Hurricane Ida is currently scurrying along the Gulf Coast after having ricocheted off the tip of Mexico known as Cancun. I spent most of Sunday waiting for a phone call from my younger daughter that she had safely made it out of Cancun to Atlanta. Lisa and her husband originally were to take a four day trip to Cancun, which she was awarded for successful work, six months ago; but the flu was rampant outside of the United States, and the trip was cancelled, not just for them but for all 50 or so employees. By the time the trip was rescheduled, she was almost 5 months pregnant and hesitant to go, but the ob-gyn said there was no problem so she and her husband rearranged their schedules and planned on the trip. After all, it was free!
The first complication came when her sister Laura was diagnosed with H1N1 after exposing us all to it the weekend before. Laura is currently recovering and her children had had their shots so they were fine. But Lisa had just gotten her H1N1 shot a few days earlier so it wasn't effective yet. Another call to the ob-gyn and she was carrying around a bottle of TamiFlu just in case.
The trip involved going to Cincinnati to leave their two chocolate labs with Jeremy's mom, and then flying out of Cincinati airport to Atlanta and then to Cancun. The trip down was ok, the hotel was gorgeous, but the weather was awful--lots of rain and barely 15 minutes of sunshine to walk the beach.
By the time they left on Sunday, the wind had really picked up. Fortunately, they took off with no problems, then encountered some very bumpy air in flight, but landed on time at Atlanta. First call to Mom came about 7:30 pm. I am always grateful when I know they're on land and begged for another phone call when they arrived in Cincinnatti. Second Mom call came at almost 11 pm; they were again on the ground. Now I admit I thought about asking for another phone call when they got to Jeremy's mom's house but figured I was pushing my luck. Jeremy's mom could be in charge of worrying about their trip from the airport to her home. I went to bed.
I know they were greeted by two ecstatic dogs; Lily and Daisy probably slept right between them that night. I love that Jeremy and Lisa are fearless travelers and pretty much "Have passport, will travel" is their attitute. But I was glad when Lisa said she didn't want to travel any more during her pregnancy. As a mom, I like to keep them on the ground.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Post Quilt Show!
The show is over and I think I am suffering from post show depression. It has been so much a part of my daily schedule that I feel I don't have anything to do. Of course, there are all those tops I need to quilt!
The show was gorgeous, 150 quilts, about 800 visitors, and 9 vendors. We had rainy weather on Friday but gorgeous weather on Saturday and our venue at Bryn Du couldn't have been more welcoming. I managed to finish my five quilts and saw many other quilts quilted by me that my customers had put into the show. What fun!
Now that the show is over, I do have a few other things coming up. The Guild auction is on the 20th of this month and in a moment of foolish agreeability, I said I would take the treasurer's place while she is on vacation. It will be fine; I did help with it last year.
After that, all I have to worry about is the Guild retreat which isn't until February! Then I am backing off -- I must relearn my mantra "JUST SAY NO" which came in handy when I was teaching and many excessive requests were made for volunteer time.
The show was gorgeous, 150 quilts, about 800 visitors, and 9 vendors. We had rainy weather on Friday but gorgeous weather on Saturday and our venue at Bryn Du couldn't have been more welcoming. I managed to finish my five quilts and saw many other quilts quilted by me that my customers had put into the show. What fun!
Now that the show is over, I do have a few other things coming up. The Guild auction is on the 20th of this month and in a moment of foolish agreeability, I said I would take the treasurer's place while she is on vacation. It will be fine; I did help with it last year.
After that, all I have to worry about is the Guild retreat which isn't until February! Then I am backing off -- I must relearn my mantra "JUST SAY NO" which came in handy when I was teaching and many excessive requests were made for volunteer time.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Heart of Ohio Quilters Show
Ok, I'm back. Life has been so hectic I haven't blogged consistently. My apologies to anyone who reads this whoever you are.
The quilt show is 9 days away and my parts of it are basically done. In the last month, I have quilted five tops of my own for the show. I sewed the last sleeve on yesterday afternoon. Two of the quilts: Jeff's Journey, a trip around the world in red and black, and Watching over You, a black and gold wallhanging featuring angel fabric, will be donated to KidsNKamp after they hang in the show. Both are being donated in memory of my nephew, Jeff Buskey, who died this year from colon cancer. The third quilt is a block of the month from the 2008 NQA magazine that was completed with my friends in the BFG's. I should have called it the NQA BOM W/ the BFG's but instead it's the Bright Block of the Month. I do love the bright colors that contrast with the black sashing. Quilt number four is a thirties sampler, done in black and red thirties fabrics, and quilt number five is a mystery quilt called Baubles and Beads that I made two years ago. It's also in black and red. I am sure you see a theme developing here. I made all the binding at once as I just needed black for every one of the five quilts -- it took 1,426 inches of black binding, 36 strips of 2 1/2" fabric. I actually lowered the ironing board and sat to press the fold. But they're done and I can't wait to see them hanging in the show. They won't be the best there but that's not why I like to share my quilts. I like to let people see my view of quilting and hope they find some beauty there.
The other job I had for the quilt show this year was to do the Show Book which has ads, info about the Guild, and lists all the quilts with their makers, quilters, etc. My poor Publisher 2003 program and inexpensive printer practically had meltdowns as many of the ads sent to me for publication were too sophisticated, with embedded graphics and fonts. I was able to save it appropriately for the printer who is greatly appreciated and it will be ready for pick up on the 8th, set up day. Excellent!
I love participating in the Guild and it's activities but am backing off for a bit this next year-- More about that later. But for now, I am focusing on the Quilt Show.
The quilt show is 9 days away and my parts of it are basically done. In the last month, I have quilted five tops of my own for the show. I sewed the last sleeve on yesterday afternoon. Two of the quilts: Jeff's Journey, a trip around the world in red and black, and Watching over You, a black and gold wallhanging featuring angel fabric, will be donated to KidsNKamp after they hang in the show. Both are being donated in memory of my nephew, Jeff Buskey, who died this year from colon cancer. The third quilt is a block of the month from the 2008 NQA magazine that was completed with my friends in the BFG's. I should have called it the NQA BOM W/ the BFG's but instead it's the Bright Block of the Month. I do love the bright colors that contrast with the black sashing. Quilt number four is a thirties sampler, done in black and red thirties fabrics, and quilt number five is a mystery quilt called Baubles and Beads that I made two years ago. It's also in black and red. I am sure you see a theme developing here. I made all the binding at once as I just needed black for every one of the five quilts -- it took 1,426 inches of black binding, 36 strips of 2 1/2" fabric. I actually lowered the ironing board and sat to press the fold. But they're done and I can't wait to see them hanging in the show. They won't be the best there but that's not why I like to share my quilts. I like to let people see my view of quilting and hope they find some beauty there.
The other job I had for the quilt show this year was to do the Show Book which has ads, info about the Guild, and lists all the quilts with their makers, quilters, etc. My poor Publisher 2003 program and inexpensive printer practically had meltdowns as many of the ads sent to me for publication were too sophisticated, with embedded graphics and fonts. I was able to save it appropriately for the printer who is greatly appreciated and it will be ready for pick up on the 8th, set up day. Excellent!
I love participating in the Guild and it's activities but am backing off for a bit this next year-- More about that later. But for now, I am focusing on the Quilt Show.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Retirement Again?
Having been fortunate enough to retire from teaching at 52, I thought a bit this year about retiring from quilting as a business since I will be 65 this year.
On the pro side, closing the shop and retiring would give me more time to spend with grandchildren, more time to help out Joe with his appointments and rehab, more time to work on my own quilts and projects. It would keep my longarm machine from needing so much repair as I would just use it for my personal quilting.
On the con side, there would be no extra money to spend on retreats and fabric and other quilting goodies. And, yes, there would be more time to do housework but no excuses for not doing it. And I wouldn't be able to afford my studio so everything would have to go home to our small house.
So the cons win, and I will continue to work at my shop and quilt for other people. I will also continue to spend time with my grandchildren and my husband so my schedule at the shop will probably be less than the 36 hours I have been working.
The great thing about owning my own business, no matter how small, is being able to make my own decisions and my own hours, and to have fun with it. I think I would like to accomplish as much in the next twenty years as I have in the previous. Ergo, no retiring!
On the pro side, closing the shop and retiring would give me more time to spend with grandchildren, more time to help out Joe with his appointments and rehab, more time to work on my own quilts and projects. It would keep my longarm machine from needing so much repair as I would just use it for my personal quilting.
On the con side, there would be no extra money to spend on retreats and fabric and other quilting goodies. And, yes, there would be more time to do housework but no excuses for not doing it. And I wouldn't be able to afford my studio so everything would have to go home to our small house.
So the cons win, and I will continue to work at my shop and quilt for other people. I will also continue to spend time with my grandchildren and my husband so my schedule at the shop will probably be less than the 36 hours I have been working.
The great thing about owning my own business, no matter how small, is being able to make my own decisions and my own hours, and to have fun with it. I think I would like to accomplish as much in the next twenty years as I have in the previous. Ergo, no retiring!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Power Naps!
I think the solution to all mankind's problems is that most of us are cranky from lack of sleep. I'll bet those people in countries which have planned siestas are much nicer to each other. Being a caffeine junky, I tried adding extra cups of coffee or iced tea in the afternoon, but it seems to have no effect on the mid afternoon droop and just makes it difficult to sleep at night.
