The heat broke and the weather is perfect but remember what I said about growing the corn? Saw this on Facebook:
Thanks to Margie Fisher who sent this copy from a Norwegian magazine from 1995 –
Yes, that’s us -we went to teach in Norway in 1995 and they were enthralled with our first book “On Behalf of Chickens”.
Connie has worked hard on this somewhat difficult cover quilt. This is not a beginner project.
Here it is remade in current fabrics – I love it!! See that pieced border that just fits perfectly? We wonder now how we figured that out in 1995 as somewhat new quilters. Of all the books and patterns we have published, we THINK this is the only one with no known mistakes!!! Gotta love this first book!
This pattern is now available for $5.00. Send for the paper pattern with a SASE and $5.00 cash or check. Kayla will have it online very soon if it’s not there already.
We had the pond dug out yesterday – it’s been 10 years and it has gradually filled in so we let it go dry and then Bill dug it again and then lined it with black plastic to keep the water from draining away.
It will take a couple days to fill it with the garden hose.
The geese are saying WTH?????
I took the tomato pincushions outside to take pictures last week and evidently I cracked the jar because here it is now.
I recently took many many pictures around the house and outside but I won’t bore you with them all at once. Here’s one I took this morning – these old salt and pepper shakers on the window sill. I think little tableaus like this are beautiful!
I want to be a photo journalist when I grow up – haha!!!!
On Behalf of Chickens pattern $5.00, paper or online.
Stunningly beautiful quilt ! And sorry about your glass jar 🙁 rocks don’t play nice with glass objects !
Your photos are never boring! We love them all.
I had no idea corn contributed so much humidity.
Cheyenne Frontier Days is happening now….the tourist are everywhere.
It should rain everyday, that’s a Frontier Days tradition.
You’ll have to go thrift shop shopping for a new glass jar…a pincushion without a home is an unhappy pinny.
Stay cool everyone.
I love the quilt but I think it’s beyond my skill level. Your photos are anything from boring. Love seeing all the pin cushions. Super hot here in Idaho so living in a cave. I hate heat.have a good day
Mary love your photos of the pin cushions and salt and pepper shakers. Let Connie know the quilt is beautiful. Not for the faint of heart. Hope your pond holds water and you get some rain to fill it.
Working on some sewing of over 500 4 patches and house cleaning.
Rita in Iowa – 500????
Having corn on the cob again tonight for dinner. We have been eating it for over two weeks now here so by the time the time fall rolls around for the annual clambakes around here, it will be so tough of what is left so it seems ours came pretty early here. Lovely pictures you shared with us.
Our corn here in Wisconsin won’t be ready for another week or maybe two.
Nothing like yours, but I have a tomato pincushion collection. I love them.
Oh Mary, you are a photo journalist! And we all are enjoying your posts.
I love the book, “On Behalf of Chickens “. I have had it for many years and still haven’t done that cover quilt that I absolutely love. Your post has reminded me of it. Time to put it on the top of my to do pile!
I didn’t know that corn contributed to humidity like that! I always learn something from you…quilt related or not! I pulled out an old charm pack that I’ve had forever…but it was packaged as half a charm pack. I found a pattern that I’d bought recently and I’m putting it together. Not at all what I thought I’d do today, but those can be the most fun projects sometimes! I’ll try to remember to send a picture when it’s done. I also have a pink project…still waiting to be quilted. I want that done by the end of this month. I’m ready to find out what the color selection will be for August!
Hi Mary – so interesting to learn that tidbit about corn!! Also, your photos are never boring! I love to see your vignettes! Keep ‘‘em coming!
Love the pin cushion pictures. I’ve got a small collection too and need to find time to get them displayed in my new space. So much to do, so little time … to play!! I didn’t get a comment on your last post showing the quilts at the fair. THANK YOU so much for that display… it is such a warm and welcoming addition to that building! You’re awesome.. hope to see you at the fair at the textile or flower show!!
Rosemary – when I see you at the fair you must explain why you have a “new space”.
Hi Mary,
I have a much loved copy of On behalf of chickens – it is a great book! We have finally had a turn in the weather today – a little cooler. Last week it was 114 in the shade in our back garden: and that in Northern Europe! We have been keeping the bird baths full for our feathered friends, and the feeders!
It has been way to hot on the third floor for quilting this last week, so I have been cross-stitching on the first floor, where it is cooler.
Fiona – happy to hear the horrible heat has let up! Do you have AC? Probably not as I’ve read most Europeans don’t. Keep those birdbaths filled.
I also have “On Behalf of Chickens” and I love it, too. Always had a soft spot for chickens. And love to see the corn grow. It is beautiful. How tall is it now? We need to take care of the farmers as we can’t eat computers or face book??
Stay cool. This heat will pass.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – it must be 7-8 foot tall by now – I’ll have somebody take my picture
Hey, Betty. Hold onto that book. It is $47.11 on Amazon!!
Wow, who ever thought that my quilt books might become so valuable? But I’m keeping it.
Fiona, 114 degrees. Do you have A/C? Do the people who live there have A/C? How do you sleep? Outside? The highest we’ve had is 105 — so far. Glad for the A/C. When I pay the bill, I just smile!
Betty in Rapid City
Diane – NO! You’re kidding – the one I’m using we had priced at $3 on one of our past sales – and it didn’t sell!!!! Haha!
That’s what Amazon had on it from a used book store! I have many of your books, but not that one.
Love the photos of the salt/pepper shakers in the windows. It is hard to find something to fit in windows but love the look.
