Surgery on the left hand went well on Friday.   The Swelling is finally coming down today (Day 4)  I think yesterday was the worst.  Tomorrow I can take the bandage off and use a simple Waterproof small bandaid and can use the had a little more.  Today is my first real attempt to come into the studio and do just a few simple task and since typing is one of the things I can do I thought this was a good time to update everyone.

Jan 16th I go to get stitches out and at that point I can use the hand as much as I want to - The fingers are a bit stiff so I am sure it will take a bit to get back up to full speed- I am looking foward to it.  I have spent most of the past 4 days watching movies and series and as nice as that sounds I am bored.  I am used to being on the move all the time.

Expecting a winter storm in late this afternoon - Please God keep the power on.....

All for now

Rebecca 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

2023 has flown past me, so many changes this year – From my Grandson moving in the us last Dec.  My Mothers Passing in March to my heart attack in July.  I am so very blessed and grateful to be here every day. 

I enjoy my life and my quilting is not only my passion but, in many ways, a lifeline for me. I cherish meeting new people and seeing all the beauty that comes into my home every day.  The hardest part of what I do is not to fall in love with every quilt I see.  The past month has been a challenge in that area, and I confess I did buy several quilt kits on Etsy – Several Kaffe Fassette and a few Jane Austin.  Some new fabrics for my newest Grandson we expect in March 24.   

I am still trying to use up much of my old fabric as well.  After donating a lot of mom’s fabric’s and combining hers with mine – Oh my so much fabric.  3 full bins of FQ’s and so far, I have made 6 Turning Twenty quilts and 4 smaller quilts to go Charity.   And yet I have been Bitten by the quilting Bug to work with newer things so I cannot wait to get to work on that.

My Grandson (20 years old) Just did all the quilting on the quilt I made for him.  I was able to teach him to use the machine and he did everything from start to finish – He did a fantastic job.  When he is finished doing the binding, I will post a photo on the Website.  His goal now is to piece a quilt from choosing the pattern, fabrics, sewing , quilting and binding.    Both of my grandkids have been a tremendous help to me over the past several months – Neither one has a great deal of time and yet they make time when I need them to. 

2024 plans:  I have consulting with the Ortho Dr’s and after a few ex-rays and test it is official I have Carpal Tunnel in both hands of Moderate degree.  Since I have already tried all the conservative approaches of drugs and braces, I will be having surgery.  The left hand (the worst) will be done Jan 5^th.  There is a 2-week time frame that I will have to be more careful in what I am doing.  Then I am encouraged to just use my hand as normal.   2 months later in March I am set to have the right hand done and repeat the process.    I have spoken to many quilters who have had this done and feel confident that it is a fairly easy process.  Both patients and the Dr have told me that the tingling goes away right away in most cases.  Keep good thoughts for me – I am so ready to have this behind me to get on with my life and build a new normal.

Please feel free to keep the quilts with no real time frames that you need them done by coming!  I can use the work both to stay busy and to work my hands but more in my time frame so If I need a break, I can sit and rest without worry of deadlines.    

I will post on my blog on the website my progress to keep you updated.

I thank you in advance for all your support and I look forward to a wonderful 2024!

Rebecca

A Cold Winding Day here in NC to start off November with. It has finally warmed up to 44 degrees.

I hope this newsletter reaches all of you, the last several attempts failed but my webhost has the answer. You will notice this email is coming from Rebecca@thequiltersstation.com this is my email with the website and it seems when I use my own gmail account the web is flagging me as spam and filtering them so most of you never even get it.  For housekeeping purposes, you might want to add this email as well as my gmail to your contacts. rebecca@thequiltersstation.com (yes 2 s’s) and rverrierwatt@gmail.com  the gmail is the best way to communicate with me or text messages at 704-737-5596.

I am not sure how many people know I have a blog on my website – I will be posting updates there more often so please check it out. I will also post the newsletter in case you miss it. I feel the blog will be a much easier way to quickly communicate anything new.

Now that is out of the way. I am feeling much better, getting used to the drugs they have me on – I should be able to come off some in 6 months or so and some I hope that with my diet and exercise we can at the least reduce the dose. Most importantly I am feeling much better and have really been able to work on quilting and keeping up with them. I am running right at 5 weeks turn around – I will be starting a 45 day turn around. Still time for Christmas. I am also accepting new customers again, I had to stop that temporally.

