A Full-Up Weekend!

Who needs a quilt shop, when a quilt shop comes to us?!

One of our May Quiltvillians brought precuts, fabric on bolts, patterns and charm packs and our quilters could shop in their jammies without having to leave the house!

From what I understand there was even a jelly roll race underway yesterday afternoon as some of us begged out for a leg stretch and a dirt road hike.

I nearly fought Rebecca over the one jelly roll that was mostly neutrals - but I figure she needed to build up her neutral stash more than I did!

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May Quiltvillians - In The House!

It's Brunch-on-the-porch season!

And I just love the time of year where we can gather outside and enjoy some fresh air, rock in some rocking chairs, and perhaps moo back to the cows below if they happen to be there.

It doesn't get much better than this!

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Summer Picnic Gift-Away!

The birds are chirping!  Summer is on its way - I can tell because it was 67f degrees this morning when I woke up - outside temp!

That means coffee on the porch, checking my email, listening to the humming birds as they buzz by to reach their feeders.

There is one with a white ring around his neck that I recognize.  He'll hover right in front of me, a couple of feet from the feeder, just checking things out before he heads to the feeder for a drink.

I love this time of year!

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An Invitation from Research Rave!

I received an email yesterday from Tara Miller of The Quilt District letting me know of a Research Rave Retreat she is hosting in Cincinnati with quilt historian pal Lisa Erlandson who has been featured on The Quilt Show a few times, and currently has an exhibit of her collection on at the Museum of Texas Tech University.

These gals know their vintage textiles and dating methods for vintage quilts and want to help you discover the stories behind your own antique/vintage quilts!

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Time Really Does Fly -

6 years ago today we were closing in on completing the new ceiling in the QPO studio - 

We had purchased the inn property the year previous - in April 2018 but all of the focus had been on getting the retreat house ready for guests - the need to move into the QPO as the main office/studio for my quilting business was not at the forefront....not for at least couple of months yet.

That would happen in July over the 4th of July week coming up with the moving of the long arm into this space...

These photos came up in my Facebook memories and I am still marveling over how we were able to transform this old USPS post office into a wonderful creative space.  

I do not take this space for granted!

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Off The Machine!

Don't you wish that a fanfare would instantly play the moment you took the last stitch in any project - be it machine or hand quilted?

Last stitch - TADA!  And the trumpets would sound.  That would feel so good!

But instead - it was the whir of the motor on my take up roller slowing letting things unwind as the entirety of my Lahinch quilt was revealed - quilting completed.

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Mother's Day Weekend Aftermath!

"When does your rhododendron bloom?" comes the question -

"Usually by Mother's Day!" is the answer, and this year she came into bloom right on time!

I noticed the first of the blossoms on Wednesday when I arrived back at the inn after a week away.

The drive the night before was in complete darkness - around midnight- so it wasn't until daylight that I could see the changes happening around here.

And through the week she just got prettier and prettier!

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Happy Mother's Day & A Pattern Sale!

Happy Mother's Day!
I'm starting here with the quote of the day that usually happens at the END of each post. 
Why? Because it's Sunday and I usually take Sunday off as my one day of not worrying about what I'm going to write -
But also because I forgot in the whirlwind of coming home late Tuesday  night after visiting my mom Pre-Mother's-Day, to a retreat group arriving Wednesday that I was going to post something important - and didn't!
But before I get to that part -

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Where Quilters Gather!

It was a windy, blustery day but by 4pm this is where I found most of the quilters mingling!

This sunny corner of the back porch has become a favorite spot for afternoon munchies and beverages - a step away from sewing machines and projects.

And yes, that rug is new!

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Just a Few Random Things -

Things that happened while I was away!

I arrived at the inn to find that the extra-giant old blue spruce just off the inn side yard and on our neighbor's property had been duly stripped of all of its branches....and it was standing there like some naked  spruce-trunk-totem-pole.

This ancient blue spruce has been diseased for years - and the wide reaching branches were home to many bugs and spider webs...

Not only that, but did you know that blue spruce trees cause problems for apple trees?

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A Quilt Of A Different Kind -

I have a very special sister-in-law.

