Last night after we came in Hazel raced around the corner and grabbed Mickey! I’m not sure how long Mickey and Clifford will survive.
Reader photos
It was a whirlwind year for us. I remember answering the phone in the quilt shop and the caller identified herself as Frances from Country Living Magazine. Of course I didn’t believe her but it all came down to being named a Top Ten Entrepreneur and them wanting a quilt with thirty stars in it to commemorate the magazine’s 30th Anniversary. (I still own every single issue of those first 30 years!)
So all of this is to say, yes, I will make this pattern available for $12.00 and I will pay the postage since it’s a larger pattern with more pages. Do NOT send stamps or a SASE because it simply won’t fit. It will require a bigger envelope and more copies at the library which means more postage. Let me do all that figuring – if you want the pattern send $14 to Mary ETHERINGTON, 2345 Palm Ave. Garner, IA 50438. I’d have had all this thought out but Debbie’s picture just arrived and I was overwhelmed at seeing it so lovingly displayed in her home.
Bullseye and Thirty Stars are my two all time favorite Country Threads quilts.
I’m at the sewing machine tonight – good therapy, don’t you think?
Thanks for all of the great pictures. I really enjoy seeing how everyone decorates for Christmas. Mary it is great to hear you are improving. I’m hoping to finish decorating tomorrow. It usually takes a week. I love decorating my tree. The ornaments are mostly from grandparents and parents i got each year at Christmas.
Hi, Mary. Thanks for sharing all the beautiful Christmas quilts and decorating. A funny thing came to mind when I saw the article in Country Living magazine … actually it’s the Quilted Northern ad on the opposite page that reminded me, and I wonder if any of your readers will remember this. Waaaaay back, late 1990’s or early 2000’s, Quilted Northern had an ad on TV that showed a quilting bee (supposedly making the “Quilted” Northern toilet paper. The funny thing was, the women around the quilt frame all had knitting needles in their hands … lol! This was back in the days of the World Wide Quilting web, so someone on there got the idea that we should all write to the Quilted Northern company to complain… and we did. Not long after that, they changed the commercial to show the quilters using quilting needles. I never expected that would actually happen. I thought it was hilarious … still do! Does anyone else out there remember that? That’s my trivia for the day. Have a great weekend! Oh, and that picture of Hazel sleeping on your lap reminded me so much of our little Havanese named Hannah (gone now), who used to sleep just like that, with her front legs as stiff as pokers … so cute!
Yes, I remember that quite well. I noticed they were using knitting needles to quilt, and since I do both crafts, I just had to point out this error to my husband and daughter and crow that the ad people had no idea about quilting! Not sure my husband and daughter thought it was as hilarious as I did!
Candy – I vaguely remember that – and I love trivia like that. Yes, that’s Hazel’s favorite position and she begs me to sit in that chair but I don’t always want to because I’ll fall asleep!!! Do you have a dog now?
I remember that, too! The Northern paper company was gobsmacked by the response.
The protests were talked about at quilt history, appraisal and restoration classes at Nancy Kirk’s conferences in Omaha, circa 1995 – 1997.
Hi, Mary! Our daughter (adult) has lived with us since Covid, and she has a mid-size poodle named Mimi. When our daughter is at work or away, Mimi has ‘Grandma’ and ‘Grandpa’ to look after her … win/win! She’s a great dog, and she’s 9 years old. I’ll send a picture of Mimi when I get some Christmas quilts out to take pictures of.
Love all the quilts, especially the red 9-patch. Is the red 9-patch a Country Threads pattern?
Sara – no pattern written up but it’s just a double nine patch set on point with a sawtooth border. Remember when I was working on it last summer/fall – when I didn’t want to bind it? As you can see I finally did do the hand binding. Haha!!
Ok, thanks. I’ll just have to do some figuring on my own, which I kind of like to do sometimes. And, I’m so glad you finished it—it looks wonderful!
I love all the quilts! I am sooo tempted to get the star pattern Mary!
I love how you decorated with the nine patch and the barn picture! Perfect. This morning I thought, boy I hope Mary wrote again! Yup! There you were for me to read with my coffee.
