Way Back When in 1987 -

It was 1987 when I put the last stitches into my one and only ever (And I mean EVER!) Double Wedding Ring Quilt.

I was born in 1962 - I'm turning 60 in just a few months - and that makes me just 25 when I finished this beast.

On the radio - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes were singing "I've had the time of my life..." (Dirty Dancing) and as I go through all of these quilts with the great quilt migration of 2021, I have to agree!

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From Sadie to Zoey with Love

Do you ever ask yourself WHY you put something off for so long, when it really wasn't that big of a deal?

Sadie chewed this quilt at least a dozen years ago.  I know I finished this top before our move from South Carolina to North Carolina - and that was 2008.

I just simply could not be bothered for whatever reason - and so I kept it folded good-side-out and displayed on top of a book shelf.

Chewed spots out of sight, out of mind - right?

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Machine Quilting with Patrick Lose!

Something FUN was quilted up over the weekend!

And to tell you the truth I have been quite star struck with the quilting of this one -

I don't know how long you've been quilting, but it started for me back in the early 80s.  My fabric designer stars were (and still are!) Jinny Beyer, Virginia Robertson, and most of all - Patrick Lose!

I can't tell you how many yards of Patrick's Moda Marbles that I have gone through in my quilting life.  I KNOW I have fabric in my stash that he designed eons ago and it still goes right into my quilts today because his fabrics are that blendable - and TIMELESS.

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Quilting Through the Weekend!

Saturday was Caturday around here - and Lola stole the show, as you can tell! LOL!!

A mob of Bonus Quiltvillians came over to the QPO Studio next door to Quiltville Inn just to heap praises on her and give her scritches, scratches, and treats.

I think Lola has the best deal going over here! LOL!

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Quilty Shenanigans!

I popped over to Quiltville Inn yesterday morning to find many of the Bonus Quiltvillians all cozy and comfy - congregating in the hen den with cups of coffee and morning chat.

I love hearing folks' plans for the day - several were heading out to Wytheville to hit up Batiks, Etc. and taking notes of things wanted or needed by others.

If it takes a village - we've got one here!

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September '21 Quilty Box Gift-Away (And More!)

September isn't over yet!

And let's make the most of it with a September '21 Quilty Box Gift-Away!

I'm not ready to say farewell to beautiful sunny days quite yet.

I keep crossing my fingers and hoping for an Indian Summer that carries on through October.

I may be fooling myself, but a girl can dream, can't she?

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Kucht in the Nick of Time! (And Sew Pad Sale!)

While I was finishing up yesterday's blog post - this was going on at Quiltville Inn!

The stove on the right is the outgoing one - new in April - and the left is the replacement coming in.

You know I've written about our stove woes MANY TIMES over the past several months.

First when the original range that came with the house quit working, and there was no such thing as a replacement thermostat or gasket to be found for this 12 year old range that had NOTHING ELSE wrong with it.

This was another episode that proved planned obsolescence to be a reality - a commercial gas range that just COOKS should last longer than that, and parts should be standardized to where you can get replacements.

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When Mornings Turn Foggy -

There is a saying in these parts - that if you count the number of foggy mornings starting around the end of August - all the way until winter, you'll have the number of snow days that are coming in the winter months ahead.

I took this photo of our foggy mountain morning yesterday on my way from the cabin where we live, to the QPO studio.

As you can see, our mountains were shrouded in low hanging clouds and fog.

It was an all-day-rain.  The kind that doesn't pound hard, but just comes in a steady fall, giving everything in the surrounding fields and farms a much needed soaking.

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Other Weekend Things -

Sometimes you've just got to take a break and step away from it all -

It was warm here over the weekend with temps in the 80s.  

The main BIG JOB was to spend time painting the porch rails at the back side of the porch at Quiltville Inn,  and paint until the paint ran out.

We know the job is too large to get it done all at once.  We are working on it as time allows - it's much like maintenance on a cruise ship. Once you've painted yourself all the way around, it's time to go back to where you began and start all over!

Sunday morning however, needed to be enjoyed by a little side trip down to the New River.

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Weekend of Quilts -

Where do I start with the recap of this weekend?

I can say that YES. It feels good to be making progress.

Baby steps will still move me forward.

And nothing has to happen immediately.

And all of this (and more that you can't see) was unloaded from the van to the living room floor where most of it is still sitting.

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The Great Quilt Relocation Trip -

This happened yesterday.

A trip to Wallburg to meet with my realtor friend, and get more movement going on getting the old house ready to put on the market now that our renter has moved out.

And I have a van completely loaded bonnet to boot with quilts.

Isn't this what it's like when someone has been quilting a lifetime?

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And It All Lead To This!

Oh Boy!

I'm in trouble now!

I finished the work that was on the "must do" list and found myself with some extra time late afternoon.

You know how they say "Idleness is the devil's playground?"  I disagree!

