Let's start the week with something Quilty!
How about a set of half pineapples blocks -
Which means this top is getting much closer to putting together. Hooray!
The fabric scraps in these blocks are coming from 2 string bins - blacks and neutrals.
Are they going down in volume? Heck no! They are self-replenishing!
But I don't mind because that gives me the endless variety that I love to work with.
My best advise for folks making scrap quilts - stop looking at the print on the fabric, or the genre of the fabric. Look at the color family. The more variety the better!
Floors at Quiltville Inn are double-coated and dry!
We were dry enough to start moving everything back into place yesterday - and yes, everything is wood-floor safe.
All tables have felt pads on legs. The rolling wheels on the sewing chairs are wood floor safe. #ad
The only thing we have to worry about is rolling suitcases, totes and sewing machine carriers. Those will need to be carried for a couple of weeks until the floor is fully cured.
No worries - I'll have Hubster Dave on deck with me to help carry suitcases and totes past the front hall and to the sewing stations so they won't mar the finish.
Did I mention he is now retired? Yeah - came as a shock to me too. I mean, I knew it was coming, but I didn't know it would come while I was away in New Zealand and be told about it upon my return.
Pretty chestnut floors circa 1905.
The cows are back!
This is a good indicator of spring around here.
I've been sharing snippets of my New Zealand trip a bit at a time along with everything else that is going on - It's fun revisiting what we did on whatever day -
And this is the day we drove back to Queenstown to fly over to Christchurch. Click to Play:
Those mountains!
Yes, hexies were worked on during this trip!
That is when I wasn't watching this scenery from the plane -
(Love how agricultural New Zealand is!)
Or admiring cute cottages from the bus window as wee rolled on by -
But how do you make quilters (and shop owners) really happy? Find a bus driver named Jeff who knows about quilting and fabric stores thanks to his wife and daughter and take us to TWO places in one run!
We are quilters and haven't pet fabric in 6 or so days.
Let us in here!
They were in search of New Zealand and Māori prints - and they found them!
That's a happy Tena right there!
One thing I loved about the NZ shops was that they transferred all of their yard goods to short bolts so you could display more variety in a small space. This worked great!
A Heartful of Sewing is located in a cute little mall with a grocery store and other things, so we were able to do double duty.
A second store - Fabric Vision
This shop had a lot of garment and home dec fabric - if you need it, it is here.
They also had a corner of quilting cottons and our ladies went right to work in picking up pieces they liked that weren't seen at Heart Full of Sewing.
I already knew our luggage was going to be a struggle keeping it from going beyond weight limits.
Today - desk day. Seriously desk day.
And having a retired man at my elbow - the struggle is real! LOL! (How do you do it, those of you with retired hubs? For Pete's sake he is actually VACUUMING upstairs making me feel guilty that I'm not up there doing it!)
Okay Desk Day. Let's go.
Side note - It has been one month since our Inigo Way reveal. So the parts are now officially retired and removed from the blog. Links to PDF parts have also been removed from my website.
I hope to have the PDF pattern booklet ready for purchase (yes, with an sale price for a limited time) on Friday.
I know there is something else I'm forgetting - but if I remember I'll tell you tomorrow.
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Don't just talk about it.
Do. It.
Whatever it is, don’t put it off any longer!
I suggest delegating some cooking responsibilities!
ReplyDeleteThe plus side of having a retired hubs for me was that we share the house and yard work. Before it was mostly me (6 aces). Now I have more time to sew. Let him help and don't feel guilty. Your pictures of NZ are so lovely, wish I could have been there. Happy sewing. :)
ReplyDeleteI laughed and laughed. A retired hubby and a quote of talk less. A quilter with a retired hubby. Bonnie, you made my day.
ReplyDeleteRetirement = twice as much husband and half as much pay!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel guilty about the hubs vacuuming the floor. As long as he can find something to do, he won't be bothering you.
ReplyDeleteMy mister retired about 5 years ago, but he has his mother ( who was newly widowed) that he needed to help, so that made it a little easier for me. He went back to work this year driving a school bus. I loved the quote for today.... and those FLOORS!!! So beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteIn regards to husband doing chores, let it go. You are still working and he can take over some (or all) of house chores. I found if you let him find the chore on his own it will get done. Asking him to do chores, not so much!
ReplyDeleteHusband was able to retire at 62. Immediately got himself into a daily/weekly routine that you can set your watch to. That includes some inside chores. It's good that he knows what it takes to keep this house running. I also know exactly when he'll be off taking his walk or out doing errands. Routines are good at our age. After all his years of military service and then corporate work, I don't mind that he's home. There were many years when he wasn't. It's wonderful that he is now.
ReplyDeleteMy husband retired first and he does so much yard work and cooking and meal planning. Let it go. More time to sew!
