Tuesday's Tip - Red Snapper System

Sometimes when we decide to get a new gadget we find out too late that it isn't all it's claiming to be. Not the Red Snapper System!!  These rods, clips, and side clamps are a great time saver when loading a longarm machine. 

I watched several videos and checked many blog posts before ordering them. They came from Utah to SC in a couple of days, just like promised. Renae's videos and the ones from Sparrow Studio were the best. 

Now here's where the Tuesday Tip comes in,,,

We were having trouble screwing the sections together using the dowels screws that came with the system components. Renae made it look very easy, and perhaps she just has a stronger grip than I do. The solution ended up being an old farmer's remedy for anything that is not going together. Use a bar of soap, run the threads across it, then insert it, turn those pieces together, and viola! They started going together very easily. 

Once installed into the leaders I decided to get at a couple of charity quilts. Chose the first one, and onto the frame went the backing. Very easy and no pin pricks to the fingers. A few hours later,,,

One quilt done. One to go!

Enjoy your evening. 

Luann 

Intentions and a Giveaway

As August gets underway I need to get a plan together for the remainder of this year. I'm in the midst of startup with my business. This will be focused on two aspects of my creative life, hand dyed cloth and longarm quilting. There's a lot of aspects to this that would just bore you. Suffice it to say that these will be taking place in the background. As each step gets underway I'll keep you posted. 

Now for the list of 'bloggy' intentions. 

1- I have put together a schedule for when and what I will try to blog about. Each week I will check in and: review a book or product, share something that's inspiring me, and/or update my progress on the rest of this list. 

2- Work on charity quilt bindings. I want to finish at least four of the ten that are sitting on my chair at present. I also have been given two tops that I need to make backings for and then get them quilted up. Their bindings can be done by another guild member that likes to do that. 

3- Finish my Princess quilt

4- Finish my Canberra Tree quilt

5- Quilt up my deconstructed quilt top

6- Quilt up my 'Poppy Field' quilt top

7- Quilt up the improvisational tablecloth, placemats, and table runner

8- Quilt up the three table runners I made from my hand dyed cloth

9- Get at least 2 pieces out of the mending basket and back into my closet

10- Dye up some specific color wheels, and color combos I've been working on to go with Superior Thread's King Tut group that looks like jewel tones to me

This is an enormous amount of 'want to get done' items. But, last month I wrote down three and got none done, so if I get even one done from this list, it will be better percentage than last month!

AND DONT FORGET THE GIVEAWAY!!!

Leave a comment to be entered in the August  giveaway. I'll be revealing some of the goodies in future posts, so follow by email, so you don't miss out on anything. 

May God bless you with intentions that will bless others,

Luann

Sewing Room Update And Another Giveaway

As you may have guessed, showing the interior of my sewing room was a bit humbling. I tend to keep it much neater than yesterday's pictures showed. Some very targeted time has been spent cleaning. My first idea was to just get everything into some kind of container. Then I came to my senses and realized that I didn't  want to do this all over again! So, a little more time, a lot more decisions, and a trunk full of goodies leaving my environment! Here are a few pictures from around the room. More cleaning to ensue,,

This was taken from the same view point as the one from yesterday's post. 

And from that opposite corner. 

Inside my 'stash' closet. 

Too many lamps sitting on my sewing table. You can't tell there's a machine back in there!

This is behind my cutting table and generally can't be seen in any picture. Hopefully showing all these pictures will give me the push to continue decluttering and getting rid of the periphery!

And this final picture is of the quilted pieces that need bindings. 

There's 10, ranging from lap covering to oversized twin. Some are pieced, some are whole cloth. And there's one table topper that needs mending! These are hitting the intention list for August. 

THE GIVEAWAY 

How do you deal with a mess when it happens? 

Leave a comment to be entered August giveaway. Your name goes in every time you comment between now and the end of the month. Just remember that if you read the post as an email, you need to leave your comment on the blog for the drawing. 

May God bless the work of your hands,

Luann

July Where Did You Go?