If I could figure out a way to take a 15 minute to half hour nap about two o'clock in the afternoon, I would feel much better about everything. Of course, there's no room in my 400-square-foot shop to lie down, let alone nap, but I keep trying to figure it out. I am too old to put my head down on the table and rest (shades of grammar school in the 1950's), and not one more piece of furniture or equipment could fit in. I thought about a folding chaise lounge, but even folded up, it would be in the way. I suppose I could keep it in my van, and drag it in and out but that starts to seem ridiculous. I guess it depends on how desparate I am for that fifteen minutes of eyes closed.
I'm aware that if I do this, I will start to get phone calls and customer drop in's during that time. That could be embarassing--but maybe worth it. I am going to give it some serious thought, this afternoon, with my eyes closed--about 2 pm --don't call.
If I could figure out a way to take a 15 minute to half hour nap about two o'clock in the afternoon, I would feel much better about everything. Of course, there's no room in my 400-square-foot shop to lie down, let alone nap, but I keep trying to figure it out. I am too old to put my head down on the table and rest (shades of grammar school in the 1950's), and not one more piece of furniture or equipment could fit in. I thought about a folding chaise lounge, but even folded up, it would be in the way. I suppose I could keep it in my van, and drag it in and out but that starts to seem ridiculous. I guess it depends on how desparate I am for that fifteen minutes of eyes closed.
I'm aware that if I do this, I will start to get phone calls and customer drop in's during that time. That could be embarassing--but maybe worth it. I am going to give it some serious thought, this afternoon, with my eyes closed--about 2 pm --don't call.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
It's time.
Summer is ending and I feel as though I've accomplished nothing. I have many excuses - Joe's illness, my having to drive to Columbus for 3 weeks back and forth and then to Newark for two more, all his doctor appointments, etc. However, it's not really any one's fault but my own. I have had time to do most of the things that were on my to do list at the beginning of summer, but this lethargy just keeps eating away at me. Lots of good things going on now, including Joe's continuing recuperation, so it's time to just get in gear and do things! This pep talk didn't do any good last month, but I am hoping I will take it to heart now. It's time!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Just An Update!
Technology is not always my friend! The Gammil is up and running but the computer is down. The computer is working but the modem died. It's somewhat of a vicious cycle. As of right this moment, everything in my studio is working. It's a little scary wondering what will happen next.
I am currently working hard to quilt my own quilts for the Heart of Ohio Guild show in October as well as the customer quilts that have accumulated while Joe was recuperating. He is doing better but still not driving or back to regular activity. It amazes me how much longer it takes me to get out of the house in the morning just to get everything done before I leave. I literally changed my opening hours from 9:30 to 10 am because I couldn't get here on time. He is working hard on rehab and doing his share when he can.
It's always fun to quilt my own quilts. The first one done is "NQA BOM 2008 with the BFG's"--that stands for the National Quilt Association Block of the Month 2008 with the Bodacious Fabric Goddesses, my quilting friends who meet once a month at the shop. It's very bright and I used a variegated thread and did a simple meander. I found an amazing wild fabric to put on the back with all the bright colors from the quilt itself. When I went on the local shop hop, my goal was to find backings for three of the five quilts I am trying to get done. I found a great black and white print for my black and red mystery, a black with gold for my angel wallhanging, and the wild one for the BOM. For my trip around the world, I already have a varied gray backing, and have a SewBatik red for the 30's quilt sampler. You may have noticed a red and black theme -- it's definitely my colors.
Now to the binding! Every quilt I am doing for the show needs black binding. So I bought several yards of Kona black solid and am making yards of binding. I am hoping to finish them all by hand but the last one may end up getting finished by machine the night before the quilts are due. Hmm, back to work or I will be doing that for sure.
I am currently working hard to quilt my own quilts for the Heart of Ohio Guild show in October as well as the customer quilts that have accumulated while Joe was recuperating. He is doing better but still not driving or back to regular activity. It amazes me how much longer it takes me to get out of the house in the morning just to get everything done before I leave. I literally changed my opening hours from 9:30 to 10 am because I couldn't get here on time. He is working hard on rehab and doing his share when he can.
It's always fun to quilt my own quilts. The first one done is "NQA BOM 2008 with the BFG's"--that stands for the National Quilt Association Block of the Month 2008 with the Bodacious Fabric Goddesses, my quilting friends who meet once a month at the shop. It's very bright and I used a variegated thread and did a simple meander. I found an amazing wild fabric to put on the back with all the bright colors from the quilt itself. When I went on the local shop hop, my goal was to find backings for three of the five quilts I am trying to get done. I found a great black and white print for my black and red mystery, a black with gold for my angel wallhanging, and the wild one for the BOM. For my trip around the world, I already have a varied gray backing, and have a SewBatik red for the 30's quilt sampler. You may have noticed a red and black theme -- it's definitely my colors.
Now to the binding! Every quilt I am doing for the show needs black binding. So I bought several yards of Kona black solid and am making yards of binding. I am hoping to finish them all by hand but the last one may end up getting finished by machine the night before the quilts are due. Hmm, back to work or I will be doing that for sure.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Justice
Recently a couple of off-duty cops were caught riding their motorcycles on I-70 at 150 mph and one was fined $300. I was drifting along on an empty stretch of Rte. 79 coming into Heath, Ohio, at 46 mph in a 35 mile section and my fine is $100. Also I was caught by the cameras that Heath has installed all along Rte. 79, it's main stretch of restaurants and businesses. I guess Heath is really needing money so they have created a speed trap. Apparently I didn't speed at all the month before when Heath was just sending out warnings, but waited to accelerate when the actual tickets would be issued. Since this ticket was dated July 1st, I'll bet I could get a few more when I was just going witht he flow of traffic.
I will not be driving Rte 79 anymore and maybe that's childish of me but really -$100--That's outrageous!
I will not be driving Rte 79 anymore and maybe that's childish of me but really -$100--That's outrageous!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sigh...
It has been almost three weeks since I have used my Gammil quilting machine --Just when I have time to get to the shop and quilt, it's in for repairs. During most of Joe's hospital stay, I worked on one custom quilt that I put on the day before he went in and took off when he was transferred to a nursing home in Newark. The next quilt never went on due to timing issues with stitching.
I have been keeping busy with other projects -- finished 30 year old blocks into a quilt for a customer, am putting the binding on another client's quilt, and have done a few things of my own.
But I am lusting to be quilting. There are times when quilting with my longarm becomes tedious, but after all, I have been doing this for 11 years. I have changed my style many times over and still enjoy many aspects of this creative job. A client sent me a note thanking me for quilting her top and saying that I put a lot of myself into every quilt. I think she's right in that those freehand quilts are my favorite. Still, even putting on an overall pantograph that complements the style of a top is satisfying.
I am hoping I will soon get a phone call saying my Gammil is ready to come home!
I have been keeping busy with other projects -- finished 30 year old blocks into a quilt for a customer, am putting the binding on another client's quilt, and have done a few things of my own.
But I am lusting to be quilting. There are times when quilting with my longarm becomes tedious, but after all, I have been doing this for 11 years. I have changed my style many times over and still enjoy many aspects of this creative job. A client sent me a note thanking me for quilting her top and saying that I put a lot of myself into every quilt. I think she's right in that those freehand quilts are my favorite. Still, even putting on an overall pantograph that complements the style of a top is satisfying.
I am hoping I will soon get a phone call saying my Gammil is ready to come home!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Self-Healing
Every now and then, I have found that things fix themselves. All my worries about my husband's homecoming disappeared because when I visited him that day, he told me all about his morning activities and the problem was solved. He self-healed. That was really nice of him.
I find that machines even do it. Reboot the computer and it self-heals. Turn the sewing machine off and then on 30 seconds later and it self-heals. It would be great if everything worked that way but I just accept those mini-miracles and enjoy them.
So Joe comes home on Monday and we begin the recuperative dance of my not wanting to wait on him too much and his not wanting to do anything if he's not forced to. In 4 weeks he'll go to rehab at the hospital and that will help to get him back into activities. Meanwhile, I am planning breakfast and lunch menus which normally I don't because I figure if I cook dinner, that's good enough. I have been teasing him about how spoiled he is that a tray magically shows up at his bedside with a cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I will spoil him myself for a SHORT period of time, but then he'll have to start pouring Cheerios out of a box for breakfast and microwaving a frozen dinner for lunch. I realize how lucky we are and hope the self-healing continues.
I find that machines even do it. Reboot the computer and it self-heals. Turn the sewing machine off and then on 30 seconds later and it self-heals. It would be great if everything worked that way but I just accept those mini-miracles and enjoy them.
So Joe comes home on Monday and we begin the recuperative dance of my not wanting to wait on him too much and his not wanting to do anything if he's not forced to. In 4 weeks he'll go to rehab at the hospital and that will help to get him back into activities. Meanwhile, I am planning breakfast and lunch menus which normally I don't because I figure if I cook dinner, that's good enough. I have been teasing him about how spoiled he is that a tray magically shows up at his bedside with a cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I will spoil him myself for a SHORT period of time, but then he'll have to start pouring Cheerios out of a box for breakfast and microwaving a frozen dinner for lunch. I realize how lucky we are and hope the self-healing continues.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
In My Head
I spend a lot of time talking to myself about things that I need to deal with before I deal with them. It's practice, I think, so that when I do interact with the actual people, perhaps I won't be as angry or emotional because I have worked some of it out.
