Monday on the Run!

 

Baby Christmas Trees growing up on Grassy Creek!

The tree harvesting continues - huge trucks driving past the QPO all day long.  If the weather weren't so blustery yesterday, I would have stood out front and just waited to get some really good photos of them passing by.

But the chilly wind was blowing everything sideways, and there was too much else going on to just stand in the driveway waiting for a "possible" photo op to happen.

The trees you see here are about year 2 - it takes 7 to 8 years for a Christmas tree to reach harvesting height.  

And can I say that even toward the end of November - I love that the grass is still pretty green here.  I crave green in the depths of winter.  This helps me hang on just a bit longer!

This was on yesterday afternoon's agenda!

And it didn't go as swimmingly as I thought -

For the first part - have you ever had this kind of thing happen?  Possibly the BUSIEST blog day of the year happening only a few days away on Black Friday with the release of  Grassy Creek Mystery, part 1 - and because the Hubster has the week off of work, he thinks that I should have the week off, too?

I told him that I wish he could have taken off NEXT WEEK, but that's month end, and in his line of work - you can't be off during month end as an accountant.

So mail went out in the morning, and I started to piece a backing in the afternoon in the midst of him moving my cutting tables away from the window so that he could replace my blinds that were refusing to go up or stay up.

Don't get me wrong - I'M SO GRATEFUL!  It was just a lot going on and I really wanted to load a quilt!

This backing happened from the "Make it go away!" box.

I have no idea where the Civil War red stripe came from, but there were 3 yards of it.  Not enough for the whole backing, so I pieced the center panel out of hunks and chunks with the same vintage feeling.

It will do.  It took 7 yards out of that box! While I love it when I have a piece of yardage big enough for the whole backing - it feels equally good to have other cuts like this leave as a back as well.

The quilting was ALMOST a disaster.

The machine started behaving erratically toward the end of the first pass.

I was in a panic.

Not only is machine quilting awful to pick out when the tension is perfect, but the stitching is wrong - it is doubly so when the fabric has a homespun texture and the quilting threads are really sunk into it.  I felt like I was catching the threads of the fabric more than I was catching the quilting thread.  AUUGH!

What was the problem?  This is where the aggravation of the "hanging of the blinds" became complete gratitude, with a huge serving of humble pie on the side.

It turns out that the "Thingie" that connects the machine firmly to the cables that move the machine robotics had come loose, likely through machine vibration over time.  So the computer could only move the machine front-to-back, not sideways.  the sideways cables were free wheeling with no tension on them whatsoever - 

It took a few minutes with the right Allen wrench to tighten the "Thingamajig" to the cable, and I was once again right as rain.

Edge-to-edge design called Storm Watch.

Don't you love the Scottie dogs!!?

There is one color of thread that I use probably more than any other -  a sandy antique gold color.  It is just right for so many of my scrap quilts.  No particular brand, I have several various shades of this color by different companies, all good.  Signature and Superior are two brands that I use quite a bit.

I didn't even make it half-way, but at least it is on the machine and getting there.  And I'm grateful that the machine issue was an easy one to solve, even if it had my heart in my throat for a while until we figured out what the problem was.

I spent my evening doing this:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie)

These two! I love how Ivy loves Zoey, and how Zoey will tolerate a cat tongue bath!

The binding on the Blue Spruce runner using my Pine Tree Point pattern is finished!  

Evening shadows show the quilting detail!

This quilting design is called Woven Wind. It has such a great "fan" texture, but is quilted more like a clam shell.  

For thread color on this one, I used a pale blue-grey.

How is your own Pine Tree Point quilt coming along?

You’ll find the PDF pattern for Pine Tree Point, including both the lap size and the runner in the Digital Patterns section of the Quiltville Store.

I just had SO MUCH FUN making this runner, and it is now on my dining table at the cabin.

At least through Thanksgiving when I'll switch it out for the green/red version.

Tuesday continues - and with The Hubster officially off of work for the week - he is putting on his inn keeper's handy man hat and is already on his way to Lowe's.

The honey-do list is being tackled.

All smoke alarm batteries in the inn have been replaced.  Shelves have been added to the "end of the shower" space for guests to put their toiletries in both upstairs baths. (Will get photos later.)

Today's job is to begin the process of replacing the "stupid" blinds in the Quilting Quarters with easier-to-clean (and easier to raise and lower) plantation blinds.

While that is on-going - I'll be finishing (hopefully) up this quilt and taking care of the graphics for Friday's Grassy Creek, Part 1 post.

The last of the Thanksgiving week groceries will be picked up in town when I head for a chiropractic appointment this afternoon.

My ducks are nearly in a row!  How are things coming together on your end?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

This is all you need to get started! Just start where you are with what you have and do what you can!

⁣

This also applies to our Mystery that officially starts on Friday!

Are you excited? I know I am!

Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone!