Brickwork, Like Patchwork...

Remember that retaining wall that Hubster Dave started in June while I was on tour in Ireland and Scotland?

It's a huge job that needed 3 more rows of bricks high and a finishing top edge to finish it all.

And it had to wait until September to finish so that the tractor, pickup and trailer wouldn't block the comings and goings of quilters in residence.

That work started Tuesday.  And look who is supervising!

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Oodles & Bunches of Fun!

My arms are BARELY long enough to fit 13 people in for a selfie.

But this one had us laughing and having to HOLD IT as some crazy setting happened on the selfie side of my phone that had a countdown timer enabled that I couldn't seem to turn off.

You should see the REJECT photos. LOL!!!

I finally got it sorted out - something got pushed inadvertently that turned that on - but "smile and hold it" is not the easiest thing while waiting for the 3, 2, 1 SNAP!

It's all full of giggles and fun - and if we can't laugh at ourselves and silly situations, then we are taking things far too seriously.

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Diamond Tile PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

Some things wait a long time to be quilts.

Diamond Tile is one of those things.

I have spent years referring people to the Quiltmaker issue featuring Diamond Tile as a block in my Addicted to Scraps column.

And I've loved this block enough that I've made 2 quilts and a wall hanging with it.

But it needed to be a pattern.  And now it is!  And the pattern features TWO different settings for these fun blocks - both of which solve the problem of not having the pointy "arms" in the corners of the blocks having to connect to each other.

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Retreat Memories In The Making!

Hand stitching time on the porch!

We are making these moments last - as mornings are now in the chilly range, and so are the evenings requiring jackets and warm beverages.

There is something to love about that too!

I think that is why I love living where there are 4 seasons so much.  There is contrast between the seasons.  You can feel the next one coming on...and cherish the last moments of the one just working its way out.

It's nearly "sweater season."  I am back to full length jeans unless the temps are above 75.

This morning I've even got the gas fireplace in the basement studio next to my desk going to warm the chill from the room.  I love this season change!

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Welcome To the Weekend!

This was last evening on the porch, and oh - I wish it came with smell-o-vision!

There had been a pork shoulder roast cooking in the crock pot all day long....just to the point of being so tender it shredded with such little effort -

Served with some freshly sliced fruit, a bun or no bun, and a choice of sauces.  I couldn't help myself or turn down an invitation to join in because something that smells that good brings on instant hunger.

One of the best things of being a retreat inn keeper?  They feed me.  And they do it well!

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The Gang's All In!

I arrived at Quiltville Inn yesterday morning (at 47 degrees!) to find that it was too chilly outside for breakfast on the porch....so after months and months of glorious porch time, at least for now breakfasts are now inside!

Never fear - afternoon on the porch is lovely.  We are in the best part of life in the Blue Ridge Mountains...afternoons are balmy and birds still chirp cicadas still sing.  Just the mornings are crisp enough to have us gathering where it is a bit more cozy.

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In The In Between Times -

Wednesday was full of finishing up inn laundry, making beds and getting all things ready for the arrival of Susan's Retreat group who began to arrive just before 3pm.

It was a run around of a morning - including getting the remaining pressing stations fixed - but in the in between times - there was a bit of time for cutting and pressing.

What's under my needle now, you ask?

More triangles.

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Runaway Day -

I'm putting something quilty at the top here -

Because this is really where I want to be spending my time.

My blue strip drawer is a pain to open.  And a bigger pain to shut.  There are just too many strips and it's time to whittle them down a bit.

This time I'm being a bit judicious and only using dark blues.

These strips have got to find a better place to live than in the depths of the blue strip drawer.

I'm now on a mission.

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Over The Porch Rail Explosion!

We couldn't tell if the rain was moving in, or moving on by - but we hurried on up yesterday late afternoon and filled the porch to the gills with so many beautiful quilts!
These ladies have worked tirelessly - but there was still time for some quilt shop hopping, a run or two to the grocery store, fabulous meals, time on the porch - 
And I even heard there was time for sleeping - though it doesn't look like much sleep was happening!
The September Quiltvillians are on their way home today - but they sure left us with a fantastic send off for the time they spent here!

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Bears, Quilts & Quilty Friends!

Isn't this a sight to behold?

Jen has not only been working on quilts, but also completed 8 memory bears for a very special customer.  And this is where it takes a village!

The customer's husband recently passed away, and his wife is having 8 memory bears made out of his favorite fleece shirts/jackets.

These bears will go to kids and grandkids, and I love the personal touch going into each of these special bears.

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