Of Quilt Tops & Pieced Backings!

It was a weekend of "extra width"

I was a woman on a mission - so close to the finish that I couldn't stop myself from making the "one row extra" so I had enough drop on the sides of my king sized Snail's Trail quilt.

It set me back a bit - I was so eager to get this done that I nearly felt deflated at the realization that the extra row was 360 pieces in total.  AUUGH!

But then - realizing that another 360 scrap pieces would find a place to live instead of being stuffed into bins, bags and buckets - again, it's all how you look at it!

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March '21 Quilty Box Gift-Away!

More Gift-Away Fun - Before March runs out!

My March Quilty Box arrived just before the weekend, and I've had time to unbox it, to pet the fabrics, to read the Bundles of Inspiration Magazine, and DREAM of where all of these beautiful spring toned batiks may end up!

What a great way to send this very weird month of crazy weather into the archives!

And someone - one lucky someone - is also going to win this box!

Could it be you?

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Weird Wild Weekend!

First - let me start with the Quilty Stuff.

I pinned and pinned and pinned some more!

SO many points to match, but it really makes it worth it.

All the while I loved seeing all of the fabrics come together like this.

Truth be told - there have been many Snail's Trail variations I have seen that just didn't float my boat.  I could never put my finger on it.

Maybe it was the size of the pieces, or the fact that the quilt was just made in two fabrics ONLY. (That's a hard one for me to swallow! LOL!)

But this one - oh I have had so much fun!

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Tractors, Patchwork & Quilt-Cam!

Friday afternoon tractor fun!

The Hubsters grapple for the front of his bright red birthday tractor arrived yesterday - and in true tractor lover's fashion, he took the afternoon off for this big delivery, as he couldn't wait to put it to good use.

I am always on the lookout for photo ops, but the big one I missed happened with chainsaws a week or so ago.

Jason and Dave OBLITERATED the nasty stickery bug infested always way over grown hedge that lines the side of our east drive entrance/exit.  

Like - one minute it was, there - and the next - it was ALL to the ground.

We've been dealing with massive piles of brush along the drive waiting for the grapple to arrive.

Yesterday it did!

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The Gas Men Cometh! (And 3 more blocks to go!)

Two friendly masked helpers came for the new range install yesterday!

The moved right into position, started up with conversion kits and attachments, hoses and nozzles - 

They were even so great they peeled the sticky film (That was NOT easy to remove!) from the sides of the range before sliding it into place, connected to the gas and ready to go!

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Bloom, Baby, Bloom!

The forsythia are exploding!

Yesterday's trip down to the North Carolina piedmont was a wonderful sight!

You know how folks oooh and ahhh at fireworks on 4th of July?

I'm the same way when spring arrives and trees and bushes are blooming.

It was like descending into OZ.

The fog was thick all of the way between the cabin and just below the Blue Ridge Parkway - but as I got closer to Wilkesboro, the fog dissipated and and left me with a clear view of blooming loveliness that has not reached our higher elevations yet.

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Rivanna Runner Bound - DONE!

There is magic in the LAST STITCH, isn't there?

Finally finally finally I was able to finish that last long side, turn the last corner, and stitch myself to the finish.

This runner will be occupying my table over the next while - until I whip up something to replace it.

Winter has turned to spring, the blue/neutral version of my Pine Tree Point runner being put away until next January.

And there are still so many blues in the stash - but I'm not focusing on that. There will be more opportunities for blue in my future!

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Weekend Trail Warriors!

I spent some time up on the Appalachian Trail with some special folks over the weekend!

Saturday's afternoon hike showed us that leaves are soon to be happening - 

The trees are showing their red tipped halos as so much of the brush does as things turn to Spring here.

Still no foals!  But soon!

And no, this pony is not as small as it looks - Jason is standing on a rock!

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BlockBase+ Gift-Away!

Have you heard of the new BlockBase+ by The Electric Quilt Company ??

I am so excited about the NEW BlockBase+ I can hardly contain myself. 

I have been an EQ user from the very first release. I own the previous version of BlockBase, running it with my different EQ versions all the way up through EQ7. 

I love that there is a new, updated version to go along with my EQ8 software. 

My favorite thing? Pairing two blocks together to see what other interesting secondary designs happen between the blocks. It’s magic! 

The only thing better than the NEW Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns book – is the ability to have those blocks in BlockBase+, to go with my EQ8!

Now for the fun part - Electric Quilt is GIVING AWAY a free Block Base Plus for one lucky person who enters on today's blog post! It could be you!

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With a bit of Courage, Faith & Joy!

Yesterday afternoon had me quietly and happily stitching myself into the weekend ahead.

I have been wanting to sit down with this project for the past AT LEAST 2 weeks.

It has been there, confined to its project box - nearly taunting me - as I went through my days doing all of the needful things.

Occasionally I'd lift the lid, pet the pieces, and say "Soon, my pretties - soon!"

