Who can resist those cute novelty prints? Not me either and I never know quite what I plan to do with them so I started working on a new pattern. I didn’t have much of either print but you can use what you have in any position in this quilt. Each rectangle is bordered with the same fabric – mine is just white solid. Those white sashing strips are positioned so that each will not butt up against the adjoining seam.
I have read that babies and toddlers are drawn to black and white over colors so I dug deep in my backing stash and came up with a 2010 IKEA print.
I thought I could save time by putting both small quilts on the longarm together – that was a mistake!
Every time I got to the blue border I’d catch it and have to stop. Grrr.. But I did get them done and now I will need to bind.
Raining lightly through the evening.
Reader photos
Yes, the Novelty Quilt pattern is available. It will be the quilt diagram with measurements for each “block” – no actual written instructions – which I don’t think any of you would read anyway.
- Send cash or check for $5 along with a SASE. This must be a business envelope – not a free envelope from a charity asking for a donation! Those envelopes are very small. This novelty quilt pattern will require only one stamp.
- If you don’t want me to hold on to your check for awhile, please send cash.
- No color picture will be available but as soon as these are bound I’ll post good photos for you to download.
- If you don’t send the SASE I will simply keep your money and not send the pattern. I would have to stop and write you a letter and put another stamp on it just to tell you your pattern won’t be arriving. Nope.
- I guess I cannot post multiple patterns for sale – talk about a mess!!! I have learned my lesson. One reader expected me to put 10 large sheets into one business size envelope!
Thank you if you sent a card to the Lovelaces – someone asked what to say – write a little note about yourself, your family, your interests, etc. I know they’d love to hear from you.
That’s all – going after feed tomorrow!!
Just a quick suggestion regarding the issue with quilting the small quilts…. Do you have a glide foot on the longarm? It’s a clear, bowl shaped foot that will not catch on those fabric edges. Joel and I use it exclusively now – it’s great! A little bit pricey…but what isn’t these days?!?
After all the rain we had a week or so ago, we’re going to need rain again soon. A man from church gave me 2 very nice tomato plants that I need to plant into big pots on my patio today. I have to sort of fence them into a corner of the patio to keep the deer from eating them. When we moved here 8 yrs ago this was pretty much open country. The second subdivision is going in soon, so it leaves little places for the deer to find trees & vegetation. And we have 3 lakes in this community & my home is right between 2 of the lakes! So they graze on our plants to & from the lakes! Irish Spring soap chips help some, they don’t like the smell. It is a challenge! Loving all the parade of quilts! Thank you all for sending in pictures of your quilts, etc. it’s so nice to see what everyone has made. We are a very productive group! And thank you Mary for a most interesting blog about life in general! And the icing on the cake is all the sweet pets we get to see. Some who are rescues & some are babies when they come to live with Mary! Have a good weekend everyone!
We have deer in our town NE of Dayton. Two years ago, the deer got most of the tomatoes. Last year I got a roll of wildlife netting at Tractor Supply. It helped the problem a lot. I again had plenty of tomatoes for us and to share.
Beryl thanks, I had thought about buying netting from Walmart, but they no longer sell cut by the yard material of any kind. I used that when we had a garden to keep the bunnies & birds away. I will definitely check out Tractor Supply, again thanks!
Mary, your trouble longarming two small quilts at once reminded me of a blog that Jo Kramer wrote about doing two quilts at once. Maybe she might give you some pointers regarding that. We certainly need rain here in the Cheyenne area. It clouds up, wind blows, no rain drops. The wheat is looking poorly- thin and short. The county adjuster for insurance came out and said most farmers will get a half bushel per acre. Many, many farmers are putting cattle on the wheat fields or discing it up and are planting a grain for next spring harvest. My husband said he probably won’t even get the combine out this year. This has certainly has been a bad year on many levels for farmers.
Good morning! We had 2 in of rain last night…a real nice rain. It’s soooo humid now…..Iowa! Wait till the corn starts to mature. HA ! I love the novelty little quilts I will be sending for that pattern. Too bad you have so much trouble with those requests. I love all your stories, the critters and all the quilts. I bought a little saw like you have and it helped me so much with my trimming of branches. Have a agree day! Becky
Becky – I’m so glad you like your little saw – I use it a lot because I can actually handle it in one hand. I should be a spokesman for that company! Haha! Yes, as I look across the road from where I sit in the porch, I can see Tim’s corn – soon the rows will close. 2” of rain is a lot!! We didn’t get enough to measure.
All the quilts are outstanding today. Thanks to all that share!
We had rain yesterday straight down no wind and extremely heavy rain. Flood advisory for low places. I dropped my car in for oil change and a friend and I went over to the next town for lunch. We came out to sprinkles that immediately turned to more. She dropped me to get my car and I scooted home as fast as the law allows. I came in and looked out the window to see the deluge! It carried on heavy for a long time and we got a few min of wind too, Not seen that type of rain in a while.
Checking off things on my to do list. Next up is windshield replacement. But it can wait until after retreat. Yup, retreat at the Benedictine in Schyler, NE. Yes, there are monks in the building often. It’s a favorite and we go twice a yr I started cutting a new project for that retreat for the rest of the afternoon. So I am in retreat prep mode today and the weekend.
