Making Changes -

We've owned our little cabin on the mountain for 8 years now.

I'm not sure how that is possible - but there it is. 8 years.

One of the things I wanted to do from the time we first saw the place was to change the color of the white stucco of the bottom level.  It just always looked too stark, and just not right -

But in all honesty it was so far down the to-do list that it just didn't seem important.

But this spring - we are making those changes happen!

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Just a Bear...on a Trailer...

I was sitting at my sewing machine yesterday afternoon when I heard a vehicle pull to an abrupt stop in front of the QPO (Quiltville Post Office) Studio.
It's not often that I see a big bear carving laying on a trailer being pulled behind a big van.
Were they trying to get their GPS to work? Did they not know where they were going?
Inquiring minds want to know - I didn't have THIS on my bingo card, but it's never a dull moment.

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So Freezing Cold!

Saturday our temps never left the 30s.  It was freezing!

I don't know if you can see it, but if you look closely you will discover that our quilts are plastered against the porch rail due to the wind.

How fast can we do over-the-porch-rail photos?  About 5 minutes before numbness set in.  LOL!

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Quilting With Laughter!

I could hear the laughter all the way from the bottom of the front walk near the mailbox.  As I came up the steps and got close to the front door, it only became more boisterous and definitely infections putting a smile on my face before I even knew WHAT they were laughing about!

I walked into the room and the laughter got louder as if they had been caught in the act!

"Are your ears burning?" was the question as laughter and giggles continued.

I never found just what the topic was, but I'm happy to laugh along with everyone else.

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Quilting In The Dark!

I wasn't sure this photo was going to turn out - The overhead light was out, the room was dimly lit, the daylight coming through the windows didn't do much -
But you can see the quilters are cozy and stitching away in the Hen Den with the fire going.
What a cozy place!

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Binding Abundance!

It's been a while since I have quilted this quilt - It really is only 10'' or so wider and taller than the last quilt I bound - but still - that extra 10'' per side makes this one feel like it is gigantic!

Maybe it's the weight?  This beauty is a heavy beast - but I love it!

And I haven't gotten back around to turning the machine back on to look up what the pantograph pattern name is - but I'll get to that today.

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Summit St. Shop Gift-Away!

Let's have a bit of mid-week fun, shall we?

From my friend Jordan at Summit St Shop!

These cute little boxes  are great for so many things.

AND she has added fun and quilty tee shirts to her shop offerings.

One of my favorite hash tags is #fabricfloozy, cuz if you know - YOU KNOW!

And when I saw her new box design, and the tee shirt to go with it, I just had to have them.

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Racing To Beat The Rain!

The really bad rainy day was supposed to come on Sunday.

We were okay with that - we were resting from the hike up to the ponies on Saturday, and there would be time to finish quilt tops for hanging over the porch rail on Monday - what could go awry?

Sunday turned out to be "Not that bad" with just a few quick showers here and there but all in all it was better than expected.  Or predicted.  Or forecast.

And then - all of that bad weather shifted to Monday afternoon, and we found ourselves scrambling to beat the rain and wind!

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Family, Friends & Quilts!

I got to spend some precious weekend time with this guy!

It's easy to see that Casden is not a "little boy" anymore.  He turns 9 this month! How can that be?

And at nearly nine he is busily engaged from baseball to soccer to basketball and even karate.

Time to come up to Bo-Nana's house?  Not that often.

But Saturday was the day and being the trooper that he is, he jumped right into my van with a group of quilter ladies on retreat at Quiltville Inn to go see some ponies for himself.

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Porch Season!

There are two new additions to our front porch at home - 

And as temps have been fairly warm, I spent time out here last evening just gliding and looking over long mountain views before tree leaves curtain us in.

There is something magical about early spring as trees start to get their leaves, and birds have taken up their song.

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All On A Thursday!

Look at this group!

April Quiltvillians have come from Florida, Oklahoma, Connecticut, North Carolina, West Virginia and beyond for a week of quiltershipping (Like fellowshipping, but hey - we are lady quilters!) and friendship building -

And in between the pedal to the metal sewing we got out yesterday for a jaunt down Bear Branch Road!

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Spring Things Going On!

