I went to Mason City to lease a copier today but the storefront was dark and nobody was there. So I called the business number and I found out it was basically a storage space but the operator would pass my name on to the sales rep.
Jason, the sales rep, called me this afternoon and after almost two hours on the phone and conversation to esign the contract, I will have a new copier delivered before the end of the month. And then I’ll be in business again – a convenient business but more costly than before.
More reader photos –
I changed this quilt on the table just yesterday and today a cat threw up on it so this is the next clean one – I love this one.
It’s a really cold night – we got maybe a half inch of snow BUT if the wind comes up we’ll have blizzard conditions.
What’s new with you guys? I know Robbie is making red hexagons and I’m working on a project that I’ll never really like but I wanted to make it using a men’s shirt. I’ll show you tomorrow – I’m almost done.
I absolutely love the picture of Millie. She looks so comfortable and her colors with the quilt & afghan are beautiful.
Evening …It was so much fun showing an enthusiastic young mom how to use her new Brother machine. She did research one to buy that would suit her ideas ahead to sew and this will be good. She’s a doll! Loves thrifting and had a couple vintage clothes she’s picked up at estate sales and wants to hem some, alter others, so I enjoyed our conversations and idea sharing. Her intimidation of the threading was forgotten after she threaded it by herself once I showed her. She loved the feeling of stepping on the pedal and sewing straight. The linen long curtains in her living room of her farmhouse are her first project to hem. 8 windows so she’ll be busy for awhile. I thoroughly loved every moment sharing the love of sewing with her and seeing her energy to create. She even asked me what my last favorite thing I sewed was. And the muffins were wonderful too.
Kathy – oh, what a fun and rewarding afternoon for you!!
A great post, Mary. I just remembered another needlework I learned in 4-H—Swedish Weaving. I will send a photo.
We have snow predicted for tomorrow, and an e-learning day has been scheduled.
Stay Warm, 🥰
I’m absolutely loving all the needlework pictures. This was a great idea, Mary! There’s not much going on here. Temperatures are back up into the high 80s and although the humidity is not what we get in the summer, it’s still so hot and miserable to be sweating this much in February! I had to do weeding today and had to carry a little towel with me to wipe the sweat off my forehead as my eyebrows are not doing their job of keeping it out of my eyes. I hope all of you in the other of these new snowstorms stay safe and warm.
Hi Mary, I have msn’s shirts too. I will look at what you make and maybe make one like it. Stay warm. If your readers can halp that woman and her daughter, please let us know.
Judy B – Michigan
Rita, glad that your daughter’s surgery went well. Can’t believe that it took that long. Prayers for Kim.
Cats throwing up! What a mess. I think it’s their hair balls. My dog needed
to throw up and he pushed the wooden screen door open to get out in a hurry. Smart dog. I didn’t understand at first why he did that. He didn’t want to come in!I
I’m always looking for things to take to Goodwill. Guess that’s why all my old needlework is gone. I love to see all the embroidery and cross stitch. I framed a large Daily Bread embroidery cross stitch in a hand made frame for my daughter’s wedding. The man that made that frame for me did such a good job. I have a needlepoint that I never framed. Should dig thar out.😂,
All your quilts are lovely to look at, Mary. Could that hidden one under the plants be Say Please from your book, “Country Threads go to Charm School” ? I made one from that book. Eat Soup with the Side of Your Spoon. A fun one and made me try something totally new! A Good memory.
The first five photos are from my family. First, my feeble attempt to cross-stitch at about age 7. Second, hand sewing sample practice by my Mom at about age 10. She decided to frame them about 50 years later. Third, bathroom hand towels on linen, the middle row done by my Mom, hung on a rack on the counter in a bathroom used by the guests . Top and bottom rows given to me after the passing of my grand Aunt. All the table linens, in the fourth picture, were done by my Mom and her sister. Roosters – probably by my Mom or my Grandmother, using flour sacks. as well as the three smaller ones. Those, also probably done by the aforementioned grand Aunt. It was nice to pull out and revisit these pieces and remember the people whose hands made them.
