When faster isn't better

 

Like many people, I would say that I use the internet a lot. Lately, I've been using it for Zoom and have been known to run 12-hour Zoom sewing sessions. I've never had an issue with the internet - my calls never dropped, I rarely experienced lag time for the video. I did get a couple of "your internet connection is unstable" from time to time, but it's been excellent. 

Someone in our house, who shall remain nameless, has been bugging me to upgrade the internet speed. "Hey - there are advertisements that you can get this amazing download speed (1.5Gbps), and we should get that". Well, I called, and we do NOT have fiber optics to our house, although it's in our neighborhood. However, I had the option to double our download speed, which cost $15 LESS than what I was paying. OK - I guess uploading at 50Mbps is better than the 25Mbps that we had. 

I booked an appointment for Sunday. That was the day of the virtual retreat, so I knew that I would lose my connection, but that's OK. I've learned that even if the Zoom host goes down, the call remains in place. YEAH for that. Although Carol had been set up as a co-host so when I dropped off, the entire call wouldn't go down. 

After the internet was reconnected, I thought I was good to go. Oh, no - the fun was just beginning. I believe my internet dropped FOUR times during the remainder of the afternoon. OK - so I called my provider, and the customer representative assured me that it could take until midnight for the system to stabilize. While I wasn't happy, I was good with that. 

Well, guess what? The ^&*((*&&^ internet is so darn unstable that I'm fuming mad. I got dropped TWICE during our Monday sewing group. And to make matters worse, I got dropped ONCE during my presentation last night and the lag time on the second class was horrible at times. Guess who I'm calling this morning?? I don't care if we go back to 25Mbps (which we can't), but this service is TERRIBLE. 

They have 36 hours to resolve the issue before my next class. I have a ton of Zoom calls this week and into the weekend. I cannot exist with such an unreliable service. 

Thankfully, the group was very patient last night, and I wasn't down for long. But you can bet that I said a few choice words and worked frantically to get the call back up. 

Let me show you what I've been working on during the Virtual Retreat and Monday sewing. I know - I should have been working on my homework assignments! One of them is done, and I have another one almost cut out. That leaves one more to deal with. I still have presentations to put together, but thankfully, that's just uploading some pictures. With everything on the schedule this week, well - you don't want to know, and let's just keep it that way. Breathe - breathe - breathe - it'll all work out. 

So you remember my Aviatrix Medallion. This is the ongoing class at Oh Look Fabric. The final two borders were assigned in August. Some of the previous borders on my version were made, but not attached to the quilt and I had only made two blocks of 72 made for the final border.

This is what my project box looks like right now. 

The project box for Aviatrix Medallion

The quilt top is DONE. Well, I still have to add one more border of the cream on the outside. That can wait until next month. I LOVE it. And I have to laugh as someone made a comment that they didn't think the quilt could be made with only two colors. Oh yes - in my world ANYTHING is possible. I used two colors, but with both colors, I used MANY different fabrics. That makes it quite interesting and helps to pull it all together. That's why I LOVE these ongoing classes. I used to try and keep it like the pattern but now? I try to be as far from the pattern as I can possibly be. I learn so much more that way and it shows the students that you do NOT have to follow a pattern. Not the design and certainly ot the color. I made several design changes in my version of the quilt. 

Aviatrix Medallion missing the last cream border

Remember, this was the quilt that I had to search for some matching cream fabric. Well, I hadn't really calculated how much fabric I needed. I think I bought one meter of each of two fabrics. Well, there's only enough left to put the last border on and there won't be much leftover. I seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to what I need. 

We're going to finish the year with this quilt discussing quilting options, bindings, backings, and all the other things needed to finish off a quilt. That'll be easy and no homework (or little) on my part. So that's good to get one of these quilts done. 

The binding will be orange. I haven't pulled that yet, but I had a peek at that huge stack of orange backing fabric and found one that's the perfect size!

