Out, Out Damn Lizards! Finally Finished

Vidalia LA (Not famous for the onions)

You will be pleased to know I am finished quilting the lizards on Dan's Quilt.  I made a concerted effort for the last three days to work on picking out the three rows of bad lizards.  I spent all day today re-quilting the three rows.

Emerald Mound - Natchez Indians

Then all of a sudden I noticed half of another row midway in the quilt that I had started to unpick and only got part of the way.  The reason I didn't notice it right off is because I started undoing it from the underneath.  Now why did I do that?

So I finished undoing about 1/2 of the row on one side and part of a lizard on the other side.  And I made quick work of re-quilting the row for the finish!

Mount Locust Hiking

Unfinishes Longwood Plantation
Looking up to the dome

I inspected the remaining rows.  When I was satisfied that it would be workable, I actually took the damn quilt off the frame!  Yes!

And it felt good!

Cemetary at Mt. Locust Inn dates from 1812

I was going to replace it with my mystery quilt but the back needs to be squared up and I don't have enough space.  I have to wait until I go to The Red Stick to lay it out on the tables unfettered.

Meanwhile I will choose something quick to put on there.  Like maybe the second dino quilt.  Or a cow.  Or maybe the chicken quilt.  Whatever it is, you can bet your sweet bippy that it will be a simple pattern that will be quick to work!  LOL.

glen:  and easier to take out if I have to!  For sure!

Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp

I have finally completed the ripping out of the three rows of lizard quilting that had tension problems underneath.  I did a test pattern on the quilt before deciding that it would be safe to begin quilting again.

The test pattern consisted of straight lines in both directions, straight lines up and down and circles and arcs in both right and left configurations.  Sort of an "everything possible" configuration.  I did this to make sure the settings allowed proper tension in all the moves I could make while quilting.

Then, when I was happy with the tensioning.........I ripped THOSE out!  LOL.

One thing that came from the whole process was the placement of my lamp.  Previously I had put clamp lamps.......too funny "clamp lamp" -- say that 5 times fast.....on the ends of the frame.  That gave me some light so I would not be working in my shadow.

One thing about Frank Parks, he is a problem solver.  Whether you want him to solve the problem or not.  Forget about him LISTENING to you, while you are talking he is working on the solution in his head.  But I digress.........

All you have to do is express irritation about something and Frank will come up with a solution.  Some are not really workable, but he has fulfilled his life's destiny by providing you with that solution and he is happy.  Well, he actually did solve a problem for me.  And it was simple.  He moved one of the Clamp Lamps (clamp lamp clamp lamp clamp lamp--it just is funny) to the cross bar on the front handle of the machine.  Now it shines directly on the area I am working, bright (and HOT - so I need a cool bulb in there) so the whole space is well lit, I am not in my shadow and it is perfect.



Did I say HOT?  That called for another solution.  Two in one day and he was in ecstasy!  He brought a stupid looking primary colored plastic miniature fan and put it on the sideboard.  The fan walked all over the surface of the sideboard and off the edge.  Oh, my, he was ready with yet ANOTHER solution!  Ankle weights!

So now, he is like the happiest man in the universe!  Three solutions, all working, and a happy wife.

Can't beat that with a stick.

glen

Can You See the Lizard?

Amber's quilt is complete except for the binding (which I cannot find anywhere.)  I see a cleaning day coming up really soon.  This will impede my forward progress on my quilting for sure.

underside or back of quilt

Can you see the lizard?

I have Dan's quilt on the frame right now and I have completed three rows, maybe 4 I can't remember.  Yes, 4 rows are complete.  They are so cute too, lizards.  I wanted something manly for him.  His quilt is larger than Amber's but they are exactly the same fabrics and pattern.  So the quilting is different.  Hers is that flower and his is the lizards!  Cool beans.

I had to crawl under the frame twice and check the back.  Both times it was perfectly fine.  But if you had a video camera it might garner you a $10,000 prize, it is not pretty.  I got caught once on a screw, and got stuck for a few minutes until I got loose somehow.  Still not sure how I did that.  Frank was at a Krewe of Mutts Parade Meeting and nowhere I could yell for him.

I am too far away from a TV and my iPad is a tad too low in volume to be enjoyable over the fan and the machine.  The machine likes to go slow......I don't.  If I go too fast, I pop that top thread.  But with a nice steady, slow pace, it is fine.

It is just that I am so bored I am about to die!  I need to get some books on tape and listen to them as I go.  Maybe I won't run over my finger with the needle.

glen