County Quilt Show...

Here is a sample of the quilts at the show. These are just the Customer quilts that I quilted, congratulations on the ribbons that you earned!

 This one belongs to my Mother. She will be happy to get it back all finished and ready to hang for this 4th of July.

I was happy to see a ribbon on the only quilt that I entered. It was made and quilted by me. This year has been a busy one lots of quilting for Customers. Thank you for letting me quilt for you!

Note to self "Try to get more of my own quilts quilted." 

What I am currently creating....

I just finished all the Customer quilts for the Aiken Quilt Show entry deadline and a few for the North Augusta Quilt Show deadline. Also finished two small wall hangings of my own to enter.

 Now I am tracing and resizing some motifs from the fabric of a boys Birthday quilt to make into a custom panto. I could not find a ready made panto of reptiles to buy.

My Kitty Boys are worn out by all this work! Good thing there is only batting scraps in my sewing basket....

Went to Asheville Quilt Show ....

I drove to Asheville , NC on Friday October 2nd, just before all the rain really hit our area of the country.

 This quilt was the Best of Show.

 The quilting on this was beyond awesome, as it is all HAND quilted.

 I am posting these two miniature quilts for Janet O. to see.

The quilting on this the second place winner was really impressive.

 This one won the first place ribbon. All the little leaves are dimensional. I didn't touch it, just put my finger in front of it for the picture.

I would show more pictures of the show, but as I was looking for the stats on these few quilts in the program I read their Photography Policy. It stated that photos were okay to take, but for your own personal use only. The Asheville Quilt Guild Is selling DVDs of the quilts on their web site. 

It was an a really good show and North Carolina has some very talented Quilters.

I picked up these kits from Shakerwood Woolens booth. There are going to be nine of these soon and you can get them

HERE from Cathi Gainey.

 The book is a new to me technique for applique that was demonstrated by the author Ann Holmes. The pieces of velvet were just for fun and the needle keep pattern is a necessity.

 This is what Chipper was doing behind me while I was taking pictures.

Scotty was helping by doing the laundry, not sure that I like his folding technique...

Sunday's quilt finish...

 Thank you Mae for letting me quilt this for you.

 I used the panto 'Dragon Wings'

Picture from the back.

I am onto my next Customer quilt and it is going to take some creativity.

It is a very graphic One Block Wonder. 

Carolyn's quilt is finished quilting...

 I put sail boats in the white spaces.

 The border is hard to see the quilting, so I kept it simple. I put an anchor in each corner , some swags around the center and piano keys around the edge.

 Love the backing fabric.

Last but not least here is a shot of the overall quilt.

Thank you Carolyn for letting me quilt this for you.

The rush is on...

 This is the current Customer quilt  that I am working on. I have the pattern for it in my head now just to get it done. The local Guild Quilt Show is in November, so I will be very busy for the next month and a half.

If I get a break before the Christmas rush I plan to try to get this quilt pieced for myself.

This is the other kit that I want to make. I am thinking of making it smaller so it can be a wall hanging and I may be able to get a second top as a bonus.

Finished the Aunt Millie Quilt yesterday....

Took a few pictures to show you...

 Here is the overall quilt. It is so hard to get pictures of black quilts, it is much prettier in person.

 View of the upper left corner.

Close up of my favorite block.

This is the next quilt in the que, it belongs to Lynn F.

Busy week....

Here is a peek at the quilt I am working on this week.

Hand dyes ready....

Getting the excess dye rinsed out of fabric is a long arduous job in the 100 degree weather. So, I finally got the fabric from my class with Jamie Wallen rinsed, washed and pressed.

 This was a piece of sateen fabric I tried to get a sun or flower. 

 Tied with cotton string used only yellow and orange. Some of the white is still not dyed, but I like the effect.

 Blues are my favorite color, but I tried interesting mix of green,red, orange and yellow. Scotty liked this one the best.

 One of the happy surprises. Not sure how I got these muted colors.

 This was tied with cotton string and I guess I didn't get quite enough dye on it. Still pretty though.

 This was one of the last to get dye and I used some of the diluted dyes. I think this would be good to use in some rose blocks.

This one is a two yard piece of flannel. It took the dye very well and stayed vibrant.

The overall experience of dying fabric was fun, but the finishing is hard work. I would probably do it again in a class or group, but I am in no hurry to start it on my own. Next time I will be ready to bring some of my own fabric and be more daring with the dyes. Have you dyed any fabric? What was your experience?