My Juki machine

Veronica has been sewing away on her beloved Juki sewing machine.  She started with a challenge last Wednesday.  Her friend Carol said they were going to use up some fabric!  Veronica told Carol she was in.  Veronica decided she wanted to get rid of her yellow fabric stash.  She doesn't like yellow, but she sure does have a ton of it.

So she cut cut yellow till she had over 100 2 1/2" strips for the pattern Carol said they were working on.  Then off she went to the sew-in that Dayton Quilt Guild had.  They sewed all day, they raced sewing fabric strips.  They were maniacs!  But they were having fun.  They talked about all the memories in these fabrics strips.  A few came from some friends who have passed away, but there were still some great memories of shopping trips and "what the heck possessed me to buy this fabric".  At night she came home to work on her mini stars.  She says they're a beast, she has so many seams using her tiny scraps, but her Juki sews right thru them like shes sewing butter.  Butter, Yum!  Sorry, this bear loves to eat.

She's been working on a lot of stuff, she even sewed mini yo-yos on the drive to Louisiana for her granddaughter's birthday party.  Then she worked on hexies going the other way.  Shes says she's cleaning up fabrics, using them up, putting them in quilts so they'll leave her house.  She does have a lot of fabric.  She's challenged herself to get it done. 

Shes' s got the orange challenge going with Mattie, Quiltsmart's owner. If you're interested in joining the Bitty Lone Star Challenge, you can find that on Bear Thread Design's Instagram at BTDQSFall Lone Star Challenge.  You've got time, it doesn't start till October 1st.  She's thinking of new challenges.  We'll see how long she keeps this up.  Stay tuned for more adventures with Veronica and Jaggie.

Sample making

Well, this may not be a subject that everyone is interested in, but I thought for those of you that are, I would sprinkle in a little advice.  Do you ever wonder where all the samples at your local quilt shop come from?  Sometimes the employees make them, sometimes customers make them.  Different shops have different formulas for calculating how you"get paid" for the samples. 

Some stores have you pay half of the cost, some give you the fabric and pattern, you make the quilt and after a certain amount of time, the sample is yours.  Sometimes the stores pay you to make them and the samples are theirs. 

Well, I've been making samples for local shops for years, probably 20 years or so.  I've never had a problem, I usually get the quilts after about 3 months, they like to rotate every quarter or so.  I agreed to make 6 quilts for a local shop that I had not made samples before, so I asked how long they would keep them.  I was told about 6 months or so.  That was fine, I was in no hurry to get them.  I guess I should have gotten that in writing. 

I delivered the quilts to them June 1, 2017.  Every time I asked for my "quilts", I was told I couldn't have them 'yet'. So yesterday was September 11, 2018, I thought it's been long enough, it's been 1 year, 3 months and 11 days.  I wanted my quilts, so I called and said we were coming to get them.  My daughter fell in love with 2 and so those were hers.  On the way out, my daughter was stopped and told that the quilts she had were not what me and the "person in charge had agreed on" me taking home. Apparently, we were only going to get half.  Huh?  Nope, too late! 

I will not name the shop or the "person in charge" who by the way is no the owner of the shop.  Not really sure what her position is, she acts like the person in charge, but I don't really think she is.  I will never make samples for this shop again.  I will get everything in writing from now on, I used to just believe that a persons word was their "word:. 

I've learned my lesson.

A Look in "The Box"

Where has the time gone?  Oh, yes, we've been busy quilting away.  Trying to empty "The Box". Well, let me tell you about "The Box".  It's just an ordinary white box that says UFO'S 1990's.  At first, I thought it was from outer space, but then Veronica explained that it was a box of unfinished objects.  So why isn't it called UO?  Right?  Even this bear knows that unfinished is one word.  Silly humans.  So, anyway, in this box there were lots of unfinished quilt projects.

Veronica pulled out something she called a watercolor quilt.  Looked like a bunch of squares to me.  She said it was a bunch of squares but when she finished it, it was a really cute wreath quilt.  She said it's a little more yellow than she wanted, but she's happy that it's done.  Well, at least the top is done.

She also found some quilts partially completed from a week of classes with Trudie Hughes, way back in 1993!  Now that's like a thousand years ago.  She said one only needed the border, so she got that one done.  She said it was already cut for her.  She had 4 others that were partially sewn together and some that were cut.

She found some paper piecing papers, she said they would be little stars when put together.

