6/2/2013 Quilt-Cam!

This is Kathy’s dog Ernie...with his head on her treadle pedal…saying won’t you give ME as much attention as you do that machine?!?

She writes:

Hi Bonnie, I took this photo this morning! Our dog Ernie thinks that the treadle on my machine makes a very comfy headrest! Makes it a bit hard for me to sew!
Kathy from cold wet Western Australia

I don't know about you, but I am envious of Kathy's FLOOR!

This is the last Quilt-Cam time we will have until I return from Ireland! 

And because I’m on my way to Ireland, I’m feeling very EMERALD GREEN!

What do I have that is Emerald Green?  My new Elna Grasshopper of course!

Only…she is running VERY SLOW..even without the low gear attached…so I’m thinking, hoping that she just need a good solid running to break some of that old oil loose..I’ve oiled and lubricated her today and just want to run it to see if we can increase speed over time.

In the mean time…I think I can TREADLE faster!  But that’s okay….we need to baby this girl to find out if there is anything simple to help her sew faster – or if I just need to take her in to the vintage machine spa for a once over.

Sew up and Ready to Sew!

For those wondering about the Grasshopper’s size?

A bit taller than the featherweight with way more throat space!

Ready to sew with me? Click the arrow on the feed blow to view my live web-cam!  If you are here “after” the fact…it will be archived via youtube and ready to view as soon as they publish it upon completion!  Whether live, or recorded….I hope you will make some progress on SOMETHING while spending this time with me in my basement studio!

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I Can Bind for Miles and Miles and Miles…..

Do you know how you are always ALWAYS telling me to slow down and take care of myself?

I’ve been doing that – well trying --- over the past week.  I’ve even tried to spend more time OUT of the studio, and the way I’ve been doing that is by giving myself binding time in the evenings in the recliner upstairs.

Somehow I ended up with MILES of binding to do all at once ---and I’m happy with the progress I’m making on it--

Yesterday, I finished the binding on Dancing Nines Baby Quilt #2 while in the car on the way to IKEA-- Car sewing time is always a bonus for me….and it makes the time go faster, voila!  Another binding done.

((Yes, I am aware how lucky I am that I do not get car sick, and I feel for those of you that do!))

Here, both of the quilts are displayed over the deck railing--

We redid our deck last year….and I LOVE the look of it, but those post finials are wreaking havoc with my quilt photography.

Labels are sewn on….and as soon as I know baby names, I will personalize the labels and send them off, one to my Sister Mary, and the other to my Sister-in-Law, Anna!  And then we wait to see which of these little tikes is going to make an appearance FIRST!  Their due dates are so close to each other--

Next up on the binding block:

Collaboration Celebration!

Two Sides done, two sides to finish!

The finished size is about 41.5” square and can easily be enlarged by adding borders.  This is the quilt sample for our Collaboration Celebration being held here in Winston-Salem August 8-11, 2013!  Another sample is being made in shades of green and rose, and it is gorgeous as well.  We wanted to keep a “do-able” sized project to teach techniques from two different teachers, and still have the students have a lot to show progress wise for the time that they spent with us here during Collaboration Celebration.  I can’t WAIT to see what fabrics and colors they have chosen!

We’ve got several ladies flying in from all over the country – and some are coming from Canada!  It’s going to be a roaring good time.

I am providing machines for those who do not want to fly with one….several featherweights, 301s and even my 401 or any other machine in my vintage fleet is available by reservation--  Don’t let the problem of traveling with a machine deter you!  I’ve even got 2 Berninas and my Janome 6500P as loaner machines if you prefer to sew on a machine you are familiar with.  Want to give my new Grasshopper a spin?  Just let me know!

Waiting in the wings:

Jason’s Tumalo Trail!

Pieced by my friend Charlotte who’s work puts me to shame!  This was the flattest crispest quilt top with nary a seam miss-matched!  I might be able to start the binding tonight after completing the Collaboration Celebration sample.  I think Jason would like to have this sooner than later, but it is unliikely that I can finish it prior to leaving for Ireland Tuesday morning---

At any rate…it’s been MILES of binding…and I’ve loved sitting with my feet up and hand stitching away while enjoying some telly-time.  TOTAL RELAXATION!  See? I am taking your concerns to heart.