Each spring we start to outline and plan for what the "Next Big Project" will be.
While we've paid attention to needful things at the inn (Like painting the whole exterior almost 2 years ago now..has it been that long?)
And replacing the crumbling porch rail at home (which is done, but it's not time for staining the wood yet - it needs to cure a bit first) the one neglected thing has been my QPO exterior.

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Getting There!

It's been a while since I gave an update on my Abbeygate quilt -

The hand quilting has continued each time I sit to watch some TV in the evenings - hoop in my lap, feed up in my recliner/couch - usually Lola trying to hide beneath in my lap.

As I moved the hoop to the next section yesterday I noticed that....TADA!!!

There is really only maybe two nights of quilting left before I can call this one done!

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What a Quilt Showing!

Would you like to be driving by while all of this quilty show and share is happening off the side porch at Quiltville Inn?

SO many beautiful things - some top finishes, some fully quilted and finished projects brought from last year's workshop to this year's airing of the quilts with Debbie's Bitter Bees.

And yes, all of the yellow shirts were coordinated - not the same shirt, but an effort of "Bring a yellow shirt for picture day.  I love it!

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Bitter Bees Through The Weekend -

This post is brought to you by the color YELLOW!

And the Hearts of Hope quilt from my Solidarity pattern hanging in the front foyer is happy to coordinate with the occasion!

What is going on here in the foyer?  I needed a place to set up a demo table so we could gather around on our continuing Spanish Rose workshop.  Up on deck? Half-square triangles and four-patch hints, helps and tricks!

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Quilting & Ponies!

Friday with Debbie's Bitter Bees was a full to the brim, over the top day filled with quilting fun, loud laughter - and even an afternoon hike up to Grayson Highlands in search of wild ponies.

We were gifted with a beautiful spring day with temps reaching 70f - how could we NOT go out for a bit of exploring?

But first things first - the second day of our Spanish Rose workshop had us digging into some fun string piecing for the outer border.

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Spanish Rose With The Bitter Bees!

The Dining Room at Quiltville Inn was as busy as a bee hive with the applique section of our on-going Spanish Rose workshop during our retreat with Debbie's Bitter Bees from Ohio!

We felt the dining room was better for gathering for handwork, and it sure encouraged the laughter and conversation too -

Even if we had to pass around the "No Whining Zone" sign from time to time. LOL!

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Quilter's Yoga!

Okay guys -

A bit of a short post today.  I overslept.  I need to be at the inn at 10am to start a Spanish Rose workshop with Debbie's Bitter Bees who arrived yesterday afternoon for their retreat.

It feels like being late for the first day of school.  Auuuuughhghhghh!

Anyway - here's a bit of what happened yesterday -

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It Must Be Spring!

Daffies on the hillside!

They've been a bit slow to bloom - this heirloom variety that gives the appearance of "double blooms"

But I love them so much!

Of all of the flowers that bloom, I think it is the hope and promise of spring that bursts forth with the daffodils that makes them my favorite.

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Sewciologists On The Porch!

What a wonderful, delightful group of fantastic women!
It was so nice to see folks I'd met at other retreats, and heartwarming to welcome in newbies experiencing their first visit to Quiltville Inn.
I'm so grateful that those who do return - they bring the excitement of gathering once again to create beautiful things to the forefront of my day.  It carries me.
And the new ones - I love the wonder in their eyes and seeing them connect with new friends and form lasting friendships gives me purpose.

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Quilty Through The Weekend!

Sorry for the not quite in focus photo -

This is not only through the front door window, but also the storm door that is in front of the front door...so you get double distortion here -

But I wanted to show you how Flash is coming along.

There is still the whole "Get Tula started on her food in the Garage so that Flash has a chance to eat his food that includes dewormer...."

And we found evidence that it is indeed working. (Don't ask) 

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It's Been Eight Years!

This week marks eight years.  EIGHT YEARS (!!!) since we moved on into our little cabin on the mountain.

I'm not sure how eight years can fly so quickly, but there in my Facebook memories, there it was - this little collage photo I made showing how things were coming together.

The vintage quilts strewn over the loft railing - My old favorite H quilt taking up residence where it could be seen and enjoyed.

