Isn't it amazing when everything just comes together! One of our customers was in today to pick fabrics for a quilt and she just "wowed" Sharon and I as she chose 23 fabrics from all over the store to make a Puzzle Quilt. With these choices, this quilt will be nothing less than amazing! She promised to bring it in and show us and I can't wait to see it......
I was busy most of the day packing up my old office space. Rich and Jonathan were running back and forth to the store with boxes to store and I was digging into old papers. Then I was off to the store for Laurissa and the Patchwork Sampler Block of the Month class. I wish I had gotten some pictures but I promise to share their progress next month. They all got loads done and in the spirit of the season - most of them were using their stash fabrics! I'm a bit jealous as I would have loved to have done this quilt too - but - the rules are the rules and I have way too much on the go to start anything new! There are still a few spaces left in the class if anyone wants to join them - the last Tuesday of the month......
I was a "good" girl and went into my office and cleared my desk and paid some bills......
When I got home I decided to continue being good and went downstairs to the studio to work. Last night I finished the borders on "Ditch Flowers" and I think it really looks great......
I also started making the backing.......Again, in the spirit of "using up the stash", etc. I decided to piece the back. I started it last night and finished it tonight and I guess I'm happy with it. In retrospect those pieces were large enough they could have been used in another quilt or in a scrap quilt so I'm not sure I did the right thing, but, c'est la vie! The back is done......
The last seam sewed and I ran out of bobbin thread! So I decided to wind a few bobbins for upcoming projects. I then remembered what Elaine said at one of her classes recently and decided you all might be interested in a few quilting tips along the way.....so,
TIP OF THE WEEK
Elaine mentioned that she usually winds a bunch of bobbins at a time so she doesn't have to stop in the middle of a project to wind a bobbin. She also mentioned that after every 4 bobbins she cleans her machine. Since I couldn't remember the last time I did that - I figured it must be time......
So I removed the plate (my machine is a Janome Gem which I keep at home for piecing)
It is amazing how much lint gets into the machine. Most machines come with a small brush just for this purpose......to remove all this lint. By this time I had taken out the needle (and changed it too!), removed the presser foot and the shaft so I could really get in there and clean it....
I did a pretty good job, but in all honesty I think the next cleaning will be done by Zack because he really takes it apart......I have learned from experience (moreso because my machines are constantly in use) that I need Zack at least once every 6 months. Normal machine usage probably requires a "good" thorough cleaning once a year.
Look what I took out with just a small cleaning.........
I'd say that was well worth doing.....I do the same thing with my Bernina and my other Janome's but sometimes I forget and neglect them too! If you have to - write it on the calendar! Machine maintenance is something you really don't want to neglect.....
Unfortunately I didn't get anything done on my current "obsession" tonight because no sooner had I finished cleaning the machine than Rich showed up and we sat upstairs and talked for 3 hours.......
Now it's time for bed - I have a busy day tomorrow and I have to teach tomorrow night so need my "beauty" rest!
Happy Quilting!
Jo-Ann
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