Countdown to Wheels Up!

And........we have installation!

Nothing like cranking out the to-do list when my flights begin about 27 hours from now.  

But there is plenty of time.  Time to play with a new accessory.  Time to cut out a new project.  Time to welcome the September Quiltvillians on retreat - 

And time to anticipate the arrival of the new oven door - we've got shipping notification so all is falling into place.  With 27 hours to go to wheels up.  We can do this!

Have you heard of the Sew Q Laser? If your machine doesn't have a laser built in - you can add one!

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The Stitch Mob Quilt Parade!

If cloudy skies make for great color in photos - then we ordered this weather right on schedule!

In between the downpours that completely cancelled out our firepit plans (That's okay - the quilters were happy to stay inside and just keep on quilting on...) we were able to grab some quick but inspirational photos of the quilts both brought from home, and  tops pieced while here on retreat -

You guys know the drill by now....show your stuff!  Let your hard work be seen!

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Fabulous Food, First Finishes & Fine Friends!

I arrived at Quiltville Inn on Sunday morning to find Jessica, Chiquita, and Karen in the Kitchen whipping up a fabulous Sunday brunch fare - There is no way anyone goes hungry on retreat!

Just look at these beautiful ladies - who wouldn't want them in their circle of friends? I cherish each and every one of them.

It was a bit of a stormy weekend, either high humidity, or torrential downpours that made eating out on the porch not such a great idea - and that's okay.

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On Anniversaries & Birthdays -

It seems this day comes around faster and faster with each year that passes.

We talked about it a couple of weeks ago - our 42nd wedding anniversary.

And then last night - Oh!  Our anniversary is tomorrow....what do you want to do?

I looked at him.  He looked at me.  We looked at the schedule for the week.

How crazy is it that we have to schedule in a time to celebrate our anniversary?

But that's the way it is around here - for right now.

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This Is How We Do It!

I found some Stitch Mob gals relaxing, stitching, reading and enjoying the comforts of the Hen Den yesterday afternoon.

It's just what is needed after hours of pushing fabric through machines.

It's a bit quieter in here.  Until the laughter starts, and that's what clued me in that this space was being occupied.

It's mostly a cold weather space - during the warm summer months the porch is much preferred and there are places out there for stitching too.

But Hen Den it was yesterday - and it does my heart good to see it being enjoyed.

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Stitch Upon Stitch.

I walked into this yesterday - 

The sound of machines whirring and the lovely timbre of several folks laughing.

SO much balm for my soul!  

When so much is out of our control in this world and the news is full of things like plane crashes in Russia and conspiracies of Putin knocking out someone who betrayed him, fires and the loss of so many people in Maui (unfathomable grief) and other things that bombard us daily - it's wonderful to know that there is quilting to turn to, and friendships that cross so many of the other dividing lines drawn in the sand.

For one week - these folks can put all differences aside and just quilt, and I am happy to be included in their midst!

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Welcoming the Stitch Mob Home!

It's always a mad rush - but a "feel good" one - to take the time between one group leaving, and the next group arriving the following afternoon and make everything as fresh and nice and welcoming as things can be.

Do I have time to do this at my own house? NO!  LOL!

Yesterday the finishing touch was to switch out the quilt hanging in the foyer and hang my Amishy Baskets.  I'm so happy it's done, and it's just the right size for that spot.

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Thank you, Quilting Daily!

I awoke this morning to an email with this logo - Quilting Daily Top 20, 2023!

The attached email simply read:

"Dear Bonnie,

Today, Quilting Daily formally announced the Top 20 Award Program and list of the 2023 honorees in our newsletter. Congratulations, once again, for being recognized as an individual who has shaped the quilting industry by your artistry and passion. 

 

As a group, your combined contributions have made an impact that resonates beyond the craft and into the world of design, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. It is a true pleasure to highlight your accomplishments with this recognition.

 

As part of the recognition, I’ve attached a certificate of achievement for your records, the Top 20 logo, as well as a ‘frame’ you can place over your photo to use on social media.

 

Please join me in spreading the news and congratulating your fellow honorees!"

Oh my goodness!

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All of the Quilty Farewells!

It has been an awesome week of quilty togetherness with the August Quiltvillians 2.0!

Why 2.0?  Because they are the second group of retreaters gathering from my Quiltville's Open Studio Group on Facebook.

