I am having a hard time getting the newsletter out - In the meantime keep checking the blog and here is a copy of what did go out but it seems only one person received it.  It looks like I am getting blocked as spam.  I hope to have that fixed next month when the email count recycles.

Hello everyone!  It has been a while since I have sent out a newsletter and I have a lot to cover.

First just let me tell you I am doing fine.  It has been a year that is for sure, but I am so very blessed with family and friends (you are all my friends, and I cannot thank you enough for all your patience and understanding)

Many of you will already know most of this information but it is rather fluid from day to day and week to week,

Sadly, we started out our year with the loss of my Wonderful Mom who passed rather suddenly March 29^th.   The next few months were spent coping with her loss and all that entails.

Just as we were all finding our new normal, I had a heart attack July 18^th. Very long story but ladies it is so important to listen to our bodies.  I never presented as a heart attack however I was very blessed to have EMT and Er Doctors will to listen to me and after 3 days of tested I received 3 stents in my right artery that was 99% blocked.   It was not until I got home and started reading my test results that I saw the troponin level reading a very high level and then was confirmed with me by my Dr during the follow up a few days later that in fact I did have a heart attack.  Fortunately, no damage to my heart but life changing non the less.

The worst part is the side effects of all the drugs, blood thinners and high doses of cholesterol meds.  I was on a Diabetic medication for the first 2 months (Dr and I have to talk about this one) of which I took myself off and am testing my sugar levels on a regular basis.  I did tell my Dr this, It was to the point I was not eating and that cannot be healthy.

I now walk several times a week 4-5 and am eating healthy with the Mediterranean diet. (even my grandkids like the food) 

Now with all the walking and cooking I have even found time and energy to build back up to quilting.  I am happy to tell you that I am back to the 45-60 day turn around.  As of this email I am fully caught up working on all quilts received in Sept to be completed in Oct and feel pretty good about getting everything done in a timely manner. 

If you have Christmas quilts that are needed for this year, just let me know and I can put them ahead of others that are not needed up to a point,

Keep an eye on my blog for changes that might happen as I get stronger (its on my website) Sometimes it is easier to post there real quick than to send out a long newsletter.

A new order form has been posted on the website that you should take a look at and print out.  Some of the changes are the turnaround time, Binding (  I no longer offer hand binding – it is just too hard on my hands )  I still do the front only and machine binding.

I am doing an at the door drop off and pick up only – due to the uptick of covid its better safe than sorry.

I will be posting some new patterns soon so keep an eye out for that.

Thanks again for all your prayers during my time of need.

Rebecca

Things are looking better and better every day.  I feel confident that I can do a 45-60 day turn around.  I still get days that I don't feel great and have to take more breaks than the old me - mostly side effects from all the new meds but the Cardiac Rehab and my Cardiac Dr assures me I am fine.   I am walking several times and week, eating healthy and taking meds as prescribed.   I don't like the meds part but that just gives me an incentive to do them so I can get off them sooner.

I am still having some issues with my hands but I am able to do the machine bindings and the Front only bindings,  I have even started back to work on a quilt I started for my grandson back in Jan.  Life is looking up.

We still have a little bit of time for Holiday quilts if you need.

Newletter will be coming soon but for now I can update you easier on the blog.

Thanks so much for all your support

Rebecca 

A Lot has happened in this year,  My mom passed away March 29th and just as we were getting through that I had a heart attack 

 In mid July.  I am recovering and working just a good bit slower.  I take breaks when I need to, I get my walks in and cook a healthy meal.   Anyway after both of these things happening back to back, and to be honest the heart attack took me down for almost a solid month so I am so glad to be back in my studio, my happyplace,  I have gone to a 60-90 day turn around time.  Right now I am doing good and staying ahead of things but these things have taught me that I must build in more of a cushion and more relaxing time for me.

My Mother also did all my binding for me,  I have been able to handle the machine bindings but I no longer offer hand binding with the exception on sewing on the front side only.  I know many of my customers are not able to do there own binding so I just ask if you are able to do the binding please do and if you can not I am willing to do Maching.

