Connie and I met this morning at the Quilted Steeple and who can’t have fun in a quilt shop? I haven’t bought anything new and fun for a long time – it’s not that I don’t have fabric – I don’t have any NEW fabric.
So…I had $260 worth of fun – I told the gal that I actually have more money than time. With everything I picked up, I asked myself and Connie what I would do with it until finally I said to Connie, “If you and I can’t figure out what to do with this fabric, who could?” So I bought it and now I’ll figure it out.
Here are some pictures I took of models on the walls:
Was so fun to get together and visit with someone who knows our history, I don’t have to explain anything, we could almost finish each others sentences. We know what we like and have used and made in the past and no explanation is needed. It’s just us.
From the farm:
Wow! What a fun fabric haul. Love that blue grunge, polka dots and that mustard color with kitties fabric! I would love to know the maker of that kitty fabric…
I think I have that book pattern and need to get it out and make it.
Nothing better than hanging out with a bestie at a quilt shop, good times.
Love, love, love the view of your farm!
Thanks for another great blog about something awesome, fabric, animals, friends and beautiful farms!
Sherri – I. Issued showing that one – I’ll put it in my post tonight.
Like so many others, I love that beautiful floral fabric & all the other pretty fabrics you bought. So nice you & Connie could get together for some retail therapy! Love the pictures of your farm, so pretty. Mortie just makes me smile, she’s so entertaining. I’ve been working each day on putting things back where they belong after the water line break. Found a young man who can use all of my late husband’s shirts. He has a new job & has to dress appropriately. I didn’t realize I still had so many of his clothes. Thanks for the blog, Mary. Such a nice way to start off my morning! Today our temp was 92* & so humid!
Mary, so fun to fabrics shop with your best friend! Love that kind of thing too.
Talked to Ryan, son from NWest Grand Rapids and he said he has never seen it this smoky! I’m sure the kids did not go outside as the smoke was so bad!
I bought a couple of the fly bait bags you mentioned on your blog. Put it out about 4 o’clock and wow! You should see the flies in that bag! Amazing! I had to buy two at a time on amazon, but I will need number
2 in no time at this rate.
Got a hair cut today…it’s been 6 weeks! Highly necessary! 😂
Have a good evening.
Joy – I have 8 bags hanging right now and I try to discard them on garbage day once a week. I put them in a feed bag and tie it up. They are very effective but stink to high heaven!!!
You and Connie remind me of so many happy memories. Love you went out for a fun day with Connie!! You work very hard and do the blog..kudos to you. All are very grateful!!
Belated Happy Birthday!! Btw…I think it’s only 161 days til Christmas 🎄!!!🤣🤣😉
Sherry in Texas where I was it was Winter!! I’ll never forget our retreat there!!
Our ferns and Hostas qre plush and huge too. Do not know why because it was extremely dry and then extremely wet and now very hot and dry again. I guess they like variety! Hope you are doing well. I am waiting for an appointment July 30 (its been a month) for someone who specializes in the problems with neck surgery I am having. Still do not have much a voice. I need a whistle to get my husbands attention to listen … I am speaking.
Beautiful fabrics, happy sewing 🥰
Hi Mary,
I’ve had the same Hoya carnosa rubia plant since the early 70’s too. I love it when a plant is with me all this time and I have other plants that were my mothers. My hoya has pink on some of the leaves.
I have to say, your home and yard are so beautiful this time of year. I’m in San Diego, Ca and this is our brown time of year. Thank you for posting the lovely photos.
Glad you and Connie had some fun time together.
Suzy – I have way too many Hoyas because I like to start them – kinda worried already about where I’ll put them all this fall
I laughed out loud at your justification for buying fabric without having a plan for it! Since you’re already at SABLE stage, adding more won’t make things much worse. My daughter will have to deal with my fabric and yarn when I’m gone. I already did a massive downsizing when I moved, several years ago, and I’m not going to do more.
Today’s photos were lovely – you and Connie are looking good, your plants are looking good, and so is dear Keeper with his big ears.
Our weather is slightly cooler than last week, but still in the 90s, and with high humidity adding about 10 degrees to the heat index. I hope the smoke clears for everybody in its path. There are a few fires around here, but not near me.
