May 11: It is always true that pictures do not do a quilt justice.
May 18: While prepping, I could actually feel the heart & soul pieced into this quilt.
​May 19: Quilted.

May 05: Some dear friends have just commissioned this fun little quilt. This is an enlarged version of the original made in 2015. Someone is living right because to be able to find the same fabrics 4 years later is rare ... and I know who they are! (When I first learned they were in the market for a quilt, I sold them on Joan's beautiful Gold Quilt, my heart throb since I did the binding on it back 2016. They still wanted one made by me so this will be it.
​May 06: Ordered fabric from Nuts and Bolts Fabric & AceHardwareMerc. I must say the ladies behind these shops have the best customer service I have experienced. Thank you Earleen & Jenn.
​May 09: Fabrics are here. At the end of an aggravating day of longarming, I decided to go ahead and cut the charm pack in pieces for making the braid.
​May 11: Planning the braids.
​May 12: Sewing the braids. This is so much fun & fast. No fussy points yet looks tedious. Didn't start sewing until after 8 PM and got halfway in an hour.
​May 15: Finished the braids. Cut the sashing and borders.

Apr 29: The quilt, pieced by "Aunt Jean," is here.
​Apr 30: First Pictures. Love this quilt, design & fabrics. Partial to the quatrefoil plus the 4-patch chain that creates the stars plus the butterfly border & oh! the hand/machine piecing.

Apr 27: The quilt, pieced by "Aunt Jean," sent by Cynthia, our coordinator shall we say, & commissioned by Wilma.
Just a word from Cynthia Latham​:
My Aunt Jean is 85 years old and has so many projects started. We have "pulled out" 3 completed tops just this morning, not including the star. She does Japanese embroidery and I'll attach a few samples from her collection. So glad you can machine quilt for her. I'm glad too.

Mar 01: Quilt is here
​Mar 11: Using Bam meander with silver thread & Warm & Plush batting. Programming & doing overlays to determine density.
Mar 24: Cut the backing down to size as agreed.
Mar 27: Prepped.
Apr 02: Loaded. Quilting. Quilted.
​Apr 03: Last pics.

Jan 26: First contact via Facebook.
Feb 15: First contact via email.
Feb 19: Quilt is here. Beautiful!
Mar 10: Programming & overlays.
Mar 11: Going with Trillium & ​Magnifico #2066 Artisan's Gold thread.
Mar 20: Prepped ready to load.
Mar 21: Loaded. Quilting.
​Mar 22: Quilted.

                         Table Runner
​Mar 11: Trillium w/Taupe thread.
​Mar 22: Quilted.

Feb 08: First contact including everything I need to know to quilt this.
Feb 11: The quilt is here.
​Mar 10: Programming to determine density
Mar 11: All set
​Mar 12: Loaded ready to quilt.
​Mar 13: Quilted.
​Mar 14: Final pics. Ship.

Dec 24: Around noon, I got an email from Craig Evans about my UNC Tarheels Quilt. This is a  modified version enlarged to queen size 68 x 88.
​Dec 26: ​Plan is finalized, fabric is ordered.
Dec 29: The flannel novelty prints are here & they are awesome.
Jan 02, 2019: Solid fabrics are here. Not sure the orange & navy are the best match so I have ordered a Kaufman Kona Cotton Color Card.
Jan 03: Pre-washed the white fabric.
​Jan  07: Proposed lettering quilting patterns.
Jan 17: Returning the Orangeade fabric. Ordered Tangerine in its place.
Jan 31: Finally the Orange fabric is here & it is perfect.
Feb 01: Now know exactly how much background fabric I need before pre-washing.
Feb 02: Fabrics are washed ready to cut.
Feb 04: Working on the background blocks.
Feb 15: Background squares are trimmed.
Feb 17: Strips cut for windows & borders.
Feb 19: Started on the blocks.
​Feb 20: Almost done with the blocks.
Feb 23: Flannel backing, matching outer border & navy sashing are pre-washed.
Feb 24: Started on the sashing. Made the binding.
Feb 25: Rows are done. Next connect with horizontal sashing.
Feb 27: Quilt center is done. Just borders left.
Feb 28: Borders are on. Quilt top is finished.
Mar 01: Programming the quilt in IQ & doing overlays to help Craig decide what he likes.
​Mar 02: The backing is ready.
Mar 03: Loaded ready to quilt.
​Mar 06: Quilting...half way.
Mar 08: Quilted.
Mar 09: Photos.
Mar 09: Binding.
Apr 18: Binding & thus the quilt is finished. And shipped.

