Reader photos
This is how one reader received her new cookbook in the mail:
My girls discovered the house!
If you look closely you maybe can see that this Christmas stocking for sale is quilted with …straight lines!! So permission has been granted to do straight line quilting not only on your quilts but other quilted pieces – such as Christmas stockings. I noted that this is also a nice example of using non-traditional colors for Christmas.
I have had a very busy exhausting week and I’ll explain everything about my surgery etc in a couple days. I haven’t had much news to tell you about but I have to say your comments have been simply great. I LOVE hearing from you – whatever is happening in your life. Tomorrow I’ll get to stay home and play catch-up. And the sun is supposed to shine!
Candy brought it to my attention that I had forgotten Millie, my tuxedo cat and I’m shocked that Dianne who has her twin named Squeak didn’t remind me first. Millie Banilly is my special girl – wants to sit on my lap,the minute I sit down which isn’t often actually. I’ll be taking pictures of all my cats – this weekend should give me a breather.
Heading to bed – can’t wait to talk to you all tomorrow morning!!!
I am behind on my comments; sometimes, when I read your post, it is too late to comment.
I love all of Hazel’s antics. She is hilarious!
I love the non-traditional Christmas stocking; straight line quilting works for everything. ,
Jeanie – it’s never too late to comment!
Hi, I can read all of your posts, and photos are great.
That Hazel made me laugh out loud.
Love all the quilts, so nice.
We are waiting for our first big storm of the season. We already have lots of snow on the mountains and Bachelor will open for skiing thos weekend. Earliest opening since the 90s. We need the snow and moisture.
I am contemplating my “log cabin” quilt for the 50th Anniversary of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show July 2025.
It is going to be a grand event.
Thinking if you Mary. Hugs.
Shirley from central Oregon
Shirley – 50 years of the Sisters Quilt Show? Oh my goodness! I really want to send a Jean a congratulatory note!! Did you choose to make a log cabin quilt for the show or is it a theme????
Loved the picture of Hazel in the cupboard!! The picture of the cat & dog on the quilt was so cute, I thought the dog was real until I read the comments!! I have a cat & a dog that are big buddies & often sit together on the couch on our back porch.. This cat is very old, and has been thru several dogs we have had, she has never liked the dogs before, but when we got this puppy for some reason she loved her!! I always wondered if it was because both of them are black with white on their chest!
Finally a gorgeous sunny day with cool weather! It’s been so long since we had a road trip that Sweet Husband and I drove west and hit one of my favorite thrift stores and a quilt shop, too. Delicious soup and sandwich place near those so we ate well and thoroughly enjoyed the day. I bought four little bags of DMC floss for a dollar a bag; one bag had twenty skeins! Nice, new looking and some cross stitch fabric, too. A big piece of preprinted double wedding ring fabric was nice. I do love a good hand quilting project to sit under during the winter! Hoping that your surgery is scheduled and that you are about to get that over soon, Mary.
The pic of Hazel in the cupboard is priceless. Just loved seeing the donation quilts, and your beautiful red quilt
Enjoy your day of relaxation!
I could use Hazel. The past couple years we have had a couple mice! Hate them things!
We had such a beautiful day. We were out and about and the car said 61*!!
Didn’t really get much done except pick up before the cleaning lady came! 😂😂
Love all the pictures!!
Just finished watching a YouTube video of “stitched by Susan”. She was doing straight line quilting, and loves straight line quilting. She says it doesn’t distract from the quilt. I’m sold on it and want to try it. I’ve always loved your quilts Mary.
Lori – and that’s exactly what I think, too – it doesn’t detract from the quilt design. I’d better watch that video
Hazel in the cupboard is just too cute! 🐾🐕
Can’t believe how that cookbook came in the mail – ridiculous 😡
Love that your chickens found the house!
