Fresh off the Frame - Sandra's Quilt

I've quilted a number of quilts for Sandra and loved every one.  She likes loose quilting on her quilts, she wants them nice and soft!  If you've seen my quilting, you now I like a lot of thread!!  But I exercised considerable restraint on this quilt (the struggle's real).  LOL quilting half as much took me twice as long!!

I wish I could applique like this.  I so love applique but I have the patience of a three year old and my hand work looks like a three year old did it!!!

I didn't stitch on any of the applique unless it was an area bigger than my fist (Margaret Solomon Gunn tip).  Then it was just a very simple line or to (like the tulips to accentuate the leaves or n the large center, a simple echo on the inside got it to be an acceptable  amount.  I really really wanted to put viens in all the leaves, but I was strong!  Thanks for letting me quilt for you Sandra!

No idea what the pattern is :(  usually she leaves the pattern with and this one is a beauty!  Her kids got the kit for her.  Great kids eh?

Details on the quilt - Hobbs 80/20 batting, So Fine thread, 2 colors on top, Bottom Line in the bobbin.  Rulers used:  Deborah Poole's Rule it (love the 1/8 in markings and it's small enough to guide with my ring finger, nudging the ruler), Kelly Cline's Kelly Bean for around the applique.  I certainly can't quilt curves without using one of Linda's curves from Quilted Pineapple.  I used the 10 curve and the long straight ruler, went from corner to corner. Quilters Rule curvy thing, perfect for continuous curve.  And of course a purple air erase marker, can't do ruler work without that.  Now how long did it take for this quilt. My machine run time was less than 7 hours.  I would add roughly two additional hours for marking and staring.  About 10 hours total to complete this.  Man I went very very slowly not sure why I come to an almost screeching halt when there's little quilting but it's just not second nature to me. I'm learning, I'm learning I can do different things.  See I don't quilt everything within an inch of it's life!!

Can't wait to show you the next quilt on the frame, this one's got a little surprise on it and there's definitely going to be more thread!!

Hope everyone has a great week. Check out the link parties on the side bar, so much inspiration out there. 

A Change is Gonna Come!!

That's right!!  Those of you that have followed this blog know that my passion is the long arm quilting.  My soul just blossoms when I'm quilting.  I have wanted to start a long arm business for many years now.   I've dabbled a bit and I've done a few customer quilts over the years.  But it's always been this thing I did on the side.  I now  want to change that.  I want to step out of the crazy world product development and technology and jump head first into the artistry of long arm quilting!  I want to do edge to edge (I have 2 computerized long arms - if it's digitized, I can quilt it), custom (what I LOVE the most -  feathers and ruler work), teaching and machine rental.  I want to do it ALL!!!  I have a Big dream!!

I'm down to reduce hours at work, hoping after the first of the year to reduce even more and by next birthday to have hours down to zero.  It's a big goal, I have to work really hard to make that happen, but a girl just has to give it a try and follow her dreams!!

With that, I'll share my Big Dream Panel - appropriate right?  I just needed to get my frustrations that have building up the past few months out is the form of some incredible feathers.  And feather this baby I did!!  I have a number of different feathers in this one, from formal traditional feathers, a vine-y feather with curls, a lacy curl feather and a few others.  This sweet thing has two layers of batting, one Hobbs Poly Down on the bottom and Hobbs Wool on Top.  I want to hang this and that's why I chose the poly, I also want some incredible definition in the quilting which is why I choose the wool.  The Poly gets a bit stiff with the dense quilting and the wool gives wonderful puff.  

My dream is to quilt all day!!  With the grand opening there is 25% for the rest of this year, yep that's right, the rest of this year.  So stop by https://suedaurioquilting.com/ and lets talk about how I can help to make your long arm quilting ideas come to life.  Make sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram, these are usually the first place with quick and easy updates with details followed here. 

Hope you have a great week!  Check out the linky parties on the side bar, lots of great inspiration out there.

And that's a wrap, Hands 2 Help 2018 Grand Finale

The grand Finale!! Hands 2 Help 2018 has come to and end. These wonderful quilters created 8 beauties for some wonder causes. Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo gets 2 quilts, Little Lambs Foundation for Kids gets 2 quilts, Project Linus local to McHenry Co will get 2 quilts and Sage Cancer Center in McHenry will get 2 quilts from this year and 5 from the previous year. Dorothy, Veronika, Laurie, Liane Koehl, Robert, Tom, Deborah - thank you for all you do! We met our goal of 8 quilts this year, and I do think they are the best quilts we've made so far!! Can't wait for Hands 2 Help 2019. Next year for our local donations are going to change it up a little. We will still make quilts for hands 2 help, but we're going to give our local quilts to the care givers of those that receive our quilts. They care for those under the worst of circumstances and comfort those in pain, in need, and in fear. I think it would be great one year to recognize some of those outstanding individuals who make a difference in this world. So if you know of anyone deserving, let us know and we'll get them on our list. Here's a few pictures of what this group of quilters accomplished this year. Thanks to Sarah for hosting Hands 2 Help for so many years, and sending the fat quarters and thread, what a surprise that was!! Cheers to another great year of Hands 2 Help

8 quilts this year, 6 on this line and 2 additional baby quilts on another

The last 5 finished and ready to go to Sage Cancer Center in McHenry

Panto - Golden Curls by Apricot Moon, Hobbs Poly Down batting, So Fine thread 

Kaffe Fasset shot cotton stripes fat quarter bundle - finally used it!

