The Dirty Dozen is back! For those of you who are new readers, each month we pick a project to finish within the next 30 days. Last June we all picked 12 UFO’s and numbered them 1-12. I would draw a number each month and that’s what you worked on. If you werent a reader last June just pick a project that needs finishing. Send me the picture when it’s finished and I will post on the blog.
We also started a monthly color challenge and if you can combine the two, more power to you. We took a break in January and February and did $5.00 Friday instead but now let’s get started again.
The Dirty Dozen number for March is 6. Number six. The color is brown – kind of like March in North Iowa. If your #6 is brown, you win!! I’m going to look for a brown UFO even if it’s not #6.
I’m still waiting to receive the dvd from Rags To Rugs by Lora. She makes lots of rugs using new fabric rolls as well as jute. Those don’t sound like rags to me. After I view the dvd I might ask you to contact her – I believe she is using Rick’s frames for sure.
Reader quilts
I’m still accepting pet photos for Pet Parade – it’s been so much fun!!
This is what March 1 in North Iowa looks like.
Cathy and I are working on Tom’s shirt quilt.
I am relieved it’s a new month. February gave me the following:
1. Martingale announced their closing.
2. Our pattern Best of All was given away free.
3. Quiltmania published our copyrighted pattern for Bullseye.
4. Our Rugs From Rags directions are being sold on a dvd with our frame. Here is a picture of the original frame that Rick engineered the new frame from.
So I’m sure you can understand why I welcome the month of March!
Glad February was a short month! Honestly, you had enough for this year!
Yes, you’ve had enough for a dozen months.
This month…the time will change, the weather will change, dinners will change and the birds will start coming back.
Yeah, spring.
A lovely show of quilts today.
I love that sign. It is just how I feel today. Feb has been a beast! Although not as cold as many of you have had, it’s been plenty cold here too, with lots of snowy, icy rain, and bone-chilling windy days. Yesterday, Feb 28, was one of those. So raw and cold. Today, March 1, is sunny and warming up fast. Now that brings to mind the old saying. In like a lamb, out like a lion. OH, I do hope NOT!
Today’s quilts are so bright and cheerful. I love them all.
Sue – I learned it “in like a lion, out like a lamb”
Mary, I started singing the peanutbutter box is here before I saw your comment. What a great commercial! My Morkie loves peanutbutter too.
March 1 is my birthday and I’m so happy to have sunshine and no snow here in Omaha. Our winter has been cold too, but we haven’t had the snow that you folks have had.
Love to see the quilt pictures you post. So nice to see what others are working on.
Oh, I was taught “in like a lion out like a lamb“. Guess I’ll have to Google that and read up on it.
Judy – HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Yup, the peanut butta box is here!
Happy Birthday Judy. Hope you had a great day.
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If this worked, I copied a quilt photo from Mary’s blog post. It has the appearance of a curved block on bright pastels on a white background. I’d love to know the pattern designer or name.
Thank you. It’s a lovely quilt.
Marcia – your picture didn’t post but I know which quilt you mean. If nobody answers I’ll post it again and ask for you.
I don’t know whether there’s a commercial pattern, but that quilt is made from two alternating traditional blocks: Churn Dash and 54-40 or Fight. The “sides” of the Churn Dash are made from two squares rather than the usual rectangle. My first quilting teacher, and long-time friend, taught us to look at the corner of a quilt when trying to decipher a pattern. If you look at the corner, and along the bottom row, you can see the two blocks. It’s the combination of the Churn Dash HSTs and the 54-40 triangle-in-a-square which gives the illusion of a curve.
You are so sweet to do that. Regardless of the results, I’ll take another look to ID the blocks you called out. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Marcia! Both blocks are based on a 9-patch grid, 3 x 3. If you made 12” finished blocks, the little squares would be 2.5” cut, 2” finished. The HSTs would be 4” finished, as would the triangle-in-a-square unit. I use a Tri-Recs ruler set to make those units.
February isn’t my month either. My Dad passed on 2/14/2014. My SIL passed on 2/25/20. My mom passed last Wednesday.
Janet B – oh no! My sympathy to you. You have a great reason to hate February.
Janet, I am so sorry! Sending you sympathy and am sure everyone who reads this blog is.
I’m done with February as well, though it’s snowing here this afternoon so so far I’m not crazy about March either!!! Lots of folks, myself included, are getting pretty cranky about winter here!!
So many creative, talented quilters here!!! You are all quite an inspiration!!
The peanut butter box is a great commercial.🤣
Today’s quilts were lovely. Mary, I hope March treats you better than February. 🥰
I so enjoy your blog but don’t comment often. (I know, shame on me!) I have been dismayed to hear of your wonderful projects being usurped by others.
Have to share a funny Chewy story. My grandkids watch very limited TV so aren’t up on the latest commercials. At Christmas, I saw the Chewy box arrive and sang “the peanut butter box is here.” After blank stares, I explained the reference. When I visited in February, my 4 y/o granddaughter was singing it to their dog Penny. Her 6 y/o brother said “maybe we should call her Georgie.” Your photo brought a much-needed chuckle today!
