Time to start blogging again

We closed the shop on October 30th.  It was a long hard decision to make, but in the end I think it has been the best decision for our family.  There are things I miss lots like my quilting friends, helping people pick fabrics, the camaraderie of quilters, the warmth of the shop, and walking down the stairs to work. I don't miss the stress of trying to figure out budgeting and what the next "big" thing will be.....All is all it was a great experience, one I'm thankful I got to have. 

I am going to continue long arm quilting. I really love it, and I did manage to purchase the computer program for some specialized quilting it should be here early next week. Woot!

We are now again in transition trying to figure out where life will take us next.  I am working "as needed" at the pediatric surgery center in Atlanta. It is good and hard, the commute is loooong and boring but I love the job.

Dog Bed.

So, we would really like to get the dogs off our furniture, so we got a new dog bed for Sabueso. (Tallulah will be next) Generally if Sabueso has his blanket he will lay where ever it is, he is very co-dependent about his blanket.

Well, he thought laying on the arm of the chair in our bedroom with his head on the back of the chair would be a better option....

Well if we insist....but he is NOT happy about it.
We'll see how this goes. The UPS man that delivered the bed and several of my customers do not think this will work.

Here's the new Avante HQ18.

Robert stayed up and got the Avante together, the table has about 1,000 bolts and screws......It looks like having two extra inches in the throat is going to be LOTS of fun! I got a shop quilt loaded on it but I haven't had time to quilt with it yet. Though I am having to blot up the drool, cause I would really like to play on it. Maybe tomorrow.

My new HQ Avante.

Handi Quilter has a new 18 inch quilting machine, the Avante. I got to try it when I was in Houston at quilt market. I really liked it and wanted to get one. Robert said if I sold my HQ16, then I could get it......Well, I sold both of my old machines. One to Margaret who does some quilting for the shop. She now can quilt without leaving home. (an even better commute than mine.?) And one to a woman that lives close to Savanah. So, here's my new machine. THe UPS man wasn't thrilled bringing in these 6 boxes. And Robert bless his heart is downstairs putting it all together while I blog away. Can't wait to try it out tomorrow.

Quilted Mondays.

I quilted two of these quilts for a customer that made them for her grandsons. The fabrics that she picked for the "swim suits" are fun, fun, fun!
This is the third $5 block sampler quilt that we have quilted for this customer. I quilted this one with a blue and brown varigated thread in an all over floral echo.
This was an unusual quilt made from golf towels. This customer made it for her son. It was easier to quilt than I thought it might be, and the customer was thrilled with it.

Well, it is time to sell our bikes.

So, sometimes you have to be a grown up and since every penny we have is tied up in the shop, we are selling our motorcycles to help pay for a wedding. We are happy that we have this opportunity. This is my bike. Great condition, 28K miles, wind shield, always starts, $2200
This is Robert's bike. 2003 Suzuki MarauderExcellent condition, except for a dent in the gas tank (may be fixed before you see it), 4000 Miles (that's right 4000 miles), wind shield, and saddle bags. $3,000
Our bike trailer is also for sale. Thule two rail trailer, less than one year old, only used once, 1000 lb. hauling weight, $700 ($100 less than retail and no sales tax), 706-664-1642 evenings, weekends, 706-774-8292 weekdays.

Some recent quilts I have quilted.

This quilt is one of my quilts. Debbie and I did this as a Block of the Month a few years ago. She of course got hers finished and quilted long before now......Anyway I quilted this quilt with swirls, leaves and lots and lots of wonky feathers.
This quilt belongs to my friend Connie. It took me a while to build up my confidence up to quilting this quilt. Anyway, I quilted it with wonky feathers in the borders and the large rectangles. And swirls in the little border and in the star and I echoed around all the applique. .
Here's a picture of the whole quilt. I love the way that it turned out. The quilt is beautiful, I love the star and the thread that Connie picked out was lovely.
This quilt was designed, pieced and appliqued by Linda, for the one of her parishioners. She did a great job, and it was fun to quilt.

Here's some of the quilts, I have been working on.

[caption id="attachment_1320" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Corrie"][/caption] We go to a church with some young families, so I am working on lots of baby quilts. I always use "Yellow Brick Road" for my baby quilts. 3 out of 4 of my friends due this spring are having girls and the forth is not finding out the gender until she delivers. This is made with Amy Butler fabric, not too girly girl but girly none the less. I have one more done, one pieced and one with the blocks made, but not sewn into rows yet. And as always I am working on pinwheels.

Megan is engaged!

Megan and Luke have been dating about a year and have know each other for several years. Megan is working as a PA in the minor treatment area in the University E.R. Luke is a forth year med student. He will graduate in May and start his intern year in July, in pediatrics. Luke had all these great proposal plans that got a little scroundeled because of weather, though I don't think Megan noticed the weather at all. Here's a picture of the ring.
Great taste Luke!
Oh, yeah, the wedding date is May 22, 2010. Which gives them a few weeks before Luke starts residency. They will both be in Cambodia Feb. 6-23 on a mission trip with their church, so if you think of them say a prayer for the team.

Impromptu quilt 'til you wilt.

So, we had an impromptu quilt to you wilt. And honestly we had a lot of fun but we did wilt fairly early. Lots of sewing and eating and laughing. A good time was had by all. Most of us brought and wore our slippers, and since my commute is only upstairs, I wore my jammies too.

I know you thought I might never blog again.

So, I have taken some time off from blogging, but am really trying to get it together again and let you know what is going on in the shop and in our lives.
Well, I have finally retired from nursing. So, I should have more time to blog, right? It feels good and scary to be in the shop full time. I am really enjoying having one less hat to wear.