Do you remember hearing about the old Duesenberg cars? Two brothers designed those cars and when they were young boys they had a bicycle shop in Garner. If that story is correct it’s Garner’s ONLY claim to fame! Haha!!!! Every small town in Iowa has a local celebration day with contests, runs, vendors, food, bouncy houses for the kids, music, parade, car show, street dance – you get the idea. I stayed home today with the dogs and hope to sew this afternoon.
I saw the gray kitten! I moved some fabric and there was a terrified eye looking at me. Here’s the picture – you’ll have to enlarge it to see the eye. And I truly think Fluffybun is coming into the dog kennel at night to eat. Maybe in time she’ll camp out there. I honestly think maybe the dogs chased her once – not knowing she was a cat running across the yard – and now she is terrified. That’s my theory.
And now the quilt – this is an amazing example of crumb quilting – using the smallest scraps available – some smaller than a spoon handle!
It is threadbare and faded except on the edges and I just love looking at it. I am inspired to sew my scraps together which I’ve done before but this is an extreme example, don’t you agree?
This is a picture I saved from online for the color combo – I think it’s gorgeous! Sometimes I can get inspired to use a new-to-me color combo by cards, artwork, rugs (I just ordered a new one that I will definitely use for a quilt!), glassware – just about anything – just look around!
I’m off to walk the dogs on the wilderness trail – Mia is having a great time here! But who could blame her! Sweet.
I love those hollyhock colors!
Crumb quilting is one I’ve not heard of before!! Weren’t our ancestors resourceful though?? My Grandma made scrap quilts, but she usually made log cabins so must have had bigger scraps than your quilter had!
I am waiting for a 3 pm showing on my house, so twiddling my thumbs, trying to keep everything spotless so it looks its best. Doors closed and gates in place to keep the dogs from tracking through freshly vacuumed areas. I love that the house is always clean (I keep a pretty clean house, but this is ridiculous!!), but I kind of miss my creative chaos! Send prayers for a buyer to come through!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Diane – please let us know!
Now we know what Duesey Day means. Thanks! Hope the kitten acclimates and starts to socialize soon. S/he looks adorable!
I certainly haven’t the patience for crumb quilting; guess I’m a whole cake type of person. Love that reddish fabric to the right of the picture with the cat in it. I can see the hollyhock picture as a quilt. Raw edge applique springs to mind and topped with a bit of hand embroidery.
DebMac, I think your idea of a hollyhock quilt based on the picture would be beautiful! The raw edge appliqué would be perfect.
Thanks for the explanation of Duesey Day. I disagree with you on Garner’s claim to fame though. Many, many more of us will remember Garner as the home of Country Threads, and Mary and Connie as owners, not for the Duesenberg bros. You may not realize how well known all over the world you and Connie are. Do you know just how many people and how many countries are represented by those of us reading your blog every day???
Another rainy, stormy day here in Co. We’d love to share some of the storms with Iowa. Our flower beds have had plenty of moisture but they aren’t nearly as pretty as yours. It has to be that great Iowa soil that is producing such a beautiful yard in Garner. Have a blessed day everyone. Jeanne in Co.
That quilt is amazing the skill to get the smallest pieces together. I may have missed it but where did it come from? As inspiration I would look at quilts and see traditionall hooked rugs which I did and a quilter at the Md state said to me,” when I see your rugs it makes me think of a quilt I could make” and we both sat and laughed. Inspiration is inspiring no matter where you find it.
That poor little baby. Was it a drop off? They must be feeling cozy in the fabric. You can barely see it so small.
I get emotional think how terrified it must feel. Finally they are at a safe haven. Do you think there is a sign on you fence somewhere that says “Kind woman lives here”. Like the hobos did during the depression?
Hi Mary, is the kitten hiding behind the brown fabric? We have had a couple of chilly days, but l have b3en well rugged up and the heater on, my bones get cold these days. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
I have a hard time remembering that the seasons in New Zealand are opposite those in the States! You all are trying to stay warm while we are trying to stay cool. Was a hot and humid day here in Maryland today.
The antique quilt is quite interesting; lots of work in that huge quilt.
If I was a scared kitten, stacks of quilting fabric would be a comforting, safe place to hide. It chose well. Maybe Fluffybuns has it all worked out. She and the kitten can be buddies.
Thanks for the blog, Mary.
Jeanie – oh, I wish they could be friends! I really wish FluffyBun could discover the barn where Mama lives very comfortably – I take care of her but don’t bug her.
I love that photo, and that idea of using those colors! I will have to give it a try. It’s a perfect beautiful day here in northern MN.
I think you did well with ‘spot the kitten’! Time will probably solve that problem, as she starts to feel more secure. They are tiny patches in the crumb quilt! You see that often in 19th century British quilts, where every scrap of fabric has been used, that the patches are sometimes themselves made of patchwork from minute remnants of silks and cotton. True thrift. And I garee the Co7ntry Threads is also one of Garner’s claims to fame!
