A Bit of This, a Bit of That -

First things first – and last things last!

And all those things in between!

I finally finished the binding, label and hanging sleeve on my Diamond Tile Quilt. 

And I love it!

I had a ball choosing fabrics for this one, using up charm squares for centers, and digging into my Scrap User’s System for the other sizes of strips needed in a rainbow of colors, each block becoming a project in itself – complete with its own personality shining through.

On my rainy back deck this morning.

It’s still bigger than twin size – about FULL I think.  What can I say?  I just do not make long and skinny quilts, and will add another row in width if I feel like the quilt needs it.

This also happened on my way up here!

IKEA was a total bust – but not really.  They were out of the bookcases I wanted for the Quiltville Inn library, but there were other things I was looking for and I stocked away some ideas for rugs and lamps and other items, my list on my phone growing longer with each thought that pops into my head.

I decided to call the whole thing a fact finding mission – something that can’t be done simply by flipping through a paper catalog or searching online.  There were chairs to give the sit-test, and kitchen items to look at – and let’s face it, some things you just have to TOUCH and hold to decide. 

That’s partly why I really don’t buy fabric, clothing or shoes online either.  I need to see things in 3-D.

Leaving IKEA behind, I headed over towards Davidson – my friend Wendy had several items designated for the Inn, but between visiting her grand kids in Wisconsin, and my flitting here and flitting there – we were never in the same place at the same time to make this happen.

In this van you see 4 chairs, 2 footstools, 3 lamps and a vintage tea cart!

But the best part of the day was getting to hug this girl!

In fact, she and our friend Melinda will be up on Tuesday with MORE STUFF and I’ll have some fun showing them around the place.

3 comfy chairs in the den -

4th in another corner.

And while showing this, I admit – I don’t know if this is where they are going to permanently reside!  Some may find their way into bedrooms or other common areas.  

But the objective is to have 7 or 8 comfy mismatched sewing chairs in the den, in somewhat of a circle fashion around the room for hand stitching, conversation and CONNECTIVITY with the other quilters on retreat.  The wood stove is also in this room, and I plan on a floor light at each chair so each stitcher has individual lighting.

I do want SOME to be the torchiere type lamps that also have a “personal” down lamp for hand stitching – that also add light to the corners of the room (There will be a ceiling fan with light fixture in the center of the room.)

This one is from IKEA and has LED bulbs so they are not hot, but fairly bright.

I’m thinking 4 of these for the corners of the room, and then the other chairs could have regular floor task lights so that they can direct the light on to their projects.

I really need to get the rest of the furniture in place before I decide which lights are needed, which is why I took notes, but didn't buy any at this time.

It was a bit of an adventure getting to the cabin that night – The gate wouldn’t open, it was hanging at a weird angle, and even removing the pin to open it manually didn’t work as it wouldn’t budge for me.

What’s a girl to do with a van load of groceries that need refrigeration with no desire to haul everything up on foot in the dark?  Head over to Quiltville Inn!

String Piecing in the Quilting Quarters -

On Katie’s gifted 301!  Thanks, Katie!

I put all that needed refrigerating in the back foyer fridge, and fixed myself a fine meal of rotisserie chicken and kale/cranberry salad mix (Love those bag salad mixes!) and ate my dinner in the dining room.

Dinner consumed and dishes washed – I set up in the Quilting Quarters to string piece some blocks while listening to an audio book – I had about 2 hours until the Hubster would arrive and fix the gate so I could get up to the cabin.

I sewed, surrounded by things I’d bought and planned combined with things gifted and so lovingly given that together are taking this big old empty house and turning it into a retreat HOME just waiting to be filled with people and projects, memories in the making. 

I do feel so blessed.

I also learned that the metal table legs need felt pads under each leg to absorb machine vibration.  The shelf liner under the metal base of the machine also helped. (In photo above.) These don’t vibrate or bounce nearly as bad as the hollow core plastic tables do – but there is SOME.  

Of course, I sew like a banshee on the run and that has a lot to do with it.

Design walls on the walls will also absorb the sound.  I was sewing in a large open space with nothing soft on the walls.  The room is so large, I nearly get an echo in there with only my speaking voice. 

Insulation board covered with flannel will keep the noise down.

All in an evening’s stitching!

It’s also officially ragweed season up here in Southwest Virginia – I woke this morning with my eyes goopy, my lashes nearly crystallized shut. Right in time with the Autumn Equinox.  Great!

Nasonex and antihistamine eye drops are my friend today.

Did you see that we set loose our September Quilty Box Gift-Away yesterday??  Two chances to win on yesterday’s post.  Be sure you enter!

Quiltville Quote of the day.

Vintage Drunkard’s Path quilt from the American Museum in Bath, UK.

Before responding, remember your response responsibility!

You are in charge of how you respond to any given situation.

Have a lovely Sunday, folks.