Bill Bailey finally came home!

Well, after a month of waiting my mid arm quilting machine arrived. It is a Bailey 15 and it has a lot of arm to quilt in! I unpacked it and got it set up, pinned on some old fabric (sheets that I salvaged some large areas from) and batting and quilted one section. I forwarded the 'quilt' and called it a night. I am SO very tired. That wore me out.

It has been a good incentive to get stuff done, though. Since I knew I'd want to 'play' with the quilter a lot I did a major grocery store trip and stocked up. I've cooked ahead and planned easy meals. It didn't hurt that our cooktop bit the dust and we had to order a new one. That means casseroles, crockpot meals and salads. So I made Calabasa con Pollo y Arroz, doubled up, so that's two days. I made taco salad today. I also got my laundry caught up. The time is great 'cause Erin is on spring break and is going to a church day camp, Mon - Fri, 8 - 5. I've had my days free to get stuff done. Now... I can quilt tomorrow!!!! At least, quilt until my shoulders and neck give out. I need to set a timer so I don't kill myself and be unable to do anything.

I also worked on some UFO projects... I finished a table runner, a wall hanging for my friend, bordered a quilt I've had all but the border done to be ready to quilt, finished up two machine appliqued butterfly blocks, stitched the 16 together and bordered them. Then I've got 24 of 25 blocks ready to put together, sash, border and quilt. The blocks were partly some orphans I picked up at a guild sale, partly my orphans and then some applique and embroidery that I did and didn't have plans for. So it will be my "Orphan Train" quilt. I have a pieced backing for the orphan quilt that belonged to my husband's grandmother that she never got to use. I feel really good that I've finished up these projects and now I can quilt them. I also have two others that are ready to quilt.

I know I've got to do a lot of practice before I'm going to put these quilts on the frame, but I got quite a few cheater panels and baby panels and some charity baby quilts that I can practice on before I do them.