Ina Belle Lofy was a huge part of Country Threads – she was our machine quilter for years. I remember when she came to the shop and introduced herself. We had just purchased our first longarm machine for around $10,000+ and she felt it should work after hours, too, to pay for itself. She worked in Garner at a manufacturing business and at the time her husband was in the care center. She would leave work, visit her husband and come to the shop to quilt, oftentimes not leaving until 9 pm.
April 19 was Ina’s 96th birthday and as I thought about her I wasn’t sure she was still living in North Iowa so I called her neighbor who is also a quilter. She said Ina was no longer at her house but didn’t know much more than that.
I kept digging and emailing others who might have a connection to Ina and found her daughter’s phone number in Boone, Iowa. I called and left a message and this morning Deb called me.
Ina is in an assisted living facility called Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone, Iowa. I just can’t wait to hear how many of you remember her and if she quilted a quilt for you. Readers have mentioned Ina to me so I know you’re out there and I hope you’re reading this because Ina is going to be our next card recipient! 96 years old!
It will be a belated birthday card or just a card saying “Hi”. And even if you didn’t know Ina back in the day, take my word for it – she’s a gem! If she quilted something for you, please mention it.
Her address:
Ina Belle Lofy
Eastern Star Masonic Home
715 W. Mamie Eisenhower Ave.
Boone, IA 50036
Ina lives in the residence hall in a two bedroom unit where she has help with some daily living but she gets to meals and activities on her own. Her kids, grandkids and great grandkids all celebrated “Mo” on her 96th birthday at Deb’s house.
Here is the only picture I could find quickly of Ina at work.
Article in the Mason City Globe Gazette in 2014. She was a cover girl!
Now, here’s my question – how many readers did Ina quilt for? Please leave your name in the comments, tell what quilt she did (if you can remember) and then send her a card.
Even if you didn’t know Ina personally, she’s my next card recipient and I’d appreciate your participation as in the past. I want Ina to get the most cards of all.
And now the rhubarb custard cake recipe.
And now one correction from last night – I showed Vicki’s friend’s picture instead of her! Here’s Vicki, one of the most prolific quilters I know.
She doesn’t send one quilt picture at a time – she sends multiple pictures!
Caitlin and The Fever are playing the Brazilian National team tomorrow at 3 pm, on ESPN at Carver Hawkeye Arena – tickets were gone in minutes, now being resold for around $450 each. I’ll be watching!
I’m going to find my card right now and get it in the mail to Ina on Monday.
Thanks, Everybody!
Mary, thanks for refreshing our memories.
I had quite a few quilts quilted by Ina. Choosing the pattern and the thread was a hard decision because I liked all three patterns….Wandering Jew, stars, hearts, and just meandering. I always chose mother goose thread color. Ina did a great job and gave us quilters time to get closure on a quilt and the time to start another one..
Will be sending a card. Thanks again for being Mary!!
Lee from North Carolina
Lee Bowers – had to comment on the Mother Goose thread – I learned that from Ina and I use it almost exclusively because it blends with everything.
I do remember hearing about Ina, the long-arm quilter. I was fortunate enough to visit your shop in 2012 and 2014, but I don’t remember actually meeting Ina. She is an amazing person, and I will be sure to send her a card when we get home.
We are on our first camping trip of the season only a half-hour from home for this trial run. We have a list of all the items we need to pack.
Thanks, Mary 🥰
I will put my card in the mail tomorrow. I would love to brighten her day and wish her a happy belated birthday.
Guess I need to have a refresher for the Wagon Wheel quilt. I’m sure I’ll remember it when I see it. You know, the first thing to go is the mind………..
I never met Ina, but her hands remind me of my grandmother’s. She was always busy trying to grow weird stuff, make soap, sew quilts, raise rabbits, pick meat out of walnuts, and paint pictures. Of course, maybe a nap every so often. It is amazing in the things we remember?
Looks like spring has sprung here. The trees are all in different stages growing leaves. And the flowering trees are in full bloom. Neighbor’s lilac bushes, which are at least 7-8′ high, are going to be perfect for perfume in a day or so. They are in the power lines going to the pole.