I decided that I needed to get myself organized for our upcoming UFO club. I have four things on my list and only one of them is completed. Well, this is what I did yesterday. I had to trim the edges of the quilt top and I added a small cream border. Then I added the outer border. Not only is this part of the homework for the UFO club, but it's on my Dirty Dozen list for 2019. So I'll be able to cross this one off that list soon. 

The quilt top for the disappearing nine-patch

That sixth sense really kicked in on that border. I had FOUR fat quarters of that coral colored fabrics. Was there enough to do what I wanted? Hm - I thought about it while I was walking the dogs. I didn't have anything else to use. The four fat quarters are part of the collection. Oh crap - I can't be bothered to do the calculations. Let's just cut. 

So I cut and I sewed and I cut and I sewed. And one by one, the borders got added to the quilt. This is what was left. 

Leftovers from the four fat quarters

There were EXACTLY enough pieces. Oh my god -- I did a bit of a happy dance when I realized that. This quilt is a bit larger than I normally make - I think it's about 68" wide and 80" long. I love it and I might "keep" it for me. I have a lighter fabric (also from the collection) to use for the binding - no other choice and I've got to figure something out for the backing. I believe my homework was to have the top completed. YEAH - that's two down and two to go. I should be able to make the deadline on Sunday morning and I've got to think about what I'm putting on the list for next month. 

OH -- I should qualify my willy nilly cutting. I did look at the fat quarters and determine the best way to maximize the fat quarters and the size of my quilt, but I didn't do all the math to determine if I had enough. I just winged it! I'm terrible this way, but I LOVE it and it works for me. Besides, if it didn't work out? I'd find something else that would have closely matched and moved on. There is NO TIME to worry about such little things. 

I see loads of people signing up for the classes. I'll be getting in touch in the next couple of days to confirm. I'll also be uploading the complete list to the blog, but that's not going to happen today. 

I have a bit of a wild day ahead of me. I need to get started or I won't get everything done! 

Hae a super day!!!

Ciao!

With a little help from my friends

 There is NOTHING like a sewing day. Even if it's getting together on-line. I have a feeling that with the colder weather not that far away, people are going to embrace Zoom (or whatever platform they are using) a whole lot more readily. No shoveling the car out of the snow, no wet boots, no frozen butt on a cold car seat (even with seat warmers!), no frozen hands. Oh yes - I'm going to love sewing in my space this winter with Zoom!

A lot got done yesterday and a good part of it happened while I sewed and chatted. Even though I seem to chat a LOT and not sew. 

I got the disappearing nine-patch in one piece. That meant sewing that center seam and pressing it - of course, all the little seams are twirled. Those colored squares are 2" finished! The corner triangles are sewn on, but not pressed. I need to trim it and start working on the borders. 

The disappearing 9-patch in one piece

Then it was back to that double wedding ring quilt. I'm happy to report that all the B arcs are done!!!! I think there are 157 or something like that. The pile on the left needs to be trimmed and the pile on the right is done. I'm going to get them trimmed and labeled and back in the project box. Then I have to shelve this project for a week or so while I catch up with my other projects. 

The B arcs for the double wedding ring

This is my paper piecing station. A small cutting mat and pressing surface, although I did use the big iron. My trimming tools and the scraps which went into the scrap box to be used in a pet mat sometime soon since the scrap box is now overflowing. Once again................

The paper piecing station

I taught this class many years ago and so where's my class sample? Not done of course. It's actually on my Task Master list of UFOs to work on. I decided to dig out my project. I might as well work on it at the same time. I was going to focus on the B Arcs, but look - the A and B arcs are already done. 

The arcs for MY version of the double wedding ring project

Well, that's good news, but look at what I found in the project box. Yep - that's a cutting mat, a press cloth, and a ruler. This is why we end up with duplicates of stuff. The items are all back where they belong. 

Missing tools in the project box

So if you're into paper piecing, did you know that there are TWO Add-A-Quarter rulers?? The old one which was in this project box and the NEW one which is the one I was using. I don't think I'll ever use the old one ever again. The new one has a beveled edge along the one side that you use instead of the card stock for folding the paper. It's a brilliant design and I love having one tool instead of the ruler and a piece of cardstock. Yep - that old ruler could go, but it might be handy to have a backup in the event that I file the new one away somewhere which is totally a possibility. 

