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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Fond Farewells & A Quilty Box Drawing!


We beat the rain for quilts-over-the-rail time!

Well sort of.

Or rather - mostly.

Individual quilt photos were delayed due to a downpour at noon - 

But we were finally able to squeeze this in just before dinner time.

And then, when the wood coals in the fire pit were just about perfect...

The sky opened up and rained us out, complete with a thundering lightning show over the creek.

But at least the quilts didn't get wet!


They are beautiful everyone!


And since it was a Christmas in July theme -

Some Christmas quilts came out to play, too!


Everything from cozy Yellow Brick Road quilts, 

To very FIRST quilts -

To exquisite applique.


I'm rather mad for plaid -

Aren't you?

Betsy brought her Straits of Mackinac in red white and blue (Pattern from String Frenzy) her Wonky Wishes variation and her Frolic


Just before the rains came -


A little rain isn't going to scare us!

In lieu of s'mores - it was determined the group could well benefit from some root beer floats to use up the last of the ice cream and root beer before heading out this morning.

I think that's the perfect way to dress up an indoor thunderstorm party, don't you?


My apples are getting pinky!

There are 3 apple trees on the property.  The deer get most of them - I'm not an arborist,, and am not really interested in doing all that would need to happen to these very old trees to get them to bear "nice" fruit.

Still - they bloom beautifully in the spring, and this abundant crop is proof that the spring freeze we had didn't do much damage!

The two chestnut trees are FULL this year too - it will be a fall full of picking up the heinous little nut hulls.  Just the hulls.

Because the deer love the nuts and will eat them all, leaving just the spiny pokey-ball hulls behind.

And sssshhhhhhhh---- don't tell these trees about the chestnut blight that killed so many of their cousins.  They evidently were socially distant enough from all other chestnuts that they have thrived here in the yard for more than 100 years.

Let's draw for that June '21 Quilty Box, shall we?


It may have been a late arrival, but this box has SO MUCH to love within it! Learn more about this box on the original post HERE.


Who is entry 2222 of 5710 entries?


Carol Gillette!

Congrats, Carol!  This box will be coming your way!

Please reply to the email I sent to the address you provided with your entry. I'll have the kind folks at Quilty Box get your prize right out to you.

And as we are nearing the end of July - perhaps the July Quilty Box is right around the corner?

Rockabilly Swing is still at our 25% off introductory price through July 31, 2021! (Only 5 days left to save!)


Fabrics from 1980s all the way to today -

Scraps in all colors, in every genre and variety.


You cheered me on as I made block after block after block in this adorable size - and watched as it was assembled, quilted, and bound.

And now you can start your OWN Rockabilly Swing journey with my PDF pattern which includes the printable paper foundation template.

The introductory price of Rockabilly Swing has been placed 25% off at $9.00 through July 31, 2021.  No coupon code needed. 

Rockabilly Swing is paper foundation pieced.  I have used Carol Doak's 8 1/2'' X 11'' Foundation Paper with much success.  It is available in the Rulers, Notions & Tools section of the Quiltville Store. (Limited supply)

You can also find it in the Quilting All the Time category of the Quiltville Amazon Affiliate Store  Direct link HERE.

You can also use 8 1/2'' x 11'' newsprint, though it doesn't like some printers. (I get jams occasionally on mine)  It is also available HERE.

If this is your first time downloading digital patterns from my store to a computer click HERE.

If you intend to download to an iPhone/iPad click HERE.

And yes, fabric rolls are still available at Cotton to Quilts to enhance your scrap stash, so check them out.  It's always more fun to sew in some new fabrics along with the older saved scraps - it gives everything new life.

What's up for me today?  The Laundry Shuffle, of course!

Housekeeper Susan comes at noon to start the cleaning, and we'll be flipping the whole house in a mere 28 hours to welcome our next group retreat at Quiltville Inn.  

The July Quiltvillians are on their way!

This is also the time of year where I have SO much sewing to do behind the scenes that can't be seen or posted about because - guess what happens in just about 3 months??

I'm finding it hard to leave things out while groups are at the inn.  I may have to resort to returning home after lunch time to spend a few hours each day working on the behind the scenes stuff and deadlines stuff.

I'd much rather be on the porch enjoying the time with the retreaters - Sometimes I feel like a kid who is grounded from going out for recess!  I need to find a balance, and still get done the things that need to get done.  

And still have time for walks along the river, and hikes to see the ponies, and time to sit around the fire pit (without being rained out!)

Balance.  I think it is something we all struggle to find throughout our lives - continually.  Don't you?

How about your own Tuesday ahead?  What's going on in your world?


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

They are your dreams.
No one else owns them but you!
Vintage star quilt found in Kansas.
Love the texture in this one!

Have an awesome Tuesday -


 

15 comments:

  1. Balance....we do all struggle to get that and as circumstances change every day the balance needs to change. Bonnie, you will find what works for you and that is what counts. Your retreats look like so much fun.

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  2. Oh yes... balance is the ever elusive goal!
    Gorgeous quilts!

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  3. I always enjoy all the lovely quilts over the rail with each of the retreat groups. nice to start the day with the 'eye candy' of those or the design walls filling up.

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  4. I would love to know the pattern used to make the plaid quilt! Really love seeing all of the quilts!

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  5. Bonnie, thank you so much for sharing your life! I am working today, and then this afternoon, taking a step towards my dream - of having a business that creates custom quilts. I've dreamed of this for a long time and decided it's time to take the first step. Enjoy the day!

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  6. Me encanta ver lo bien que se lo pasan en los retiros y ver todo el desfile de colchas que muestran. Es un entorno precioso y se te ve muy feliz de poder realizar tu sueño con la posada. Un abrazo desde España

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  7. Thank you, Bonnie, for naming the quits and where to find them. I have been getting out your books and trying to find some of these.

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  8. I wonder - when you started this phase of your journey, did you envision all the wonderful new traditions you were going to create. Fire pit nights with s'mores, dinner/lunch on the porch, quilts over the railings, hikes to the state line, frolicking with ponies, visits to a round house. Oh, and don't forget the laundry shuffle. There you are, lucky lady, living the dream!

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  9. Tuesday I am sitting in my 82 degree living room in lieu of the 90+ degree rest of the house waiting on a part for the AC. Sitting here wishing I had pre-planned some handwork to do. LOL I can catch up some videos that I have been wanting to watch on some of my favorite sewing sites and of course reading and enjoying your blog.

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  10. Where can I find to sign up for a retreat - and get all the info I need like where it is would be a good start! Fell free to reach me at metardiff2129@gmail.com

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    1. If you are a "single" without a group of 12 - please contact irene@cottontoquilts.com as she is hosting 3 groups a year and you may just work out as a fill in. :)

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  11. My dream: smiling among friends in one of the pictures. Well done ladies <3

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  12. Hi Bonnie, greetings from South Africa. I am so envious of the fun you ladies have at your retreats. We don't have many in South Africa unfortunately. I have always wondered what root beer is made of, and what it tastes like.

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    1. You would love root beer, especially with vanilla ice cream! So refreshing. A unique, wonderful taste. It's not fizzy and I believe, doesn't have caffeine. A great Summer drink.

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  13. Henrietta, when we lived in South Africa (Piettermaritzburg) I had a friend send me a package of root beer flavored Kool-Aid. Adding it to the sodastream worked like magic to bring back the taste of home. My daughter made gingerbeer for school galas. What memories your response brought!

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