The sun is shining in Quad Cities area and spring is on the way! Hope we all miss the snow forecast for Friday!
Robin – oh gosh, isn’t that cute – call her Georgie! It’s a great commercial.
Mary it has been a tough month for you and for that I’m sorry. You do so much good for us and we appreciate it. I have your Rags to Rug book and CD. I need to make a rug.
Love all the quilts. Some of you have been very productive. Kudos to you.
I had my Post Op Appt yesterday on my knee replacement and doc said all was looking very good. I asked him if I could take a photo of the X-ray to show my grandsons. He was very accommodating. Now just have to continue therapy and go back in 8 weeks.
Got to spend 4 hours with my next door quilting buddy today so all is good.
Hair cut also today after rescheduling from last week when the driveway was all ice.
Take care and let’s enjoy March!
Rita – glad it’s all going so well for you!
I bought the rug frame from you over 12 years ago. Can’t believe it has been that long.
I have no idea what it is you all are talking about when you mention “the peanut butter box.” I know what “Chewy” is; I’ve ordered things from them for my dogs through the years, but whatever does the peanut butter reference mean? I, too, enjoyed all of the pet parade photos. Thanks for doing that, Mary. And yes, we are all happy to see February go away. My sweet mama used to tell me to not “wish my life away,” but that is one month that I will not miss1
Lois Ann, I am so glad you asked! I was thinking I must be the only one who doesn’t know what this is all about. An ad with a song?
Same here. I’m in the dark about the peanut butter box, but then I don’t watch much TV, and if it is on, I usually listen and not watch commercials as I am working on a puzzle!
Jeanine – yes, it’s a chewy commercial of two dogs talk8ng about the Chewy box delivered on their porch. One says “the peanut butta box is here!” The other says that’s the medicine their box comes in – the other repeats – the peanut butta (butter)box is here! Obviously their medicine is peanut butter flavored. I wish I could sing it for you here!!! Maybe this commercial isn’t nationwide – possibly?
Mary, we get that chewy commercial here in NY. I always like to watch ones with animals talking.
Goodbye to February and hello to March!!!! Hopefully good things will happen for all of us!!
Well so much to comment on but remember life is good Mary! I always like Michelle Obama’s phrase “ when they go low, we go higher “. It’s after 6 pm here and still not dark outside. I like that!
The quilts are so stunning and I love scrap quilts. Each of you have made happy and sweet quilts. Every time I see a homespun plaid quilt, I say to myself to get busy and cut up some squares. Love the home look of them so Tom’s wife will love wrapping herself in his shirts.
I have always loved seeing February leave. I know I know, stop wishing your life away. Even here in Arizona I feel the same way. So today is March and yes, in like a lion, out like a lamb. I am sitting in my RV right now and am rockin’ and rollin’ again! Lots of snow north of me today. Flagstaff has just posted the 5th snowiest winter since the 1800’s. Over 50 inches above average so far this year. Don’t tell me our weather isn’t changing all over. Thank goodness for the sun though.
Pattie – can you stay warm in your RV? If it’s stormy, why don’t you travel to another site? Please take care.
I had no idea what the peanut butter box was about either but a quick internet search solved that! Haven’t watched tv in years. Lovely selection of quilts today. Here in the “Southside Quad Cities”, we had warm sunshine. The grandson was out climbing the lilac bush/tree while I picked up sticks. He was so happy to be running around in shirtsleeves and digging in the mud. I thought I had the pattern Marcia was asking about but can’t find it. I know I’ve seen it somewhere else.
DebMac – I wore my parka, stocking hat and gloves over my coveralls and wasn’t any too warm.
I LOVE the Chewy ad❤️ We have seen it often; maybe I watch too much TV.🙀 It has to be one of the best commercials ever
The quilts are beautiful again. That will be so nice for Cathy to have Tom’s shirt quilt. It was 74* here today.
February is a month we usually go somewhere warm, but it was very mild here and Hubby needed that neck surgery. We have two half birthdays in February and my Nana was born February 29! We usually celebrated on 2/28.
I always heard, March either comes in like a lion and goes on t like a lamb, OR, it comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion. We don’t know what to expect at the end of the month since it was so nice today.
Mary, let us know when we need to write to the “rug frame thief”.
Yes I also love the Chewy ad on TV!! Beautiful quilts today!! I NEED TO GET BUSY!!
Lovely quilts today! I’m partial to the sunflower quilt of course! Wouldn’t the quilt Marcia is asking about be wonderful with dragonfly prints and in teal/blue/turquoise colors?
Really enjoying the pet parades! Thanks, Mary
Hi Mary –
The peanut butter box is my favorite commercial right now!! Thanks for all the pet pics and the quilt pics. brightens up a gray day on Cape Cod.
LOvE the Chewy commercial! With so many dumb ones I appreciate one that makes me laugh.
My deepest sympathies Janet. February must be a hard month for you.