The Smiling Quilter BLOG - BLOG

The Smiling Quilter BLOG

What's Happening at the Cabin

11/21/2018

Longarming Queue

Jipco's Doggies in Window - Today - Ship Nov 26th
Jipco's Table Topper - Ship Nov 26th
Jipco's Steelers Quilt - Ship Dec 17
Jipco's Piggy Newborn Quilt - December
Frances' Charmed 9-Patch - Dec 22
Frances' Nine Patch - Dec 22
Jipco's RWB - Ship Dec 26
Frances' 16-Patch - January

Joan's Quilts For Sale (click here) Anyone want to buy me the gold one?

How Long Will It Take?
The infamous question, no?
Think 2-3 panto quilts per week depending on
unforeseeable circumstances.
We all know how those can be!

About Blogging
To me, blogging is showing off
your quilts & sharing the process.
Anytime anyone is uncomfortable
with anything I post,
please let me know & out it will go!

Nautical Flags

11/20/2018

Nov 20: My friend, Narciso Gomez, is here from Florida for the family's annual Thanksgiving hiatus from all things medical. The whole family is rather fond of my quilts. Narci designed his ideal quilt last night using nautical flags to spell out family initials & including his medical shield.

Three Heirloom Quilts

11/12/2018

Frances Hunt's heirloom quilts were given to her. She is not the piecer but wants them finished & used.The 1st two are to be Christmas presents, the 3rd is for herself. She wants all three of them enlarged with enough border to make them queen size with an 8" drop. She took them home to select fabrics. She & her husband want to participate in the longarming process when their schedules allow. Any assistance I can get handling, pressing, loading and rolling such large quilts would be welcomed, especially at this late date.

Nov 12: Frances & husband dropped by with the pieced tops. We worked well into the evening measuring, planning and shopping for backing & border fabrics.
Nov 13: Spent the day canceling an order, locating fabric options, doing quotes, emailing & chatting on the phone.
Nov 14: Started this BLOG post.
Nov 15: Added backing images selected/ordered by Francis.
Nov 17: Backing fabrics are here. Will pre-wash when I get a chance.

Charmed 9-Patch

Nine Patch

16-Patch

Fire Dogs in the Window

11/10/2018

Nov 10: Quilt arrived. Wow.
Nov 19: Prepped ready to load. Using pattern Minaret with Tan thread.

Hop, Skip & Jump!

11/6/2018

Making this quilt for Alicia Miller
Dec 24, 2016: Purchased 3 charm packs from Ye Olde Forest Quilt Shop during their annual stocking stuffer promotion.
Nov 06, 2018: Today, my friend & very special lady, Alicia, selected this for her quilt. We've been working up to this for several months now. Can't wait to get started.
Nov 07: Working on a rendition.
Nov 08: Ordered fabric for background, borders, binding & backing.
Nov 13: All fabrics are here.

Hoops Quilt - Quilted 11/11/2018

10/9/2018

2 of 2 quilts pieced by Debra: Basketball and hoops - for my nieces who are sisters and play basketball

Circles, circles everywhere & not a square in sight.
Oct 09: Quilt arrived.
Oct 17: Programmed.
Oct 18: Cutting batting.
Nov 04: Fixing top & bottom leaders.
Nov 05: Backing is prepped ready to load.
Nov 06: Backing is loaded. Showing how leaders work. On this quilt, only needed them on top & bottom with the backing centered between them.
Nov 09: Top is prepped ready to load. Have a pending question about the batting.
Nov 10: Quilting.
Nov 11: Quilted.
Nov 12: Final pictures. Will ship tomorrow since today is Veterans Day--a public holiday held on the anniversary of the end of World War I (November 11) to honor US veterans and victims of all wars. It replaced Armistice Day in 1954.

