Basting, blue screen, backing up, bees, bleary eyes and Bingo!

First up, here is a photo of the blue basting stitches that I had to remove from that quilt, and that took more than an hour to take out.

 and this is how the problem area looks now. My customer was very pleased, and did not baulk at the extra charge on her bill. A good outcome for all. (I just hope I don't get inundated with problem quilts?)

This is the message I got on my computer screen last night, after I got the dreaded blue screen and it shut itself down, and then restarted. It was a bit late to talk to my computer guru at that hour of the night, so I went to bed. But I do admit to having a sleepless night, and waking at 4.30 this morning. My concern was that with all the computer work I have been doing lately, that I had not been backing up!! If I had a problem I could lose lots of "stuff". So I was very relieved when I turned on the computer at 5am, and it all seemed to work ok. I then found lots of USB's and started backing up important files. And I messaged the guru this morning, and we have a good plan being put into place for backing up "everything" on my laptop and my desktop, on a daily basis from now on. It's easy to get a bit complacent!

And these bees, just might be found in one of those cases, do you think? I know I am teasing!

Sorry I don't have a photo of the bleary eyes, but hopefully they will recover soon. I have typed up all the instructions now for 25 quilts in those cases, that are all different designs and fabrics. There are 2 more still for the fabric to be cut, and that is on the agenda for tomorrow when my "cutting fairy, Val" will come in. And then my "checking fairy, Pat" will come in the afternoon and check them all. I am very blessed to have such amazing friends. As much as I enjoy designing them all, and playing with the fabrics, it has been a bit "full on" for a couple of months now. So from the weekend, I might change the focus, to some ignored house cleaning and the cooking for a 3 day retreat for 10 lovely ladies in just over a week's time. I am looking forward to the fun, and to seeing 10 of those cases come to life!

And the last word in the title is Bingo, and I think we might play some of that real soon. Stay tuned!

Time for bed, and hopefully a good nights sleep tonight. The rest of my house is cold, as I have been too preoccupied to look after the fire and it went out. I do have heat in this room though. It was very crunchy underfoot this morning when I got the paper from the front lawn, as it was minus 2 deg!! My electric blanket is on!

Blessings, From Jude

Miracles cost extra!

I could see I had a challenge ahead when I had this quilt spread out on the ironing table this week, and saw some areas with a "bit" of fullness. I phoned the owner and she admitted that there had been a few problems getting things to fit nicely. But she thought I could fix it!!??

And I am managing to tame the those areas as I go. I basted the whole quilt before I started, and put lots of extra basting stitches in the fuller areas, as you can see, with a blue thread, so it can be seen easily for removal.

And after some SID and the quilting of that area, you would never know would you?

But, it has been a lot of extra work, and there will be an extra time charge on the account!

I am not posting this to criticize the maker, but to show that some things can be overcome, although with extra time. And it so happens that there is another quilt, of the same pattern, that belongs to another lady, that is waiting here for quilting, and will probably come up next! (And that one is perfectly flat).

Max has been switched off now, until Monday morning. I have another quilt to cut out tonight, and instructions to write for it. Pat checked another 7 yesterday, so when they are labelled they will be added to the pile I showed on Thursday. We might make it to the roof yet??

It is only 2 weeks until the retreat, and I am looking forward to that. There are 10 ladies coming to join in the fun, and that is a "more than full" house!

My fire has gone out, and I have the heater turned up in my studio, as I won't be heading for the lounge tonight. We have had good rains this week, and cold days. Gardening is on hold, until after the June retreat!

Stay warm, (or cool) and enjoy your weekend.

Blessings, From Jude

Just a quick update......

While I am sitting having my cuppa and a tea of poached egg and toast (yumm) I will just post a little bit of news from the last few days.

My last post was the retreat report on Sunday evening, and it is now Thursday evening, and once again the week is speeding by.

This afternoon a lovely friend called in with one of her chrysanthemums, which is very unusual, and one I had not seen before. I hope that I can get it to grow in my garden, next year. I am doing some changing around in the garden, pruning some things and improving the soil in one bed. But these things all take time, and the weather has not been conducive (sp?) to spending time outside lately.

I have been cutting and writing, and have these cases all done now, and another pile half that size is waiting for my checking lady, who will be here tomorrow. And I am thinking about the "allocation" process for the retreat, and working out a different process for this time??

On Monday I had a trip to the city for 2 appointments, and in between those I went to Koorong Bookstore in the city, which has a great array of Christian books, music, cards, gifts and children's book etc. I had received a voucher for this store at Christmas, and managed to use it, and more, in my visit. It was also lovely to meet up with a friend, who caught the train into the city from her place, and we chatted, and caught up on each other's news over coffee, and early lunch. (I did take a "selfie" of us both, but I am not very good at those, and it was not good enough to post!) So I "borrowed" this photo from the Koorong website.

I will make a comment here about shopping in the city. There is certainly no encouragement from the "powers that be" to shop in the city, when you have to put money, (and not small change), into parking meters. The sign said that after the hour you should move your car, and not just put more money in the meter. Another good reason to live in the country!!

My reason for the city trip was for my annual mammogram, and I am pleased, and relieved to report that I am now almost 9 years clear. It is always good to hear those words from the specialist each time, as in the back of my mind, there is that, what if....., or when......, or where...., might it come back?? Just a tad paranoid, I suppose, as that time of the year rolls around again??

