good news and bad

Last week my quilting machine broke down. Thought we had the problem solved and continued on. Tuesday  I discovered that the problem was worse than I first expected. And the part I needed was with Mom in Calgary on her trip. So, work was done.

So bad news, my machine is broke down. Good news? I was able to hobble my way through Wilma's quilt and got it finished.

quilted with Holly Ribbon

I love the applique blocks.

Better news? I got an unexpected week off work; no quilts due until the 15th. woo hoo!

So I scrubbed the house from stem to stern. Had too much fun spending birthday money. And more importantly, am spending time with these.

longarm quilting

I get asked often about my quilting machine, do I use a computer, how does it work. Enough that I thought I would do a blog post on it.

I run an APQS Millennium machine. 

Millie isn't new, she's about 8yrs old now. And a total workhorse. My average is around 315 quilts/year and Millie keeps going strong.

I don't have a computer system. The only special features I have is a stitch regulator, a thread-cutter(I never use it) and needle up/down. My quilting table is 14feet long; the biggest quilt I've done was 135 inches.

90% of my quilting customers only ask for all-over quilting patterns(pantographs).  

When I quilt an all-over pattern, I stand at the back of the machine,

and I 'trace' the panto with a laser light.

It looks pretty easy but there is a wee bit of a learning curve.

For custom quilting, I stand at the machine front.

I share a quilt studio with my mom.

I am very blessed to have a job that I truly do love doing. I don't always love going to work but it's a great job that I have.

the only somewhat current picture I have of our quilting studio. taken September 2011.

photo shoot

Last month my friend Sheila came by the studio to take some pictures for us. We got the pictures this week and we couldn't be more thrilled with how well they turned out.

Here's a few of my favorites,

answers

I've had some questions from my thread post so I thought I would do another post and answer them.

Our thread drawers are from Ikea and are the Alex drawer/cabinet. We have the 6 drawer Alex under our longarm machines and 2 of the tall 9 drawer ones that hold our rulers/stencils/marking tools/bobbins etc.

The 6 drawer Alex fits perfectly under the longarm machines. And an fyi, you can fit 6 Alex under a 14ft table.

We have a few of them lol.

We store our threads in some,

And our pantographs(quilt patterns) in the others.

A few weeks ago, we had our studio assistant redo our panto drawers. We used to have them done alphabetically, now they are in categories. I'm still getting used to it lol.

don't forget to scroll down and enter my giveaway or click here

ever feel like

You are being watched while at work?

have some pieced quilt tops you need quilted?

Then we have a deal for you!

Quilted Cats Hideway is now offering some special permanent lower pricing on specific edge to edge/pantograph quilting patterns.

The details:
Pick one of the following edge to edge/pantographs;

Falling Leaves/Autumn Leaves
Surf's Up
Shooting Stars/Random Stars
Morning Glory
Flowing Feathers

And receive the following price on your quilting.
King-size quilts for $130.00
Queen-size quilts for $100.00
Double/Full-size quilts for $80.00 and
Lap quilts for $60.00.

Prices do not include taxes or batting and no other discount will be taken with this new pricing.

This is NOT a sale. This is new permanent pricing if you chose the above patterns.

Looking for some more savings? We are also offering a special pricing on 'meandering' patterns. Check our website for the details.

Out of town/province? We'll quilt for you too!

Contact us for more details or see our webpage.

how to sneak out of work early

Find this hanging on your longarm machine!!

out with the old

And in with the new.

As a longarm quilter, I am on my feet basically all day long. When I first started longarming, I bought these runners so standing wasn't too bad. These beauties cost $8! And with the color, I was never worried about wearing them out in public. No way would I leave work with these still on lol.



Yesterday I realized that my shoes were probably part of my back problems. And wouldn't you know it, they are dead. The support in them is basically totally worn away.

I ended up lucking out and finding these on sale for $20. Will try them out today. And no one will complain about the color of these lol.

in the zone

Went into work for a few hours today to help out with our big inventory sale. I was hoping I could get mom's Christmas present quilted while I was there.

It turned out to be one of those fantastic days where everything goes right. Not only did I get mom's quilt quilted, but I got TWO more as well!



Things were going so well that I was really, really, REALLY tempted to start a fourth quilt but mom told me to get home lol. Plus she was afraid I wouldn't get it finished tonight and she needs her machine to finish dad's Christmas present. From last year. lol!!



Two of the quilts I did today were pieced by a dear family friend. Mom and I regularly clean out our scrap bins and fabric stashes and give all the fabrics to Donna. Donna makes many many many quilts every year and sends them off to orphanages around the world. She surprised us back in September with 4 quilts she had made for my boys with fabrics from us. Two of those quilts I got done today.

Someone already loves his.

schools out

As a result, we get cheap work labour ;)

hazardous conditions at work