Overwhelmed in Every Good Way.

It was evening by the time I left Quiltville Inn.

My happy find?  The little oil lamp turned electric you see sitting on top of the old dresser in bedroom #1.  It’s got the wrong bulb for what I want in it – I envision something with a flame-like flicker, but at least I know the wiring works!

I spent the morning at the Inn arranging tables, shuffling stuff to and fro, and tackling the dreaded disgusting job of vacuuming up the flies that had found a sunny spot near a window to die.  It’s the grossest thing.  But when you aren’t there on a daily basis in the country, you will return to find dead flies on the floor.

I talked to Martha about what to do about them when she came by to pick me up and drive me to West Jefferson where we were meeting Toni for lunch at a cute little Cuban restaurant in the row of shops on the strip behind the main street.

Has anyone tried these?

There are no harmful chemicals, no smell – they stick to the window (behind the curtain) and the flies are stuck and then peeled off and disposed of.  I’m going to give them a try.  Each room.  Sunny windows especially.  Start with new ones at the beginning of each retreat, replace them for the next retreat.  I HATE FLIES!  And with life in the country, you are going to have more than most.

There are so many things that I had never considered when it comes to operating a retreat. I am learning as I go.  I know there will be many pitfalls, trials and errors.  But we will get it, with everyone’s patience.

Table rearrangement #1

In trying to give the most room around the outside for people to maneuver, and being told (By helpful others!) that folks want to be “part of a group and included” I tried putting all 6 tables in each side of the room in a “pod” so that quilters could do what quilters do best – VISIT while they stitch.

This side of the room has the bay window, so there is more room on this side than the other.

The tables are 5 ft.  While I would love to do 6 ft tables, it makes the room a bit too tight with 6 people in each half of the big room – someone would be sitting on the fireplace hearth. 5 ft should be sufficient for anyone to sew!  If it isn’t – this might not be the retreat that person needs to attend.  Maybe something with a gym would be better?

Then I flipped it around.

(Ugly chandelier is going to GO!)

If I put the top part of the T at the inside end instead of at the window – two people don’t have to crawl behind the others and work their way to have their backs against the window.  Everyone can see out. Ironing boards could easily go where you see plugs just below the chair rail on either side.

6 people in T formation is very conversational leaving no one out in the cold.

The purple things are trash bags and cup holder things.

They connect to the table to keep beverages safe meaning no trash cans on the floor to avoid knocking over. I thought they would be a great idea, but maybe they stick out too far.  If they don’t work, I may gift them as a door prize and retreaters can use them at home. LOL. 

So.  This gives you a better idea of where the fireplaces are in relationship to the table situation.  The front where the T of tables is has more floor space because of the bay window, but I can’t do that here.  I can either do a quad of 4 tables, and a separate set of 2 tables – or do them all in a donut like this:

6 quilters in the square-round!

Only one person with their back to the fireplace.

One person with their back to the window.

2 people each side.

What you see as a shelf in the mid left of the photo is the fireplace mantel. I want folks as far away from the fireplace as possible – we want to enjoy the fireplaces, not sit inside them.

If we go with this, there will be one more table in the “CENTER” to plug the hole so nothing falls through.  I am just trying table footprint here.  Nothing is set in stone. No one will have to crawl on the floor to retrieve anything.

In fact, if I like that arrangement, maybe I will do that on the front side as well, it does give more floor space and keeps folks face to face.

Thanks to all of yesterday’s Facebook comments (Many of which I simply deleted) – I am putting it out here that there will be no plugs in the ceiling for machines.  One tug on a ceiling cord and it could go flying and really hurt someone coming down from overhead. I plan on floor plugs UNDER the group of tables so there will be no tripping hazard.  There will be power strips on top of the tables so no one has to crawl under to plug anything in.

Believe me, we have given this so very much thought on what will work best.  Remember, it’s not a commercial building, it is a historic HOME and we are trying to preserve as much of the original feel as we can. 

We are replacing overhead lights with beautiful bright LED so everyone will be able to see what they are working on into the wee small hours should they wish to sew that long.

The wonderful old pocket doors can be closed to minimize noise for those who wish to retire upstairs to bed early.

I plan on design walls on every available wall above the chair rail.  There may even be a couple of “floater” design walls – full sheets of covered insulation board that can be moved around the room where folks need them.  It’s going to take BOLTS of flannel to do all of this – it will be one of the last things done before we open as we still have to paint. 

Anything you see hanging on the wall is only there because there was already an available nail to get things off of tables – but things will be moved around.

The blinds are on the tables, but they will be rehung.  They are easy up/down and are there for your privacy as the front of the house opens to the street.

When buying tables, I specifically avoided folding tables with plastic hollow-core tops that vibrate and bounce when people are machine sewing. These tables are sturdy and solid. The legs do not fold.

Folks with Sew-Ezi tables:  These rooms may not be big enough for everyone to bring their own additional sewing table.  Historic house. Limited space. 

If you bring an extra table, the main tables do not have folding legs to easily move them and store them somewhere else. 

If you bring a separate Sew-Ezi table, you are making less space for everyone else.  

Sew-Ezi tables are great for a commercial retreat space, like a gym, church camp, state park type facility – but likely not here. Thank you for understanding.

I only bring this up because of things that were spouted out when I posted some optional table arrangements yesterday.  It has to be about what is beneficial to the group as a whole within the available space.  What works best with a group sitting situation.  It can’t be about all the stuff, paraphernalia and additional furniture that any one individual MUST bring with them on a 3-day retreat.

I understand the need to perhaps bring your own comfy sewing chair - and I plan on having small tables in between folks as shared ironing or cutting space - it will take up the space I have available.

Rolling sewing task chairs have been ordered.  They are rated up to 250 lbs.  If someone needs a chair that supports more weight, I am suggesting that perhaps they consider bringing their own sufficient for their needs.

And I think that brings me current with where I am this morning!

Sunrise over the ridges from the front porch.

It’s a gorgeous day out there.  I’ll be heading back to the Inn in just a few minutes – some more furniture arranging to do – And I really NEED to break out a paint brush.  But I’ll be back here sewing in a few hours as there are some deadlines to make some progress on.  But I can’t let this beautiful April day be spent completely inside.

We spent some time this morning picking out tile for the walk-in shower work coming up quickly for the 3 bathroom remodels at the Inn.  Who could guess that even tile and faucet choosing could create such a confusion??

One Day at a Time – enjoy yours!

Quiltville Quote of the Day.

Someone else's opinion doesn't define your reality.

They don't have all the facts.

They are not you.

Go on and chase your dreams and make your decisions based on what’s good for you.

You are the one who knows why you chose what you did.

Keep your eye on that goal!