First quilt done!

Digging out

From piles of fabric, that is! I am trying to get things worked on around the studio. I am doing more art and craft shows this year, I hope it pays off.  I also have more bookkeeping clients to support this year, so time is definitely at a premium.

Big news, though- I finally got a new quilting machine! It's a 16" Crystal Quilter,  and is a brand new machine! I'm so excited, I will now be able to quilt on King size quilts for customers. One of my goals this year is to learn free motion feathers & pebbles. I'm really, really good at and comfortable with all-over pantograph quilting, so this is the basis of the quilting I can offer to customers. If you have a quilt that you need quilted, feel free to contact me.  I'm happy to discuss custom work!

Unfortunately, I injured my wrist moving furniture this weekend, so the inaugural run of the new machine is delayed. I have a top almost ready to go on the frame, so hopefully it won't be too long before I get to give it a good workout. 

Thanks for reading!

Celtic Solstice progress

I got step 1 of Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery done, and now I'm on to step 2!

The instructions for the mystery are based on strip cutting with rulers, but I am trying a new (to me) toy. I finally bought an AccuQuilt Go! for myself back in November. It does waste fabric, so I'm not sure that I'd want to use it on yardage, but on a scrappy quilt that is using leftovers from other projects, I don't mind so much. Plus, my kiddo is happy that he gets to help me, something he can't do if I'm rotary cutting.

Today the quilt group I manage is meeting, so I plan to work on the step 2 blocks. We'll see if Mr. Tank lets me sew, though. Daddy is on a business trip and won't be home until late tonight, so the Tankster has to go with me.

Have a great one, people!

Poor neglected little blog...

I really didn't mean to neglect my blog so badly, honest!

So, where were we? It looks like the last time I posted was back in June of '12 (oh dear...) Well, I did get that IRR quilt finished & bound. My daughter was very happy with it, though it's hiding in her closet now. I'm not sure if it's because she doesn't like it or if she's just addicted to the feel of the soft fleecy blankets (quite likely)

I've been much more active over on Facebook which links into my Twitter feed. I've also added a new storefront on Storenvy, it's a much larger marketplace, but doesn't have listing or sales fees like Artfire & Etsy do. We'll see how that goes!

I have done more commission work in the past year & a half, some custom quilting for customers, and finished a few items for my shop.

Quilt by B. Domke, Quilting by Cattails Quilts

'Baby Deere' Custom Order by Cattails Quilts

Quilt by J. Lovato, Quilting by Cattails Quilts

Quilt by J. Lovato, Quilting by Cattails Quilts

Quilt by S. Baxter, Quilting by Cattails Quilts

Southwest Dreams by Cattails Quilts 

(for sale over at Storenvy)

My Block of the Month is finally finished & for sale at Storenvy, too! I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. I had to scrap the piano key border, not enough of the fabrics left, but I did incorporate it into the back of the quilt instead.

Right now I'm working on Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery over at Quiltville. I had planned to participate as she released the clues, but I ended up so far behind that I'm just now about halfway through part 1, and I'm only doing 1/4 size to start! Oops...

I promise, I'll try to be better about blogging in the future. So many things going on over here, I forget that I need to keep you all interested, too!

Thanks for sticking around. :)

And away we sew!

Progress is slow going on the quilt I have loaded in the new frame. Unfortunately, I am having tension issues with my machine, and they have me beating my head against the wall! I have to get it sorted out quickly, though, as I just took in a quilting order that needs to be done by mid July. Time is more than enough, assuming I can get the machine cooperating again!! Very glad I started with a quilt that is staying in our house, instead of jumping right in to something for sale.

Scrappy Quilting IRR 2010-2011, 'Bug's Star' is hopefully going to be finished soon. :)

Since the futzing with the machine will require attention that I can't give it while Tank is awake, I'm starting on some simple market totes to add to my shop inventory. They're going to be slightly larger than my usual ones, in hopes that some Pennsic shoppers will avail themselves of the bags for sale. :)

That's my quick update for today, back to the machine I go!