Quilting and quilting

Last Friday was the annual fall open house for the Lifelong Learning College where adults of all ages can take classes to learn about pretty much anything imaginable - dancing, fencing, green-smoothie making, cooking, clay pot throwing, meditation, yoga, etc. The LLC slogan is: "No Tests. No Grades. No Pressure. Just Fun!"

The five-hour outdoor event was at the Spanish Springs town center, one of three town centers in The Villages. Instructors who participated sat at a table to talk to people about classes they'll be giving from January through June, 2015. With 257 instructors, more than 1,800 classes, and 90,000 catalogs printed for distribution, it's a big event! These people were lined-up, ready to register!

The morning was a mild, and I had a prime location in a sunny spot. The hours flew by as I talked to people interested in quilting, and former students interested in my new class to make a quilt using the Quick Curve Ruler. (To see all quilting classes, click the "Teaching and Presenting" tab above.) 

At home I've been practicing what I teach - Free Motion Quilting. FMQ is all that's been happening, and whoo-ee, I finished quilting the QuiltCon bias tape challenge quilt! That didn't happen without quite a bit of angst! 

The grease spots left by my walking foot sure gave me a few sleepless nights! But thanks to hexagon cover-ups, and a considerate friend, Diane, all traces are gone. Diane sat down next to me at Tuesday night's Quilting Guild of The Villages meeting, put this bottle in my hand, and related her near-miraculous stain removal story.  

When I got home, I dripped the clear liquid on two grease spots. In the morning, I dripped S-32 on the spots again. And then, later in the day... several times, ending with a very light rub. Would you believe that all evidence of grease is gone! This product is made by Gator Chemical Company of Largo, Florida. It's sold at Publix. Who would have guessed?!

Now the quilt needs a good rinse because of the spot cleaner, and blue wash-out marker marks. I'll give it special handling because of it's double-batt - poly and wool. Wool can be somewhat "shreddy," so to rinse this in the machine and keep the wool from fluffing everywhere, I folded the quilt backing to the front and hand-basted the edges.  

When the quilt is rinsed, spun, and dryer-tumbled for a few minutes, I'll lay it on the tile floor to block it. That involves a tape measurer, laser pointer, masking tape, and air drying for a couple days. Then I'll draw a straight edge guide around the quilt perimeter for sewing binding to the quilt.

It would be great to get that far along before our two Kansas City grandsons - Tay and Aesa - arrive this Sunday.

We're more than excited about taking care of them until next Friday, while their mom attends a conference in Orlando. We've rented a four-seater golf cart so we can go everywhere, and do everything, together. So many possible activities!

Earlier this week we received this photo. The family has a framed glass hanging on the wall onto which they write (it's erasable) "the darnedest things" their kids say. This one made us laugh out loud. We're wondering if Aesa will have the same mealtime expectations while he's at our house!

This picture was also sent to us this week. In Texas, our ten month-old grandson, showed his mom, "I can sleep anywhere." Too adorable. I just want to buss his cheek. 

Linda