Indigo Way Mystery Introduction!

How many years have we been doing mysteries?

They started around 2008 when I was moving from South Carolina to North Carolina with Carolina Crossroads which is now included in my first book Scraps & Shirttails.

Mysteries continued - some being published after the fact in later publications, and there are several that still live down at the bottom of the Free Patterns tab.

The most recent mysteries (including this one eventually) were retired and then offered as PDF patterns in the digital pattern section of the Quiltville Store.

This year, as many others before it (except for during the non-traveling time of Covid) gets its inspiration from somewhere I've been in the past year - Vietnam!

This post contains the back story, colors, yardage requirements, and recommended tools.

Our yearly Quiltville Winter Mystery begins in earnest with Part One going live on Black Friday, 11/24/23.

All of the posts for our Indigo Way mystery will be linked under the Indigo Way tab at the top of the blog for easy reference.

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Star of Hope Sew-Along, Part 2!

It's Monday morning - and I hope you are ready to dive back in to our Star of Hope Sew-Along.

Click HERE for Introduction including yardage info and more.

Part 1 came out Monday 10/16/23 with the Star of David blocks. 

Today -Part 2: The Stars Surrounding blocks. 

Everything is also linked under the Star of Hope tab at the top of the blog and will likely remain through December.

That said, PLEASE save all of the PDF parts to your own devices as it will be retired at some point.

Our Quiltville Winter Mystery intro will still release TOMORROW, Halloween 10/31/23. Part 1 of that mystery will be posted Black Friday 11/24/23.

Thank you so much for jumping in with me to collectively put our thoughts, sadness, fears and prayers into something tangible. ⁣⁣

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This we can do when we feel like there is nothing we can do. ⁣⁣

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Good Friends, Good Food, Good Porch Time!

There is always something good cooking in the kitchen at Quiltville Inn!

Everyone's best tried-and-true recipes are served to quilty friends with flair.

Even new treats are tried in hopes that the recipe will pass with family this coming Thanksgiving. Hanukkah, Christmas or New Years.

I love walking into the hubbub of a busy kitchen - in this case brunch was about to be served.

No one goes hungry, that's for sure!

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Silk Path PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

And just where did October go anyway?

Somehow we ended up here - Friday, October 27, 2023 and it is Silk Path PDF pattern and Fabric Roll Gift-Away time!

What does Silk have to do with this quilt obviously made of cotton?

Would you believe me if I told you it all started on a trip to Vietnam in May of 2023?

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All In An Evening's Distraction -

Five leftover Silk Path blocks.

What can one do with five leftover blocks?

The first thing that comes to mind?

Table Runner!

Of course, these blocks would look great on point - but that means setting triangles.

Cut from yardage?  No way, Jose!

It was 5pm, retreaters had just arrived - I was in a hurry to get home because a phone call had come from The Hubster telling me that I had *BOTH* key fobs for the Subaru in my purse and would I *PLEASE* hurry home so he could get to his archery thing??

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Summit St Box Gift-Away!

Sew-Alongs! New Pattern Releases & Gift-Aways!

Winter Mystery info post coming out in less than a week -

It's chaos over here, but I can't hold these back from you any longer - they are far too cute and I know you are going to want them!

I love these boxes - I've stored everything inside them from cut up block pieces to sewing notions -

You know I transport projects-in-progress back and forth from home to QPO studio and these boxes are just about the right size for everything -

And they've got a quilty flair that speaks to me!

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Tula & The Kitty Cabin -

For months I've been fielding questions about little miss Tula Tallulah Lou (Yes her name keeps getting added to...and I'm okay with that, she doesn't seem to mind!) and our oncoming winter here in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia.

Yes - temps can get quite cold here in the winter month.

Yes, there is ice and snow.

While we have a heated garage, she would not like to be locked up inside and I'm not putting in cat doors to invite all of the possums and racoons and other critters in.

Yes, I know they have remote control collars that will only open for the one wearing the collar.  But I don't want to put a cat door in the door to the garage.  I'm sure many understand.

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The Brown Birds have Flown -

Now THIS is what we call a Quilter Cluster!

How fun it was to grab a group photo full of quilts and quilters, capturing all of the exuberance, laughter and love the Brown Bird Bee gals have for one another.

It shows in their interactions - that connection.  The conversations, the helping with projects, the grabbing of a seam ripper to help someone undo an "oops."

If only the rest of the world could behave toward each other the way these groups of women, all from different backgrounds and situations do.

The world would be a better place if we were all quilters. 

Don't you think so?

