To-Do Tuesday And A Surprise!

Welcome to the scene of some wild rearrangements this past week!

It's that time again - To-Do Tuesday, when Chris at ChrisKnits generously offers her time and space for us to post our accomplishments for the past week and goals for next week.

This has been a busy, exciting week for me. We stopped at a local quilt shop last week to see if they carried 12-wt thread (they did not). Their Handi-Quilter long arm machines were set up around their space ready to try. My husband went to look at them while the store clerk showed me the thread they had in stock. When she and I walked over to where he was, he started asking her all kinds of questions about the HQ machines and the specials they were offering. Long story short, a new Simply Sixteen will occupy the blank wall you see in the photo above! I might have to relocate my design wall, but it might work as is.

Simply Sixteen with Little Foot Frame

The Simply Sixteen came with the 5-foot "Little Foot" frame for smaller spaces, and the special included a light bar to go above the quilting area and free shipping. Plus, the quilt store offered a generous store credit! After the HQ shipment arrives at our house in a week or so, the store owner and her daughter will come to set it up and train me. I have been living in a dream this past week! It really is a dream come true. I blogged about this very machine here (scroll to the bottom of the post), after I had tried it in another shop in December 2019.

Needless to say there was a lot of rearranging going on in the sewing room. The biggest transition was to relocate the fabric cabinet to the opposite wall. Believe it or not, it was surprisingly easy for us to move across the wood floor, with fabric intact. 

This is the view from the design wall

The above photo is looking from the back wall where the Simply Sixteen will sit. We removed my old cutting table and made my ironing table into a combination cutting/ironing space. It won't be quite as convenient, but I think it will work just fine. Now there is space for my new toy!

Jack has approved the RBD quilt as his new napping space

Was anything accomplished sewing-wise last week? Let's take a look and see:

✔1. Finish quilting RBD Challenge quilt. SOME PROGRESS - I did get a few stitches done on the sashing before Jack took over my space (above). I was debating big stitch quilting for the individual blocks (that's what sent me to the quilt shop!) but now I think it will become the first candidate for the new Simply Sixteen!

2. Sew blocks for DashAlong - NO PROGRESS

3. Finish pieces for Exploding Heart quilt and do layout on design wall - NO PROGRESS

Last week's unmet goals will move forward to this week, which will be another busy one with a quick trip to Oklahoma plus a babysitting gig for The Littles (grands):

1. Finish quilting the sashing on the RBD Challenge quilt

2. Sew blocks for DashAlong

3. Finish pieces for Exploding Heart quilt and do layout on design wall

Be sure to go visit here to see creative works in progress and pretty finishes from other bloggers!