Right now as I work on embroidery blocks for a customer, I am having conversations with my husband and his caregivers. Joe has been in hospital for three weeks and now a nursing home for two. That's why I haven't written.
He is doing amazingly well and has recovered from a massive heart attack which would have killed him had he been in any hospital but OSU's Ross Heart Hospital. His care at Flint Ridge Nursing Home is also excellent! But he's not doing something that, in my opinion, is essential to acc0mplish before he comes home and they want to send him home in four days.
This is the sixth major episode in Joe's life that has required me to become his caregiver. By now, one would think, he would realize I don't do it well. The innate compassion for the sick that most nurses and patient care professionals have lasts in me about 15 minutes and then, once I know he will survive, I am like "Get over it and let's move on." Except for giving birth twice, I have never been in the hospital and never been seriously ill ever. I know I don't understand how he feels after these very painful and difficult episodes; he doesn't understand my feelings either. His two daughters and I are the ones who have sat in waiting room after waiting room, knowing he might not make it, knowing that he is so ill that the doctors have prepared us for the worst. And he survives each time, but each time it's harder as we are sure his body can't take much more, over and over again. Once life is certain; I think he should be amazingly grateful and ready to do whatever physical and occupational therapies that will get him back to his previous state. He wants to whine and not have to do anything but lie in bed while waited upon by cheerful nurses and aides.
Flint Ridge has provided amazing care, great therapy, really good food, a pleasant atmosphere, and I can't do that. I am not going to tell you what he's not doing, but I guarantee if he comes home without that skill, his life will be miserable. Matter of fact, I may not pick him up unless I know he can do it. I wonder how long they would let him sit in a wheel chair in the lobby waiting for me. (OK, anyone who knows me knows I am delighted he is well enough to come home and has once again been resilient enough to survive. I'll pick him up whenever they say. I just won't necessarily be happy about it.)
I think the resentment I feel about becoming his caregiver again is normal, and I'll deal with it -- without taking it out on him. My father has always been one of my heroes, but now I admire him even more for taking care of my mom who had M.S. and was bedridden for her last 5 years.
Mom and Dad are both gone now. I wish I could share war stories with Dad and let him know how much I understand his sacrifice.
I closed the shop for three weeks while he was at Ross Heart Hospital; now I close at noon and visit with him while he eats his lunch, return to the shop at 2 and stay open until 4, then go back to check on him before heading home. Today, I will deal out loud with the issue in my head. Wish me luck!
Right now as I work on embroidery blocks for a customer, I am having conversations with my husband and his caregivers. Joe has been in hospital for three weeks and now a nursing home for two. That's why I haven't written.
He is doing amazingly well and has recovered from a massive heart attack which would have killed him had he been in any hospital but OSU's Ross Heart Hospital. His care at Flint Ridge Nursing Home is also excellent! But he's not doing something that, in my opinion, is essential to acc0mplish before he comes home and they want to send him home in four days.
This is the sixth major episode in Joe's life that has required me to become his caregiver. By now, one would think, he would realize I don't do it well. The innate compassion for the sick that most nurses and patient care professionals have lasts in me about 15 minutes and then, once I know he will survive, I am like "Get over it and let's move on." Except for giving birth twice, I have never been in the hospital and never been seriously ill ever. I know I don't understand how he feels after these very painful and difficult episodes; he doesn't understand my feelings either. His two daughters and I are the ones who have sat in waiting room after waiting room, knowing he might not make it, knowing that he is so ill that the doctors have prepared us for the worst. And he survives each time, but each time it's harder as we are sure his body can't take much more, over and over again. Once life is certain; I think he should be amazingly grateful and ready to do whatever physical and occupational therapies that will get him back to his previous state. He wants to whine and not have to do anything but lie in bed while waited upon by cheerful nurses and aides.
Flint Ridge has provided amazing care, great therapy, really good food, a pleasant atmosphere, and I can't do that. I am not going to tell you what he's not doing, but I guarantee if he comes home without that skill, his life will be miserable. Matter of fact, I may not pick him up unless I know he can do it. I wonder how long they would let him sit in a wheel chair in the lobby waiting for me. (OK, anyone who knows me knows I am delighted he is well enough to come home and has once again been resilient enough to survive. I'll pick him up whenever they say. I just won't necessarily be happy about it.)
I think the resentment I feel about becoming his caregiver again is normal, and I'll deal with it -- without taking it out on him. My father has always been one of my heroes, but now I admire him even more for taking care of my mom who had M.S. and was bedridden for her last 5 years.
Mom and Dad are both gone now. I wish I could share war stories with Dad and let him know how much I understand his sacrifice.
I closed the shop for three weeks while he was at Ross Heart Hospital; now I close at noon and visit with him while he eats his lunch, return to the shop at 2 and stay open until 4, then go back to check on him before heading home. Today, I will deal out loud with the issue in my head. Wish me luck!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Venting
Most of the quilt tops I work on are easily quilted -- not all are quilts from Hell. But three problems occur more often to make the quilting more difficult.
One is the border that ruffles and waves because it was cut larger than the inner top. As the borders are sewn to the top, the quilter eases them in. Everything looks ok, but when the quilt is pinned to a frame, it's more obvious, and the fullness of the borders makes for problem quilting. Even with huge amounts of pinning, tucks and pleats usually occur.
The second is the border that is too small for the inner top, In this case the inner top has been eased in as the border and top were sewn together. It's like a cup, the borders are taut and the inner top bags down. Again, careful pinning and sometimes fluffy batting can abate the problem but even so there usually are some areas of pleats and overlaps as the quilting continues. I have even had to take a quilt off half-way through quilting and ask the customer for help.
A third problem arises when the quilt is not square -- I have had up to a difference of several inches on both sides. This makes it tough to put a pantograph on evenly, and usually if I am aware of it, I recommend having it done free hand so that it won't be so obvious. (By the way, the backing should also be square. As parallelogram backings roll onto the bar, as much as a foot in width can be lost.) Squaring up a quilt should also elimate the hour glass shape many quilts acquire with the top and bottom being several inches wider than the middle.
I know no one wants to hear it (including me sometimes), but careful measurement would probably eliminate all three problems. Measuring an inner top in three places, cutting borders to one's unique quilt top and not to what the pattern says, and squaring up quilts and backings would make any quilter's life easier.
One is the border that ruffles and waves because it was cut larger than the inner top. As the borders are sewn to the top, the quilter eases them in. Everything looks ok, but when the quilt is pinned to a frame, it's more obvious, and the fullness of the borders makes for problem quilting. Even with huge amounts of pinning, tucks and pleats usually occur.
The second is the border that is too small for the inner top, In this case the inner top has been eased in as the border and top were sewn together. It's like a cup, the borders are taut and the inner top bags down. Again, careful pinning and sometimes fluffy batting can abate the problem but even so there usually are some areas of pleats and overlaps as the quilting continues. I have even had to take a quilt off half-way through quilting and ask the customer for help.
A third problem arises when the quilt is not square -- I have had up to a difference of several inches on both sides. This makes it tough to put a pantograph on evenly, and usually if I am aware of it, I recommend having it done free hand so that it won't be so obvious. (By the way, the backing should also be square. As parallelogram backings roll onto the bar, as much as a foot in width can be lost.) Squaring up a quilt should also elimate the hour glass shape many quilts acquire with the top and bottom being several inches wider than the middle.
I know no one wants to hear it (including me sometimes), but careful measurement would probably eliminate all three problems. Measuring an inner top in three places, cutting borders to one's unique quilt top and not to what the pattern says, and squaring up quilts and backings would make any quilter's life easier.
No Problem
I just finished a quilt from Hell. It wasn't badly made or ugly, but let's just say the quilting has not gone well.
First, I quilted the wrong top and sent it off to the wrong customer who had a friend picking it up. How can that happen? Picture a 400 square foot shop with 5 tables, a longarm (5'x12"), and approximately 25 quilts waiting to be quilted plus lots of other stuff. Two quilts came in the same day and I must have switched the paper work. Oops! Not a big deal, she's bringing it back, but now I am behind as I have the original top to quilt quickly before she returns to pick it up.
It's a t-shirt quilt, shouldn't be a big deal, I have quilted these for this customer before and she does nice work. However, from row one, it's a nightmare. One problem is variegated thread on top which changes it's weight as the color variations occur. Another problem is the backing -- perfectly good muslin but the thread count must be about 2000 as the brand new needle wants to skitter across it and create what's called needle deflection. Third problem, it's a t-shirt quilt --I know I said no problem, but when the machine travels from the t-shirt fabrics to the thinner cotton fabric to the plastic type designs, all of this creates uneven tension, and no matter how carefully I watch for issues, there's a lot of start and stop, and taking out of rows, and repairing of spots, etc. I worked an extra 2-1/2 hours at the shop and went straight to Kai's baseball game which went long. It was fun and they won but I didn't get home until almost 9 pm.
The quilt went home with me to allow me to take out a row of stitching while I watched the last hour of American Idol (Adam should have won.) When I brought it back in this morning, I put the row of freehand peacock feathers back in, and checked over the back carefully to find and repair any other dropped stitches. I have declared it finished. Guess what? The customer through no fault of her own -- she's also having a bad day --cannot come to pick it up until next week.