Add-A-Quarter rulers for paper piecing

As if that wasn't enough, I got half of the snail's trail quilt together. It's pretty easy to sew together now that all the blocks are trimmed. It's going to be donated to Quilts of Valour so I do need to add a border. This is one of my projects for my UFO meeting near the end of the month. Do I have the incentive to finish it? You bet I do. 

Snail's Trail quilt

Here's the thing about the UFO club. We pledget to get something done each month and if we don't, we lose $10. That's not a huge monetary incentive, but I find that it's enough. What I like about the club is that I MADE a commitment to get something done. I try to never renege on my commitments. I might be late, but I try to get things done that I say I will. Trust me - there are times when I would abandon these UFOs because something more important or shinier wants to be worked on. Having that incentive keeps me on track!!!

There will be a UFO club next year. Oh yes - it's going to be virtual and so if you want to sign up, you could send me an e-mail now and you can get on the list for 2021. Or you can wait until closer to the end of the year to get signed up. Trust me, this club works!!!!  With the new platform, I don't think that link to my e-mail works any longer. So it's just my first name and last name at gmail.com. elainetheriault@gmail.com

It's so nice to see the huge number of UFOs getting finished. Everyone works at THEIR own pace and sets their own goals so no pressure from any of us to get stuff done!!!

After our sewing Zoom call, I quilted a customer quilt. 

Customer quilt - DONE

I'll trim it and get the next one on the long arm later today. 

Then I decided that I should get some embroidery done. I've been doing a lot of machine embroidery this past week. Got to take pictures and write some blog posts. I do love the pre-wound bobbins for the Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 2. Once these bobbins are empty, they go in the garbage!

Empty pre-wound bobbins

However, at one point, we had a situation in Studio B and I almost gave Bear a heart attack. 

I had to change the bobbin and had taken the LARGE hoop out of the embroidery arm. When I grabbed the hoop to put it back on the embroidery arm, I pulled, not lifted, and CRASH!! OH - what was that??? 

Oh, shoot - an entire box of embroidery threads fell on the floor. Look - Little Bear was ready to run!!!! Oh fiddlesticks!!! Now I have a huge mess and spools of thread all over the place. I dare not leave them for an instant on the floor because Murphy loves to steal thread. 

A Box of threads fell to the floor

The container landed face up and totally empty. 

The spool box fell right side up

So I put everything back on the table and will deal with it later. Before long, I heard another CRASH although not quite so loud, and found that the vibrations from the embroidery machine had tossed the plastic case back on the floor. This time it came apart and landed upside down. 

The case fell on the floor a second time

Oh brother. I reassembled the case and put it back on the table. I had to laugh because all the dust and spool labels had fallen out. That was partly why I left it to deal with later. 

The case is now clean inside

So the case is back together and it's clean inside. I just need a wee bit of time to get those threads back into the box. I almost finished the embroidery - that'll happen this morning and it looks AMAZING. 

At one point, I was running (OK - walking since running is usually for those in a panic and I wasn't panicking) between the embroidery machine, the long arm, and the sewing machine. This is what my FitBit looked like at one point. 

My FitBit running!

I also needed to change the blade in my rotary cutter, but I was going to make a lot of noise to do that - it was very early in the morning and the blades are upstairs. So I just grabbed several other cutters hoping to find one that had a decent blade in it. You don't want to know how many cutters I have. Lots of spares! And since they have a life-time guarantee - well, I'll never have to buy another rotary cutter. 

Part of my rotary cutter collection

One more quilt pattern for the 2021 ongoing classes got decided yesterday! And I'm excited about it - I even have the pattern and the ruler! Now to get two chosen for my personal ones and I should be good to go!!!  More on that by the end of the week. I NEED to stay chained to my computer today and NOT go downstairs. 

Here's a couple of pictures I snapped on our walk yesterday morning. The sunflower is gorgeous. It's a little one but beautiful. 