So many neat pictures today. The quilts and wall hangings, Pam’s retreat and then her pretty kitty sitting with her stuffed buddy, Hazel’s rear end, lol! She is so funny. But actually I’m thinking I may have a mouse behind my refrigerator – my cat, Blue, has been sitting staring at the space between the counter and the fridge…hmm. And I just love seeing the chickens venturing nearer the house – I love seeing mine out too but really have to stay right with them. I just came in after letting them free range in the area behind the house and I see a huge red tailed hawk fly out of the maple tree – right where the chickens were five minutes before! So sad to have to keep them confined most of the time. Jan in MA
Jan – oh no! I hate those hawks! And the chickens so enjoy getting outside to scratch. Hope your girls are all ok!
How funny is Hazel today? I will have to print and frame that one. Exceptional. And that sweet pup and his/her friend on the sofa.
Hazel and her obsessions are just hilarious. One time on a walk, my little dog found an Eggo waffle. Score! Now every time we pass that bush we have to stop so he can smell every square inch because there just HAS to be another there. Lol
Pat in AZ,
We both laughed at your post about the waffle bush, which brought back sweet memories.
When our granddog, Carly, lived with us, she found a peanut butter/jelly sandwich in a bush. Ever after, she always checked for more pbj’s. She also found a burger on the ground beside a grill—how exciting! Carly lived with us for six years, and every day was precious.
Hey Mary and everybody!
I need to hire Hazel to come out to my Mom’s house.
Mom, age 88, just moved to an assisted living facility. She has lived in her home in the country for 40 years. She is physically moved and now I am dealing with the “stuff”. She lives in southwestern Michigan and I live in a far west suburb of Chicago. Coordinating this clean out has been challenging for sure. We should have the house cleared by Thanksgiving. I thought she might have mice and now I can confirm it…. Hazel, please, I need your help!!!
Mary, can we “card’ my Mom? I can send you a picture of her in her new apartment….
Kris – Yes! We’d love to “card” your mom!! I need a little bit of bio and her address and even a picture – thank you! I’m so glad you said something!!
You’ve had so many interesting and pretty pictures in the blog this week, quilts, pets, and fall decor. Really enjoying seeing them!
Jeanine’s charity quilts are sweet and sure to be appreciated, along with Patti’s and Sunflower’s kennel quilts.
Mary, I hope you can rest up from your challenging week; take it easy today. Looking forward to seeing the pictures of all your beautiful sweet kitties.
I have a busy day ahead, house cleaning and then making a cake to take to a get together with some friends and former coworkers tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing them! Amazing that after we last worked together 30 years ago, we are still friends and staying in touch.
Sharon – I’ve definitely had a difficult week – I’ll explain it all in my Sunday post.
hi everyone. let’s talk about straight line quilting. i learned to quilt and made my 1st quilt (entirely by hand, every flipping stitch) in 1991. only quilt i’ve made that way. the second quilt i made for my daughter and did hand quilt it. decided that it took too long. straight line quilting on my domestic machine, cross hatching, straight lines up and/or down, straight lines in only one direction, straight line in a hanging diamond effect. our domestic machines are wonderful for straight lines. i also taught myself to free motion on my domestic by following the pattern on fabric. lots of discipline and i think it is much easier on a longarm.
i have never had a computerized long arm. when i started they did not even have stitch regulation. yes, this was back in the dark ages. we practiced and practiced til we could be consistent with our stitches and speed. i am not the only one who learned that. i’m sure it was one of the early longarm people who decided we needed stitch regulation. of course, now everyone thinks you must have a computerized machine. fine if you have the $$ and they are not cheap. i could buy a fancy fancy car cheaper than a computerized longarm machine. straight line quilting is beautiful, does not take away from the design of the quilt. as quilting progressed, the quilting got more and more complicated and people were wowed by the quilting. quilting a quilt on a domestic machine can be very hard on your body but it can be done. now the domestic machines have larger throats which does make it a bit easier. never say never. where there is a will, there is a way. i hope i gave you all something to think about. patti in florida the eternal optimist.
Patti – I have had my long arm for over 20 years, and it is like yours……not computerized…..and I don’t want one. Mine has served me well. I have done more quilts on it than I can count. I guess I should have kept track. I mostly do meandering. I like the straight line quilting, but it takes longer, so I stick with the meandering. I don’t have a stitch regulator either, but like you said, we learn how to do it without one. It has served me well, and have only had it serviced one time. It is an APQS, made in Iowa.
