Who ever heard of it raining, actually raining, for the entire day the end of December? We put our rain gauges away but we’ve had a considerable amount which will help our drought situation and hopefully make our grass green again in the spring.
I mailed off a stack of Thirty Stars patterns today and more will go out next week. I sure do miss having a copier! Sending out patterns is such a production now and I hate it. I gotta figure something out before any more patterns will be offered and I will not fill any other pattern orders without prior consent. Don’t just assume if you send me an order that I’ll be able to fill it.
I’m working on several things but since it was such a rainy day I thought I’d quilt the pink log cabin so I pieced a back, cut the batting and went into the next room where the longarm lives and there was a backing already loaded. I did this before surgery and obviously forgot!
So after all three layers were loaded and I was ready to start, the machine wouldn’t work. The last small quilt I did it worked perfectly – not one thing was wrong and today the needle wouldn’t even move. Talk about discouraging.
So I feel like the day was wasted just trying to get the machine to start. Ugh. Tony, the repairman, will come when he can. Machines of all kinds have ruined many a day for me.
Reader photos
Mary
please put this in your blog:
The inaugural meeting of the We love Mary Fan club/Arizona Chapter commenced on Fri Dec 27 at 10 a.m. In attendance were Pat in AZ, Jamie in AZ and Jan in AZ.
A lively discussion of how much we love Maryfollowed. Jamie is quite the talker, before we knew it, 3 hours had passed!
Pat presented Jamie with a quilted mug rug:
Jamie stated she would NOT put anything that might spill onto it.
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 pm. All fans in AZ are welcome to attend the next meeting, date to be determined. Just reach out to Jamie for more info.
Well, Jamie, this was pretty fun for me to see the members of the club – haha!!! I hope you can meet again and share more projects because we’d all love to see them!!
So that, Dear Readers, was the best part of my day!
CORRECTION: Jan made the very cute mug rug for Jamie. I was just an admirer. We really did have a great time visiting and getting to know each other better. I strongly encourage every one to try to connect to others in their area. It was so worth it. I’ve never belonged to a guild or quilt group; Mary’s blog is the closest thing to that. But the meet up with Jamie and Jan convinced me I need to put myself out there.
We do love Mary
OMG! Did I screw up? Maybe I’ll be moving to Memory Care soon. So sorry Jan!
Me, again. Remember the big old printers we had 30-40 years ago? The repair man said we couldn’t screw them up? Boy, was he wrong. If it was acting up, we would unplug it, turn the plug over and plug it in. If that didn’t work, then we’d call for help. Actually when we plugged it in, it was resetting everything so it would work, maybe. Actually we still do it with the new TV’s, etc. Only we can’t turn the plug over now.
I reread what I typed before, and I sure wonder what happens as stuff is dropped and I know I typed it. Maybe the system knows more than I do? I was not meant for this century. Or maybe I’m loosing it or can’t find it? I’ll go happy.
Betty in Rapid City
I had been wanting to get to my sewing store as I hadn’t been there for awhile. Awhile back I made some 4 x 4 blocks with 2 1/2″ squares. They came out 1/2″ past 8 1/2″ blocks. This wasn’t normal, but I put them into a small quilt and “adjusted.” One day I was just looking at my 20-year-old Janome 3500 pushing with buttons and discovered something strange! I had made a diagram and took it with to show the store owner. Luckily, he believed me and said he had a that machine traded in. Yep, it did the same thing, which he thought was very strange. I’d been complaining that as I LOVE my machine which just sews, no fancy stuff!! It was my day. I got it for $297 and I’m absolutely thrilled!!! I just want to sew, not all the fancy stuff. I’d been hoping that my machine would outlast me. I’m set now.
The sun was shining, but cloudy. We are supposed to get some rain/snow but as out temps have been 50’s, who knows. It is so dry we will all be outdoors singing in the rain happy however the moisture gets here. Starting Monday we are having a cold front, snow or rain. We’ll just look out the window and the thermometer and dress accordingly. And best of all stay inside and SEW.
Now to finish the Christmas cards and other little stuff. We filled my gas tank so I am ready for winter! Happy New Year!
Betty I’m so glad you are back! I really missed your commentary and insights.
