The new year is coming......

and I had a post that I was about to share with you all but was it was really a sad, emotional diatrabe about my life and loss with John.  I now feel that after almost four years I should be moving on to a new part of my life. 

So - I AM EXCITED - I have a bunch of stuff that I want to do, a huge number of quilts that I want to design, a newly organized studio and a lot of new quilts that need to be sewn together.  This New Year is going to be very good - come and join me and I will share everything with you! 

Happy New Year everyone - isn't it exciting to have schemes for going forward?

Look to the future, learn from the past and truly be happy - welcome to 2013. And never take your loved one for granted - to be loved is so special and you need to love them.

Thank you  to the Engineer who changed everything. 

Enough......

So this is Christmas......

and almost another year done.  I am not sure where the time went or why our lives are flying by so quickly. 

I had a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas day with the engineer and his family and I had a much better time than the last few lonely and empty years.  My thanks and love to him and gratitude for filling the void. 

I still have moments (many of them) when I miss John with all my heart and soul - how can you be happily married for almost nineteen years and not miss your soulmate?  It has taken a lot of thought and consideration to make the move to another relationship.  At times it has felt like being a traitor to what we had - a life together and total trust and joy.  But he is gone and would not want me to grieve forever.  I really could and I actually dreamt about that a few nights ago and awoke to the feeling that I could not ever love again, but I lay awake in the early morning light and decided that I needed to live and love again and this man is special to me and is time to move on to a new life.

So it is time for a New Year - the world did not end on December 21st and may not end before the end of my life.  But that means that I need to live my life to the fullest before I reach the end of my time here on earth, so here goes making the best of everything that I have......

Back to quilting in the next few days.

So we are all still here....

and the world is still turning. 

So tonight is all about John Barrett and everyone who is missing someone desperately over this Christmas.  There is something about this time of year - the consumer excess and the emotional duress that seems to begin in September and bombard everyone's emotions for months on end.  It does seem that so many tragic events occur near Christmas, but in reality they occur year round but seem more emotive during this time of year. 

All the quilts needed as gifts have been completed and I even managed to squeeze in an extra one today.  I have been working on a secret project and it is progressing well - just a few more hours.  And it's been the kind of project where I have had a lot of time to think.  Generally I have a reasonably positive outlook on life - I survived a divorce when my son was 18 months old, I coped with being a single parent for the next 10 years, I had a good job and owned my own house and then I met John Barrett.

I actually had a date with John a few months after we met while we were both working for Fuji Photofilm.  But it didn't amount to anything and despite him calling me every day at work to ask me for another date, I always declined (every working day for 3 years!).  Then I left Fuji and lost touch until a mutual friend told me that he had been in hospital for surgery.  So I wrote him a letter to ask how he was doing, and he replied but that was the end of that.  Then I was asked to return to Fuji and after a few weeks of working and him calling me, on May 9th (his birthday) I joined him for lunch and agreed to a date - we were married 3 months later. 

My son was 12 years old and as a package I think we were a bit of a shock to John, but he was a trooper.  He may never have been a father but over the years he was a father figure and a mentor to lots of children.  They all kept in touch with him and he loved them all - my son, Michael, gave him 'Father of the Groom' cufflinks at his wedding (not to his real father) - it meant a lot to John. 

John was not a veteran or a hero, but he was a good man.  He was not perfect, but he was laid back, calm and understanding.  Since I am a workaholic we had to work things out - once he thought I had been working long enough he brought me a glass of wine - my trigger to quit for the day.  He loved to shop (I hate shopping) and given a list he could go to any store and ignore the list completely! 

We didn't do a whole lot together - he loved to watch TV and I hated that, so we worked it out and I did handcrafting work and read a lot.  I wish now that I had been more patient and more relaxed - what is so important about work that it is more pressing than spending time with your loved one? 

Contact with John's family has become a little sketchy because of the distance.  I miss talking to his sister and his niece and wish that the miles between us didn't keep us apart.  The same goes for my own family - my son and his life seem a long way away and things happen without communication.  In fairness, that works both ways, out of sight is truly out of mind.  I have been too busy to pay attention to them, and they have a life that makes it difficult to pay attention to me - it's the price to pay for choosing to live so far away.  John and I discussed this before moving to the US, but it seems entirely different since he died.