Anyhow, that's all the newsfromjude and time to get back to cutting some more fabric. Max has been switched off for the day, and in the morning I shall be back onto custom, after a few all overs this week that have been picked up.

Blessings, From Jude

Retreat Report

Thursday this week was the Annual General Meeting of our group, and also a celebration of our 21st birthday, with a pizza tea followed by a yummy cake.

Our new secretary Michelle, is getting some guidelines from the retiring secretary Linda.

The cake was cut by our newest and member Juanita, who has also been elected to the committee.

And Friday it was time for a fantastic weekend retreat at Cockatoo Downs Farmstay for the Gum Tree Quilters and friends, and the following photos will give you a glimpse. (I did 'borrow' some photos for this blog, as some of mine were not good, and I was trying to achieve and did not take many).......Edited......(.maybe I took more than I thought!)

Friday was cold and wet, but it was cozy in the hall with the wood fire burning large logs of wood. Cockatoo Downs is situated on a farm about 14 kms south of Keith, and has a caravan park, bunkhouse accommodation and cottages, in a quiet spot off the highway. By Sunday, the sun was shining and blue sky appeared.

The little buildings that you can see on the edge of this photo are little huts, and not the bunkhouse that some girls slept in. Sorry don't have a photo of the cottages or the main hall. I had intended to walk around an take some, but time disappeared. Thanks Faye for your photos).

This is the large hall where the sewing happened, and the meals area. This was early on Saturday morning, and there is one keen worker, and a few having brekkie, and the rest ambled in like "brown's cows" in the next hour or so. The large windows let in lots of light.

One lady was pretty happy to receive a bag of scraps and here she is looking for treasure.

Delma is laying out the first blocks.

 Progress happening.

 And here is a very happy camper with a finish.

This was taken early in the weekend, and I was going to show a final pic, but this lady spent a lot of time "working the room"! Somebody thought that we said working the broom, instead of room! So each time we saw her chatting, we said she was working the broom again!

The start of another red and white quilt for Marie, who seems to enjoy using the Quick Curve Ruler, (and also loves to make red quilts).

And Pat had a charm pack and a jelly roll of the same colour fabrics, and was not sure what she was going to do with them, but did have a little sketch with an idea. 

Here we have half square triangles made and joining the jelly rolls strips.

Now Marie and Pat are both laying out their blocks and helping each other make decisions re their layouts.

Marie has a few more blocks to make and she will be able to sew the blocks together.

And Pat has made a plan, and good progress. This is laid out on her sheet, so she can lift it up and take it home all laid out.

Michelle's mum has a special birthday this year, and she made a good start with her quilt. Sorry I did not get a photo today, but she was sewing her rows together.

 Kath started a new quilt, and made good progress by finishing all the star blocks.

Mary was working on this quilt, which still has to have a piano key border, and then she turned to another quilt, making curves.

Heather finished her quilt that was started last year in the Quick Curve Ruler workshop.

Judy was very happy to get this quilt put together, as I think she said it has been around for a long time, and doesn't it look fantastic?

Jean visited for Saturday and finished some bindings, and labels for quilts.

And here is the face of concentration as Beth put the borders on this quilt, but I missed the photo opportunity, before it was put away and the next quilt was started.

Louise was also working on her curved ruler quilt, and I am not sure if she finished it or not. Today she had more blocks out, in her own design with Kaffe Fasset fabrics.

Lyn started a Bedford quilt kit and here is her progress in the corner, and you can see how bright the sun was coming in the corner windows.

Vicki worked on a lot of different projects, and came prepared with many unfinished projects to work on, as you can see in front of her table!!

Kerry is doing a William Morris quilt and we are looking forward to seeing this finished.

 Pauline is making good progress on her Patchwork of the Crosses quilt.

Helen had a lot of scraps and was not sure where she was going with this, but as you can see in the second photo, it will be a strippy quilt as you go quilt.

Rosie started this quilt in a retreat last year, and has had a change of house since then, so is very pleased to finally get the blocks put together, ready for the borders to be added soon.

 Good progress was made by Vicki, who spent a lot of time, (and glue) prepping these segments for her next quilt.

And Chris spent her weekend doing the most amazing machine quilting on this and another quilt.

There was some unpicking.

Lots of laughter and chatter.

Some fantastic meals, cooked by someone else, and cleared away by fairies too.

And some food washed down with a glass or two of red!

We took advantage of the sunshine on Saturday afternoon for a group photo, on the large log on the lawns outside the hall.

I won't go into all the details of these photos, except to say that a few years ago at one of these retreats, Faye presented the then president with a "lovely" posy of flowers! And then at another retreat, it was presented back to her, but with "embellishments"! As we expected, Faye has now presented this back to our current President, nicely presented in a shoe box, also "embellished"!

Can see the "slippers"? I am impressed with your creativity Faye!

As we expected Faye to come bearing a "gift", Pat had organised one back for her!! Here she is trying them for size.

 So here endeth my retreat report, after a great time with friends, who all share a common interest of quilting. I love to watch the interaction between the ladies, and listen to the laughter and chatter.

And in case you are waiting for a photo of what I stitched, there is none. I spent my time on the laptop, typing up quilt instructions, and cutting fabric, ready for the next Pick a Case Mystery Retreat, which is only 3 weeks away. Tomorrow I have 2 appointments in the city, and there is another quilt loaded onto Max, all ready for action on Tuesday morning.

Blessings,
From Jude