Trish & Sheila’s Show & Share from Fredericksburg!

This is Sheila and Trish sharing Trish's  Roll Roll Cotton Boll from String Fling!

I wanted to post these lovelies before I get too buried in the weekend…it was a busy hectic time in Fredericksburg, arriving for my evening lecture, a class the next morning and then right out of town and heading for Woodbridge right after the class was over, and I realized that I didn’t post these…and they are SO great!

We’ve already wiggled room for another Fredericksburg visit in early 2018, so I’ll be seeing these ladies again….that gives them what ----4 years to work on their UFO’s we started just a week ago? ((Has it been a week already? Yes, it has!))

Thanks for  bringing the quilt, Trish, it's GORGEOUS!

Sheila’s Holy Toledo From Scraps & Shirttails II!

Sheila is a fabulous quilter, and a very fun gal to be around.  She was on our Germany trip last December, and it was extra special…though she had told her hubby, Brady that they were going to be traveling somewhere together, he had no idea WHERE they were going until they arrived at the airport.  Sheila planned it all herself and kept it on the sly to keep him guessing.

How romantic is that?

Close up!

Sheila used recycled shirts in shades of grey and pink for her version of Holy Toledo and I just love this color combo – isn’t it fun?  And the fun doesn’t stop here:

Racing stripes down the back!

This is Sheila’s Bargain Basement from Scraps & Shirttails --

More racing stripes on the back!

She used oodles of leftover orphan units in the front..anywhere you see a flying goose unit, broken dishes, basket or 9 patch – that is a 3” finished “OPEN” space where ANYTHING can go ---what a fun quilt!

Maverick Stars in a Random Ohio Stars Setting!

Under the free patterns tab is a free pattern for Random Ohio Stars – Sheila played with this same setting idea, substituting Maverick Stars instead…isn’t it great?

Jared Takes a Wife from the Free Patterns tab ---

Just waiting for borders!

Rectangle Wrangle From Scraps & Shirttails II!

Also just needing borders!

Close up of great recycled fabrics!

Thanks for sharing your quilts with us all, Sheila – they are WONDERFUL!

I’m just kicking back at Mary’s after a run around morning getting things ready for tonight’s lecture…there is some of this in progress:

Hexies on Mary’s coffee table!

I’m downloading some audio books from my library while typing this..I’ve got a long drive home on Monday, and I’m excited.  I’ll be stopping by Hollis Chatelain’s who lives a mere 45 minutes from my home in North Carolina –on my way home from Pennsylvania!  It will be a good location for a leg stretch, a visit and a chat with a friend, and I’ll need some audio books to keep me busy on that long drive.

Heading out shortly to meet up with Mary and get ready for the lecture – let the Bedford Quilters Whirlwind begin!

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A Morning at Mary’s Quilt Shop!

Along with our errands that needed to be run in the morning, we also had to make a stop at Mary’s Quilt Shop – dropping off some bolts of fabric, bringing in things for tonight’s lecture like door prizes and other supplies ---

Mary got busy talking things over with her staff, getting all of our ducks in a row, leaving me free to wander!

I get here only about once a year and I wish it was more often ---I love the feel of this town!

Originally a one family home built in 1813,  it had also housed many a bar, other businesses, including a brothel upstairs. 

I remember seeing it before the redo – what a labor of love and sweat and tears went into turning this into one of the most beautiful historic commercial buildings in Bedford, PA.

Building from across the street!

Americana in full view for the 4th of July holiday!

Antique quilts on shelves, for oohing and ahhing!

Light from a front window illuminates great displays!

Don’t forget the fat quarter bin showcasing Mary Koval’s great fabrics!

Full yard cuts on this shelf – love the chickens!

The antique quilts on display change regularly as well.

Love this applique in dark green and cream!

Reproduction quilt made with Mary’s fabrics

A darling little shop for your reproduction dreams!

And yes, I did find fabric that is going home with me!

And no, I can’t show it to you yet because I’m still gathering bits and pieces to pull together for our November mystery but I haven’t fully made my mind up yet if I want THIS color way, or THAT one…but I will be ready by October which is just a few short months away now!  Are you getting as excited as I am?  I just need time to start SEWING!

But today we are setting up for my lecture – we expect 100 guests, and there are refreshments to be arranged, and quilts to be set up.  If you are anywhere near Bedford, PA –the lecture starts at 7pm at the American Legion building in Bedford.  If you need directions, contact Mary’s Quilt Shop and they will give you directions. 

It promises to be a fun time, and I hope to see you there!

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Because Quilters Work Hard!

