Road Trippin’ for the Inn!

Isn’t this just the most lush gorgeous green?

This is the laneway that leads from the cabin to the road, a rolling hilly hair-pin of nearly 1/4 miles through the woods.

Every time I come up here it is different.  It is beautiful in all seasons, and as each season changes to the next I sigh and tell myself “THIS is my favorite season.”  I love them all.

But in the spring and summer when the leaves are full out – it’s magical.

I can’t see mountains in the distance anymore – but that’s okay.  They will come back with the fall.

What I get now is the sound of murmuring streams and babbling brooks tumbling down the mountainside as they make their way to meet the creek that runs along the side of the road.

Nature’s best “water feature”  and I don’t have to plumb for it!

Where was I heading?  About 2 hours away to meet up with Kim for lunch out with she and her granddaughter (who is also a quilter at 15!) and then to Kim’s house to pack up some wonderful gifts that are coming to live at Quiltville Inn.

Maple bed frames, made in Indiana by the Godsey Cabinet Company -

I believe the info stated the company was started in the 1920s – and these beds are from somewhere around 1950. Sorry the photo is a bit dark, it was nearing 7pm and the back lighting from the windows made it hard to get a photo.

I now have 3 bedsteads in the first bedroom – they will be ready for mattresses when it is time to order them.

There is so much space in this room!

I envision a nice area rug on the floor, a couple of chairs in the far corner (not seen in this photo) and some end tables – a very small one for the bed on the right.

I’ve tried furniture placement in all different arrangements, and someone was always left close to a door.  There will be a padded door stop to keep the door from banging into the bed.

And this!

This envelope was addressed to Mrs. EP Jones and postmarked December 11th, 1961 in Auburn, California.

On this date, my mom was 6 weeks away from giving birth to me!  Stamos for a first class letter were 3 cents.

In this envelope were a key, and 3 bobbins (two wound with thread, so we know that there was some sewing going on in these colors!) with hand writing stating “Sewing Machine Bobbins” in red ink from a practiced delicate hand .  This envelope was found in one of these drawers:

Along with the beds, I have brought this machine home to stay!

Singer VS 2 -

I am still nearly shaking with excitement over these gifts for the Inn.  Look at those decals!

Kim told me the story at lunch on how the machine was discovered while someone (Can’t remember who) was salvaging a property.  It was in a huge wooded crate packed with straw in a garage. It hadn’t been sewn on for decades.

The last connection to time and place was the envelope with the thread-wound bobbins and the dated and time stamped post mark.

The machine came to live with Kim’s mother for a few decades and for the last long while it has lived in Kim’s front foyer.  Knowing that no one in her family had an interest in this machine, she has gifted it to the inn to be loved by all who come and visit.

I’m looking forward to having the machine set up and running so that anyone who wants to give treadling a try can put their feet on her pedal and take her for a spin!

Back side.

Check out the shape of that rear access panel!  They just do NOT make them like this any more.

Dogwood decals.

Some wear, but in great shape for an old girl!

No letter prefix!  It’s an early bird!

According to the Singer Dating Chart for no letter prefix she was made in 1892.  Considering that the first phase of the Old fields Mansion was built in 1884, she was made when the house was only 8 years old.

This kind of history just gives me chills.  She has come home indeed.

Her grand spot in the “turret” off of the dining room.

Curio cabinet fits perfectly here as well!

There are glass shelves and a mirrored back as this is not an antique – but it is a beautiful piece and I may have the mirrored back removed, and replaced with a stained wood backboard and wood shelves instead of the clear glass shelves that came with it for a more vintage feel.  It’s half-hexagon shaped and it fits perfectly here!

Along with the curio are a collection of vintage toy sewing machines belonging to Kim’s mom – and her wrought iron set of irons too.  They will be great as door stops and other accent ideas through the inn.

Kim, I can’t thank you enough for your generosity and your friendship!

I picked this up for one of the upstairs baths!

I picked these up for the back entrance – They are going to look GREAT there!

And I even squeezed in a bit of sewing time.

My sewing time has been deeply minimized over the past month – and with good reason.  I’m dying to get back to it – but I’m also dying to do so many other things in regards to the inn, that I’m doing what I can to squeeze it in here and there.

I was finally able to get borders on a secret project thanks to my friend Kevin and his massive Kaffe stash – I was ONE 5’’ x Width of Fabric strip short of being able to get this border on.  I knew who to call when I ran short,and he came to my rescue.  Thanks, bud!  Let me know if I can ever return the favor some day!

Son Jason arrived last night after midnight – I was fast asleep, but it was so nice to greet him this morning and to make him breakfast.

We plan on heading out to Grayson Highlands State Park today (hopefully beating the rain!) to take Sadie on a hike.  I want to show him the wild ponies and a bit of the scenery along the Appalachian Trail.

Just spend some mother/son time – and again, the sewing can wait.  Book editing will also resume tomorrow as he leaves in the morning.

I’ve got one day with my son – work is on hold for now.

And I can’t wait to show him the Inn as well!

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

I’m trying to be patient about so many things --

And when there are too many things that need my attention, I’m just picking “The next thing” and focusing on that while all other things are held in time out until they can fall into place as well.

Have a wonderful Thursday, folks – however you spend your day!