With over 123,000 members from around the globe, retreats are such a great way to actually meet online friends in person and develop those acquaintances into real life meaningful friendships.

I'm thrilled to have TWO Open Studio groups here in August, and even more excited that we'll have them back again next year.

Just look at this glorious quilt show over the porch rail!

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Never Dull Your Sparkle!

Nola brought sparklers.

We had a moment where all of our inner 3rd graders were let out to play on this beautiful fire pit night.

It didn't matter our age, our ability, where we came from, where we were going - all it meant was that we were all - collectively - instantly - 10 years old and enjoying the magic and beauty of simple sparklers.

Do you remember how sparklers smelled when you were a kid?

I still have a burn mark on one hand from a sparkler in my early teen years.  They are safer now - but as always, they don't last near long enough!

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Sew Much Going On!

My days are filled with big and little things - and sometimes those little things add up to things of great importance in the whole scheme of things so I try not to overlook those.

This whole week has been one of playing "whack-a-mole" with the to-do list.

No sooner had I crossed one thing off my list, then another would pop up in its place.

My mom used to call this kind of week "stomping out fires."  Yep.

Do you see that quilt hoop above and where it is?  

I finished the hand quilting on my Amishy Baskets quilt last night around 9pm while indulging in New Amsterdam on Netflix.

Done.  It's done!  

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Morning Glories Gift-Away!

Happy Pattern Release Day!

I am so blooming ready to get this one out there to you - it's been a long time waiting!

I tend to flip-flop a bit on projects that catch my fancy.

Sometimes it's scrappy everything - no color control, only contrast between what is foreground and what is background.

Other times - like our July Jacob's Cbain quilt, I pick a color theme and just go with it.

Morning Glories has a little bit of both - more colors involved with strategic placement - a whole ton load of green scraps (So happy to use these!) and a plethora of fun neutrals - just the way I like them!

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Round Fabric Art Bowls Gift-Away!

Good morning, Quiltvillians!

There is something exciting going down in the world of "Quilty things that are not quilts!"

Have you seen these cool bowls made out of small pieces of fabric? They are SO gorgeous and would be great for gift giving - I hate to say it but the holidays are right around the corner. (Heavy sigh from me!)

When Kirsten let me know her new book was out, and invited me to participate in a blog tour to get the word out, I jumped in and said yes!

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Down on Martha's Farm!

Warm summer evenings are something I cherish - I only wish late summer lasted a bit longer.  I can already feel a change in how the air feels.

We made a little road trip out to Martha & Don's place last night to check in on the new baby calves.

Oh sweet babies!  4 days old.  It was about 7pm and the sun was still shining on the hills beyond the creek, but the shadow of the mountains behind us was creeping that direction as the sun made its way down toward sunset.

Even the drasted thistles were so pretty in this light!

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Over The Rails with the TaDa Quilters!

The Sewists With The Mostest!

There was no stopping these gals, and from what I understand there were many nights up sewing past 2am while they laughed and ate, and talked and created -

And it was well worth it!

There on the left is Jill's top finished from the blocks her mom started before she passed.  A heartfelt completion that I know her mom is smiling down on.  Well done, Jill!  Pattern is Roll Roll Cotton Boll from String Fling.

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Tops, Tops & More Tops!

It was a great weekend - following the progress of so many tops coming together.

While there was plenty of time for fun on the porch, or a hike here and there, the TaDa quilters were so dedicated to reaching their goals when it came to finishing some projects!

I also love being in the "determination zone" so I was happily cheering on everyone else who was bound and determined to finish a quilt top before our "over the porch rail" photo session!

Here is Jilly's Roll Roll Cotton Boll from String Fling coming together - a project started by her late mom, with parts left in baggies for Jill to figure out just where things were going.

There was no stopping this woman - she was on a mission to get this top together.

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All Day Friday!

Welcome to the weekend, everyone!

This was yesterday's lunch on the porch - I love being out and enjoying the porch with the quilters and as we hit nearly mid-August I am counting down the weeks we have left before it is once again too cold to enjoy our time out here.

But not yet.  Not for a while.  We've got a good couple of months ahead at least!

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Tada All Around!

First thing in the morning - the morning after arriving at retreat - and there are finishes?

It seems the Tada Quilters were up burning the way past midnight 2am oil and sewing until the wee smalls to "Getter Done!"