I am fully vaccinated again so I will be letting customers in again to get out of the cold. Just do not let me stand and talk for long as it really wears me out sometimes and we want to get your quilts done.

I will post some new patterns this week, I just cannot help myself. Always new and exciting patterns to find.

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving season and I hope to hear from you all very soon. Do me a favor and respond to the email so I know you are getting them again.

Best as always

Rebecca

I am having a hard time getting the newsletter out - In the meantime keep checking the blog and here is a copy of what did go out but it seems only one person received it.  It looks like I am getting blocked as spam.  I hope to have that fixed next month when the email count recycles.

Hello everyone!  It has been a while since I have sent out a newsletter and I have a lot to cover.

First just let me tell you I am doing fine.  It has been a year that is for sure, but I am so very blessed with family and friends (you are all my friends, and I cannot thank you enough for all your patience and understanding)

Many of you will already know most of this information but it is rather fluid from day to day and week to week,

Sadly, we started out our year with the loss of my Wonderful Mom who passed rather suddenly March 29^th.   The next few months were spent coping with her loss and all that entails.

Just as we were all finding our new normal, I had a heart attack July 18^th. Very long story but ladies it is so important to listen to our bodies.  I never presented as a heart attack however I was very blessed to have EMT and Er Doctors will to listen to me and after 3 days of tested I received 3 stents in my right artery that was 99% blocked.   It was not until I got home and started reading my test results that I saw the troponin level reading a very high level and then was confirmed with me by my Dr during the follow up a few days later that in fact I did have a heart attack.  Fortunately, no damage to my heart but life changing non the less.

The worst part is the side effects of all the drugs, blood thinners and high doses of cholesterol meds.  I was on a Diabetic medication for the first 2 months (Dr and I have to talk about this one) of which I took myself off and am testing my sugar levels on a regular basis.  I did tell my Dr this, It was to the point I was not eating and that cannot be healthy.

I now walk several times a week 4-5 and am eating healthy with the Mediterranean diet. (even my grandkids like the food) 

Now with all the walking and cooking I have even found time and energy to build back up to quilting.  I am happy to tell you that I am back to the 45-60 day turn around.  As of this email I am fully caught up working on all quilts received in Sept to be completed in Oct and feel pretty good about getting everything done in a timely manner. 

If you have Christmas quilts that are needed for this year, just let me know and I can put them ahead of others that are not needed up to a point,

Keep an eye on my blog for changes that might happen as I get stronger (its on my website) Sometimes it is easier to post there real quick than to send out a long newsletter.

A new order form has been posted on the website that you should take a look at and print out.  Some of the changes are the turnaround time, Binding (  I no longer offer hand binding – it is just too hard on my hands )  I still do the front only and machine binding.

I am doing an at the door drop off and pick up only – due to the uptick of covid its better safe than sorry.

I will be posting some new patterns soon so keep an eye out for that.

Thanks again for all your prayers during my time of need.

Rebecca

Things are looking better and better every day.  I feel confident that I can do a 45-60 day turn around.  I still get days that I don't feel great and have to take more breaks than the old me - mostly side effects from all the new meds but the Cardiac Rehab and my Cardiac Dr assures me I am fine.   I am walking several times and week, eating healthy and taking meds as prescribed.   I don't like the meds part but that just gives me an incentive to do them so I can get off them sooner.

I am still having some issues with my hands but I am able to do the machine bindings and the Front only bindings,  I have even started back to work on a quilt I started for my grandson back in Jan.  Life is looking up.

We still have a little bit of time for Holiday quilts if you need.

Newletter will be coming soon but for now I can update you easier on the blog.

Thanks so much for all your support

Rebecca 

A Lot has happened in this year,  My mom passed away March 29th and just as we were getting through that I had a heart attack 

 In mid July.  I am recovering and working just a good bit slower.  I take breaks when I need to, I get my walks in and cook a healthy meal.   Anyway after both of these things happening back to back, and to be honest the heart attack took me down for almost a solid month so I am so glad to be back in my studio, my happyplace,  I have gone to a 60-90 day turn around time.  Right now I am doing good and staying ahead of things but these things have taught me that I must build in more of a cushion and more relaxing time for me.