Yesterday jay went for a walk and tripped and fell, he said right on his nose! He was bleeding from a cut that his glasses made above his nose, today he has one black eye and his knees hurt. Yikes!
Patti I really had to laugh at your comment about the fabric reproducing in the bin. A couple years ago I was catching up binding quilts and I thought they were reproducing on their own in the pile! 😂😂. Binding isn’t really my favorite thing, not sure why.
It is beautiful here today! Sunny and 30* at 9 am! Have a good weekend everyone! Love all your pictures!
I happened to be in Iowa and at your quilt shop when you and Connie were going out of business. That was when I bought the 13 Stars pattern. No, I haven’t made it, but seeing it hanging and on display makes me want to do it. I love the red nine patch that you recently made. It turned out so well and looks great hanging on your wall with the greenish furniture nearby. You have 2 happy dogs, one sleeping on your lap and the other sleeping on that beautiful quilt in a chair. Sonny is doing pretty well for a dog that is 12. He has an enlarged heart and takes medicine every day for that. We are leaving next week for the big drive to Vermont for the holidays. There we’ll be dealing with our daughter’s 2 cats who do not want Sonny there! Sonny is a Florida dog and doesn’t like the snow at all. Still, we love being home for the holidays. Thanks for all the beautiful and inspiring pictures. So glad you are doing better.
Pat – poor Sonny! He’s being traumatized by those cats and he’s so timid anyway. That’s a long drive – just for Christmas – I say “just” because it’s over quickly and then there’s that drive again. Sure wish you still came to Winnebago!
I so enjoy reading your blog & everyone’s comments. So glad you are able to sew – the best therapy ever!! Also happy you are feeling better every day!! It is so enjoyable to see beautiful decorations.
The quilt at the beginning of the blog is stunning. Is it a Country Threads pattern? Would it be available for purchase?
Thank you Mary for this blog – you are a blessing & loved by so many – blessings overflowing to you!!
Joy – the quilt hanging on the wall was a BOM many many years ago but I actually remember the company name who designed it – Bits and Pieces, I think from Michigan. I rarely took part in any BOM. I’ll see if I can track it down – one of the gals’ name is Julia.
Joy – I found Julie and asked her about the pattern. I will let you know!
Joy in W PA I would lie to say hi from NW Iowa. I don’t meet many Joys. Do you? You must love quilting like I do! Nice to meet you!
Hi Joy in NW Iowa you just brought a huge smile to me – big hello to you also👋! People often think my name is Joyce & I tell them it’s simply J-o-y & they look like they’ve never heard that name before – shaking my head. Sometimes it is a very hard name to live up to.
I do love to quilt, can’t find enough time though, hopefully when retirement happens there will be more time 😉. So nice to meet you. Happy quilting!
Mary, sewing machine time is the very best therapy there is for illness, surgery, grief, etc. Ask me how I know haha. A good friend of mine who had back surgery over a month ago is so anxious to get to her sewing machines. The sewing room is in the basement. OK a stairlift was installed and viola, she can now access the basement. She is in the process of putting things away yet but since she has kicked the beastly meds, she is ready to sew again despite the fact she can’t do the stairs.
Loved all the quilts! Red is a fav. of mine for any time!
Gonna be warm over the weekend and hope you get outside with the animals.
It was fun to read that your favorite quilts are the Bullseye and Thirty Stars. I have made both. My Bullseyes is from scraps, but my Thirty Stars is made from your kit. I received it as a gift from my husband. It is currently hanging on my kitchen wall. The colors are perfect for holiday decorating.
i love seeing your quilts displayed for the holidays.
30 Stars is one I haven’t made yet but am thinking I may need to. Mary, yours is a stunner with that beautiful focal floral! My Bulls Eye quilt is a favorite that’s on my bed all winter long!