Such lovely handwork displayed over the last few days. Snowball blocks are growing on me.
Jan
Jan – you’re so lucky to have these items made by family members! So many great memories for you.
Leasing is the way to go for your copier. If there is a problem, it is theirs to fix, not yours to struggle with. Worth every penny!
Enjoying all the samplers. I did a lot of cross stitch in my younger days but never did do a sampler. Now, how come? I guess I just didn’t think of it.
My cat Leon “test drives” every one of my quilting projects – nap tests, all night tests, watching tests and of course for his favorites, the upchuck test. Had one cat who crawled under the bed quilt to take her long nap. She was just a little lump right smack in the middle of the bed. And she would snarl at you if you interrupted her nap!
We are in the snow hole – less than 4″ all winter so far. Finally maybe we will get some snow tonight and tomorrow. We are soooo dry.
I’ve got 8 quilts needing pin basted for quilting. Three already pin basted with two partially quilted. I’ve been in a piecing mood lately. I’m waiting for fabric for two commission quilts so will pin baste and quilt in the meantime.
I love the pictures of all of the needlework. My nieces have taken up crochet but don’t want to try needlework or sewing. The pictures of Millie and Hazel are very good. There’s nothing like a cat enjoying a quilt (and hopefully not barfing on it!). Klaus and Magnus love sleeping on quilts.
My son in the Davenport area is telling us they keep predicting big snows but they get a dusting or ice. The farmers are worried for their crops this year. We’ve had more snow than they did this year and we had 4” or so. Further north of Dallas they had 9-10”.
Prayers for Rita’s daughter.
Sewed with church group Saturday. The director of Women’s ministry sopped in to see if we had a quilt to donate. Of course we did! She is in contact with a homeless mom who has a 5 year old. That broke my heart so shopped Sunday for healthy snacks, coloring books, socks and a warm quilt for them. I know there is a large population of homeless in Des Moines, but I don’t see them. She has been put on the list for housing, but she has a car (which they live in) so was put at the bottom of the list! Makes me realize how very blessed my family is and almost guilty for having so much.
Love the Home Sweet Home sampler. Looks like something you would see at Grandma’s house.
Snow is on the way which will make the farmers happy. Hopefully school will be cancelled so I don’t have to take the grands out.
Hubs is having cataract surgery this morning. Taking my knitting and m granddaughter to keep me busy. lol
Diana – you do so many good things! That woman and her daughter really needed those things but I don’t understand how they can run the car all night to keep warm. How does she pay for gas? How can she get a job when she has a 5 year old? Such a hopeless situation – she needs extensive help. Yes, I have so much and some have so little. Very sad and I don’t know how to help.
Love the handiwork photos. My grandmothers did some of those. I wonder where those went as my mom didn’t get them. My great grandmother was an excellent quilter and I don’t have a one of them. Greedy family members got them. A dear quilting friend of mine died on Sunday from a long battle w/ cancer. She was such a precise piecer. She did so many Bonnie Hunter quilts w/ small pieces. She did 3 queen ocean waves-gorgeous.
I have been finishing some small projects and cut a few future projects. I need to longarm as the pile is getting taller. Signed up to do a brown bag mystery organized by Karen Montgomery. I ordered a Fig Tree prints kit. I guess I am looking for inspiration to get quilting.
Cutting Harvey is next up. Easter/spring is coming🌷
Marcia – oh, good! You’re the reader who asked me about Harvey. I don’t even have the original quilt anymore but I looked at the small one. I believe I used two different whites for the body and the “shirt”. The shirt was very white on white to distinguish it from the ivory/white of the body. So glad you left a comment – are you the reader who asked me?
Your pattern Harvey #435 — Fabric Requirements
1/2 yd for background fabric
1/2 yd white for head, ears, body, arms and feet
1/2 yd black stripe for pants and suspenders
3 1/2″ square green print scrap for shirt cuffs
pink scrap for nose
1/8 yd orange for bow tie
So it looks like the shirt and Harvey are the same white — but who cares? Just go for it!!