Dec 24: Around noon, I got an email from Craig Evans about my UNC Tarheels Quilt. This is a slightly modified version enlarged to king size.
​Dec 26: Plan is finalized, fabric is ordered.
Dec 29: The flannel backing is here & it is awesome.
Jan 02, 2019: All the rest of the fabrics are here.
​Jan 03: Pre-washed the white fabric.
​Jan  07: Proposed lettering quilting patterns.
Jan 17: Returning Blueberry fabric that worked on previous quilt because the feature fabric had some light blue but not so good for this one. Using me new Kona color card, I ordered Prairie Sky in its place.
Feb 01: Now know exactly how much background fabric I need before pre-washing.
Feb 02: Fabrics are washed ready to cut.
​Feb 04: Working on the background blocks.
Feb 16: Background squares are trimmed.
​Feb 17: Strips cut for windows & borders. Starting on window blocks.
Feb 18: Making progress on the window blocks. Short a strip of Prairie Sky fabric because there were flaws in what I received. MSQC is sending enough replacement fabric for me to finish.
Feb 19: Finished the blocks.
Feb 23: Carolina flannel backing & navy borders & sashing are pre-washed.
​Feb 24: Started on the sashing. Made the binding.
Feb 25: Rows are mostly done.
Feb 27: Half of the quilt center is in one piece. Still waiting for 3.5" of light blue fabric.
Mar 01: The last bit of fabric is here now.
Mar 08: The last 3 blocks are ready to insert into the quilt top.
Mar 11: Organized sashing & border strips.
Mar 13: Sashing & borders.
Mar 17: The quilt top is in one piece. Only borders left.
Mar 20: Sashing is finished. Working on white border.
Mar 23: White border done.
Apr 04: Change of plans. Going to do custom stitch in the ditch quilting of this one.
Apr 10: Quilt top is finished.
Apr 30: Got the main backing done.
May 01: Leaders added to make the backing large enough to load.
May 02: Loading.
​May 03: Loaded.
​May 07: Quilting.
May 09: After quilting many rows without a hitch, I suddenly had a thread/tension problem yesterday. Resolved it this morning. Should finish quilting today. NOPE. It is one of those nightmare after nightmare days.
May 10: Quilted. All is well that ends well.
May 15: Squared the quilt in preparation for binding.
​May 21: Binding is attached.

Dec 24: Around noon, I got an email from Craig Evans about my UNC Tarheels Quilt. This is a modified version enlarged to king size.
​Dec 26: Plan is finalized, fabric is ordered.
Jan 02, 2019: All of these fabrics are here except the "ny" and the helmet.
​Jan 03: Pre-washed the white fabric.
Jan  07: Proposed lettering quilting patterns. Finally the small "ny" and the helmet logos came in so sketches are now accurate.
Feb 01: Now know exactly how much background fabric I need before pre-washing.
Feb 02: Fabrics are washed ready to cut.
​Feb 04: Working on the background blocks.
Feb 08: Spent a couple of days finding an alternative for the NY logo blocks. Ordered a t-shirt that will do the trick.
​Feb 15: Background squares are trimmed.
​Feb 17: Strips cut for windows & borders.
​Feb 20: Almost done with the blocks.
​Feb 23: Flannel plaid backing is pre-washed.
​Feb 24: Started on the sashing. Made the binding.
Feb 25: Ready to start connecting rows.
Feb 26: Connected what I can until the ny logo blocks come in.
Mar 04: T-shirts came in. The color is way off what I hoped for.
Mar 06: Craig has decided we will use what we have since I can replace the dull off-color shade with our Kona Cotton Cardinal Red. Logos are ready to put into blocks.
Mar 07: Logo center blocks are done.
​Mar 08: Logo blocks are ready & the rows are ready to connect with horizontal sashing.
​Mar 11: Organized sashing & border strips.
Mar 13: Sashing & borders.
​Mar 17: Quilt top is in one piece.
​Mar 20: Sashing is finished. Working on white border.
​Mar 23: White border done.
Apr 06: Craig wants to go with Stitch in the Ditch on this one too.
​Apr 08: Quilt top finished.
Apr 13: While matching plaids & getting the backing ready to load, I kept having a bad feeling about using it-- just didn't have the body I needed & wanted. Ordered Silver Lining, a Northcott Toscana Flannel.
Apr 17: Backing is here. As soon as I can get it washed, I will load it.
Apr 18: Backing is ready to load. Started loading.
Apr 20: Loaded. Quilting. Got the top borders done.
Apr 22: Continued quilting. Got 2 rows of blocks done & setup for the 3rd row.
​Apr 23: Two thirds done.
Apr 24: Blocks are done. Tomorrow will finish up with bottom borders & start on the binding.
Apr 25: Quilting is done. On to the binding. Quilt is squared. Binding is attached and clipped ready for hand work.
​Apr 28: Binding is done & thus the quilt is done.