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A Brown Bird Weekend!

It's been a fun few days with the Brown Bird Bee in residence at Quiltville Inn!

What a fantastic group of ladies - so eager to jump right in and get sewing, and keep sewing!

It rained pretty much non-stop yesterday, so it was a perfect day for sewing and I was ever so grateful with the confirmation that we had chosen the RIGHT day to squeeze in our Appalachian Trail hike the day before.

However, the rain didn't stop a carload of ladies from heading to Jefferson, NC to explore the town and rummage through the antique mall in search of goodies.

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Quilt A Little, Hike A Lot!

The day started out here - with scraps and a bit of vision.

I knew what I wanted - I just didn't know what it would look like in real time.

Is this small?  YES! But then I knew that based on the size of the Star of David blocks presented as Part 1 in our Star of Hope Sew-Along that began Monday.

I am invested in what my own heart is telling me to do with this quilt.  

I'm not designing for anyone else's preferences or skill level.

This is why I presented a second possibility (Or would that really be the third?) in this photo:

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When Greens Turn Golden -

The past few days have been truly running for me - 

A friend has been out of town, and I've been in charge of feeding her dogs and cats twice a day - so there has been quite the bit of opportunity for leaf peeping and appreciating the turn of seasons here in my corner of Appalachia.

I love living in an area that experiences a vibrant fall.

And no matter how much I complain about winter, we really have a shorter winter in Southwestern Virginia than my Minnesota roots gave me as a kid - and I'm fine with that!

Add a cloudy grey sky to the mix and the colors take on a life of their own.

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A Weekend with the Muddy Creek Misfits!

Just because I had other things to post about, doesn't mean there wasn't a wild weekend of wonderful women creating amazing things at the inn!

The Muddy Creek Misfits are my hometown Winston-Salem group - I don't see them often enough!  100 miles is just long enough to get in the way of spending as much time with them as we'd like - but they do come in March and October so we get to catch up at least twice a year.

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Backtracking & Moving Forward!

"Stop the car!" I exclaimed from the passenger seat as The Hubster drove us up and over the top and around the bend.  "Look at all of that color change!"

I didn't think we'd actually get much this year.  There has been very little rain.  The creeks and even the New River are so low that they've got dry spots and sand bars that are usually covered with flowing water.

But yesterday?  Clouds.  Drizzle.  Wind.  And just enough color for me to ask him to stop.  He rolled down his driver's side window and I leaned in to snap this photo from where I sat.

It won't be long until trees are bare.  I need to enjoy every moment I can while Autumn lasts.

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Star Of Hope Sew-Along, Part 1

Hi everybody.  

It's Monday morning - and I hope you are ready to dive in to our Star of Hope Sew-Along.

I know many of you are new.  So just some basics to begin with, shall we?

I'll be presenting this Sew-Along in 3 parts.

I will release the pattern in parts, just like with our yearly Quiltville Winter Mystery.

(Watch for THAT introduction to post on Halloween, 10/31/23. Part 1 of this year's mystery will be posted Black Friday 11/24/23.)

Click the Star of Hope tab at the top of the blog for the Introduction post for THIS Sew-Along including yardage info and more.

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Changing Direction -

Yesterday afternoon we had to make a 2 hour driving trip to Hickory, NC for an appointment Dave had at the main Ortho office.

Could there have been any prettier October afternoon to travel there by Blue Ridge Parkway?

Of course, I had to twist his arm and "promise to not take too long!" to get him to stop at any overlooks along the way.

I just needed some time with the vastness of peace that these views give me.

So much turmoil - in my own heart.  I feel it in my soul. Down to my core.

What has happened - gosh, going back 7 years or more?  Isn't that how the song goes "7 years of bad luck, good times in the past..." (Thank you Stevie Wonder!)

And maybe because I'm just that much older, and have stuffed things down for so long, everything seems so much heavier somehow.

And when this happens - we recognize it - we change direction.

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Star of Hope Sew-Along!

I don't know about you - but I'm feeling so shredded that I can hardly make myself go through the paces of my day.⁣
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Yes, it's the wrong time of year to do this - our Quiltville Winter Mystery intro post comes out on Halloween.⁣
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Silk Path PDF pattern releases also this month.⁣
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But that's all first world problems.⁣
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I'm needing to sew something I can put my love and effort into for the people of Israel.⁣
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I've had ideas floating in my head since Saturday - this just gelled yesterday. 

This is your introductory post.

We are starting on Monday. ⁣
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On To The Borders!