Since I don’t own a longarm I can’t offer any solution to your problem, but I’m wondering if it’s just something simple. I have an Original wooden Grace Frame that has been disassembled for almost 7 yrs. Church family helped us move so things didn’t get packed like I would have packed them! Since I have a 2 car garage my plan was/is to put it together in the garage. I’ve spent 2 yrs looking for all the nuts & bolts to put it together….on closer inspection this month realized as it was taken apart everything was put back & all I have to do is reattach it. Talk about feeling dumb!! Printers!! I feel your pain, Mary! Printers simply are poorly made anymore & the cost of ink is terrible! I’ve gone through 2 in the past 6 yrs. The one I have now was supposed to print nice copies. The colors look faded. Just had to take the color cartridges back because one color was dried up, brand new! The heads on the printer had to be cleaned before it would print. It’s a year old printer! Thankfully my son’s an IT guy. I don’t use a printer a lot, but I like to run a copy of a pattern to put with fabric if I’m not going to make the quilt immediately. Otherwise I can’t remember why I bought the fabric 6 mo later!! Now I have an inkjet printer that’s 15+ yrs old that doesn’t print in color. Beautiful copies! Things aren’t meant to last a long time anymore. Okay, end of rant on printers!! My 95 yr old neighbor was extremely happy with the Christmas food we took him! Even though his son comes to check on him daily & brings food, etc. He’s always happy to get what I prepare. So happy Jamie has 2 new friends! Sounds like you girls had a wonderful time together! The cards were a lovely idea!
Alice your quilt is just delightful! It’s a classic block but your color choices just makes it shine. I love it!
Pat, thank you! I picked the fabrics for it. The quilt shop where I bought the pattern & fabric had only kits & they were kind enough to cut the fabric I wanted! They simply made another kit with what I didn’t want! For me these are happy colors & fits my home!! The kit had much darker colors.
Finally, I get to comment! We’ve had so MUCH snow…more to arrive in abundance Go Niners….tomorrow if the weather is correct! It has been recently!
My husband will be 91 in a few days! We’re having friends in for his special get together! Looking forward to MNFootball game Lions vs 49ers!
Absolutely love the Mary Fan Club in AZ 👏🥳 great to see the three ladies and enjoyed their “notes” such fun 😁
You talked about rain and how crazy that is – in NE Ohio we have 58 degrees! It’s unheard for here this time of year – feels like spring! Everything is a mud mess – rain is on the way. My dog Beau hates having his feet wiped 🙄
Machines can be such a source of frustration – from sewing to copiers – you name it! Even smart phones 😡
As always, love the blog about nothing 🥰
Jamie’s door was nicely decorated, so no wonder she was one of the winners of the door decorating contest! Wonder what she might do for January? Our visit was lovely. As she mentioned on the blog, she is not a quilter, is creative in other ways. The door decorating contest proves that!
Mary, JB looks pretty good and will feel so much better with the stitches removed. I need to thank you all for the many cat pictures and comments. I am not a cat person, but my daughter and son-in-law recently took in a rescue cat. It’s a learning curve for them and me. Who knew that I would be making a pillow and small quilt for a cat?! Each of my daughters has a rescue dog, each dog receiving their own pillow and scarves to wear on their collars.. Hmm. I should make a scarf for the cat.
Jan
Go ahead, Jan…that cat will hate you for life. Hahahaha
good morning everyone. we are so close to the end of the year. found out today that my friend will be here on the 31st. yeah. i’m so excited. will probably only be here for 2 maybe 3 days but i am so happy. gives me a schedule for cleaning off my kitchen table.
suggestions on the longarm. unplug it and leave it unplugged for at least 30 minutes. then turn if back on. make sure none of the channel locks are on. i don’t think your weather has been bad enough for the motor to freeze but … it could also be a fuse. who knows. but if unplugging and replugging works, it saves the cost of the tech. if you move the flywheel does the needle move? i am always amazed at how resilient these machines are. i can not use mine for years and it just keeps on ticking. just oil the bobbin area and off i go. now if i could only have the stamina to go upstairs and run it. think what i could get done. not going there today as it is depressing.
i did start cutting on the hidden log cabin. decided to use a separate fabric for the light side because it seems all the fabrics in the jelly roll are medium. started piecing the blocks and realized, i’ve cut enough for two blocks except for the last 8.5″ strip of the dark side. opps. because you were supposed to mix and match the jelly roll so that was all you used. so i’m going to end up with lots of blocks without the last log. but i am going to call it a design decision and figure something out for those blocks. means my quilt will be smaller, but that is okay. and makes me doubly glad i didn’t use the hoffman 2.5″ strips mr. ed gave me.
so today i plan to stitch more blocks and then take a break and work on decluttering my kitchen table and one counter. my friend doesn’t expect perfection, knows me too well. have been friends for over 30 years. but i do want a place at the table for her. could probably trash lots of what is on the table. it’s been on the agenda for a long time, it’s just a pain to do.
the arizona fan club was interesting. thanks for the picture and cheering up jamie.
i just remembered i have a huge plastic grocery bag full of 1.5″ strips that someone gave me. another thing to add to ‘what will i do with these?’ and then i’m still using pre-cut things instead of yardage. those would probably be good in a pineapple quilt i’m thinking of doing or even a new courthouse steps quilt. i was very good. had a $15 coupon for equilter that expired on 12/26 and i did not use it (needed to spend $125 to use it). i had bought 5 yards of the amish black fabric from keepsake quilting when they had it for $5.38/yard. thought that was a good bargain.
guess i should get with the program. have been waiting for the pain pill to kick in. so now i’ll read a bit of email and then get with it. jb is looking good. i’m sure he’ll be glad when the stitches are out. happy holidays to all and blessings, patti in florida
The SUN is shining and the grass is sparkling with the frost melting on it! Patti that’s for sending the sun…heehee. The s beautiful sight!