Sharing three of Granny Verlene's quilts

Nov 19: First contact.
Dec 13: Quilt is in my mailbox.
Dec 16: Was able to get out of my driveway late today. So glad this quilt is safe & sound.
​Dec 29: Programmed a couple of densities for Denise to pick between,
​Dec 30: Quilting.
​Dec 31: Quilted.

Dec 12: At the post office due to weather.
Dec 17: It's here. Amazing artistry.
​Dec 21: Prepped & loaded.
​Dec 22: Quilting.
Dec 23: Took the day off.
Dec 24: Quilted.

Nov 26: Frank is a once in a lifetime friend. He'll be 99 next April. Now in assisted living, we got away for an afternoon here at the cabin. When I showed him this fabric his eyes lit up. He agreed to accept a small quilt if I made it for him. Top priority. Quilted. Working on the binding.
Nov 28: Bound.

Nov 24: Got a gorgeous preview.
​Nov 30: Doing overlays. Quilted.
​

Nov 23: Pieced by Paula Ginn.
Dec 29: Quilted.

Nov 21: Wow.
Nov 30: Prepped. Loading.
Dec 01: Programming.
​Dec 02: Quilted.

​                                               Planning
Nov 20: My friend, Narciso Gomez, is here from Florida for the family's annual Thanksgiving hiatus from all things medical. The whole Gomez family is rather fond of my quilts: the whole collection. Narci designed his ideal quilt last night using nautical flags to spell out family initials & the family shield. Also will be making a Medical Shield Wall Hanging for his office​.
​Nov 21: Spent the day drawing Narci's ideas..
​Nov 22: Narci stopped in long enough to choose his favorite. Later I joined the family & friends for Thanksgiving dinner. I polished off the design & I have located fabrics I think will work. Just need Narci's final OK. Got it!
Nov 23: Fabrics &  t-shirt are ordered.
Nov 26: T-shirt is here.
Dec 03: Fabrics are here.

​                                Making the Quilt Top
​Jan 3, 2019: Pre-washed all fabrics & all the white for 4 quilts.
Jan 05: Started cutting.
Jan 06: Finishing the cutting. Ready to start sewing.
Jan 08: Working on the flag blocks first.
​Jan 08: 18 of 20 flag blocks are together. Need squaring.
Jan 09: Corrected some mistakes on yesterday's blocks while squaring. Center blocks are ready. Tomorrow will connect the blocks in the horizontal block rows with the sashing in between & start on the center.
Jan 10-17: Been sick this week.Back to quilting soon.
Jan 18: Working on center block.
​Jan 21: Center block is done & the last flag blocks are done.
Jan 22: Blocks are connected into border rows & columns
Jan 23: Block borders are on. Only gold, white & blue borders left.
Jan 26: Only final blue border is left.
​Jan 27: Quilt top is finished.

