I'm ensconced in Lowell for the 3-day Lowell Quilt Festival. At the New England Quilt Museum it is a requirement that all staff is on hand for the duration. I'm good with that - even though I am missing an EPIC McGill family reunion - but 2 nights in a hotel room by myself (woot!) is a real treat, and it is saving me 200 miles in commuting back and forth after very long, hard days.
Even more of a treat is the fact that miracle Cheryl (my new co-worker) was able to longarm my quilt in world record time. I found out the couple for whom it is intended took out a marriage license and told us to stand by for an August wedding. ACK! AUGUST? I was planning on having the marvelous Mazon's Quilting do the job because Gayle has been holding my hand for over a year while I sorted this quilt out and survived 2 breakdowns of my Bernina. Gayle answered about 10,000 of my questions and taught me so much about prepping my quilt, etc. that it broke my heart to let her know I had to get a "rush job" done here. Gayle and Steve are very talented, successful longarm quilters and they have a long waiting list - as they well should. Take a look at their site and give them some love for me.
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So back to the quilt. Beach Glass - Brace Cove is finally finished. I put the binding on it before I left for the festival and I got two sides of it hand stitched down last night. I hope to do the other two tonight and take home a finished quilt. The picture here shows it spread out on my hotel bed - the hotel room light has a yellowish tinge in it, the fabrics are actually MUCH brighter and more vivid. I included a closeup of one of Cheryl's nautical embellishments. She made it look very ocean-y with waves, whirlpools, a seashell here and there - it is so much fun to look at all the wonderful things she did. She has been a co-worker for only a few weeks when she overheard me shrieking that the wedding was coming up at any moment. Her offer to take it home and finish it for me was SO incredibly kind. I have only had contact with 2 longarmers - Gayle and Cheryl - in my life, but I have learned they are the very kindest and best of people. Time to mix up a vodka tonic (I know how to travel) and get the last two sides stitched. I shall sleep very well tonight knowing I'm ready for a pop-up wedding with a gift that will send the lovebirds over the moon.
Showing posts with label Lady of the Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lady of the Lake. Show all posts
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saddle Sores
Yesterday was my first day back in the saddle (for reals) with my Bernina. After about $400 worth of cleaning, a motherboard re-build and repairs (and messing around with a few small projects) I strapped on my courage and took out a languishing UFO that needs to be finished because it is a long overdue gift.
The first couple of hours went well - amazingly well. I was sailing right along, the machine was making all the right sounds. Life was good. I love that machine, I love sewing, it was all good.
This is such a large quilt I had to spread the blocks out on my king-size bed. I did about 3 miles of walking, looping the long hallway between my bedroom and the sewing room. On one trip I placed some connected blocks next to the long row they would be attached to and realized - I goofed. Not a little "opps" goof, but an EPIC FAIL GOOF. A sit-down-on-the-bed-and swear goof. To make matters worse, I did some periodic reverse stitching to strengthen a few places where the seam allowance wasn't quite (ahem) 1/4 inch. As I looked even closer, I saw a single row of half square triangles on one block that was....going the wrong way. Four little half square triangles.....would anyone notice? I did, and my mother's voice in my head did, too.
Long story short, I spent most of the rest of the day parked in my favorite chair with a seam ripper. I put a movie in the
VCR - ironically, The Agony and the Ecstasy. It seemed appropriate for the task and besides - I loves me some campy Charlton Heston movies. I managed to separate the scofflaws but had to sacrifice two entire blocks as the surgical separation necessitated some fabric amputation. It pained me deeply. I will push on and finish this thing but the next time I even THINK about doing a Lady of the Lake quilt I want someone out there to beat me about the head and shoulders with a blunt instrument. This quilt will never lie flat or square up well. I don't think even Charlton Heston as Moses (another fav campy flick) could pull something that biblically epic out his hat.
The first couple of hours went well - amazingly well. I was sailing right along, the machine was making all the right sounds. Life was good. I love that machine, I love sewing, it was all good.
This is such a large quilt I had to spread the blocks out on my king-size bed. I did about 3 miles of walking, looping the long hallway between my bedroom and the sewing room. On one trip I placed some connected blocks next to the long row they would be attached to and realized - I goofed. Not a little "opps" goof, but an EPIC FAIL GOOF. A sit-down-on-the-bed-and swear goof. To make matters worse, I did some periodic reverse stitching to strengthen a few places where the seam allowance wasn't quite (ahem) 1/4 inch. As I looked even closer, I saw a single row of half square triangles on one block that was....going the wrong way. Four little half square triangles.....would anyone notice? I did, and my mother's voice in my head did, too.Long story short, I spent most of the rest of the day parked in my favorite chair with a seam ripper. I put a movie in the
VCR - ironically, The Agony and the Ecstasy. It seemed appropriate for the task and besides - I loves me some campy Charlton Heston movies. I managed to separate the scofflaws but had to sacrifice two entire blocks as the surgical separation necessitated some fabric amputation. It pained me deeply. I will push on and finish this thing but the next time I even THINK about doing a Lady of the Lake quilt I want someone out there to beat me about the head and shoulders with a blunt instrument. This quilt will never lie flat or square up well. I don't think even Charlton Heston as Moses (another fav campy flick) could pull something that biblically epic out his hat.
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