From Vancouver With Love!

We got out for a bit of a stroll along the waterfront in Vancouver - even on a chilly, rainy day there were moments we could grab.

Of course there are the driving instructions coming from my son as I maneuver his precious car through the city.  Never mind that I've been driving for 45 years - you'd think that I was taking a driver's ed course at this point.

But we are having some fun!

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Those November Quiltvillians!

It's super early Tuesday morning as I write this - Here in the PNW it's 6:30am which means it's 9:30am back home and all of the November Quiltvillians are headed home in all of their directions.
Hubster Dave should just about be touching down at Tri Cities airport for his drive home after his long red eye flight.
Jason is sleeping - though I know from the sounds I heard through the night that he was having a rough go of it.
But today he gets his stitches out!

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Summit Street Gift-Away!!

Happy Weekend, folks!

And happy NOVEMBER- can you believe it? Where did the time go?

I know that quilters everywhere are feeling the crunch of November as the holidays (and our Quiltville Winter Mystery Lupine & Laughter ) draw closer!

And to celebrate our quilty holiday crunch that is upon us - have I got a fun gift-away for you!

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One Thing At A Time!

I did cut out yesterday.

Not enough to finish the blocks for the quilt, but I cut enough to get going.  To sew for a while.

And that's enough.

It was just the amount I needed to feel like I accomplished something - anything.

Two days left before I fly to be with Jason - have I packed yet?  Nope!

But I have begun to make a pile next to the suitcase on the guestroom bed of things that need to go with me.

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The Kitting Up Day That Wasn't -

I've had a lot of discombobulated days lately. A lot of them.

It seems days of best laid plans (Which is how I generally roll) have become thrown to the wind and what gets done gets done, and what doesn't gets shoved off into the next day's to-do list mayhem.

And I find the big question of the day when things remain undone is "What does it matter?" "Does it matter?"

Honestly, I wonder what would happen if I just stopped everything. Everything.

If all the plates on all the poles stopped spinning and crashed to the ground, what would happen then?

What if I let it all go?

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Back To This -

The October Quiltvillians departed yesterday morning making their way home from whence they came - some planning to shop hop all the way.  Good for them!
I may see these folks once a year, but I love knowing they stay in contact with each other and make plans to do fun things together even when not on retreat at Quiltville Inn.
Connections and Friendships is what it's all about - and I love to see it in action!

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Beating The Rain!

The forecast showed rain for days and days...on end.

So the decision was made early on in retreat that Sunday afternoon would be our greatest over-the-porch-rail opportunity - whether quilt tops were done or not.

It was that or get wet - and/or be blown away by the possible wind.

Wouldn't you know it - Sunday was grey and cloudy, but no wind!

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Things that come in Threes, Fours or Fives?

This picture is here to remind me that no matter the problem, there are always ALWAYS helpers.

This was my view on Saturday morning as I descended the drive showing just what my neighbors had cleared away from the downed tree that smashed the gate on Friday afternoon.

I couldn't fully see it in the dark as I returned from dinner - it certainly wasn't light enough to stop and get a photo then, but on Saturday morning I could.

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October Quiltvillians In The House!

The October Quiltvillians are in the house!

And I think I can officially say that the 2025 porch season has come to a windy and chilly close.

So windy that branches have come down into the yard - and all of the porch decor has been packed away until next year.

Let's just say that it is no fun to chase a bunch of paper napkins around the yard, nor to catch the salt and pepper shakers that have rolled off of the tables.

And while I am sad that summer is over - toasty mornings of coffee in the hen den with the fire on also brings happiness.

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Quiltville Winter Mystery: Lupine & Laughter! (Intro)

It's Mystery Season, Quiltvillians!

With everything going on with our son Jason's recovery from brain surgery, I'm getting this out a week early with the best news ever - Jason was released from the hospital yesterday and is now resting at home with his Dad. I leave November 2nd to go spend 2 weeks with him.

My reason for releasing the introduction to Lupine & Laughter a week early is so I can get all ruler orders out to you before I fly to Portland. I will do my best to get your ruler/notions orders out to you as quickly as possible. 