I do enjoy reading your entries, and always enjoy seeing all the quilt etc. that you make. Keep it up.
Jeanine
Hazel is a hoot! We’ve seen quite a few pictures of her hindquarters investigating something. It always elicits a chuckle. 🙂 love the pose of the dog and cat on the grey couch. Beautiful coloring both have. the quilt is pretty, too!
Have a productive Friday and weekend.
Jan
I was lucky to capture the photo of Penny next to our Petsies stuffed animal of our late dog, Callie, both gazing out the window. The quilt is a small spiderweb 🕸️ string quilt I made, thanks!
Ha! Pamela Dempsey, I really thought that was a real puppy! Pretty kitty – Penny! And your quilt looks to be lovely too! Jan in MA
Wow–Now that I look back at it, I can see Callie is a stuffed dog. I thought both of them were real!! Very cute:)
The chicken girls discovered your house! I think they are checking out your pumpkins and squash, planning to come back later and snack on them. Nienie’s dialogues blog showed her partially pecked squash and pumpkins on her doorsteps the other day, the result of her free ranging chickens.
The black and white dog and cat sharing the couch and the quilt are very sweet. Take care of yourself! We will all be here when you feel better!
Ruth – please explain Nienie’s dialogues blog –
Have you considered sending your patterns as a PDF? That way no more going to the library for copies… or at least not as many.
Mary – oh, don’t get me started – I can’t afford to let my blood pressure go off the charts. You haven’t been reading this blog long enough.
I love, love, love the picture of the chicks walking up to the house, they want to come in and visit to see how the other house lives!, Mine used to stay in the woods near the driveway but never came up to the house. Maybe they were smart enough to stay protected by the overhead trees.
And Miss Hazel in the cupboard, how precious. I knew you didn’t put her in time out.
Never criticize your straight line quilting I think it is super, doesn’t take away from the beauty of the fabrics. I like it so much I told my buddy about it and she ended up quilting her last quilt in straight lines, not like the meandering she normally does, and she loves how it turned out. And unless you have mega bucks to get a computerized quilting machine that does all the fancy stitches for you, straight lines maybe something even I could achieve. I just need to somehow find room for a machine and frame and get myself a small quilter.
Blessing to all. My grandson is on the farm this morning deer hunting. Gun season has opened, which I hate because when I hear a shot I fear for the beautiful animals, but we are being overrun with deer. It’s nothing to see 20 or more out by the pond and in the back yard. And deer car accidents are up significantly this fall. Thank God no one has been killed yet by a deer flying through their windshield.
Oh no, the news just showed to 8 week old furball caat sisters who are looking for their furever home. How dare they temp me like that when I have four already!
Linda – I did love seeing the hens up by the house – it scared me to let them into the house yard but that’s what I enjoy the most – seeing them on the green grass in the summer. Now they love digging in the leaves for bugs and there are so many leaves which are all so wet we can’t mow them yet. I just hope it doesn’t snow on top of the leaves. Very few of us have megabucks to buy a computerized machine and even tho I love piecing quilt tops, I do want them to evolve into a quilt – thus I quilt in “straight” lines which don’t necessarily need to be straight – wavy lines are great or uneven somewhat straight lines. There are certainly times I’d like to put Hazel into time out but I know she’s just being a JRT and she just can’t help herself! Haha!
So nice to see Pamela’s beautiful smile from her retreat. She’s a good kitty mom too.
I went back to catch up on blog comments and just want Jo in Wyoming to know I can’t imagine ever walking back into my husbands shop if he isn’t here. I thought of it several times when he was hospitalized and knew I could never take care of our property and barns without his assistance. I give you credit for forging ahead in hard jobs and trying to move on. Very thankful I was given more time with my husband and give gratitude every day. Not every day is what it use to be but he’s still here. Thank you Jo for caring. Your heart is good.
