Come Caturday Morning -

Miss Lola and a bit of Frolic mischief!

Happy Caturday!

Let me just start this morning post by saying just how overwhelmed I am with the response to yesterday’s Frolic Mystery reveal.

I was up extra early yesterday morning – having spent most of my free time the week before getting that release post and the PDF printer version ready.  We had company come a week ago – our nephew Scott arriving on Saturday, my friend Jill driving in on Sunday afternoon.  Scott leaving Monday afternoon, Jill and I playing Monday and Tuesday – running here and there to do the “glamour” shots of the quilt in a rural setting, plus porch photos.

Jill, bless her heart – pitched in on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning to dust and vacuum while we made sure that Quiltville Inn was in tip top shape for the Ashe County Quilters sew-in that happened Wednesday.  I couldn’t have done it without her, and she left before the ladies even arrived.

Thursday was spent with more desk time getting the reveal ready, and yesterday morning I bolted up straight in bed – there were some issues that I wanted to clarify with the post, which meant changing the PDF, and my files were at the QPO.

An extra early morning drive had to happen – still in the dark.

Moon over Quiltville Inn yesterday morning.

There are some things you just can’t see in the full light of day. While I adore sunrises – finding the moon so full and bright over the inn brought a smile to my face, and the determination to fix what needed fixing and get that post live and out there.

Sunshine making a warm spot on my scraps.

Who can blame her?

It wasn’t long before posts like this started showing up!

This is a screen shot from our #quiltvillemystery and #frolicquilt hashtags on Instagram.  Such BEAUTIFUL blocks coming together already.  There will be so many phenomenal finishes over the next several weeks and months – so while it feels a bit anticlimactic to have the reveal out there, no longer a mystery – it is so inspirational to see what folks are doing with their own vision when it comes to their own Frolic creations.

At this point of the game I really steel myself for the fall out.  It happens.  

“I don’t like my colors.”  (Well, it was a mystery, you didn’t know what it was going to be, yet you changed colors unaware of what would be touching what and now you aren’t happy.) 

“What good is a square quilt?” (It is the size that it is – and you are free to make more or fewer blocks to make it whatever size you want it to be.) 

“It took way more pages to print this part than 10.” (That’s because you printed from your browser view and your own screen resolution instead of saving the PDF to your computer, navigating to the file, clicking to open and print it and setting your printer to “fit to page.” Or maybe you printed from a mobile device?) 

I put myself out on a limb knowing full well that there will be people who will not be happy with what they just invested time and fabric into.  It’s a scary place to be in! Try it some day. I worry.

But I am happy to say that other than the few things I have mentioned above, the comments and posts have been exuberant, kind, joyful, happy, delighted, excited and I am so grateful!

As tradition, I present to you the wonderful logos made by Forest Jane for your use!  Print them on fabric for your labels, put them in the side bars of your blog so folks know that you participated (There is also a “grab my button” in the right hand side bar of the blog.  Grab the code and post the HTML into your side bar if you wish!)

The sizes are 200, 300, and 400 pixels square.

Every year Jane also puts various items with our mystery logo available in our Quiltville Zazzle Store.

ALL of the proceeds from sales in the Quiltville Zazzle Store go towards the purchasing of supplies for free sewing/crochet/knitting classes held at the library near where Jane lives.  Machines are supplied.  Kits for items are supplied.  

The area around the library is a bit economically depressed, so she is doing as much as possible to instill a love of hand crafting and creativity with folks who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of owning machines, tools and supplies.

For more on this program, read my previous post HERE.

The Quiltville Zazzle Store link takes you to the main page with ALL of our Quiltville Winter Mysteries arranged by collections, in order by year, with Frolic front and center and first.  So far, we have listed aprons, t-shirts, magnets, buttons, mugs in a couple of sizes, and hoodies.

Jane will continue to design more items and load them into the Frolic collection as they become available.  Sometimes it takes a few hours for a new item to post, so check back!

If anyone wants the logo on something they see in Zazzle, they can post on our Quiltville’s Open Studio group on Facebook, or leave a comment here on the blog and we'll try to make that item available as soon as possible.

It doesn't cost us anything (but time) to put the logo on items, so if you really want shot glasses or tennis shoes with the logo, we'll do it.

A birthday gift from the Beta Testers!

Last week my friend Lisa (Part of the Beta Test group from Black Friday weekend) contacted me and asked if she could stop by while she and her friend Hattie were out on a drive.  Knowing the mystery would be well live and out there – I said YES!

They showed up around noon – and we headed over to the Black Dog Bistro after showing Hattie the Inn & the QPO.  We enjoyed a luscious lunch, so much catching up and conversation.

They left me with this BEAUTIFUL commemorative wall hanging of the first ever Sleep-Over retreat held at Quiltville Inn.  Isn’t it WONDERFUL!

The photo my dad took is in the center, printed on fabric.  Each lady made a Chunky Churn Dash block (From the free patterns tab at the top of the blog) and there is an embroidered block with the dates on the bottom.

It’s hanging in the dining room for all to enjoy!

Thank you, Ladies!  You have certainly touched my heart!

They were on their way by mid afternoon, I locked up shop at the QPO and headed back to the cabin – I just needed a nap in the worst, and best way after that crazy busy week.  It was wonderful!

This morning, bright and chilly – I am back to Quiltville inn to move the painting activity into the next space.  I’ve only got a couple of days left.  Monday I head back to Wallburg to pack for my trip to Arizona.  So excited to be seeing so many of you in Phoenix during my time with 35th Ave Sew & Vac!

There is still lecture/show & share availabilty, and perhaps a few spots left open in my workshops so give them a shout and come spend some time with me.  It’s my birthday week!  The more the merrier!

We have 2 weekends left in the Quiltville Inn Retreat Rally - We will draw for our next batch of retreaters TOMORROW!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

No matter the situation, you win when you plan to act, not react!

Trip around the world quilt Circa 1970s found while antiquing in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. There is Strawberry Shortcake in the center, and some Star Wars type of fabric at the outside edge.

Made by a grandmother for a grandchild maybe?

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone!