Rain, Rain and More Rain!

Tulip block piles are growing!

I think I am somewhere near 80 by now.

More than half way, not quite 3/4 – and so I will continue!

Yesterday was a day to run to the dentist – all fine on that front. And while I was out I picked up some necessary groceries and made a stop at Dollar Tree for some organizing supplies.  Something has to be done to sort the scraps into sizes that I am using for the current Snail’s Trail project.  I’m tired of piles. SO MANY PILES!

It was one of those downpour days – that just kept coming as if someone had left the shower head running – just enough.

I headed back to the QPO to get the mail order processing, and on top of the dismal weather, I was unable to print labels due to whatever was going on with PayPal.  It wouldn’t pull up an order by name, email, purchase id number – just NOT.  So since mail couldn’t be processed, I headed home.

In the rain.  SO MUCH RAIN!  Really, you should see what the creeks and streams are doing over here – rushing rushing rushing.  Flood warnings all over.

Here we are at May 21st and it feels like March.  Temps in the 40s? For Memorial Day weekend coming?  (Not that we have anything to do or anywhere to go but still.  MAY!?)

I went to grab my SewPad to bring it home to sew Tulip blocks, but look who I had to physically move to get it!  He is a smart cat – this thing is COMFY!

And since you are in such a link clicking mood – did you see that we have a SewPad Gift-Away happening on TUESDAY’S POST? Get your entry in!

This thing has become my new best friend enabling me to sit for hours on end piecing away at my machine in comfort.  It’s an $89.95 value – drawing to happen on Sunday!

I have heard back from Gary, the man behind the SewPad and he is so grateful for your orders!  We are blowing through his stock at rapid speed and more are being manufactured as we speak.  He asks for your patience in any delay that the shipping can cause due to these times we are in.  You have made such a great difference in the lives of the folks behind this small business, made in the USA.  Thank you!

Evening binding on our Unity Quilt Along is underway!

It is so exciting to see quilts from OTHERS already in the quilting process too – it really does feel like we have all been making this quilt together.

Some gorgeous quilting happening here!

And I love her colors – very fun.

Have you checked out our #quiltvillemystery #sewinplace and #unityquiltalong tags?

There will be much eye candy being shared over the next several weeks/months as folks continue to finish their tops, put in the quilting stitches and add the binding.  It’s my evening round of smile time to thumb through the photos and see what has been shared.

So this morning – in my rain sogged state of mind – I mistakenly deleted a bunch of photos from a google photo album that are linked here in the blog. I don’t know how it happened – but the photos that are missing from yesterday’s post are on my big computer at the QPO so I will reinstate them when I am there.

And hope that PayPal is functional so I can print shipping labels!

I spent time this morning anticipating the reopening of Quiltville Inn by ordering paper towel dispensers and z-fold paper towels for the 3 bathrooms at the inn. Also on the way are pump bottles of hand sanitizer for the kitchen, back entry and front entry, and industrial disinfectant concentrate (because Clorox wipes still can’t be found) in hopes of being ready to reopen as soon as the governor of Virginia gives us the go ahead.

I have a whole box of white flannel scraps left from covering design walls.  Could these be cut, zig zagged around (no serger here) and used as “quick wipes” when spraying counters and surfaces with disinfectant - tossed in to the wash after each use and reused?  Is this a dumb idea? 

I know that “cute terry hand towels” should not be used by many hands during this epidemic, but the thought of all of this disposable paper is also on my mind.

And I did find a BIG PACK of toilet paper yesterday morning – Whoowhooo.  Oh, the things to get excited about.

In the mean time I’m cautioning retreaters to please pinky swear amongst their groups that they will keep EACH OTHER safe by self-quarantining at home as much as possible before arriving, by being cautious and wearing a mask when out in public when they do have to go out.  

I know I can’t enforce anything, but they need to know they are responsible for keeping their friends safe.

I’m also suggesting that those driving in minimize exposure by not shop-hopping on their way TO retreat, but save it for their home journey.  That way they won’t be exposing their whole group over a long retreat weekend to anything they picked up along the way.

My friend Carri has a retreat place in Texas that is just starting to reopen and we have been in touch as I am curious as to what hoops she has put in place for the safety of our retreater friends.

My stomach is pretty much in knots over this.  But we will make it through.  One step at a time.

This is still going on!

You’ll find the pattern for my new pattern release,  Courthouse Square under the Digital Patterns category of the Quiltville Store.

And remember – ALL DIGITAL PATTERNS are 25% off using coupon code DIGITAL25 at purchase.  Code MUST be used to receive discount.  No refunds if you happen to forget.

This sale is good through the month of May.

I’m so excited that you are loving this quilt (and that fun border!) as much as I am!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

When was the last time you just sat quietly - no TV, no music, just you, your thoughts and the sweet sound of birds?

Take time to find some stillness today.

Even the rain has a sound soothing to my soul if I think about it that way -

Enjoy your Thursday, folks!