That's ok. It's done.
First, I quilted the wrong top and sent it off to the wrong customer who had a friend picking it up. How can that happen? Picture a 400 square foot shop with 5 tables, a longarm (5'x12"), and approximately 25 quilts waiting to be quilted plus lots of other stuff. Two quilts came in the same day and I must have switched the paper work. Oops! Not a big deal, she's bringing it back, but now I am behind as I have the original top to quilt quickly before she returns to pick it up.
It's a t-shirt quilt, shouldn't be a big deal, I have quilted these for this customer before and she does nice work. However, from row one, it's a nightmare. One problem is variegated thread on top which changes it's weight as the color variations occur. Another problem is the backing -- perfectly good muslin but the thread count must be about 2000 as the brand new needle wants to skitter across it and create what's called needle deflection. Third problem, it's a t-shirt quilt --I know I said no problem, but when the machine travels from the t-shirt fabrics to the thinner cotton fabric to the plastic type designs, all of this creates uneven tension, and no matter how carefully I watch for issues, there's a lot of start and stop, and taking out of rows, and repairing of spots, etc. I worked an extra 2-1/2 hours at the shop and went straight to Kai's baseball game which went long. It was fun and they won but I didn't get home until almost 9 pm.
The quilt went home with me to allow me to take out a row of stitching while I watched the last hour of American Idol (Adam should have won.) When I brought it back in this morning, I put the row of freehand peacock feathers back in, and checked over the back carefully to find and repair any other dropped stitches. I have declared it finished. Guess what? The customer through no fault of her own -- she's also having a bad day --cannot come to pick it up until next week.
That's ok. It's done.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Paint Samples
After writing about the re-do of the kitchen, I was remembering the many other painting projects that my daughters and I have done. Having lived in our house for over thirty years, we have painted every room twice or more. Joe always has said he is a great painter and has a lot of experience, and yet every project in our own home found him having something else to do and somewhere else to be. But Laura and Lisa have always helped, even when they were toddlers. Since I am not the neatest painter, there was always paint landing places it shouldn't. If I ran out of paint or wanted to match it, all I had to do was take them with me to the store. And when asked what color I needed, I could just point to their heads where inevitably a streak of mauve or hunter green or bright pink would contrast with their dark brown hair. They were convenient paint samples when someone asked what color I had painted the bed room or living room this time.
Paint washes out more easily now than it did back in the olden days but it still can be stubborn. Sitting next to Lisa in church on Mother's Day morning, I almost lost it when I glanced over and saw a small streak of light blue gleaming in her hair. I just needed someone to ask what color I painted the kitchen this time.
Paint washes out more easily now than it did back in the olden days but it still can be stubborn. Sitting next to Lisa in church on Mother's Day morning, I almost lost it when I glanced over and saw a small streak of light blue gleaming in her hair. I just needed someone to ask what color I painted the kitchen this time.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tin and Champagne for Mother's Day!
Mother's Day weekend was warm and fuzzy as usual. My daughters and their families always go out of their way to make it meaningful and fun with cards and handmade gifts from grandchildren, hugs and kisses and lots of love.
This time my younger daughter Lisa gave me a rather untraditional gift -- free labor and supplies to finish the kitchen that I tore up a year and a half ago. My small galley kitchen has been through several looks and was due for a major re-do from its green and mauve wallpaper to its green and mauve paint and stencilled cabinets. Having had all the floors redone with a laminate oak, it was time. I tore the reachable parts of the wallpaper down, cleaned the cabinets thoroughly to ready them for painting, and replaced two of the major appliances and then stalled out! Part of the pantry area got primed but mauve and dark green paint still showed through the open gally kitchen.
Now a year and a half later, Lisa announced we were finishing up. We purchased light blue for the walls, apple green for the cupboard doors and some of the woodwork, and tin look-alike panels for the back splash. We also, of course, purchased everything we needed to do the project as well -- it only took three trips to Lowes -- not too bad. After all, it took us three trips to two grocery stores to get everything for our afternoon dinner on Mother's Day.
After our Saturday morning visit to Lowes, we stopped at Kai's baseball game to catch an inning or two, then went home to paint. Approximately seven hours later, we had painted the cupboard doors, the basement door, and woodwork with two coats of apple green, and all the walls with the light blue. We decided it was easier to paint two coats of the blue over the wallpaper than to try to take it down. We went more with a Trading Spaces approach than HGTV with our painting!
We knew the challenge all along would be the tin panels: Lisa had watched it applied on HGTV several times and we had written directions to use as a last resort. How hard could it be? The first surprise was how difficult it was to cut. I had brought home a rotary cutter and mat and was disappointed it didn't even make a dent. This stuff isn't real tin but it's certainly as sturdy. We went to utility knife and the only scissors I had which are actually paper scissors I let Kai and Quinn use when they want to do projects. After trying to measure and mark it, we did read the two sets of directions carefully and discovered a method that worked. We dry fit every piece before going to bed. After a shower, I felt human enough to fall into my bed and was sound asleep by midnight in spite of aching knees and feet.
Bright and early Sunday morning, we were at 8:30 am mass to watch Kai serve. We stopped at Lowes and the grocery store (our third trips) on the way home. Since it was Mother's Day, Lisa had volunteered to prepare all the food except for what Jason would be grilling. We had two hours to prep all the food in my torn up kitchen and be at Laura's by noon. We arrived at 12:15 with hors d'vours and a crustless quiche straight from the oven. While the grill sizzled, everyone relaxed over great food and lemon granita champaigne cocktails. As always, it was lovely.
By 3:30, Lisa and I were back in my kitchen, glueing the panels to the wall. We had dry fit everything the night before; this should be the easy part. And it would have been, except we forgot to cut an opening for one of the electrical outlets and had to cut that piece of tin with glue already on it. Lisa's hands were so sore at this point from cutting the tin and squeezing out the glue, it was not an easy task. She did it though and the tin panels are finished and are brilliant!
I love the re-do and am so grateful to Lisa for inspiring me to finish and carrying the major load of the work. It makes me want to re-do the rest of the house. Are you reading this, Lisa?
This time my younger daughter Lisa gave me a rather untraditional gift -- free labor and supplies to finish the kitchen that I tore up a year and a half ago. My small galley kitchen has been through several looks and was due for a major re-do from its green and mauve wallpaper to its green and mauve paint and stencilled cabinets. Having had all the floors redone with a laminate oak, it was time. I tore the reachable parts of the wallpaper down, cleaned the cabinets thoroughly to ready them for painting, and replaced two of the major appliances and then stalled out! Part of the pantry area got primed but mauve and dark green paint still showed through the open gally kitchen.
Now a year and a half later, Lisa announced we were finishing up. We purchased light blue for the walls, apple green for the cupboard doors and some of the woodwork, and tin look-alike panels for the back splash. We also, of course, purchased everything we needed to do the project as well -- it only took three trips to Lowes -- not too bad. After all, it took us three trips to two grocery stores to get everything for our afternoon dinner on Mother's Day.
After our Saturday morning visit to Lowes, we stopped at Kai's baseball game to catch an inning or two, then went home to paint. Approximately seven hours later, we had painted the cupboard doors, the basement door, and woodwork with two coats of apple green, and all the walls with the light blue. We decided it was easier to paint two coats of the blue over the wallpaper than to try to take it down. We went more with a Trading Spaces approach than HGTV with our painting!
We knew the challenge all along would be the tin panels: Lisa had watched it applied on HGTV several times and we had written directions to use as a last resort. How hard could it be? The first surprise was how difficult it was to cut. I had brought home a rotary cutter and mat and was disappointed it didn't even make a dent. This stuff isn't real tin but it's certainly as sturdy. We went to utility knife and the only scissors I had which are actually paper scissors I let Kai and Quinn use when they want to do projects. After trying to measure and mark it, we did read the two sets of directions carefully and discovered a method that worked. We dry fit every piece before going to bed. After a shower, I felt human enough to fall into my bed and was sound asleep by midnight in spite of aching knees and feet.
Bright and early Sunday morning, we were at 8:30 am mass to watch Kai serve. We stopped at Lowes and the grocery store (our third trips) on the way home. Since it was Mother's Day, Lisa had volunteered to prepare all the food except for what Jason would be grilling. We had two hours to prep all the food in my torn up kitchen and be at Laura's by noon. We arrived at 12:15 with hors d'vours and a crustless quiche straight from the oven. While the grill sizzled, everyone relaxed over great food and lemon granita champaigne cocktails. As always, it was lovely.
By 3:30, Lisa and I were back in my kitchen, glueing the panels to the wall. We had dry fit everything the night before; this should be the easy part. And it would have been, except we forgot to cut an opening for one of the electrical outlets and had to cut that piece of tin with glue already on it. Lisa's hands were so sore at this point from cutting the tin and squeezing out the glue, it was not an easy task. She did it though and the tin panels are finished and are brilliant!
I love the re-do and am so grateful to Lisa for inspiring me to finish and carrying the major load of the work. It makes me want to re-do the rest of the house. Are you reading this, Lisa?