And my coffee station - vintage spool cabinet drawers the perfect size for my Keurig K cups.

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And The Quilters Keep Quilting!

I love the photos I can get of "Quilter's Still Life" when sewing stations are left vacant for whatever reason -

Maybe someone is up to go get a snack, or take a shower, or even sneak off for a nap.

These empty seats with all of the details left in plain view of what had been going on when the chair was occupied and the machine was humming.

It doesn't take much to put the pieces together, does it?

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The Day In Between!

We hit 73 f yesterday. WOW!

And I wish it would stay there, but it looks like we are headed back to the low 50s f over the next several days and I don't know when we'll see the likes o 70s again...I know it's coming, and it's okay that spring comes slowly before dumping us right into summer -

Time was short yesterday. Housekeeper Susan and I were doing all of the needful things to get the house ready for Irene's Sewciologists to start unloading at 4pm.

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Richmond Express: On The Porch!

It's been "Bipolar Season" in Southwestern Virginia over the past couple of weeks.

The dang weather doesn't know quite what it wants to be doing.

And on this afternoon we donned jackets and sweaters and headed out to the porch for some quilty photo fun because - at least the wind wasn't blowing a million miles a minute!

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Quilt City: Safety Second Gift-Away!

Guess what is releasing TODAY??
My friend Bruce Leonard's newest Hadley Carroll novel Quilt City: Safety Second is joining the line up of other fun quilty mystery titles, continuing the story of Hadley's adventures in Paducah Kentucky!
I'm so excited for this latest novel - I've been waiting for each and every one.

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Waterford Gift-Away!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

And while I may be wearing green, today I'm celebrating something BLUE -

My Waterford PDF pattern is now available in the Quiltville Store with an automatic 25% introductory discount good through 3/31/25.

It was inspired by a tile floor I photographed on my last trip to Ireland, when we took our Craftours group to the Waterford Crystal showroom in Waterford.

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Hexies On The Go!

Hello Saturday!

It seems we made it through Friday, but it was not an easy one.

The fact that my phone alarm was set for 3:15am was simply not enough to allow me to sleep peacefully the night before.

I kept waking up about every hour checking to make sure that I hadn't slept through the alarm, or that it hadn't gone off after all and we would be late for our 3:40am departure for the surgery center for Hubster Dave's right hand surgery.

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Richmond Express Adventures!

This was the *Beginning* of the unloading of suitcases, sewing machines, fabric bins, grocery items and more that began to fill the back porch at the inn yesterday afternoon as the Richmond Express gals made their way across Virginia for their yearly week of quilt retreat!

Look closely toward the garage door and you will see supervisor Tula Tallulah Lou grabbing a bit of tree shade as it falls across the walkway - keeping her eye on all of the goings on.

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Just A Little Walkabout -

It hit nearly 70 yesterday!

And you know what that meant - I headed out, away from my desk come mid-afternoon to go see what I could see at my closest favorite spot to walk.

I hadn't been down here since fall, and I was eager to see just what was what -

Do you see what I see?  The daffies are blooming!

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Porch Progress & More!

The guys have been hard at work replacing the porch railings on our porch/deck.

It's been a monstrous job - and they are getting it done - one section at a time.

Time is running out, there is a bit of a deadline coming around, or at least a big delay as Hubster Dave is scheduled for hand surgery on Friday.

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Weekend Fun with Quilty Pleasures!

I walked into Quiltville Inn on Saturday to find the Quilty Pleasures gals finishing up a yummy lunch - refueling themselves to they could get back to more pedal to the metal sewing!

It really was a quilty pleasure to have these ladies staying at the inn through the weekend.

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Quilty Pleasures at Quiltville Inn!

There is a lot of quilty fun happening in the Quilting Quarters at Quiltville Inn this week!

They may be a small group, but they are MIGHTY!

Celeste and her quilting buddies from Haymarket, Virginia are here - and their number totals 6, but let me tell you - they brought enough projects and food for 12, and could last 2 weeks! LOL!

Their small number enables them to spread out and really get some serious sewing done!

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Bloom Gift-Away!

Happy Friday, everyone!

You asked, I'm answering....it's nearing Spring and it's time to get a bit of Bloom into our lives!