Patty finished this cute top made from a layer cake and was just finishing up borders when I walked in.

Super cute!

For the first full day after arrival, there was a lot of quilty activity happening:

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Sleep - Interrupted!

It's a rainy Thursday morning in the mountains - and I'm a bit in a frenzy -

I posted this photo for International Cat Day on the 8th.  Don't they look so sweet and innocent?

Anyone who has awoken to the screech of a cat fight inside the house at 2am knows just exactly how I feel right now.

As things go - Ivy, who has chosen to spend her days outside away from Lola wanted to come in as Mable was needing to go out last night at that ungodly 2am time frame.

Evidently Lola didn't get put down into the basement first - and what ensued was the cat fight of all cat fights as Ivy came in and was confronted by Lola.

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Making Small Dents -

These two bins - I know folks who love brown all year round, but I am a "seasonal quilter" and I really have to be in the mood to sew something that to me feels just out of season.

I can't DO red and green things in July.  It feels weird to sew summer things in the dead of winter.

Most of what you see here was gifted as pre-cut 1 1/2'' strips.  I used quite a bit of them in Bear Branch but as you can see - there are still more!

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August Quiltvillians - It's A Wrap!

There were many heartfelt goodbyes this morning as folks filled up their cars with all of their belongings and headed off -

Some having to double back for things that they forgot, which gave more opportunities for more goodbye hugs and more laughter.

It's been a great week!!

Just check out these 3 baby bear, mama bear and papa bear Chilhowie finishes by Tonni, Kaye and Meg!

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Good Friends, Good Eats, Great Retreat!

We have had some amazing chefs cooking up a storm this retreat - the meals have been fantastic!

And I certainly love all of the choices suited to anyone's tastes.

As shown here - Taco Bar - what a fave!

All of the fixings, and you can choose a wrap, a taco shell, or make it as a salad.  Yum, yum and more yum!

And new to me - for those vegans amongst us - Sue made seasoned sweet potato as a meat replacement and it was to die for! (Sue, if you are reading this, I still need that seasoning recipe, please!)

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Celebrating Birthdays & More!

This is the kind of thing I love to see when I walk into the Quilting Quarters in the morning!

Just a glimpse of the previous night's activity while the sound of conversation and the smell of something really yummy also beckons from the dining room.

Yesterday was Becca's birthday, and I'm so happy she has chosen to spend it with the August Quiltvillians at Quiltville Inn!

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All On A Rainy Thursday!

Some days things don't go as planned.

As in the rain that started around 2am yesterday morning and continued all the way till mostly bedtime last night.

Rain isn't a problem for the quilters - they are happily sewing away and enjoying temps that never left the 60s yesterday.

Me on the other hand?  DOGS do not like to go out in the rain!

Which meant I worried, stewed, coaxed, coddled, encouraged and wrapped my whole day around  the possibility that they may be withholding "business" and causing discoveries later in the day when I returned home to check on them.

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Cliffs of Moher, Try 2!

Do you remember my post from the first trip out to the Cliffs of Moher with group number one??

FOG FOG, NOTHING BUT FOG!

It's not like we can pre-arrange the weather or anything like that, and the fog was beautiful in its own way.

And there is beauty in the mist and the fog - it is Ireland after all!

And just to remind you of what that day was like (Or if you didn't see the video posted to Facebook or Instagram) here you go.

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Take Me Back To Glendalough -

As much as I loved the boisterous bustle of city streets with pubs and shops, bright colors and cacophony of sounds -

I love places to wander in the quiet even more.

Ancient spaces.

Places where average people lived and loved and worked and played to make the best life they could for themselves and those around them - a simple life.

Which is what Saint Kevin likely was searching for when he up and moved to live a single solitary life, only to be followed by his followers.  Poor guy.  LOL!  He couldn't get a break!

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Sew Long, Farewell!

And just like that - in what seems like a mere blink of an eye (even though it was 6 nights...) they are off and on their way home - 12 different directions it seems from Connecticut to Canada to Florida and all the way to Los Angeles.

This group of ladies who met as strangers through my Open Studio group on Facebook - are now sisters by choice, in every way that matters most.

And I feel so lucky that I get to be part of this wonderous thing that happens during quilt retreat.

There have been joys and sadnesses over the past year.  Challenges and accomplishments. Ongoing struggles and progress.

And when folks gather the next year from whence they came - they get to share all of this and more.

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