Meatballs for breakfast.....

and Bandit loves me! 

It has been a busy and productive week.  The huge log cabin on Nora has been stitched in the ditch and has about a quarter left to go before starting to add patterns - still on track to finish it on Monday.

 

Pretty little Carley came to work with JP yesterday, since her heat is out and it was cold at the house.  She was testing out the warmth of the fabric we bought to make dog beds for the kennel!

 

The dog bed pile growing!

 

The lovely Lindsay making dog beds and not wanting her picture taken!

 

And JP loading a quilt.

 

So of course they had to make sure there was a picture of me as well, so here I am working on the log cabin doing stitch in the ditch.

 

So Carley and Bandit testing out the beds - seems they are comfortable!

 

 

So - it's time to get to work - I have a 5k run in the morning which will get me my 12th shirt for the quilt.  I will post a picture of the pile of shirts and show the progress of the quilt as it gets done.  Then I have to work out what is my incentive for running next year.......

Looks like tennis is rained off........

which is great (other than arranging the make-up match) as I have some lists to write and get into the computer.  It's been so busy for so long that I have lost sight of what needs to be done and what the priorities are - so now that everything is running efficiently I can draw breath and sort things out!

The Lancaster Project is gone... apologies to the lovely ladies in Lancaster SC who were worried that I meant the Shop Hop...no it's an empty design wall.  It used to look like this:

 

Now it looks like this:

 

 

So we really need something to fill it up again.  I am thinking of Karma Serendipity, so after lists tonight I think it's time to play in EQ7.  Serendipity One is already in progress and it involves working with color shading - it had better rain tonight (it's raining right now so prospects are good!).  Pictures tomorrow.

 

 

And this is the latest custom to hit Nora - that's a LOT of stitch in the ditch. 

 

 

 

But what a gorgeous quilt and a lot of work - well done CM, I'm looking forward to getting it finished.

 

And look what's coming NR.....

 

 

Then because it's almost dark and raining we have got into a discussion about Mystery Quilts and what make a good one - so watch this space for a weekly mystery quilt episode!  I have already got ideas (so many ideas, so little time.....).

 

Back to stitch in the ditch - just waiting for the captain to call the match!  Oh and I did run this morning - it felt good (really) and I intend to run another 3 miles on Thursday morning and run the December race on Saturday (December 1st) so I will have all the shirts for the T-Shirt quilt ready to go next week - yeah, a year in racing even though I usually come in with the end stragglers!

 

 

 

Oops......

I was supposed to blog earlier but I got sidetracked by the binding on a couple of T-shirt quilts!

So after the relaxing Thanksgiving break where the Engineer and I just hung out and watched 'Deep Space Nine' and 'All Creatures Great and Small' we are back to work.

And it's all about Christmas and we are going to make it!!  With JP to run the machine and me running customs, all is well.  And we are working on the T-Shirt quilt business - so a lot to do.

I know I have been promising pictures, so I will work on that soon.  In the meantime I am watching 'The Voice' and getting ready to head for bed so that I am ready for a run in the morning.

My thought for now is that it is very special to spend quality time with your love and partner - relax and enjoy - who knows how long it will last and when you can do it again - go with the flow and remember that this time may not last forever - don't take it for granted.

Hi everyone.......

I know I'm in trouble.  It's been a very long time since I got on here to tell you about what's going on in my world.  So big catch up to do.

I'm a little under the weather at the moment so it's a really good thing that I have my new (old) assistant working for me again.  JP worked with me a couple of years ago and came back a couple of weeks ago.

The lovely Lindsay is still around, but the kennel stole her from me to cover the Thanksgiving rush.  And I ask the question again - how did it get to be almost the end of the year already?  We are steadily working through the Christmas quilts and we are on target to get everything done in plenty of time and still have room for some last minute pleas!

Jeeves has been working on the T-Shirt quilts for Christmas and keeping on top of that.  We have decided to expand and promote the T-Shirt quilt business, so we vended at the Rythmic Dance Studio last Sunday and are at Springdale Elementary School on December 4th. 

It's slow in the PQ3000 world at the moment.  Lindsay is trying to set up advertizments in Guild newsletters all over the South East and we are deciding how to best get the frame advertized nationally.  We have a ton of how-to videos to do and too many other things going on at the same time! 