Today making homemade bean soup to use ham bones from freezer. I have no room for a turkey while prices are low. Next week they go back up but this week it’s .59 a lb with a $35 purchase so good deal.
Aww, thank you Kathy 😻 I still miss my Emily 🐈⬛ and thought I would dress as her for Halloween at our retreat. I sewed an older rabies tag to the “collar “. Jefferson, Texas is known for being haunted and they decorated the little town. We only had one incident, one of the bedroom lights kept turning off and on….
I was lucky to capture the photo of Penny next to our Petsies stuffed animal of our late Callie gazing out the living room window. Penny and Lucy have grown up with the stuffed Callie on the couch 🥰
I love the pictures of the hens and Hazel and the story of the reader’s cat catching the mouse in 2 minutes in the cabinet! 🤭
You’re a doll…😘
Loved this morning photos with coffee.
I am confused Mary, when is your surgery? or did I miss something and it has been done?
I too had problems with my long arm yesterday. I had the quilt 2/3rds already quilted. I had group sewing yesterday but they end earlier and earlier. Someone ran the vacuum cleaner (usually a signal to clean up and get out) and that upset my concentration. I then left as I knew it was quiet at home and I could finish the quilting. All going well until the last swipe. I broke two needles. I was worried I had upset the timing. I am on my way on the last swipe when my thread broke twice. Time to turn off the machine! I hope to finish that this morning before an appt.
I do have some wonderful news. I have another greatgrandbaby born the 12th and it’s a girl, Kaylor Rae. They wanted to take her early as my granddaughter was having some issues so at 36 weeks she arrived at 6lbs 4oz. She got banged up a little but that all went away her second day in the real world. I can’t wait to see her.
Fran – a sweet new baby in your family!!! Love her cute name – when will you get to meet her? Oh, how I can identify with those issues on the longarm machine and always when I’m just about done or just beginning which makes me wonder if I have it pinned on tight enough or too tight. I’m just not good at this and have zero patience!
congrats on the new greatgrandbaby. what a beautiful name. my official name is patricia rae. i have seldom run across people with that as a middle name. hated it as a kid as i was teased about it. but now i like it. doesn’t make any difference as it is what it is, right? kaylor rae has a nice ring to it. patti in florida
Good morning 😃
Your Hazel in your cupboard reminded me of one time about 15 years ago we heard something in one of our lower cupboards. We took a few pans out and saw nothing. We put one of our cats inside the cupboard and closed the door. In about 2 minutes we opened the door and the cat had the mouse in her mouth, lol. It was a great memory.😽
Enjoy your day and weekend. Debby from Wisconsin
Debby – and that has happened here, too, so I always let her in. Sometimes she just smells a mouse that passed thru – the cats probably got the mouse already. We simply don’t have mice in the house – 8 cats=no mice!
It’s funny how our sweet dogs or cats don’t miss a beat. Any little sound or smell, they’re ready!
You are right, Mary. Usually, Squeak and I read the blog on the computer each day, but I did too much running yesterday and did not read until this AM. Squeak likes to pat the computer as I read. She is funny. We did miss seeing Millie on the list. More later, off to give treats to my neighbor dogs😀
We’re so used to seeing the backside of Hazel that we can identify her immediately now!
My longarm has been giving me fits! It will be sewing fine for a bit and then, for no apparent reason, it will make loops on the back and loose stitches on top. This has been going on for a while but its getting worse. I’ve tried everything that I have read or heard about and nothing helps for long (changing top tension, bobbin tension, thread, needle) and I’ve just about had it!! My machine is an old girl, well-used when I bought her 2 years ago, and maybe its time to give it a rest but I thought I might ask here if anyone has an idea that I could try?
So for now I’m just continuing to piece small tops that I can quilt on my regular sewing machine…I’m SO tired of ripping out quilting stitches!