Because fabric and rulers and rotary cutters can get me into a big heap of trouble in a blink! LOL!

And I think this is where I'm leaning.

But then again, I could change my mind at any time, so don't quote me!

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Inside This Patchworker's Brain!

Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this.

Instead of counting sheep - my brain has this imaginary grid like graph paper, where I can envision shapes and patches - triangles, squares, rectangles and more - coming together to create patterns, make connections with other units with seemingly endless possibilities -

I design during my waking hours.  I design in those moments where I am relaxing before falling to sleep. the giant graph paper in my mind starts filling up with shapes the moment that birds start their morning chirping and awaking begins.

Sometimes it drives me absolutely insane.

Other times - I am so excited to jump into my day I want to throw all the "must do's" to the side and just dive in.

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September Sky, Spider & The Fly!

Whoowhooo!

It's time, it's time, it's more than time!

The middle of the month arrives so quickly - one day we turn from August to September, and then BAM!  It's the middle of the month!

But with the middle of September comes the desire to be tucked up cozy inside, playing with fabric and planning on how I am going to happily quilt myself though the fall and winter months ahead.

I can't stop the seasons from getting colder, so I may as well dig in and enjoy it!

Are you with me?

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Quilter At Work!

What can one quilter do on the first day back at work after a weekend of bum ankle elevation?

Sit and cut!

And sort and press and cut some more.

And listen to podcasts.

My big outing was taking the mail I filled on Sunday to the USPS about 3/4 mile up from the inn.

No handicap placard, but I got the next spot over and hobbled my way to the door, handed it over, grabbed the empty tub and hobbled back.

It's amazing how much effort and time that can take when one is used to sprinting to and fro!

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In the Land of "Feet Up!"

Photo through the window from where I sat on Sunday Morning -

Zoey and Ivy are loving the cooler morning temps and the warmth of the sun on on their fur.

As for me - trick ankle wrapped in an ice pack and elevated on pillows - there was no way I was going to attempt to get in that hammock on the deck that they are lounging beneath. 

No freaking way!

I am, however, happy to say that Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation have greatly helped the ankle situation.

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Whoops! She Did It Again!

Yesterday we got an early head start on the porch floor project at Quiltville Inn.

Yes, those are my skinny ankles in socks AND shoes no less -  It was chilly yesterday morning, the seasons are turning and with the job at hand I was not about to slosh around in sandals on the wet grass getting to and from.

I never really thought of the porch floor as looking dirty before - but once that new coat of paint was down - wow. What a difference.

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When Internet Fails - Quilting Ramps Up!

For the second time in a week - our internet has gone out at the Quiltville Inn & QPO studio property.

It wouldn't be such a big deal if I didn't need the internet to even give me a cell signal via my booster - but it is what it is, and when the internet goes out we find other things to do.

I can only hope that these two big outages have been due to IMPROVEMENTS with CenturyFink, not more duct tape fixes on an already antiquated and less than modern system.

We are just one notch above dial up after all, it's all we can get out here.  

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Projects, More Projects and Little Bits of Sewing!

I spy Canada!

These little scraps of red and white Canadian fabrics came in the mail from a friend a couple of months back, and the smallest of the strips are finding their way into my Cabin Corners border blocks. I love having little pops of fun stuff in my scrap quilts - things that aren't visible from 6 feet away, but when you get up close and personal - things that make ma (and hopefully the other lookers) smile!

They are getting there - those little Cabin Corners blocks - 

I have a sneaking suspicion that I shared this photo earlier - but maybe it was just Instagram/Facebook?  My weekend was a blur.

I'm still feeling pretty blurry!

This little finish happened late Tuesday!

I love how a small project checks all the boxes on creativity and satisfaction with a quick completion.

I bordered my lone leftover Rocky Road to Grayson block with a 1'' finished inner blue border - fabric also received from a friend!  It felt so good to put that beautiful blue right to good use.

The cushion cover had been completed for at least a week and all I needed to do was make a pillow form for it.  It didn't take long at all.  It's now residing in bedroom 4 at the inn.

In other goings on - I ran some errands and was asked to pick up the newly sharpened lawn mower blades at the sharpening place.  My mind kicked into gear, knowing that the antique place I hadn't been to in quite a while as a short trip up the road from there.

Yes, that is me all masked up in the mirror.

The pink and brown hourglass pinwheel quilt caught my eye - all of that lovely double pink.

I also love how the diagonal line quilting changes directions in between the blocks and the sashings.  Can you see it?

It had me wondering about the maker - where she acquired her scraps. And yes, I'm assuming it is a she - thought it might not have been.

Were these scraps from skirts, dresses and blouses?  Such a pretty combo!

Though nothing came home with me - I did find this lonely early Singer 66 (the presser feet are back clampers, not side clamp - that was something that was changed in time) with the red eye decals.