A mini sunflower bloom

The painted rock is also cute and very small. Here's an article as to why you shouldn't be leaving these painted rocks in parks.  

A painted rock in the forest

Yep - I imagine that I'll be sitting at the computer for most of the day. I have a bunch of writing that needs to be done and while nothing is critical at the moment, it all needs to be done. Taking pictures, editing them, writing, and then editing the writing. I actually like doing all that - I also like sewing!! At least with sewing, I can listen to an audiobook. I can't do that with computer work!

Don't' forget the Virtual Retreat this weekend. Feel free to pass the information along to someone who you think would be interested in joining. I know so many people that are NOT getting out to their regular sewing days. This is perfect. Saturday, September 19 (Starts at 2:30 PM) and Sunday, September 20 (starts at 9 AM). 

Well, I'm off and running.  OH -- I'm putting long pants on and a down vest for the walk this morning. It's a wee bit chilly out there!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

UFO Club

I want to thank everyone who has stopped by to pick up stuff that I no longer need or want. I had a quick visit with France yesterday as she stopped by to pick up some stuff. There'll be more, in bits and pieces as I unearth the unwanted things. And knowing that I can make quilts tops for Quilts of Valour or Project Linus from the fabrics that I don't need or want is so freeing. The more that goes in those piles, the more I want to get rid of - OK - within reason! HUGE thanks to Diane, who is my quilt top piecing machine. I'm prepping FIVE more kits for her to pick up later today. That's good news. The bad news? There's still lots more where that came from.

It's all about using up, finding a new home, or getting it done! Today it's all about the UFO club. We had our monthly meet-up via Zoom, which is great since one of the ladies is at her cottage every weekend, and she still gets to participate. I think more and more people are getting used to this format!

And I get to sew longer to get my projects finished since we don't need to travel, no worries about the weather. It's a great thing!

Today we have Monday sewing and no need to pack up the sewing machine!

Let's get started on the show and tell because there's a lot. Even though it was summer and no money on the table, everyone was busy.

Dede got the two outer borders on this quilt. It was one of our $10 quilts from years ago. I think it was called The Patchwork Sampler. I love that black and white combination! Thankfully the recipient still is into black and white. One border left to go!

Dede's homework for August

Her homework for next month is to remove some quilting from the outer border of this next quilt and redo it. Don't you love how motivated we all are? That's a lot of work, but hey - if you're going to do something, you might as well be happy with the end result.

Dede's quilt for next month

Jane -- oh, Jane. She's like me - loads of little things to do each month. BUT instead of working on what she was supposed to, she made some placemats.

Jane's placemats

She made masks.

Jane's masks

And she worked out the calculations for a new quilt. This was actually part of her homework for the current month. Oh -- this is why I love EQ8 so much. I never have to worry about these kinds of calculations. But we all have our methods, and this works for Jane.

Quilt calculations

She even got started on some half-square triangles for the quilt.

Half-square triangles for her new quilt

Getting the binding on this quilt WAS on her list for this month.

Jane's quilt with the binding firmly attached

And it's firmly attached by machine. I love how more and more people are going that route!  It really depends on the eventual home for the quilt. A family heirloom? I'd hand-stitch the binding. But a giveaway quilt? By machine!!!

The binding is stitched in place by sewing machine

And she finished this quilt. I think the binding just needed to be put on. Now that's a lot to get done in one month. Go, Jane, GO!!!!

Another finished quilt

Linda got some blocks for the Vintage Christmas quilt done. She was a wee bit behind and is almost caught up now. The person who is behind is ME. I haven't got the homework for Friday out yet. That's a job for today or tomorrow.

Linda's Vintage Christmas blocks

Her project for next month is this quilt. It's gorgeous and definitely a Scandinavian feel for Christmas.

Scandi Christmas

I also got a lot accomplished. I'm only showing you the UFOs that were on my list. I won't bore you with all the other stuff that got done.

First up was my red/white log cabin quilt. The quilt top is together in one piece. No borders.