I consider Alicia my sister-by-choice and sister-by-love as the sister I would choose if given any choice in the matter -

Alicia is married to my brother Scott.  They met in high school - even went to prom together. But through moves that separated them, and life that took them different directions, it wasn't until they were in their 40s that they found each other again and their life together began where it left off.

With photos taken in Alicia's grandmother's living room - the same place they had prom photos taken together so long ago when it all began.

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Hi Honey, I'm Home!

On our way to the airport from mom's in Garden Valley Idaho - the biggest celebration of all was taking place.

There wasn't really anyone around as we began our journey down to Boise about an hour-plus down the mountain.

Just a couple of cars ahead of us, and one big semi truck who turned right while we were turning left -

But you should have heard our cheering from inside the car!

A stop light!  There is a stoplight at the junction where hwy 55 meets hwy 17! And it is FUNCTIONAL!

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Thank You, Bonniacs!

Hello from Idaho!

I'm having a great time with family - and I wanted to post this earlier, but on my trip here my airport layovers were super close and there just wasn't time.

It's now Sunday morning and things are quiet in my mom's house so I thought I'd pop on and get this out there.

So much has happened since Monday - my last day with the Bonniacs before heading to Bristol TN to stay the night at an airport hotel for my 5am airport arrival time Tuesday morning to start my journey.

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Piece a Quilt, Take a Hike!

It doesn't look like there is much quilting going on here - but every once in a while it is good to step away from the machine and grab a treat from the kitchen and sit in a comfy chair and just engage in a lovely chat with quilty friends.

This is what I walked into on Saturday before we headed out on a nearby road hike down Bear Branch Road...a short drive away, and a 2 mile hike that had 9 of us requiring 2 cars. We were gone about an hour.

There was still plenty of quilting time left in the day!

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While The Quilters Are Shop-Hoppin'!

Yesterday was a shop hop dayfor Nola's Bonniacs - a day to play from shop to shop and see what they could find.

Our two most local shops know that quilters will be descending upon them en masse - and oftentimes they will bring in extra help at the cutting tables just to get folks in and out.

Group stash enhancement is definitely grounds for a guaranteed fun time!

Upon their return we had an impromptu gathering in the front foyer where we've been doing our Hamilton Gardens workshop demos, and also gives a bit of extra cutting space  while everyone is working on their blocks.

When I arrived at the inn - only one quilter had stayed behind (That means 11 went shopping!) to get in a bit more machine time.

That meant I could pop around the room and see what folks had been making the evening before:

Cute cute cute!

I love the "still life" feel of wandering through an empty sewing space just imagining all of the productivity that got these blocks to where they are.

Super brights!

They are all so great - I love the neutrals!

Similar, but different!

This one just white on whites - 

And this one a bit more creamy.

And then that batiks with black.  Wow!

I really am enjoying them all -

It's so fun to see what fabrics folks have in their stashes. Some I know, some I've had - some I've never seen before.

This one with all of the great fussy cut centers!

And it looks like the next round of blocks will be orange on the outside!

This is Lisa of the Unravelled Quilt Store in Spencer Indiana joining with Nola's group for this retreat week.  I'm so happy to have her here!

And let's face it, if you have to pull out machine quilting, there is no better place than the back porch while being serenaded by cattle.

Lisa went live on her Facebook page to share with her followers a bit of her experience at Quiltville Inn.  I thought you'd like to see it too.

Click to Play:

It was so fun to see this after the fact, and through someone else's eyes on their first visit.  Thanks, Lisa!

Last evening's round of hexie stitching -

I finished attaching units to complete the next diagonal row.  Dang - these are getting longer and longer!

I think one more will put me at halfway.

Do you see in the background?

I had no sooner laid out the mothership to get unit placement and look who claimed it.

Making sure it doesn't fly off the floor or something.

Thanks, Zoey!

Off the cabin porch this morning!

Click to Play:

It's Hamilton Gardens workshop day #2 today - we'll be covering setting triangles.  Woop woop!

And if the rain stops, perhaps an afternoon road hike? I'd love that.

What's up for your Saturday?

And this is the LAST TIME I'll mention this gift-away: The drawing happens MONDAY!

Thank you for the great response to our  Dogwood Daze PDF pattern release! 

I am so thrilled with the response, and so happy that the dogwoods are blooming at the same time.  It's Kismet!

