Peddlecar Quilts

Yes, I'm retired...well, sort of!! After selling my old longarm machine that just got to be too much for me I discovered how much I missed longarm quilting. They say to never give up on yourself and it's so true. I just turned 72 this month and years ago I thought I'd be dead at 50!!! LOL. Not so fast I told myself and after going to Cal Expo with my friends to a quilt show I found a machine that is so easy to use and 10 x lighter weight for me to handle and I fell in love. No, my husband is still here--I fell for the new machine!! My husband, by the way was super supportive about this idea that I still have it in me to do the things I love. So a few months later my new Handi-quilter Simply Sixteen machine arrived and I couldn't be happier. It is 2" smaller in throat space, and the table is 2 ft shorter, but I can still do a king, and I have at least 40 tops that still need quilting. So it really made sense and here it sits in my sewing room! I absolutely love the new features I didn't have before and since I have RA (Rheumatoid arthritis) it doesn't hurt my shoulders and hands. I just finished my practice quilt to get a better feel of the machine and it really is so easy to use and I love it.

Went to the Pine Tree guild's quilt show this last weekend and saw some beautiful work and quilts. My first trip to a show since we moved to No Calif! Here are some of my favorites.

ALSO, some exciting news....as you know I sold my longarm last Fall. I thought I was done, but it was an older and heavier machine. I missed the quilting, not so much the machine--until I tried out a Handiquilter that is a little smaller and MUCH lighter in weight which will really help with my RA shoulders (hands, and most of my joints). I will send pics when it shows up in a couple of weeks! I am so excited, to say the least!!! I can still do a king size too, which is good because I have some personal king tops to get done.

I am pretty much retired now, but still loving making quilts. Just finished this really enjoyable quilt from Fig Tree Quiits sew along. It was really fun to make.

I sold my longarm machine, as you can tell by my last post. It was hard to see it go, but it was time. Now I was left with a huge empty space which I needed too, so I have moved on to a new quilting/sewing/craft room. Funny how you find your interests developing into more fun things to do as time goes by. So here's a few pics of the new space and some of my latest projects!

SOLD!!!!!!
Longarm
quilting Machine, Nolting 18" throat with 12ft steel table. “I am selling a Nolting 18” throat with a 12 ft steel table. It is a true work horse and works well. It has an IntelliStitch stitch length regulator and a lazer light for pantographs and several speeds. I have retired and it is time for me to sell the machine. I have enjoyed this machine a great deal. I am asking $3,500.00 which is a great price, as I paid $2,000 for the table alone. Included are – IntelliStitch stitch length regulator, bobbin winder, and pantograph patterns. I also have several accessories included. This is a great free motion machine. Purchaser is responsible for take down, pickup, transportation, re-assembly and all associated costs.”

I used to make these a lot, and I still use my own! Recently made a new one for a dear friend's birthday. Wow, forgot how involved the pattern was, but it was fun getting it done in her favorite "coffee" fabrics! The pattern is called "Carpet Bag" by My Favorite Things.

Ok, so I consider myself retired now, even if I do a few jobs here and there. But overall, I'm enjoying retired life, having time to do my own quilts (I have so many UFO's it unbelievable). So I love to work on my house, my yard, PLAY PICKLEBALL (very important) and keep a quilt on my longarm at all times. That way I get a quilt quilted a little each week until it is done, which feels very good. I will always love quilting, and though my Rheumatoid Arthritis hands don't allow me to do it ALL--like handwork, for instance, I am still running that sewing machine and the long arm. :) I am a happy camper living in northern Calif closer to most of the kids and grandkids and making new friends.

Here's a quilt I designed myself before I started designing for companies, so it was VERY old! I was surprised when I pulled it out of the box and saw that I had used Kaffe Fassett fabrics and mixed them with other prints. Years of designing for a line of fabrics meant I didn't mix them with other prints or fabrics from other companies. It's one of my favorites now, even though it's not really anything special. But these are colors I will always love. :)

Here are a few more pics.