She's been happily sewing every day, and half the night on her Juki DX7, she's in hog heaven now that she's got her Juki to sew on.  She says her Juki is the gift that keeps giving.  It gives her hours of fun, fun, fun.  I hear her singing I love my Juki, I love my Juki, I love my Juki.  Every once in a while, I hear say, I love that the thread cutter is on the foot pedal.  She says this saves her so much time.  And the light is so very bright. You can see everything! Oh and that presser foot that comes up when she stops sewing, it's amazing!!!  She was up to 4 this morning sewing.  I even took some pictures, they were kinda dark, but she's at it again, so I'll get some more this morning.

Stay tuned to see the rest of the quilts from "The Box" as she finishes them.

Traveling Adventures, Visiting Mama

Well, here it is, a week since my last post.  I had to go babysit a human baby for a week.  They sure do cry a lot!  I'm hiding every chance I get!  Do you see me?  Where am I?  Why, I'm under the pile of course.

Veronica and I get to stay in the RV at night, it's nice and quiet.  We set up the most fabulous quilting area.  She says it's called "Glamping", hmmm, not sure, but ok, I'm game, I'll go with it.

So our first night here, we pulled out all the quilting goodies that Veronica brought.  Here is every Deb Tucker ruler and Technique Sheet that Studio 180 sells.  Boy, are we gonna have some fun!

Veronica brought enough fabric to equal the local quilt shop.  We'll be going over there one day this week to check out all her new stuff.  It's called Mama's Quilt Shop, in Independence, Louisiana.  The owner, Brenda, is fabulous, we just love her.

Once we got everything set up the way we wanted it, Veronica decided she needed to get the last 12 blocks made for the charity quilt she's working on.  She found 30 Grandmother's Fan blocks in "the Box", that's what she called it, honest.  (Next week's post will be all about "the Box").

 I was really confused, looked like a regular box to me and it was full of fabric.  So anyway, she set to work getting the blocks finished.  She worked on them at Lakeview Quilt Guilds Sew-In last week and got 18 done.  She got the other 12 finished now, so all she has to do is put them together and quilt it.

The whole time she was sewing I heard her  muttering about how she wished she had her Juki machine here, seems it has a "foot" that comes "up" when she stops sewing for a sec.  She said it sure would be easier sewing curves that way.  Then she explained that she brought her "mechanical" Bernina that is 30 years old.  Said she felt comfortable leaving it in the RV when we're not around.

She said it was a workhorse, but I didn't see a fluffy tail on it like my horse has.  Anyway, she managed to get them finished even if she did use her workhorse.  So, I guess that's good.

Next up is finishing more stuff from "the Box" using her Deb Tucker rulers.  Ooohhh, I can't wait...

 

Those pictures will get posted on Instagram as we get them done.

New Adventure

Veronica and I are off onto another adventure.  This one will be taking us away from home for a whole month.  We're leaving on Monday morning.  Our first stop will be in Florida, yes, we're going to go to Scott's store.  We'll actually only be there for one night before Scott, Veronica and I jump in his van and drive up to Myrtle Beach.  Why are we going to Myrtle Beach?  Well, remember Debbie Caffery?

Well, she's got a retreat in Myrtle Beach and we're going!   I miss her, she is a grrrrreat hugger.  We'll be there for a while and then we're off to Florida.  Veronica will be staying with one of her friends and we'll hit 3 guilds, including the Martin County Quilt Guild.  Veronica will be there giving a lecture and workshop.  Then we're off to Austin, Texas for a few days for the Modern Quilt Guild Show, then we fly back to Florida, hop aboard another cruise ship and sail off to the Caribbean once again.  Then we finally come home in March, or we might stay for another quilt show in Tampa.

 

We're working on that.

We'll let know where we're at.  Keep up with us and see where we're at.

Jaggie on a Motorcycle?

Is that Jaggie on the back of a motorcycle?  Veronica was off teaching a mini class near Galveston and Jaggie disappeared for a while.  Actually he was taking a nap, he had a hard week at retreat.  On their way home Veronica saw this bear on the back of a motorcycle and snapped it.  Jaggie would have loved to have been on the back of this motorcycle going across the Galveston Causeway.  What fun!!!  

I Miss Alaska

And speaking of Brenda at Bear Paw Productions, I miss Alaska.  Scott please take me back, it's too hot in Texas.  I need cool air.  Did you see me on the totem pole in Sitka?  I was up pretty high, but I was checking everything out.  I was looking for Brenda, but Veronica said that Brenda does not live in Sitka.  Still.......what a great view.