Take care, everybody. There is so much waiting to happen.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – I didn’t notice Wagon Wheels didn’t post – I’ll add it tomorrow. I am well aware that the mind is first to go – I’m living proof.
Will send off a card to Ina tomorrow! She and your whole group there were always very helpful and fun to visit with.
Margie – I had forgotten about that picture – thank you!!
I never met Ina, but it sounds like she was a jewel. I have my card addressed and ready to send to her. I did get to Country Threads three times I believe. It was such a fun place to visit.
Thanks again for doing the blog. It brings joy to my heart to read it. Have a wonderful day!
Hi Mary, Ina quilted many of my quilts, I added her name to the label so when I see that quilt I think of Ina. I appreciated the great job she did, and appreciated the service you offered when machine quilters were few. I’ll be sure to send her a card.
I’m so happy I discovered your blog about nothing!!! HA
Today it was such fun to read about the experiences and remembering Ina by your past customers. Ina sounds like a typical hard working Iowan. Wonderful people are raised in Iowa, I know because my husband is from Iowa! And the life expectancy of Iowans seems to be well into the 90’s. So the saying hard work never hurt anyone has a lot of truth.
Will be interesting to see the DNA results for keeper.
I love rhubarb and fondling remember my Mom’s rhubarb pies!
Sounds like Ina was a hard worker and enjoyed being busy.
Will be interesting to see what Keepers breed is,
Looking forward to the game today. Thanks for the heads up
Vicki, a beautiful lady to go along with all the wonderful quilts posted on Mary’s blog. You have a keen eye for color combinations. What a great birthday idea!
Keeper’s DNA – a mystery soon to be solved.
A card for Ina will go out Monday.
Jan, thank you for the kind words. It has been a great 80th birthday week and a reminder to treasure the friends and family around us every day.
Hope you are doing well in AZ.💜
I remember your posts from years ago about Ina. There was one in particular that I remember. You posted a picture of her at the long arm. I think it was her birthday or maybe retiring. I can’t remember, it’s been too many moons ago! But I most definitely will send a card.
Can’t wait to see what Keepers dna is.
Have a great day everyone!
I want to be like Ina! Will send a card.
Someone mentioned crazy busy. That’s how it is here. I have a man coming today to see if he will redo my deck. I have no idea what I am doing regarding this task–it’s not sewing! I bought a hedger and hopefully I can run the thing. A neighbor showed up yesterday to trim a small tree which had a limb wedged in. He said if I can’t run the hedger to let him know. I am blessed.
I have a jello salad and cookies to make today as daily retreats (sleep at home) start tomorrow. And I have not packed up projects yet. Dental appt tomorrow afternoon. Junk is to be picked up Tuesday and I have a honking TV in my garage that needs to go! I have to get someone to help drag it outside the door. Then I might be able to breathe a little and not follow my notes to see what has to be done ASAP.
My kids tell me it is better than sitting watching TV all day to be this busy. But the phone is too much of a distraction and I hate myself for being sucked in. It has been 4 days since I have been in my sewing room.
I sure remember Ina! While on a road trip to Country Threads, I recall Ina working hard at the long arm. As I was just a beginner quilter at the time ,I never did have anything quilted by her.
I’m glad you are going to have Keepers DNA done. We had our dogs done and it was like having his fortune read. Answered so many good questions about him. It put all the pieces together.
I’ve enjoyed reading about Ina and hoping more of your customers have stories to share. She sounds like one gem of a worker as well as a hardy soul. Would love to visit with her! I’m always happy to shop for cards of encouragement and courage and thinking of you so to find one for a special lady whom I did not know but wished I had, will be fun.
Thanks for the recipe !!! It’s an easy one which I appreciate.
After church and fellowship (cinco d’mayo celebration of foods with a piniata my husband hung for the kids to break) I am participating in nationwide Crop Walk. It’s damp and rainy but I’ll survive. I didn’t realize till this week it was started by Midwest farmers to use their crops to feed those in need.
Of course I remember Ina. She was always a friendly face and fun to talk to. I stopped counting at 30 quilts that she quilted for me – bullseye, wagon wheel, some antique tops but mostly Country Threads quilts.
I will send her a card and after my shoulder surgery I might even take a road trip to Boone to visit her. She always had a smile for me.