Basketball Quilt - Quilted 10/26/2018

10/9/2018

1 of 2 quilts pieced by Debra: Basketball and hoops - for my nieces who are sisters and play basketball

Oct 09: Quilt arrived.
Oct 14: Programmed.
Oct 18: Cutting batting.
Oct 23: Prepped, loaded, quilting.
Oct 26: Quilted.
Oct 27: Final pics. Shipped.

Noah's Ark for a Baby - Quilted 10/08/2018

10/4/2018

Oct 08: Quilted

Rozie's Quilt - Quilted 10/02/2018

10/2/2018

Sep 20: First contact. Since Roxie lives in nearby West Jefferson, we set a date to do her quilt together.
Oct 02: Rozie is here today helping longarm her quilt. We are using a meander by Nancy Haacke with Bottom Line #610 Light Blue thread and Warm & White batting.Yeah! We finished!

Patriotic Quilt - Quilted 10/06/2018

9/26/2018

Sep 26: Quilt arrived. Prepped the backing.
Sep 29: Top prepped ready to load.
Oct 03: Loaded. Using Bottom Line #623 Silver thread to quilt Stars pantograph by Dave Hudson.
Oct 04: Quilting.
Oct 06: Quilted.

For a Newborn - Quilted 08/26/2018

8/22/2018

Aug 23: Prepped.
Aug 26: Quilted.

Tracy's Quilt for her Dad - Quilted 08/20/2018

8/17/2018

From Tracy

Linda, I cannot thank you enough for helping me complete this project for my father. My father announced to the family on July 6th that he had a health issue that was progressing quickly and that he was unsure of what the next few months held for all of us. This rocked our world. The thought of losing him was not something I wanted to entertain. I realize that each day we are given by our Creator is one to cherish. I try to stop and smell the roses, tell the ones I care about that I love them and be kind to other people. These things I learned from my Dad. Over a months time, he has declined rapidly. not sure how many "see you tomorrow" 's we have.
I have not been quilting long and my Dad has always loved the ones that I have created. It takes me TOO long to hand

quilt one, so I contacted Linda with questions and she said she would help me as much as she could. Her guidance is valued. When the quilt top that I pulled from my stash did not work out, it was Linda that suggested that making a new one might be easier than fixing the old one. I decided on a new pattern and using fabrics that I loved in my stash, I made a Quilt for Dad. Praying that Dad gets to use the quilt that I made for him. My apologies to anyone that I may be inconveniencing on Linda's to do list. Thanks to Linda for understanding the importance of this gift.
Prayers for my Dad are appreciated. Prayers of peace for him, strength for my Mom and the others of us that love him so.

Jul 22: First contact.
Aug 17: Quilt arrived. Started on overlays.
Aug 18: A lover of guitars and music, Tracy & found the perfect Ellen Munnich pattern, Free Motion Guitar. Programmed. Prepped ready to load.
Aug 19: Loaded. Quilting.
Aug 20: Quilted.
Aug 24: From Tracy: "His smile says it all!"

For a special friend - Quilted 08/30/2018

8/17/2018

Aug 17: Quilt is here. Considered off white thread, decided on Bottom Line Gold & Modern Squares.
Aug 28: Loaded.
Aug 29: Quilting.
Aug 30: Quilted, posted in Gallery, shipped.

Sonata by Cozy Quilt Designs

8/9/2018

Aug 09: Saw this pattern in the Ye Olde Forest monthly newsletter that came out today. Love it! Bought it! Played with it. Drew it. Now searching for fabrics. Turns out that the hard part.

Musical Rail Fence - Quilted 09/05/2018

8/6/2018

Josie's First Quilt
Denise: Josie is a 7th grader who is taking sewing classes with me, Denise, her neighbor.
Josie plays clarinet, cornet, trumpet and piano, and is one of the fastest readers in her class.
The fabric was bought as coordinated 1/2 yard cuts at the Ontario Quilt show last January.
We added the gold batik to brighten it up and pick up the metal in the instruments.

