When Friends Come Calling!

I met my friend Elizabeth several years ago, and along with our shared love of vintage machines and emails going back and forth sharing finds and treasures, she also joined me on a trip to Italy on one of my Craftours ventures -

One of my favorite memories of that trip being a lazy afternoon lounging on the pool deck (fully clothed, too cool in May for the swimming pool yet!) sipping beverages and working on handwork projects – “This is the LIFE!” we said, and it has stayed in my memories, filed under “Amazing pinch me moments never to forget.”

She came and saw me when I taught outside of Erie, PA – and made new friends from her home state there.

And yesterday, she and her hubby (Lovingly nicknamed Mouse after 33 years of marriage) rolled on up to Quiltville Inn for an invited visit!

I dished out apologies – Things are not perfect in the house, the pilot lights for the gas fireplaces had gone out over night and I was too chicken to try to light them myself – and there are electrical supplies all along one wall in preparation for all of the upgrades to happen in the Quilting Quarters.

Still, I ushered them from room to room, recalling as much of the house’s origins as I could -  and retelling the story of the big house, the mill (remains are barely seen behind us in the photo above) and the little mill town that sprung up around this hub that is no more.

And they brought me a house warming gift so that I may find time and a place to sew with the quilters when they come:

Oh beautiful!

And do you see that cut out?

It fits a featherweight!!

Be still my heart!

And don’t think for a moment I missed that the trim has mitered corners - Perfection in details! 

This is the best use of re-purposed treadle irons I have seen yet!

And it doesn’t stop there:

See the black gizmo under the pedal?

The foot pedal of the featherweight goes under that, and the piece will press the button on the featherweight foot pedal as I use the treadle pedal to make it run – so I get to actually keep my feet ON the treadle pedal to run the featherweight! 

The only set back?  My featherweights are at HOME in Wallburg and I am in Virginia. 

Never fear, I will be bringing The Hubster’s Grandmother’s featherweight (The one I brought back from his Dad’s funeral trip) to come live at Quiltville Inn. 

This table can be used as a side table if needed, or it can hold a machine, and be wheeled to where I need it.

Something you can’t see from the photos – those metal wheels?  Mouse glued strips of leather around each wheel so they can roll on the wood floor safely without marring the floor.  INGENIOUS! 

So for all of my treadle loving, metal wheel hating friends – it’s time to get out the leather scraps and the glue.  Not sure which type of glue, but I’m going to find out because there are other treadles in the house that need wheel covering so they don’t damage floors when moved.

In fact – One more fix-it happened while we were talking machines and I proudly displayed the Singer VS2 that Kim had gifted to the inn – remember the one that was perfect in every way but the bobbin winder was stuck?

Click to play:

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A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Oct 26, 2018 at 10:21am PDT

It works!!!

After all of this, we celebrated with lunch Appalachian style -

Corner Market and Cafe!

This little place is 4 miles from Quiltville Inn and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner – and on some summer evenings there is bluegrass music to be found on the porch.  So retreaters who don’t want to cook for themselves can find a bit of homegrown southern comfort food right here close by.

Thanks for the visit, my friend-

I will catch you on your next trip through the area!

Returning to the cabin after our farewell -

Still raining – but leaves are thinning and things are turning golden green.

Thinking that the next time I come up the leaves will all be gone.

Serenity dwells here.

Did you check out yesterday’s October ‘18 Quilty Box Gift-Away?  Enter to win ON THAT POST – it’s a great one!

Today – I’m hoping to tackle a project that has been baffling me for quite some months.  Nothing I can show yet – but I was down to the setting stages and the ideas just would not come.

I think I’ve finally got it – today, all else aside, I’m diving in!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Vintage quilt found in Salem, VA.

I've had "Stress on the Brain Syndrome" with all that is happening in the next coming months.

Both over things that I can and cannot control. Holiday ramp up included!

Today – all that is on the shelf.  It’s a weekend, and the rest will be dealt with beginning Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!