In truth, I can't go back to the UK - my life is tied up here in the USA.  I love the area, the weather and my lifestyle. I also have more opportunities here and I can fulfill my ambitions.  The visa issue every five years is a pain, but one I will continue to endure so that I can stay.

So - to close - I miss my husband more than I can say - we were soulmates, team mates and partners.  We loved, bickered, planned, conspired and succeded together and had a lot of fun that I never realised.  Never take love for granted - it's a rare and special thing. 

Getting close......the Christmas Party, Color Me Rad and Furry Friends.

and still on target for all the Christmas quilts - yeah!

The Christmas party was a great success - some were too shy to want to be pictured in the blog, but most were fine!

 

Karen snuggling a soda (or a beer!).  Miss M.A. - thank you for coming!  And Jeeves with a shy husband who can't be seen.

 

A shy L. with a smiling R. behind the chair, the lovely Lindsay and yes Karen it is a beer!

 

Umh - meat and the handy slicer Mr. R.!

 

 

Just in case you drop something Mr. R - drop something Mr. R, pleeeeze!

 

Ms. J.P.'s lovely husband with soda - really it is soda.  Somehow Ms. J.P. managed to avoid the photo session - she was still working in the studio!

 

Karma Sensation Two again, but what a sensation this one is going to be when it's finished - watch this space.

 

The youngest guest at the party who obliged by saying cheese!  What a cutie.

 

                                         

 

The engineer took pictures at the 'Color Me Rad' 5k race that was in Columbia a few weeks ago so that I could post them! 

 

 

All nice and clean and ready to go!

 

Notice the sunglasses on the top of my head - to protect my eyes while they throw colored cornstarch and squirt colored liquids on you throughout the race.

 

Absolutely no comments about the rear view - I'll bite you!

 

 

Finally for today - I will post pictures of finished quilts later - the Hawaiian is coming along nicely.  All the bark work is complete in the blue and I am past the half way mark with the background echo meandering and the borders. 

 

 

Looking good to get it off the frame tomorrow so that I can load a very secret project that has been in the pipeline for quite a while and will be the basis of one of the next series.  So look out for the Karma Serendipity series (1 - 6) and Karma ??????? (1 - 6 or more) at the beginning of the year. 

And really finally (well almost) - a major meeting with the CPA on Thursday to discuss going forward with the PQ3000, the visa application for next year and some major plans for expansion in the quilt studio - it's going to be an exciting year and thanks for the visit today to S.H. (my favorite guinea pig) who, along with my mentor and chief cheerleader R.H., really motivates me and gets my creativity going!

 

Remembering the 'Maggie Moo' who died peacefully and at a great age last year - my favorite photo of the two of them.  There were (and still are) two holes in the screen door at the two different nose levels.

 

And not to be left out - the engineer's cat!  Wine calls.

The meat is in the oven........

and smells wonderful.  The engineeer dropped of the cake this morning on his way to work and Jeeves brought a huge bottle of wine, so we have meat, cake and wine - not sure what else is required really!

The Hawaiian is coming along.  The formal echoing in the blue gradually turned into tree bark as I progressed to the bigger spaces and I love how it looks.

 

Almost to the middle, so three more days for the blue before restarting in the white and finishing the borders. 

 

And the next Karma Sensation Two is being constructed and is going to be another stunner. 

 

 

Just a few of the block centers!  More tomorrow.

 

So off to the party which should be a noisy and happy affair.  It's a chance for us all to get together and chew over the last year and laugh at the comedy of errors that life can be on occassion.  Most of the Pet-A-Coat Junction and Threads and Traditions family will be here - Laurin has to study for a final exam tomorrow, so she will be missing, but M.A. is home and is going to come and I'm so excited!   Off to check on the meat and tidy the house - and the sun is shining (but it's cold!).

 

 

 

So winter finally arrived....

and it was really cold and gray today.  The temperature is 45F right now and feels like a lot less!  And I like my sunshine - still it should be back tomorrow.

The Hawaiian quilt is coming along.  There is a lot of work to do, all the blue areas will have a formal echo pattern with a less formal meandering echo that will feature in the background areas.  This first part has taken all day so I have a feeling that this one will be around for a while yet - although I did do the top border.

