Ah, it's Thursday

Yes, it is Thursday and I am breathing a sigh of relief! Why? Because my husband repaired my Janome MC6500 last night!!! And I get to sew with it today!! I'm so happy! I was somewhat unhappy on Tuesday afternoon when I drove clear up to Flint (Miller Road exit) to the sewing machine shop....I called and asked if they repaired Janome sewing machines. The man answered, "yes, we are an authorized dealer, we do it all." "Great! Where are you located, I'm on my way!" I said....well let me tell you!! I drove all the way up there in my TRUCK that only gets 15miles to the gallon...mind you it is diesel!! Translation...diesel costs more!
So I drive up there....it is 20+ miles only to find out that they DON'T REPAIR sewing machines and their repairman just retired...oh how convenient! He then proceeds to inform me that they have someone drive all the way from GRAND RAPIDS to pick up the machines and take then back to Grand Rapids for repairing....oh my, I would not have my machine for 2 weeks! I was fuming mad! Why did he not inform of that when I called?! When someone tells me that they are authorized that means they do the work! Sheesh! Needless to say I was not happy...
Oh and I can't forget that they wanted to sell me a new machine! Oh my Lord! What are they thinking?!
On to a good topic...I am sewing today! Because of my husband and his gift of being able to repair anything! Thank you!!!
It looks like I might be teaching sewing more often than what I thought. There are so many young girls in our homeschool group that want to learn how to sew. This is just something that I feel is necessary. It is a form of art, sewing that is, and I just love the fact that these girls want to do this.  They can take this skill with them and use it for the rest of their lives!! How sweet!
Last night I was back in Praise Team at church. I absolutely loved it and I have not felt that way in a long long time! I just felt like I belonged there.  Thank you Lord! The other day Pastor told me I was doing too many activities and he was worried about me. So when his daughter came up and asked if I was going to be in choir I said, "according to your dad I'm doing too much." He was standing right there...hehehehe.....He then told me (he is the Pastor) "Oh you can do choir! it is only 2x a month." He said that with a grin on his face...lol....oh ok, I will then.....someone needs to take over acteens then! LOL gotcha!
I can't wait to sew today, maybe I should get off the computer and go work on something..just something! LOL....I did accomplish a huge task the other day. I was checking out my fabric stash and realized...hey, my fabric is looking kind of pathetic! What is going on here? See, I've been taking fabrics off the shelves and grouping certain ones together to well, make a quilt. I've been storing these groups in different plastic bins. What has been occuring is that I was forgetting what all I had stashed away in a bin/bins and was telling myself that I needed to go buy more fabric!!! Wait a minute, lets rethink this.
I love to shop for fabric, I love the smell of walking into a quilt shop!! Ah, heaven! But I don't have the funds to do this. Where is your fabric? Looked to my right and way across the room are 10+bins filled with "groupings" of fabric....oh yeah, there it is....so I pulled the bins off the shelf, put all the fabrics (yardage) back on to the correct shelf on the other side of the room, where it belonged. My half filled shelves became full!! All the colors grew, they doubled!! OH my, grouping all those fabrics and placing into bins was not a smart idea, but wait...now I have empty bins that I paid for...hmmmmm
IDEA: you have tons of scraps! Bonnie Hunter's scrap system...put it into play! so I did! I began sorting my scraps into colors. I now have organized scraps. Two bags, maybe three still left to go through, but I feel that is such a better plan!
My next step in organizing is to take a few minutes (15-30 minutes) at least once a week and iron/cut a color (bin) of fabric scraps. This is so awesome. Because you know, there are some nights/days where I really don't know what I want to work on, I just want to touch fabric. This is a perfect way to get my fill!!
And last but not least, I was able to quilt 4 quilts on the longarm machine over the weekend! AWESOME!!! I had purchased a wide black sateen backing for one quilt when I realized the backing was way too big and I would be wasting all the fabric backing....so I really did not want to waste it. I came up with a plan to put 4 lap size finished tops onto the backing instead! Sweet deal! With the left over backing, there was still some extra, but no where near what I had calculated from before...I will cut the sateen up in small sizes and either use it for samples or table runner.
Oh and I can't forget to tell about my awesome buy of warm and natural batting!! 3 weeks ago at JoAnn's, Queen size warm and natural batting was only $10 a bag!! My husband bought me 10!! How wonderful is that!? I love him!
Well I have babbled on long enough...

