I also managed to load a quilt tonight although I didn't get it started. It's the first of 10 tops I want to quilt by the end of September. We're out of town Sept 2 - 8 so it will be a little challenging but I'm going to give it a shot.

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Isn't this the cutest fabric? They used this heart print for their centers and Cynthia gave me the rest of the fabric to use in finishing the quilt.
Cynthia, who contacted me about speaking was wonderful and made me feel very comfortable. As I watched their meeting, I was really impressed with how organized they are and how much education they do. I saw some feather star blocks from a class, a beautiful mystery quilt, a quilted bag, and several other really pretty quilts during their show and tell.

This HeartStrings top was pieced by Barbara in FL.


Since I needed an edge to attach to the leaders, I decided to try using safety pins - and it worked. I also shorted myself on the side there - couldn't clamp it so I had to hold it with my hand as I started each pass.
This is why I wasn't paying attention. I have a wallhanging to quilt for my younger sister that needs a background fill. Deb does this one so well that I asked her to draw out how she quilts it and used the leftover backing from the above quilt to see if I could quilt it. I have a few little issues with spacing but I think with a matching thread and a little more practice, I can probably manage to quilt this.
I did manage to reload and finish quilting the Wonky Rails - here's a front view of my uneven grid...
and a back view. Only 3 more tops to meet my goal of 10 quilted before the end of August.


I've got the 3rd quilt out and am working on the binding but I don't think I'll get this one done to show you in the morning - we'll see.
I'm not getting any quilting done the last couple days but I've picked out the last 4 tops I need to quilt. Three of them are ready to be loaded at any time, backing pieced and even batting for one of them and the 4th I have to put borders on and piece the backing - it's one of Mom's tops - aren't I nice?

At the request of several members, I created a blog ring for HeartStrings. Anyone participating in the project that is interested in joining can follow the link below to sign up.


1. Why do you quilt?
It feeds my creative self, it allows me to help those in need, it gives a purpose to my days now that I'm not working.
2. How long have you been quilting?
8 years exactly - I hand pieced my first quilt in August 2008. (Didn't own a sewing machine and had never used one)
3. What made you start quilting?
I'd seen a quilt using photographs and wanted my Mom to work with me on a family memory quilt - she refused to make the quilt so I had to learn. Still haven't made that quilt using photographs yet.
4. What sewing machine do you use mostly for piecing?
Elna's Quilter's Dream
5. What machine do you use mostly for quilting?
Gammill Premier Plus
6. If you could have any sewing machine you want -- money isn't an issue -- just get anything you want . . what would you get?
I've been very happy with both the Gammill longarms I've had (had to downsize for my move to MN) but if I bought another one - I'd buy an A-1.
7. When you buy a sewing machine, how long do you expect you'll keep it? Til a newer and bigger and better model comes out? Til the old one refuses to make another stitch?
I've had my Elna for 6+ years and don't really have an urge to trade it; wouldn't have traded my Gammill Classic Plus if I didn't have to downsize so I guess I'm somewhere in between. I have good machines so I don't feel the need for new ones but I doubt I'll wait until they wear out to replace them.
8. On a scale of 1 - 10, how much do you love your stash? (10 means you LOVE it! 1 means you'd get rid of it all today if you could!)
I'd say 8 - I still have a lot of fabric I bought in the first 2 years of quilting that is OK but not great.
9. Why do you have the stash? How did it come about? Why is it the size that it is?
It's pretty large - I like being able to pull everything I need for a quilt from my stash.
10. When we talk about "stashbusting", what are your thoughts? Use every crumb of the stash? Use as much stash as you add? Shop the stash first but don't feel bad if you have to go buy additional fabric for a project? Don't mind buying for a project but not buying just for the purpose of having the fabric . . with no project in mind?
My goal for stashbusting has changed over the last couple years. Initially I didn't want to buy any fabric and I used a fair amount of stash but now my goal is still to use my stash but I'll buy fabric if it really appeals to me and to replenish colors I'm running low on.
Bottom line - I buy less these days but I make sure I have the fabric I need to create the quilts I want to make.





I think this will work just fine.
And here's my stack of 4 all ready for stitching - tomorrow I need to print more HeartStrings labels so I can stitch them on as I'm finishing the bindings.
On tomorrow's agenda is loading and starting to quilt top #6 of 10.

Of course, the backing would show every little detail of the quilting but luckily my spacing wasn't as bad as I feared.
I'm halfway to my goal of 10 quilts by the end of August but don't be too impressed - most of them aren't that large and they're getting either freehand overalls or pantographs but it sure feels good to be getting these done.

On today's agenda, trim 3 quilts and get them ready for binding, load top #5 of 10 on the longarm and if time allows I'll either bind or quilt some later.





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