 

We had a few visitors at the studio today.  A couple of ladies came down to pick up their quilts from the town of Ninety Six SC.  Then Miss I. came by to pick up and drop off.  And Oh Boy you should see what she dropped off!!

 

 

It's a Dear Jane quilt and those blocks are 4" square!   It is so beautifully made and only took her a year to complete.  Trust me, that is very impressive and I am highly honored that she has trusted me with the quilting.

 

And check out the borders of this puppy!  All those diamonds.  I am so excited to get started, but it will have to be later in January after the Hawaiian and a couple of others that are needed soon.  The rest of the Christmas rush and the allovers is going well and we are still on track to finish in good time and have even taken on a couple of extras!

 

So I'm off to supper with my favorite New Yorkers and then tomorrow night is the staff Christmas party - the engineer is making a cake, a cunning move that will put him top of the chart with the lovely Lindsay!

 

 

The quilter's dog has had a busy day and is totally exhausted - someone has to hold down the floor! 

 

Another day done and it is quite disconcerting how fast the days are flashing past.  I wonder sometimes whether it is the TV that measures our lives in half hour slots or whether I am just getting older!  Maybe we should turn the TV off in the studio, but then how would we know how crash test dummies are made, all the wonderful things that are going on out there in the universe and how to install a kitchen in two days?

 

Stay safe out there in the cold and enjoy the festive season (and be good at parties!).

 

 

We fixed a PQ.......

One of the PQ3000s that we sold had a wonky rail so it was sticky.  The engineer and I went out and fixed it with a quick realignment and all is well - and then we went out to dinner!

Karma Sensation Two is finally put together - just needs to be quilted.  The binding will be in the dark purple to frame out the quilt.

 

Very pleased with the way it turned out - the next one (one is never enough) will look entirely different!  That is what I love about designing quilt patterns - no two quilts look the same. 

 

 

This is going to be a stunner.

 

Moving on to the quilt that is on Nora right now - a genuine Hawaiian quilt!

 

 

The loading - it's a huge quilt.

 

It's on!

 

So we are on top of the Christmas rush and actually ahead of the game - a wonderful position to be in at this time of the year.  The staff Christmas party is on Thursday night and should be a really good time.  Since the engineer fixed my oven I will be cooking the meat and everyone else will supply the rest of the food.  In past years it has always been a noisy and fun evening, so this year should be no different - just more people! 

 

Anyway - to work......

 

 

 

 

So Christmas is almost upon us.....

and we are sooo busy.  But not so busy that I didn't pause for thought today to think about the reason for the season. 

Growing up as the child of a (poor) exiled immigrant to Wales, this time of year was always very tense.  My father was always thinking of the family and country that he could not talk to or visit and there was very little money for the things that the children wanted, only what they needed.  So we got school sweaters, clothes that we needed and oranges and nuts in our stockings.  And I don't remember being unhappy with those gifts.  I do remember that we made a list of all the gifts and who had given them, so that we could write thank you letters after Christmas - much simpler and more polite times. 

It seems to me that it was a time for family gatherings, telling of (sometimes tall) stories and the fireplace.  We were a dysfunctional family, but we somehow made it work or told a story about it!  There was the epic Christmas when my mother dressed me up in a sort of fairy costume (bearing in mind that I was very short and very chubby) and made me a crown with candles all around it which were then lit just before I carried the turkey to the table.  And I didn't lose my hair....some sort of Scandinavian tradition!

And there was the Christmas that my mother (after a few sherries) dropped the gravy all over the kitchen floor as she was attempting to put it in the gravy boat - now that stuff will turn the kitchen floor into an ice rink!!

Tradition had us putting up the decorations on the morning of Christmas Eve.  My father topped one of the pine trees in the back kitchen garden and we hung the decorations and got everything ready so that we could go to midnight service at church.  Then all the decorations were taken down and put away on January 6th - twelth night.

I do think that whatever our faith we have probably allowed consumer pressure to hijack Christmas or the Holidays.  And it's probably what makes the economic world keep turning and without this holiday and all the other occasions that have been taken over by shopping we may be in a worse recession than we are, but I hate buying stuff just because - I love all my family and friends and can wish them a Merry Christmas without a card or lavish gift.  If they need something, if I can, I can help whatever the time of year.

