Cyber Monday Sulky Mystery Box Gift-Away!

Good Monday Morning, everyone!

I'm a bit delayed in blog posting today.  I could call it a typical Monday, but it is anything but typical.

Remember the attack deer that hit my van a few weeks back?  This morning is the morning we needed to drive out and drop the van off to be repaired.

We had to be there by 9am, and I was dropped back off at the QPO - carless for the day (Or for the next 2 weeks) and will be picked back up by The Hubster when he finishes HIS work for the day -

So while it's been quiet here on the blog front, there has been much paddling behind-the-scenes, including my lovely #mediafreesunday that happened yesterday!

Read More»

The Saturday After -

This is where we spent our Thanksgiving afternoon!

It has become kind of a tradition - going up to the Appalachian Trail that crosses through Grayson Highlands state part if the holiday weather is fair enough to do so.

I would say that 63 degrees on Thanksgiving Day is a rarity for these parts.  Of all of the years I wished that my dad could be with us, this would have been the one.

One year ago he was helping Dave to load fire wood onto the side porch at Quiltville Inn in anticipation of our first beta test retreat that was in full swing at this time.

It makes this weekend kind of a weird first anniversary, doesn't it?  I think the only word that I can use to describe how this year was derailed is WEIRD.

But this warm 2020 Thanksgiving? Weirdly wonderful!

Read More»

Thanksgiving Wishes!

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

I'm going to try to keep this as short as possible so I can enjoy our little Thanksgiving on the mountain as much as possible, with as little computer work as possible!

Our plan this year - so different than most - is to focus on SIMPLICITY.

We are planning Japanese hibachi on the Blackstone grill with steak, shrimp, veggies and fried rice.

I am excited.  Preparation is nearly nothing - the rice was made yesterday.  The remaining prep work is just slicing and dicing.

And yes, there will be pumpkin pie - 

Read More»

Just Ahead of Winter's Arrival -

Yesterday was a winterizing day.

While it doesn't look like it here - there was much weather stripping going on by The Hubster as I took care of things on my end, stopping to help when help was required.

Old buildings can be plagued by numerous things - single paned windows, glass front doors with drafty cracks.

Last year the condensation that happened around the front door at the QPO required a squeegee on the front door glass every morning - cold on the outside, warm on the inside - and drafty cracks.

We hope we have solved some of that for this winter, but short of replacing the whole glass front door - I don't know what we can do.  The building is from the 1940s to 1950s - and I am not sure how old the glass door and big front picture window are, but replacing them is out of the question for this year.

Don't you love how Lola is watching the quilting going on?

Read More»

Monday on the Run!

 

Baby Christmas Trees growing up on Grassy Creek!

The tree harvesting continues - huge trucks driving past the QPO all day long.  If the weather weren't so blustery yesterday, I would have stood out front and just waited to get some really good photos of them passing by.

But the chilly wind was blowing everything sideways, and there was too much else going on to just stand in the driveway waiting for a "possible" photo op to happen.

The trees you see here are about year 2 - it takes 7 to 8 years for a Christmas tree to reach harvesting height.  

And can I say that even toward the end of November - I love that the grass is still pretty green here.  I crave green in the depths of winter.  This helps me hang on just a bit longer!

Read More»

Blue Spruce & Pine Tree Point!

"I'll have a Blue Christmas without you...." sang Elvis!

I'll have a glad Blue Christmas - where blue is not bad or sad at all!

Talk about a fast and fun project, guaranteed to bring some early holiday cheer - even if it IS still officially before Thanksgiving, where early Christmas cheer is somewhat taboo and frowned upon here in the USA.

AND IT MAKES NO SENSE!  Besides the fact that it is 2020 after all.

Saturday -while Mona quilted up a storm at the long arm, I pieced my way through the making of my very blue version of Pine Tree Point at the sewing machine.

Read More»

Another Day in the Quilt Mines!

Lola spent yesterday supervising.

It's extremely hard work keeping track of two quilters with so much busy-ness going on.

She was a very good sport about it, though -  She didn't butt in and tell us that this didn't match, or that didn't go, and why didn't I try this instead, or don't I know that quilters should never do that....

She just kept her mouth shut and....

Read More»

Thursday, Full of Scraps & Strings!

Lola!  In the middle of everything!

Yesterday held so much promise - sun was shining, and though on the cold side, the wind was not howling - and that is a very good thing in these parts.

I had a good handle on the outgoing mail (There are still some Simple Folded Corners rulers and Simple Folded Corners Minis in stock, but going fast!  More on on their way.) by the time my friend Mona pulled up the drive next to the QPO.

It had been SO LONG since we have had quilting time together.

