My ancient golf cart went to the golf cart hospital today – it won’t “go” in reverse! I cannot give up on this ancient friend who has been with me since a very low time in my life during the early 90’s. It just won’t give up so I won’t either. The minute I drove it over to the gate, the dogs were so excited thinking we were going on the wilderness trail.
I put a quilt on the long arm – look at the fabric I’m using on the back – Debbie Mumm fabric from the 80’s.
Reader quilts
Remember a reader talked about garbage bread?
I came across this article written in a trade magazine in 2000. So many of my readers do not know us from the beginning so I thought I’d include this bit of history.
I hope you can enlarge this enough to read it – IF you want to.
Mary, Yes! Please post pictures!
Mary, I loved reading the article about the how Country Threads all started, very interesting read! Enjoyed all the quilts and photos of sweet Hazel, Keeper and Millie. 🐾💕
I’m liking that Touch of Spring block and quilt!
That rock… shared that with my quilting group. 🤭😂
Hope your golf carts returns quickly and not too costly!!!!!
I loved Debbie Mumm fabric. I had a lot of it but think I have used it all up by now. I really enjoyed reading your article. I was able to visit your shop two times. That was so much fun. I think we also were able to go to the hay mow and you had it all decorated and some patterns for sale up there. My cousin took me there for my 50th birthday, and we stayed overnight. We were the last to do that as you were getting married the next year. Good memories. Thanks for all you do.
YOu are the best…Have loved all your quilts for years and years…Can. you find your Uncle Sam on a bicycle quilt pattern…I made one, loaned the pattern and then sold the quilt….need to make another one..
Paula – I’m actually remaking it right now. I’ll post when it’s ready to go.
From yesterday’s post…l was very sickened from learning you found your beloved goose. I lost my beloved cat 2.5 weeks ago and l am having a terrible time dealing with the loss. So l can only imagine the feelings you must have had when you found your goose.
I must say, though, everything was taken out of me to hear the story about finding him. And then seeing the pic of his body threw me over the edge.
My love of animals absolutely goes beyond. Perhaps that’s my downfall!
I am not meaning to complain as l love your blog and hearing about every animal you keep in your heart always.
So sorry on the loss of your beloved cat. They’re our best friends, aren’t they. Take care!
Ann – I love animals more than anything or anybody – truly. These cats and dogs are my family – no one else compares. I’m not closely connected to the geese and they’re really a pain for me but that doesn’t mean I wanted one murdered. I just wish they’d all die of old age.
I loved the article. Thank you for sharing!
I have been following since the early days and still love ‘On Behalf of Chickens’. So happy to read this. I had to be creative about enlarging but did just fine. Thank you.
Although I started quilting in 1972 I was not aware of Country Threads until about a year ago. How did I miss this! Going through stuff in my sewing room I came across your rug book…I probably bought it at the Vermont Quilt Festival many years ago. Reading how you got started was so interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne- Gosh, we were everywhere – don’t know how you missed us!!! Haha!!
I loved the photos today, especially the one with your dear Keeper and Millie. And all the heart quilts. I’m half Danish, and learned to make those paper Danish woven heart baskets as a child. My sister and I used to use them as May baskets, fill them with flowers from our yard, and hang them on our neighbors’ front doors. I now use them as Christmas ornaments, making them from two fabrics fused together with Heat’n’Bond instead of paper.
I am going to save the article to read later. I never got the Goat Gazette, unfortunately, but have several of your books, bought when they were first published. One of my favorites is “Use it up…”. In the dedication to your mothers, you say that they saved the waxed paper out of cereal boxes. Well, so do I!
Fingers crossed that your golf cart can be mended. Hope it’s not completely “used up”.
Dot – you do???? We laughed about that one but now I also save it – haha!!
I so remember coming to your shop years ago, when I had little money to spend! Ha! I did buy things, as I have patterns here! I was impressed with cats in the quilt shop! I will say there seems to be more ‘out of the way’ quilt shops that have opened in the past few years and if you are lucky enough to be near them or know about them, they are a great find.
Linda – some people were allergic to cats and they simply couldn’t shop with us.
That was such an interesting article! I love to learn about how other people started their businesses. I started mine (a mail house) in 1984 in San Diego, CA. My business partner and I stuck on labels and stuffed envelopes, and slowly built our business. My kids ran around big automatic envelope inserters and labeling machines, then later inkjets that squirted the addresses directly on the mail piece. I always loved going to work, but I loved retiring too, haha.
