Studio Daze!

Lola’s antics crack me up!

And yesterday she did something she has never done before – evidently I didn’t shut the backdoor all the way until it clicked – and I turned around to find that she had used her paws to open it just enough to slip outside.

She was on the concrete pad (Not quite a patio, but at least there is something!) at the back of the QPO and was just sitting there sunning herself.

This scared me – because there IS a busy road, and I vow to be more diligent with that door in the future – but still.

She is a cat, and she is curious even after being an indoor cat all of her life.  If it weren’t for the busy road, things may be a bit different.

When and if she does come live up at the cabin after Emmy Lou crosses the rainbow bridge – I can see letting her explore her surroundings a bit.

Oh, and there was no fight getting her back in.  As soon as I opened the door wide, in she went as if to say “It’s way too big out here – let me in!”

The bin she was burrowing in?

All the kids fun novelty stuff I was looking through -

My sister-in-law Nicole contacted me about making some masks for my niece and nephew Elizabeth and Jaxon.  Evidently Idaho is going through with school openings in a few weeks and she wants to get them used to wearing masks.  And they are going to need more than one set so one can be washed on the day that the other is being worn.

We went with ear loops this time.

Made from Dollar Tree ponytail holders.

I had to guess by their ages what size to make the main part, and Jax’s is cut 1’’ smaller than Elizabeth's due to their ages.

While I prefer the halter style and ties for myself, it makes it harder for kids to get it on and off for things like lunch period.  Ties are just harder to keep secure for little ones, and then they are fussing and wanting to adjust, etc.

These two went in the mail yesterday, and I told Nicole to try them on and see if they fit, or let me know what adjustments need to be made.

If they don’t fit – I told her to find some kids they WILL fit, and let me know what to do to make some that do.  It’s the width of the face panel that has to change, as I can’t add length to the hair tie loops.

And all the while I kept thinking how grateful I was that I don’t have school aged kids.  That my kids don’t have school aged kids.

I don’t envy the choices that are having to be made at this time. I honestly do not know what I would do if I were a working parent and had to choose between keeping my job and sending my kid to school in these uncertain times, or give up my job to homeschool my children.

The whole situation makes my head and my heart cramp.

So what do we do while all of this is swirling around in our heads?  WE QUILT!

My grandiose plans to get all of these appliqued down -

Turned into just 1 1/2 blocks done.  LOL!

What can I say?  It was a busy day, and I found my eyes closing when I was 3/4 the way around the one on the left.  I missed out on whatever was happening in that episode of season 13 of CSI!

The middle you see trimmed out is from behind the block on the right, which DID get done.

And there is more of that for tonight.

Back In Stock!

UPS made a happy delivery yesterday!  We had sold out of these during the Love Your Creative Space Book Tour.  It is a WONDERFUL book full of ideas to make your space work better for you – how to purge, things to focus on, how to tailor your space to fit your needs.

If you don’t have a copy yet, don’t delay!  You’ll find them in both the NEW and BOOKS categories of the Quiltville Store.

I am planning on heading over to the Wallburg house on Friday to start the process of moving the house stash up to the cabin and QPO.  I will be looking for the perfect storage solution for these.

And to be honest, I’m starting to think about lesser loved yardage being cut into FQs and sold as bundles by color family for the retreaters at Quiltville Inn.

I have bins of shirts that I haven’t cut into yet as well, and I was thinking of stripping those down and selling them by the pound.

Yesterday I was forced to make a decision that I didn’t want to – that if there is not a vaccine by February I will need to cancel my teaching travel for 2021 as well. 

I just can’t see taking on the travel, hotel, restaurant, large classroom type situation until it is safe for EVERYONE to gather.

I am selling my vintage machine collection.  My vintage quilts and quilt top collection.  And my fabric stash may also be sold to make ends meet to keep the retreat house going.

I’m also concerned that we will face another lock down the way that California is.  And should that recommendation come from the Governor of Virginia and county officials, I will do it.  But something has to happen to keep paying the mortgage.

Okay – that’s a bunch of heavy thinking while typing, but it helps to put it out there.  Those of you also struggling as business owners, I understand and I feel your upheaval.  We are in this together, and we will make it through.

And we keep QUILTING to hold it all together.

*EDITED TO ADD*  I am unable to do online workshops, zoom, facebook live or otherwise. I do not have fast enough internet here in my area - we are so very rural.  My connection at the QPO is little better than dial-up.  We have no Wifi at the cabin, just cell data which is spotty.

Quiltville Quote of the Day

The right mindset is the key!

Choose your thoughts wisely, they often dictate the outcome of any situation.

Have an amazing Wednesday, everyone!