Howdy,

I know, it has been awhile since I did a blog for everyone to read.  I have enjoyed my summer and fall quilting for customers as well as getting some quilts completed to post for sale on the website.  I am still trying to learn Instagram and apparently I've managed to get 3 accounts instead of one, so be patient with me until I get them merged into one.

I will post some pictures below of some quilts I have worked on for others.  You may have seen them on Facebook, just in case you haven't, they are below.  I found some cute freestanding lace embroidery projects which I will post below as well. 

I now have my Crown Jewel Longarm quilter which I use daily.  There is a lot you can do with a longarm quilt machine besides longarm quilt a quilt.   I am going to keep you in suspense here, as I am learning to do videos and hope to have them up and running on my facebook as well as my website.  Yes, you will see that I am in the beginning stages of doing video, but I am told the more I do them, the more comfortable I will get.

The family including granddaughter along with a friend and her family did a project for a local cottage outfit in Ft. Collins.  It is sad to report, we have yet to see any payment from Tree Cycled Art. She apparently received a backer who gave her monies to complete her CSU Souvenirs.  She has ran into some difficulty on getting payment from CSU for the 7200 pieces that we did for her, so the story goes.  Hopefully, we all can see some monies before the New Year.

The Destiny II is an awesome machine.  I have done lots of embroidery, scanned a picture for the granddaughter, which this machine digitized and then we embroider it on a sweatshirt. She was thrilled.  I am still learning what all it can do, and amazed what it can do.  Maggie, at Maggie's Sew and Vac https://www.maggiessewvac.com/ in Ft. Collins sold me the machine in March.  This is a lady who doesn't care where you bought your machine, is there to help you with your sewing issues and needs with any sewing machine you have old or new, and any brand.  It is my understanding she was a Home Ec teacher and loves to teach others how to use their machines.  I did my first video when I did my granddaughter's Prom Dress.  Did you know if you have fabric and it is curved or uneven, you can program this machine to stitch around that curve and adjust to keep it exactly even all the way around.  Awesome!!!

This week, I am rearranging my Quilt Studio and then plan on posting a new page on my web page called re-purposed fabric.   This is fabric that I have acquired from Meals on Wheels, along with donated fabric.  There will be different categories such as jelly rolls, fat quarters Charms, Cake Layers and 2-1/2 inch squares.  Also applique which will have the fusible on the back and ready to iron on that outfit you wanted to add to. 

Also, I am still working on donations both cash and fabric for Cheyenne Quilt For Kids.  Lots to learn on how to get cash donations.   I sent a pack of 5 kits to Gillette Wyoming for the FBLA kids to do.  My goal is to get one person in each town to be an organizer for that town and get the younger generation to sewing.  What better way for them to give to that community and we keep the younger ones learning to sew and create outfits for themselves as well as for others.  I try my best to make my Christmas gifts for the family and friends.   Yes sometimes, it is an item that you cannot make, so I do try to get what is on their list.

Well enough of my rambling.   I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year.

I will leave you with this saying I found on line.

Sewing is magic, creative and fun,
its meant to be shared with a special someone.
Let's fly off to Sewland and stitch something new,
where all the town sews at a quarter or two.
                                       author   Jenny Wilding Cardon.

Can you believe it, March 2017 has arrived.  I have been busy working on 1952 quilts for a customer as well as in between working on my new Babylock Destiny II.  Maggie at Maggie's SewNVac in Fort Collins made me a terrific deal that I could not refuse.  I love her store and her employees.  Everyone there is so helpful.  They treat you like family.  There is no high pressure sales, just a warm welcome when you walk into her store.

Yes, I am still working at IBMC as an adjunct instructor.  This is what funds my quilting business and I love teaching computer classes.  Do you know of someone who wants a career change or a student who would like to receive their diploma in 24 months, an externship and then a job?   Send them to IBMC to check us out.  Also check out our massage therapy and our cosmetology.   Their prices are reasonable and who couldn't use a haircut and a massage. :)

I have been working on my website as well.  www.longarmofthewestcustomquilting.com.   Setting up two more tabs, one is E-commerce, so now customers can purchase online products and quilts that are for sale.  I have added another tab which is called recycled fabric.  All the fabric has been washed and pressed and ready for sell.  I volunteer at Meals-On-Wheels and volunteered to take some of the fabric and wash it and press it and sell it online to generate a little more income for them.  When you order that recycled fabric that you have been looking for, note that 10% goes back to Meals-On-Wheel on this tab only.

I have been working with some ladies who are making "Quilt For Kids" for Cheyenne. New to sewing and new to quilting.  This is a great way to learn for a new sewer.   If you want to join us, contact me and we can set you up sewing up some of these quilts.  If you have fabric you want to donate to the cause, please do.   We accept 100% cotton for those we make for the hospital and the binding has to be zig-zagged down. (Reason for this is they have IVs and we do not want them getting caught in the blanket.    Flannel, fleece, and any other soft fabric is welcomed and we donate these to other organizations for children.

Last Sunday, I went to The Fig Leaf in Ft Collins to teach the computer side of the ScanNCut2 cutter.  You would be amazed what you can do and send wireless back to the ScanNCut2.   Go check out Laura's s quilt shop as well.  Tell her Marcia Sent you.  Sign up for one of our ScanNCut2 classes too.  Did you know if you love to do crafts, quilt and design, this is the machine for you.   It cuts fabric with a 1/4 seam line if you choose to have it draw it.  You can scan in a template and cut the accurate fabric for that template to make that pieced quilt.   Need a card, well it will do that as well and Pop-up cards to make  with projects listed in there ScanNCut Canvas program which, by the way, is a free program.  Just create an account and then log in.   https://scanncutcanvas.brother.com/en.

Below are some quilts that I have done some longarm quilting on.  Visit my website and like me on facebook.  

Happy Quilting and Sewing.  Until next time...

This is little house on the praririe that I did the Panel with the ScanNCut2 machine and fused it onto the background with OESD FuseNSeal and a blanket stitch.  The customer then completed the quilt blocks which I precut on the ScanNCut2 machine for her to sew together.   

The quilting was done for a Customer who calls this her scrappy flag quilt.  The backing was her design as well.  I think she did  an awesome job of making this quilt.

This quilt is the 1952 quilt.  I chose 108 inch wide backing so there were no seams. I took the bottom row of quilt blocks and replaced the damaged ones in the quilt, all hand-stitched in.  Then washed it in the bath-tub as the reds are noncolor fast with the color catcher and rinsed twice.  It was then pressed and put on the frame to quilt.