Bloom was the small embroidery and patchwork project I designed for my Australia trip this past January - can I have been home for nearly 6 weeks already?

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Mat Maintenance & More!

Yesterday I received a much awaited delivery.

Things just take longer to arrive here.  Even something sent specially "Overnight" or "Next Day" may not actually make it until a couple of days later.

We are just that far out...

So the mats I had ordered last Wednesday didn't arrive until yesterday Wednesday - even though they were slated to arrive last Friday.

It is what it is.

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In Lieu of Sewing -

I spent Monday doing a clean out and reorg of my cutting table.

I just couldn't stand it any longer.

I was finding it hard to find actual cutting space on my mat as the available area became smaller and smaller due to the piles and stacks on both ends of the table - 

Random rulers, piles of strips and fat quarters -

Leftover lengths of backing margins -

Yardage not chosen to be binding even though it was in the line up, just stacked on the end until I could get myself around to putting it away.

The catalyst?  Somewhere under those piles was the rotary cutter and a pair of scissors that I could not find.

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Out On The Porch!

The sunshine did not disappoint as we stepped out onto the porch with quilts (And jackets!) for our first photo-op over the porch rail of 2025.

We weren't sure we were going to be able to do it - it's been dreadfully cold and really windy - but here they are!

It's been wonderful having the March Quiltvillians in residence at Quiltville Inn over the past week.

They really put the pedal to the metal and kept the churning out of  precious things going!

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Of Porches and Quilty Things!

Son Jeff and Hubster Dave have been hard at work replacing our weather worn and disintegrating porch railings at home.

They are making great progress on this big job, and I am loving it.

The current on-going discussion is that they want to paint the wire grids black.  I want them kept galvanized grey (So that they never have to be repainted!) and once again I am the odd one out.

I'll keep pushing the need to repaint scenario and see what happens.

The project is likely to go on hiatus shortly as Hubs surgery on his right hand scheduled for the 14th.  THey are trying to get as much done as they can before recuperation time sets in.

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Hello, March!

Can it be that we've finally turned the calendar page??

Why is February so danged long anyway?

But March is here and I'm ready for it.

The rest of the world must be, too as I was out for some needed items on Thursday evening (cat food amongst some other items) and it was so wonderful to see the garden areas stocked with seeds and tools and other outdoorsy things.

And in the center aisles they'd pulled out all of the storage bins and reorganizing type stuff.

Spring fever is here.  Spring cleaning is next.

Anyone else feeling that excitement?

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What's Sewing On?

The March Quiltvillians are sewing up all the things!

It's so exciting to watch blocks and projects go up on design walls and cover all of the surfaces and workstations.

Any guesses what this is?

Moonflower is becoming blocks and I can't wait to see it coming together!

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Something Happening!

Do you see that sunshine?

With spring on its way - it's about to be project season around here as well.

Something we've needed to do is about to happen.

Our porch railings are about 20+ years old and were added at the time the cabin was built.

It's time for a re-do!

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Just Stitching -

With fewer than 20 log cabin blocks left to make - I decided to bring those foundations home for evening stitching when Hubster Dave is out doing his cornhole thing with the guys:

Because certainly one must ALWAYS have more than one project going at once, right?  

That leaves the log cabin blocks at home, and the pieced sashing (Yes! Pieced sashing!) I am planning on placing between the log cabin blocks as my main QPO Studio focus.

All of those saved cut off corners?  They are SEWING DOWN!

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Nearing The Finish -

One side and the hanging sleeve left to go and Dogwood Daze will be in the DONE column!

I have had so much fun making this one - strings are just THE BEST.

And if you sort them by color family any project becomes a colorwash of variety unparalleled!

Why use just 4 fabrics when you can use hundreds???

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Slow Stitching Weekend -

The best thing that happened this weekend?

No...it wasn't my catching up on all of the retreat laundry at Quiltville Inn, though somehow that always seems to set things right and give me that feeling of accomplishment -

The SNOW is gone.  We were in the 40s yesterday = and though it took a couple of days to finally get to the point where it was safe - I was able to drive the van to the top of the drive and park at home.

That meant no more RZR shuttle rides.

As fun as it was I'm happy to hopefully have that in the rear view until next winter.

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