I return on November 25th. The 2 weeks I am gone will also allow me to order more in if need be and I will resume sending things out upon my return home.

Needless to say, thank you so much for your patience with me during this time.

This year's mystery gets its inspiration from somewhere I've been in the past year or so- ICELAND!

This post contains the back story, colors, yardage requirements, and recommended tools.

Our yearly Quiltville Winter Mystery begins in earnest with Part One going live on - PLEASE READ - NOVEMBER 21, 2025!

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One Hour. One Day At A Time.

Guess who got some machine time yesterday??

And I admit it - these last nine blocks were sewn as Leaders & Enders for each other -

I hadn't sat at a sewing machine since putting the binding on Brookgreen.

I wasn't even very speedy about getting the hand stitching of that binding down...the mind-space that sewing takes has just been beyond my grasp for the most part over the past few weeks.

And now that we are coming out the other side - all I feel is emotionally exhausted.  Like all of that pent up adrenaline over worry for my son has just all gone out in a big whoooosh leaving me just numb.

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Holding It Together -

All is well!
Yesterday was such an emotional roller coaster knowing my grown man-child was in the operating room to remove a large tumor from his brain as I was here holding down the fort - driving on a beautiful autumn morning over to the retreat where the Brown Bird Bee ladies were departing.
My wonderful second grown man child Jeff stayed with me all day.
It is at this stage of life where we appreciate who our grown children have become.

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Brown Bird Bee Beauties!

Good morning, Quiltvillians!

Just take a look at these completed Charm Pack Challenge quilt top finishes!

All started on retreat - and all hanging over the porch rail in yesterday's abundant October sunshine - 

What a fun way to sew together!

If you and your group want to do this challenge, or if you simply have a charm pack you are wanting to put to good (and fun!) use - Download free PDF pattern sheet HERE.

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Over The Weekend -

I tried to come up with a snappy title for this post, but everything is so scrambled and disjointed right now I just kept it simple.

Hubster Dave and I made our way to Blountville, TN on Saturday to drop him at the airport for his flight to Portland where he will be staying with Jason through his brain surgery.

Needless to say, he took my heart and soul with him when he went through those double doors between the unloading zone and the check in counter.

Saturday was a beautiful day - it couldn't have been prettier.

This is the view from the top of Grassy Creek road as you crest and go down the other side.

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The Great Birthday Getaway!

If you want a really fun night out, take your husband, your friend, her husband, her sister, and her other two friends, one with the same name, and pile all into the van for an hour's drive to Boone for an evening at the Japanese Steakhouse!
And no, Dave and I didn't plan on matching outfits, but on a night like this, why not go raspberry?
We left our place at 4:30 pm KNOWING that on a Friday night this place may be slammed...and we were glad we arrived before 6pm because it already was.
But it was worth the wait!

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Brown Bird Charm Pack Challenge!

Yesterday morning I walked into the Quilting Quarters to find The Brown Bird Bee gals already hard at work with a planned Charm Pack Challenge!

Design walls were filling up with pieces and parts and the machines were humming on both sides of the room.

Ooooooh!  Pretty things to look at on a bright and shiny morning?  Show me what's up!

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Brookgreen Off The Rails!

Well, that sure happened quickly enough!

Though this whole construction phase of Brookgreen I was contemplating maybe hand quilting this thing through the winter months -

But with the urgency of Jason's situation and not knowing where I would be, and the need to just take control of one situation that I COULD take control of...I powered through and finished the machine quilting.

And I'm really happy with how it turned out.  It was the right choice for this quilt.

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Lahinch PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

Good Morning, Quiltvillians!

Here we are half-way through October, with an October-late-autumn themed quilt begging to be made from your yummiest scraps in the colors of Dark Chocolate, Caramel, Pumpkin Spice and Sky Blue! There is a smattering of sandy colored neutrals that tie everything together -

I had a wonderful time making Lahinch, and I know you will too!

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Memories and Quilts!

Phone cameras have certainly improved over the 15 years since this photo was taken.

