Connie just finished this red and white quilt and it is beautiful! Our old pattern, Wild Rice, has a whole new look just in time for Christmas decorating. This should be called Wild Rice Reincarnated! Haha! I just love it – I even hung several red and white quilts yesterday after I took down the fall quilts with the pumpkins and colorful leaves. My pumpkins have been thrown out in the grove for the wild life this winter. Here is Wild Rice!
You can order a paper pattern of Wild Rice for $5 and a SASE paid in cash or check sent to Country Threads, 2345 Palm Ave. Garner, IA 50438. It is not available as a pdf download. Checks should be made out to Country Threads.
As I look at this Wild Rice block I think one block would even be nice in the center of a table with something decorative in the middle – like a candle? Often my time doesn’t allow me to make 9 blocks but I can manage one. I’ll bet it’s the same with you.
Reader quilts:
These little goats remind me of the YouTube video of the baby goats in pajamas running through the barn – it is soooo cute!
Believe it or not, these are all Christmas fabrics.
I think I’m caught up with reader quilts but if I have missed yours, please let me know.
Betty Klosterman – are you reading this blog post? I’m not able to reach you by email and a reader noticed that we haven’t heard much from you lately.
So many of you have written to tell me you liked the goat picture. Thank you! Quite a few years ago I used another goat picture, probably my favorite, as my Christmas card because it almost looked like a manger scene with a baby lying in the straw with heavenly light focused on the baby. Here it is – this is Sylvia with her baby Flo Darlene.
Isn’t it just about perfect?
LOVE the goat pic…….. love all the reader quilts – y’all are very talented and inspiring. Thank you Mary for dealing with posting them, it is appreciated.
What a great post today…thanks to all the photos and quilt inspirations.
I needed this.
Oh that goat picture is so awesome! I’m thinking of using a picture of our homestead in the frost for a card…..we just get more wrinkled and gray….haahaa! I’d like a new family picture because we have a new grandbaby turning 6 months next week! But, when you have kids that are in their 20s so much for that. I know thee would be at least one missing!
I did the unthinkable today….fixed my hubby’s insulated coverall with a new zipper! I had a two way coverall zipper in my zipper box! I must have had a weak moment when I bOught THREE of them! Yikes! Guess I’m prepared!
I also finished up the binding on a quilt I made for the baby. Hope mommy likes it for his bed when he gets into a twin size. Found the kit in my stash! Haahaa! You don’t do that do you?
Joy in NW Iowa – there’s no way I’m putting our picture on a card! Haha! Better to use a pet goat instead of an old goat – right?
You made me chuckle this morning!
You do know that GOAT is an acronym for Greatest Of All Time? So, put YOUR picture on a card.
All of the quilts are gorgeous! Especially loved the red ones. Thanks to all of you who make them and share them with us.
The goat pic is gorgeous. Update on my ankle. Dr visit yesterday. Ankle fuson is completely healed. Still have to wear the brace 3 more months when I leave the house. Can take off brace when home. Drove today for the first time since 1st week of January. No pain in ankle. I am so happy. How is your husband? Paula in KY
Paula – Rick’s ankle ulcer still is not healed and it probably has to do with all the metal in his ankle along with the ankle fusion. Do be careful! Did it feel wonderful to drive again after such a long time? I’ll bet it did and now you can enjoy your home without your brace! So happy for you.
My husband asked me to replace the zipper in his hunting coat. Of course, he asked me after Thanksgiving last year, and I was just getting around to it. Measured the zipper, bought the new one, and sat down to take out the old zipper. Got to looking at the inside of the coat, there was no lining anymore on the right side of it. Only bright orange outer layer, nothing insulating. No wonder he was cold. Not going to replace the zipper, bought him a new jacket instead. He bought that coat before I met him in 1964, Enough of repairing it. I am hoping to get out hunting this year. Ordered a heated vest from Amazon, it came Monday. Put it on and it is lacking four inches of closing. So went back on Amazon yesterday and ordered a larger size. It is supposed to be here on Friday (keep your fingers crossed).
Also we think we know where the kitty came from that has been hanging around our house. A neighbor a quarter mile away recently moved to assisted living, her husband is in the nursing home. She always had a bunch of outdoor cats and I think this is one of them. When we got the snow, I got some Cat food to feed the cat, hard to catch mice and moles when there is snow on the ground. Didn’t know if the cat would find where I put the food dish out on my big porch, but this morning, half of it was gone :}. I haven’t figured out where the cat is sleeping. I know it has spent some time under my porch, we”ll see.
Marj – could you give the cat some blankets or give him a warm place to spend the winter? He’ll freeze to death without food, water and shelter. You did the right thing with the coat – you can repair only just so long and he’s had it since 1964???? I think he got his money’s worth! Haha!
What a great group of quilts.
I have made a few small quilts when I like the pattern but don’t want to make the whole quilt. I often put them under lamps on end tables.
I like to do that too, Beth. I have a friend who does too, but she also backs them all with Christmas fabric. When Christmas season rolls around, all she does is flip them over and she has fast start on her decorating. So clever!
