Practicing is Over

I'm have been getting tired of practicing with the new long arm. Not that it isn't fun. But, I wanted to move onto a real quilting project. Below is part of the practice drawing on the muslin. I learned a lot about tension and how the touch pad works for settings on the needle up/down and spi. I made some small labels for the handle toggles so i could remember which rolled the quilt, moved it up/down & turned on the laser. I know soon it will be automatic, but for now the ole' brain needs a nudge.



So, yesterday I loaded two layers of fleece and quilted this.

It went quick. No broken threads. Good tension except in one small area where somehow the thread slipped out of the pre-tensioner.

This is a large fleece quilt. One of those bundles that was half off last year at Joanns. Approx. 58 " x 68". Snuggly warm for curling up with a good book!

Quilt Retreat

It must be quilt retreat season---it seems many of the forums and blogs I read are about retreats!
I thought I would share about my own quilt retreat at Bishops Ranch here in northern California that I just came back from. I have the pleasure of attending this retreat twice a year. Totally fun!

My quilting buddy Carolynn traveled from Indiana to attend. There were about 45 of us! Here are Carolynn and I ready to leave. We pack our machines, projects, a few clothes and head out! 4.5 glorious days of sewing, sewing, sewing and talking and laughing and sharing with dear friends! Staying up late and eating some of the best food north of the Golden Gate!




Here are just a few of the wonderful quilts from our Show n' Tell.





This is what I worked on most of the time. I planned to do more, but you know how that goes when you're having fun!



In the midst of getting ready for our retreat, this arrived. In a word "marvelous"! More about the new long arm next time.



The Prodigy Quilter.