It has been beautifully warm in Colorado this past week so I actually got out and put lights on my outside patio, The inside of the house has been decorated a couple of weeks already, starting with snowmen for my Grand’s visit when they dropped off their pups. They have spent the past two weeks in Germany, visiting all of the Christmas markets. They went to Schloss Neuschwanstein (the “Cinderella Castle”) a couple of days ago. Laurel loved that the tour guide pointed out a unicorn high up on the ceiling just for her! Yesterday they went to Dachau. Liz said that was really hard with the kids as both she and Justin wanted to spend time reading all of the exhibits but they wanted/needed to shield the kids from seeing anything too disturbing, so they played tag team and one of them took the kids to a kid friendly part of the exhibit while the other went through the rest. Today they are going to the big Playmobil museum which will be lots of fun for the kids (they play with their Daddy’s Playmobil whenever they are at my house!). Then they will be home and I’ll be back to being a one-dog house again!
Our neighborhood has their annual Christmas party this evening and then tomorrow, four of us “besties” will head up to Georgetown, CO for their Christmas Market. We are counting on continued good weather for a fun day in the mountains.
Mary, I’m so glad you’re feeling up to sewing!! What are you working on?
Diane – working on something simple – I’ll have enough done to show on tonight’s post.
Sewing is always good therapy! I’m glad you are able to do it.
Absolutely love all the red quilts! And yay! For a Hank visit 👏 I had to laugh about Hazel grabbing Mickey – watch out Clifford 😂 I love seeing her pictures and all her adventures!
Happy you are able to get to the sewing machine for “therapy” – enjoy and let us know what you’re working on!
We all seem to share the love of seeing how each other decorate their homes. It’s too much for me to get everything out in one day so it has been my project for this week. When I unpack and look at all the things I have accumulated, it’s like looking at old friends.
Thank you everyone for sharing your great decorations and quilts.
Janet – I feel the same way about my Christmas quilts! Old friends!
Such a feast for the eyes… all the quilts and decor are beautiful. That picture of Hazel is so stinkin’ cute… thanks for sharing all this goodness with us!
I love all of your quilts. Holly would have grabbed both of those toys as soon as you walked away!
Glad you feel like sewing, yes it is the perfect way to heal.
Hi Mary, we had out small gathering to honour’ my husband, all went well,talked nonstop! Than spent 2 hours asleep in front of tv! Interest to see the namse of towns,adelaide near Mexico. And capital of south Australia, beautiful, well laìd out city,settled by free people, not
Prisoners from England. Hazel is probably dreaming of run̈Ning the freedom trail,take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Outstanding pictures today. I always love your red and white quilts. And the nine patch is a real beauty. Everyone does such a nice job of decorating. My husband and I did a lot of visiting of the antique malls in our area, and some vendors did such a nice job of displays. This reminds me of that. I have a little home and really don’t have room for much more. I don’t even bring out my Christmas decorations because they buried in the garage. I’m coming down with a cold. Good thing most of my Christmas shopping is done.
Love the 30 Stars quilt!
Did anyone read or hear about the tsunami we had along the Pacific coastline? The sheriff’s office called literally everyone, including us, to go to high ground. Our pastures are at -sea level a bit and our house is around 20 to 25 feet above sea level. We are a little over a mile from the bay and that part of the bay is quite a ways from the ocean. So—-we figured we were safe and indeed we were. Our town, though, is right along the bay and stores did evacuate people. Everyone was to get above the blue line. The blue line is painted here and there and considered safe above it. We have lots of hills and dales here, even in town. After all that, though, nothing. No tsunami, which, of course, is a good thing. I just hope people don’t ignore these warnings though, because someday we may actually have the big one. The sheriffs office called again after it was over and I think that was very nice of them.
Love your quilts and decorations, Mary and everyone. So much fun to see them. Better than a magazine.
So glad you all were safe, Sue. We are in northern CA and felt a very light shaking. Most people here did not notice it. It must have been quite an eerie experience for the coastal folks.
Mary, the quilts are lovely. A few years ago, I would have snapped up your 30 Stars pattern. I am tempted now, but I know I could not do it at this stage of the game. I can dream, tho. Glad to hear you are at the sew machine. Very good therapy.
Lindah – you could stop at any round on Thirty Stars. Accurate cutting and 1/4” seams are a must on this quilt. Challenging but oh so fun!
Sue – happy to hear all is well at your house! “Better than a magazine” is high praise indeed! Thank you!
