The Naked Long Arm

Well Good morning! I woke up with the sun shining in my face and my puppy standing on my chest licking my face. Wonderful way to wake up don't you think? Ha- maybe I could have done with a few less licks and dog breath---but I love her anyway. It was her way of saying- come on Mama, time to get up and go look at your improved and extended longarm frame! Fine by me- I love my longarm!  I am so use to walking into the sewing studio and seeing a quilt on the frame and or just the leader cloths on it. Nope-not today. Last night I had Steve and Colleen over. They are awesome. They helped John and I put the 2 foot extension on the frame. The directions looked simple enough, and I was told when I bought it that it would be easy to do. Well.......over 3 hours later and 4 stressed out adults-mission accomplished. We had to take the sewing head and roller off the track. The bars came off next and then the bar side holders came off. We had to flip the whole frame upside down and start unscrewing everything. Much to my dismay--the earlier directions said to use a 5mm Allen key---it wasn't into much further did we see we also needed a 3 and a 4. What I had at the house did not fit, so Colleen drove home to search their tool box. Thank Creator she found one. Back to unscrewing we went. The men did most of the work, Colleen and I did help--but we were doing a lot of support and running for things. Ahhhh those beautiful new lights of mine--what a blessing they were even last night putting this together. Finally--all unscrewed and we started the fun part of putting the new parts in and then closing it all back up ( a very surgical nurse expression- sorry, couldn't help myself- haha). When it came time to flip it back upright and put the sewing head and roller back on the new track- I was amazed and excited. Wow---I know that it was only a 2 foot extension, but it looks so huge to me. Maybe it is also because I do not have the leader cloths on it. That will be my job today. I bought new ones---I needed too, the other ones are now to small. These new ones have that bright white lovely new look that will make me smile even more. Oh---I just can't wait to sew them up and put them on and then load up a quilt. I can now do quilt tops that are up to 120 inches wide! That is a whole lot of quilt. Sooooooo....... I think that today will be fun in the studio. With the new longer frame, I need to switch things around a bit so that I can fit around the frame and other stuff. All good, all wonderful, feeling blessed again.

My beautiful 12 foot long naked Longarm!

Longarm shopping at Creekside Quilting- new goodies

I did not think that this day would get here. But--It did! I have been in contact with Creekside Quilting in Arcade NY for a couple of months in regards to my longarm. In case you did not know this- I love this Quilt shop. They are so friendly and so helpful, no matter if I come in or call them on the phone. Rain or shine---they are wonderful to deal with. Well.....I have had my longarm for sometime now. When I bought it, it came delivered with a 10 foot frame. Most people would say-"Wow! That is so big!"  To be truthful, it is. What I have realized is that many quilters are making really BIG quilts. This I have come to find out soon after I bought my lovely Crown Jewell. With that being said- I have been thinking long and hard about getting an extension for my frame and make it 12 feet long. I think that would help out a great deal, because then I will be able to do a quilt top that is up to 120 inches wide. That would meet the needs of many customers. I was excited the day I called the shop and said to Cheryl---"This is the day- please order my extension and new leader cloths!" Friendly as always----she responded "Sure!" As the days went by waiting to hear if it arrived yet--I thought about it often. I thought about attaching it and loading up a big quilt with ease. The best way to wait for something is to keep busy-so I did. Then-I come home the other day to a message on my phone: " Nadine, this is Creekside, It's here!" Oh joy- oh joy. I could not wait to jump in the car and drive up. I grabbed a friend of mine who is a fellow quilter and away we went. The day was warm and sunny. But with me being inpatient, the universe was having fun with me. We were stuck behind s-l-o-w drivers, large semi's going up hill, and of course, I can't get this vision out of my head...... a truck filled with Port a Potties. Finally the hour drive ended and we reached our destination. With a hop in my step I entered the building and was instantly at ease. There in front of me were my packages. At that time, Sandy (the owner) and Cheryl (trusty longarm advisor) came around the corner and greeted me. Oh so nice of them. I couldn't wait to load it up in the car-but-of course, to me I feel like I am in a candy store. I did what any other all American quilter would do- I shopped. Love it! The whole way home I was on cloud nine. As it is- I currently have a customer quilt on the frame, so attaching the extension will have to wait until I am finished.Thank you Creekside for all of your help-you have made me a happy woman. Now, I need to get busy on that quilt top.

The sign that always catches my eye

Ahhhh- Creekside Quilting- I have arrived!

There you are my pretty- I have been waiting for you to come.