                               ​Longarming & Binding
Jan 28: I love working with Narci. Ask him a question at night...get a reply early in the morning. (Narci is in fact one of my favorite people but don't tell him. All of the Gomez family too.) We are going with the quilting pattern "Aqua", Warm & White batting & Bottom Line Silver thread.​
Feb 01: Hmm. Binding as been ready.
Feb 02: Backing is ready. Loading.
​Feb 04: Loaded ready to quilt.
​Feb 05: Quilting.
Feb 06: Quilted.​ Squared ready for binding.
Feb 08: Binding is attached. Only hand work left.
Feb 10: Binding and thus the quilt is finished. Picture tomorrow.

​   NARCISO L. GOMEZ, MD, FACS, FASCRS

​​​My friend, Narciso Gomez, is here from Florida for the family's annual Thanksgiving hiatus from all things medical.

In addition to his Nautical Flags quilt, Narci wants a wall hanging of his medical shield for his office. Thinking embroidered fleur de lis & lettering with gold fabric for the border, backing & binding.

Feb 13: ​Big design change - Simplifying.
                Huge thanks to Tom of 
        Ashe Custom Framing & Gallery

Nov 23: Fabrics, fleur de lis patches are ordered.
Nov 29: Fleur de Lis patches are here.
Nov 30: Ordered "Gomez" & "Surgical" patches.
Dec 03: Fabrics are here.
Dec 23: "Gomez" & "Surgical" patches are here. All set.
​Jan 28, 2019: Using the shield in the quilt to sketch the shield for the wall hanging.
Jan 29: Did a mock-up to figure out how I want to do this. I think mounting or framing it will be better than quilting it. Did the hard part--shield in the center. Planned everything else.
​Jan 30: Doing the wall hanging for real.
Jan 31: Narci wants this behind glass. I talked to a framing company in Boone. I was advised to complete this as a quilt with binding. They will sew it to mat & make a box frame. They cannot put glass next to the fabric because it will mildew. They will use a glass that appears to not even be there. A bit pricey but worth it. BTW, this wall hanging has always been my gift to a friend. I'm excited about it.
Feb 01: Hmm. Binding has been ready. - don't remember making it.
Feb 02: Backing is ready.
Feb 05: We have a quilting plan.
​Feb 11: Quilted. Working on the binding. Will attach the patches last.
Feb 13: Visited Tom of Ashe Custom Framing & Gallery. Tom, a patient and dedicated artist, hung in there as we hashed through many ideas. Suggestions: use metallic braid rather than the gold fabric, remove the small gold border so the white & blue touch. Best of all, I did NOT have to quilt this to frame it so we are in fact going back to my original vision. I am remaking the whole wall hanging which will look awesome in a frame Tom has selected. YES! YES! YES! 
Feb 14: Hobby Lobby has the additional blue fabric I need. Two stores in Boone carry some gold braid that I think will work & match the fleur de lis patches. Off I go. Found several.
Feb 15: Re-made the wall hanging minus the gold border. Spent several hours with Tom of Ashe Custom Framing & Gallery. Could not have done this without him. Picked a trim. Puzzled over how to attach it.
Feb 16: Several more hours with Tom attaching the patches and braid. Tom had constructed a box with a blade to cut his 1/2" double sided tape down to width we needed & a template for perfectly positioning the fleurs-de-lis & for cutting my blue shield. Selecting a frame was the hardest part. The one we thought would work didn't go with the gold decorations. After trying nearly every frame in the shop, I was ready to give up in despair. I spotted a couple of thin brass frames while Tom was leaning toward a simple black one. We decided that not knowing the office decor, Narci would have to choose.
​Feb 17: The frame is ordered.
Feb 27: Picked up the final product.

Nov 28: Frances & Mac came by. I prewashed the backing while my quests started removing the blocks we want to rearrange.
Dec 03: Putting this quilt back together.
​Dec 05: Prepped ready to load.
​Dec 08: Programmed.
Dec 09: Quilting.
​Dec 10: Quilted.
Dec 11: Binding is finished.

Dec 11: Pre-washed.
Dec 12: Quilt top is prepped. Loaded ready to quilt.
​Dec 14: Quilting.
Dec 15: Quilted. Bound.

Nov 10: Quilt arrived. Wow.
Nov 19: Prepped ready to load. Using pattern Minaret with Tan thread.
​Nov 21: Quilting.
​Nov 24: Quilted.

Nov 10: Just waiting on the baby's birthday.
​Nov 21: The baby is born.
​Nov 29: Quilted.