ReplyDeletegood luck Bonnie, it;s a bit tricky having them around, your quote of the day is a great place to start, not everything is worth saying, or thinking about. you've got this girl,
ReplyDeleteMy husband retired a couple of years ago. He asks me in the morning if there is anything he needs to do. I think a few seconds and then tell him, "No, enjoy yourself". He does all the grocery shopping b/c he loves to shop. I am so thankful that he helps me as much as he does and doesn't c/o about my sewing time. Enjoy having him around. My widowed friends miss heir husbands. Helen Hewell
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I retired together, and it's been so much fun! And, yes! Without prompting, he picked up first the laundry, then some of the daily cleaning, and just recently, learning to cook. He said, "You did it by yourself all those years so now it's my turn." Do I love it. Yes. I'm a very blessed woman! Chris
ReplyDeleteMy hubby retired Feb of 2020. We were going to travel and get to know each other again. Well, COVID destroyed that idea. Being together 24/7 for more than a year was really eye opening. Lol. As long as he has his little projects everything is good. Best wishes to you both.
ReplyDeleteYep, hubby's been retired 4 years now. Somedays he takes walks and naps. He reads a Lot. Dave needs a hobby. I get way too many hugs. Don't feel guilty. He's just helping. Thanks for sharing New Zealand with us. I have a UFO Day with Quilty friends. Gotta work on my Indigo Way so it doesn't become one.
ReplyDeleteFloors are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy husband worked from home for 7 years before retiring so we had our transition time for his retirement already worked out. I have an upstairs quilting studio and he has the rest of the house downstairs to do as he pleases. He keeps himself busy and we volunteer together at our local hospital, he is an easy retiree :0) and I have always enjoyed his company! Plus he does all the grocery shopping now, my dreaded chore..it's all good!!
ReplyDeleteI love the New Zealand trip photos and your news. I have a hard enough time sitting on a plane from Texas to Washington, or last year Maine. Don’t think I’d be able to handle the flight to New Zealand. My husband retired early from the United Sates postal service on the condition he cooked dinner during the week. I was still teaching with a 45 minute drive each way. Now I’m retired and cooking, but we each have our own hobbies that keep us out of each other’s hair!
ReplyDeleteHe was the one that caught your eyes and added fullness to your single life so many years ago. Reflect on those days and know his retirement will bring back those smiles only in multitudes. Everyday going forward you’ll be so overjoyed you can have him with you to continue on in your life’s journeys. New chapters in a very promising life together. All those simple acts of kindness are cherished. You both just compliment each other.
ReplyDeleteThe floors are stunning! I worried about my husband and I being retired together, but he finally has time to do woodwork, he helps with the chores, and helps me baby sit the kids. Besides, it takes more and more doctor's visit to maintain your health, so we spend lots of times getting our scopes and scans and other routine stuff. I hope you both have many happy years.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Dave. Hope it's a long and healthy retirement.
ReplyDeleteRetirement is crazy. Let him be, don’t feel guilty I recently read that purpose brings long life.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Dave! Bonnie - embrace the man who vacuums, cooks, does laundry, etc. He wants to be busy! Hubs and I 'retired' (our jobs were moved to a different location) at the same time and we've had a great time with some adventures, but also a more 'equitable' household chore duty list. Usually throughout our marriage, it was mostly on me to make sure it gets done, but he is always ready to tackle any project that I come up with. And he's taken most of the breakfast and lunch prep duty, even though right before he retired he said he needed a hobby and I said 'great, you can do the cooking'. He said that no that wouldn't happen but it sort of has!
ReplyDeleteThe floors are gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband retired 7 years before I did. He became the chief cook and bottle washer. When I retired, I didn't take the job back. He has his own hobby, wood carving and I have my quilting. Most days he is in the garage and I'm in my sewing room. It works out great.
ReplyDeleteBonnie-
ReplyDeleteYou make my day so much happier and when you said he was upstairs vacuuming I had to smile and laugh. I have a newer retired husband myself and he was in charge of getting the vacuum cleaner we needed for our apartment so he became the designated one to vacuum each week when we lived in our apartment last year. Now we are in a house and he is still the guy to do it. I don't tell him when most of the time but he will do it for me which is so nice. :-) It takes getting used to having them around all the time. You are one who likes to be busy so hopefully Dave will find things he likes to do too and you two can enjoy the time together. Love those pineapple blocks and I also liked your column for the Quiltmaker's Magazine blog today as well. Love your blog and all you share here. K- lkw2x6-apq@yahoo.com
My husband retired from school bus driving but I have a few more years to go before i can. He does lots of things like cooking dinner, laundry, some cleaning, and he has loads of products. I am not picky so I just let him have at it. It is nice for both of since I work remotely one day a week and the rest of the time he has the house to himself. I am looking forward to when I can also retire and we can do lots of things together.
ReplyDelete