That soon came yesterday afternoon on the tail end of something else ultra meaningful to my life.

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Antique Mall - On the Loose!

I saw this sign, and cracked up - seriously!

I actually thought of purchasing it and hanging it outside the back porch door at Quiltville Inn - but maybe my retreaters wouldn't find it as funny as I do?  LOL!

Here we are at Friday, and I'm just getting around to talking about my little outing (Because that is what we call dentist appointments these days!) from Monday.

I wish all dentist appointments were like this -  go in, get numbed up from your ears to your nose, get some work done, and then be turned out into the world after being told to "come back in 90 minutes."

What else was this girl to do?  I couldn't just sit in my car when there was an antique mall I hadn't been in for months and months just about a mile down the road, could I?

I needed to show some love to vintage quilts.  I needed to see just what was there.

I donned my mask as I pulled open the front door with the 'PULL HARD!" sign, and in I went.

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Misty Mornings and the Coming of the Green!

This photo was taken about 9am yesterday on my little 7 mile drive from home on the mountain, to my Quiltville Post Office studio -

The road was completely empty.  It was chilly, but that spring feeling was definitely making itself known.

There were horses and cattle grazing in the quiet of the morning air.

And all around me I felt a promise of a beautiful day.

I love how the foggy layers hug the ridges and rills. My own Brigadoon.  

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Hike a Little, Sew a Little More!

First Appalachian Trail Hike!

Late Saturday afternoon, I couldn't stand it anymore.  I just HAD to get out on the trail and see what the ponies were up to - and how they had fared through the winter.

Would there be any around?

Would we discover new baby foals?

One of the greatest joys of living so remotely in this magnificent corner of Virginia is the ability to drive just a few miles over winding mountain roads and find myself amidst the wonder of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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The Rush to Beat the Rain.

Saturday's activity on the roof!

I really can't thank these guys enough - 

When the disaster leak happened a few weeks back in heavy rain, running down through one of the light fixtures inside the Quiltville Post Office studio - I was kind of at my wits end with things that have been causing problems around here.

It's not that any of the problems were extremely huge, and compared to what had been going on in other parts of the country (Like Texas!) this was all minimal.

But as things tend to go, they all seem to happen at once.  (Or is it just in threes?!)

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Tulip Time Pattern Time (and Gift-Away!)

Good morning and happy Monday, Quiltvillians!

Can you believe we are half way through March already?  Spring is definitely happening around here, even though it is a rainy Monday in my neck of the woods today.

And to those in Colorado and other snow storm afflicted areas - just WOW!  The only upside to that is MORE sewing time while you hunker in and stay warm and wait for a thaw - eventually!

As promised, today is release day for my Tulip Time quilt, one I know many of you have been excitedly waiting for -

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Quilt Me A River ...

I finally broke away from my desk late yesterday afternoon, and since the guys were off doing something else, I quickly loaded the table runner I had pieced last weekend and set into quilting it.

The fabrics in this thing just make me stop and stare.

 Where did all of these blues come from?

So many that I recognize from projects over the past 30 years - including the baby quilt I made for Jeff before he was born to bring him home from the hospital in.

(I have that quilt - this is a reminder to myself to get photos to share.)

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Up On The Roof.... *singing*

The late afternoon sunshine was warm and wonderful - short sleeves and everything!

But don't let the sunshine fool you - there is threat of rain, big rain, coming this weekend and our job at hand (Yes, it involved a bit truck a fork lift and an off loading of roofing supplies!) is to get the new metal roof installed on the Quiltville Post Office Studio.

Yes, the previous leak we experienced a couple of weeks ago was located and patched, all is dry, my light fixture where it was coming through the ceiling has been reinstalled and we should be good - but we just don't trust this roof anymore.  

Who wants to fix a roof every 2 years?

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Red Birthday Tractors for the Win!

What do you get a well deserving man the week of his 61st birthday?

Okay, it didn't start out as a birthday gift, but as a needful addition to our life in the mountains.

It just happened that delivery coincided with the week of his birthday - so we'll chalk this one up as kismet and say it is. LOL!

This has been a TOUGH winter.  And there is only so much that the little RZR can handle when it comes to plowing and grating the drive.

Not to mention the work that needs to be done around Quiltville Inn and the QPO studio.

Still - let it be said that i have NEVER seen a man more chuffed with himself than I did yesterday!

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Sewing and Road Hiking!

I DID spend some time working with the "extras" over the weekend!

It meant I had to make a few extra blocks, but Lola has approved of the table runner that is now next up in the quilting queue.

All of these blues bring out the green of her eyes, don't you think?

Borders have been added - I've even pieced a backing.

I just need TIME  and that is something that is escaping me this week.

Quilting may happen this weekend.

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It's Here! Bonnie K. Hunter's Quilter's Tech Set!

