Embroidering Levi's Label

 

'Heaven & Nature Sing', Quilted

 The quilting is done on 'Heaven & Nature Sing'.  Next, the label and the binding.

Backing

More Quilting, 'Heaven & Nature Sing'

 I got several more rows quilted on the 'Heaven & Nature Sing' quilt.  I wondered what would happen when I got to the embroidered letters, but the Avanté quilted through them with ease, though the thread broke once.  I paused to clean the needle afterwards.  The quilting is about two-thirds done.

Quilting 'Heaven & Nature Sing'

 I quilted about a third of grandson Levi's 'Heaven & Nature Sing' quilt today.  The pantograph is 'Bear, Moose, and Pines', designed by Deb Geissler. 

Stitched-Down Letters

 After a bit of debate (because I didn't wanna, you know), I decided the letters of Levi's name really should be stitched to his quilt, in addition to being ironed on.  Two hours later, the letters are stitched down -- and it was even trickier than expected, because the needle kept getting sticky from the heat-activated adhesive on the backs of those letters, which made it skip stitches. I couldn't even do one letter without stopping to clean the needle with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Then I tried rubbing a dab of Carmex on the needle after cleaning it off, and actually managed to complete entire letters thereafter before the stitch-skipping took up again.  Anyway, it's done, and I'm glad I did it. The backing is completed (I had to order more fabric; it arrived a few days ago) and loaded on my frame, and the batting is in place. I'll load the top tomorrow.

It's Called 'Mini Heartsy'

 I finished my friend's 'Mini Heartsy' quilt today while a blizzard raged outside.  The quilt measures 37 ½" x 43 ½".  It has Hobbs' Tuscany cotton-wool blend batting.  I used 40-wt. White Lace Omni thread on top, and 60-wt. Bright White Bottom Line thread in the bobbin.  The pantograph is Butterfly and Swirls by Anne Bright.

Meanwhile, right now at 8:00 p.m., it's 29° with a windchill of -9°, and the wind is blowing at a steady 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.  Earlier, those gusts were reaching nearly 70 mph.  We only got a couple of inches of snow, but it looked like it was all in the air, all at once!  Sometimes I couldn't even see the trees right out in the yard.

Looking north

Backing

Quilting Irish Heart

 I will soon be to the middle point of my friend's Irish Heart quilt.  The pantograph is Butterfly and Swirls by Anne Bright.

Julie's Irish Heart Quilt

 My friend's pretty little Irish Heart quilt is loaded and ready to be quilted.  She made it for her granddaughter, whose first birthday will be in April.

John Deere Quilt Finished

 The John Deere quilt my friend made for her little boy is all quilted.  It measures 93" x 93".  She gave me cotton batting for it.  I used 40-wt. Omni light yellow thread on top and 60-wt. bottom line light yellow in the bobbin.  She will put the binding on it.

John Deere Quilt

 Today I started quilting a friend's John Deere quilt that she's making for her little boy, who will soon be 5.  I'm about halfway done.

Quilting Done, Mane Event

 Quilting is done on Josiah's 'Mane Event'; I finished it last night.  It'll be a few days before I put on the binding and the label, as I have other quilts I must quilt first.  I couldn't get a photo of it on the deck today, as there was a steady wind of about 25 mph, with gusts up to 45 and 50 mph.  So here it is lopped over the couch in the music room, and there's not enough room to get a full picture.  

Row Six, 'Mane Event'

 Row six of the 'Mane Event' is done, and the final row is half done.

Fifth Row, Mane Event; & New Fabric

 The fifth row of the 'Mane Event' is done, and I'm about 2/3 done with row six.  One more to go.  

My new fabric from Marshall Dry Goods arrived.  

Backing for Jeffrey's quilt (not yet started).

View from my north-facing window in late afternoon.