Quilt projects

This past week I've been diligently working on a quilt, along with getting very distracted by my entire sewing room! I had an agenda! I was to make x amount of 4 patches and x amount of hst for this quilt. But, as usual, I was getting side tracked by all the *goodies* within my eye sight! Maybe I could take this fabric and do this, or what about adding an additional border onto this quilt so I could do some amazing longarm custom quilting...oh wait, I bet, if I combind these 3 quilts onto this one extremely long quilt back (4.5 yards..do the math!) then I could fit all 3 of those quilts on to the machine and walla I would have finished 3 more ufo's!! OH wait....but then I have to consider thread color....do I want to do solid color thread or varigated thread...oh what batting do I need, do I have enough black batting..all 3 of these quilts require black batting..looks like I have to go visit the quilt shop again..oh bummer, Carolyn will be so surprised to see me!! LOL

Now, do you see why I lost what I was attempting to accomplish? Did I loose you? I lost myself!! LOL  Finally I remembered what I was suppose to be working on...Cathedral Stars by Bonnie Hunter!! Holy Moly! It took me reading her blog on quiltville.com to realize the project!! My goodness. I'm not kidding, all week I would run down to my sewing room to just sew a few units and then I would rush back up here (note to self: move sewing room upstairs, won't hurt knees as much) to either head out the door or work on something that was needing my attention...like say a child? LOL  But I was having the darndest time remembering what I was working on!! I would glance on my tables as I flew by to see if the pattern was laying there...nope I don't that is what I'm working on.....this went on all week!! I just have to say, Thank you to Bonnie for posting on her blog about the workshop in CO.

I was able to finish my "Totally Decaffeinated" quilt, it is too pretty to call it that, but that is name of the quilt in the book.  I've showed it to lots of people and they all love it. I need to go replenish my fabric now that I used lots of browns and creams up for that one. Bummer, another reason to go to the village quilt shop!! Carolyn, I'm coming over for a visit!!! I just love those ladies!!! And Carol, who is Carolyn's husband, they are fantastic people up there!! I can't forget to mention Sally! Sally is my altoid buddy! I give her a handful of altoids when I go in....she likes me only for my candy! LOL  just kidding, she is great too!

Guess who just found out she did not take a picture of the finished quilt that has the borders on it???? Yep, that would be me! My goodness...back to the workshop...oh no, you know what this means? I will probably forget what my mission is before I reach the bottom of the stairs leading to my sewing room....Pray for me! LOL

Happy quilting everyone!!

Price List Piecing Quilt and Machine quilting

One-Stitch-at-a-Time

Nancy McNally

Gammill Classic Plus

Janome MC6500

My heart is in piecing. I love to piece a quilt! I can finish your project you started, please, just provide the original pattern for me to follow. If the pattern is lost, I will just do what I can to give you what you originally intended the quilt to be. The price is $10 per hour for the construction of the quilt top. Once I piece the top I will then machine quilt it and bind it for you. The prices vary from the type of quilting you choose. See pricing for long-arm machine quilting. Binding is machine only, no hand binding. Cost $50 – 70.00 based on size of quilt. Deposit of 50% is required.

I also offer piecing from beginning to end. You pick out the fabric, pattern and I do all the work. Cost is $10-$20 per hour. This will be based on the level of difficulty. No appliqué and no paper piecing. Deposit of 50% is required. Give me a call and we can sit down together and plan out the quilt.

I can design your quilt top, or you can choose from my library of books and preprinted patterns.

contact me at:
nancy.mcnally@comcast.net

Long-arm Machine Quilting:

Preparing your quilt top for machine quilting:

-Is your quilt top free of pet hair?

-Please square up your quilt top, no un- even edges.

-Clip all loose threads front and back.

-Press your quilt top to keep it nice and flat

-check seams; are they all going in the direction they are suppose to be?

-Backing: if you are piecing your back, please remove the selvage edges.