Some fun things have been long in the "behind the scenes" column, playing the waiting game to get things manufactured and released - it's been that whole supply chain back up, you know?

I was waiting for these to be ready for the holiday season - because they make such GREAT gifts!  But March is good too!

These are things I use EVERY DAY in my travel life as well as my personal life – and I know you are going to love them as much as I do.

I have worn glasses since I was 3 years old – something I don’t often have the chance to admit, and while I hated being called “four eyes” in school, and switched to contacts in high school (oh the vanity, and desire to fit in!) I gave up on that in college and have had glasses perched on top of my nose all day, every day since!

Now that I have reached the “middle age” zone – I’m finding that glasses wearing is more the norm for nearly everyone – whether they use simple readers to see closer when stitching or while working at the computer, or those of us who need our glasses every day, and are grateful for the ability to see what we are doing, whatever we are doing, more clearly.

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Diamond Tiles on Day Three!

Friday flew faster than Fridays should!

(Say that three times fast!)

And then the weekend went by in rapid succession - Happy Monday everyone!

Somme of you have asked where MY Diamond Tiles quilt went - it's currently in the closet waiting!

This one is Monas - and her quilt is a lovely large couch sized, so on Friday morning we were able to finish up her Unity quilt  (Shared in Saturday's Post) and quickly load her Diamond Tiles.

The clock was running so she could make a late-afternoon exit toward her own home.

And at the time, we didn't KNOW that Jason would be arriving in short succession.

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Goodbye, Hello!

It's been a very quilty week in the Quiltville Post Office Studio!

3 out of 4 quilts were quilted in the time that Mona and I had together, and as to the 4th one?  

It can simply wait as a reason for us to get together again!

It was wonderful seeing her Unity quilt come to life under the needle of the long arm.

This quilt is going to her son-in-law whose favorite color just happens to be red.

This quilt does have a lot of red in it - and it isn't "too girly" (Something we have to think about when giving quilts to guys, right?!) and will be just the perfect size for snuggling on the couch while watching a movie, taking a nap, etc.

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Quilting from Sunrise to Sunset -

We have a quilting finish!

And is there anything better than reaching the last border on a quilt when you are quilting? 

The finish is so close at hand!

This is Mona's Jamestown Landing from my book String Fling.  

Another testament to my love of blue and neutral - and I don't think I'll ever stop seeing blue/neutral two color quilts in my head.

I don't think there will ever be an empty spot where "blue used to be" in my stash!  Blue is just magical. It must be.  No matter how hard I try to sew it down, it never depletes.

I even asked Mona if she needed MORE blue now that she's finished this one.  She said she's experienced the same thing.  There is just as much blue in her stash as when she started this one.

Loaves and fishes, my friends!  Loaves and finishes!

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Mona's in the Studio!

Well lookie here!  Another Blue Blue day!

Mona arrived around 1pm yesterday afternoon, toting a couple of quilt tops, backs and bundles of batting - ready to spend two days at the long arm!

I'm hoping that I've talked her OUT of buying a long arm of her own - because the times we ARE able to get together and power through some quilts is so precious to me.

Kind of like the old quilting bees of old - the quilting was the excuse to get together, catch up on what has been going on in the past many months (It was long before the holidays since I saw her last.) and laugh and laugh and joke and sing to whatever came across my Pandora.

I have missed this so much!  It was worth quarantining over the past 2 weeks so we could do this safely.

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Small Studio Changes, Big Studio Impact!

This was my afternoon project yesterday -

This was after I spent time undoing the mess I had made the day before.

Spring MUST be close, because this bee in my bonnet wanted the studio to be completely rearranged to make better use of the floor space.

It all started with the fact that the Singer 201 that I do all of my binding on (It wears a walking foot ALL the time!) was really in the wrong position.

I had cabinet back to back with my 301 that I do my piecing on (So I can see the TV on the wall from there) and the left side of the 201 cabinet was up against the back side of my mail order counter - it was NOT easy to wrangle a quilt when putting on binding.  I needed more of an "open" area where I could pull an ironing board at cabinet height up to my left to help support the weight of the machine.

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MORE Blue in the Studio!

Saturday, Sunday, Monday - It's what it took to get me to here!

After Friday's rain disaster leaking through the roof at the Quiltville Post Office Studio (QPO) and more rain in the future - I decided that working there was not the best place to be - and opted for more comfort (And better light since my big light fixture is still down) in my basement sewing space at home.

Have you ever been so entranced with making blocks that you just keep going, and just keep going to find you've overshot your mark by about 20 blocks?

Well yeah. More on that later.  LOL!

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Rough & Tumble into March!

Happy March, Quiltvillians!

Okay - so it's pouring outside.  but the morning temp right now is 52 and that gives me HOPE!

In fact - the second quilt on my bed got ditched to the floor in the middle of the night as I was just too warm.

I'm not holding out hope that 2-quilt weather is behind me quite yet, but we are getting there!

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