Endless April!

Be careful what you wish for!

That April you were always missing because you are always on the road – may just be the April that keeps you home!

It’s been ALL GOOD, really.  But I shake my head in constant wonder at how things evolve in ways we never saw coming.

Two years ago yesterday I signed the papers on the purchase of what is now known as Quiltville Inn.

We barely got running with our beta test retreat Black Friday weekend, and our first real retreat happening Valentine's Day weekend.

I am uncertain as to what will happen with the rest of 2020 but we are hoping for the best.

I know this one thing.

We will be ready when we are given the go ahead!

This may be a short delay - or maybe a long one. And while we could bemoan it, a better alternative would be to grasp the opportunities and make it even better for when that reopening day comes.

The sky was overcast when I took these photos making the blossoms look a bit dingy and grey.  Today – the sun is shining so I may need to get a redo. Blue sky and sunshine is such a much nicer backdrop.

View from the cabin -

The curtain of green isolation is returning, oh my allergies! Still, Spring is my favorite season – and being here to enjoy it – ALL OF IT – has been a blessing in disguise.

I was planning a long walk with Zoey Jo yesterday that never materialized.  We finished up the mail order, got everything ready to go, opened the back door of the QPO and – it was raining and windy. UGH. Nope.

I love hiking in these mountains as much as the next hiker person – but I admit I am a bit of a fair weather walker who doesn’t enjoy mud.  So maybe today?

Instead – I put on a podcast and stitched while listening:

THREE!

I’m finding a lot of my cut off triangles are good for the first couple of rounds, but then the last two rounds require larger pieces.  Charm squares to the rescue!  Some of these have been sitting around a lot time – so it is good to see pieces being used from multiple corners of my Scrap User’s System.

Strings will also work for the first couple of rounds, but not for those last two as my strings are usually under 2’’ in width.

I know it may seem difficult for some to comprehend – especially those asking what book this pattern is in – but it’s kind of like the “What comes first? The chicken or the egg?!” 

I am just getting started on this project, so how could I have already published it?  And if I had published it, would I be making it again?

My inspiration came many years ago in the form of an antique quilt that I took a photo of and drafted when I got home.  I made some test blocks that ended up in my random sampler quilt.  They were at least 10 years old at that point, so likely pieced late 1990s. 

I DO know that this is a traditional Snail's Trail block and can likely be found through many sources so do some searching – start with Google and end with Pinterest and you might find something that will do for you.  Make it any size you desire.

As I am just getting started – there will be no pattern for the foreseeable future.  Thank you for understanding.  I am excited that you are excited – but there needs to be a completed quilt before there is a completed pattern.

Unless you are participating in our Unity Quilt Along that has me working mere days on the next round before sharing it with the word!

Monday our round 5 went live – Yesterday (Tuesday) I found this posted under our #unityquiltalong tag on Instagram:

Holy Guacamole, Batman!

And there are many more shares going up as the hours go by- check it out!  Leave comments and show the folks doing the sharing some love – they could use your encouragement, and you just might make some new friends in the process.

I spent time all the way until dinner working on Part 6 – and that will continue through the afternoon hours today so that we can be ready for next Monday.

It’s not too late to join in – you’ll find all previous posts including the introduction which gives yardage amounts and finished quilt size under the Unity Quilt Along tab at the top of the blog.

I have figured out (how DUH I was!) that while working in secret behind the scenes only a few days ahead of each reveal means that there isn’t so much to share photo-wise in my daily posts.

I'm not traveling, I'm not hosting retreats, I'm not visiting antique malls so there so so much less to share.

My life has gone into pretty much the same routine on a daily basis as anyone else who is “working from home.” 

Get up, take the dog out, post my quote of the day to the socials, get breakfast, pour a second cup of coffee, come down and edit photos and write this post, take the dog out, get a shower, take the dog out, go to the QPO to get the day’s orders out, get in a walk if I can, sew a bit, take the dog out, make dinner, take the dog out, sew a bit, take the dog out, watch a bit of evening TV, take the dog out and go to bed.

And there are some cute moments like this one.  Click to Play:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Apr 29, 2020 at 5:25am PDT

And today will be much the same!  But while I do it, I’ll be looking out the QPO windows at Quiltville Inn next door and saying “Happy 2nd Gotcha Day!”

Quiltville Quote of the Day

There is a difference between just living and really making a life. (Even while quarantined!)

Sometimes it takes long term planning, and if you don't make a plan it may never happen.

I am considering this still part of our long term planning.  It’s a speed bump – not the end of the road.

It's all about attitude. Have you checked in with yours lately?

Have  a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!