No AC again to start the day!

A big power surge, then all power off  at 7am and no AC again...day 2.  This time, not due to my equipment, but FPL...a main power line, offline.

Another day of record heat...blech!

But once again, all is repaired and now we have AC again!   I sure hope that's the last day without.  I'm getting pretty grouchy in this heat.... just sayin'.

On the good news front, a new quilt shop opened today in my neighborhood..."Gloria's Stash" and it is FABULOUS!!!  THE best collection of batiks I have found anyway in one place...including online.   I will be a regular there for sure!  And it's just down the street...I can ride my bike!  Though, I'll need a bigger basket,lol!

For my next quilt, I was missing two fabrics...I found them today at Gloria's!



and they go with these I already had from Sew Batik



Nice together, aren't they?

And then the finished top from my latest pattern for Vicki's gradients



with my supervisor Harry, of course!  Now I just need to quilt  it.

The video instruction for putting this all together can be found in the Premier videos  forum on MQR. I just finished posting the last one.

And very soon, Vicki and I will have a kit for this and the moons available. So stay tuned and

stay cool!

Hot,Hot,Hot!

And no air conditioning today!  The company was here at 9am to install a new system, so that meant all day with no AC...in south Florida in the summer...oh joy.  I tried to work for a while, but soon gave up...just too hot.  So we spent the day in the pool and drank a ton of ice water.   The cats were miserable too..and just laid around...no crazy antics today.

They finally finished about 6:30 this evening.  So we are back in the cool now and everybody is happy again.  And Harry went from lying around on the  wet shower floor to this:







Ahhhh, cool at last...now maybe I can get a nap!

Soap!

Don informed me yesterday that we were getting low on soap. So today I made soap.

I make all our soap.  Some cold processed and some hot processed. I make lots of different varieties using all types of oils and butters..my soaps are very rich and full of moisturizing oils and butters, since we live in the hot sun our skin tends to get very dried out.

Some have natural colorants and some without, some with fragrance and some without, and some in fancy molds. But most just plain loaves with no color or fragrance added that I'll slice into bars after they've cured.  The plain loaves don't make pretty photos, so I'll just show you some of the fancy looking ones.

The transparent ones are aloe vera based



The rest have varied combinations of oils and butters.





I also made  a couple batches of body butters.

Someone asked me a while back about how I get the soaps out of the fancy molds, because they always had trouble getting them out. It's easy, I just rub a little coconut carrier oil in the mold before pouring the soap mixture in.  Then once they've set up, they just pop right out!

EQ7 Upgrade

Arrived today and I spent the afternoon playing with it.  I like it!  The new features are great and easy to use.

Now to work on some new designs! :)

Private worshops

I had many questions about the private workshops I do. I have answered those who wanted to schedule privately, but I thought I'd answer the general questions here.

I do private classes/workshops on several topics: Various topics on longarm quilting; machine quilting in general (including domestic machine); machine applique; art quilting; fabric dyeing and painting( don't confuse my dyeing with Vicki's...it's a whole different animal).  I do individual classes; shared classes (2 friends splitting the time and cost); small groups; and a limited number of lecture/trunk shows.  I also offer online video-based classes at MQR, and I teach at MQS in May each year.

Quite few of you have asked for an example of a private, individual class (one student only)... this is one of the many I offer.  All of the private one on one classes are tailored to meet the needs of that individual. Below is one example.

Taught in my home studio...."Learning the Dance".... A 6 hour workshop geared to one who has been quilting for a while, but wants to expand their skills and confidence.  We cover optimizing your machine and how to choose and use the tools needed.  Three small quilt tops are provided for the student to execute specific skills with my guidance, that are necessary for  quilting at the next level, whatever that might be for them.  Everything needed for the class and lunch is provided.

An example of the quilt tops used in the class...







These three tops,one  pieced,one wholecloth, and one appliqué,  provide ample opportunity to cover a wide variety of skills.They are all 18" square when complete and trimmed.  And the student has three small quilts when they're done to take home with them that could be wall hangings or pillows.

The class also includes a workbook complete with practice pages specific to the class taken.



I hope that answers the general questions.  For specific questions and pricing  you can contact me here.

Back in the swing

Between travel and being ill, and add to that my perpetual state of being behind :), I think(emphasis on think) I may be sort of caught up... maybe even  close to being on schedule!  Shocked? You should be, I know I am!

So here's the litany:  Last Circle Lord online class...done!

Next Circle Lord online class outlined and filming to begin next week.

Next MQR Premier video filming done except for the last day...then there's the editing to go.  (This one might be a day or two late)

Private workshop scheduled for later this week...All prepped and ready

postcards for latest MQR swap, done and going in the mail tomorrow (only 7 days late, might be a new record for me...that's a good thing, in case your wondering)

family postcards...some late some early, but all done and going in tomorrow's mail!

Latest DVD of MQR Premier videos...editing done and Master burned!  Will be ready to take orders very soon!

Class proposals for 2011MQS in progress and almost done! (way ahead of schedule...yes, it's a fluke not likely to be repeated,lol)

Final details of 6 new patterns to be released with Vicki's fabric kits almost done. ( And there are 3 more in the early stages that will be ready in the fall)

Two new show quilts begun (very early stages)

Outlines for several new classes/workshops done

preparations started for the two oldest granddaughters (and their mother's visit the beginning of July ( two old folks smiling from ear to ear in anticipation)

There is a ton more stuff on my calendar, but I'm sure you've had your fill of my schedule by now, so I'll quit.

This and That

I'm finally all well.  It feels good to feel good again. Just in time for the Florida summer...heat index the last 2 days 103...bleck!

I spent this past week teaching in two places...online class at MQR and a private workshop in Miami...I had to work hard to keep my little pea brain straight with what to say and do when,lol!

I got an e-mail yesterday from EQ, that my EQ7 shipped yesterday, yeah!

Found out that a new fabric shop is opening June 10 IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD...I mean right down the street!  I went by there today and drooled as I watched them thru the window putting bolt after bolt of beautiful batiks on the shelves..and they are carrying Superior threads..great to have in case I run out in the middle of a project.

My DSM started acting up yesterday, and I could't fix the issue after 3 hours of trying.  Took it in to my dealer (Expert Sewing) just before noon; they called me at 3pm to say it was fixed and ready.WOW, how's that for customer service?!

Don fixed a scrumptious dinner tonight.

And I have two fur babies asleep in my lap as I write this, Life is good!