Back Door Guests Are Always Best!

Does this view say “Come stay a while?”

This is the back porch entry at Quiltville Inn, the door straight ahead leads into the kitchen.

In this photo I can see through the glass of the door, and out the window that stands over sink to the green and sunshine outside.

I took this photo yesterday while housekeeper Susan was doing her finishing touches upstairs and I was making everything as inviting as possible for the Yadkin Valley Quilts retreat, starting today.

I know it’s a tough thing to ask – that folks self-quarantine for 14 days before coming, to make sure they are not bringing anything that could get their closest of quilty friends sick.

We do it because we care about each other.  And it’s worth it.

The old quilts are here to entice!

Because I am thinning the herd, and these are up for adoption at low prices, often less than I paid for them myself over years of collecting vintage quilts.

The ones I have loved best I have brought home, not because they were the most valuable or exquisite, but because they spoke to me of the hands that made them during the hardest of times in the most humble of circumstances.

Wherever they go, whoever they go home with – I hope the quilts will be a reminder of the fun weekend we are about to have, deep in the midst of this global pandemic called Covid.

Am I nervous?  Always.  But we move forward with the utmost of caution and care, our concern always being for the others in our group – and this way we keep each other safe.

We are ready for today!

Shop owners Andrae and Tim arrived last evening around 7pm.  Once they had all the details down, I let them unpack and move in while I went home to my own late dinner after a very long and busy day.

The ladies will start arriving in a few hours.  The house will be full of laughter and the hum of sewing machines – and SO MUCH GOOD FOOD as Tim & Andrae are catering the whole retreat for their group.

Not only that – but Grassy Creek winery is coming out to do a wine tasting event at 4pm this afternoon.  These folks have thought of everything!

Changing out the freezer paper!

SO! (How’s that for a lead in?) Some of you folks were wondering if it was worth it to put the freezer paper down on the ironing stations for each new group -

Well let me tell you – this stuff has SAVED MY STATIONS!

Shown here is the 17’’ wide paper for the 22’’ wide stations.

There are some folks who saturate their fabric SO MUCH when they press that all of that moisture would go down through the canvas duck top, through to the batting and the plywood underneath and over time it would just rot everything.  Or grow mold in our more humid Virginia climate.

The poly backing on the freezer paper forms a moisture barrier so the iron can evaporate all the excess spray and steam away.

And the OTHER reason, besides keeping the boards underneath relatively clean?

Someone evidently forgot that my irons are not OLISOs!  Yep – someone left the iron face down and walked away leaving a huge iron shaped scorch on the freezer paper.  

But the mess stopped there.  New paper, any discoloration can’t be seen.  Don’t you like ironing on a clean ironing surface?

You might not think you need to do this at home, but if you sew in a group situation - seriously.  Ironing stations can get so nasty.  Give it a clean try!

These two are ready for much pressing to happen!

I use the 15’’ wide paper for the stand alone big board.

Both the 17’’ and the 15’’ mega rolls of freezer paper are found in the Quilting All the Time and Paper Goods categories of the Quiltville Amazon Affiliate Store. 

I’ve also placed the 100% cotton duck drop cloth that I cut up to cover the big boards in the Amazon Affiliate Store along with the Warm & Natural batting that I used on top of the plywood. (2 layers)

Another favorite thing about the big ironing stations 3 prong grounded plugs with a light up switch for iron easy on/easy off (And can tell they are off or on by the light on the switch) are found in the same Quilting All the Time category –A quick glance lets us know that things are off before going to bed or leaving, etc.

I am sharing this info again because so many have asked what we used, where we got it, etc.

And what’s not to like about a 4.5 lb bag of Hot Tamales!?  LOL!

(Favorites category)

Because some days are just stressful when your spouse is occupying your studio space because the internet isn’t working at the cabin!  

Call it what you will, self medication – or preservation!  Some days it’s just a Hot Tamale kind of day.

And some string blocks were made -

But no hexie stars appliqued -

It was 7:45pm by the time I got home to the cabin for dinner – just too exhausted to even think straight.

And into a busy retreat weekend we go!

And Oh – I heard back from my friends at SewPad last evening – you are keeping them on their toes and so happily busy!  How AWESOME!  Thank you so much!

Click to YESTERDAY’S POST for more info -

Or simply click the photo and go right to SewPad to place your order and use Coupon Code BONNIE for FREE SHIPPING. 

It is seriously the most comfortable sewing chair cushion you can possibly find.

Thanks, Gary & Laura!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Here's to a brand new day ahead, focusing on the things we are blessed by, not stressed by!

Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone!