How can one NOT work outside when the day is so beautiful?
I’m making progress.
Got this from a thoughtful reader.
Also found this was indeed a laundry detergent dispenser.
Reader photos
Here they are after a vintage soak treatment – remarkable!
And now I’m terrified to iron them. They’re so fragile!
And I’m considering this event:
But it’s soooooo much work!!!
Great post! The first little terrier is something that belonged to my mom, I believe from her childhood. It’s about 1 an 1/2 inches tall and long, about 1/2 inch wide. I just can’t let it go since I think it’s pretty cute. 🙂
I agree with Susan K. in Texas, doing improv for a quilt is time consuming. Every year I manage to need to improvise on a charity quilt because what was in my head didn’t translate to reality. In fact, I’m doing one now, and thought it was pretty well figured out which adaptions to use . . . until a snag this morning. Solved, but this one will become a background quilt while I get some other things done.
Take care all.
Jan
Great blog today.. Quilts and dogs…YES please!
Don’t get rid of the Eagle Vase. Beautiful as are the blouses. I love all of the cute digs and pretty quilts. Road trip to Amish country today. Didn’t buy much, but had fun😀. Thanks for the blog, Mary.
The quilts are beautiful but those terriers really melt my heart! And those antique blouses turned out lovely, such fragile keepsakes. My mother did not save anything. One time I forgot my coat at her house & the next time I visited I saw someone walking down the street wearing my coat! If it was left at her house it was gone the next day. The morning newspaper was gone 1 hour after delivery. If you slept in you could kiss that crossword goodbye
Des – I have laughed! You saw someone else wearing your coat? Haha! My mom liked to get rid of things, too, but I love all that old stuff. Aren’t those terrier figurines just wonderful? The large Hubley cast iron dog is listed at $595!!
Mary, please answer about the soak you used to whiten your antique clothing. Several have asked and you do not respond. Hazel clones are darling. Loved the quilt with the hst and squares .
Barb, the product is called RetroClean. I ordered it but have not used it yet. I have several doilies I must clean, they were made by my Grandmother. From the looks of Mary’s two blouses, they will be beautiful once again.
I have used RetroClean a number of times on various vintage/antique linens — I just can’t leave an estate sale without at least one, even though I know that I am bringing myself more work.
The directions say to use hot water, but if you are worried about the hot water or bright colored embroidery threads on the linens, I have had good success with room temperature water too. It also says to let them soak for 24-48 hours or longer if necessary. Despite my concerns, the linens were just fine. After a quick dry on the line in the sun, they have all been very clean and bright.
Mary, the blouses came out so white. That is amazing. Hazel is such a cutie.
Haven’t been able to work in the garden yet. On the sunny days I was still staying at my son’s house looking after all their animals. Now that I am home it’s been raining of course. That is spring in Port Coquitlam, a lot of rain and with the rain the grass is growing like crazy. Soon it will need cutting. Have a wonderful day.
Lovely post. Susan K’s quilts are really special.
Mary, the blouses really brightened up. Special memories.
All the terriers are cute.
I used to do garage sales, but I’m with you. Too much work. Good will gets most of my stuff.
My granddaughter and her boyfriend closed on a house in Troy . I am over the moon with joy. It will be good to have them close.
Mary, what do you use for your vintage soak? The blouses are beautiful!!
Morning Mary and readers who share such wonderful pictures of pets and quilts. So colorful and love them. Susan I applaud you for giving to those less fortunate as they will appreciate them. Seems so many organizations are in need of quilts for comfort so we can’t stop.
I was outside already this morning cleaning up and boy I hope all those dried out dead whirligigs don’t turn into maple trees. Almost impossible to pick them out of the flower and garden beds.
If I were you Mary, I’d get a couple boxes filled up with things I don’t want any longer and give them to Sam for her kids to price and sell. It feels good to let them go and know Sam’s kids could use the money for summer vacations or things they are saving money for. I’m to the point I’d rather donate then sell anything myself.
The blouses turned out fabulous. They are such treasures. And I love the dogs.
I went to my guild meeting last night with my quilts. The colorful one is now on its way to a hospice charity. The pink one will go to a breast cancer charity. I have a box of baby quilts ready to give to a home for struggling moms. I love making my quilts and it’s often hard to give them away but these three charities I willingly give to.
Love the pink quilt. So unusual. Lucky recipient .
I’m saving your pink photo. I make quilts for our Comfort Quilts in my guild and love this pink quilt. Improv without being to “artsy”.
Susan, your quilts are beautiful. I especially like the first colourful one. I’d call that a happy quilt. It is so good to donate quilts to different charities. I’m working hard to make more to donate. I have two cut out and ready to sew. I’m off to a quilt retreat next Thursday at Harrison Hot Springs resort. It’s about two hrs east of me. I won’t be swimming-dr said no public pools for 6 months after knee replacement and I’m just about at 4. I always enjoy retreats, good food, good company, and lots of sewing.