I remember one time I bought a box of treasures at an auction in Clear Lake and laying in the bottom was an antique quilt top. I took it to CT (Ina) to quilt and she just loved this top. After she quilted it, I tried to give it to her but she wouldn’t take it. Wow! That had to be between 1995 and 2005 when we had a weekend home in Clear Lake – many years ago.
Gloria – oh, she did quilt many tops for you, didn’t she? What’s with your shoulder surgery? Where will you have it done, when, what type of surgery? Will you be hospitalized? Caitlin will miss you!!!
May 16 is my surgery to repair many tears and arthritis. Outpatient, 4-6 weeks in a sling, 12 weeks of physical therapy and six months for full recovery.
I’ll be doing a lot of reading and walking. I’m trying to get all my spring cleaning and cleaning up gardens done before the 16th. Caitlin loves to walk so I’ll have a companion. Thanks for asking.
I sent Ina a card this morning before church.
Oh yes I remember Ina. I was living in mason city at that time and would come to the shop frequently. Most times Ina was tucked away in her room working the longarm. She never quilted a quilt for me as I was still hand quilting at that time. I will send Ina a card along with a little note about my remembrances of her at country threads.
Now a question about the rhubarb cream cake. It’s been years and years since I’ve purchased a box cake but my friends tell me that the cake mix has downsized a lot recently. Does today’s box size work with just one box? I can’t wait to make that cake!
Jean – I did use just one box and it worked but the cake itself was skimpy. Just made the custard creme more dense – very wet cake/dessert. I used Duncan Hines – I never buy any other cake mix.
Thanks Mary. I’ll be sure to use Duncan Hines!
This cake mix upsizer works for me when I make old recipes that use a cake mix plus other ingredients. The boxes used to be 18.25 oz, and now they’re 15.25. You need to add back 3 oz!
Cake Mix Upsizer
This mix cannot be used in place of all the cake mix called for in a recipe as it does not contain all of the same ingredients. It’s only to replace that 3 oz.
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
Whisk all dry ingredients together and store in a glass jar or other airtight container. To use, measure 3 ounces or about 6 tablespoons and add to the boxed mix.
Makes enough to extend 6 (15.25-ounce) boxes.
Oops! I see that this recipe calls for mixing the cake mix with its other listed-on-the-box ingredients. So the upsizer wouldn’t work for this recipe. It’s useful for other recipes that call for adding “wet” ingredients to the cake mix. Things like bar cookies and such.
I buy Duncan Hines and whatever like kind is on sale and I add 3 ounces to the Duncan Hines cake mix. I hate that they went from 18.5 to 15.5. I do remember Ina. She sometimes took orders and was so nice! She was funny, too. Betty, goid to hear you are doing ok, I hope! I will photos soon, Mary. I have three table runners to finish by Mother’s Day! 3,75 inches of rain since Friday. Building the ark soon!
Thanks for finding Ina’s address and a short update on her. It will be great to “shower” her with cards. It was nice to visit with her quick while she worked her magic on the longarm. I kept up with her occasionally through the Clear Lake quilt guild but eventually lost track of her too. Great idea! She will surely enjoy the mail.
I will send Ina a card. She must have been a hard worker!
We have had a week if bits of rain which is great. We will not turn rain away! The guys were thinking about planting beans today but will wait til next week!
Graduation party last night for our granddaughter and it was great! She is such a sweet young woman! I made a quilt she picked out and also gave her fiancé a quilt. He had all kinds of questions about how long it takes to make etc. Love him!
Crazy busy times!
Yes!! I remember Ina! She was a fixture at the longarm machine every time Marcia and I came to camp. We enjoyed visiting with Ina and I always had a desire to have Ina quilt one of my quilts. I made Wagon Wheel, bought the backing from Country Threads and pieced the backing while I was on retreat and even though it was going to be a tight fit, Ina assured me she could make the backing work for my Wagon Wheel. After she finished quilting it, she packed it up and sent it to me in Missouri. I have LOVED this quilt since the day I opened that box and saw my quilted Wagon Wheel. Ina had worked her beautiful magic and my Wagon Wheel is now a family treasure.
Mary Beth – Thank you! I’ll post your picture!!