Friday, May 8, 2009
Notes to Me
In my purse is a small blue notebook of lined paper; it's a Mary Englebreit product which proclaims "Queen of Everything," on the cover. When it's totally filled up, I will pitch it in a drawer and find another small notebook. I've gone through tons of these, most not as nice as the one I am currently carrying. It's not a diary, it's not a journal, it's just a place to scribble notes that seem important at the time. I keep notes on quilts I want to make, fabrics needed, grocery lists, recipes from novels I am reading, lists of books I want from the library, general to do lists, weekly menus (ha, that never works), Christmas gift lists, notes from meetings. And that's just what's in the current notebook.
Every now and then there's a work of art. Kai when he was younger and now Quinn often wanted something to write on and knew I always had a notebook and writing utensils. Maybe it's from being an English teacher for 30 some years, but I do always have those things in my purse. Their scribbles, pictures, first attempts at writing their names intersperse my more serious note-taking. Looking back through a notebook for something I know I wrote down, I love the surprise of finding their entries even if I don't find that important information I was looking for.
Every now and then there's a work of art. Kai when he was younger and now Quinn often wanted something to write on and knew I always had a notebook and writing utensils. Maybe it's from being an English teacher for 30 some years, but I do always have those things in my purse. Their scribbles, pictures, first attempts at writing their names intersperse my more serious note-taking. Looking back through a notebook for something I know I wrote down, I love the surprise of finding their entries even if I don't find that important information I was looking for.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
By Appointment Only
At the beginning of each month, I make up a calendar for Joe so he will know the important things in his life, like when I am not cooking dinner, when I will not be home for the evening, when I will not be home for Kai to get off the bus after school. Now, these don't seem too difficult to me but inevitably, even though he has it on a color coded calendar which is lying on his table, he questions me almost daily. Our conversations are amazingly consistent.
"What are we having for dinner?"
"I won't be home; I have a meeting."
"Oh."
"Where are you going now?"
"I have a meeting."
"Where?"
My answers vary between two churches and the shop.
"Oh."
"On your way home, can you stop at Krogers?"
"No, I won't be right home tonight; I have Friday Night Free for All. You need to be there for Kai."
"Oh."
Because of these conversations, I am amazed he can keep track of his substitute teaching days and doctor's appointments. Actually, he has missed a few doctor's appointments, but never a teaching day. It's all me, of course. He has selective memory when it comes to me, as do most husbands; he only remembers what he wants.
Of course, I make the calendar for myself as well. I tend to scribble on it extra information and events as the month progresses, and it becomes even more important to me, helping me remember when quilts are due to be collected or when Lisa is coming to dinner or just that I need to stop at Kroger on the way home.
Joe folds his calendar twice and puts it on one of his two "tables." Joe's tables are not meant for me to clean, and when I do, he gets all huffy about where did I put all his stuff. One table is next to the couch in the living room and the other next to his bed. Both have basically the same stuff, which usually consists of outdated advertisements, the past month's Church newsletters, various pens, crossword puzzle books, newspapers folded to the crossword puzzle, library books (always mysteries and paperbacks because they aren't as heavy to hold up when reading in bed), and other mysterious pieces of folded paper that seem to have no purpose. The table in the bedroom also has a flashlight, a penknife, a phone, and other useless small objects left by the grandchildren. All of their McDonald's and Burger King prizes seem to end up there. Among this detritus is the folded calendar. No wonder when he asks me a question, I have stopped saying, "Did you look at the calendar?"
"What are we having for dinner?"
"I won't be home; I have a meeting."
"Oh."
"Where are you going now?"
"I have a meeting."
"Where?"
My answers vary between two churches and the shop.
"Oh."
"On your way home, can you stop at Krogers?"
"No, I won't be right home tonight; I have Friday Night Free for All. You need to be there for Kai."
"Oh."
Because of these conversations, I am amazed he can keep track of his substitute teaching days and doctor's appointments. Actually, he has missed a few doctor's appointments, but never a teaching day. It's all me, of course. He has selective memory when it comes to me, as do most husbands; he only remembers what he wants.
Of course, I make the calendar for myself as well. I tend to scribble on it extra information and events as the month progresses, and it becomes even more important to me, helping me remember when quilts are due to be collected or when Lisa is coming to dinner or just that I need to stop at Kroger on the way home.
Joe folds his calendar twice and puts it on one of his two "tables." Joe's tables are not meant for me to clean, and when I do, he gets all huffy about where did I put all his stuff. One table is next to the couch in the living room and the other next to his bed. Both have basically the same stuff, which usually consists of outdated advertisements, the past month's Church newsletters, various pens, crossword puzzle books, newspapers folded to the crossword puzzle, library books (always mysteries and paperbacks because they aren't as heavy to hold up when reading in bed), and other mysterious pieces of folded paper that seem to have no purpose. The table in the bedroom also has a flashlight, a penknife, a phone, and other useless small objects left by the grandchildren. All of their McDonald's and Burger King prizes seem to end up there. Among this detritus is the folded calendar. No wonder when he asks me a question, I have stopped saying, "Did you look at the calendar?"
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Ouch!
Ok, taxes are done and paid. It always hurts a bit as being a small business, I never seem to have paid enough ahead. No one is going to bail me out either. We all shudder as April 15th approaches, but it's over, so time to move on to more fun things.
Spring is always filled with watching my 9-year-old grandson play baseball, trying to motivate myself to work more in the yard (I'm a big time garden club dropout), and enjoying 4-year-old Quinn's dance moves. I am going to "gymtastics" watch night this week for the first time.
I have a bit more time to do all these things as, yes, my business is slower than normal this year. Just like everyone else, I am being affected by the economy's downturn. Cutbacks for me will be maybe going to NQA show in June but not taking a class, not buying as much fabric as I would like (Of course, buying as much as I would like is impossible in any economy), and not investing in the business as I usually do with battings and backings available for purchase by my clients. I am also filling my time with more service quilts -- baby quilts for donation to the local hospital and soldiers' quilts for returning wounded.
I have no fears that my business will go under; it just may not pay for my obsession with quilting as it has in past years. But my stash can keep me quilting for quite some time and my friends will keep me company quilting. It's all good.
Spring is always filled with watching my 9-year-old grandson play baseball, trying to motivate myself to work more in the yard (I'm a big time garden club dropout), and enjoying 4-year-old Quinn's dance moves. I am going to "gymtastics" watch night this week for the first time.
I have a bit more time to do all these things as, yes, my business is slower than normal this year. Just like everyone else, I am being affected by the economy's downturn. Cutbacks for me will be maybe going to NQA show in June but not taking a class, not buying as much fabric as I would like (Of course, buying as much as I would like is impossible in any economy), and not investing in the business as I usually do with battings and backings available for purchase by my clients. I am also filling my time with more service quilts -- baby quilts for donation to the local hospital and soldiers' quilts for returning wounded.
I have no fears that my business will go under; it just may not pay for my obsession with quilting as it has in past years. But my stash can keep me quilting for quite some time and my friends will keep me company quilting. It's all good.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Loss
I haven't written for a while as the family has been dealing with the loss of our beloved nephew. Only 45, Jeff had fought cancer for the past year and a half but left us on March 25th. He was a wonderful man with a lovely family that stood by him, cared for him in all ways, and will miss him always. The hundreds of people who came to the funeral home and attended the funeral mass can only testify to the loss all feel. It's not my place to memorialize Jeff; his wife, his children, his parents, his brother and sisters, his sisters-in-law and their families, his huge extended family of friends will do it far better than I. But I wanted to take note of his passing and to let any readers know that a man of great worth is gone.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
To Do or Not To Do?
I started one day last week with a to do list -- a simple list of quilts to be finished on the longarm, some baby quilts to be pieced for the Guild Kids' Quilts project, and a few computer items that would take only a few minutes to finish. Six hours later, I turned off my laptop and went home. I had contracted the "Antivirus360" virus on my computer which is a nuisance virus that continually tries to convince you that your computer is about to crash and that all of your personal information is being broadcast onto the net. If one ignores the first popup and simply closes it, it goes away. But gullible me, I clicked on it to see what was wrong with my laptop and the virus went everywhere.
I contacted my protection provider after trying for two hours unsuccessfully to get rid of it myself. After chatting with "Aslam" for about fifteen minutes, I admitted defeat and agreed to pay to have him de-virus my laptop and turned it over to him via remote control. Fascinated, I watched my computer screen, as Aslam cleared the virus -- often going into areas of my computer that I would never attempt to enter because I would just make it worse. It took Aslam, the real expert, approximately a half hour to fix my laptop and then he gave me some advice on how to avoid this type of problem. He helped me print it and it's sort of like "protection for dummies." Basically, the biggest thing is "Don't click on any pop-up." That made sense to me as I have a program that supposedly stops all pop-ups so any that make it through must be malware (Aslam's word).
Needless to say, my to do list is still not finished, but my computer is running top-notch!
I contacted my protection provider after trying for two hours unsuccessfully to get rid of it myself. After chatting with "Aslam" for about fifteen minutes, I admitted defeat and agreed to pay to have him de-virus my laptop and turned it over to him via remote control. Fascinated, I watched my computer screen, as Aslam cleared the virus -- often going into areas of my computer that I would never attempt to enter because I would just make it worse. It took Aslam, the real expert, approximately a half hour to fix my laptop and then he gave me some advice on how to avoid this type of problem. He helped me print it and it's sort of like "protection for dummies." Basically, the biggest thing is "Don't click on any pop-up." That made sense to me as I have a program that supposedly stops all pop-ups so any that make it through must be malware (Aslam's word).
