A Whole Lotta Quilting Going On!

I learn something new at every retreat.

Like how even the pieces that *I* throw away can end up as an amazing useful piece of art!

Take a look at this table mat.  It's like a mini quilt, but isn't.

It's got a layer of batting, backing, and then all kinds of slivers and trimmings placed on top of the batting, and netting/tulle added to the top and  machine quilted through all to hold everything in place like a quilt  and bound!

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Hello, Monday!

We've had a full weekend of cutting, stitching, pressing and more!

The retreat time really does fly by fast when you are hanging out with your besties and dreaming up new projects you want to make after seeing the beautiful blocks on design walls.

Some went and visited quilt shops on Saturday afternoon, some stayed in and sewed all day - 

It was a wonderful weekend all the way around.

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Quilting Into The Weekend!

This kind of chilly and blustery has everyone back to dining inside the house -

Come on, Porch Season - Where are you?

And It really doesn't matter as long as there are good friends, good food, good conversation happening all around.

Throughout the day some went to visit a quilt shop, some stayed in their jammies sewing, some of us even got out for a dirt road hike!

When it's your retreat you can do whatever you like however you like!

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Quilters! Start Your Engines!

Another retreat week was in full swing when I arrived at the inn yesterday morning.

Machines were whirring - fabric was being cut and pressed into submission - another group, another round of wonderful projects just beginning.  Or continuing - 

Projects were already on design walls and all around sewing stations - here's a glimpse at the beginnings of some Scrappy Mountain Majesties blocks (pattern from the Free Patterns tab.)

And I admit - I framed this photo to catch the saying on the mug.  LOL!

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Cows On The Hills!

I took this photo from the corner of the parking area behind the QPO Studio yesterday afternoon.

All was ready, and I was waiting for the first of the April Quiltvillians (Who are joining us in March because Easter falls on their regular week this year.)

One of my favorite things about living in the mountains - watching things become greener than green, and seeing the cows grazing way on the top of the hills.

Look closely - zoom in - it's the little black dots to the right of the old water tower.

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The Pollening!

I know I said "Victory Lap" was going to happen on my Gretchen block quilt top center yesterday -

But it didn't.

Because I dug right into finishing up laundry and doing retreat things that needed to be done before today's arrival of the April Quiltvillians. In March. Because Easter has commandeered their usual weekend.

SHIFT HAPPENS!

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From Richmond And Beyond!

International Quilting day turned into international Quilting Week with the Richmond Express on retreat at Quiltville Inn!

Why have one quilting day on Saturday when they can have their whole stay to celebrate?

It was a marvelous retreat all the way around and even the weather cooperated enough to give us porch time and long walk time and so much sewing time.

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Spring! FINALLY!

The daffies on the hillside on our dirt road hike up Roundhouse Road - 

They are at peak bloom right now and the brilliant yellow against the blue sky makes me so happy!

I know they will be gone soon.  It never lasts long enough, this promise of spring and warmer weather, but I love seeing them here all riotous.

Saturday afternoon was too lovely to NOT take a walk, so out we went.

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It's International Quilting Day!

Is there a better time to be on retreat than on International Quilting Day?

With winter HOPEFULLY in the rear view mirror - we are looking ahead to a beautiful spring and getting into all of the quilty good trouble we can!

There is good food to enjoy, beautiful quilts to make, some make it and take it projects happening - and more.

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Let The Good Times Roll!

The Richmond Express gals are in the house and quilting up a storm!

And the projects are as varied as the conversations interrupted only by bursts of laughter.

You know, as I work my way into my older crone years, there is nowhere else I'd rather be with than a house full of like-minded quilters.

Everyone from different backgrounds and varying life experiences - we could write a book for the answers to all questions because SOMEONE in this house has been through what someone else is just embarking on.  It's marvelous!

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Up To Here!

Lookie, Lookie, Lookie!

I finally have enough blocks to start putting things together.

I say "Finally!"  You say "You are so fast!"  It doesn't feel like that.

But I tend to hyper-focus on things I want to see progressing.  That means that I don't have several projects going in many different stages so I have to decide what I'm going to work on on any given day.

It's one thing at the machine.  Until it's done.

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Well, Dang!

Have you ever spent weeks, months, years working on a project and then get to the point where you think you've made the wrong decision?

I pulled out my ever growing hexie top to see how the top border was going to look now that I've pieced enough of it and I'm not sure this is what I want?

Have I wasted hours and hours and hours?

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St. Patrick's Day in the Snow?

It started yesterday about 4pm.  The sleet mixed with the dreaded white stuff.

Once I heard it pelting against the windows of the QPO studio, I knew I better get home and get up the mountain fast before the drive covered over.

What the heck, Virginia!  It was 82 f degrees last Wednesday, and you pull THIS?!?!