Thank you so much for all your understanding 

I am getting stronger every day

Rebecca 

I am back to quilting full time with both machines running.   I am accepting new customers for shipping and local.    You can call or email for an appointment or to let me know you are dropping a quilt in the mail.  If you call, you will get me voice mail right away until I add you to my contacts,  (Sorry with all the spam calls this is a must to maintain sanity)  Just leave me a message and I will call you back just as soon as I can.

Please read my tips etc.  found on the quilting_prices page, in the upper left hand corner you will find the order form and several tips on preparing you quilt and backing.  

Thanks so much and I look forward to meeting new people as well and seeing some familiar faces.

Happy Quilting

Rebecca 

I will be accepting new customers for a short period of time from July 1 to Sept 1, 2022 - Please review the website, look at the patterns and check out the quilting prices page for all prices, order form, and instructions on preparing your quilts, backing fabric etc.  Call or email for an appointment for dropping off at the door.  If shipping, drop me an email and let me know you are shipping.   
Thanks and I look forward to quilting for you.

Please make sure you pay close attention to the instructions on preparing your quilt and the backing fabric.  Not all long arm quilters do the same thing and I am very very fussy about the backing fabric.  ( I want us both to have the best experience possible)  
 

No minky, fleece or other stretchy fabrics for the back.  Quilt top must not have any 3 dimensional items,  Applique is fine however all edges should be securely stitched down.  No open seam such as pockets on T-shirt Quilts etc...  All seams should be pressed flat, Bulky seams can harm the machine.

I have updated my instructions on seaming your backing fabric and I hope you find this helpful.  I know many of us just love to use up as much left-over fabric as we can and as good as this looks it is a nightmare for long arm quilters.   After this last time of my machine breaking down and being down for 2 weeks, I just cannot risk these backs any longer and ask that you keep it down to simple seams as described in the "How to seam your backing fabric" pdf found under the tab Quilting prices in the upper left-hand corner.  

Types of fabrics that I do not accept are Minky, Fleece or other fabrics that stretch a lot.  Flannel works great for that nice soft feel.   Cotton is always the best.  Sheets can be used if you remove all the stitching and make sure the piece is still large enough.

Seams on your quilt top should be pressed nice and flat as well.  Personally, I use a steam iron and press them down (not iron - Press) by hitting them with a burst of steam.  This allows the hopping foot to glide over them.  Some block patterns that have multiple seams meeting in one spot should have instructions in the pattern on how to deal with those that work wonderful.  

I cannot quilt 3 dimensional quilts i.e..  bunny ears that are not protrude up from the quilt top, buttons etc.  folded border (flange inserts) etc.  Because I only do edge to edge quilting, I cannot handle these and if the machine happens to want to stitch (more often than not) It can break the machine.  Sadly, we have to do all the maintenance ourselves and I have learned a lot over the years about repairs.  

Both hand and machine Embroidery do very well as long as the stitches are nice and tight, and we choose a nice open pattern and thread color that does not take away from the embroidery.  Applique also does very well as long and all the edges are stitched down close or on the edge.  If the stitching is not secure at the edge, then the hopping foot will fold it over and create a tuck.  These quilts also work best with a nice open pattern and thread color that blends well.

I hope all this information helps us both to have a more pleasant experience and great end result in the finished product. 

Thank you 

Rebecca 

Meet Jackie The Wonder Cat.  Jackie came to us on Mothers Day,  She was rescued by a neighbor and after many efforts to locate her family that failed Jackie moved in with us.  She is just about a year old and is just a perfect Pet for Mother and I.   She behaves very well, not scratching up furniture and stays away from the quilts on the machines.  I am getting a door put on my studio to keep her out at night when I am asleep however so far there is not evidence that she does anything she shouldn't do while I sleep.   She does like to come in a say hello from time to time but mostly she spends her days upstairs with Mom and is great company for her.

I can no longer say I am pet free but please be assured I do not allow her on any quilts and all the quilts are kept secure out of her way in the breathable bags tht you get them back in so I am confident you will not have Cat Hair from me.