Doesn't it just feel so good when you get into the "end-zone" with any quilting project?

There are several "end-zones" for me when it comes to any quilt.

Getting everything cut out is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Finishing the block assembly is another feat accomplished.

Getting the quilt center together - that's MAJOR!  Pat yourself on the back!

Finishing the quilt top with the addition of pieced borders?  It's a triple-yay 

And there are many more whoowhoo's to come - Next up: Piecing a backing, getting the whole kit and kaboodle loaded into the long arm to get it basted - and then the hand quilting can begin.

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How's That Sewing Going??

It's getting to the exciting part around here!

I don't know what else to call this block - I've only ever known it as a Signature Block - but something is going to strike me when I've finished the quilt, and the quilt as a whole will have a new name.

But still - do you see how sharp and crisp all of these points look?

Pinning to match points is the only way to be happy with the result when pinning is required.  There is no skipping it.

It takes longer - yes.  I know we are in a hurry to get things together so we can move on - but it's worth the time.  I tell you!

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Before The Rains Came -

It started out bright and sunny - and even a bit warm as jackets and sweaters were left on the porch as folks came down the front walk for our group photo op.

"Oh, it's nice out here!" was the response.  "Oh, hurray!"

We'd counted on it being colder - that is what was predicted anyway.  But look closely - see those clouds?

It ain't over until it's over - and just like anywhere else "Give it 10 minutes, the weather will change!"

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Come On, Fall Color!

I took this photo Saturday morning as the sun was shining through the trees...slower to raise itself into the sky at this point.

I'm still looking at the sky through a filter of green - but I know in just a few weeks that  those leaves will be down and I'll once again have a long-range view of the mountains toward the east.

Soon.  And I know it will happen all to quickly.  The last two mornings our temps have dipped into the 30s - 

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Long Autumn Walks & Some Very Fine Finishes!

Early Autumn is glorious.  That's all I can say, really - 

Temps have been warm and we've tried to make the best of enjoying each day with as much outside time as possible.

Days like this - we shouldn't let the sunshine and warmth go to waste even if we are quilting inside.

We can quilt in the dark of the evening.  Afternoons are meant for walking long dirt roads and taking in the changing of colors.

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Quilters Gotta Quilt!

This just takes ALL the cake!  I am dying of cuteness overload - is that a thing?

I walked into the Quilting Quarters yesterday morning and found Morning Glories being made in super-mini size - Oh my word.  SO CUTE!

My observation? The one downside with minis is that they don't use up enough fabric fast enough.  There aren't enough minis in the world to sew down my stash.  It's like trying to bail out a leaky boat with a leakier bucket.

But it is so much fun fun fun!

I love these blocks - I can't wait to see how far these get over the course of this retreat.

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Paper Cutting in Łowicz!

Łowicz (Pronounced WOVE-itch) is a small town conveniently located on the gentle banks of the Bzura River in the very center of the Masovia region of Poland. It is known for its triangular Market Square – the only one in Poland and one of only three in Europe. 

In Łowicz folk traditions are still alive through multi-colored clothes, folk dance groups, and exceptional cut-outs made of paper. 

With a little luck, you can even meet a lady dressed in a traditional folk outfit! (We did!)

In the Łowicz Museum and open-air ethnographic park, we saw exhibits related to the history of the region, Masovian folk costumes, 19th-century cottages, and examples of baroque art, as well as a Memorial to the local Jews. 

The interesting history, rich culture, and folklore, as well as amazing traditions - everything speaks in favor of getting to know this delightful Polish town.

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Zalipie, Part 2!

I promised a part 2 - And now I'm re-reading through Part 1 to find what photos have already been posted, and what needs to be included.

I loved this little village so much that I would go back in a heartbeat.  

If you missed Part 1, you'll find it HERE.

And in order to set the tone for this lovely visit through a very small Polish village let me introduce you to our Polish guide, Kasia!

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Just Small Gang of Quilting Friends!

This kind of fun - 

This is the kind of gang any quilter would want to be part of!

When they plan and plan and design shirts for their retreat - Oh, the giggles and smiles these shirts bring!

And as September crossed over into October we enjoyed every minute of this very small but very quilty gang being together.

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Stepping Into October!

It's been a wonderfully warm start to October.

And I am so thrilled to have had a group of women willing to leave their sewing machines and projects for just an hour or so and get out into some NATURE!

I know as cold weather season gets closer that my own desire to get out when things are icy will wane.

I'm a fair-weather walker, and once temps leave the 40s - forget it.

But while we still have 70s?  Let's GO!

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