Almost finished!!

I spent four hours yesterday finishing up my HMQS Adornit Challenge quilt. 

I am loving it!

I wasn't sure about the random background fill that I quilted in the squares while I still had it rolled up.  

In fact, I was feeling a little panicky about it.  Also the simple double diamonds.  I was worried about how it would all work together, but I think it turned out looking really nice.  And I love it!

I can't wait to get the binding on, which is my scheduled project for tomorrow morning, as soon as I can get my kids off to school!

So, my good news from my last post that I promised....

I'm getting a longarm!  I'm so so excited!  I've been wanting to start a quilting business for a long time, and we've finally decided that it's the right time for me to do that.  I can't wait.  It should be here next week. 

More on all of that soon!

Linking:

WIP Wednesday

Let's Bee Social

On the Longarm

I'm pretty rusty at this blogging thing!  I realized yesterday that since I've started my blog I should really start putting something on here.  I guess we'll see if I have anything worthwhile to talk about!

A few months ago, I decided that this year I am definitely making sure that I make it down to HMQS in Salt Lake City in May.  It's three hours away from where I live, but I've never had a chance to go to any quilting shows, so this year I'm doing it.

And just to be sure, I decided to get myself a little insurance to be sure that would happen!  I decided to sign up for the Adornit Quilting Challenge at HMQS.  They sent me six different fabrics, (pictured here) plus batting, and I get to make a quilt!  I have to use each of the six fabrics, and I can add up to four additional fabrics to the quilt.  After it's finished, I send it in, and all the quilts will be displayed at the show.

If I have a quilt at the show, we'll definitely be sure to make it down there!

I'm so excited, but a little nervous.  I've never entered any of my quilts into a contest before, and quite frankly, all I'm hoping for is that my quilt doesn't get laughed out of the building!

I'm in the process of quilting it right now.  My dear neighbor, Diana, generously allows me to use her longarm from time to time.

HMQS Adornit Challenge Quilt

Here is a closeup of some of the quilting.  Sorry about the bad pictures from my phone!  I'll have to remember tomorrow to bring my camera and take some better ones.

My experience on a longarm isn't very extensive, so usually my vision of what I want the quilt to look like is far beyond the range of my skills.  So, I have to keep the quilting simple so it doesn't look like a kindergartener quilted it!  It still may though.

 I'm hoping to be finished by tomorrow with the quilting, and then on to the binding!

I love a binding rolled up tight!  It looks like a little happy swirl of joy!  

I'll be back in a couple of days with my finish, and some super exciting news!

Linking up:

First Things First

Hello there!  Welcome to my blog, bella 9 quilting studio.  I'm glad you stopped by!

If you're coming over from my old blog, brasier house, I'm so glad you found me!

I'm Diane.  I have six kids, ranging in age from 20 to 5.  I live in southeastern Idaho with my husband Doug and five of my kids.  Our oldest daughter has been off to college for a couple of years and then just got married last summer, so she doesn't live at home anymore.

I quit blogging on my old blog almost two years ago.  It was a time in my life that I was juggling a lot of things in my life, and something had to go away.  Unfortunately, my blog had to be the first thing to go.  I didn't even sew much, ouch!

Anyway, I'm starting fresh.  I'm also starting out on a new adventure!  I've always wanted to start a longarm quilting business, and I feel like the time is right for me to do that.  My baby is almost five and will be in Kindergarten next year, so I'll have the time to work while he's at school.

This is my oldest daughter, Rachel, with my baby, Ryker.  I think this is the sweetest picture.  Ever.  It makes me get teary!

I hope you'll come back often to read my ramblings about my new business, quilting, sewing, life, family, and possibly even some cooking posts!  After all, I am a mom first. :)

Thanks for stopping by!