All my life I have owned cats and for the past 20 years I have not had an animal.  I missed having a pet and we are just in Love with Jackie The Wonder Cat!

This website is maintained for existing customer to use in selecting patterns etc...  

After 20 years of long arm quilting and now with Covid it seems many many people are returning to quilting and/or taking it up for the first time and as much as I have always loved working with new quilter's I simply can not keep up the pace in addition to my current work load and at this stage in my life I would rather work less and have more time to enjoy my own sewing.  For this reason I will only consider new customers should you be recommended by someone who is a customer, even then I will have to consider what my work load is already.

You are considered a current customer if you have sent or brought quilts to me in the past 6-7 years.   On rare occasions I do hear from someone that the last quilt I did for you was longer than that and I do your information in my data base  archives and would consider quilting again for you.

As for myself I have really been enjoying taking weekends and holidays off and having a normal quilting time every day.  I have been spending it doing some quilting of my own and right now I am working on charity quilts just using up some of my fabric stash.  Some great books I found for this is from FabriCafe by Donna Roberson.  Each booklet has very simple easy small quilts (can be made larger) that only use 3 yards.  Hopefully by the time we can get back into the stores and quilt shows I will be looking for some gorgeous new fabric.

Thank you and enjoy your quilting 

I look forward to continuing to quilt for my customers.

Rebecca 

I hope all is well with you and your family in this new phase of life we are all going through.    Stay home and Stay Safe is the new moto.

My Husband and I and my Mother are all staying home unless it is something vital.  We are well stocked up and doing well.  I have been getting to some business items that I have put off for sometime now.  I just finished creating new catalogs.  I was able to split off some larger catalogs and make them 2 that I hope will be easier to use.  I have also added some new ones and have retired some.  Enjoy looking through the changes.  

I am still working on quilting and so far it has been working out well to do drop off and pick ups at the front door for all my local customers.  How this will work is you will place your quilt etc  in a bag  with the order form. (You can download the order form //i.b5z.net/i/u/1428381/f/Order_form_2020.pdf)   We will still make an appointment time so I know your coming, when you get her just ring the bell and I will come out and get your quilt making sure we keep our 6 feet distance.   If you are not sure how you want your quilt done then I can choose for you as I do for many of my customers or we can do that part over the phone. 

I will email you a copy of your invoice so you know what the charges will be when it is finished.  When the quilt is ready to return we will do the same thing.  We will talk about payment methods over the phone. 

For all my Customers who ship to me every thing is the same as you have been doing.  return shipping times could start seeing some delays as noted from UPS etc...  So far things have been running very well.

We can also aways wait until life gets back to some kind of normal and that is fine as well.  Enjoy the process of making all those quilts.  It is good to keep busy as well as to slow down and just enjoy the process.  Take the time to do something you always wanted to try but did not really have the time to dig into the process.    I have been playing with my 12 needle happy embroidery machine,  just stitching designs out that I have had for years and never really had the time to do them.  I am learning more about my machine and loving it.  I may start trying to work on embroidery digitizing if this goes on much longer.

We don't really know how log this stay at home will be needed but one thing we do know is that it is working to a point and we are finding new benifits from just getting back to basics.  Learning how to connect with people again.  I have spent more time on the telephone with my long time girlfriends than we have in years.  It has been great to have those long long talks again.   

Our planet is also reeping the benifits.  With the world in a massive shut down the planet is recovering some - showing us it can be done.

I know many people are busy making mask for our health care workers,  My Mom and I have made some and hope to make more.  We have kept some for ourselves to use when we go to the grocery store.  This week we have seen others with mask on as well.  Facebook has a ton of links to some easy ones to sew.  You can't find Elestic anymore but you can make a bias strip to use in its place that works very well.

I have faith that this will get better but in the meantime please be safe and take care of you...... and yours.....  

I will try to post here more often just to keep in touch.

Thanks for everything 

Rebecca 

I will be open to accepting new customers for edge to edge quilting.  Life has reached a calm level and I am ready to get to quilting.

Thank you everyone for your understanding during the past 3 months while we adjusted to a new normal.

Rebecca