Last Minute Musings!

My last post before heading off to Switzerland!  

I honestly didn't know if I'd have the opportunity to post this morning - but breakfast behind me (two cups of coffee in!) and the day ahead of me before I head back to the airport this afternoon and photos still on my phone from the last couple of day's with Susan's Retreat Group - I figured I could shoot out some more quilty love before going radio silent!

We took advantage of the gorgeous afternoon sunshine upon my return from Boone and the Verizon phone store and put just a few tops and quilts over the rail that were ready to be shown.

Read More»

First Brunch, Then Quilting!

This was the scene when I walked through the front door of the inn yesterday -

Mmmm!  Something sure smelled good!

It was also just a wee bit chilly - in the 50's - meaning that brunch on the porch is now a thing of the past, at least until we reach next summer.  Sigh.

It's wonderful to see folks around the table in the dining room, but oh how I will miss porch season!

Read More»

It's Coming Along -

You know how it feels to start out really excited with quilt possibilities -

To dive in with both feet and both hands - pulling fabrics, pressing cutting, setitching pressing, making...

And then when only part way in your vision for your project blurs and you just can't see the forest for the trees?

That is what has happened with this one.  Not once - but twice.

Read More»

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast!

Harvest season is approaching!

The last hay cuttings are happening....and I love driving down a long country road past fields of freshly mown hay waiting for bailing.

Or watching the baling in progress.

Or coming home at dinner time where the bales are just sitting there in the field ready for pick up - looking like green sugar cubes against the landscape.

Things I don't love:  Going 15 MPH behind a tractor on a long and winding curvy mountain road with nowhere for him to pull over, and a long line of cars building up behind me.

Just slow down.  Enjoy the scenery.  Breathe deep.  Enjoy the change of the seasons.  You'll get to where you are going eventually!

Read More»

Paint That Porch!

I arrived to park in my No Parking Anytime (Except for Bonnie) spot behind the QPO to find both Tula and Flash sunning themselves - while at the same time keeping an eye on and being wary of the painting activity going on in their normal porch domain.

They were not going near that chaos no matter that their breakfast bowls were waiting by the garage.

So - as a dutiful cat mom does, I hand carried their morning bowls to where THEY were....because....

Cat mom obeys.

Read More»

Counting The Days -

I had these visitors outside the QPO Studio this weekend.

Son Jeff has been prepping the porch floor at the inn for painting this week - and he finished the second round of power washing yesterday.

The cats are not impressed with the sound or the spray of the power washer....so they took a little hike over to the far end of the parking lot behind the QPO Studio to get away from the hubbub.

That old tumble-down general store to the side?  That was the beginnings of all of this cat distribution system chaos.

Read More»

Friday Play Day -

The walls were closing in.

At least that is my excuse - and the push I needed - to get out and about for the day.

Hubster Dave had physical therapy and then was headed over to the center to swim laps.

Son Jeff had come early and had power washed the porch floor at the inn in prep for painting - it's been 2 1/2 years and really could use a touch up.  (Rain today, but good weather tomorrow and it will be done and dry before folks arrive on Wednesday.)

There was office stuff that I need to get to - but I looked around me after Jeff left and thought - I'm outta here!

Read More»

Circling Back Around -

There are some projects that just don't work well with Leaders & Enders for me.

Any paper piecing project where the seams are short and in the center of the paper template make it really hard to chain anything without a complete and utter waste of thread (and time) so Leaders & Enders take a back seat there.

That also applies to things like string piecing where I can use the units themselves as Leaders & Enders and just work on two blocks at a time - one engine, one caboose - trimming my work off from behind the presser foot. I complete two blocks, and when one is done (or both) just pull in a new foundation and start on the next ones.

When I piece on paper the stitch length is set smaller, and I just don't like to work on a second Leader & Ender project at that point.

Read More»

Blues To The Finish!

I've shared a lot of the making of Stardust.

I think it's my most recent favorite! (They all take their turn in being favorite, don't they?)

I enjoyed the whole making process of this one and I know there will be another string quilt popping up in my must make list soon.

But for now...I'm setting the strings aside and focusing in so many other directions.

That lull of "I'll take a break now that this is done." Never seems to happen to me.

My favorite part of this quilt?  The NO NO NO fabric and where it is popping up everywhere in the neutrals.

Read More»

September Into Fall!

Can you feel it?

The change of the seasons.

I absolutely love the blooming and renewal of spring, and the long daylight of summer.

But I tend to start feeling a bit nostalgic with September and the return to the school year (Even if it happens in August here) where I can tell the time by the school buses I see going down the road in the mornings, and on their return journeys in the late afternoon hours.

Things just feel different.

And somehow, even if I go kicking and screaming - I find myself ready to give into autumn and cooler days and cozy evenings.

Read More»

Wrapping Up Labor Day

What a fabulous glorious Labor Day Monday - the weather was perfect - and what a display the September Quiltvillians put on as we wrapped up our retreat week -

These twelve ladies have been such a joy to have - and the projects that were worked on in between workshop time - they just never stopped creating!

I enjoyed every minute - looking forward to 3:30pm porch time with bevvies and nibbles, sitting around and chatting and feeling a part of everything.

It was just a wonderful week all the way around- Thanks, ladies!

Read More»

Quilting The Long Holiday Weekend!

Look what is happening in the DINING ROOM!  

Have we reached the end of a season?

Almost.

Temps have been in the high 40s to low 50s in the morning hours, and it's just a bit too brisk on the back porch for brunch dining al fresco.

It's great to see the dining room table surrounded once again!

Read More»