Hello Everyone,
It's been a whirlwind of a fall, and somewhere along the way I realized it was time to step away from quilting and blogging long enough to remember what my husband looks like.
The craziness officially kicked off at the end of August with a Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat. Before I could finish unpacking, September arrived and I was hosting a retreat at Lake Tahoe. A couple of weeks later, my granddaughter's wedding took center stage, bringing all the excitement, joy, and last-minute details that weddings are famous for.
Then, just when I thought I might be able to catch my breath, I had a grand total of five days to prepare for my November retreat. At that point, my calendar looked less like a schedule and more like a competitive endurance sport. Between retreats, wedding festivities, Etsy and quilt shop orders, and endless to-do lists, quilting somehow became the thing I didn't have time to do.
In between all of the retreats and wedding, I was filling Etsy and shop orders, and began writing the directions for my new BOM pattern called Yuletide Memories.
Needless to say, a little break was in order.
There are so many retreat photos sitting on my computer that they could probably qualify as their own quilting exhibit. I had every intention of posting them, but between running from one event to the next and trying to keep my eyes open after dinner, the photos patiently waited their turn.
The good news is that I'm feeling wonderfully rejuvenated after taking some much-needed time off. I've spent many afternoons doing absolutely nothing productive, happily settled into my rocking chair by the fireplace... covered with a quilt, of course. It turns out that reading books, sipping coffee, and watching the fire crackle is an excellent recovery plan for anyone suffering from an overdose of retreats, weddings, deadlines, and fabric.
I'm happy to report that my batteries are recharged, my rocking chair survived the marathon sessions, and I may even be ready to tackle that mountain of retreat photos!
The presentation of the House on Edgewood Lane quilt (the picture at the top of the page) was undoubtedly the highlight of the retreat. Our dear friend Deborah, although unable to be with us in person this year, made sure she was there in spirit. Through a Facetime call, she watched as my sister Gail discovered that the beautiful quilt she was admiring was actually being given to her.
The moment was filled with love, memories, and a few tears. The House on Edgewood Lane was the very first pattern I ever designed, inspired by the home where Gail and I grew up in Paradise, California. Seeing that special quilt, lovingly made by Deborah and gifted to Gail, brought back so many cherished memories of our childhood and the place that will always hold a piece of our hearts.
It was a reminder that quilts are more than fabric and thread. They tell our stories, preserve our memories, and connect us to the people we love, no matter the distance. Yesterday, thanks to Deborah’s thoughtfulness, one of those stories came full circle. We love you, Deborah.
This quilt didn't just appear by magic. It took an entire quilting undercover operation worthy of its own movie!
First, I shipped the Timeless Stitches fabric off to Deborah. Deborah worked her quilting magic, finished the quilt, and then mailed it from Michigan to Diane in Livermore for machine quilting. But wait... the mission wasn't over yet.
Enter Secret Agents Madeleine and Paula. Disguised as ordinary quilters, they quietly accepted their top-secret assignment: finish the binding and the label without alerting the intended recipient. Working under the radar and sworn to secrecy, they completed the final stage of Operation Edgewood Lane.
Thanks to this highly coordinated quilting conspiracy, the surprise remained intact right up to the big reveal. It truly took a village, a post office, a machine quilter, and two undercover agents to pull it off!
Our weather is definitely making the transition from autumn to winter. Rain and snow are in the forecast for all of next week and right into Thanksgiving week. Perfect timing!
This year, our granddaughter has taken charge by suggesting we have Thanksgiving at the cabin. We usually spend Thanksgiving at our home in the Bay Area. Now my challenge is to see if I can orchestrate my granddaughter, into spending a few days in the kitchen while I supervise from a comfortable chair with a cup of coffee and offer helpful advice like, "That smells wonderful!" and "Are those pies done yet?"
After all, every great Thanksgiving production needs a director, a cast, and someone whose primary job is quality control.....that would be me.
Soon,
Lynn