Mary,
Thanks for every picture. Hope you hear from Klosterman soon. What a worry! We do care!
Temps here tonight in Idaho are dipping way down…was 10o this morning, but could be minus degree tomorrow morning.
Launa
Launa – we’ll be meeting you below zero sooner than we want!
Your goat photo IS the perfect Christmas card, it’s so peaceful and soft. It reminds me to keep it simple, and appreciate them beauty of the season. Less fuss and bother, more quiet time with my husband and family. I really love your photography, Mary. Thank you.
Carol,
If I remember you live near Buffalo area? Tonight’s news said that area could get several feet of snow and as of tomorrow they are closing parts of the NYS thruway down to commercial truck traffic so pretty significant storm heading in.
All wonderful pictures and quilts crested, it’s so special to see them all. Makes my day reading your blog Mary. Beautiful picture of the goats.
Ahhh, Western NY:) I miss lots of things about it, but not allll that snow. Ohio doesn’t get much snow, but ice which is no fun. Snow is safer:) Take care all of you in Western NY>
Yep, love the goat quilt. Just realized I made the goat blocks from your pattern years ago, had a plan for barns to go with them but they are just in a box. I’ve got to find them and put them together. Time to get them out to look at.
I went stitching with the friends today, sometimes the hardest part of my week. Just get out there and go. So hard sometimes. Thanks for a great blog, I enjoy it so much.
Dee from Shell Rock – I could so easily be a recluse – could somebody just deliver my groceries?????
Thanks, Mary, for posting this pretty quilt. I agree about the single block. Those come in handy. I like the red and white on the table, so I will probably do the nine blocks. You didn’t mention the finished size, but it doesn’t look that big.
Your goat photo of mom and baby is a gem! Captured nicely!
Plus, thanks for your blog; you’ve had your challenges!
What great photos today. Lovely quilts and so inspiring. And the mother and baby goat photo was wonderful! Thank you for posting them – that’s a big job. More snow in the forecast tomorrow, which means we won’t get to Billings to pick up our Thanksgiving turkey -a gift given to all the hospital volunteers every Thanksgiving for their work at the hospital there. I always feel a bit guilty accepting it as I don’t do any physical work in the hospital itself but instead knit baby hats for the newborns. (Being 72 and with a pacemaker, I’d undoubtedly end up as a patient instead!) Oh well, staying home tomorrow I might make some headway on my campaign to de-clutter and organize my sewing room, which has been on-going for 3 weeks now. It’s never ending. Anyone else have this problem?? Keep warm everyone!
Kathy, Before I retired, I always told myself that, if I just had a week off of work to myself, I could have my whole house decluttered and clean. Three years into retirement, it’s still not accomplished. Always tomorrow… So, I know how you feel about organizing.
The goat picture is priceless. I love Connie’s quilt and the others quilts are inspiring. We’ve gotten the freezing temps and snow. Now the weather is acting normal for northern Michigan.
I love the picture of the mom and baby goat, it is beautiful the way the light is cast and would make a very fitting Christmas card. I love goats, everyone I’ve me has been sweet and wants love and attention like a dog. I’ve never been able to have goats because my husband saw our friend’s goats on the roof of his car and that did it! I know they love to climb and can be escape artists so no goats. Thank you for sharing yours so I get my goat fix! Linda in Michigan
Linda S – I’ve heard that goat on top of the car story for years and I’ve never had that experience with my own goats. Maybe because they’re too fat? And escape artists? My fences took care of that. I really should take more pictures of them. They don’t “play” anymore like kids so they’re kinda boring.
Your goat picture is perfect. Thank you for sharing.
Judy-Michigan
I don’t replace zippers but when possible, I have sewn a second zipper onto the existing zipper tape, leaving the original zipper in place. I’ve done this on m favorite purse and a couple of jackets.
I really enjoy reading your blog. So nice to see all the reader quilts.
I made the wild rice quilt using a black, tan and red kit. Liked the outcome. Looks very nice in the reds
I’m making the wild rice quilt in much the same way the one pictured. I reworked the pattern so the middle piece was one large piece of fabric. I had some layer cakes with large prints that I wanted to use up. It is turning out so pretty. I’ve got several blocks finished. I had to put it to the side to make Christmas presents. Love your goat picture. Lovely quilt show.
I really like the goat picture! Love the Wild Rice quilt, beautiful red/white prints!!
I had a jacket that I just loved … not expensive, but so cute, with a plaid lining. When the zipper broke, I thought “how hard can it be to replace the zipper?” Haaaaaaa!!! There were so many layers involved, I couldn’t have imagined. Anyway, I got the zipper in, then decided to wash the jacket (for the first time) so it would be all set to go. When it came out of the washer/dryer it had a very strong, odd petroleum type of smell. I washed and washed that jacket, but the smell never dissipated. It finally went in the garbage. The smell was too awful to even consider donating it. It was a very weird experience. I don’t think I’ll ever take the time to replace a zipper again … too much fun quilting to do!