A Blue Ridge Mountain 4th -

Is there anything more welcoming to a quilter than an old barn with a quilt block on it?

It’s as if even the barns and old buildings recognize who we are, and what we love – Not just in the now, but standing as a testament to quilters past, present AND future.

There is peace in the patchwork.  There is love in every stitch.

Lisa and I passed this barn on our round about motor tour of the area, having just left Quiltville Inn where we were helping with the assembly of many work space tables – attaching mirrors to antique dressers (A definite two-person job.) and the un-boxing of dining room chairs so their assembly can begin.

As each room receives a piece of furniture – pieces of a puzzle of how this is really going to work fall into place.

The two dressers I brought from Tess’s in Raleigh have each found their places in bedrooms.  A half-round hall table has found a temporary spot along a downstairs hallway wall.

And the work tables!  Just wait till you see!

The beginnings of set up!

Tables are approx. 4 ft. long and are from IKEA.

Chairs yet to come of course, and loads of moving around to do, but we are getting there.

Floor plugs will be placed under each station, and a shared power strip placed on top so quilters don’t have to get down on the floor to plug in.  This will also eliminate trip hazards with no wires being stepped over as folks move around.

Chairs and other things yet to come.

Porch rail display of a lovely gifted top!

I received this top in the mail this week, a signature quilt from the 1980s that simply needs quilting and binding.  It will be lovely here at the Inn, and I have such a fondness for these fabrics I remember coming through my early life as a quilter.  Lovely album blocks – how fitting!

Lisa’s first cabin UFO finish!

She used all of her treasured Halloween scraps with Tula Pink's City Sampler blocks for the spooky win!  I just love this. So much fun to look at all of the details in her fun blocks.

I’m still plugging along adding sashings to my Diamond Tile blocks.  We headed out around 4pm down to Boomer, NC for steaks on the grill and an evening of relaxing and unwinding at the home of our dear friends Rick & Mona.

Jason and Mona being silly!

North Carolina Sunset by tiki torch!

As darkness fell, we caught the edges of fireworks that were going off in the distance all around us, but they were mostly obscured by the trees.  That’s North Carolina for you!  TREES!  And I love them.

The dogs however, did not like the booming and as soon as it started, into the house they went.  We sat and talked for quite a while out on the patio, just enjoying the cooler night area, and the flicker of fire flies around the yard.  Magical.

This morning Lisa and I are hitting the machines running – No interruption of an assembly trip to Quiltville Inn today – we plan to make good progress on projects at hand.

It’s a quick holiday – It’s likely I’ll head home tomorrow to get back to putting Quilter’s Date Keepers and Quilty Pencil Sets in the mail.  And yes, there are more on their way – likely to arrive when I return from Michigan in a couple weeks.

Family that I’m missing!!

Yesterday was also a family reunion at the home of my sister in Utah.  Again, thank you so much for all of the prayers and well wishes for my brother Mark.  He is hanging in there.  Chemo is tough, and pressure from the tumor has made him a bit unsteady on his feet, so walking with a cane is now necessary.

This photo was waiting for me on my phone this morning from their family fun yesterday.  I wish I could be there.  I just couldn’t fit in another cross country flight with all that is going on.  I hope to make it out to Arizona to see him in the fall.

On the sofa from Left to right – My mom’s sisters Gail and Joy, Mark and my mom.

Quiltville Quote of the Day

Quilt shared by Kevin the Quilter!

This morning I'm grateful for a happy and safe 4th of July spent in the company of family and good friends.

Today I sew!