Quilting Heidi

Hi Everyone.
 
It's been awhile since I've popped in here to share anything, but I've been working on my studio to update it with better lighting and a ceiling and cleaner look. There were many times I searched the forum on ideas for lighting. My situation is that I'm in a basement with no windows and low ceilings. Thank you for all your help.
 
Loaded with ideas about fluorescent tube lighting, Deloa's lighting system, track lighting, pot lights, etc., I finally decided on pot lights that could be set in between the rafters, thus allowing the drop ceiling to remain as high as possible. We put lots of pot lights in - 29 to be exact. There are 4 BR30's in the main part of the room and 4 above the table providing good all over light. Then there is a row of 4 GU10's on either side of the table pointing towards the table. The row of pot lights above the table and the 2 rows of GU10's on either side are on their own sets of dimmer switches (3 dimmer switches - one for each row) allowing me to control where the light is coming from depending on which side of the table I'm working at and what type of quilting I'm doing.
 
I'm working on my first quilt with the new set up today!
 
You can see the pictures of the progress of my studio from 2005 to current here.

Check to see if Dave Jones will be in your area and have him come and go over your system!  He is fantastic at getting these machines to stitch perfectly and roll smoothly!  

Great background fills.  I think I would have been at a loss as to how to quilt this one.  You did a great job.

Quilt them...then love and enjoy them.  The only reason quilts used to be hand-quilted was because no one owned a long-arm! 

Meg I do this for my piecing thread and it does make a difference in my humble opinion!  My stitches look nicer and I have NEVER had any issues with oil spots.  Mineral Oil is not an oil like say baby oil.  It is the same thing thread lube is made of and it is much cheaper than buying that little bottle at Joanns.  You don't have to soak the thread either you can just put some beads down the spool or cone and add as you use it.  Remember anytime you have a problem with stitches on the longarm you can use the mineral oil too.  I don't usually need to but sometimes with things like metallics it can make all the difference.  I use this on my Viking and I have to say it has never sounded so good or stitched so nicely!  You don't have to soak it so that the thread is saturating the machine either.  Funny that I've heard even Bernina is recommending this on one of their newer models, can't remember which one but it solved the complaints about broken thread.

Yayyyyy! It worked! I can post pictures!!!