I can hardly believe that July will be over in about 28 hours! Where did it go? This isn't the first time I've gotten to a certain point and wondered what did I do during the previous month. You've probably had this sort of thing happen too. Well, I decided to do a little research. I checked my little day planner. Then I reviewed what I'd written here, on my blog. Next I went through 31 pages of posts on a 'virtual retreat' thread I've been involved in. To tell you the truth, it was a rather eventful month. Just not a highly productive one in my creative studio. 

I made a journal cover for my friend Regina. 

I had a couple of dye workshop days. 

I hosted a fabric giveaway and sent out a total of 12 packages to various addresses around the world. 

I attended several church related meetings and guild programs. Visited my MIL and picked 16 pints of blueberries. 

I spent two days traveling to a shop to check out the HQ Fusion longarm machine. 

We did purchase it and spent three more days throughout delivery and setup week. I started to become familiar with it. 

 

And I'm learning how to navigate the various softwares that came with it. 

 

Don't forget the emptying out of the room

The mess that got put into my sewing room, which still needs some help!!

And all the rest of what one does to navigate through life. Dishes were washed, laundry was taken care of, floors cleaned, etc etc. 

So, even though it seems like it flew by and I didn't get much done creatively, I progress forward like a canoe going against the current some days, and with it on others. All in all, God has blessed me tremendously and I am grateful for it all. Yes I am even grateful for the dirty dishes. It means we have food to eat and something to put our food on. Not everyone is so fortunate. 

Coming soon, another giveaway!! 

Starting today, every comment gets you an entry into my giveaway!! Make sure you follow by email, as I will be posting more info about the giveaway and the lucky winner's comment at the end of August. 

Thanks for stopping by,

May God bless the work of your hands. 

Luann

Let's Create Today

The Longarm, The Frog, and The Happy One

The longarm quilting machine today is waiting to be installed. 

The Frog (finished room over garage) has been readied. 

And a very happy me!

Friday it gets installed. Saturday I will have my first training session. 

I thank God for having this all come together. I know He is in control. I trust Him to make sure that I use this machine to accomplish His will through me. 

May God richly bless you as you carry out His purpose in your life,

Luann

Miss Lila, length 24", weight...

Weighing in at,, well no lady no matter her age is giving up that information!

24 inches, arriving Monday early afternoon. 

This all sounds a bit strange, wouldn't you say? Not giving the weight, and knowing the inches before the arrival actually happens?

Oh, but what you may not know is this. Lila is the name George and I have chosen for "our" 

HandiQuilter Fusion 24, longarm quilting machine. 

Yep, that's right. Tomorrow, just after lunch the Estes Delivery truck should be bringing my little, well not that little, baby to its Momma.  Oh ya, and Papa!  We have both been watching videos about all the cool stuff Luann is going to try. 

LILA is an acronym for Luann is long arming. Well it was that or Lulu and I just don't want it to think it is not thought highly of. Yes I know it's a machine and not a person. I've heard so many people refer to there machines by name that I decided to do it too. Guys usually name every vehicle they've ever had. I know some that have named their roto tillers and lawnmowers. So, considering how much time I will be spending with this piece of equipment, it got a name! Why a feminine name? Because I had not seen Dusty Farrel's videos in time! Maybe it will get a middle name of Dusty.

Lila Dusty ??? Would it need a surname too?

What do you think? Pictures coming soon,,,

May God bless your week with unbroken stitches,

Luann

TA DA

Yesterday's post ended with this piece of fabric in a quart sized canning jar. 

All washed out and pressed! 40" only shrunk to 39 1/2" yeah!!

And for some close up shots. 

I read about this method in the Fall 1995 issue of American Quilter. The article was written by Vimala McClure. Here is what the lead page of the article looked like. 

It was the top picture of the "batching" fabric in jelly jars that first caught my attention. The rest, as they say, is history! It's definitely a part of MY story. If you have any questions about this method, leave a comment and I will try to answer quickly. 

And King Tut thread, by Superior Threads, to use with my longarm machine. Arriving any day!📦🚚

I am such a happy camper. 😎🚎

The Lord has blessed me greatly. May He also bless you with people that make your heart sing. 

Remember to create a little something every day. 

Luann