- Place a pinned note at the top of the backing that you wish the top of the quilt to be lined up with.

Make sure your backing is at least 6 inches larger than the quilt (length and width)

Type of Quilting with price

Allover (edge to edge) 1.5 cents per square inch

Custom borders with allover in body of quilt 2.5 cents per square inch

Custom borders and body of quilt 3.0 cents per square inch
How to figure the cost: measure your quilt length and width, multiply the two numbers:

L x W= square inch. Multiply this by the cents per square inch x 1.5 Example if your quilt measure 50 x 60 = 3000 x 1.5 = $45

Batting: you provide and it should be 3 inches larger (on all 4 sides) than the quilt top.

Backing: please do not use a sheet for the backing. Make sure if you have pieced the backing that you indicate with a note pinned to the top of the backing the TOP (where you want the top of your quilt lined up) and remove the selvage edges.

Customer Order Form

Name: _________________________

Email: _________________________

Address: _______________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Phone: (H)_________________________

(C)_______________________________

Check appropriate blank

__machine quilting

__piecing, quilting and binding

Machine quilting order:

Size of quilt: width: ___ x length: __

Type of batting you provided, this needs to be 6-8 inches larger than your quilt.

Quilting thread color:

_neutral _variegated _solid to match

Type of quilting: _ meander small, medium, large (circle size desired) (.01-.025 per sq. in.)

_all over pattern from edge to edge (free form no pantograph pattern) (.025 per sq. in.)

_custom borders (extra charge) with all over pattern in body of quilt (.03 per sq. in.)

_full custom heavy quilting (.035 per sq in.)

(L)___ x (W)___= ______ x _____=$______

Piecing your quilt top:

I have a nice variety of patterns and books for you to choose from. I do not offer paper piecing or quilts with appliqué. Call me and we can schedule a time to sit down together to discuss the type of quilt pattern you are looking for. To get started fill out the basic order form below:

Size of quilt:

__baby/crib

__wall hanging

__lap

__twin __comforter __ bedspread

__full __comforter __bedspread

__queen __comforter __bedspread

__king __comforter __bedspread

~ if you choose a comforter will need a bed skirt to match? ___yes __no

~ would you also like matching pillow cases?

__yes __no if yes, 1 or 2

Fabrics and colors. This will be discussed together. I can join you with the shopping for the fabrics or I can do the shopping myself. (fee for this)

Keep this in mind: the more difficult the pattern, the more “pieces” the pattern requires, the higher the cost.

I also offer whole cloth quilts. These can be absolutely stunning and no two are alike!

Deposit: _____Check or ____Cash

Amount: $___________

Signature ______________________________

Backing: please choose one:

__whole cloth backing (no seams)

__pieced backing (if there are enough scrap fabrics left from the piecing, I maybe able to use them. Otherwise we will have to choose a backing. We need to make that decision when all the fabric is purchased for the top.)

Once the quilt top is pieced, I will machine quilt your quilt top. Please fill out order form in the machine quilting section of brochure.

Batting: cotton or poly-cotton blend are best.

I do NOT keep this in stock, we will need to purchase.

Once quilted I will machine bind! I do NOT hand sew bindings on. If you would like for your quilt to be hand bound please let me know:

__hand binding

__machine binding

Fabric for binding: can be scrap strips from quilt top or we can purchase matching fabric for this.

*all quilts will have the first stage of binding machine sewn to the front of the quilt top then for hand binding the binding will be hand sewn to the back of the quilt. For ALL machine binding, I sew the binding to the back of the quilt first then machine bind it to the front of the quilt. Hand binding, I can recommend a quilter for this job, price will be determined by her.

May I use a photo of your quilt for advertising purposes? __yes or __no

If I run into problems with the quilt top you have pieced such as fullness, puckering, seams coming apart, I will do my best to repair.

There will be a repair fee depending on the amount of work that is needed. Fees range from $5-$10 extra per repair. If you prefer that I place pleats in the border from fullness, I can’t promise that seams will match.