Jul 31: First Contact.
Aug 06: The quilt is here. I recognize the fabrics as Quilting Treasures "Encore" line.
Aug 27: Met Josie today. She selected "Well Noted" pattern by Ellen Munnich. Thinking Bottom Line Silver thread on front and Bottom Line Light Yellow bobbins on back. Started prepping but have issues with the backing. And so it goes. Hey, I got the batting cut & the thread loaded & the machine rails cleaned. And a new backing has been ordered ordered. I'll pre-wash it as soon as it gets here.
Aug 29: Working on overlays so Denise & Josie can determine quilting density.
Aug 31: New backing is here. Pre-washed. Back ready to load.
Sep 01: Quilt is loaded ready to longarm.
Sep 02: Quilting. Uploaded a private YouTube video: https://youtu.be/9GCigMgZuow. Started having communication issues between IQ and my longarm. Shut down.
Sep 03: Still can't get IQ and longarm in sync. Decided to give it and me a rest. Happy Labor Day.
Sep 04: Quilting is going nicely. Almost done.
Sep 05: Quilted. Final pics here and in Gallery.

Mountain Stars - Quilted 09/26/2018

8/3/2018

Karen: I kept thinking about all of the colors of the southern Appalachians and tried to put them in this quilt - sometimes
the forests are so dark and close together, and then, there will be a little patch of light on the forest floor.

Aug 03: Was checking USPS website. Learned this quilt was delivered yesterday in the midst of pouring rain all week. The box was drenched but the quilt is fine.
Aug 30: Karen selected Easy Swirl with Bottom Line Silver thread.
Aug 31: Doing overlays.
Sep 24: Prepped. Loading.
Sep 25: Quilting. Finished first section before I realized I was not quilting what Karen asked for. An awesome good sport, she is happy with it as is.
Sep 26: Quilted.

Catching Frogs - Quilted 08/06/2018

6/27/2018

Karen: I made this quilt for my husband. He is a herpetologist (from Greek "herpein" meaning "to creep"); herpetologists study and teach about reptiles and amphibians. At the moment, my husband studies salamanders in the southern Appalachians and a critically endangered frog in Mississippi called the Mississippi gopher frog. We’ve been married more than 20 years, and during that time, I have spent a lot of time helping him study salamanders and frogs.
The fabric in this quilt is frog fabric I’ve collected over the last few years. I’ve also included dragonfly fabric because dragonflies use the same habitats that many species of frogs use. I also like dragonflies – a lot. The quilt itself represents the ephemeral ponds and wetlands where many species of frogs live. These are wet areas at the interface of water and land. I chose the “wedding vine” quilting pattern because, like any marriage, ours has had its ups and downs. Also, when you’re out catching frogs, you’re often creeping through vines and underbrush.

Jun 23: First contact.
Jun 25: Selected Wedding Vine pattern. Wants Magnifico thread.
Jun 27: Quilt arrived.
Jul 07: Measured & photographed. Slight problem to work out.
Jul 24: Done. Prepping.
Jul 25: Backing is prepped ready to load.
Jul 28: Top is prepped. Took care of a slight issue.
Jul 30: Programmied. Couldn't do overlay.
Aug 01: I use PIXLR to do the overlays. For two days I have not been able to get it to work. This morning, it is back. Great online tool! So now Karen & I both know we have the density she wants. Decided on Magnifico #2138 Lakota Blue thread.
Aug 02: I am glad Karen is no hurry. Got the back loaded. The batting is cut & loaded ready to baste after I wind a slew of bobbins. My vacuum was not working so well so I took it apart and cleaned it including washing parts that required 24 hours to dry. Darn...should have cleaned up the area around the work table and longarm so I could proceed.
Aug 03: Wound most of the bobbins I will need. Everything is loaded ready to quilt.
Aug 04-06: Quilting. Finished.
Aug 07: Decided to order boxes for the super sized quilts that have dominated my work lately. Karen doesn't mind waiting so it is time.

