A Very Merry Door

 

A Very Merry Door:

The Nutcracker Cats &

 The Sugar Plum Queen

This year, Christmas cheer has officially reached The Village at Orchard Ridge in Winchester, Virginia. My friend Mary is a resident here. I recently shared with her that I have been under a huge amount of personal stress and needed to connect with my quilting friends for the day. Mary said we could decorate her door any way we liked with “The Nutcracker” as the theme! I knew in my heart this was the perfect opportunity for me to raise my spirit. Therefore, I dragged Susan into the role of conspiratory elf! We had no idea we were about to create a holiday experience and perhaps a masterpiece?

First, I knew we had to feature the true rulers of the home—Rusty and Gracie—transformed into the most adorably stoic Nutcrackers you’ve ever seen. I absolutely love these cats. They are often on guard in Mary's sewing room or offering creative inspiration! 

Frankly, nothing says “classical Christmas elegance” quite like two furry tyrants who already act like they guard the kingdom. We tried our best to capture their regal essence, though both of them probably would rather play with ribbon or attack tape like undercover saboteurs. Truly, they took to their Nutcracker roles with great enthusiasm by calling us out on the other side of the door, alerting Mary that something was going on.

At the center of it all, we placed Mary—shimmering, smiling, and crowned as none other than the Sugar Plum Queen. Because let’s be honest, Mary is the magic behind the whole holiday vibe. If anyone can reign over a kingdom of glitter, ribbons, and slightly unimpressed cats, it’s her.

After zero resistance, I remind you—she slipped into the role with suspicious ease. We told her she could not come out until we were finished.  The other residents were a cloud of sparkle, giggling as they passed the door. I tried to get the name of one of the ladies to take the blame for the “bows”, but she ran off toward the elevator. Afterwards, I thought the door needed “more whimsy.” (Reader, it did not. But we added more anyway.)

The final result? A door so festive that several more residents paused to admire it. A scene so whimsical that I imagine the cats gave us a slow blink of approval. And a Christmas display so sweet and sparkly, it could make the actual Sugar Plum Fairy do a double take.

In the end, it wasn’t just a festive doorway we created. It was a reminder that the season’s magic often comes in fun moments shared with friends (furry and otherwise), where laughter is gentle, creativity is easy, and the spirit of 

Christmas shows up in the simplest, sweetest ways.

Here’s to Mary, her Nutcracker kitties, and a door that twirls with pure Christmas joy!

Stitching Stillness

 

Stitching Stillness: Creating Two Disappearing Nine-Patch Quilts

There’s something grounding about cutting fabric into perfect squares and stitching them back together in unexpected ways. The disappearing nine-patch quilt block reminds us that beauty often comes from transformation—the breaking apart and reimagining of what once seemed complete.  

This past week, I finished two versions of the same quilt: each top made with nine fat quarters of sunny yellow and darker shades of blue fabric. My friend Kathrine showed me this quick method for a quilt top that takes less than an hour to make. Yet, as I pieced each section, pressed the seams, and then sliced the block into quarters, I found myself reflecting on change. Nothing truly disappears in quilting or life; it simply shifts position, finding new balance in color and form.

Then I was rather surprised that I arranged the two tops differently. What? I thought! Oh Goodness I better get the seam ripper but then I paused.  Why do I have to continue with the same pattern in quilting or life?

Following a pattern exactly can feel safe. But changing it means stepping into uncertainty—you don’t know exactly how it will turn out. Mindfulness teaches us to be okay with not knowing, to appreciate the process rather than the outcome. Each adjustment becomes a small act of trust.

As I worked on my two quilts—I realized they reflected two parts of myself. Some days I need the calm of the quiet blues; other days, I reach for the shimmer of gold. Each stitch, each rearranged block, reminds me that life, like quilting, is a series of gentle transformations.

Patterns change all the time—in fabric, in seasons, in us. Quilting teaches that when something is rearranged, it doesn’t lose its beauty; it simply becomes something new. Recognizing that truth in your creative process helps you carry it into daily life. Ah Awareness! 

Two quilts, stitched in stillness.
Two reminders that transformation can be beautiful—especially when we stay present for it.

Wordless Wednesday

  Wordless Wednesday: Shakespeare in the Garden

Golden Rails and Autumn Views

 

Golden Rails and Autumn Views: 

A Day on the Potomac Eagle

There’s something about fall that always draws me outdoors. Maybe it’s the crisp air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, or the way the world seems to glow in amber and gold. This year, my husband and I decided to do something a little different to soak it all in — a ride on the Potomac Eagle train.

We boarded in Romney, West Virginia. The vintage blue-and-white cars gleamed against the backdrop of fiery autumn trees, and there was an old-fashioned charm in the air that instantly slowed us down. Inside, the wooden paneling and big picture windows made it feel like we’d stepped into another era — one where the journey itself was the destination.

As the train pulled away, the rhythmic hum of the tracks set the tone for a day of quiet wonder. We sat beside a large window watching the South Branch of the Potomac River wind its way through the mountains. The landscape opened up to rolling hills blanketed in every shade of orange, red, and gold imaginable. Every turn of the track seemed to reveal another postcard-perfect view.

Then came the moment everyone waits for — the Trough. It’s a deep, narrow gorge carved by the river, and it feels almost untouched by time. The conductor encouraged us to keep an eye out for bald eagles, and sure enough, we spotted several soaring gracefully above the treetops. We were not able to capture them with the camera very well. It’s one thing to see an eagle in a picture; it’s another to see one gliding freely in its natural home.

We enjoyed a five-course meal that was very tasty and filling.  

By the time the train rolled back into the station, the sun was dipping low, painting the river in soft pinks and golds. We stepped off the train completely relaxed, a little chilled but content. There was no rush, no noise, no distractions — just us, the rails, and the golden light of a West Virginia autumn.

Sometimes, the best adventures aren’t the ones that take you far away, but the ones that remind you to look up, breathe deep, and share a quiet moment with someone you love.