Looks like you had a FUN day, buying new fabric, spending time w Connie, nice pic Ladies, your place looks BEAUTIFUL, so green , your BLESSED
The Hoya is a BEAUTY, my plants in AZ.🌵desert R not happy , pray I don’t loose to many these HOT months,
Thanks for sharing..
Katie in Chandler, AZ..
How nice you could get together with Connie for some retail therapy!! Loved the photos of your choices – and the other photos as well! I would have chosen some of those fabrics too – and that book quilt may go on my list…
We’re on the edge of the smoke here in my part of central Ohio; I plan to get some mowing done today before it gets too bad and ahead of the predicted rain tomorrow. I will take some breaks, depending on how bad it gets.
I enjoyed the photo of your hoya! I have 2 – one is a start from the other one and I’ve had it for decades. The original is the one that I remember on my grandmother’s porch almost 70 years ago; my mother had it after my grandmother passed and then it came to me over 20 years ago. It was trimmed when she was in assisted living and it took all this time to start producing blooms again, but there have been 2 blooms so far this year – YAY!!! The aroma is so sweet – I usually smell them before I see them.
What a fun time it looks like you and Connie had. I love the picture of the two of you! Can’t wait to see what you make. What did Connie buy?
Oh Mary, I love that you took a day off to spend with Connie. You both look great! I’d love to spend a day shopping at quilting shops with my bestie, Linda. However, she’s back in Illinois & I’m in Tennessee. I haven’t seen her a long time but we do share a lot of our lives & shopping trips during our long, long phone conversations.
I’m glad you had fun! I love your saying about having more money than time. Ain’t it the truth! I love reading your emails every day & your new goats are adorable! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Your fabric shopping was a hit! It looks like everyone loves the floral fabric. I really like the softer florals with the book fabric.
Your fabric shopping trip reminded me of a special trip to a fabric store with my niece. She spends several days with me 3 or 4 times a year. Two years ago, when they were here during my birthday, we spent a day in Pella. She told me her husband gave their 5-year-old daughter (my great niece) $20 to buy a birthday present and I could not say “you don’t have to buy a gift” because my great niece was so excited to buy a present. We visited the fabric shop, and a line of Blackbird’s Nest by Kansas Troubles caught my eye. I picked up some fat quarters and was over the top admiring them. My niece nodded to my great niece and when I left the fabric, she picked them up and tried to be sneaky taking them to her mother. I was “surprised” when I opened the package when we had my party.
Sheryl – that is very sweet that she wanted to surprise you!
Oh my! I almost went to the Quilted Steeple yesterday, but my other appts. didn’t give me as much time as I wanted. I always find something when I go there. Hopefully this week sometime. I’ve been doing mindless sewing, when I’m able this week, due to sciatic nerve issues. I don’t wish it on anyone! Love all the farm pictures, too. Breath of fresh air on the web!
Linda K – another woman walked in and she knew I was in there because I drove Red – it was Kevin’s mom! You would have had to identify yourself but that would have been fun!
Love it! Never been to the Quilted Steeple but I have friends who have and some have retreated there too. I love the large floral fabric you got! I am sucker for those.
Blue sky but hotter than Hades. I am glad I am home and don’t need to go out.
I have that Book Nerd pattern and my idea was to use selvages for the spine of the books. I have some novelty fabrics I’ve already cut the selvages off for, but it will be a while before I get to that pattern. I love the book print fat quarter you bought. I’m so happy you got to be with Connie and shared a good day of your friendship.
We’re cloudy again with the smoke haze but it’s summer time so will take the bad with the good.
Smokey here again today. We’re at nearly twice the hazardous levels. You can definitely see and smell it. At least the temperature has gone down but, can’t safely go outside to enjoy it.
I love seeing what you bought at the quilt shop. Always a good idea to refresh your stash with some new pieces to get the creative juices flowing. I never seem to look for low volume fabrics when fabric shopping. Your latest choices will go great with those log cabin squares you recently showed us.
Connie – Yes! I was thinking about my log cabin blocks but that group of pinks is too strong – too dark so I’ll have to find another project for those. I’m excited to get to work and it’s way too hot to work outside – except for mowing. Then I’ll sew
Isn’t it great to have THAT one friend? What a great time you had just taking the time to spend together doing what you both love! Awesome.
