Barely Time to Quilt!

Lola, evidently holding the quilt top center from sliding off the table to the floor - 

I've been working on this project mostly off, less on, for the past several months.

It all began when I unboxed a bunch of cut red half-square triangles that were left in a bag - remnants of my Hunter's String Star.

Leftovers.  There are always leftovers!  And sometimes it is just what I need to kick me into the next gear.

Remember this one?

Hunter’s String Star is available as a PDF pattern stand alone, but also comes FREE with purchase of my book String Frenzy.

I love this quilt!  And I can't wait to have it out during the holiday season - all the way through Valentine's Day.  Because.  RED!

But what about those extra half-square triangles?  

Not to mention a BUNCH of leftover red string blocks from my Forever Mine quilt we did for last Valentine's Day!

(Yes, evidently I was planning on Forever Mine being a BIG quilt, but it ended up as a small one, and I had loads of string units sewn!)

I have made "slanted star" quilts for decades. They are what first introduced me to "Stitch & Flip" corners.  

One on my couch right now?  Smoky Mountain Stars from the Free Patterns tab. It's been there since 2005. The printer -friendly version is not mobile friendly, so if you are printing it, go to a real computer. 

But I digress!

Slanted stars on neutral strings!  DOUBLE YES!

And the leftover red string units went almost 3/4 the way around without me having to make that many.  I just needed a few more....

Lola, being the huge help that she is with choosing reds!

Just a bit more....

But everything came to a halt yesterday around noon.  There was something I needed to do, and it was a beautiful day.  Quilt progress could wait.

And I'm mulling over a name for this one - Cherry Crunch maybe?

This is my view from where I sat at CVS waiting for my flu shot.

As an innkeeper I come in contact with folks from all over as they travel and stay.  

I don't spend time with nearly as many people as I did when I was traveling and teaching, but I still spend time with folks from far away places.

I have gotten flu shots every year while traveling to teach, and I'm not going to stop now.

So while I waited - I perused the magazines - can you see the bottom right corner title?

HUNGRY GIRL!

And I realized I was.  HUNGRY.  And I made a plan right then and there that shots deserve a reward.

Chinese in Galax, VA!  YUM!

And since I was out and about I did all the other usual errand stuff before heading back.  I had a date with a tall man come 5pm:

Winterizing the Kitchen Window!

This old window may not be "original" to the 1884 house, but it is old.  The stained glass is lovely, and the two wing windows let in wonderful spring/summer/fall air when the cooking gets hot.

But in the winter months - the porch becomes a frozen wind tunnel, and the breeze blows through every gap in those windows.

Previously we only did the shrink wrapping on the inside - but you know what is attracted to kitchen lights in the twilight/night?  GNATS!

And there was a plethora of dead bugs between the window and the plastic film with no way to clean them out until spring.

So now we put the shrink film on the OUTSIDE first - mostly to keep the gnats out.  And then we do the inside too, for an extra layer of cold protection.

And because someone will ask - this is what we used:

Frost King Easy Roll Cylinder Window Kit.

It's so simple - you adhere it to the double stick removable tape, and use a hair dryer to shrink it taut to the window.

It will stay in place until likely April when nights no longer go below freezing.

As we left - the moon was just rising!

It got bigger and brighter - 

What you see at the left side of the photo is smoke from the burn pile at the Christmas Tree farm across the road from the inn.

This morning there are no adverse effects from the shot. Arm is not sore. I feel fine.  And there is a quilt waiting to be finished!

It's another beautiful sunny October day, and I'm going to enjoy it!

How about you?

And don't forget:

October's Boxy Bow Ties pattern kick off is a hit!

I am super thrilled with the response, and can't wait to see your projects in progress as photos show up on Facebook and Instagram.  Please use hashtag #boxybowtiesquilt and tag me @quiltville_bonnie so I can follow along with your progress!

AND! We are having a Gift-Away!

I'll be drawing for one winner who will receive the printable PDF pattern for Boxy Bow Ties for themselves AND a friend, along with this for both:

A This & That Fabric Roll from Cotton to Quilts!

Enter to win ON THAT POST.

Drawing to happen Monday 10/25/21!

You'll find Boxy Bow Ties in the digital pattern section of the Quiltville Store! And to kick this excitement into gear, I've placed it at 25% off through 10/31/21 at only $9.00, No coupon required!

Don't forget that my Punkin Patch Runner is also marked 50% off at only $5.00 through 10/31/21 as well!

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.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Vintage string quilt found in Sisters Oregon. ⁣

This I strongly believe. ⁣

Be so busy happily creating that you don't have time to point out others' flaws. ⁣

Throw yourself into what you love with blinders on and quit worrying about the others around you. 
⁣

Just create from your soul.