Longarm Anniversary

The day after the 4th of July...that's how I tend to think of it, not July 5th.  That's the date my longarm was delivered and set up one year ago! Wow, what a learning curve...from "yikes, how are you supposed to control this thing?!? To quilting this Dream Big panel. I'm so thankful to all who believed I could do it, especially dear Barbara, the local Quilts for Kids chapter head, who allowed me to "practice" on the group's quilt tops.  I completed 135 quilts in that first year.
Here are some shots of the Hoffmann panel called "Dream Big!" I think the title is quite appropriate too! 😉

Birthday Brunch and Quilt Top Challenge

Today I got the last completed quilt back from Charleen, who helped with the bindings on a few of the Birthday Challenge quilts. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, for my birthday last month I invited my quilter friends to a brunch at my house to celebrate my birthday....and the "price of admission" was a quilt top I could then quilt on my longarm and donate to Quilts for Kids. And these lovely ladies really came through!!

Some brought me more than one top, some brought backing and binding fabric, and all the tops were really beautiful!  We had fun with a few games and prizes, then the following week I went to work on the quilting (my favorite part!) So here is a rundown of all the quilts.  First up, from my sister-in-law, Kim, who doesn't even live around here but mailed me these. You're the best, Kim!!

Next is Jane's. I just love these soft, sweet colors!

Bernadette has probably been quilting the longest of anyone I know. Even with recent hip replacement surgery she managed to make these cuties! 

This is Charleen's. She won the prize for using the most different fabrics!  The background fabric had tiny dots, and with that striped bias binding, some child is going to love this!

Here are Anna's.  She likes modern designs and bright colors! It was fun to come up with quilting designs for these! 

This one I made, because, you know, I couldn't let these gals have all the fun! 

Thanks again to all who attended and especially to those who brought quilts! I plan to do this again next year, Lord willing, but in the meantime, if you want to make a top for Quilts for Kids and let me quilt it and donate it, feel free to send or bring it to me anytime. 😊