Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

What a week!  Very busy at work, my house has sold, and I have finally taken a huge jump in my life by ordering a Gammil Longarm Quilting machine.  I have so wanted to do this for a long long time but now, with the profit from the sale of the house, I can take this step towards being self employed.  It will take around 3 months until my machine arrives and then lots of practice, then bring it on!  Quilting for a living!  I don't now whether to be excited or terrified.  I suppose only taking the leap will give me the answer.  As I have finished all the quilts for people, photos etc that are due in July, I have taken some me time and have been working on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and am now up to 33 blocks.  Hopefully I can get another 7 done this weekend, and another 10 during the week.  Here are some photos of my first 30 blocks.

J



Finished 4

Glenn's 21st birthday quilt.

Glenn is my daughters' partner and a great guy.  This quilt was made whilst getting the house ready for my first open house which was only a backup plan as I have sold my house already!  Now to find somewhere else to live.  My daughter had requested a log cabin style denim quilt with the jeans labels at the centre of each block, with half of my fabrics in our other house 220 klms away and a mad rush (as usual) to get a quilt made in a short space of time, this was the best I could do.  I think it turned out pretty good and Glenn's comment was 'awesome!'  Got to be happy with that.  Just a little bit of binding to sew down tonight and then he can take it home.  Also have to say that Glenn took out the Senior Herdsman Championship at the SA Heifer Expo last week!  Congratulations on both counts!  

A baby quilt for Jo.



I haven't listed this one as a new finished quilt as it has been finished for quite some time.  As are quite a few of my baby quilts.  I hope to get about 30 finished and then advertise and sell them!  Only problem so far is that I keep giving them away!

J

Finished 3

Gidget is finished!  Woohoo!  In the final rush to get it on a bed for photographs (my house goes on sale next weekend) this is my first view of it all together.  So happy, I just love it!

Now to keep cleaning and decluttering and kids packing to go back to school/uni.

J

Finished 1 and 2

Ireland - Finished

Denim Quilt - Finished

Ready for my daughters swag

2 down, one to go!  Had a mad rush to get the denim quilt done, started Wednesday night and delivered Friday night.  Nothing like a deadline!  These 2 items are the first things sewn on my new machine - it sews like a dream, didn't baulk at the demin and satin stitched so smoothly for Ireland.  I even added a few embroidery details for a bit of fun to highlight Steph's quilt...

Ants

Now back to work!

J

Quilt Show and a new toy

Last weekend I went to the Sydney Quilt Show.  Wow! my congratulations to every entrant and especially to the winners. We spent so much time examing every quilt and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.  There are so many talented people out there.  We saved some time for the marketplace and bought lots of fabrics, some new scissors, gadgets and books.  I was very pleased to get a signed (by Brenda Gael Smith) copy of Twelve by Twelve.  A group of inspirational women across the globe, check out their website http://www.twelveby12.org/.  Also had a lovely chat with Michelle Hill at the Pfaff stand and checked out the Quilt Expression 4.0.  After getting a quote at the show I then placed my order through Busy Needles in Singleton and it has now arrived.  Hubby has it in his vehicle as I write this and it should be on my sewing table around 7pm tonight.  In anticipation this week I also bought an open toe free motion foot, 1/4 foot with guide and extra needles.  I am spending today getting things up to date around the house and some sewing prepared so that as soon as it is unpacked I am ready to go.  The day is just dragging though.  My faithful old Janome 4000 is really struggling at the moment and will be serviced and donated to someone appropriate.  This machine has been an absolute workhorse and not missed a beat, I will miss it but keep the memories we have created together.

Accomplishments this last week or so include, sending off my Zentangles ATC's; working on my second Journal quilt, Ireland, just need to add some satin stitch to highlight the Celtic style, and finished the 2nd and 3rd sides of the 2nd border of Gidget, and reading Twelve by Twelve cover to cover.  My goals for the upcoming week include finishing IRELAND, finishing GIDGET and completing a denim quilt for my daughter. 

Rainbow ATC's

Quilt Show purchases

Ireland, just needing some satin stitch