So - make some eggnog, cook a wonderful meal, eat too much and have fun, but don't hurt yourself financially just because the kids keep on at you, or you want to give the biggest gift.  That's not what it is about.

I'll get off the soapbox now - and enjoy the holiday season.

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.

Well we did the show in Rock Hill......

and we learnt a lot, like taking shopping bags for the things people buy to carry their loot away!  But it was a great show and a lot of people showed interest in the PQ3000 frame.  We are very excited but still have a way to go!

So I lost my tennis match tonight - played a girl way better than me and it made me realize that I really play for fun and I shouldn't take it so seriously.  But I really got slaughtered and sometimes that can be very discouraging!!  So that is the time to remember that what I do every day is very far removed from where I started and I am very proud of what I have achieved with my fabulous team and amazing friends behind me.  And playing tennis is supposed to be fun and to relieve the stress of the day - so get over it Linda!

Wednesday will be the big meeting to get the whole new team together to move forward - it's a lunch meeting, so pizza all around.  I am looking forward to letting other team members help me out and    work towards the current goal.

And I have some fabulous ideas for some quilts that I want to quilt on the PQ3000.  I'll post pictures as soon as they are done.

So, many thanks to the engineer, who helped out with the show on Saturday and is so passionate about  the frame and the add ons that are in progress.  Without his special skills this project would never have got off the ground.

So - time for bed - and my thoughts are with all those fighting Hurricane Sandy, we are thinking of you.

The tomboy is doing her nails....

I probably need to explain that!  I was and have been a tomboy for all of my life.  I love getting dirty, making sawdust, renovating the house and not bothering much with my looks!  So it is kind of fun to be doing my nails for the vending show tomorrow.  I want to look the part!

So we set up the booth and got all the PQs at the show.  We have decided that after moving all those boxes we have no need to go to the gym!  The booth looks fabulous, so we will post pictures later.

Ok one more coat of nail polish, an early night and a weekend of selling PQs - watch this space!

Final thought - believe in your dreams and next week I will tell you all about the engineer - the builder of my vision and the wind beneath my wings.  A very special person.

Feeling my age......

which is something I rarely admit!  Yesterday they came and demolished my master bathroom and left me to finish removing the floor and tidying up last night.  So I was busy until after nine removing flooring and nails.  Then today they installed the shower base and walls and some drywall.  So tonight I needed to install wainscoting and the laminate floor underlay.  This all needs to be finished by the end of the day tomorrow so that while I am gone to Rock Hill they can finish the install.  Oh boy!

So tomorrow I need to run allover quilts and finish laying the floor.  We also need to get everything together for the show and pack up the car.  

There are moments when I worry that we won't sell all the PQ3000s at the show, but then I remember that the Universe gives you what you believe in, so I need to believe!!  Therefore we will sell out of PQ3000s by the end of day one and will need to take orders all day Saturday.

Blogging may take a second place to fixing my nails tomorrow, but as soon as we get back from Rock Hill I will let everyone know how it went.  

I am always thinking of stuff I can tell you all on the blog, so it's frustrating when I don't have the time to tell you what is going on - and there is always something going on!  

I really need to go to bed - my only thought for tonight is sleep!

The surprise bathroom renovation.......

I had pretty much decided that I was done with renovating bathrooms after doing the guest bathroom myself.  Then one day last month we had to call a plumber at the kennel, and while he was here I asked him to look at the bathroom to see what he could do.  So he came by last week and quoted me a good price and said that he could start on Monday (today). 

Well - that resulted in a frantic weekend of running around picking up materials and delivering them for PQ3000s, picking up completed PQ3000s and abject apologies to the two ladies who came by at the allotted time to pick up theirs and I wasn't here!!  It all worked out in the end and I owe them eternal gratitude for their patience and kindness - I know they are having fun with their frames now that they have them.

And then the rest of the weekend was a blur of shopping for the stuff - a walk in shower base, walls and doors.  The new toilet and two vanity units with all the bits to go with that lot - faucets, shower head, shower control and what not.

So the plumber came by this morning, which was a delightfully cool fall morning, the trees are just beginning to turn....

 And this is was he did to my master bathroom!

 

Bandit is saying 'where did the vanity unit go?' 

 

 

And I am saying 'where did the bathtub and shower go?'

