Preview picture from Elizabeth before she prepared it for longarming.

May 24: Quilt arrived.
May 25: Just found the box on the handrail where it was delivered yesterday. I contacted my carrier to prevent this in the future. Since it is not in the best condition, I have also just added a Shipping Advice section to the Preparation page that I hope is clearer than what I had before. Clearly I care that I receive and return quilts in maximum condition.

An attractive quilt made from batiks in all shades of purple. This will be a fun little project.

May 15: Quilt top & backing arrived.

Elizabeth & her sister are planning to come to the cabin in July to experience longarming first hand using this quilt. Maybe not prepping due to time constraints but definitely loading, programming & quilting.

May 09: Quilt arrived.

Take a duvet cover, separate the top & back, send it to me, add batting ... voila! Duvet turned Quilt.

May 04: Quilt arrived

It is not every day a quilt finds its way from North Pole, Alaska but this one did. Of course it started its excursion last September (2012) but a newborn took precedence. It finally started its overland journey in early April & just arrived safe and sound.

I will also be attaching the binding for Misty to finish.

This quilt will belong to Misty's daughter, 11 year old Honor, who is watching the BLOG today.

Sep 09, 2012: Misty found my website and contacted me. I responded but that was the end of our conversation until recently.
Apr 10 or so: Quilt was shipped with expected 2-3 weeks to get here.
Apr 30: Still heard nothing back after several emails (spam monster got 'em). Fortunately, I had a phone number so I left a message over the weekend. Got a call yesterday & now the email will flow. We hope.
May 01: The quilt and backing arrived safe and sound even without plastic wrap. Whew!
May 02: I will be making & attaching the binding from some black fabric I just got in. Very glad I ordered extra. It is nice when it just so happens happens.
May 04: IQ programmed. Back & front are prepped ready to load. Thread is loaded & tension is adjusted. Using high sheen variegated red-blue-green-yellow Rainbows #813 Tapestry on top with black on back.
May 05: Pinning/Loading. Loaded, basted & ready to quilt. Quilting...uploading a video. Will finish tomorrow.

• I just reread the Longarm Setup Process posted on the PREPARATION  page. A lot has changed but the steps in the process are essentially the same. I now pay a little extra to buy Warm & Natural folded on the bolt because 45" is easier to handle than 90". I also float rather than pin & roll the top. I find I no longer have all those issues with borders. Float means I lay the quilt top over the batting and baste the top edge & sides as I go but I leave the bottom edge free. When you see fabric hanging down in front, the top is floating. If you only see batting, I pinned and rolled it. Many times I start pinned and then free the bottom several rows down when the borders start to be an issue. It works wonders. I only have to be sure to align the center of the quilt top with the center of the canvas I am not using otherwise. I also do the programming well before loading.

May 06: Quilted. More pictures tomorrow.
May 07: Squared the quilt. Prepared the binding.
May 08: Attached the binding.

A friend reminded me this morning that I promised her a Birdie Sling bag out of this Rising Sun fabric. I had forgotten.

Just so happens I cut the borders & panels for this simple quilt yesterday. Today, in 2.5 hours while doing laundry, showering and eating, I had a new quilt top.

Whoa. My energy level just dropped.

Whole cloth baby quilt with wool batting using Donna Kleinke's Rosie Bear block & Baby Bunny block 10.

Decided to do this quilt today off the grid hoping I could do it in one day. Whew! As I learned the circumstances of the recipient of this gift quilt, I decided it would relieve needless anxiety that was already present in the giver. Hope this helps if anything ever really can.

Apr 06: Got the request. Suggested piecers/quilts.
Apr 10: Started talking whole cloth
Apr 11: IQ Design finalized
Apr 12: Bought fabric
Apr 13: Cut & squared top & back. Added widening strips to backing, Tested thread options.
Apr 14: Loaded, quilted & squared. Binding is ready to attach but then the bugs came out...
Apr 15: Attached the binding & started the hand work.
Apr 18: Finished & shipped.

We call this Elizabeth's art quilt. It will be before we are finished.

She had plans way back when to do something different so when I asked if this was her art quilt, she said yes. Hmmm.

Apr 06: Quilt parts arrived - 98% plain white top & small red on white floral-ish backing.
Apr 07: We talked about using one of the modern mazes...just not sure how yet.
Apr 30: Hoping I might get this one done before starting on the custom DWR project. We'll see.
May 01: Nope but we now have a plan. And a new name: the Red Weeds Quilt.
May 02: Even though we had a plan, I kept sending Elizabeth options. She stuck to her plan. LOL. I am however going to use off-white thread on the back. The red did not look good. If a bit of red from the front shows through, it won't matter with this fabric. She prefers a loose density.
May 03: Quilting. I am being plagued with thread breaks so I am getting nowhere fast. I spent over 4 hours trying to get our thread choice to sew without breaking. I finally gave up and substituted a Bottom Line Red for the King Tut Rony Red--both the same color. Sorry Elizabeth. Quilted.

Terrie's little lap quilt has a neutral flannel backing with a map on it. She also sent along some bamboo batting.
Per Terry...
"It's an old pattern called Road to Tennessee. I rotated the blocks to make Xs and Os for hugs and kisses."

Apr 02: Learned the quilt was on the way.
Apr 05: Package arrived.
Apr 06: Opened, photographed & started this blog.
Apr 29: Preparing to load. Loaded & basted.
Apr 30: Finally got my pattern this morning & IQ is programmed & ready to quilt. Quilting. Now past half way. Looks like I just might ship this today.