I had to give up on the Lancaster Project, but I have only 8 more blocks to go and I'm sure it will be successful in other shows.  Pictures tomorrow of stuff, when I am feeling better.  With so many people working in the studio the classroom is a workroom at the moment, but we can turn it back into a classroom for the Simplicity class due on December 8th - I am looking forward to that.  Next week, after Thanksgiving, I will be sending out the supply lists - there are always so many combinations of fabric for this quilt.

So all my show quilts are home at the moment and over the holidays I am going to find places in the house for them to hang - any show quilts will be new ones going forward.  I have a ton of ideas and can't wait to start the new 'Karma' series.  The new series is called 'Serendipity' now instead of 'Sensibility'! 

OK - off to my sick couch.  I am going to curl up under an afghan and prowl through my books of crocheted and knitted afghans and decide on one to make for the State Fair next year, since I can't enter any quilts.  Tomorrow can only be better!

Wow - last week really got away....

and the engineer and I just got back from a fabulous vend in Tampa.  We met some fabulous people and five more joined the PQ family.  It is so exciting when people love the frame and actually thank us for making it!

The lovely Lindsay and TJ helped out so much by running PQ's out to people's cars and keeping us all fed.  And Lindsay kept the paperwork flowing and printed out extra brochures.   It was frantic, exciting and more than I could have hoped.

We have a lot to do now.  I have a vision of the PQ family that involves a lot more video help and ideas, finalizing the laser system and developing patterns for the PQ base.  We want to be so much more than just the sellers of the PQ - we want it to be a complete experience.  Ideas, support, help and community.  Lofty ideas maybe, but let's all join in, help each other and make quilting on the PQ frame a fun and enjoyable experience.

So it is time for bed!  The deadline for Lancaster has been extended until the beginning of December, so there is a chance that it can still be met. We are vending at a couple of  Open Houses in the next two weeks and we are going to concentrate on T-shirt quilts and re-generation of that business.

And there is still the Christmas Rush!!

So please forgive me for no pictures tonight.  I will try for some tomorrow, but for now it's a glass of wine and bed.

My final thought for tonight is about many thanks I have for the many lovely people I met this weekend - it never ceases to amaze me how wonderful the quilting community is and how they are so loving and caring.

It has been such an exciting week......

so I am really sorry not to have blogged regularly this week. 

More beatings at tennis, but taken with a much better attitude.  My partner and I are playing in the tournament at Rockbridge this weekend, and have already been knocked out but we get a consolation match, which is tomorrow morning - we could end up the best of the worst if we play well!

The Engineer has a garage sale at his house in the morning so I have to get up at the crack of uuugggh to help price the items.  Since several of them are mine I guess I need to show up.

PQ3000s have been leaving the studio - following the Rock Hill show, four more have departed to happy, excited new users.  Jeeves has taken over the marketing and has done a sterling job of contacting and motivating the quilt stores around Tampa where we vend next weekend.  The lovely Lindsay has been busy updating the website and keeping up with the paperwork. 

We have a new addition to the Pet-A-Coat/Threads and Traditions/Quilter's Express family.  JP has worked for me before (that makes three people who have left and come back to the fold!) and is back to help Jeeves and I run the studio and keep the machines loaded and humming while I do the custom work.  We are such a special team of people that act together just like a family - we work together, squabble occasionally, pout now and then but for the most part we love what we do and want to succeed.

So for today I'm done - pictures and more stuff next week.  Garage sale and tennis tomorrow, clean house on Sunday and hot tubbing and maybe a couple of naps!

Just to sort out all the people in the business family here is a list:

Me - hanging on by a thread, but hopefully one step ahead of the rest of the crew!
KB - has the kennel under control (for the most part) and tells the best stories.
LS - best groomer in town and has yet to be beaten by a mean dog (I think!).
RW - just the best dog walker and anything needs to be fixed person.
LS - dog walker and desk fill in and we all thank you!
MAH - just around in the summer but we need you so much.
The Lovely Lindsay - does the kennel and keeps me organized in the studio.
Jeeves - how far can we take this?  You know.
JP - has just joined the wild ride and will love it.
The Engineer - without whom the PQ3000 would never be possible.
The Quilter's Dog Bandit - who holds down the floor and makes sure that we clean the studio frequently.

Then of course there is the UPS guy!  Delivers all the stuff we need - never overlook the delivery guy.