That’s a beautiful picture of Hazel and the Valentine quilts are gorgeous. And thanks for the good memories!
Christine! Tell us more about your business! I wish I had been able to go to Country Threads when it was open, even if it was over 3 hours away! I loved reading the article Mary provided for us today!
It was fun reading the article from 2000. I started quilting in the mid-1980’s and have loved it. I’m sure I still have some fabric that old as well. Scrap quilts are my favorite, so not much goes to waste.
I visited a few times when you still had the shop. I absolutely loved the entire place-animals and quilts!! What could be better? I still have kits I purchased and haven’t done yet but someday….. Thank you for your wonderful shop and your continuing to write! I used to get the newsletters also and thoroughly enjoyed every one.
loved the wonderful history article
There was no IF about reading the article about Mary and Connie and Country Threads. I love it! Like others here I could not get to Country Threads but I sure knew about you—so influential in quilting. I’m happy to read your blog now and know you better. You are a wonder!
Your cats would surely be entertained by an aviary
I really enjoyed reading how you and Connie got started, thanks for sharing this article with us!
Very cute Valentine quilts today!
I love the blues and browns in your Touch of Spring quilt, and also the reds and tans, can’t wait to order your pattern!
I hope your golf cart can be fixed, I’m sure there a lots of memories associated with that cart!
Thanks for the garbage bread recipe, my grandsons will surely love it!
Love the picture of Keeper. What a sweetheart!
The Country Threads article was very interesting. The success you and Connie achieved from such a humble start, is remarkable. You should be so proud. The “Country Threads “ look still remains my favorite. I love the darker primitive/antique looking quilts.
Hope your golf cart returns home soon so you and the dogs can take a trip down the wilderness trail.
Oh, Mary,
My cousin Rose and I loved your quilts so much, that we made the visit to your shop (way back when) to buy the fabric to make one JUST LIKE YOURS. We made it for my parents’ 50th anniversary, they had chickens on their farm always.
I tried to send the photo of our quilt, but beyond my tech ability!!! We even made the girl and boy chickens that were in the pattern, to go with the quilt.
Your blog is such a wonderful reminder of those memories! THANK you!
Mary – for future reference do you know how to pull up a photo, hit the arrow and then put in my email address? That’s how you send me a picture.
Mary – give me a little more background- I remember just a bit of this story.
Too funny! I just found an old Debbie Mumm pattern while looking for something else this morning🙂
Such an interesting article about your business. When did International quilt market move to Houston? That’s the only place I remember it being at in my quilting time. Were there more quilt shops in Minneapolis at that time? It would be interesting to see how many brick and mortar shops are still in business around the US versus the start of more online buying of fabric.
With the high price of postage, I’m hoping more quilt shops open or remain open versus online shopping. For me, I want to be able to see and touch the fabric I’m buying for a quilt. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to find a quilt shop.
Kathy – the fall international show originated in Houston and is still there run by Karey Bresenham. The spring market moved around every year giving us all an opportunity to visit other cities. I’d have to look up dates. The first one we attended was held in the Shamrock Hilton which was quickly too small and it moved to the George Brown Convention Center.
Mary, aren’t you glad you did that traveling when you were younger. Between quilt market and Country living fairs, you probably did see some interesting places.
I too worry about existing quilt shops as 2 that I’ve shopped at are up for sale and one has been for over a year now. It’s a special person to operate a quilt shop but I think you and Connie lived out a wonderful dream at a good time.
Kathy – yes, glad I traveled before I had so many “kids” – ha! Although I did have pets and was able to hire people to stay here – this was pre-Rick. It was fun to read thru that article – I think readers would enjoy some old pictures of us next. When I have time.
The quilt market in Houston has been discontinued 🙁. The quilt show is still scheduled. My first quilt market was in Denver…my feet hurt so bad after that.
There was one quilt shop in Cheyenne. It sold many times, then the last owner had it for sale about 8 years. Finally she has a going out of business sale. Now we have 3 stores to buy quilt cotton. There is a fantastic quilt shop in Lusk. The owner had a retreat every spring and fall. The retreats got so big she started a second session. Limited each session to 85-90 sewist. Lusk is a town of less than 3,000 people. Now she is retiring and has been for sale for over a year.