Fiona – very kind of you to say, Fiona, but most people in Garner – even 20 years ago – had never heard of us. Visitors would stop at the grocery store or Hardee’s and ask directions and nobody could tell them.
Teeny tiny little pieces. I wonder how long it took her to sew them all together? And, how many pieces of clothing, table linens, curtains, etc, she used in it? Amazing.
Love the hollyhock picture. Can’t wait to see the quilt you make with those colors. It will be lovely.
I hope the kitten becomes tame for you. Poor little snippet.
Snippet! What a good name for a timid little quilt shop kitten . I’m glad you have a lead on Honeybuns and hope she finds her way to the barn.
I think the crumb quilt could be called, Patience. Now I feel wasteful for tossing the 1″ trimmings from the LWR quilts!
Yum. The hollyhock colors are delicious. They look like rainbow sherbet.
I hope you show us how to sew a crumb quilt. I’m thinking you cut a backing then lay a piece of fabric on it right side down, sew the seam, fold fabric over, put the next piece on top of it right side down, sew another seam, fold over and on and on. Maybe this is it right? And I suppose I could look it up but I would rather you explain it. I have a ton of small scraps that I usually use to stuff things that I make with. However, I can pick out a lot of the bigger ones ..which are only a few inches. And use them to make one of these quilts. I’m thinking it would be a wonderful winter project. Of course I’m so anal. I want all the fabric to match. I don’t want random. I would like all pastels or all darks. Anyway, I love this quilt.
Oh.. I just looked closer at the back of the quilt. I see they’re all sewn together individually not placed on a backing piece. Wow I still may try it.
Jean – I’m not sure how this woman did it – looks impossible to me. I would have to do it like you described.
What an amazing quilt! I can not fathom how many hours the quilter spent on it.
That crumb quilt is amazing! Love the colors in the flower picture and I would like to take a walk on your trail. Sadly, I’m too far away.
Has anyone been running their furnace the past day or two? I decided to turn on mine yesterday. I hate being cold! Today isn’t quite so bad since the sun is shining. I took Bailey (my dog) out in the car for a ride this afternoon. She loves to go and we just drive around Humboldt for a few miles, looking at the sights. My “Annabelle” hydrangreas are lovely but I don’t have them fenced up like you do, Mary. Some of the heavier ones now are lying on the ground.
Lois Ann – and that’s why you need a simple little fence – especially if they get rained on when they’re in full bloom. The whole row would be on the ground. You can get fence sections at Menards
Love the quilt. That was a lot of work. the fluffy kitten sure found a good spot to hide. we are 90 degrees today. Thanks for sharing. Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley Va
Thanks for the Duesey explanation. I have heard of the Dusenberg car, but did not know it was made in Garner—neat! I had never heard of a crumb quilt either, but I think I have one my Nana made. The Hollyhocks will be a beautiful quilt. I have a similar pattern with a Hummingbird in it. I will try to find it. I love that little kitty. We are set with 2. Nice here tiday. It got to 84, but rained and went to 86–nice.
Diane – to be clear, Duesenburgs were never made in Garner – when the brothers were kids they had a bicycle shop in Garner.
That crumb quilt is awesome but it makes my head hurt. I just can’t imagine it. It looks hand done?
Poor little Lucy kitty! I can barely make out a grey baby. Yes, the hollyhocks colors are gorgeous together! I love crumb quilts 🥰.
Amazing what our ancestors could do with such little to work with but she was making something to keep someone she loved warm in all likelihood. Bravo for her!! She would probably be surprised to know how many of us are impressed with her patience. My dear mother/in-law would be 120 years old if still living ( she lived to be 99) but she always kept a “goods” ( her fabric scraps) bag which was a patched pillowcase filled to the brim with all of her goods scraps and her kids and later grandkids loved to pick through the bag looking at all the different colors and patterns. I’d love to have that bag today to look through.
Hot and humid in Ohio’s Hocking Hills today but I’ll tAke it over cold weather anytime.
Karen,
Our son lives in Mount Vernon, OH, and several years ago we met them at Hocking Hills where we rented a house for a few days and toured the area. It is beautiful there! I didn’t realize Ohio had hills until then. I thought of it as farmland, like Iowa. I know there is farmland up north. I was able to visit a very neat Quilt Shop there, but I can’t remember the name of it and I know she has since closed. The shop was on her property. I followed her on her blog. Our son just returned home today. He was here for a week and did a lot of projects for us. It was very cool in Iowa this morning and most of the day. Warmer weather is coming again next week. We did get .4″ of rain overnight, which was good.
Thinking the quilt shop you visited was Pumpkinh Ridge or McArthur Quilt shop. Both owned by same woman. She had everything imaginable! She had planned to reopen but alas it hasn’t happened yet. I drive through Mount Vernon sometimes on my way to Cleveland area where I have a daughter living, taking the back roads before linking up to the interstate.
