New Quilts for the Rooms In the Works

I love the snow and winter weather! Once reason is that snowy days are perfect for staying inside to work on quilts for the guest rooms! Every winter I try to get two to four more quilts finished.

I'm currently working on a Queen/Twin set for one of our rooms that have two beds. These quilts are composed of a 6-inch star that will be within a 12-inch blog. I finished all the stars (48 for the Twin and 72 for the Queen). Then I took them to Room 1 (which has enough space) to layout the stars in order to figure out the placement for all of them. I want to make sure that stars using the same fabric are not right next to each other.

So here is the layout of the stars for the two quilts.

The next step in the process will be to sew the borders on each star to make it into a 12-inch block.

Another task that heats up in the winter is chocolate making! Our Life By Chocolates shop is busy keeping up with the demand for luscious organic dark, milk, and vegan chocolates.

One of our seasonal chocolates, the Orange Cinnamon Truffle, has just been made and is available to order on our website or in our shop. These are melt in your mouth confections that we've brought back by popular demand. Get them while they last!

Gift Shop Update

Are you getting in the holiday shopping spirit yet? I tend to be one of those last minute shoppers who use that last-minute-panic feeling to get in the mood! However, I hate shopping in crowds, so I avoid the malls like the plague. Besides I like to support local shops - like ours at the inn!

Besides the yummy Life By Chocolate goodies, we also have gift items like hand-knit scarves (knit entirely by a local woman - me!) and unique quilted neckties.

We also carry supplies for artists and quilt artists, such as specialty (Aurifil & Superior Glitter) threads, paints, and inks. Our annual year-end sale on these supplies is going on until the end of December - all supplies 35% off!

All of our art quilting related books are 50% off. These make great gifts for the creative people on your list!

And don't forget the tremendously adorable Wee Forest Folk collectables!

Collectable Mouse Miniatures - Wee Forest Folk

Wee Forest Folk are the fanciful creations of the Petersen family of Massachusetts. 2013 found this family business celebrating 40 years of handcrafting mouse miniatures. Each figure is all U.S.A. made, employing skilled artists in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island to paint all the tiny and many layered details on these tiny works of art.

Each mini sculpture starts with an idea and a lump of clay. The finished sculpture is then cast in whiteware and hand painted using tiny paint brushes. The painting involves many colors, layers and techniques to get just the right looks for these adorable mice.

Each mouse is marked on the base with the designers initials - either Annette Petersen (the founder) or Willy or Donna Petersen (the son and daughter).

Unlike most collectables that are made by the millions overseas, only a few hundred of each Wee Forest Folk figure is made, which is why these pieces very often increase in value. There are even several collectors clubs that host yearly conferences (such as Mouse Expo in California) and keep a master list of current prices of retired pieces.

We carry a large selection of Wee Forest Folk in our retail shop and it always makes me smile to look at them. They are great gifts, even for non-collectors. We have a wonderful array of figures for holidays, professions, sports, and fun.

When you purchase a mouse from us you are automatically enrolled in our 5/6 program, which means that every 6th mouse figure you purchase from us is 50% off! We also offer free shipping on all mouse purchases.

Follow us on FaceBook at Wee Forest Folk at the Greenville Arms