Wednesday with the Ashe County Girls!

It was a day of many surprises – and definitely a day to remember!

Yesterday Quiltville Inn opened her doors wide to receive 11 ladies from the nearby Ashe County Quilters.

A sew day full of friendship building, creativity, and connection!

I am still so high on cloud nine that I don’t think I’ll ever come down.

First one car, then another – the unloading of crock pots bearing soups, platters of delicacies, favorite salads, munchies galore!  All to be enjoyed while sewing.

And this time – THIS TIME – I got to participate!  It was wonderful wonderful wonderful.

Some cars here behind my post office space -

Some up at the side of the garage.

SO MUCH SEWING STUFF!

So much GOOD!

Can you hear the hum of the machines?

Cutting Stations & Pressing Stations getting a workout!

(And the design walls are busy too!)

Oh, I am loving it!

Veteran’s quilts going up on the wall!

We simply had a great time and those hours flew by too quickly!

From where I sat -

To partake in this sew-in was just THE BEST.

It’s wonderful to WATCH it all happen – but to be part of it?  Priceless.

I finished up a bunch more string blocks -

I started on the string borders for more place mats.

Freezer paper protected ironing stations working so well!

One of the ladies stated that she felt the paper was a bit too slick.  It was to begin with, but as we worked over the paper pressing our pieces it got better with use.  

I also think I will have some simple pieces of flannel (left over from design wall construction) that can be laid down and used as pressing cloths, and washed as needed.

The main objective is to keep the ironing stations fresh (I can easily change the freezer paper as it soils) and protect the big boards underneath from all the build up of things –

There was a whole concoction right at the get-go of spray bottles of heavy starch, sizing, best press, etc. (Pick your favorite!) Without the paper these boards would have been toast after one day.

We are still in the “learning” phase, and it was extremely helpful to be there and experience just what others will be experiencing when they come to stay for retreat.

Sashings are trimmed, ready for paper removal!

Lunch, anyone?!

Oh my, what a spread!

Table set for 12!

And yes, we are using Carrie’s great aunt’s china with the beautiful magnolia pattern for dessert because:

It’s my birthday next week!!  What a surprise!

Gluten Free chocolate chip cupcakes for those of us who can’t have gluten -

And:

Yummy Bundt cake for those who can eat wheat -

This was truly a surprise!

Good thing I’m known to be full of hot air.  LOL!

Thank you so much ladies!

We’ll definitely have to do this again!

I LOVED having you here!

After everyone had left -

Kitchen cleaned – sewing room vacuumed, trash emptied -

15 minutes of bliss by the comfort of the wood stove.

It was a wonderful taste of just what will be going on here as I welcome group after group to come spend their retreats at Quiltville Inn!

Our next charity sew day happens February 7th with the Quilts of Valor group from the Alleghany Quilter's Guild of nearby Sparta, NC.

Which brings us to our next group drawing!

I have received an email from one of our rally groups that they are unable to make the 2020 dates for November for personal family reasons, so I am adding their weekend dates back into the pool, and keeping their group on the waiting list for 2021.  Of course family has to come first - and I hope they will be able to come stay another time.

Available retreat weekends in 2020:

Mar 5-8
Apr 2 -5
Nov 12-15

Many of these dates include the possibility of adding additional days to your stay should your group wish to extend your time at Quiltville Inn.  And of course I am available to add a workshop to your retreat experience should your group desire!

And the random number generator says:

Group 15 out of 177 groups!

Lori Schmitz & The Stitchin’ Sisters!

Lori, I have sent an email to the address you provided with your group entry.  Please choose from the above available dates and reply to my email ASAP so I can make the other dates available to more groups.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Which brings me to today.  I’d like a nap!  But instead it’s going to be a quiet day at the QPO, getting caught up on stuff that came in while my nephew Scott was here, along with my friend Jill – and yesterday’s fabulous day quilting with the Ashe County girls.

Tomorrow??  Well, you know what happens tomorrow so I don’t have to tell you!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

This can be a hard one. Some things are worth sticking with because you know in your heart it's what you need to do, but other situations that steal your happiness?

Life is too short for that. Let It Go.

Have a Terrific Thursday, everyone!