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A Weekend Outing

There was a long list of necessary things -

New kitchen scrubbers for the inn, searching for some chair cushions for the wicker chairs at the side porch, cleaning products, paper products, cat care products (because, you know!)

And I thought I'd take the afternoon off and just go mosey and see what I could do without anyone in tow. (Because, if you usually have a spousal unit with you, then you also know!)

It's just nice not to be in an out and out hurry and take some time to look at possibilities, not just grab necessities and hurry on back.

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From Wednesday To Now!

This was Wednesday's beautiful preview of summer (in MARCH!) as we reached 82 degrees.

Crazy, right?

Grass is green, daffodils are blooming in the background - the peeper frogs down by the creek were singing their spring song. All was well.

Until night time blew in and we went from Fake Spring to Fake Summer and then back to below freezing in the course of the night.

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Brookgreen PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

Who says Friday the 13th is a spooky no-good day?

I love Friday the 13th - and it's perfect for a new pattern release, and a Gift-Away to go with it!

Say hello to Brookgreen!

Simple shapes and easy piecing create a stunning repeat of pattern and secondary designs, inspired by photo taken of vintage tile floors white traveling. 

Full color photos, Optional piecing methods, and directions to press for success!'

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Fake Spring!

It was nearly 80f yesterday.

In the coldest county in Virginia.  In MARCH.

Everything is blooming - I had to take a little trip to Independence yesterday (25 minute drive) and along the river and following the winding roads forsythia were blooming bright yellow as if to say "HELLO!"

Some trees are bursting out in pink blooms. "YES!" is my reply - pink blooming trees are my favorite.

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Am I Lost? Or Found?

On Monday, after coming home at lunch to medicate Mabel (who is doing much better, by the way!) and being relieved of my duties once Hubster Dave made it back home, I decided to take a little "back road drive" to the inn.

Only, I found my way at a crossroads not knowing whether I should turn left or right.

I should have turned left. ((I think?!) because I got kind of lost along the way...

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From Virginia With Love!

Yesterday's over-the-porch-rail photo shoot complete with sunshine and blue skies!

It's been a marvelous week with such wonderful weather - not counting the one and only day with rain which was needed to bring back the GREEN.

Everything is turning green.  Like magic.

And guess what I heard down by the creek yesterday morning?  PEEPER FROGS ARE BACK!

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Gone To The Dogs -

Our weekend started out like this - a beautiful early afternoon for a dirt road hike before the rain was set to come in.

Rain? What rain? Puffy clouds, blue sky - surely they are wrong about the rain?

It wasn't much longer (like we'd reached half-way) and we began to hear rumbles of thunder coming from those clouds.

Walk faster!

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Eat, Sleep, Quilt!

It is so awesome to have the retreat so full of happy quilters once again.

I felt like this winter was never going to end....and yet, just a few weeks later we have reached the point where Hubster Dave had to come remove the storm window from behind the kitchen window so we could open up the little wing windows and let some fresh air in because the kitchen was getting too hot with all of the wondrous food making going on!

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ALL. DAY. LONG!

Welcome to Porch Season!

I'm still holding my breath.  Our warmer temps into the 70s this week may still trigger some cataclysmic ice event and send us back into snowmageddon, but for now we are taking things one day at a time and dang well enjoying every moment of porch time we can get!

This photo was taken last evening after 6pm (YAY! It's still daylight!) after my return trip from the vent with Tula. I was gone ALL. DAY. LONG!

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Desk Day Done!

So what if my dreaded Desk Day took two days, and I've still got a form to fill out that I'm waiting for more info on after sending them an email requesting such?

If I send a reply email, with questions, at least they know I'm taking care of things as I can, right?

That means that the afternoon allowed me a couple of hours of machine time before the March Quiltvillians started arriving!

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Bouts of Scrapmania!

I mentioned that yesterday was a desk day.

Desk days are not that exciting - but are necessary for keeping things running and doing all of the things that need to be done.

I try to build myself up for those kinds of days - put on some nice music, make myself a big mug of lovely tea, light a candle to make things cozy - because the endless list of things to reply to, to fill out, to send off can be a drudge.  

It is what it is!

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Sew Long, Farewell!

I tend to call the Wednesday to Sunday retreats as Quickie Retreats. 

They are long enough to have some fun, but not long enough to spend enough time with a group while they are here.

Before we even turn around, it seems like its time to pack up and head home.

Back to jobs, family, grandkids, life!

I am so grateful for the time we did get to spend together making some fun memories through the weekend, and the Lincoln Quilt Guild ladies from Lincolnton, North Carolina have got some great quilt tops to show for it!

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In Between The Quilting!

As I continually looked at the weather app on my phone, trying to determine if the details were correct, or would they change, and in which direction - I set my sights on Saturday where temps would be firmly in the 60s.

Believing that the mud had enough time to dry a bit before I stepped out onto the first dirt road hike of 2026, I set my sights on a walk down by the river.

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