You can email me at:
Nancy.mcnally@comcast.net

Big Day today

First of all, last night while trying to go to sleep, I got a vision of a quilt design!! Darn it! I hate when that happens! I can't go to sleep for a long time after that 'cause my mind won't stop working! LOL My husband told me to write the design down right then, so I did. Got up, turned on bedroom light, "close your eyes honey, I'm turning on the light." drew out pattern, turned out light and crawled back in bed. Don't have time to work it out on EQ7 this morning, but I will play with the design over the week....
Meanwhile, I'm working on a two projects that are coming together very nicely. I don't have pictures to show just yet, but soon. I did make a baby quilt last week that I must put on the longarm and quilt up...need to ship it to SC for my neice's baby shower.
Oh speaking of accomplishments, finishing up projects....I was able to put two bindings on this weekend! I am very proud of myself for this one! I have 4 small quilts that are ready for binding and two quilts that must go back on the longarm machine so that I can finish quilting them. I took them off the machine so I could work on customer's quilts and I was just being lazy with my own projects and did not put either one back on.
This morning we are heading to the hospital. Today, Steve, my 3rd son, has to have an upper scope. We are hoping and praying that we will learn why he has been having problems for the last 6+ months with his intestines. After the procedure, if he feels up to it, I will take two of my boys to drama workshop today.
Tonight though, tonight!! I get to go see Bonnie Hunter from quiltville's trunk show!! I'm so excited! I have 3 friends joining me! I can't wait!! I've been looking forward to this for months!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!! Later....

Beautiful Calendar!!

I found a beautiful calendar for my desktop from another quilter's blog: Cabin Quilter, Diane tombal. Love it! Here is a picture of the calendar!!
I hope I remember to download the new one each month!

It's Friday!!!

I'm ready to attack!! I finished quilting the Autumn French Braid quilt last night. This morning I will put on the binding and deliver it to the quilt shop. I'm teaching this one on October 9. I will need to piece a table runner for the other class, I have not decided if I'm going to piece it in the same fabrics or choose different. I should probably choose the same ones, especially since I have leftovers...that makes sense....
I've added my EQ7 button to my blog. I'm enjoying playing in EQ7 and I've downloaded a few files so I can play more! It really find it easy to use. I think every quilter should have this tool, the only draw back is how long I end up sitting at the computer creating instead of actually sewing.
I've gotten a couple of requests for some quilt tops. I'm looking forward to piecing them.
I recently purchased a purse pattern, not going to name the pattern name, but I think the directions...well there is not enough....hmmm....so I'm left to figure things out for myself. It is my learning style not the publisher's fault.
My goals for this weekend: put the binding on to 3 quilt tops, mail out two of the quilts, start on the new commissioned quilts, get the instructions/supply list ready for the quilt classes, visit the local craft store (just cause I can...lol), prepare for Sunday's class, and all of next week's lesson with our homeschool...ok, I just thoroughly overwhelmed myself!!! I think this calls for some chocolate, oh wait, I have not even had breakfast!!!
Well I better get a move on if I am to accomplish anything. I will be posting some pictures soon!! I've got a few projects in mind....need to write the patterns though!!
Later gator!

School is back in session

Our homeschool begins today. I'm excited yet I'm also feeling like I had no summer...I need to plan better, just did not get enough done.
I finished by quilting brochure. Now I need to get myself to Pontiac and apply for a dba or LLC, not sure what I want to do yet. At least I know that the name I want to use as a business is not taken.
Last week I had a bad vertigo experience. I want to say it is from my sinuses being blocked from allergies. Both Steve and I have been waking up with nasty sore throats and runny noses. I leaned over to move the box fan, coffee in right hand. I leaned over to pick up the fan to turn it around and that was all she wrote! The room spun around so bad, I could not figure out what was the floor, wall or ceiling!! Coffee went everywhere, I hit the wall 2x with my head! bruised the top of my right hand (it hit the wall too), my right arm by my elbow hit the wall also and my left arm...well somehow some skin got taken off. I don't recall the entire incident, all I know is it happened. Scared the living daylights out of me!!! Going back to doctor today to change medicine he prescribed...made me feel worse! That is ok, he had no idea, it is trial and error, that is why they are "practicing medicine".
I was able to play with fabrics last night, did not accomplish anything other than to confuse myself a bit, but I enjoyed it!
That is all for now....later dude!