Wonderful red quilts tonight! So festive!!! I’m so glad your feelings much better. Hazel maybe getting use to her napping place. I’m back in MN after a trip to St. Louis (to visit our youngest daughter and her husband) and then to Branson for 4 days. All the Christmas shows we saw (4 shows in all) were terrific. The abundance Christmas lights was beautiful. Now, my sister and I will work on sorting more of my mother’s things. Then I’ll be on the road to ND for Christmas with the older daughter, husband, and the grands. Whew! I’ll look forward to being home in January. Stay warm everyone!
fascinating post tonight! love the photos and hearing about your 30 stars quilt and all about its history. the decors are so beautiful. would never have thought to use walnuts as a decoration the way it was done in the one photo (the one with the saturday evening post photo – btw, i worked for the saturday evening post for a couple years in the 70s loved it and would have stayed if i hadn’t moved back to texas). i just love seeing all these photos.
jeanine your quilts for donation are beautiful. they will make someone warm and happy. good to hear from pattie from pa now ca – strange to live in two different time zones even for just a few weeks. and mary really glad to hear you were sitting at your sewing machine and stitching.
my party today. i was gone for 5+ hours – most at one time in years and years. i am exhausted. we had great food and turned in 67 finished quilts (not all were challenges). oh my. so much fun. as the challenge quilts were turned in, we had to tell the story about them and show the additional fabrics. lots of oohs and aahs. we also received our new challenges for 2025. big change. now it will be due in july – as in christmas in july. oh my. my comment was but i don’t even look at mine until november. guess i’ll have to change that. i really don’t like what i received but it is what it is. it is a large panel with three different sections – one is the cook’s prayer – one is a kitchen measurements chart and i’ve forgotten the last one. i will definitely have to think about this. guess i could log cabin each of them separately and make wall hangings out of them. (thinking on the fly here) who knows what will happen by july. and no, there will not be another one due in december. just switching the challenge to july because december is so busy.
sat down with a bit of the things i bought at the quilter’s estate sale. one 5 gallon size bin – amazing almost all the pieces are the same size – approx 1.5 x 3.5″. strange collection. i’m only about a third of the way through the bin. i’ve stacked them (have 3 stacks so far) lots in each stack and put them in a zip lock baggie. don’t think they’ll have to be ironed, as i finger pressed them out first. fluffed up the bin so they could breathe and maybe they won’t make more overnight. got to fondle fabric and that felt good too.
now i’m off to bed. hugs and blessings to all, patti in florida
Patti, you gave me a chuckle over your comment about more fabric in the bin overnight. Also, I love to fondle my fabrics too!
Patti – you never stop, do you? No wonder you get so much done. If you ever need something for your challenge that you don’t have, I might and feel free to ask me!!
thanks for the offer, mary. i have a houseful of fabric and can’t seem to stop buying it. just can’t sew fast enough. i can’t stop. i went through ten years of major depression (dad died, mother couldn’t cope and developed major dementia). it was horrible. i was almost paralyzed by all that was going on (i’m in florida and this was happening in texas). all this on top of the COPD and being on oxygen 24/7. i got virtually nothing done. i swore then that nothing else will stop me. i have to take care of my mental health. so i play with fabric and i have a good time. hugs and prayers for all, patti in florida
Patti, you found a wonderful self-help therapy, and you are able to help yourself and all the projects you do for others is so wonderful as well, your love continues to help others as well. You are a very inspirational person. My explanation for my accumulated fabrics and projects waiting to be completed, “An overactive mind and an unrealistic time management schedule” still is applicable for me. I am working on stuff! Thirty stars is in my future as well!
Loving all of the photos tonight. And so glad you are slowly getting back to normal Mary.
Thank you for sharing all your Christmas quilts. I too have the Country Living magazine and your pattern for the 30 stars. Wonderful that you feel well enough to do sewing therapy. We have been real cold and windy here. Good weather to just stay in and work on Christmas projects. One is a small hooked piece that I have been asked to make and plan on some knitting. Enjoyed the picture of Hank & Keeper. Nice that Hazel keeps you warm. Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley VA
Wow! I am amazed that I had not seen that fabulous quilt before; it is certainly a stunner. I want to thank you and all of the lovely ladies who are sending in the Christmas photos; I am looking and looking at the Christmas quilts, and also how everyone decorates for Christmas. It is definitely such a treat!