We were living in Wallburg, NC.  Jason was living in Columbia SC and working at Olive Garden.

I was on my way down to Charleston and had stopped at his work for a rest break, a beverage, a quick visit.

These are the kinds of things I'm finding as I scroll all the way down my Facebook memories.  What a blessing it is to have those there, changing daily, always something to rediscover and remember.

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It's A Top!

Look what came together! 

And I am so tickled.

Done before all of the leaves are on the ground and the grass goes brown.

The Muddy Creek Misfits dwindled from 9 to 7 as one by one folks left to attend Saturday weddings and other anticipated events....sometimes life gets in the way of quilt retreats, but we squeeze in all of the quilting we can, gather for as long as we can and fit in as much fun as we are able.

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At The Layout Stage.

The rush to beat the falling leaves before all the leaves have fallen is ON!

I think I've gotten everything laid out where NONE of the same fabrics are touching each other  (Heaven forbid they do!!) 

And I'll spend some time this weekend getting this top put together.

There is something about sewing that is soul centering.  Like the activity of putting pieces in order in a quilt allows my mind to put pieces and timelines and to do lists in order at the same time.

Quilting is not an act of denial.  It's a method of stilling the chaos.

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Thanks, Everyone!

I'm starting this post out with a quilty picture - because I can share that I DID put some pieces together yesterday - it's an effort in making "order out of chaos" and if you could see the chaos in the studio right now - there are strips in the colors of sand, white, grassy green, rusty nutmeg ALL OVER the place -

And truly, I could be re-sorting them back into their color families and start putting them away (in their new cubbies beneath the table side of the long arm which is working out SPLENDIDLY!) but maybe I will want to frame this quilt top with *something* when I fully get it together so there they stay.

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Sunrise & Ridges

I took this photo 3 minutes ago.  Three minutes before I sat down to start writing this post.

This morning was the first morning of autumn that we had to lower the blinds in the dining area of the cabin during breakfast because the SUN....was finally able to make it through the leafy tree curtain that keeps us hidden all summer long.

Leaves are falling quite rapidly now and ridges are clearly visible - our changing landscape day by day.

I miss the sunrises during the summer months, yet enjoy my morning porch time with my coffee and a bit of phone scrolling with the hummingbirds.

The birds are gone now - flown south for the winter, their feeders washed, dried and put away until next spring arrives.

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Scraps Multiplied!

This is when happiness comes in a stuffed to the brim priority mail envelope - all the way from Alaska!

There MUST be another fully scrappy kind of string quilt happening soon because this fluffed up pile of color and variety is just begging to be sewn up into something.

As in - Do not pass go, do not get sorted and contained by color family, but sewn into something riotous with scrappy happiness.

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Fantastically Fun!

This is the fabulous group I spent the weekend with!

Emily's stitchers came from not-too-far-off Huntersville, NC after having their retreat cancelled last year due to Hurricane Helene raging through our area leaving us without power for 9 days - right when they were supposed to be here.

I'm so happy their retreat time finally arrived!

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Quilting Up Friendships!

The Quilting Quarters were a buzz with activity through the weekend!

Quilting until 3am??  WOW!  I've never been a night owl, but that explains why some folks were not seen in the mornings when I arrived - they were catching much needed zzz's  after working away through the wee small hours!

Emily's Stitchers came from the Huntersville, NC area - just a couple of hours drive south of us and it was fun to have fairly local gals here for their retreat.

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While The Quilters Are Away -

Yesterday was deemed the unofficial shop hop day for Emily's Stitchers!

Before I knew it, after making my good morning rounds and feeding the two feline beasts waiting at the back door...folks were marching down the front walkway to their designated cars and off they went!

Some to Quilts on Main in Galax, some to Batiks, Etc in Wytheville and some even going further afield to Fancy Gap Pottery & Fabric Outlet in search of treasures!

The quilting quarters became a ghost town!

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Quilting, Pumpkins, Cows & Helicopters!

Sunrises and appearing mountain ridges!

The leaves on trees are thinning out slowly - we don't have a lot of color this year, and I don't know if we will as we've been really dry.