Needless to say, my to do list is still not finished, but my computer is running top-notch!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Got Socks?
I never thought of socks as an edible item but evidently, Lily, the wonder puppy, definitely does; and in spite of great care on the part of her owners, she ate a pair. They were tan with little flowers on them. One sock was immediately thrown up but the other one became lodged in her intestine. After a trip to the vet, it was decided she had to have surgery to remove it. All pet owners are distraught over any situation like this, and my daughter was definitely upset. However, my son-in-law is one of the most tender hearted animal lovers that I know.
A case in point, I was driving in extremely bad weather with Lisa and Jeremy in the back of the van when a deer leaped in front of the car. I kept my car steady and didn't hit the brakes but slowed as much as I could by taking my foot off the accelerator, and we hit the deer. Shaken, Jeremy was sure we should stop in the middle of the ice and snow to check on it. I had to share with Jeremy that if I didn't kill the deer when I hit it with my car, it certainly expired when it cartwheeled away, flew over the bridge abutment, and landed in the Licking River. Now I think deer are gorgeous when they are frolicking in the fields or standing still as stone in the morning frost, but I am a country girl and this isn't the first deer my vehicle has taken out.
Anyway, Lily, a gorgeous 6 month old chocolate lab, is totally different. We all were upset and worried about her. She is fine after surgery and comes home today from the vet's. She is officially their most expensive pet now (the vet was nice enough to neuter her at the same time). She will wear a cone around her neck for a while to keep her from licking the incision; and I am sure Lisa and Jeremy will use even more vigilance in keeping socks away from her.
A case in point, I was driving in extremely bad weather with Lisa and Jeremy in the back of the van when a deer leaped in front of the car. I kept my car steady and didn't hit the brakes but slowed as much as I could by taking my foot off the accelerator, and we hit the deer. Shaken, Jeremy was sure we should stop in the middle of the ice and snow to check on it. I had to share with Jeremy that if I didn't kill the deer when I hit it with my car, it certainly expired when it cartwheeled away, flew over the bridge abutment, and landed in the Licking River. Now I think deer are gorgeous when they are frolicking in the fields or standing still as stone in the morning frost, but I am a country girl and this isn't the first deer my vehicle has taken out.
Anyway, Lily, a gorgeous 6 month old chocolate lab, is totally different. We all were upset and worried about her. She is fine after surgery and comes home today from the vet's. She is officially their most expensive pet now (the vet was nice enough to neuter her at the same time). She will wear a cone around her neck for a while to keep her from licking the incision; and I am sure Lisa and Jeremy will use even more vigilance in keeping socks away from her.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Main Street
I have been sending out letters to shops in a three state area trying to entice them to be vendors or to advertise at the Heart of Ohio Quilters Show which is in October. I have noticed a phenomenon in their addresses. Of the approximately 75 I have entered into my file, 18 of them are on Main Street. Admittedly not the same street, but what does it mean?
Quilt shops tend to be in the heart of the town -- the original town - whether it's New Eagle, PA, or Columbus, OH. If they're not on Main Street, then the most common names are High (4) and Market (3) and any President's name (3). Admittedly, a few are way out there on State Route 2 or OhioPike #J, but if I were to drive to those places, most of them would be centered in a small town without its own post office.
I like that. There are great shops that are in bright shiny strip malls. But the character of the shop in an old building is more appealing to me. Maybe it's because my first shop was in an old Victorian house where I shared space with a quilt shop. My second site I was on my own in what was the original post office on Main Street in Hebron where I could still see where the post office boxes had been situated. My third location was a redone garage attached to a small building that had been one of the original restaurants on High Street in Hebron. Each had its flaws -- a really old behometh of a furnace that did little to heat my area of the shop in the first; really, really bad plumbing in the apartments over my head and no soundproofing when the tenants above decided to argue or get romantic in the second; and the sharing of a jack and jill bathroom with the landlord's second hand store in the third.
But my current location is great, if not historic. I am in a small shop area attached to the U-Store-It units, on North Street and still in Hebron. It is by far the cleanest and best of all the places I have been so I overlook it's lack of character in favor of flawlessly working plumbing, easily swept carpeting, and all the amenities of modern living.
Quilt shops tend to be in the heart of the town -- the original town - whether it's New Eagle, PA, or Columbus, OH. If they're not on Main Street, then the most common names are High (4) and Market (3) and any President's name (3). Admittedly, a few are way out there on State Route 2 or OhioPike #J, but if I were to drive to those places, most of them would be centered in a small town without its own post office.
I like that. There are great shops that are in bright shiny strip malls. But the character of the shop in an old building is more appealing to me. Maybe it's because my first shop was in an old Victorian house where I shared space with a quilt shop. My second site I was on my own in what was the original post office on Main Street in Hebron where I could still see where the post office boxes had been situated. My third location was a redone garage attached to a small building that had been one of the original restaurants on High Street in Hebron. Each had its flaws -- a really old behometh of a furnace that did little to heat my area of the shop in the first; really, really bad plumbing in the apartments over my head and no soundproofing when the tenants above decided to argue or get romantic in the second; and the sharing of a jack and jill bathroom with the landlord's second hand store in the third.
But my current location is great, if not historic. I am in a small shop area attached to the U-Store-It units, on North Street and still in Hebron. It is by far the cleanest and best of all the places I have been so I overlook it's lack of character in favor of flawlessly working plumbing, easily swept carpeting, and all the amenities of modern living.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Blah!
At the shop, I have one small window which gives me a view of North Street and at least a feeling of connection with the outdoors. But it's February and it's raining and it's grey.
Although the many days of ice and snow were difficult, I would prefer to look out at the white gleam of winter days than the slushy grey of almost spring. I know it will pass, but "BLAH!" This is the time of year I have the most trouble motivating myself; I just find myself getting easily distracted, going from project to project without completing anything.
I will now give myself an official pep talk. I know sunnier days are ahead!
Although the many days of ice and snow were difficult, I would prefer to look out at the white gleam of winter days than the slushy grey of almost spring. I know it will pass, but "BLAH!" This is the time of year I have the most trouble motivating myself; I just find myself getting easily distracted, going from project to project without completing anything.
I will now give myself an official pep talk. I know sunnier days are ahead!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Farewell Aloha
It's 8:15 am Sunday, the last day of the retreat, and things are winding down. Friday morning, there were many quilters stationed at their machines by 7:30, Saturday as well, but on Sunday even quilters are sleeping in and only a few are at their machines this early.
It has been a great time, with highlights being free 5 minute chair massages, great coffee in the Food Room, great food in the Food Room, lots of belly-busting laughter, and projects pealing off those machines. (Gotta go -be back later)
OK, I am back and it's Tuesday. I got side tracked by many things and never really got to blog while I was gone. And now after two good nights sleep, phone calls to my daughters, a visit with my grandchildren, things are getting back to normal. I have been thinking about some statistics related to the retreat.
Things I could count:
90 miles round trip for most vehicles from Licking County to Coshocton
32 rooms reserved at the Coshocton Village Inn and Suites for the Aloha Retreat
73 quilters registered to attend
4 quilters unfortunately unable to attend at the last minute
5 dollar minimum donation to the local food bank
19 boxes of food donated to a local food bank
25% Discount received at Vac Shack for each quilter who donated to the food bank
60 quilters who had chair massages
48 door prizes handed out over the three days
30 items from list found by the winner of the scavenger hunt
1 special prize for winner of the scavenger hunt
12 adorable palm tree trophies handed out for special accomplishments
2 visitors who traveled to the retreat from out of state
69 Aloha stars made and returned to the committee to later be made into service quilts
1 special prize for winner of drawing from those who made Aloha stars
1095 items in 146 goody bags handed out Friday and Saturday mornings
3 vehicles to transport all the goodies and prizes and decorations to Coshocton
15 crock pots put to good use in the Food Room
240 cups of Starbucks or Caribou coffee drunk by members
3 hours early that everyone was able to get into their rooms due to the great staff at the Coshocton Village Inn and Suites
Things I couldn't count:
hugs and laughs
thank you's to the committee
projects started, projects thought about, projects finished
excellent food and requests for recipes
smiles from quilters at seeing the staff wearing leis and hawaiian shirts for our benefit
shared expertise and good advice passed from quilter to quilter
ooh's and ah's during show and tell on Sunday
hours the committee spent on the retreat
hours of fun the committee had planning the retreat
squeals of excitement and joy upon winning something, anything
yards of fabric and patterns purchased everywhere from the Vac Shack in Coshocton, Miller's Fabric Store in Charm, to a new shop in New Philadelphia.
I am exhausted just listing it all. And we are already planning for next year!
It has been a great time, with highlights being free 5 minute chair massages, great coffee in the Food Room, great food in the Food Room, lots of belly-busting laughter, and projects pealing off those machines. (Gotta go -be back later)
OK, I am back and it's Tuesday. I got side tracked by many things and never really got to blog while I was gone. And now after two good nights sleep, phone calls to my daughters, a visit with my grandchildren, things are getting back to normal. I have been thinking about some statistics related to the retreat.