It looks nearly treadle ready, though it is missing the bobbin cover.  The decals seem to be in really nice condition and I bet it wouldn't take much to get her sewing.

She just needs a cabinet and some TLC.  

However, I'm still on the downsizing side of things and at the price of $60.00 without a cabinet, it was best left there for someone else to discover and love.

Here is something else that has been going on!

Click to Play:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie)

It looks so much better!

We've needed to do this for the past 3 years - but it was always one of those "We'll get to it" projects.

With the next couple of weekends free, we are able to tackle some of those outdoor things while the weather is till good enough to get it done.

So where has my otherwise non-sewing time been spent?

Pattern writing at my big desk!

Time to pull out all of your favorite spooky fabrics!

And throw in some fun non-Halloween prints to spice up the mix.

And that arrow border? SO MUCH FUN!

I'm hoping to release this by next week -

And there is more in store!

Since not everyone is "INTO" holiday quilts - 

I will be offering September Sky as well!

I hope to be ready with this one by the weekend as well - and YES, there will be introductory pricing.  And YES, We will be throwing them together in an even more price reduced bundle.

My only hurdle right now?  It's raining. So it's not a good photography day.  But I will do what I can do!

If you are wanting to make September Sky - start gathering your purples and neutrals - and yes, that is all one piece of black yardage as my constant throughout the quilt - do you have a piece you've been saving and want to put to good use?

Of course, you are never limited to colors in any quilt - go your own way! And have a great time sewing up the scraps.

So needless to say - that is where you'll find me today - back at my desk drawing graphics and writing patterns.

What's up for your Thursday ahead?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

The most important things in life are people, not things! 

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Wanderlust quilt from my book Addicted to Scraps available at deep discount in the Quiltville Store!

Have a Terrific Thursday, folks!

 

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Quilting, Friendships & More!

 This was our Monday evening group photo - 

We had already waved Jane off as her hubby swung by and whisked her off to the wilds of Wytheville to spend a few days at the family farm.

She was here for the hanging of the quilts over the porch rail, though - and what an array of gorgeousness it was!

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Those Busy September Quiltvillians!

Our Labor Day was filled with many demos and mini workshops!

I love it when folks are willing do dig in and try new things - even if they feel all fumble fingered and footed in the process.

How can we learn anything if we aren't willing to feel a bit awkward and goofy at the beginning?

One of my favorite things to do is demonstrate the treadle machines at the inn, and give folks a go at it.

And it doesn't take long to catch on - the job of your feet is to keep the pedal going in the way that the handwheel needs it to go.  On singer machines, that means keep that handwheel turning TOWARD you - because if it goes away from you in the opposite direction, it's going to break your thread.  That simple!

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All On A Long Holiday Weekend!

Happy Labor Day Monday, everyone!

It has been quite the weekend here, and I'm about to play a bit of catch up.  

It's quite often that I don't know where to start a post, or which direction the narration will go, so I let the photos tell the story and just go from there.

There may be some jumping around in this one as it has been quite the - well, you'll see!

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An Apple a Day - And Time to Play!

It's apple harvest season at Quiltville Inn!

Our property came with as of yet unused garden beds you can see in the background, and THREE very old - and this year very productive - apple trees of unknown variety.

The year previous a late spring frost killed all of the blossoms, but this year we have a bumper crop!

I have offered the apple bounty to my friend Martha who will can, freeze, dry, preserve anything if it stands till long enough.  LOL!

Martha and Don arrived yesterday morning to start harvesting the most ready of the trees!

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All on a Thursday -

Say hello to the September Quiltvillians!

It's like an old homecoming week around here we have a few first-timers, but most of these gals have retreated with each other before, and this is a reunion of folks from last September's visit!

As they arrived one by one, two by two unloading their items to the back porch before moving their cars (and luckily we missed most of the heavy rain from tropical storm Ida!) I was humming and singing the theme song to Welcome Back Kotter!

"Welcome back - your dreams were your ticket out......"

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Sept/Oct '21 Quiltmaker Gift-Away!

I am so happy that September has arrived and ALL THINGS FALL are filling my field of vision!

Bring on the oranges and golds, the rusts and the browns - and the pumpkin spice flavored and scented EVERYTHING!

My September/October 2021 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine is in the house and chock full of delicious autumn projects that have me jonesing to play with all of the colors of nature - even if we are still very much in summer weather here in Virginia.

But it can feel all earth-toney on the INSIDE if we choose to quilt that way, right?

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Hello, September!

September is here!

Whether we are looking forward to the change of seasons - or not - it comes anyway.

I really do enjoy the change of seasons, even if I wished that time didn't march on so quickly, so relentlessly.

I remember being a kid - a young teenager - and thinking that the 3 months out of school really WAS leisurely and seemingly endless.

Little did I know that decades later it would pass in almost a blink.

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