I much prefer to fondle the fabric too.
Jo – one of my favorite pics of Connie was taken at the Denver market – I’ll post it tomorrow. We did both shows and were there for 10 days!!!
Loved the article. I was familiar w/ your patterns but met both of you face to face at the quilt show at Rosemont in Chicago. Your booth was always arranged well and packed with people. It was my favorite booth plus The Goat Gazette.
Mary, reading that awesome article was like going back in time. I started my quilting journey in the 1980’s and was a devoted reader of the Goat Gazette. One of my big regrets was that I never made it to Country Threads to attend quilt camp! I was busy raising a family at that time of my life. So thankful for your blog – it is always such fun to read. The heart quilts from yesterday and today are gorgeous. We too have old golf carts on our farm and they are wonderful for zipping around and always a hit with young visitors. Hope yours can be mended. Thanks for all you do!
Bonnie – every kid who has ever visited the farm drives the golf cart on the wilderness trail – I can’t imagine how boring it would be without either of them. We have 3 – mine is the very oldest and I’m very attached to it.
What a great article! I used to LOVE receiving the Goat Gazette, and hoped to visit the store one day. That didn’t happen, but I so enjoy this blog. I have most of the books you and Connie published, and have made a number of the quilts. You and Connie are a real inspiration to quilters everywhere!
Thanks so much for posting the history! I’ve been reading your blog for years and have “gathered” bits and pieces but it’s nice to have it all in one spot! You’ve done an amazing job! 🎉
Love all the Valentine quilts – such a wonderful variety and so fun to see.
Just curious – are others making a patriotic quilt for this year’s milestone USA birthday? I have always wanted to make one, even collected fabric and decided I’m finally doing it this year. When I started looking at patterns – oh my! What a assortment out there. I’d love to see/hear what everyone’s doing
Happy Friday everyone!
thank you for the article. I had to print it magnified so I will be able to read it.
Forgive me if I missed it if you have already said BUT are you going to make a special quilt for our country’s birthday ???
Brenda – I have thought about it – hmmm. We have soooo many patriotic patterns maybe those would be of interest.
Great article Mary!! I purchased The Blue and the Gray at my local quilt shop and had no idea about Country Threads. What wonderful years you and Connie had bringing so much joy to your customers! Love all the quilts! The flower collage heart quilt looks fun to make! Keeper and Milly are too sweet.
3000 bolts and kits and classes and critters. What a legacy. Setting the stage for success sprinkled throughtout the USA. Many creative minds mirrored your kindness, creativity, and willingness to share. Mary, do you think a similar approach would work in today’s market?
Li – I think the online business would kill a remote shop like ours.. People are looking for convenience not a total farm/quilt business. Sad really.
The article was a great insight to Country Threads. I’m sure all of us want to read it.
Retail price was more in 2000 than now on the patterns you offer? We really are getting a great deal! Probably the only thing that costs less.
Loved the pic of Hazel. I have missed her.
Brenda
Brenda – patterns are $5 as a courtesy to current customers – I’m not really “in business” anymore.
Hello Mary,
Are the 2 patterns pctured, Uncle Sam and VOTE available to purchase? I would love to get them! They would be timely to make now!
Thanks!
Ann
Yes, I can make them available / just be sure to note the title and number
WOW! What fun to read the article! Wish I could have come to visit! I have been a follower of your “blog about nothing” for many years and enjoy each “episode” on the farm! Thank you for all your time and efforts to keep us entertained and informed.
Nicole – I am also entertained! Haha!
Great read tonight. In the early 90’s was my first quilt book “On Behalf of Chickens”. I have so many of your books/patterns and made many of your quilts. I remember looking at the animal photos & names like Sully the chicken.
I looked so forward to visiting Country Threads when I retired. Unfortunately, you retired before I could make it there.
In 51 years of quilting my taste has never changed, traditional, country and primitive are my “go to”. I live in So. Ca. but born in VT. I left at 7 (dad in the Navy) for San Diego. Even at that early age, my blood runs New England. Thank You for your beautiful patterns and books!
Mary – On Behalf of Chickens was our very first book – and the only one in 40+ years without a single mistake!! Can you imagine?
Mary, Thank you for sharing the great article about the origins of “Country Threads”. I throughly enjoyed learning how it all began for you and Connie. You definitely are the definition of a home grown business!
Karen – now I think I I should post some pictures, too!