Critters & Geese Twin Bed Quilts - Finished 08/25/2018

6/26/2018

These quilts are commissioned by my neighbors, Tina Wiggins & Denise Munday, for a set of twin beds in their cabin.
The only difference will be the backings.

Oct 2015: While working on the Grey & Grey, Please quilt ideas for Suej, I came across this fabric. Decided it was too cute to pass up so I have purchased enough fabric to make a version of my Red Flannel Quilt, a simple quilt with just three fabrics plus a backing, yet not boring. Ordered the fabrics & can only hope they will really match. If they don't, I'll use them &/or others in a different way.
Oct 07: Fabric shipped.
Oct 09: Fabric is here & everything matches.
Jun 26, 2018: My neighbor, Tina, just stopped by. She wants me to use the fabrics here to make her a pair of twin no-piece quilts.
Jun 30: Tina & Denise stopped by. Making progress.
Jul 14: Tina & Denise selected this layout over lots of other options. The quilts will be identical except for the flannel backings. Fabric not on hand is ordered.
Jul 20: All fabrics came in yesterday & today. All set to start piecing.
Aug 07: Pre-washed. Always a good idea and especially since these quilts will be used by young girls. Flannel backing shrunk a bit too so I am very glad I did this.
Aug 08: The backings are pieced ready to load. The bindings are ready to attach after quilting. The pics are awful but the best I could do. My camera has a mind of its own I can't always master.
Aug 09: Borders cut and ready to sew.
Aug 10: The women chose Acorns and Oak Leaves for the panto. I choose Bottom Line Silver thread.
Aug 11: Both quilt tops are pieced ready to load.
Aug 12: Presented a couple of overlays at 10" & 7.5" rows for consideration. First quilt is loaded ready to longarm.
Aug 14: Density is settled. Quilting. First quilt done.
Aug 15: Second quilt is loaded ready to quilt.
Aug 16: Quilting in one room, attaching binding in the other, blogging in the third.
Aug 17: 2nd quilt is quilted.
Dropped the blogging ball here but can say I was hand binding until done with both quilts.
Aug 25: 2nd quilt is bound.
Aug 26: So glad Tina asked for pictures of the binding as I had completely gone brain dead. Realized I had a lot of pictures I hadn't posted. Now posting in the Gallery.

Laurel's Star Spangled - Quilted 07/24/2018

6/22/2018

Jun 13: First contact.
Jun 22: Quilt arrived. I absolutely love the batik in the border & also in the quilt.
Jul 23: Quilting.
Jul 24: Quilted.

Kathy's Butterflies - Quilted 07/22/2018

6/20/2018

Mar 12: I've known about this quilt by Kathy Millbrand for over 3 months. It looks way difference from the original idea of 4 patches.
Jun 20: Quilt arrived.
Jun 21: Just found the quilt outside in my rocker. Eeech! Glad it is okay.
Jul 16: Pattern is Ginger Heart. Thread is Magnifico #2003 Snow Flake (i.e. white). Batting is Warm & Plush.
Jul 17: I'll be out awhile. Finished programming so I know how many bobbins to wind. Cut the batting.
Jul 18: Prepped ready to load. Loading back, batting, top.
Jul 19: Well, I got the bobbins wound & the tension set for plush batting, batik backing, regular cotton top.
Jul 21: Loaded ready to quilt. Quilting.
Jul 22: Quilted.

Carin's Rail Quilt - Quilted 07/05/2018

6/11/2018

Jun 04: First Contact.
Jun 05: Programmed.
Jun 11: Quilt arrived.
Jul 02: Prepped (Preparation) ready to load.
Jul 03: Loaded. Quilting.
Jul 05: Quilted. Will pack up & ship tomorrow.

