Let the Fall decorating begin!

Hello Everyone,

Do you have some days that are more productive than others?  Yesterday I was on a mission to change the quilts around, and decorate the cabin for Fall.

By the end of the afternoon, I logged over 10,000 steps on my Fitbit!  I love putting this quilt on display year after year. The quilt is called Scrappy Maple Leaves and the pattern was in a book by Ilene Bartos. I am playing with fire here because a squirrel, chickoree, or a mouse ate part of the last quilt I had on display.  I put my fake owl out on the front porch to discourage the critters from enjoying a midnight snack.  They chewed a hole in a quilt then literally sucked out the batting to line their nests.

I will take more pictures today as I finish up.  I didn't get everything quite done, but the lion's share of the task was completed.

When my good friend Kaaren moved away this Summer, she gave me a gorgeous set of nine Shaker Boxes. They are like a set of nested, Russian dolls.  I normally have them on display in a stack, but yesterday I decided to take all of them out of their nest, and put all nine across the mantle.  I have these wonderful, old Halloween characters which belonged to my Grandmother.  I don't know how long she had them, but my guess they are over 70 years old.

They are perfect atop the boxes.

Their faces are hand-painted.  Isn't she frightful?

This character has to have the original Princess Leah hair style!  But my little princess isn't packing "heat".

I finally stopped working late afternoon, and then got ready to go to dinner and music on the deck at our homeowner's association.  This is the same location where I have my retreats.

It was a wonderful evening under the moon and stars.  The entertainer was Grover Anderson from Murphys.  He's a local singer/songwriter, and his popularity is gaining momentum.  He has a very enjoyable voice, and really connected with the audience in this intimate setting.

It was a perfect day.  If you look closely at the wine glass, you will see the reflection of the Porta-Loo in the background by the tennis courts.  Just keeping it real here folks!

Soon,

Lynn

Decorating at the Cabin

Hello Everyone,

Bringing a new piece of furniture into the cabin started a lot of cleaning and rearranging.  I was so tired after cleaning and moving furniture, I wanted to curl up in the new/old baby bed.

  

No sewing going on here as I await the arrival of a box from Marcus Fabrics to begin making the block of the month I designed for them.  The fabric is coming straight from Korea to my doorstep.  I've learned so much about the fabric making process, and have been included in the final decision making.  It's pretty exciting when my contacts at Marcus Fabrics asks for my opinion on color, and they incorporate my suggestions.

I'm trying to get everything done and off my plate, like taxes, so I can devote every minute to the new design.  I've also been straightening my sewing room so I have a nice tidy space in which to work.  Right now, my sewing room appears as though a bomb was set off in the middle of it.  My sewing room doubles as my office, so it's not just fabric and sewing supplies.  The room holds all of my patterns waiting to be shipped, my printers, and all of my office supplies  Right now it's a mess!

My Etsy shop is going gangbusters, and that is my first order of business every morning.  I'm enjoying the connections that I make with the quilters placing orders.  Many send sweet emails with their orders.

There is a wonderful community of quilters across the nation and the world, and I'm so happy and honored to be part of that circle of creativity.

I'm off to fill orders and continue the cleaning and sorting process.  A lot of the sorting is paperwork that needs to be shredded.  Mazey comes in occasionally to check on me.  I have to make sure her tail doesn't get near the shredder!   

My heart goes out to everyone who is covered in ice and snow across the country.  After our blizzard a few weeks ago, I feel their pain.  Living here in the mountains we are prepared for such weather events with the generator, a stack of firewood, and a freezer full of food.  Even with all of those comforts, living in the mountains can be challenging.  Hopefully we will be up to that challenge for several more years.

Soon,

Lynn 

Happy Valentine's Day's

Hello Everyone,

Here is a picture of my Valentine's gift from Mr. Joe.  It's a big, red, enamel pot to hold some table runners.

It looks perfect on the dining room table on top of "Cute as a Button".  

I would love to know what is was used for, and who used it.  Mr. Joe decided it would make a good helmet for me to wear during a wind storm.  Isn't he a peach?

I found this baby bed from the 1900's at the one and only antique store in town.   I filled it full with quilts that have been tucked away in the armoire.  Now we get to enjoy looking at them, and the baby bed. The rocking chair belonged to my father-in-law.  It's an oldie but goodie.

So, bringing two new items into the cabin prompted me to rearrange, dust, and vacuum the great room.  When a new item comes in, an old item does not go out.  We are pretty much packed to the rafters.  It's a dusting nightmare.

My "Crossing the Pond" quilt, crossed the pond safely and arrived in France on Friday.  I always hold my breath until the quilts arrive.  Now I know she will be in the May/June edition of QuiltMania since she arrived in time for her photoshoot.  Would you believe I mailed it on a Monday via FedEx, and it arrived at the QuiltMania office on Friday.  I can't mail a first class letter and have it arrive on the East Coast that fast using the US post office!  

I mail many patterns out on a daily basis from my Etsy shop.  At least one or two patterns go astray on a weekly basis. What should take a few days, end up being a couple of weeks.....or not delivered at all. It's a constant frustration for me, and for my Etsy shoppers.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.  I have to get back to my rearranging the entire great room.  Picture Mr. Joe rolling his eyes at me, not in lust, but in doesn't she ever stop!

Soon,

Lynn