My Mother also did all my binding for me,  I have been able to handle the machine bindings but I no longer offer hand binding with the exception on sewing on the front side only.  I know many of my customers are not able to do there own binding so I just ask if you are able to do the binding please do and if you can not I am willing to do Maching.

Thank you so much for all your understanding 

I am getting stronger every day

Rebecca 

I am back to quilting full time with both machines running.   I am accepting new customers for shipping and local.    You can call or email for an appointment or to let me know you are dropping a quilt in the mail.  If you call, you will get me voice mail right away until I add you to my contacts,  (Sorry with all the spam calls this is a must to maintain sanity)  Just leave me a message and I will call you back just as soon as I can.

Please read my tips etc.  found on the quilting_prices page, in the upper left hand corner you will find the order form and several tips on preparing you quilt and backing.  

Thanks so much and I look forward to meeting new people as well and seeing some familiar faces.

Happy Quilting

Rebecca 

I will be accepting new customers for a short period of time from July 1 to Sept 1, 2022 - Please review the website, look at the patterns and check out the quilting prices page for all prices, order form, and instructions on preparing your quilts, backing fabric etc.  Call or email for an appointment for dropping off at the door.  If shipping, drop me an email and let me know you are shipping.   
Thanks and I look forward to quilting for you.

Please make sure you pay close attention to the instructions on preparing your quilt and the backing fabric.  Not all long arm quilters do the same thing and I am very very fussy about the backing fabric.  ( I want us both to have the best experience possible)  
 

No minky, fleece or other stretchy fabrics for the back.  Quilt top must not have any 3 dimensional items,  Applique is fine however all edges should be securely stitched down.  No open seam such as pockets on T-shirt Quilts etc...  All seams should be pressed flat, Bulky seams can harm the machine.

I have updated my instructions on seaming your backing fabric and I hope you find this helpful.  I know many of us just love to use up as much left-over fabric as we can and as good as this looks it is a nightmare for long arm quilters.   After this last time of my machine breaking down and being down for 2 weeks, I just cannot risk these backs any longer and ask that you keep it down to simple seams as described in the "How to seam your backing fabric" pdf found under the tab Quilting prices in the upper left-hand corner.  

Types of fabrics that I do not accept are Minky, Fleece or other fabrics that stretch a lot.  Flannel works great for that nice soft feel.   Cotton is always the best.  Sheets can be used if you remove all the stitching and make sure the piece is still large enough.

Seams on your quilt top should be pressed nice and flat as well.  Personally, I use a steam iron and press them down (not iron - Press) by hitting them with a burst of steam.  This allows the hopping foot to glide over them.  Some block patterns that have multiple seams meeting in one spot should have instructions in the pattern on how to deal with those that work wonderful.  

I cannot quilt 3 dimensional quilts i.e..  bunny ears that are not protrude up from the quilt top, buttons etc.  folded border (flange inserts) etc.  Because I only do edge to edge quilting, I cannot handle these and if the machine happens to want to stitch (more often than not) It can break the machine.  Sadly, we have to do all the maintenance ourselves and I have learned a lot over the years about repairs.  

Both hand and machine Embroidery do very well as long as the stitches are nice and tight, and we choose a nice open pattern and thread color that does not take away from the embroidery.  Applique also does very well as long and all the edges are stitched down close or on the edge.  If the stitching is not secure at the edge, then the hopping foot will fold it over and create a tuck.  These quilts also work best with a nice open pattern and thread color that blends well.

I hope all this information helps us both to have a more pleasant experience and great end result in the finished product. 

Thank you 

Rebecca 

Meet Jackie The Wonder Cat.  Jackie came to us on Mothers Day,  She was rescued by a neighbor and after many efforts to locate her family that failed Jackie moved in with us.  She is just about a year old and is just a perfect Pet for Mother and I.   She behaves very well, not scratching up furniture and stays away from the quilts on the machines.  I am getting a door put on my studio to keep her out at night when I am asleep however so far there is not evidence that she does anything she shouldn't do while I sleep.   She does like to come in a say hello from time to time but mostly she spends her days upstairs with Mom and is great company for her.

I can no longer say I am pet free but please be assured I do not allow her on any quilts and all the quilts are kept secure out of her way in the breathable bags tht you get them back in so I am confident you will not have Cat Hair from me.

All my life I have owned cats and for the past 20 years I have not had an animal.  I missed having a pet and we are just in Love with Jackie The Wonder Cat!