And for those wondering if you really CAN self-quarantine for 14 days so quilting can happen - yes you can.  It just depends on what you want and how bad you want it, including how badly you want to keep your friend safe from YOU!

Read More»

When Friends Come Quilting!

Simple quilts bring so much joy!

A couple of weeks ago my friend Martha was struck by a compulsive desire to stop EVERYTHING and make a snuggle quilt from the scraps of other items she has made for her 4 year old granddaughter.

If you've felt that kind of "Drop everything, I have to do this RIGHT NOW!" kind of compulsion - raise your hand!

We were chatting, and I said - you don't need anything fancy for a 4 year old.  They are not about the intricacies of the pattern, the size of the pieces or the overall appearance.  They are about the colors, and the novelties and other prints included that capture their fancy and imagination.

Martha decided that a simple nine patch would more than suffice, and she headed to her Scrap User’s System - something she has just recently implemented and discovered the true benefits of - and simply pulled 2 1/2'' strips for some scrappy and colorful blocks.

Read More»

November 2020 Quilty Box Gift-Away!

I know that any given month is flying by quickly -

When the next Quilty Box arrives and it is time for another great Gift-Away!

And what a GREAT BOX this one is!

This month we're thrilled to have Natalie Barnes curate the November 2020 box with all of the super things you'll find inside!

Read More»

Tuesday - Where to Start?

This happened over the weekend.

I am happy to say that I worked on these blocks through Saturday afternoon, and by Saturday evening time I was feet up in my chair with a trash can between my knees (Oh, isn't that just an attractive image!) removing paper from all of the string blocks I'd completed.

I will be sewing these together and complete that quilt top soon - it may be this week end coming up. I hope so.

And then #mediafreesunday happened - I completely disconnected myself from my online life and set into working on this:

Read More»

New PDF Pattern - Pine Tree Point!

There is a new bit of fun this week in the Quiltville Store!  Say hello to Pine Tree Point!

I know you have been eager to see just where the green strings were going to end up over the past few weeks - I've been BUSY behind the scenes!

I have been sewing up the proverbial storm while I watch the seasons change around me.

These two projects are inspired by the multitude of Christmas tree trucks passing by Quiltville Inn on a daily basis these days - Tree harvest is in full swing, and it is marvelous to see!

Read More»

End of Fall Splendor -

Yesterday was a 16,000 step day.  From the moment I saw the morning's forecast, all I had on my brain was to get my Friday work cranked out so that I could be amidst nature's beauty by mid-afternoon.

I know these lovely late fall days are numbered.  I know freezing temperatures, sleet and snow are in our near future.

But not yesterday - 

It had been several weeks since I had walked past the "round house" on Round House Road. 

While much work has been done to take down brush and trees in the yard, The structure itself is looking a little worse for wear.  I haven't seen anyone working on it in a while.

I am hoping that someone will cover up the holes in the roof before snow season really begins!

Read More»

Gone Stringing!

This happened last night.

There was no feet up and hand quilting in the comfy chair - it was a riotous night in the Hunter household as the Boise State Broncos trounced the Colorado State Rams 52 to 21 on BSU's infamous Big Blue Field.

Extra exciting is that my brother Mike, who works at BSU was able to be in attendance - they let very FEW people in the stadium, and they all have to pass a Covid test before being allowed admittance.

Why am I writing this when I'm not a huge football fan?  Because these are the things we'll be telling our grandkids at some point.  We are history.

Now, this win does not undo the damage that was last week's game lost to BYU - that was some humble pie!

Read More»

Sewing in the Wee Small Hours -

This came to reach this point faster than anticipated.

That's what happens when kept awake by torrential downpours pounding on the metal roof of the cabin above my head.

And rain it did - CRAZY amounts of rain that started last evening about 6pm and continued all the way through.  

It was about 4:30am when I finally pulled my weary self out of bed and decided that it was doing me no good to just lay there and will the rain away.

A mug of coffee with the remaining pumpkin spice creamer in hand, I padded down to the basement studio. queued up my current audio book in my earbuds, and sat down to sew.

Read More»

Wednesday as it Unfolds!

I suppose I could call this Tuesday Evening helpers -

I was attempting to move the hand quilting hoop from one section to the next, and well - someone just HAD to get into the act.

And I love it, I do.  It's precious beyond words - you can't help but smile and laugh, but just like with a toddler, things seem to take twice as long as they should, and you just can't seem to get your message across to them without them thinking they are in trouble - which she wasn't!.

Read More»

A Bit of This Round Here!

Sugar Loaf blocks in early morning progress!

I don't know about you, but I learn a lot on how to get things done, by watching other people - getting things done!

My friend Jill (Who I don't see often enough because she is in Southern California, and I am on the opposite coast in Virginia) is a master at making her available quilting time work for her.  She is SO productive.