Red/white log cabin

The binding and backing are also made. Yeah!!!!

The binding, the backing, and the quilt top

Then I managed to get the final border on Easy Street - the mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter.

The final border on Easy Street

The binding, backing, and quilt top for Easy Street

And then there is the disappearing nine-patch. It's ALMOST together. All that's left to sew is ONE seam through the center of the quilt (the diagonal center that is) and add the four corner triangles.

The disappearing nine-patch

I'm going to add a border of some kind. I have some fat quarters, so I'll need to figure something out. But it's on my list for next month to have the top completely done.

Then there's the binding on the inside of the yoga bag. That was to be done this month - it didn't happen. I carried it over for next month.

The yoga bag that needs to be finished inside

There's also the snail's trail blocks. The blocks are all made, but it was supposed to be a quilt top by now. That's on the list for next month as well.

Snail's trail blocks

And I had to bring in a new UFO. This is PRISM squared. My goal is to get all the wedges cut for next month. The fabric strips are sewn together - the wedges just need to be cut.

My PRISM squared

Four projects - how hard can it be to get one done each week until our next UFO meeting?


Sharon got several projects completed as well. The border is on her shop hop quilt, and it's off to the quilter. I LOVE that pop of green with grey, white, and black. It's gorgeous.

Sharon's shop hop quilt

And she got some placemats finished. It honestly doesn't matter the size of the UFO - it's all about finishing.

Sharon's placemats

She'll be back working on her 2000 Piecemaker Calendar for next month. She's so close to getting that quilt done!!! I can't wait to see it done!

Last year, Ronda bought an embroidery machine and seems to be embroidering everything!! This is what she was working on this month. Onesies! The embroidery file is a new one from Kimberbell. But how cute is this, and how simple and fast to make compared to making a quilt for a new baby????

Onsie embroidered by Ronda

Lynne is also doing some machine embroidery. She got more sections of her Dream Big panel done. So hard to see in the photo, but I'm sure that it looks gorgeous. This is a fun panel to quilt or embroider. She'll be working on that this coming month as well.

Lynne's Dream Big panel

I think Laura abandoned her PRISM squared quilt for the summer. Instead, she got this quilt made. It's from flannel, and I LOVE IT!!!!

Laura's quilt

I think it's called Over and Under by Bonnie Sullivan.

Elaine is diligently working on her Stitcher's Garden. Two borders of five are now on the quilt.

Two borders on Elaine S quilt

Here are the other three borders being auditioned. We gave them the green light, and that's her goal for the coming month - get those last three borders on.

Auditioning the last three borders

Shelly is into hand embroidery these days. Her goal was to finish the stitching on this block.

Shelly's hand embroidery

She's started another block and going to try and finish TWO blocks for next month.

Diane is also working on Stitcher's Garden. She got the last set of blocks done!!!

Diane's blocks for Stitcher's Garden

More blocks

The final set of blocks

Some of those blocks are machine embroidery, and some are appliqued. It sure feels nice to get those blocks done! I know - I was in that position earlier this year.

One of the things that I love about our Zoom UFO group is that we get to ask questions like Elaine's border or, in Diane's case - how to finish off this cording.

Cording that needs to be finished off

Katheleen is also stitching up a storm with hand embroidery. This is Snow Days, and she got all her homework done and MORE. The quilt is stunning.

Katheleen's Snow Days

We have others in the group, and some of them took the summer off, but they have homework for September. Susan is going to be working on a Halloween quilt, Liz will be back with her Amy Bradley garden quilt, Diane was doing some repairs, and hopefully, Laura will be getting that PRISM squared done!

It's all fun, and the best part - we are getting those UFOs done. Some are just working on current projects to get some motivation. It doesn't matter - the point of the club is to get things DONE!!!

And it's going to be another busy day. Longarm quilting, making two magazine quilts, and well - that's probably all that I'm going to work on today. And those darn books - I'm reading a book and listening to an audiobook, and both are good! I hope to finish both today!

Hey - it's fun to sew all day, but you gotta take some time to just relax!!!

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!