Things I could count:
90 miles round trip for most vehicles from Licking County to Coshocton
32 rooms reserved at the Coshocton Village Inn and Suites for the Aloha Retreat
73 quilters registered to attend
4 quilters unfortunately unable to attend at the last minute
5 dollar minimum donation to the local food bank
19 boxes of food donated to a local food bank
25% Discount received at Vac Shack for each quilter who donated to the food bank
60 quilters who had chair massages
48 door prizes handed out over the three days
30 items from list found by the winner of the scavenger hunt
1 special prize for winner of the scavenger hunt
12 adorable palm tree trophies handed out for special accomplishments
2 visitors who traveled to the retreat from out of state
69 Aloha stars made and returned to the committee to later be made into service quilts
1 special prize for winner of drawing from those who made Aloha stars
1095 items in 146 goody bags handed out Friday and Saturday mornings
3 vehicles to transport all the goodies and prizes and decorations to Coshocton
15 crock pots put to good use in the Food Room
240 cups of Starbucks or Caribou coffee drunk by members
3 hours early that everyone was able to get into their rooms due to the great staff at the Coshocton Village Inn and Suites
Things I couldn't count:
hugs and laughs
thank you's to the committee
projects started, projects thought about, projects finished
excellent food and requests for recipes
smiles from quilters at seeing the staff wearing leis and hawaiian shirts for our benefit
shared expertise and good advice passed from quilter to quilter
ooh's and ah's during show and tell on Sunday
hours the committee spent on the retreat
hours of fun the committee had planning the retreat
squeals of excitement and joy upon winning something, anything
yards of fabric and patterns purchased everywhere from the Vac Shack in Coshocton, Miller's Fabric Store in Charm, to a new shop in New Philadelphia.
I am exhausted just listing it all. And we are already planning for next year!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Can you hear the hula music?
"Aloha! Welcome to the Isles of Coshocton" begins tomorrow! I leave in the morning for the Heart of Ohio Quilter's Retreat in Coshocton, Ohio. Hurrah!
I have always gone on Thursday and shopped my way there. This year I also have to load the van with all the goodies that we will be giving the quilters as favors and door prizes; and then Denise, RoseMary, and I have to set up everything in the sewing room and the food room on Thursday evening for the arrival of everyone else on Friday morning. We are excited but a bit apprehensive as it is our responsibility for the success of the retreat. I think it will be fine as we have worked really hard, but we have a bit of worry-wart in us.
Of course, we will still do a bit of shopping! We are putting Miller's in Charm off until Friday as they are having a big sale that day. But I am sure we'll find a great place for lunch and some shopping on the way on Thursday.
I am taking my laptop with me and will try to post during the retreat, but if it is too busy or I am too exhausted, my next post may be after the retreat, and I will share how it went then!
ALOHA!
I have always gone on Thursday and shopped my way there. This year I also have to load the van with all the goodies that we will be giving the quilters as favors and door prizes; and then Denise, RoseMary, and I have to set up everything in the sewing room and the food room on Thursday evening for the arrival of everyone else on Friday morning. We are excited but a bit apprehensive as it is our responsibility for the success of the retreat. I think it will be fine as we have worked really hard, but we have a bit of worry-wart in us.
Of course, we will still do a bit of shopping! We are putting Miller's in Charm off until Friday as they are having a big sale that day. But I am sure we'll find a great place for lunch and some shopping on the way on Thursday.
I am taking my laptop with me and will try to post during the retreat, but if it is too busy or I am too exhausted, my next post may be after the retreat, and I will share how it went then!
ALOHA!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Cabin Fever
I drove the approximately 10 miles from my house to my shop today. It was bumpy ice and snow the whole way, and I never went over 30 miles an hour. No problem. I am out of the house, away from the hubby, and in my quilting studio.
Having cleaned and rearranged my closet yesterday and entertained my two grandchildren the day before, I needed to escape today. I can't imagine how the pioneers did it when they were trapped for weeks at a time. Quilting must have helped many a pioneer woman endure those long hours.
This morning I left Joe with Kai who is out of school for the third day in a row. They will play cards and "Hide the Straws," a game invented by our 4 year old granddaughter and refined by Kai and Joe. They will rummage in the kitchen for food and call me at least twice for my suggestions for lunch. They will argue over what to watch on television in spite of the fact we have three working tv's in our small home.
And I won't be there! I will be quilting!
Having cleaned and rearranged my closet yesterday and entertained my two grandchildren the day before, I needed to escape today. I can't imagine how the pioneers did it when they were trapped for weeks at a time. Quilting must have helped many a pioneer woman endure those long hours.
This morning I left Joe with Kai who is out of school for the third day in a row. They will play cards and "Hide the Straws," a game invented by our 4 year old granddaughter and refined by Kai and Joe. They will rummage in the kitchen for food and call me at least twice for my suggestions for lunch. They will argue over what to watch on television in spite of the fact we have three working tv's in our small home.
And I won't be there! I will be quilting!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Time to Quilt?
Who has time for quilting?
I am currently wrapping up details for the Heart of Ohio Quilters Guild Retreat with co-chairs Denise and Rosie. We take off for Coshocton on Thursday, February 5th, and won't be home until Sunday, February 8th. It takes a huge amount of planning and thank heavens for Denise who keeps us on track. It will be great fun - "Aloha! Welcome to the Isles of Coshocton" is our theme and we have had such delight finding Hawaiian banners and decorations. If the members don't have fun, it's not our fault -- we have really expanded activities to include different things, like massages. We are looking forward to it as well. Being in charge has not spoiled our own pleasure in going on a quilting retreat.
Then, in my other free time, I am working on the Guild 2009 Quilt Show. My official job is the Show Book and its advertising so I am sending out letters now. Our quilt show in 2007 was a great success with about 1,000 visitors so we are trying to outdo ourselves. This will also get more intense as we get closer to our October dates.
Also I volunteered to work on the Guild website, www.heartofohioquilters.com. I don't know what I was thinking. Fortunately, my cohort Jen is much more computer literate that I am and we are charging right along. I now know what JOOMLA means as well as many other tech terms so it's all good.
Oh, yeah, the shop. I am getting about one quilt finished every three days -- Not as quickly as I should. I am hoping after the retreat I will speed up. After all, the more I quilt, the more money I make, and the more retreats I can go on.
For example, I have been drooling over the National Quilting Association's information on their show in June. I already have my reservation for two days in Columbus at the Drury Inn and will be making up my mind soon about events and classes. Last year I took classes in longarm quilting from my hero, Linda Taylor, the most amazing longarm quilter ever. This year I am thinking of something a little more fun.
Back to work or I don't get to do any of these fun things!
I am currently wrapping up details for the Heart of Ohio Quilters Guild Retreat with co-chairs Denise and Rosie. We take off for Coshocton on Thursday, February 5th, and won't be home until Sunday, February 8th. It takes a huge amount of planning and thank heavens for Denise who keeps us on track. It will be great fun - "Aloha! Welcome to the Isles of Coshocton" is our theme and we have had such delight finding Hawaiian banners and decorations. If the members don't have fun, it's not our fault -- we have really expanded activities to include different things, like massages. We are looking forward to it as well. Being in charge has not spoiled our own pleasure in going on a quilting retreat.
Then, in my other free time, I am working on the Guild 2009 Quilt Show. My official job is the Show Book and its advertising so I am sending out letters now. Our quilt show in 2007 was a great success with about 1,000 visitors so we are trying to outdo ourselves. This will also get more intense as we get closer to our October dates.
Also I volunteered to work on the Guild website, www.heartofohioquilters.com. I don't know what I was thinking. Fortunately, my cohort Jen is much more computer literate that I am and we are charging right along. I now know what JOOMLA means as well as many other tech terms so it's all good.
Oh, yeah, the shop. I am getting about one quilt finished every three days -- Not as quickly as I should. I am hoping after the retreat I will speed up. After all, the more I quilt, the more money I make, and the more retreats I can go on.
For example, I have been drooling over the National Quilting Association's information on their show in June. I already have my reservation for two days in Columbus at the Drury Inn and will be making up my mind soon about events and classes. Last year I took classes in longarm quilting from my hero, Linda Taylor, the most amazing longarm quilter ever. This year I am thinking of something a little more fun.
Back to work or I don't get to do any of these fun things!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Snow Bound
Brrrrr. Brutally cold weather outside but it's warm enough inside the shop to still have Friday Night Free for All. I imagine it will be a small group of diehards who will come tonight to sew.
Binding is my job tonight -- two Guild baby quilts to bind by machine and a larger quilt to finish the hand binding. Making the binding, pressing it, sewing it to the quilt, and then turning it, either by hand or machine, is the process that sews together the three layers of the quilt. It is the last step, and for some people, the step most often procrastinated. Customers often pay me to bind their quilts because they say it would neve get done otherwise. I don't mind taking any quilt all the way through that final step. For me there's a real satisfaction to it.
Being fascinated with words, I can't help but think about giving the quilt away as a binding as well. The quilt connects the giver and the receiver even if they don't actually know each other. I feel enhanced by the knowledge that some of my quilts have gone to soldiers returning from war, to babies being helped in our local hospital, or to women and children in a battered women's shelter. I feel bound to them and hope there is an intrinsic warmth for all of them in the quilts that I have given.
My friends and I will be bound together tonight in our quilting, and not all the warmth will come from the electric heaters. Stay warm!