But TODAY!!

How about some Quilt-Cam time at 2pm Eastern?  I haven’t been able to do this at a time when the European Contingency could join us live in their own time-zone….I’m game if you are!  I have nore crumb strips to piece, and I want to give that a whirl on the new Grasshopper! 

Come back to the blog at 2pm Eastern and click the arrow on the screen to start the live video feed from my Basement Studio ---we’ll have a scrappy good time! 

Catch you then!

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iPhone-o-Gram! IKEA bound!

Watch out world! The Hunters are off to IKEA!

All the times that I have gone – and all the times that our son Jason has met up with me in Charlotte for browsing and shopping and idea planning, the Hubster has yet to step foot inside the wonder of IKEA.

There are some things that I need for the house – and some things I'd like to check out for the new cabin – namely tables for the sewing area! And some storage stuff.

And maybe more IKEA lights for friends when they come to sew :-)

It's a 70 mile drive – and I am working on the binding of one of the baby quilts in the car!

Hoping you are enjoying your weekend as well!

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Threads That Bind!

I love to hear friendship stories of how quilters get together and share their time!

I received photos from Sandra and Kathy who share with us their long Memorial Day weekend Sew-a-thon. These quilters live in DEEP Georgia ---and the weather was pleasant enough to take the said sewing out onto Sandra’s patio.  When the weather is great in Georgia, you better grab it, because sweltering times are not far behind!

Can you see how they have set up their vintage machines and baskets of parts so CUTE on top of the outside patio table, complete with red table cloth!

Forget fancy tea parties – let’s have a Quilting Fest!

Look at this gorgeous view!!

I also love how they are captured in silhouette.  Can’t you just imagine the chatter and the laughter as they sat and stitched?  This is BEAUTIFUL!

Sandra, working on her Winston Ways blocks!

Winston Ways was featured in a past 100 blocks by 100 designers issue and will be making an appearance in my next book!

Hi, Kathy!!

You might remember Kathy as that very crafty quilter who introduced me to the wonders of old machine case decoupage!  She’s sewing on a lovely 1950s 301.  Click HERE for a refresher course!

You girls look like you have had a fabulous time!  Wish I were there to join in the festivities!

Show & Share!!

There are THOUSANDS of tiny postage stamp pieces in this terrific quilt top made by one of Sandra’s neighbors.  I LOVE the hodge podge random look of it all…what a great study in the fabrics that have come through this quilter’s hands!  Can’t you just feel the gentle breeze that caught the quilt top in this way?

If you have photos to share from quilt outings with your friends and would like me to share them, I’m happy to do so!  This blog just isn’t about *ME* only.  I really feel we have developed a community of stitchers here!

While at a recent guild meeting, I was laughing silly while quotes were spoken aloud: “You just might be a Bonnie Hunter fan if you believe that Quiltville is a real town somewhere in North Carolina!”  ((Hysterical!))  But it IS!  Quiltville dwells in each of us ---just pick up a needle and sew with a friend and you will find it!

Update on things here:  CRAZYVILLE!

Most of yesterday was spent out on errands, from a brunch meeting planning more of the fun for our August Collaboration Celebration ((Oh, just WAIT!!  We have so many treats in store for you!)) to making a stop to pick up the Blue Morse from its rewiring job!  ((Yes, it’s home and I don’t have time to plug it in and sew on it yet!)) to dropping off and picking up a prescription for Jeff who has an abscessed tooth….is there anything worse than tooth pain? I wished there was something I could do to help him, poor baby! To a massage for me ((Oh YES..much needed!))

At the end of the day post-massage I found myself wandering around Target --- just wandering!!  CRAZYVILLE I tell you!  I did pick up a few things for my Ireland trip coming up…

There is a formal “Gala” night…which means dress up as if you were going to a wedding.  I don’t dress up all that often, and the weather is not supposed to be that warm there…so here I am standing in the aisle debating pantyhose or no pantyhose, and should they be nude or black?  AUUGHHH!

More desk time took up the rest of the day – finishing another pattern writing and sending it off to my editor ---feeling on a roll there, but knowing my time home is winding down!

Before I knew it the day was over ---and it will be much the same today, with little chance of stitching.

The Hubster wants to go to IKEA.

Watch out world, this could prove interesting!

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