Finished is a very good thing!

Apparently this is the weekend for finishes. I don't keep a list for crossing things off except in my mind - it feels really good to cross these off my mental "list".

I finished quilting two flannel samplers for a customer that needed to be done by mid-June. I've not quilted a sampler before so I had lots and lots of fun figuring out how to quilt each block. I'm lucky - quilts "talk" to me and tell me how they want to be quilted. These two were no exception - their message was coming through loud and clear. I liked the results so much that I took a picture of each block - I've never done that before. The owner of these quilts is in my little guild, so I'll deliver them to her at the meeting on Thursday. I sure hope she likes them as much as I do. I've never done two custom quilts one after the other in one day - by the time I was done with the second one last night my legs and back were aching as were my hands from gripping the handles of the machine. I know some ladies have put new cushioned grip bicycle hand grips on their machine - I think I need to look into something like that.

In between quilts yesterday I helped my husband spread another yard of bark. It was HOT outside, and my body just doesn't like the heat. The thermometer said it was in the mid to upper '80's, and standing in the sun was more than I could do. We were doing the beds to the east of our driveway, so I sat under the crab apple tree watching him shovel a load into the wheelbarrow and then dump it on the beds. My job was coming out of the shade long enough to spread the bark in a nice layer all around the plants while he went back to the truck for another load. We couldn't believe it - this load was supposed to be the last - but it wasn't enough to do everything. With the little that was left Fred did the neighbor's side of our west bed that borders the property line while I swept all the stray bark off the driveway. Our yard recycle containers are empty so I could have moved on to trimming shrubs but it was too darn hot. There was no bark left for the bed on the west side of the house either. We decided to call it quits until next weekend - hopefully it will be a bit cooler then. I came in and jumped into the shower while Fred went to the club to shower, then to the grocery store for milk, and finally to Subway to get our dinner. I was starting the second flannel quilt by the time he got back with the sandwiches. At least everything visible from the front of the house now looks great - as long a one doesn't pay that much attention to the shrubs that need trimming!


Today I'm doing the very last customer quilt in my possession. I've had this one almost since I first got my machine. It's a good thing my friend Sue is in no hurry for this one. I told her it had to wait until I felt my skills were good enough - and that's taken over 2 1/2 years. She got the idea for this convergence quilt from one she saw at a quilt show. She and her husband love to sail, have a sail boat, and decorate their large house with lots of sailing related things. The quilting is to be all freehand, with a vibrant sunshine in the sky and waves all over the water. I have a photo that shows the quilting pretty well so I know what she wants. This afternoon is going to be the day I tackle it. Wish me luck! I'll be so glad to have this one finished and off my conscience. I bet she'll be so surprised when I give it back to her on Tuesday.

Update: the photo showing finished quilting is the "idea" picture I'm to use to quilt this quilt. The quilt is on the machine but so far I've not had the courage to start quilting it. She may or may not get it on Tuesday. I keep telling myself it's not going to get any easier by putting off starting. So am I quilting? No, I'm watching baseball and reading email and blogs on the laptop.

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Gratitudes:
1. Subway turkey sandwich
2. A pretty front yard
3. Big trays of flowers from Costco
4. Creme Brulee Coffeemate
5. Cooler weather today - oops! Not true after all. Hopefully tomorrow!

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