This Florida gal, daughter of an Iowan mother, professes from personal experience that the taste of the yummy corn far outweighs the extra heat 😍
I still have some cards you created from your photos when you sold them in your shop. I have a fall theme and a n antique tomato pincushion in the snow. You have a great eye for photos. You mentioned earlier about making some more greeting cards and I would give a thumbs up on that.
Carol – I found that old negative and I’m going to the photo lab soon. I have a lot of good ones really!
Love your tomato collection – especially with that cute red cupboard. And the salt and pepper shakers lined up, I agree – they look great on the windowsill! It’s a little cooler here in MA today, 79 right now but it’s been up close to 98 for the last week. We’re in a critical drought stage right now. Hope we get a lot of rain soon. I just got back from picking up a free Singer 404 in a beautiful maple cabinet! Right in the next town, the nicest woman had gotten it for free and was passing it along. I’ll clean it up and give it to my daughter Jaime as she’s wanting to learn to sew! Makes me so happy. Jan in MA
Jan H – free? What a deal! I hope you get rain soon.
Mary, yes, free!! I’m watching Andy Tube on Youtube. He has a whole series of videos showing how to totally restore a 404. My husband is helping me follow the steps. Really fun. I hope we get rain too, it’s hard keeping things alive in this heat. Jan in MA
I always love to see pictures of your collections because I have many different collections myself. The salt and pepper shakers on the window sill is a good idea. I have 9 tiny nesting chickens in different colors in my kitchen window. I also have your book On Behalf of Chickens. Love the cover quilt done in new colors by Connie.
Janice R – we want to see some of your collections – send some pictures to my email.
Connie your quilt is beautiful. I will have to order the pattern. I didn’t buy the book- probably looked too hard at the time. Love it new colors!
Mary I like your salt shakers. I bet they are pretty with the sun shining on them. Hope you find a new jar for the pin cushions How nice of you to lend your quilts to the fair for all to enjoy.
Picked cucumbers, zucchini, grape tomatoes, and green beans in my garden. Last weeks heat made it all grow. Cooler this week so froze the beans.Grand daughters and families each spent a week with us. Glad they all chose a different week. Kept us on the go entertaining the little kids.
Hope to get some sewing done in August.
Enjoying the cooler temps this week before it heats back up next week.
Oh, yea, Mary. That blog was terrific and I laughed and laughed. Thank you for the fun. I love the quilts, digging (for the guys, and did I mention the other day that I love your hydrangeas!!? Stunning, absolutely stunning.
💕 that little red cabinet. I have four old red pieces in my kitchen area. They lend some charm to a home that is only ten years old.
Nancy – I want to see your four old red pieces! Send pictures to my email.
Mary, you are our very own photo journalist. I always admire your photos. The tomato pincushions are adorable, but sorry about the jar. Too hot for it? Please tell Connie I love both color ways on the quilts. Beautiful. 1995 is pre my quilting obsession😃. The salt shakers look great on the window sill. Do you get rainbows through them? Great post—thank you. My July DD is finished and my husband is going to hang it tomorrow so I will send a pick. Beautiful here today. 72* and low humidity.
Beautiful post today. Thanks so much. I look forward to each one. My July DD is still on my cutting table with no hope of getting done. The outdoors kept calling me.
Mary,
I took two years of Norwegian in high school. Lived in WA state. Sons of Norway presented a check to me as best student! I was so surprised!
Enjoyed your pictures today. Sorry about your pin cushions’ jar!
Launa
I really enjoyed hearing from everyone today. I found it interesting what others have in their kitchen windows lol. I’m weird like that. I happen to have a collection of brown bottles pulled from the old dump on the family property. I have a couple Certo, a Lysol, and some random medicine types. When the wind is blowing just right they make music!
I did not know the corn contributed to the humidity level, either. It is good to keep learning.
Your salt/pepper shakers in the window is an adorable look; they are beautiful pieces.
We are enjoying sweet corn, green beans and melons in Central IL. 😋
I do not have your chicken book; that will be something to search for. Thanks, 🥰
That is an amazing quilt, I think it would be harder than I would want to tackle but it is gorgeous! Love seeing your collections! It is interesting that the corn makes the humidity rise, I knew that but it is surely the case!!
I also use random glass salt and pepper shakers like those you’ve shown as little vases for lily of the valley, etc.
Why didn’t I think of that?! It’s time to dig out my favorite clear glass S & P’s and remember to use them as mini vases when the violets bloom next spring! Thanks, Linda and thanks, Mary for the inspiration and smiles your pictures always bring.
Your salt and pepper shakers are beautiful! I love scenes like this also. Very very nice! Stay cool!
Love all your collections. I used to collect old salt cellars and had them on a window sill. The sun on them made the glass change color so be careful if you don’t want that to happen.
On behalf of Chickens is really a beautiful quilt, but looks bery hard!!
Mary I love your pictures and all your collections, so sorry your jar broke. I so love reading your blog and seeing all your things.
Love your “Around the House” still life photos.
The quilt you featured is a gem. I am sending my check tomorrow. I also did not know that corn is a heat contributor. Learn something new every day…thanks for sharing!
I love all you do, how you have time for It ALL, is beyond me.
Thank you so much for all you do for us gals,nd I BET A FEW GENTLEMEN TOO, HAHA.
Where do I send check to? And who do I make it out to? What is address of website? What was name of new book? By Martingale?
Martha – where have you been ??? Our address is listed on our home blog page.