Temperatures are still warm - we haven't had a cold snap.  All of those things that bring about brilliant color in autumn.

Leaf peepers (tourists) may be a bit disappointed this year!

Still - I am excited about the view from the cabin's front porch emerging.

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Falling Leaves And A Bit of France!

The ONLY  machine time I got yesterday - and happy for it!

Much attention was being given to the retreat and making sure it was ready for Emily's Stitchers who arrived yesterday afternoon.

There was some excitement as the lawnmower got in a bit of a pickle sliding downhill in the  grass that was still a bit wet from morning dew on that side - and needing to be winched back out with the 4-wheeler to safety before winding up caught in the barbed wire fence that keeps the cattle on the other side.

(If it isn't one thing, it's another.)

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Hello, October!

This was the scene last night as we went to dinner with friends in Galax.  FUN!

I'd like to say I like fall, best of all - but it doesn't last long enough and I know what is coming around the corner. AACCCK.

But I'm here to enjoy whatever fall beauty we have left.

I spent some time yesterday getting all of the autumn decor out at Quiltville Inn - and it is fun to have autumn and Halloween stuff out and about for the month of October.

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They Came Back Thriving!

The Shippenstitchers brought with them amazing projects, fantastic food, boundless creativity and abiding friendship.

And they also came with remembering all of what happened with Hurricane Helene one year later.

I think these are the things that bond and bind us - 

And I'm extremely happy that there was very little rain this past week to remind everyone of just what we all survived just one year ago.

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Weekend Quilting Warriors!

First things first!

On Saturday I had my scheduled appointment for a much needed haircut that had been put off a couple of weeks due to my European adventure.  

I do admit to trimming my bangs myself before leaving because I couldn't stand it anymore (I know I know. But sometimes you just have to!)

And once that haircut was finished (Hooray!) and next appointment scheduled, I had a quick thought to stop by Walgreens to see if I could get my flu and Covid shots.

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Let The Stars Shine!

Day Two of our Sister's Choice Workshop - and blocks were coming together without a hitch!

I love the variety of colors and fabric choices that are happening here.

And new ideas were flowing...need more pops of color? Need more neutrals?  After our morning class session most of the group headed off to nearby Galax on a Fabric Acquisition Road Trip to Quilts on Main.

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Quilting Sisters & Sister's Choice!

We jumped right into our Sister's Choice retreat workshop yesterday morning!

It felt so great to walk into a house full of welcoming quilters ready to get down to business - or class time as it was.

Sometimes the scraps are just that much out of control and we need an easy project with great results to sew them all up into submission.

I'm thrilled with the different fabrics and quilt plans that everyone has chosen!

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Where's Our Breakfast?!

This was the scene when I arrived at the inn yesterday morning.

I have Hubster Dave and Son Jeff and retreater Tracy to thank for taking care of the kididdles while I was away...

Evidently they have been so well taken care of that they couldn't care less that I was there to resume feeder duty!

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I Seriously Need A Nap.

Hi, Gang!

I'm home!  I'm not sure what time zone I'm in, but I'm home!

What a whirlwind trip we had through Switzerland, France & Germany.

I loved every minute of it - but this getting home again is for the birds.  Seriously!

We arrived at JFK NY at 8pm on Monday with an overnight stay before I could catch my two flights home yesterday.

It takes a long time to get your luggage (Even though Global Reentry is awesome and fast) and by the time we found the air train and got to where the hotel shuttle pick up was, waited for the shuttle, got to the hotel, waited in line to check in and got to our rooms....I was only going to have something like a 5 hour nap before having to get up to my alarm and head back to the airport.

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Flame Azalea PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

Hello everyone!

If this is posting - I must have made it back from Europe!

I actually wrote this as a draft, with details to be filled in between the photos at some point along my travels.

I'm not quite home yet - this is posting on my return from NYC with flights to Atlanta and then on to Briston, TN and then a 2 hour drive home after being picked up by Hubster Dave.

I've got a long day ahead of me! (And so much to share with you, but we'll get to that after I've had some sleep in my own bed!)

It's Flame Azalea release day!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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