Do you ever think about doing something, but just never get around to doing it?  Well, that is what I have been doing for a while....thinking about blogging.  So, today, I decided, it is about time I start this blog.  

This week went by so fast.  On Monday, I learned to time my longarm.  (Every longarm quilter needs to do this eventually.)   I was so fortunate to have the help of the 24/7 technical support for Innova longarm machines.  That was one reason I chose the ABM International Innova machine - because of the 364 day a year, 24 / 7 support which is just a phone call away.  I first watched the video showing how to do it and then the tech support person, Michael, took me through the timing process step by step.  Cameras on cell phones and texting pictures was very helpful as Michael explained each movement to make and identified from my picture whether it was just right or needed a little more tweeking.  When completed, the process was successful.   Thank you Michael and Innova!

The next day, I attempted to bind a quilt while waiting for a friend to have some tests done in the hospital.  I'm still working on that binding.  It is a slow process for me.   This is the quilt I was binding, before I quilted it.....will post finished picture later.

Another day, I had a couple of friends come over to my studio and I entertained them with what I do and how I do it.  I don't really think I was teaching, but I was just telling them how and what I do when I start a quilt on the longarm and showed them a few tools, books, and shared a lot about the various classes I have had and teachers I have learned from.  It was lots of fun.  Sharing always makes me feel good and I hope that I might have said something that was helpful to my friends.  I learned some things from them too and I will put those things into practice immediately.  

Then, the next day, I went over to help a friend with her longarm experience.  I hoped to share my technique of checking and setting the tension, something that you have to constantly be aware of.  We started off pretty good and due to some issues with the stitch regulator, we ended up stitching in manual mode.  This actually went very well.  I have a great attitude about things like this:  Just Do It.  (Wait, is that someone else's saying?).  Hope they don't mind me using it too.  My friend finished quilting the quilt that had been on her machine for almost six months and it turned out great.  We loaded another quilt which was a charity quilt for our guild, Houston Modern Quilt Guild.  We changed threads, tested the tension and it was great.  Still stitching in manual mode, she had almost stitched across the quilt once and I felt of the back stitches.  Uh oh, it did not feel so good.  So, we picked out stitches, but I had to leave before it was all picked out.  I felt bad about that, but she did finish picking it out that evening and got started all over again and I think the tension was good after that.  I had tested a small section on the right before leaving and it appeared to be ok.    

So, here's Friday, and the week is almost over.  I decided I need to start blogging.  I will wrap this first blog up and get back to the fun stuff:  quilting.  

What will you be doing that is fun today?