 

Anyhow, just to add to the construction choas, yesterday I decided to investigate the missing space in the house.  This is the space that a few years ago John and I had measured for something and decided that there was some missing space between the master closet, the bathroom closet and the pantry.  We never did anything about it, but on Sunday morning curiosity got the upper hand and a small hole was cut in the drywall.  Oops - there was another wall about 4 inches in - nothing ventured, so another hole in the second wall.  Bingo - space - so down with the walls!  And this is the result - a two foot by two foot wall to ceiling space that is absolutely ideal for a pantry and storage cupboard.  I can't wait to get that sorted, but the cleaning lady was less than delighted with the drywall dust created by this little adventure.  Pictures of the completed pantry and the new bathroom when all is completed!

 

 

And as for quilting - well a good number of customer quilts have been completed and sent back to their owners.  Preparation for the show in Rock Hill is going well although we don't think we will have enough PQ3000s to go around!  We are getting them made as fast as we can, but it takes time.  The 'Lancaster Project' has ground to a halt so a major push will be required next week. 

 

November has us on a crazy schedule.  My new assistant starts, Joan gets to marketing the PQ3000, we vend in Tampa, I am registered for the 5k race on the runway at Columbia airport and then it's Thanksgiving and for the first time since John and I arrived at my aunt's house in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning, nine years on I get to visit her on this holiday.  Bitter sweet memories of our arrival in this wonderful country and thoughts of John - always.

 

And thoughts of John as I continue on this exciting journey and wild ride.  Now to laying the bathroom floor.......

A fabulous day, despite a few wrinkles...

So we delivered three PQ3000s - one to Carol G. and two to the store for purchases made there.  The wrinkle on that was that I sort of crunched into Lindsay's car as I was pulling out - $225 to fix mine and a bottle of Scratch Doctor for her - silly me!!

Anyway it was still a good day.  Quilts were done, PQs were packed and stuff was ordered for the units we need for the Rock Hill show.  I won my tennis match in three sets and played for two hours and ten minutes - I will pay for that tomorrow!

I'm seriously hoping to get to the Lancaster Project in the next few days.  We have how to videos to make, but I think we can get those done fairly quickly.  The two quilt have been sent out to NC for the show up there (that's Fire and Ice and Oodles of Simplicity Two).  I have high hopes for them, but they will be up against some serious competition. But that is a good thing!

Ok - it's been a long day and I need to run in the morning.  I signed up for the Color Me Rad 5k race for Saturday which will be a lot of fun.  So I need to train.  It's actually ok to run without training, but it hurts, so I would rather train!!

So to finish this rather short blog, I would like to thank all the amazing people in my life who have made this wild rise possible and have supported me and encouraged me and always believed that this would happen - thank you all!

The quilter's dog (Bandit) and I are needing sleep.

Tomorrow is another day

Such a wonderful day.....

and so many people happy with their PQ3000 frames.  I cannot express the joy that is felt when someone loves and appreciates something you have worked on and developed for so long.

So a bunch of people joined the inaugural PQ3000 club (they may not know this!) and everyone who gets a frame will belong to a family of quilters who want to share and grow together.  I have never met a quilter who was not willing to share - share knowledge, share tips, share disasters and share triumphs.

I know that this can only grow and I am loving all that is happening right now - I am sure that if there are any adjustments that need to be made someone in the PQ3000 family will let us know so that we can sort it out.

It has been a very long day!  Payroll, payroll taxes to be paid, bills to be paid, PQ3000so to be delivered and set up, grocery shopping (wine, beer, milk and dog food - in that order) then sort out the hardware order for the next 12 units and now it has to be time for wine and bed.

We took a bunch of pictures of the happy PQ3000 owners and they will be posted soon - so my final thought for today is that this moment has been a long and productive time in the making and felt so right from the first idea until this finished product.  It seems that when you are on the right path it may take thought and dedication but it works and flows - so go with the flow and where life is taking you - the Universe knows where you should be going.

And finally......

The PQ3000s are ready to go!

 

 

And those of you who know me realize just how stressed I am about the pile up in the studio!  But all these will get delivered or stored tomorrow and my world will be straight and organized again.  Those of you who are on the list - expect a call tomorrow - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, are you excited yet??  I am!!
I will attempt to blog some more later, but we are on our way out to pick up more PQ3000s - did I just say my studio was going to be straight tomorrow - oh boy.