Abundant Grace--Make it Purple - Pieced 07/10/2018, Quilted 09/18/2018, Bound 09/22/2018

6/9/2018

Jun 09: I showed this panel to my friend, Cecelia Fares. I know her from church & she is active on Facebook.Thought we had lost her & her husband recently when the home they were renting sold out from under them but they are back. YES! Cecelia has been a career nurse, is a natural beauty and a very personable woman. I liked her instantly. She is part of our after mass Sunday morning breakfast crew. And she is the partner on this quilt. Her response as we got into it was simple: the panel, purple, king size.
Jun 12: Over several days I made my way through my process. This is Cecelia's final plan. Purple batik fabric has been ordered from Ye Olde Forest Online Quilt Shop. The gold & the solid purple are on the way from Fabric.com. Still working on a layout for the IQ patterns. Quilt size is still to be determined by how much drop Cecelia wants. For now it is 90x100.
Jun 14: The panel is here from Wing and a Prayer Design. I like the first IQ layout above. Cecelia liked it from the get-go.
Jun 16: The gold fabric and the purple backing fabric are here. The gold has speckles like angel dust. The purple photographs as blue. Maybe later.
Jun 19: All the fabrics are in. I couldn't have gotten a better backing color match if I had been standing in a quilt shop. YES! The purple batik and the solid backing are rather stiff so I am going to pre-wash. The gold fabric is quite nice to the touch.
Jun 24: Pre-washed & pressed.
Jul 04: It's a holiday so I am working on this. Got everything cut except the backing.
Jul 07-9: Adding borders.
Jul 10: Quilt top is finished measuring approximately 88 x 98. The quilting will draw it up a bit more.
Jul 11: Fine tuning the programming.
Jul 12: I have details clear enough for Cecelia to pick one of four options.Still need to piece the backing.
Jul 15: We have a final longarming plan. The backing is pieced but still needs squaring & pressing. Will do that when prepping for quilting. Binding is ready.
Jul 16: Quilt is packed away for now.
Jul 17: Finished programming the design.
Sep 07: Polishing the design, prepped the backing.
Sep 10: Batting is cut. Prepping the top.
Sep 11: Loaded the backing.
Sep 12: Cecelia selected her thread - Magnifico #2065 Amberlight. Wound the 15 bobbins I had free but that may not be enough. Normally I would say "loaded" at this point and be ready to start quilting. For this quilt, I want to start in the middle. I have basted the first section. I will roll the quilt & loosely baste the sides until I reach the middle.
Sep 13: At the middle & ready to quilt.
Sep 14: Quilting. Posted a video: https://youtu.be/R9_FJFXXNRc.
Sep 15: Top half is quilted.
Sep 16: Didn't want to risk the machine getting interrupted by a power outage due to Florence so I left it off.
Sep 18: Quilted. Now the binding. Binding is attached & I am clipping it before hand sewing. @#)(*#$)(* !?L>* just seeing places on the back where the tension is too tight. The front looks okay. Hopefully the worse of it will only be on the drop & on the back. After all that work too. There is nothing I can do at this point. It is what it is - homemade. Clips are on ready for handwork.
Sep 19-21: Binding
Sep 22: The binding is done. The quilt is ready to deliver.

Just the Necessities Wallet

6/9/2018

Jun 09: Saw the bag online. Love it.
Jun 10: Pattern & fabrics are on the way from Ye Olde Forest Online Quilt Shop.
Jun 19: Fabrics are here.

Abundant Grace Kit

6/8/2018

Jun 08: Ordered the kit from Wing and a Prayer Design.
Jun 14: The kit is here

Laurel's Sew Happy - Quilted 06/22/2018

6/7/2018

May 28: First contact.
Jun 07: The quilt is here. Sew cute! I had to do that. Using Sewing pantograph, Bottomline Silver thread & Quilters Dream batting.
Jun 13: Programmed IQ.
Jun 21: Prepped ready to load. Perfect piecing, by the way. Loaded ready to quilt.
Jun 22: Quilted.

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