It’s hard to get a great photo of Bedford Springs on a hot sunny day in the late afternoon.

Too much light means I’m shooting into the sun and things are washed out, but this place was bought from local Native Americans in 1796, and the first inn was built on the spot in 1806 – it has a LONG history in this area!

It reminds me very much of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan ---but as far as dates go, this one is much older.

Gatherings on the lawn!

I don’t know if you can see behind the cars, but there was a “DO” happening on the lawn as we were leaving ---they hold many weddings, reunions, and gatherings here on the lawn, and I can see why.  It’s just BEAUTIFUL out here.

Entrance!

Toward the lobby

From front desk looking back at stair case --

Through the library and all the way down the hall ---

As nice as the décor was, we had our own agenda ---we were here for a spa day!  Let’s go!

Hallway in the ladies' locker room – check out the tile!

Long soak in the jacuzzi “Bedford Baths”  Yes, please!

Steam rooms and saunas, anyone?

I know I’ve posted photos of this place before, but I so love it – I can’t stop taking pics!

But the best part of the day – after the massage, we get to enjoy the facilities and just unwind and relax ---I promise, I was NOT doing email during this time – just taking a photo…ahhhhh bliss!

Poor white chigger-bitten legs!

It was the perfect way to spend the day, and we both needed it as Mary’s travel has been internationally-grueling as much as mine has been state-side crazy!

More history on Bedford Springs HERE.

We plan to continue our girl’s day by enjoying dinner made by Mary’s hubby Joe….great food, great friends, great conversation, and tomorrow we begin to set up for tomorrow evening’s lecture.

How was YOUR Thursday??

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Walking Manassas Battlefield.

I took some time yesterday morning to do some historical touring ---

You know me and history, if it is anywhere near by I just HAVE to check it out.

Of course, I could choose to check it out when the morning was already 91 degrees, hot and heavy with humidity.  That gave me a lot of food for thought into what both sides of soldiers went through when they clashed here in the first battle of Manassas, also known as Bull Run, July 21, 1861.

And soldiers wore wool.  And carried all of that stuff.

And I was in capris and a tshirt and running shoes ---dripping wet with sweat and heat within 10 minutes of getting outside of the airconditioned comfort of my car.

And mostly, those soldiers ---were hardly more than boys.

Imagine them facing off across open fields like this.

Or standing behind a cannon like this to aim at their opposition.

I walked from monument to monument, contemplating.

And imagined soldiers gathered beneath great shady tree limbs, not only to shade them from the brutal heat of a Virginia July, but it helped hide them in tall grasses so they were harder to be seen.

This battle happened so quickly that there was no time to build ramparts, they just used whatever terrain they could as protection – trees, bushes, fences and uneven ground became their trenches.

Farmland was invaded --

The story goes that Judith Henry, in her 80s and an invalid, refused to leave her bed as her home was occupied during the fighting at Bull Run.  She lost her life to cannon fire when soldiers aimed their artillery at the men shooting out from Judith’s upstairs windows.  She became collateral damage.  She is buried here in front of her house:

Henry Family Markers

Judith’s stone with her story, illegible.

I hiked trails following the fence line and came across these beautiful thistles waving tall in the welcoming breeze --

The bee liked the thistle too!

Heading toward the old stone house across the way

The old stone house stood through both Manassas battles, and was an icon known by soldiers from both sides.

Stone house during the war

Front of house with well --

So here I am, crawling over fences and around pieces of property a bit precarious – this angle of the house and the well is right at the corner of two busy crossroads on Lee Highway!

I finished my photos, and was waiting to cross at the light when a woman, stopped at the red light close to me in a burgundy minivan, rolls down her window and says “Are you Bonnie Hunter?!  I read on your blog that you were planning to be here today but I didn’t think I’d get to see you!” 

How funny is that?  We talked for the duration of her red light, and when it turned green I waved her on her way and I returned up the hill.

Who would think I’d have a drive by welcome at this intersection!?

Stonewall Jackson standing tall, keeping watch over those who gave their lives here.

It was just an amazing experience.  I will always take the opportunity to stop and reflect on those who gave everything, no matter which side of the war they were on.  They were someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s sweetheart, someone’s father ---so much was lost from both sides, and may we never forget.

Today I’m tapping these words out while sitting at the kitchen table of my friend Mary Koval ---we have plans to do some shopping this morning, getting ready for our weekend of fun coming up.  We’ve both got massage appointments out at Bedford Springs, a place I adore – so historic, and reminds me of the Pennsylvania version of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac – photos to come!

Enjoy your Thursday, everyone!  It’s the last one we will ever have in June 2014!

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