Binding is my job tonight -- two Guild baby quilts to bind by machine and a larger quilt to finish the hand binding. Making the binding, pressing it, sewing it to the quilt, and then turning it, either by hand or machine, is the process that sews together the three layers of the quilt. It is the last step, and for some people, the step most often procrastinated. Customers often pay me to bind their quilts because they say it would neve get done otherwise. I don't mind taking any quilt all the way through that final step. For me there's a real satisfaction to it.
Being fascinated with words, I can't help but think about giving the quilt away as a binding as well. The quilt connects the giver and the receiver even if they don't actually know each other. I feel enhanced by the knowledge that some of my quilts have gone to soldiers returning from war, to babies being helped in our local hospital, or to women and children in a battered women's shelter. I feel bound to them and hope there is an intrinsic warmth for all of them in the quilts that I have given.
My friends and I will be bound together tonight in our quilting, and not all the warmth will come from the electric heaters. Stay warm!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Taken for Granted
I love being taken for granted -- especially on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.
Every Saturday evening, my grandchildren have dinner and spend the night. The den gets an inflatable bed with quilts and pillows and they settle in to have an evening of being spoiled by being allowed to watch almost whatever they want on tv and have a kid-friendly dinner. Once in a while what I think is a kid-friendly meal is a flop, but I try to always have bologna and hot dogs in the frig-a-frater. I made my version of the Duggar's Tater Tot Casserole(half the tater tots, double the ground beef), and it was ok with Kai but made a bigger hit with the adults who sampled it.
After dinner, Joe plays games with Quinn in which she makes up all the rules to fit her fancy; and Kai talks about football and Bakugan and I nod a lot while he beats me at chess, which I never was good at. They race up and down the hallway to see what's on tv in the den, to check out what PapPap's doing in his bedroom, and to wonder if I have a snack for them in the kitchen.
Later Quinn snuggles in to read books and fall asleep while her older brother checks out the football playoffs. Sound asleep by 10 and looking like angels, they have no trouble getting up to go to 8:30 am mass with us where we hand them off to their mom.
"What are you cooking for Sunday dinner?" is a question my kids often ask me. It's not whether I am cooking but what. Lisa and her husband and her chocolate labs usually can only come a couple times a month as they live an hour away but I love it when they do. Fortunately, the back yard is fenced and Daisy can go out on her own, although Lily isn't quilte old enough and ends up cuddling with anyone who can get his hands on her. She's still enough of a puppy to crash about every two hours and whoever ends up with her sleeping on his lap usually gloats.
Laura and her family live so close that they rarely miss a Sunday meal -- after all what working mom wouldn't take advantage of not having to cook a meal and occasionally getting to take leftovers home for lunch next week.
It isn't just having my family over that makes Sunday dinners so much fun. I inflict upon them new receipes and honestly they handle it pretty well. I don't worry about it being kid friendly on Sundays although Kai and Quinn know there is always lunchmeat or bread and peanut butter available. This week it was Paula Deen's barbecue pork roast and some Hawaiian type baked beans -- pork was a hit; beans were probably too sweet for most of them. But no one over the age of nine complained. They didn't have to cook it or even do the dishes.
That's another perk of Sunday dinners; Joe usually goes into the kitchen and proceeds to make so much noise no one can hear themselves talk, but he gets the dishwasher loaded and the "big" stuff washed by hand. He and I disagree on loading the dishwasher. I cram every single thing in, big and small, until there's no room left. I will even run it twice if necessary. He will not put large items into the dishwasher even if there is plenty of room; he'd rather wash them by hand. I really don't mind as long as he's doing the dishes and I'm not.
So being taken for granted isn't all bad, I feel very fortunate that it results in such warm and fun family times.
Every Saturday evening, my grandchildren have dinner and spend the night. The den gets an inflatable bed with quilts and pillows and they settle in to have an evening of being spoiled by being allowed to watch almost whatever they want on tv and have a kid-friendly dinner. Once in a while what I think is a kid-friendly meal is a flop, but I try to always have bologna and hot dogs in the frig-a-frater. I made my version of the Duggar's Tater Tot Casserole(half the tater tots, double the ground beef), and it was ok with Kai but made a bigger hit with the adults who sampled it.
After dinner, Joe plays games with Quinn in which she makes up all the rules to fit her fancy; and Kai talks about football and Bakugan and I nod a lot while he beats me at chess, which I never was good at. They race up and down the hallway to see what's on tv in the den, to check out what PapPap's doing in his bedroom, and to wonder if I have a snack for them in the kitchen.
Later Quinn snuggles in to read books and fall asleep while her older brother checks out the football playoffs. Sound asleep by 10 and looking like angels, they have no trouble getting up to go to 8:30 am mass with us where we hand them off to their mom.
"What are you cooking for Sunday dinner?" is a question my kids often ask me. It's not whether I am cooking but what. Lisa and her husband and her chocolate labs usually can only come a couple times a month as they live an hour away but I love it when they do. Fortunately, the back yard is fenced and Daisy can go out on her own, although Lily isn't quilte old enough and ends up cuddling with anyone who can get his hands on her. She's still enough of a puppy to crash about every two hours and whoever ends up with her sleeping on his lap usually gloats.
Laura and her family live so close that they rarely miss a Sunday meal -- after all what working mom wouldn't take advantage of not having to cook a meal and occasionally getting to take leftovers home for lunch next week.
It isn't just having my family over that makes Sunday dinners so much fun. I inflict upon them new receipes and honestly they handle it pretty well. I don't worry about it being kid friendly on Sundays although Kai and Quinn know there is always lunchmeat or bread and peanut butter available. This week it was Paula Deen's barbecue pork roast and some Hawaiian type baked beans -- pork was a hit; beans were probably too sweet for most of them. But no one over the age of nine complained. They didn't have to cook it or even do the dishes.
That's another perk of Sunday dinners; Joe usually goes into the kitchen and proceeds to make so much noise no one can hear themselves talk, but he gets the dishwasher loaded and the "big" stuff washed by hand. He and I disagree on loading the dishwasher. I cram every single thing in, big and small, until there's no room left. I will even run it twice if necessary. He will not put large items into the dishwasher even if there is plenty of room; he'd rather wash them by hand. I really don't mind as long as he's doing the dishes and I'm not.
So being taken for granted isn't all bad, I feel very fortunate that it results in such warm and fun family times.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Business as Usual
I have spent a great deal of time on the computer lately and not doing the fun stuff. I have been finalizing my 2008 records and preparing the 2009 spreadsheets which, because I am self taught at all this technical stuff, takes me longer that it probably should. Every year I say I am going to take a course, but I think I have probably figured out most of the basics by this time and what else do I need.
When I started Heavy Metal Quilting eleven years ago, I had no idea of how much paperwork would go into running a one-person shop. I have gone through two PC's and now have a laptop which I like best. I use Word, Publisher, and Excel for most things with the help of a scanner and a printer. I have always appreciated technological advances; for example, I was delighted when I first had a program to figure students' grades when I was teaching so I didn't have to spend hours with a calculator. And yes, I am old enough to remember when it was an adding machine borrowed from the business classes and even paper and pencil before then.
My Gammill Premier is showing its age but still stitches great and produces a nice product. However, my Gammill and I are falling behind the times in the technical aspects since she is not computerized. All the newest machines offer the ability to regulate the stitch and to push a button and have the machine take off on a particular pattern without much aid from the operator. Now if I had $20,000 or so, I would certainly be sure that I owned one of the top new machines with every bell and whistle, but it's not happening. I wonder too how much the owner of a twenty to thirty thousand dollar machine has to charge customers to make it pay for itself. My prices are reasonable, I think, for the product that I produce and enable me to pay the bills for my small studio in Hebron. My Gammill is long paid for; but I am sure most of the purchasers of new machines are paying monthly bills for the machine alone that are larger than my entire monthly nut.
So, as much as I admire technological advances, my trusty Gammill and I will continue to work our way through over 150 quilts a year and to pay the bills on the studio.
When I started Heavy Metal Quilting eleven years ago, I had no idea of how much paperwork would go into running a one-person shop. I have gone through two PC's and now have a laptop which I like best. I use Word, Publisher, and Excel for most things with the help of a scanner and a printer. I have always appreciated technological advances; for example, I was delighted when I first had a program to figure students' grades when I was teaching so I didn't have to spend hours with a calculator. And yes, I am old enough to remember when it was an adding machine borrowed from the business classes and even paper and pencil before then.
My Gammill Premier is showing its age but still stitches great and produces a nice product. However, my Gammill and I are falling behind the times in the technical aspects since she is not computerized. All the newest machines offer the ability to regulate the stitch and to push a button and have the machine take off on a particular pattern without much aid from the operator. Now if I had $20,000 or so, I would certainly be sure that I owned one of the top new machines with every bell and whistle, but it's not happening. I wonder too how much the owner of a twenty to thirty thousand dollar machine has to charge customers to make it pay for itself. My prices are reasonable, I think, for the product that I produce and enable me to pay the bills for my small studio in Hebron. My Gammill is long paid for; but I am sure most of the purchasers of new machines are paying monthly bills for the machine alone that are larger than my entire monthly nut.
So, as much as I admire technological advances, my trusty Gammill and I will continue to work our way through over 150 quilts a year and to pay the bills on the studio.
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