Fran – we watched the weather for your area – flood warnings – wow!!! Our crops are looking good around here but could use a nice rain – not a flood. I can’t imagine how many quilts you must get done on your many retreats!
Novelty fabrics are fun. I remember going to a fabric store with my then 3 year old grandson. I took him to the novelty fabrics and told him to pick something he liked. He chose airport fabric with planes, helicopters, runways, etc. Then we went to more solid fabrics and I told him to pick colors from the solids that were in his airport fabric that I could use in the borders. We had fun doing that and a few months later he had his toddler size quilt. And it was a great learning tool. We could make up stories about what each plane was doing, where the helicopter was going, etc. So, multipurpose: it kept him warm, wrapped him in love, and we shared imagination time.
Vicki – what a great way to learn and spend time with him at the same time. Did the quilt wear out or maybe it’s tucked away somewhere?
It is tucked away.
Vicki – sweet!!!!
Cute quilt! And Mortie got to Abe in the picture.
Well, surgery is the 23rd of June. I don’t have to wait too long.
Have a Good Friday.
Joy – oh, that’s wonderful! Hang in there just a bit longer!
As you prepare for surgery do you have your eye on something good to read if you have time during recovery?
Novelty fabrics are what I have least of in my stash which sends me to my local fabric store when I make a baby quilt. I love the backing fabric you had in your stash.
I’m still reading Theo of Golden but one question he asked has had me thinking of my long years of living on earth. It is “ what was the happiest day of your life.”
Hard one as several moments came to mind.
Kathy – oh, boy! That’s a good question – I read the book and that didn’t even stand out to me but then I didn’t really love the book.
I just finished reading Theo of Golden. My book club will be discussing it next Tuesday. I really enjoyed it. i read that he is working on a sequel…Ellen of Golden.
Ginger and Mary, it was Ellen that he asked that question too. I’m pretty sure our women’s Bible study in fall wanted to do one session where they could all share their thoughts on the book before the sequel comes out. I’ll do that session but I gave up trying to do the books they read at Bible study and my own I want to read. I got too confused reading 2 books at once. And I am a much slower reader now.
A quilt friend of mine makes donation quilts. Most years, she donates over 200 per year. She has an extensive collection of what she calls ‘I spy’ fabrics. I wish I knew how many I spy quilts she has made. Probably in the thousands. Wow!
Rained here all night. Just glad it’s Friday. 1st week of summer vacation with the grands has worn this old woman out!!
Diana – I have quite a few but certainly not that many! I hate the fussy cutting for I Spy quilts so have avoided them. Haha! The kids are there! Yes, we could see the weather in your area – that is a lot of rain!!
The IKEA backing fabric is PERFECT! I think the quilts are a great size too. Sorry it was rough-going getting them quilted but now they’re done. Have a great day. I hope you can quilt instead of mowing today. Lol!
Hi Mary,
Your quilts are beautifull.
If you attach the 2 quilts together with a strip of fabric and cut it off afterwards, would that help?
Enjoy your day and thank you for your blog “about nothing”!
Greetings
Rina Scholtz (South Africa)
Rina – yes, I’ll bet you’re right – but next time I’ll just do one at a time. South Africa?? How did you find my blog? What can you tell us about your life in South Africa? I know we’d all be interested in your quilting and life in general.
One question for Rina. What are her go to prints or colors when starting a quilt. I usually have a fabric like a floral or large print or color or block in hand and build from there. Just put together a good number of small half square triangles for 80 sawtooth stars that will be set on point. Quite a mix. It is still coming along well.
Hi Li
I love to use Novelty Prints for baby quilts. I use patterns for my quilts, making my own patterns is way above my capabilities. Vintage prints and marble effects are my
go-to fabrics. I choose a colorway and work around that. scrappy quilts are also nice to use up all my scraps of which I have many. I have just completed a top with scraps.
thank you for asking.
regards
rina
It would be fun to see the results of your scrappy quilt.
hi Mary
I came across your blog many years ago and have been here ever since. I love your ” blog about nothing” very much, especially your compassion for animals. Hazel is my absolute favourite, she reminds me of a little dog I loved and lost.
I live in 1 of South Africa’s 9 provinces named The Free State, which is about in the middle of SA.
My city is called Bloemfontein. We are entering our winter season, our winters can be very cold, around -11 to -15 ºC. No snow but waterpipes and grass freezes over, not my favorite season!
I belong to a Quilt Guilt and a quilt group. Our guild website is http://www.quiltsouthafrica.co.za and I belong to the Oranje Quilters’ Guild. We have 4 guild meetings a year and our group gathers once a month for tutorials or working on our own quilts. I have made a few double bed size quilts for myself and baby quilts to sell.
As a pensioner, I have time to quilt at my own space.
That about covers my story.
My regards to you and your loved ones and Connie
Rina
Rina – I’m going to brag to my friends now that I have a friend in South Africa!!! And you know Hazel, too! I’m so happy you left a comment – or how would I know you’ve been reading the “blog about nothing”??