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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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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