Morning.
Beside my devotional each man I look forward to your news. You are a blessing to so mant, I hope you realize ? Just starts my day of off usually it’s a chuckle. Love hearing bout quilts, chickens, goats cats geese, farm life, etc. all of it.
Thank you so much for your quilts. Wow , been looking at them many year, never stop, plz. I too know what. Friendship like you and Connie have. It goes to the soul❤️
Thanks again, keep posting
Praying for yu also
Margaret
O Mary, that big, bright, flower fabric would look so gorgeous as the big squares in your own pattern “A Touch of Spring”. Thanks to Martha W in WY who knows how to use Google Lens – I keep forgetting about it. Gorgeous view of your farm home. Pictures like those make the work all worth it.
Oh my! What fabric 🥰! My favorites are the black cat 🐈⬛, ricrac, large flower and the ones with the ricrac. Must have been such fun with Connie.
While I was at sewing group Tuesday,Darrell made a run to Hopes Closet – a resale shop to benefit women and children in need, kind of like a Goodwill sale. He took a platter and small dish not intended to go and now we have to wait till they find them in all their donations. No one is allowed to go through the stuff except employees. Ohh, he’s in trouble…..
We saw the daddy bluebird carry out the unhatched bluebird egg that morning. He does most of the feeding and she does clean up and checks on them. She’s great at swooping at blue jays and woodpeckers at the birdfeeders.
Pamela – he managed to carry out the bad egg? OMG! Is it just bugs they eat? Oh, Darrell – you are in trouble!!! Why don’t men LISTEN???? Ask me how I know.
Mary,
Beautiful farm pictures! So lovely and peaceful.
Your fabric haul is gorgeous!! And now…what to make. Love how you’ve grouped them too. The Iowa quilt is nice and the book quilt so clever. It would be great in a library!
We are under an air quality alert today from the Canadian wild fires. Terrible smell in the air, like burning plastic. Staying indoors as much as possible
Have a great day, everyone! 🌻
Sunflower – watching the news this morning and see that horrible air in your area – yikes! Can’t be healthy – best to stay inside and sew!
How fun for you and Connie to meet up and a favorite place to shop. I spent the day with my quilting buddy quilting. Got a throw 3/4 done. Would have finished it but Jack the Ripper had other ideas.
So hot so walking happened before 7. Will need to get outdoor stuff done this morning. So far air quality is okay.
Thanks for all the pictures of your fabric and farm.
Mary, I had to laugh at you coming home with a big bag of fabric. Yesterday I did the same! Went to an Antique Mall here up by the cabin looking for a certain Fabric Booth. I had met the owner of it at another place last week and she encouraged me to stop at her other place. I walked away with a big bag of totally unnecessary fabrics and kits. Average price for a full MODA FABRIC Kit was $10 !!!! Full scrap bags, and I mean full, were $3. Also picked up some odd & ends pieces of fabric for other projects I’m working on. I really need to figure out how to reverse the saying ” you can’t take it with you” . On another note, the weirdest thing happened here yesterday. Smoke from the Canadian forest fires near Toronto drifted down here in mid state NY. The Cabin is North of Syracuse on Lake Oneida. The smoke blocked out a beautiful cloudless day and was actually turning dark. No smoke smell yet but they say it’s heading this way today. The temperature dropped also because the sun was totally blocked out. The wind was amazing and very strong. They are telling us to wear those N95 masks if you smell smoke and have to go out today. Will stay inside today. and work on my new bag of fabric.
Barbara – we’re seeing on the news how bad the smoke is! Saw your fabric haul – SCORE!! I’m going to mow but then I’m spending the afternoon in the sewing room.
Mary, the haze is settling down around the cabin and is getting worse as the day goes on. Slight smoke smell but getting stronger. Can’t sit on the porch anymore right now.
Great picture of you and Connie, two beautiful women!