When is her best quilting time?  Way early morning - like Zero Dark Thirty before she goes to work. 

I remember her telling me that sneaking a couple of blocks in (Maybe just an hour in the morning?) energized her through the day, made it so she couldn't wait to come back to her project the next morning giving her something to look forward to.

I took her challenge this morning.  At a bit past 6am I was at the machine - and I made TWO blocks - the brown one and the blue one.  The green one in assembly mode?  I can justify that as I used it as Leaders & Enders as the ender to the two that had just finished.

Read More»

Nearly Lemoyne & the FB Roller Coaster!

This happened over the weekend!

We had a LOVELY Saturday just perfect for a photo shoot.

The pattern writing was completed, as were the graphic drawings.

And here we are with another PDF pattern release!  (Can you tell I'm excited?)

Read More»

Exciting Things from Barbara Brackman! (Gift-Away!)

Did you know this was in the works?

A bit of backstory - I have a very loved and often used, long cherished copy of the 1993 edition of Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.  

It was $34.95 in 1993 - hard bound and heavy, and little did I know what a great investment it would be for my quilting library, and how often I would turn to it for information and inspiration.

Read More»

Plaid Treasures!

Lookie what I found!

Oh, I knew I had these somewhere!  I couldn't remember which bin they were in.

And the truth is, in moving bins and tubs - some weren't even looked into before they were loaded up and carried off to the wilds of Southwestern Virginia -

I had been bemoaning the fact that the bin of recycled shirt-parts-of-generous-size (meaning they were whole fronts, backs and sleeves, not string piecing or strip bits) were still in the basement studio storage area at the Wallburg house.

I had finally decided what will happen in the next phase of the long languishing Sugar Loaf quilt, and was eager to start cutting ahead for it, but was limited on hunks and chunks large enough to get the pieces that I need for setting triangles.

Read More»

More Life In Between the Seams!

This little gem came my way last week through a friend.

The funny thing is - it was in the back of the van destined for a bedside table at Quiltville Inn as I am prone to cuten -yes that is a word - and make things homey by leaving little touches here and there.

I loved the cover.  Those triangles call to me. 

Well, long story short, when I emptied the back of the van, this little book ended up tucked under something else and never made it out until I went to put something IN this morning, and found it.

On my way back to the back sliding door (jacketless - and a bit chilly, I keep forgetting it's November sunny or not.) I just cracked the book open to whatever page on a whim just to get a glimpse at the contents.

I kid you not - this is where it opened:

Read More»

Things That Make My Heart Smile -

Tree harvesting is in full swing in the Blue Ridge mountains!

Living in an agricultural area - we mark the seasons by what is going on with the farms and fields around us.  Pumpkin trucks start in September, and I love seeing them rolling on by.  I have loved pumpkins since childhood.

As a child, I loved and anticipated Christmas with wonder, just like every other child - but as an adult the "It's too soon for Christmas yet!" mentality actually stopped me from enjoying the preparation that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that Christmas does arrive on time wherever you are.

Read More»

Turning a New Page!

This morning's sunrise!

Right where I hoped it would be!

As much as I struggle with the time changes twice a year, I DO love daylight in the morning.  And I love being able to see the sun come over the ridges when the trees are leafless.

It is breathtaking.  It starts my day out on the best note. The beginnings of a sunny morning such as this hold such promise!

Read More»

Grassy Creek Mystery Rolls and More!

You asked, we answered!

Especially during this time of lock downs, sheltering at home, and social distancing - more than ever we appreciate and support our online fabric sources - and just in time for our Grassy Creek fabric pulling!

My sweet friend Irene is the former co-owner of The Cozy Quilter in Louisville, Kentucky.

We were saddened (and gladdened!) that the time had come for the shop to close its doors - giving Irene the opportunity to focus on what she truly loves the best - Long arm quilting!

You know what they say about doors closing and windows open - well, Irene's windows are open WIDE with opportunities and she will be focusing on long arm training, and machine rentals! If you are in the Louisville Kentucky area - be sure to look Irene up after this madness is over.

Heaven knows we all have multitudes of tops that need to become finished quilts due to the many hours we've been piecing away over the past months and months.

Along with building her long arm business - she is offering Mystery Rolls, just as The Cozy Quilter has done in the past, through her new venture Cotton to Quilts!

Read More»

Hello, November!

Who would have thought this is where we'd be in November of 2020?

And to be honest - this girl who usually focuses in positivity is having a bit of a hard time today.

I was even thinking of letting this post go unwritten - and just give it 24 hours to settle, but you know what?  Sometimes pounding the keyboard is the best therapy there is.

So let's start with the good stuff!  Remember these Sugar Loaf blocks?

Read More»