From Kitchen Dreams to Quilt Journals – A Month of Making

It’s been a full and busy month here on the home front! Our kitchen renovation is really taking shape—cabinets are going in, and the double oven is now installed (a dream come true). Soon we’ll be able to measure for countertops. Outside, the new roof is finished—an old-fashioned standing ridge metal roof that feels just right for our place. Now we’re just waiting for the guttering crew to complete the job.

I had the privilege of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of the Virginia Quilt Museum in nearby Dayton, VA. The exhibits were amazing, and the highlight for me was the behind-the-scenes tour of the conservation, storage, and curating areas where these treasured quilts are carefully preserved. Adding to the joy of the day was live music from the Shenandoah Valley Ukulele Band—such a charming touch!

Creatively, I’ve been busy too. I’m working on a kitchen wallpaper design to coordinate with my backsplash accent tile, which has been such a fun way to bring my home life and design work together. I also submitted a “Cozy Cottage” pattern for a design contest—combining the timeless postage stamp style with soft blues, pinks, tans, and mossy greens. To make it even more personal, I wove in handwritten notes from my grandmother’s quilt journals. I’m excited to be expanding this idea into a full collection.

I’m loving the shift in the air as cooler weather drifts in—the prelude to a splendid autumn here in the Shenandoah Valley. I hope you’re soaking up the last golden days of summer too.