Barbara I’m MO – I can’t wait to hear what other longarmers say about this – Jo in Wyoming is especially good at troubleshooting and I’ve even texted with her as I’m standing at the machine! Jo – can you help? Hang in there, Barbara – I’m sure there’s help out there!!
hi barbara, i can suggest a couple things, i imagine you did each of the above, one by one. maybe turn off the machine. completely rethread, change the bobbin, check that the quilt is not too tight or too loose on the frame, make sure it is oiled and clean out the bobbin area. these machines do have minds of their own and they do like to be contrary. it drives all of us crazy. they are like toddlers. if nothing else works, think about having the timing checked. i’ve done it myself a few times but don’t really trust myself with it. i would have a machine person look at it. or even ask another longarmer to check it out. sometimes walking away for a few days works. these things always seem to happen when we are in a hurry or facing deadlines. if all else fails, smile and blame it on the gremlins. it will get better. good luck. patti in florida
You may need to change your bushings. I’m not sure what they do, but they wear out and can cause problems. Be sure to have your vacuum handy and no quilt loaded. The black dust will ruin a top. I hold a rag up and use canned air the clean area. Be sure to note which way it comes out. You can put it in backwards. If you don’t have a new bushing, order one and don’t remove the old one.
Check your bobbin basket, under the tension spring can have a bit of packed lint, as well as under the spring in the bobbin basket.
If you have a computerized machine, there is a thread break sensor. On mine, thread can jump out and wind up around the screw. Also wind itself more than 3 times. Check that.
Lastly, be sure your using the same type of thread top and bobbin…poly top and poly bobbin, cotton top and bobbin. And the bobbin is going in the correct direction.
You’ve changed your needle…make sure it’s all the way up in the housing and straight.i have a needle magnet that shows me how off I’m off.
Good luck, I have some errands to run but will check back this afternoon.
Jo
Rethreading completely usually solves it. When I grabbed a strong flashlight I also found a hunk of elusive lint in the bobbin/bobbin area once. Another time the needle was not placed quite right.
Hazel you are so funny. I would love to be a mouse in the corner of your house,Mary. Or maybe not!!!
Miss Hazel makes me laugh! One of my Westies loves to climb in cabinets, sit on windowsills, and just generally act like a curious kitten.
And Sandy — that is so true about forgetting the name of one of the children! I have a big family, and they were all, um, busy { fill in the blank with naughty, adventurous, curious, into everything } when they were little. One time, I got so upset with one of them that I temporarily { ? maybe longer LOL } lost my mind, and just stood there saying ” WHOEVER YOU ARE, you are coming inside now! ” No one lets me forget that one!
Susan – haha! What a great story and I can see why they don’t you forget it. Westies are curious, too – terriers are a busy bunch!
Hazel, Hazel, Hazel you are such an explorer and so darn cute! It seems we see more pictures of your behind than your darling little face. 😊. Caitlin likes to chase deer, squirrels, rabbits and wild turkey so she has to be on a leash at all times when she’s outside. Sad for her because she likes to run.
Love the picture of blog reader Pamela.
Was the cookbook okay inside that tattered package? Good grief! I can’t imagine what it had to go through to get in that condition.
Finally, after months of PT on my shoulder, I can get back to my sewing room. Finished a baby quilt that should have been sent last May. Well I look at it this way: at least the kid isn’t getting ready to graduate from high school! Happy Friday everyone!
Gloria – did you take a picture of the quilt? Send it to me. I have several very large “yards” that are fenced – you should bring her over here for some running – safe running where she can’t run to the next county!! She’s so little I can’t imagine she loves to run! Bring her over here for a visit!!
I will send a picture of the baby quilt. After your surgery we will be stopping by so we’ll see what Caitlin does in your enclosed area.
Hi Mary! Haha, it’s like one of us forgetting the name of one of our children! Understandable when there are 11 furbaby cats! Hazel in the cupboard made me laugh, Bella sometimes pokes her head in the pantry cupboard to check l have a Neverending supply of snacks on the bottom shelf for her. Yay! Today l got my Japanese bear paw together and pinned ,so l will take a photo when the weather clears. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Ohhhhh, Hazel … I hope you found what you were looking for! You’re a sweetheart!
Candy – she’s finally over that obsession so I put everything back in the cupboard – until next time!