And I really like the embroidery in the pink hoop. My thoughts exactly.
It’s up to 11 above and will be below zero again tonight. The wind wasn’t blowing and the sun was shining so I shoveled the parking and then a couple of neighbor guys came and did the rest. It was light and fluffy snow and not bad. Supposed to snow off and on over the next few days so we will just have to look out the window to see what it is doing right then. We could really use some good snow as it is so dry.
Take care. It won’t be long before we’re complaining about how hot it is?
Betty in Rapid City
I love seeing vintage handwork knowing machines can do this today and it’s pretty with all the thread colors, but something about the older crisp linens and designs catches my eye with all of these. I value them and their history.
Buying items today is a challenge due to no stores catering to our needs like in the “olden” days. You could walk into a store and have it demonstrated by a salesperson. Now it’s all ordered over the internet and oh well. People are use to now having things come right to their homes. Mary I couldn’t buy a chair nor a copier from the internet without someone showing me how it work or sitting in it.
Ironically today I am teaching a young girl how to thread and use a sewing machine she bought off the internet. I was leaving the rec center where I help with a charity quilt group and was flagged down by staff to meet this girl playing pickleball.
The young mom was so thrilled I would help her and wanted to pay me but I said no, I was just happy she wants to learn to sew. I asked what she wanted it for and her reply is to hem curtains and clothes and eventually make a quilt which I told her there are lots of shops around us with classes she can take to learn that. So today is all about operating her machine and I look forward to getting to know her. She told me in spring or summer she’d repay me with bouquets of flowers she grows but today it will be muffins or cookies. I’ll feel like I’m back to my 4-H leader days.
What a wonderful bartering arrangement — muffins for machine help! How kind and patient you are to help her make a successful start 🙂
Such a wonderful thing for you to do. And a great way for them to express appreciation – who wouldn’t love baked goods and flowers! I love to hear when some young person wants to learn how to sew. It is frequently an art that is not appreciated by the young. Good for you for doing this!
Vicki – I agree! It would be fun to introduce a young girl to sewing.
Kathy – awww, I’m glad you’re helping her enter the land of sewing and quilting. I think Lucy wants to sew but there’s never any free time for us to get together. I hope this little gal’s sewing machine behaves nicely so she doesn’t get discouraged. Let us know how this goes.
Thanks Ladies, I’ll tack on a separate comment later today on how it goes. I spent some time this morning through my notions and pulling duplicates to put into a pouch to take to her. Who doesn’t have extras of seam rippers, small 6” rulers, pins and various size needles. Thanks for all your encouraging words.
When I was stuck in hospital over Christmas week, everyone was wearing really colorful scrubs. I discovered one of the younger nurses , 20ish, had learnt from YouTube how to make her own, so we had a chat. I sent her to some Pinterest links I’ve used for all sorts of pocket options, so she could personalize her scrubs, because they need to carry so many things each shift.
Again , such a joy to know there’s a new generation of sewing happening.
Pauline in South Australia
I enjoyed all the pictures today especially the cross stitch quilt block sampler & of course Hazel! Your plants always look so healthy. My house is crammed with plants that just about make it through the winter before they can go thrive outside again. I’m glad that your copier situation seems to have a resolution. The storm forecast for today will just skim our area staying mainly to our south. It’s a chore day for me here. Laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking. Des
Love all the Handi work. There are a lot of talented people in our chat group.
Cool and rainy in Texas yesterday. My daughter Kim had her surgery yesterday, it started at 7 and she was brought to her room 7:30 that evening. She is doing well and looked good and was talkative. The doctors said everything went very well. She will spend at least till Thursday there to make sure there are no complications.
I had her make a list of things for us to do while we are here. Got two of the things completed. Flipping and vacuuming the couch cushions and cleaning the microwave top and filters.
Sounds like in Iowa we are to get some nasty weather.
Stay safe everyone.