Don't make me throw myself off the totem pole, oh wait, I already did.  

Please, take me back........................................  I miss Wanda.  She's in Alaska at the quilt shop.
Ok, so she's in Juneau, but it's still Alaska.


Yes, Veronica is gone, she's in Miami, Florida so I'm really lonely her at the office.  I'll have to go see what everyone else is up to. Maybe somebody brought berries to work today, I'm off.......

Canada

Wow, we made it.  We're in Canada.  First off we ate, of course!!!  We walked almost 10 miles according to Fittie.  He's my fitbit buddy.  And I made two great new friends.  This is number 1, he was hungry.

Here is the second one.  They were both at the pier where we were eating Fish and Chips.  There were lots of little kids feeding them and they were jumping up out of the water.  It was fun to watch.  After we watched them for a while, we walked around near downtown and then we finally went back to the ship.  We've got to pack since we get off the ship tomorrow and fly home. We're going to miss all the friends we made on the ship and all of the quilters.  We'll do it again soon, hope you join us.  We've  got our cruise to Roatan-Honduras, Belize City, Belize and Cozumel Mexico.  We leave on May 24th from Galveston, Texas and return on May 31, 2015.

Hope to see you on a cruise soon,

Ketchikan and even more bears

Well here we are in Ketchikan.  It's reallllly cold today, but we set out anyway.  We walked all over downtown, ok, really just a couple of blocks and then got back on the ship because we had more quilting to do.  Do you see the map  of Ketchikan, it's not very big at all.  That's Kevin, he's trying to be cool with his new sunglasses.  Doesn't matter that the sun is shining in my eyes (sigh), I'm just another bear hanging around Alaska.

We went to one of the stores and I got captured.  I was telling this mama bear that I knew how to cook, remember I was making waffles on the ship with Mona Lisa, so guess what?  We're off to cook up a storm.  They don't know how to make waffles.

Oh, on the way to the kitchen, I found this Bear Crunch and got away from mama bear.  I'll be here eating...

Is that a bear paddle????????????????  Yikes, are those claws??????????????????  Help, get me outta here.

Eagle to the rescue.  

Did you know that the eyes of a bald eagle are so keen they can spot a fish from over a mile away. Bald eagles are truly impressive birds of prey.  Not only can they spot a fish from over a mile away, they can also fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and dive at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Hi Buddy, have you seen my ship?

Look, I found a baby eagle on my way back to the ship .  How cute is he?  Oh, no I see his mama again, gotta run. Wait, I want a hat, I need to be a "real" Alaska bear.  This is our last stop after all. How does this look?

I'm hungry, I'm going back to the ship where they have berries...........

Canada watch out for us, we'll be there tomorrow.

The did you know info on bears and eagles came from Captain Bob Allen's route map and field guide.  I got it the day I tried to drive the boat, remember?   Thanks Captain Bob!

Debbie's class

We were so lucky to have Debbie Caffery on our cruise.  She's a great hugger.  All of her classes were full and all the ladies loved her.  I did too, if you can't tell by my picture.  I'm trying to   snuggle in her neck, but I'm a little short.                                                                               

It was love at first sight for me.  

   

Check out my new shirt.  I was kinda' cold in Sitka, so Scott bought me this shirt and then added some bling to it.  Do you see what it says?  It says "I Love Janome" and I really, really do.  If you don't know who Scott is, he's the Janome dealer that has been doing cruises with Veronica for 10   years now.  That makes them reallllly old....friends was what I meant.  If you're looking for a great machine call Scott at Citrus Sew and Vac in Ocala, Florida, that's where Veronica gets all of her     machines.  Scott is great, you can call him if you have a problem or question and he's always       there to answer you and help out.  He's a great guy.  I'll give you his phone number, but don't tell him it was me.  Ready?  Here it is.  Call Scott at 352-620-0225.  Sneaky, huh?                                                                   

June from Quiltmaker had name tags for all of us, well, ok, not really for me, but I "borrowed"  one.  Hey, I'm important too.                                                                                                  

Here is June and Sharky with me.  I'm the handsome furry one.  

This is Deb.  She and I are sitting on top of the world.  

Cuddly!

Look, I've got more sweeties.  We were in Debbie's class.  

Look, that's the chocolate bar over there.  Who would have thought, a chocolate bar....  yum!

Tomorrow is Ketchikan.  Yippee.