Cozy flannel on the back

Love a quilt hanging on the line

Giant Card Trick quilt - left overs from On Ringo Lake with  a little yellow added

Just hanging

Panto - Good Vibrations #1 Patricia Ritter, quilted the top, then turned the quilt and quilted again to get the good vib cross hatch, fun huh????  Hobbs Poly down batting, king tut thread on top

Cotton Sateen on the back, soooooo soft

Great Granny squares, good way to use those charm packs

Love a pieced back

looks like stained glass with the light showing through

Panto - Daisy Doodle Patricia Ritter, Hobbs Poly Down Batting, Glide Thread

Panto - Daisy Doodle Corner - Patricia Ritter, Hobbs Poly Down Batting, Glide Thread 

more cotton sateen 

Panto - Daisy Doodle Corner - Patricia Ritter, Hobbs Poly Down Batting, Glide Thread 

Cozy flannel on both of these

Panto - Cupid - Leisha Farnsworth and Patricia Ritter, Hobbs Poly Down batting, glide thread

More flannel on the back

Panto - Cupid - Leisha Farnsworth and Patricia Ritter, Hobbs Poly Down batting, glide thread

Here they are, hearts of gold I tell you!

Add caption

Check out the linky parties on the side bar, lots of inspiration out there

Cheers to another great year of Hands 2 Help!

Mill Girls BOM is going home

It's time, this beauty is being shipped back to CA where she belongs.  I'm gonna miss this one!  We did spend some quality time together.  I managed to finally get some pics in natural light, just love when the sun is pretty low and shadows from the quilting show up so nicely.  You have to forgive my lumpy yard....there wasn't much natural light left and I wanted to get a few pics so no time to look for a flatter spot.  The quilt is nice and flat, it's my yard that isn't!

Mill Girls BOM - I'm gonna miss this girl!

Cable feathers look great with the fabric which has an winding feathery pattern.  First time doing Cable Feathers, used Deborah Poole's templates that I got from MQX, works like a dream

A simple feather in this border to mimic the fabric, beadboard in the small borders is carried through the larger borders as well.   

The star points almost look like wings don't they?  feathers feathers feathers!!!

Simple quilting on the pieced blocks brings out their beauty.  Continuous curve and feathers in the background.

Nothing but pure feathered fun!

Here's the details

• Pattern:  Mill Girls BOM
• Batting:  Hobbs wool (don't you love the quilting definition?)
• Thread:  Glide 40wt on Top, Glide 60 wt in the bobbin (love these two together)
• Ruler work and free motion feathers - lots and lots of feathers!

Now to load some of those Hands2help quilts on the frame and get those done!  Check out the linky parties on the side bar, lots of quilty goodness out there.

Hands2Help 2018

Will you look what happened on Sunday?  They did it again! We finished three quilts for Little Lambs foundation for kids and nearly finished another. This puts us at 6 tops complete and one really really close. The large card trick will go to Sage Cancer center when completed. Thanks to these wonderful people for taking time out of their busy day for such good causes. The sweatshop had those machines humming today. You only have two more chances to help out, May 20 and then the final wrap up on June 3.   Let me know if you'd like to help us out. It was such a beautiful day too.

Three baby quilts, finally putting this adorable fabric to good use!

Large String Blocks for Card Trick - left overs from On Ringo Lake and added the yellow.  Just needs a border

Strings every where!

The sweatshop had those machines humming!

Bobs got a trick up his sleeve!  He was talking to Tom when we got the pic of the baby quilts.  He worked hard today :)

There's going to be a new addition in the sewing studio.  That table that we're sewing at will come out when we're done, June 3.  The cutting and ironing tables will be where the sewing table is and in that empty spot will be my new A1 Long Arm!!!!!  I did it, I got one.  Ordered it last week and am just beside myself with excitement.  I tried one at MQX in NH and fell head over heels in love with it.   Now I can be doing pantos on one and custom work on the other.  Her name is going to be Loretta (after my mom), I'll call her Lottie for short.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Hope every one has a great week, check out the linky parties on the side bar, go get inspired!!