It’s wonderful to hear that your daughter is doing well and is keeping you busy, busy, busy! Truly you are above and beyond to accomplish those chores; I can’t think of the last time I cleaned couch cushions for myself let alone someone else … I’m in the “Decorate the couch with a quilt and toss the quilt into the wash” crowd.
I have to drag out a step stool to clean the microwave, and once I find the step stool, I have usually been distracted by ten other things along the way. It reminds me of an old Family Circle cartoon where the father goes straight down the hall to bed while the mother makes a dozen loops around the house tidying and caring for everything and checking on everyone before she gets to the bedroom! Good thing I don’t use it too often — in this kitchen (short term rental while dh works in the area), it’s too high for a short person like me to use safely. I definitely don’t want to tip hot food onto myself while reaching up so high. Who designs things this way?
Susan – I think I actually remember that cartoon! And it’s so true. Rick just goes to bed while I empty the dishwasher, check doors, close the dog door, shut off all the lights and count the cats. It’s just a fact of life.
Rita – 12.5 hours! I thought mine was bad at 6 hours. I’m glad she’s doing well and you are really helping by doing those extra household jobs that most of us skip over in our normal cleaning. Will you stay awhile after she gets home? I’ll bet she’s just relieved her surgery is over.
Love all the samplers and other items. Your plants are so healthy,love the old green container and small stool to elevate it. Wouldn’t have thought of that. Thanks for the idea. Looking forward to your sewing project. You are such a inspiration!!
Dee – I agree my plants are looking so good this winter. They’re good in the basement, too – lots of sun and gro-lights
I can’t wait to see your latest project.
The photos of all the needlework projects are great. I wish I could see more of that red and white quilt peeking out from under the cat. Animals surely are attracted to fabric!
My brain fog won’t seem to allow me to make the welt pockets on a vest I’m making my husband. It’s so frustrating to struggle with things that were once so easy. Reading instructions on sewing patterns can drive me crazy. I’d like to think they’ve changed over the years from when I used to sew clothing all the time, but I’m sure it’s just my feeble brain.
Stay warm there!
Erin – I’ll take a picture of that quilt and post it.
This was a particularly pleasant variety. THANK YOU
Foe whatever reason all the lovely embroidery and fine crochet items my mother made were given away and i do not have a single item of hers..
The cat upchuck story on the table cover reminded me of my daughter’s Siamese cat that made a point of barfing on something every time she had to make an out of state business overnighter. The neighbor oversaw his care and some way or another the cat always knew when it was the last day and decided to do this when there would be no opportunity to clean up the mess before my daughter came home. CATS!
Brenda – sounds familiar – cat puke is a regular occurrence at my house. 🤨
Hi Mary, l have been busy finishing a churn dash quilt for friends and searching for a pattern l like to use for babies, my great niece is having a baby,which means my sister younger than me will be a great grandma! So now tracing cats and dogs onto paper with sheets of glue on the back (visaflix )l think it’s called. Will send photos soon looking forward to seeing your shirt quilt Mary! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
I’m so glad to hear you’ll have a new copier set up soon! Check to see what the longest warranty you can get (including home repairs). Products aren’t built like they used to be – it’s shocking how shoddy the workmanship is. I’m working on quilt #2 for our brand new great-great nephew. Mom & Dad wanted beachy colors so #1 is a beach scene. The bottom is a rocky beach complete with beach ball applique, choppy water (with brightly colored sailboats appliqued on), along with brightly colored fish appliques. One of the sailboats has the baby’s name embroidered on a white ‘sign’ at the end of the boat. The sky has a huge sun applique with a happy face. Quilt #2 will be for the baby – made with the same pattern you used for the quilt that Keeper lays upon on the loveseat. The largest use of color was blue, but the blocks have everything I can think of with the snowballed corners with colors from that block. I love giving those types of quilts as it’s a good teaching tool for little ones. Love sewing like this – it’s fun, fast and will be used a lot! It didn’t even make a slight dent in the scraps for all that. Hope it warms up soon for you – the extreme cold is awful!
Deb – I always think I’m going to have snowball blocks ready for leaders and Enders – I really should take the time to cut it out.