It makes me happy to know that you are again writing blog posts from home, Mary! Keep taking care of yourself; so many of us love you and your blog (and your beautiful quilts).
I really like all your red quilts. I have the 30 stars pattern and have pulled it out of the closet. Hopefully I will start on it soon or at least next year.
Mary,
I just love the red nine patch also and how you’ve hung it. That barn picture in front of your quilt is so beautiful to me. I had a framed Christmas picture with a barn and old truck plus beautiful pine trees for several years. Yesterday I hung it for Christmas and in a few minutes it fell and broke the frame and the glass AND ripped the print. Made me so sad but I’ll try to find another!
Beautiful photos of collections and quilts and pets today. Glad to hear you’re continuing to recover. I’m going to my aunts 90th birthday celebration tomorrow. She’s a retired librarian and is sharp mentally and physically.
Take care everyone. 🌻
Sunflower – oh, I’ve had something similar happen to an old picture I just loved and it was like losing a good friend!! Can you find the print again?
Probably not but I’ll find something else, I’m sure! 🌻
Don’t the time zones make life interesting?
It totally amazes me how and what people use to decorate their homes. All their treasured collections and how they are displayed. It really warms my heart. And yes, just to sit at the sewing machine with your favorite pattern and pieces of fabric and listen to the sewing machine purr. What a good feeling. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
My current project are the pediatric quilts – 40 x 40 or 50 x 50. Such a great size to try out new patterns. And use up old unused blocks or lots of new ones, too. The hospital uses about 13 of them a month. Bright colors are my favorites.
Be careful with all the nasty weather all over the country. Not a good time for travel. When I see the pictures of the packed roads in the east, I’m totally thrilled to live out here in the boonies.
Take care and have a great time for Christmas.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – are you trying to use up fabric or do you need donations of certain colors, etc? Backing fabric?
All of the Christmas quilts are beautiful! I really love the red and white Snowball quilt. Such a good example of how good use of contrast can make a stunning quilt from a simple block and design. Thanks for offering up the 30 Stars quilt! I’ll be getting a request in the mail – but please take it easy and don’t rush out to make lots of copies until you’re further along in the healing process.
Sharon – I do believe the red and white snowball pattern can be available, too – $5 – I think it’s only one sheet.
How wonderful that you feel well enough to sit at the sewing machine tonight…..I love all the quilts and how they are shown……so precious to see Hazel sleeping at you side…..so precious!!!!!!! My little Cindy Sue always slept with her head on my ankle….
Linda – I don’t think I’ve heard from you in awhile. One of the pictures of a barn retreat shows you in the foreground with Janey, my previous terrier. I’ll try to find that again.
Mary – I love the first quilt in your post. Is that a Country Threads pattern? So cute. I’m glad my Thirty Stars quilt prompted you to offer the pattern for sale. I may make it again for a dear friend of mine who I know would love it too. I love seeing everyone’s Christmas decor and thanks for looking at mine. I used to display a lot of nutcrackers so that is when I started using walnut for decorating. I didn’t get all the nutcrackers out this year, just didn’t have the energy, but decided to use some of the walnuts anyway!
So glad you are feeling better.
Debbie R. In Iowa
Mary I am so glad to see you on the mend. I don’t comment much and don’t often read others either but I never miss any of your posts.
I have started writing about my travels since finishing camp hosting in Colorado but I never seem to finish. I really seem to struggle with a short attention span. Also seem to run out of energy before I run out of day. You would think living in an RV would be easier and free up your time but it really doesn’t.
Right now I am sitting still for about 3 weeks in an Rv park in Andrade next to the border of Mexico. I am in California, 5 miles from the Arizona border. So I am in 2 time zones everyday. If I stay in, it’s Pacific time but when I go to Yuma for errands, groceries, etc I’m in Mountain Time because AZ does not switch like the rest of the states do.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi to you and everyone while I’m vegging on the couch with the furbabies. It’s now 6:42 or 5:42, depending on where you want your head to be. LOL.
Pattie – I always love hearing about your adventures….and your dogs!!
Love the red nine patch! So glad you finished it!