Introducing Claire
I’m excited it has finally warmed up and it looks like it will stay that way! I struggle with the back and forth weather, as I’m sure a lot of us do.
The last couple of months have been SO busy! As you know, we moved the last week of March. My longarm studio is about 95% finished. I need more on the walls and need to get all my notions and rulers organized still. Oh…and my husband needs to build my new design wall. (I like mine permanently attached to the wall) However, he has a lot of other honey do’s so that will have to wait a little bit.
Let’s talk about my studio….the most important item in my studio is Claire. She’s my longarm! She is a 26” Gammill Statler and I was lucky enough to have her painted purple! I was a little stressed about moving her, but Gammill made it so easy! My technician (Austin) is absolutely the best! Extremely knowledgeable and efficient. He had her up and running in no time. He took her apart at the old house one afternoon and put her together in the new house the next day.
Another “tool” I have in the studio that has made my life immensely easier is by ironing station. My husband built it for me. It is 20” wide and 8’ long. The top comes off so I can change the cover when it needs replacing.
I always iron the back and top of the quilts you send me before I load them. Even if a top is prepared well, it will have creases from being folded and I want it as flat as possible before I quilt it.
A Recommendation for you:
Another tool that I use often is my rotary cutter. I trim all quilts before I send them back to you! I have a large table so I feel like it’s easier for me to do this for you. A lot of people don’t have the space to make that an easy job. So… blades can be expensive.
A good friend of mine, Amanda, with @quiltcakes recommended that I try these generic blades. They are awesome! I feel like I can change my blade whenever I need to and the cost doesn’t stress me. Every once in a while, I will get one with a nick in it, but at about $2 a blade – no big deal! I can get a whole pack for cheaper than one brand-name blade. I also like that they come in a 10 pack. There is nothing worse than needing a new blade and you have to make a unscheduled trip to purchase a new one. I like having extras on hand. I use the 60mm size, but they come in the 45mm as well. Try them out! For under $20, it’s a steal! I hope you will love them as much as I do!
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I was able to talk to Lake Oconee Quilt Guild a few weeks ago about batting. They are such a great group!
What kind of batting do you prefer? I actually use different batting depending on what I’m using the quilt for.
If you’d like a hands-on lecture about batting, I’d love to talk about scheduling that! I think batting is something we don’t talk about enough. Let your guild program manager know I’m available!
Just look at the wonderful show and tell that their guild has!