And yes - there is introductory pricing AND a Gift-Away!

I have placed a 25% automatic discount on Dogwood Daze through 4/30/25 - no coupon code needed.

I will be drawing for two winners who will each receive a Dogwood Daze

PDF Pattern from me and a Notable Neutrals roll from Cotton to Quilts!

They also have pulled gorgeous fabrics in colors inspired by Dogwood Daze to enhance your stash. Check them out!

Each fabric roll includes 20 different fabrics approximately 8'' X 22'' - a great variety!

Get your entry in on THAT POST.

We will draw for our winners  this coming Monday 4/28/25.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

This came up in my Facebook memories from 12 Years ago. 

12 years ago!


Not that much has changed. 

Happy Weekend, everyone! 

 

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Hamilton Gardens Workshop!

All machines stitching away.  All quilters digging in and making Hamilton Gardens blocks in our retreat workshop with Nola and the Bonniacs on retreat at Quiltville Inn this week!

I'm so excited to be teaching this quilt over the next few days with a willing group of gals who don't mind going small!

These blocks may have some mighty small pieces and parts, but they go BIG on impact!

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A Sew And Sew Day -

I arrived at the QPO Studio yesterday right on time...Hubster Dave and Son Jeff were already there doing their "outdoor" type things. The main project this spring has been getting both the QPO Studio and the garage repainted.

The garage is now done on the front side yere - (Yes, I know I can use some barn blocks on the garage!) and though we've been interrupted by rain and wind, the back side is also well on the way to being done.

It looks SO MUCH BETTER! It all matches the house now.

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Some of This....and Hummingbirds!

Did you ever have one of those fractured days where you didn't accomplish much of anything?

Of course, you have - we all have.

But more happening here....it meant getting yesterday's blog out and doing all of the answering of emails and getting mail order out, feeding Flash and Tula at the inn, and then getting the towel baskets ready for the arrival of Nola's Bonniacs today and some other last minute things to get the inn ready -

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Antiquing Day!

How long has it been since I had an antiquing day with a friend including lunch out?

October if I remember correctly - way too long!

But the way things are, sometimes you have to choose different haunts, and give the merch time to turn over so there is new stuff to browse - right?

Up on deck for Saturday was anything with a sewing nature, be it quilts, tops, blocks, sewing notions and machines.

And of course - we are always on the lookout for the weird thing of the day.

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Easter Outing -

Wildflowers put on their best roadside show as I took both dogs on a solo walk down Bear Branch road - a walk I know they love for its plethora of smells and opportunities to spot squirrels, listen to birds, and wander in search of cows.

It was an absolutely silent morning - not a car or vehicle in sight.

It's finally here.  The kind of weather I love. Cool spring mornings, warmer in the afternoon, cooling down in the evenings - perfection.

The only problem is that it doesn't usually last that long - summer comes quickly, and I need to grasp all the outdoors time that I can.

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Up On Deck!

Yesterday's round of sewing in the QPO Studio had me back building up the needed variety in another endless round of half-square triangle construction - 

The *next* tile floor inspired quilt is moving along and I can't wait to share it with you.

But for now - it's requiring a multitude of half-square triangle units - and some with very low contrast, as in these "Dark Chocolate and Caramel" versions here.

Chain pressing for the win!

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Dogwood Days Gift-Away!

Happy Spring, indeed!

Yesterday's drive from my home in Southwestern Virginia to Boone North Carolina for my yearly check up with my retinal/macular specialist (This doesn't feel so special!) gave me the opportunity to enjoy not only a gorgeous drive but to stop and actually see those pink dogwoods up close.

It's the pink dogwoods that have inspired my Dogwood Daze quilt, and while making it through the long winter months, I kept my mind on the promise of spring that was coming, and the all too short-lived season of pink blooming trees.

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Pink Trees & Hexie Blossoms!

Every spring I just wait for the trees to bloom.

This year they are not holding back!

While pink dogwoods are my favorite, I'll take any pink blooming tree from cherry to redbud to whatever this gorgeous thing is.

It doesn't matter - as long as it is pink.

There is a pink blooming weeping willow looking tree on my way from home to the inn, and each spring I cheer it on...I don't know its name, it's just beautiful.

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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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