Loved all your pictures from the farm today. The perfect Iowa summer scene. I miss it here in MD. And I understand your need for “new “ fabric. We all have more than we could ever use. I’ve resigned myself to being more of a fabric collector than a quilter, though I wish it would take up less space. Ha! There was a great story in the paper about an organization called The Amazing Acro-Cats, a group of domestic cats that are specially trained cats to perform circus tricks, all rescue cats, and performances support local rescue organizations.They were performing locally but already sold out. I bet Mortie would fit right in. If they wanted to show a cat getting a massage, mine would be happy to perform! Thanks for a very cheerful report to start the day.
Karen C.
MD
Karen – Mortie delights me every day! And to think I resisted when she showed up – haha! God knew I needed Mortie.
So glad you got to spend the day with Connie. Time spent with a good friend is always time well spent.
I don’t buy much fabric anymore, but sometimes you just need to splurge. Not much sewing happening in the summer, but those sub zero days will be here soon enough and then we’ll have new stuff to inspire us
Grandkids are spending the day with their other grandma tomorrow so I have a free day. Many errands to run as I’ve been sick since before the 4th. Nasty cold turned into sinus infection. Hate being sick in the summer.
Saturday our small group will have a sew day. Salad potluck for lunch. Lots of stitching and bitching and eating. A GREAT day!!
Diana – eeyoooo!!!! A summer sinus infection – horrible. Don’t go out too long or you’ll have a relapse.
Whoa! That floral focal fabric is gorgeous! Love the colors! I will be excited to see what you make!
All your hard work around the property really shows in the last photo. And fabric stores are a feast for the eyes and creative juices. Add a friend it there and you have a perfect day. I’ll bet you will face the day today with renewed joy and energy.
The Quilted Steeple looks lovely, and your fabric purchases were all just yummy. What a perfect way to spend a day off! It was great seeing Connie; you both look so cute and happy. Retail therapy with a best buddy is truly therapeutic.
The ‘summer in Iowa’ pictures are beautiful. Thanks Mary. 🥰
Beautiful set of fabrics!
How lovely to get a day off and spend it with a longtime friend. Rejuvenating, right?
I’m like the others, that floral fabric is beautiful and it looks like you bought a blue grunge that goes perfectly with it. Love the pictures around the farm, especially the one of your barn. A beautiful sunny summer morning is right and before it gets too hot.
I finished the last sewing machine cover. I should have made it one of the DD for this year, but that’s ok it still gets crossed off my list. I will take a picture and send it to you. I’m proud that I figured out how to make them all, without any sort of pattern.
Teresa – how’s Scarlett? I’ll bet she’s full grown by now – but with a colt mind set. Haha!
Mary she’s growing like crazy. She’s as big as most yearlings already. I’ve been trying to get a new picture for you but every time I try she runs away, cheeky thing. I am hoping to get a shot of her near her mom so you can see how big she is. She’s so sweet and just loves her scratches. Today her and Eddy were nose to nose with the chain link fence between them and I couldn’t grab my phone fast enough to get a picture. Darn. It was so cute. Have to go out early tomorrow but hopefully I can get a picture to send you soon.
Teresa – I understand completely about getting the phone out and by then the picture is gone!!! I do this dozens of times a day / I only post a couple / the rest are crap! Haha!!! She is beautiful! And you’ll
Always get to see her!
I so know about that being with someone who knows you! I miss that closeness, that sameness. Love looking at your yard. It’s so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Oooo…I really like the flower fabric. What company makes it? And the piece that has the books with glasses? Please, oh, please tell me…The Quilted Cow in Branson, MO had the open book quilt on their Facebook show tonight. It is paper pieced. I’ve never done paper piecing and I have enough regular piecing to do to keep me busy without trying something new. I really enjoyed the last photo. It’s like you just stepped out of your house. Your farm yard looks so peaceful and inviting.
Martha – I DID just step out of my house at 6 am and it was just lovely / no wind, warm, clear sky / a perfect summer morning. I should frame it for next January
I love love love that large floral print!
Who makes that?? Im guessing Moda maybe?
Did you happen to get the name of the book pattern?
i like that also
Rose, I saw the book quilt on The Quilted Cow (Branson, MO) Wednesday Facebook live show tonight. The pattern is “Book Nerd” by Angela Pingel Designs. Also, I used Google Lens and found that the floral fabric is part of a collection named “Flight of Beauty” by Peggy Collins for Camelot Fabrics. There are other pieces in that line that are just as stunning as that floral print.