Making a Glorious Mess!

You know this has been a week of deadlines.

The pressure is still on, but I am making good progress.

Still – this is the whirlwind that happens in my studio when I feel as if I am working on 6 projects at once.

In fact I am – each block for each Addicted to Scraps column needs to be made in 3 color ways to show folks some options, and get their own ideas flowing – and in the mean time my cutting table, my strip drawers (which are not as neat here at the cabin as at home and that needs to change at some point but not today!) and my ironing board are all piled with fabric possibilities -

This is also the fun part.  I love choosing the fabrics that will go together in any block or quilt – often times pairing a new acquisition with some oldies but goodies.

How easy it would be to just grab a fat quarter stack, layer cake, or charm pack of one pre-matched line – but life isn’t like that.  Life doesn’t come all color coordinated for a picture perfect existence.

We add in our own experiences along the way, it’s our individual choices that make us who we are, so very unique -

Just as I don’t want to follow anyone else’s recipe for my quilts, I don’t want to follow anyone’s idea for my life either.

I hope these simple column blocks will light a fire, spark your interest and encourage you to make your OWN choices, so that your quilts are the product of your own individuality.

And I am 1/3 the way with column #5 – and will be tackling the rest of that, and moving on to column #6 today. (I have 6 issues a year - 6 columns to provide blocks for.)

But I may do a bit of cleaning up first!

Yesterday’s road hike!

The curious equines have moved to a farther away pasture, but they still got as close to me as they could, walking their fence line.  I don’t think many folks are found walking this road.  I probably am a strange occurrence to them.

Glimpses of old barns between the trees.

I love the history of old rusted farm equipment.

I envision the farmer/rancher who spent his hard earned money on this new-fangled contraption that was going to make his job of doing – so much easier.  What would they think now about modern tractors and combines and bailing equipment?

We passed many folks out in fields cutting hay and bailing in huge round bales yesterday – the weather has been perfect.  No rain this week.  Seeing those mown fields and the round rolls of hay waiting to be picked up –so peaceful!  

And the smell of fresh mown hay?  Heavenly!

I passed this burbling brook on my way back UP to the cabin – yes, my walk is a slight down hill all the way to my turn around spot, which makes the hike a bit harder back up to the cabin.  I stopped in this shady spot to catch my breath, and a bit of grassy creek.  

Click to play:

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Jun 8, 2018 at 5:36am PDT

The mountain laurels are bursting with pink!

I love the lacy petals!

And this happened last evening!

We had a great 2.5 hour ride  heading east from the cabin to Galax, VA, then south where we caught the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit - back across the NC state line where we grabbed highway 18 to Sparta, NC and then 93 back to 58 where we stopped here at Quiltville Inn for a leg stretch before cruising the last 7 miles home to the cabin.

Great first ride of the summer!

I'll be back at Quiltville Inn this afternoon as the CenturyLink guy is coming to hook up my little post office internet (DSL is the only reasonable option here) and discuss ideas for beaming wifi to the house for retreat use. We'd really love to do this as one account, not two separate ones.

Most cell services will not work here.  With my Verizon I get 1 bar of 1x which works for a text message “sometimes.”  ATT has no service here, and neither does T-Mobile.  We are VERY remote, and I like it that way, but I want enough connectivity for retreaters to be able to phone home using wifi – or at least be able to send/receive a text message.

Remember the definition of RETREAT means to BACK AWAY!  There won’t be enough power to stream videos or spend hours in Facebook, but no one should be doing that anyway –RIGHT?!

Tonight I have plans to attend an event at the Alleghany County Library in in Sparta, NC - How many of you remember the Kingston Trio's version of "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley?"  Well, the legend is from right here in North Carolina.

Remember Kim who gifted the beautiful machine and beds to Quiltville Inn?  

Her hubby is playing in the concert tonight and we are going to meet up with them and enjoy the evening!

I love things like this - and if you are from the area and reading me, come on out!

And with that, I better get this day going here.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage sampler quilt found in Washington.

To those who lift me above the doubters, criticizers, and the nay-sayers, I can't thank you enough! 

Your support kept me from giving up when I have even doubted myself.

Be that kind of friend to someone today.

Have a wonderful Friday, folks!