Neither of those names sound like the name of the shop we visited. I bought a quilt kit from her. I wish I could remember the name of her shop. This was probably about 16 or 17 years ago, and she closed shortly after that.
Both of the shops I mentioned were more recent. It is always sad when a great shop closes.
I love the crumb quilt! And the idea of using all the crumbs in a quilt. I really should read up on it. My fave quilts are the scrappy kind. Poor FluffyBun!! We have outdoor kitties here, as well as, coyotes. They are all feral cats so when they don’t show up for meal times for a few days we begin to wonder if they crossed paths with a coyote. We also have the cutest mama and baby whitetail deer duo that I worry about the coyotes getting the baby, if not both of them. Life is hard out in the country. Oh! Both of us have spotted coyotes more frequently this year than we have in the past AND they are much closer to the house than ever before, too. There was some scat in our driveway that was NOT left by kitties. So, wondering, once again if it was left by a coyote.
Sharon – oh, no! Nature can be so cruel – I know there are coyotes around here but we don’t hear them much after mating season early this spring. We are strongly fenced as I’ve mentioned and I’m not worried.
By the way, the Aubrun-Cord-Deusenberg Museum is located in Auburn, Indiana which is north of Fort Wayne via I 69. It is a fantastic museum and the Auburns and Cords were made in Auburn… Not sure about the Deusenbergs. They sure don’t make cars like those any more. Beautiful works of art!
My husband and I went through the Auburn-Cord-Deusenberg Museum on one of our cross-country trips. It was fantastic. I thought those Deuseys were the coolest cars. You are right, they don’t make cars like that any more. They all look alike now. My husband loved cars so we didn’t miss too many car museums or car shows. The last one we saw was in Tacoma, WA.
Oh such tiny pieces in that crumb quilt. I want to make one someday. I have plenty of scraps. I saw a crumb quilt tutorial online…may have been Jenny Doan. I love the colors in that picture too.
Mary thanks for explanation on the Deusenberg parade and celebration.
Glad you found your kitty, hopeful will find that you are a kind person and only want what’s best for it.
Love the crumb quilt. I have made a improv quilt, kinda like a crumb quilt but the pieces are not so small.
Worked on a UFO project the last two days and finished 12 blocks. It’s very scrappy and the design is Jacobs Ladder. Sorted some Batiks and found some 1ish inch by 5 inch strips and sewing them together. Don’t know for sure what I will do with them but make great Leader and Enders while sewing the blocks.
My goal for this month is to quilt the Country Threads sled wall hanging. Finish the Jacob Ladder blocks, 13 to go. And the From My Carolina Home Mystery Quilt, Quadrille. That should keep me busy.
I can’t imagine the size of the pieces in the crumb quilt. I cut and sewed my first block for March Madness quilt and I am pausing to think about whether or not I want to make so many blocks that 4 inch size. So, if a 4 inch block gives me pause, think how I feel about the crumb quilt. Yowsa!
Thank you for sharing the scrappy quilt. I Love it. I often thought of making I with my scraps. I have tiny pieces too like the ones in your photos. I appreciate the inspiration!!!
Find the kitty among the fabric! Took a while until I saw it. I too like Snippet for its name. ; )
That crumb quilt top is a marvel! In addition to using such miniscule pieces, the maker also managed to keep it flat without using an apparent base to sew the crumbs onto – *that* is what I find truly amazing.
Years ago I took a workshop on crumb piecing. Just baskets that would be made into blocks. The crumbs were sewn onto freezer paper that was later peeled off, although perhaps waxed paper could be used.
JeanneH – oh, don’t we all wish we knew the quilt maker and her process! Yes, it’s pretty darn flat!
I see a kitty ear!❤️. The Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum is in Auburn, Indiana ( home of the Auburn automobile ). My husband is from Angola in the next county and we’ve visited the museum a few times. It’s really fun!
Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs were the luxury cars of their day—fancy and really expensive. The Auburn company got into financial trouble and was bought out by Mr. Cord from Chicago and the Cord became one of the company’s models. TheDuesenberg brothers were indeed from Iowa but Duesenbergs weren’t made there. They founded three car companies—their first, in Des Moines, was called Mason and it was bought out. They started another in Minneapolis, also sold, and finally started the Duesenberg Motor Company in Indianapolis—-where Duesenbergs won four Indy 500’s in the 20’s. A Duesenberg was the first American car to win the Grand Prix. Mr. Cord bought them out, too, but the depression doomed the luxury car business. The art deco offices of the company are now the museum and it’s pretty cool!
Fun fact: every Labor Day Kruse Auto Auction south of Auburn has a huge classic car auction—Jay Leno often comes. I wouldn’t go but if you’re an old car buff it would be fun!
History nerd!
This blog is really about everything! The things I have learned! This is very interesting.
Absolutely fascinating ……I’ve been interested in crumb quilting for some time now. Have ongoing quilt now! Love & admire this!