Custom beats Edge to Edge!

I recently had fun McTavishing this embroidered quilt for an elderly woman.  The handwork was very beautiful, and I insisted that she let me custom this quilt.  When she brought it to me, she requested edge to edge.  I told her that I couldn't ruin the quilt that way, and that if she wanted it done E2E, she would have to take it to someone else.  She decided to let me do it my way, and I am so glad she did!  It turned out so much nicer, and is now a true heirloom for her family.

Beyond that, I have been doing lots of quilts lately.  Every time I think that I will get ahead, I take in two or three more.  Right now, thankfully, I don't have any "deadline" quilts waiting.  It is nice to know that all of the ones I have waiting are "just whenever you get to it" quilts.  With the county fair and the state fair coming up at the end of July and August, I am sure that more of those deadlines will be coming in the next few weeks.  Thus far, I am still enjoying my work, but wishing I had more time to do my own projects.  Balancing my time is still a struggle, but I am getting faster and more productive all the time, so eventually, I hope to set aside a whole day of rest, and at least one day a week to scrapbook or sew on my own projects.  First, I want to catch up a bit on those that I have waiting!

Memorial Day

Our nephew examines the quilt I gave him for his graduation earlier this month.

  It has been such a busy month!  Finally, today, I have some time to write a bit.  Between graduations, my husband's neck surgery, and keeping up with my quilting business, it has flown by.  I love that we have a three day weekend with my husband home to catch up on stuff around the house.  Yesterday in church, they showed a video clip reminding us of the reasons we observe Memorial Day and the heroes who have fought and are still fighting to keep us safe.  It's easy to take it for granted sometimes, but I am thankful for those men and women, and especially for God watching over us all.  God bless the U.S.A.!

Taking it all for Granted.

  I have been working on several projects lately, as well as trying to keep up with my longarm business.  It seems that many days, I get up, have my coffee, and then work on whatever it is that I feel like working on for that day.  Routine can sometimes lull us into such complacency that we lose motivation and focus.  I was snapped back into a larger sense of thankfulness for my life recently when my husband had to have surgery to fuse vertebrae in his neck.  As I sat in the hospital waiting for word, I couldn't help thinking of what my life would be without him.  We will be married 26 years this summer.  Even as I write this, the doorbell rang, and a girl brought me flowers for Mother's Day from this wonderful man :)  Anyway, I realized that the routines of my life would be drastically changed if I didn't have him anymore.  I would probably have to return full time to my teaching career in order to provide for myself.  My empty nest would be even more empty.  I felt a new sense of compassion for those who have lost a spouse and are now alone, and I prayed that I would not yet join their ranks.  When the nurse called to tell me everything had gone well, I felt such relief and thankfulness!
  Now, he is home and doing very well, but daily I am reminded of all the little things he does for me.  I had to mow the yard this week!  I had to carry out the trash, and drag the big container to the curb.  I had to carry in all my groceries.  My daily activities haven't changed, but I am grateful for that.  It may be awhile before I take it all for granted!

Spring is Here!

It has been a hectic Spring.  The NIFS Shop Hop was from April 19th through April 29th, and with extended hours, it really kept us hopping!  We had a great time and really enjoyed seeing the over 400 people who came through the shop in that 10 day period.  All that to say, I haven't accomplished much in my quilting business these past couple of weeks!  Spring weather has arrived, and I couldn't resist posting the picture of my son and his son enjoying the beautiful weather.  It has been so nice these past few days that it has been a real shame to be inside!  I hope everyone is loving the Spring this year as much as I am.  Hopefully, it will last longer than a short bit.  Seems like sometimes in Nebraska it goes directly from too cold to too hot!  So far this year, it has been great!

"Forks in the Road"

  This week, I have been working on a couple of quilts that a lady made for her two granddaughters.  They are fun, happy quilts with fun, happy colors...my favorite!  Each day that I quilt, I spend some time when I get up drinking my coffee and relaxing.  Then I go in and either look at the quilt, or press and load the back all the while thinking about what the quilt "wants" for its finishing look.  Usually, it doesn't take me long to decide what I want to do on the quilt, and then it is just a matter of taking that first deep breath and starting to stitch.  Occasionally, I start to second guess my choice about one pass into the design, but I never rip out what I have done based on that feeling alone.  My instincts are good, and I just trust that it will all work together in the best interest of the quilt.  I haven't regretted that yet.  Without fail, the more I quilt the better I like my choice.  This is not to say that I never think, "so and so would have looked nice too" on this quilt.  At the end of the day, it is simply a matter of choices.  Much like life, there is always a "fork in the road" so to speak when a decision must be made.  The choices are many, and few are necessarily "wrong" for the quilt.  Lots of patterns can enhance the design.  My philosophy is to make a decision and then do what I need to do to make it work.  Come to think of it, that's also the way I run my life...so far, so good.  :)