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.

The dogwood in front of the inn is in full open bloom!!

I took my time getting Flash and Tula fed, asked for some help with something I couldn't reach inside the house, and it was at this time that Dave and I looked at each other and said - the power must be out!

You see, it is routine that the Generac run for about 5 minutes on Wednesday mornings in a test cycle when the retreat isn't occupied.

Only by this time it had been running for about 15 minutes.  

We checked the garage by attempting to turn on the lights.  Nada.

Since the generator WAS running, the house had power, but nothing else - including the QPO Studio did.  Which meant.  No internet. No way to get mail order out. No nothing.

This also provided us with a great trial run experience for the other "Big thing" wd did after Hurricane Helene hit.

We had our electric meter retrofitted with Generlink so that we could plug a generator right into it to power the QPO and provide internet to any retreaters who would be staying during any power outage.

For this small building, not a lot is needed and this little beast will do the job. 

A test from Appalachian Power let us know that the power would be out for about 2 hours. Not a biggie.  I was able to do all of the things I normally do and I know that we are now equipped for future outages and prepared to not miss a beat.

I spent the remainder of the day stitching block quarters into block halves while waiting for Nola and her gang to arrive.  They pulled in right at 4pm!

I have a stack of un-pressed half blocks that will get pressed today and hopefully sewn into full blocks.

You can see that there is a whole lot of "spin" pressing going on with the seam allowances here.

I try several ways and really wrack my brain in the best way I can assemble blocks with emphasis on nested seams.

I love a good nested seam, and when those slide into place like Legos - it makes my heart happy.

Sometimes it takes me three or four different configurations to finally decide on how I'm going to suggest pressing options - Sometimes the block quarters fit together great, but then joining block to block has seams fighting each other.

Of course, if I simply said to press EVERYTHING open ALL OF THE TIME, there would be no having to figure out which way really presses best when it comes to seam nesting.

This is always an option - but my mind likes a puzzle, and I consider it a cop out.  LOL!

Okay, not a cop out - but a last resort.  Sometimes I do suggest that pressing open might work better for some units - but I always go back to finding ways to get seams to lock into place and nest.

Evening sewing progress -

I have enough hexie motifs made to start sewing the next diagonal row together.

My hexies are one example of seams pressed open all of the time.

Cat magnet!

Lola!  What are you doing?

Guess who has claimed this quilt?
I have about half of the units sewn together as of bedtime last night.  I'll finish butting that row together tonight.  It will take a few nights to add the row to the mothership.
It looks like spring and I'm loving it!
My day is starting early today - we need to drop the Subaru off at the repair place to have wheel bearings worked on.  That means I'm going to follow Dave with the van so we can leave the Subie there and he'll drop me at the inn for the day and come and get me to pick up the Subie when it's ready.
And in between all of this - sewing, sewing, and more sewing!

Thank you for the great response to yesterday's  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  on Monday 4/28/25.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

And just to be honest... there wasn't room to also list that quilting fills the retreat house, as well as the QPO Studio next door.

Does anyone have a problem with that?

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!