Susan, Great looking quilts. Love your improv one the best, very interesting design, Janice Traverse City area
I have been reading but not commenting for over a month. I had my eyelids lifted on February 27 and 6 days later woke up with infection in my right eye. Went to local ER. Transported to a hospital in West Des Moines and was there for 8 days. A very bad infection. After they finally figured out what infection I had, they were able to start me on the correct antibiotic. I had been on one from the start, but not the correct one. My eye was swollen badly, and it was completely shut for 27 days. It is now open almost halfway, but I am still going to our local hospital every day for another week for antibiotic infusions. It has been a long hard and difficult road, but I am on the mend now. I still have infection around my eye, and it is very tender and sensitive, but getting better. I missed my sister-in-laws funeral in MN because of my situation. I know a lot of my family, friends and church family have been praying for me. I couldn’t read very well for several weeks.
Always enjoy the blog and all the comments and pictures. It is suppose get to near 80* here today, but I cannot do anything outside. I love how the blouses turned out—-what a difference.
Enjoy your day, everyone.
That’s a lot to endure. So sorry-praying for you
Jeanine, I hope each day you feel better with the correct antibiotics cause it’s been quite an ordeal for you. I’m so sorry this happened as a result of eyelid surgery.
I hope you get better soon. Any infection is scary and especially so when it involves the eye. I will be sending you healing thoughts and prayers.
Jeanine,
Im also hoping you’re on the correct antibiotic now and you start to feel and see better. What an ordeal! We’ll be thinking of you. 🌻
Jeanine, I pray things improve very quickly for you here on out. Looking forward to seeing more of your charity /donation quilts, after you recover. Janice, Traverse City area
Thank you, ladies. I haven’t been in my sewing room since before my surgery. Hopefully I can get back to it soon.
Jeanine – this sounds just horrible! I did the eyelid surgery years ago and thankfully had no problems. No, in this horrible wind you can’t go outside! Not only will you get stuff in your eye, you’ll possibly blow away!!!
Yes, Thursday was great for a work day. It had been 29 years since we started a garden in our yard. We added a truck load of composite then, but through the years it has reverted back to clay. Last summer I needed a shovel to dig radishes because I couldn’t pull them out of the garden. So we had composite delivered Wednesday and worked it into the garden. Yesterday daughter and granddaughters came to plant the garden before it rained. Now we wait to enjoy! About the clay………before our garden days, my daughter had a class project: fill the glass jar half full of soil then add water. Shake and then let set. The soil would then separate into layers. We dug some soil, followed the directions, but there was no separation. We had all clay! Enjoy reading your blog, Mary. Especially like today’s colorful quilt.
Judy, It sounds like having a raised bed would be better for you. We like ours, it keeps the weeds down and critters out.
Susan, your quilts are spectacular. Love all especially the first one. You sure are a busy lady. Garage sale is a good idea but try to limit the amount you put out so your not overwhelmed, some of the garage but not all of the garage. Have a awesome day,enjoy the sunshine.
Susan K in Texas, your quilts are fabulous! I love them all but the first colorful one made with strips is my favorite. Did you use a pattern for the hot pink one or did you come up with it on your own? I have a lot of orphan blocks that I want to put together into a top but wouldn’t know where to start. Any tips would be appreciated.
Barbara the pink one I did is improv. I had leftovers from a previous quilt. I make squares or rectangles from smaller pieces and put them on my design wall. I then will ad piecing around them to join them together. I will eventually get larger and larger sections joined together.
I hope this helps. It’s all a process and not always a quick one.
Susan, that word “improv” strikes fear in my heart. I can make about any pattern and change sizes or colors but to come up with something on my own – I’m just no good at it. That’s ok, I’ll just enjoy yours!
I’m with you on the bright colors! I think this world needs bright things to make people forget about the grey stuff. My quilting consists of charity quilts and using all the odds and ends in scrappy quilts. And they tend to be BRIGHT, too. Your design wall would really be nice, too. Keep up the good work. Hopefully we will help make this world brighter and full of smiles.
Betty in Rapid City
Barbara – there are several great books to get you started – I’ll find mine and post tonight. Basically you’re going to start by sewing two pieces about the same size together. Keep adding and trimming pieces to fit.
If you use a steamer be sure to purge the line before using the steam on your blouse. I finally figured out the condensation in the line is the black or rusty spit.
There is so much to do outside. I found some SPF 70 today. Got 2 tubes.
Fun pictures today. It was hard to tell if those were real Hazel or statues!! Too cute.
Jo – how’s your hand????
Lovely photos Mary, especially that WHITE ball of fluff. Can you please tell me, is the vintage wash something you buy or your recipe. Thanks
A steamer is what I was thinking of using too. The soak really worked. I’ve never had good luck with the one I tried.
Temperature was 80 degrees today. Would have liked to work in the yard but the wind was horrific.
Amazing difference after washing the antique blouses! Do you have a handheld steamer? Maybe you could try that instead of an iron? It was a beautiful day, but some rainy days ahead with possibility of snow too.
Kim – I don’t have a steamer but I think that’s the answer!! Thank you!
I often see hand held steamers at thrift stores. Might want to check next time you’re thrift shopping.
Connie – excellent advice – I will look!
Mary, I hang mine in the shower and let the steam release the wrinkles.