That is so frustrating when your machine (long armer or what ever won’t work! Ugh! Grrr! And you could even go for a wilderness ride 😢
The crud Jay and I had made us so tired but last night we actually stayed up til almost 9, I think we are on top of the crap.
Jami I am so happy you like the card!
I am going to enjoy the sun!! Hope you can too!
If my long won’t work and I can’t fix it, that will be the end probably for my long arming. I don’t have a tech like you do. Lucky you Mary. My hubby was my tech and he has been gone 12 yrs now.
A fan club! How deserving! And what fun!
More fog here this morning. Rain yesterday. Predicting cooler with rain snow mix Monday when I travel north to Denison, IA for retreat. It’s at Wise Monkey Quilting if anyone wants to look it up. I am in full mode retreat prep. I am cooking some sweets today for it, like banana bread.
Machines and technology can really ruin my day too! I feel your pain with the longarm, and the most frustrating thing is why? I can handle a problem if there is something that caused it but to just quit for no apparent reason is just beyond annoying. I had 2 quilt tops made that I planned as Christmas gifts and the longarm just refused to cooperate so after days of fighting with it I just went and bought gift cards instead. My hubs, who was a technician by trade, spent weeks tinkering with the machine and replacing this and that. Right now its working great so I am trying to do all the quilting I can before it messes up again. Hope your tech is able to find an easy fix and get you going again quickly.
I LOVE the fan club! We do all love you and opening your email is the best part of my day.
Slept in this morning and I never get to do that. Nothing to wake up for except more fog. My sewing room is a mess. Christmas takes its toll with projects, wrapping and hiding things. I may get to it later, but this morning I’m shopping for carpet for our family room. Bought furniture last week, the painter is coming for an estimate on Thursday, and I have been clearing out toys and clutter. Gave away the entertainment center yesterday as nobody wanted to pay for it. Monster of a piece – solid cherry, probably weighted over 250 lbs! But it only held a 32″ tv. Too small according to hubby….
Glad you and JB are feeling better. Hope your machine is fixed soon, but in the meantime – fondle that fabric!
Hello Pat, Jamie and Jan! I love the story about your meeting. Jamie, I sent a card. The mail is slower this time of year so hopefully you get it soon.
It came today!
It has been rainy and foggy here for several days. Good sewing and reading weather. JB is looking good. That was so kind of your readers to visit Jamie. I sent a card but it hasn’t arrived yet. My friend mailed me a Christmas card on the 20th. I received it yesterday and we are less than 20 miles apart.
Today I got one from Donna T. Is that you?
I’m in Kansas City. Not sure how I signed it.☺️
I know the feeling of being excited to get things accomplished and, technology doesn’t cooperate. Hopefully your longarm is an easy fix and you can finish that gorgeous pink quilt. I usually gravitate towards dark quilts but, that pink combination is just so pretty.
Rain here too. Hopefully it dries up some before the driveway turns into a skating rink.
How wonderful to see Jamie with her new found club members. Such kindness on the part of her new friends.
Connie r – I want to make another one color log cabin quilt – I loved all those shades of pink in one quilt, too.
Looking forward to a picture of the full pink quilt when you get it quilted. Keeping my fingers crossed that the longarm is up and running soon. Never thought of a one color log cabin quilt.
Raining here in Michigan too. No idea how much as we’ve put away our rain gauges too. I hope you get the long arm machine working again. Nothing worse than machines not working…so frustrating! I LOVED the “We Love Mary Club” meeting!! 🙂 If you Michigan girls ever get together…let me know! We could be chapter 2 of the club.
Seeing those three sharing Mary love is the best beginning to my day. How wonderful to have a friendship bonded with so much to talk about that Mary does and brings to our lives.
Back to golf carts Mary, the one thing you did turn on and it works. We stopped at a Lowe’s store yesterday and three nice ones were out front marked down but were too tall with their roofs to fit in our new shed at camp. Tires are huge but I imagine for riding rough terrain they’d be good. It was fun looking at them and lifting the seat to look at the large lithium battery in it. Like you we are used to the gas ones. Warm weekend here so mud is coming in on the paws.
Kathy – you are so right! My old girl did start even though she lives outside all year – I forgot to be grateful! Now if I could just walk out to the shop and the longarm would start – like magic.
Southern Minnesota is getting rain and fog as well. We sure need the moisture but it sure is gloomy out there.
Mary, I sure like it when you put the date in the heading of your blog. Very often, I save the blogs so I can go back and check on something I find interesting and with the date I can easily tell if it’s new or something I saved.
Christmas was great but I am slowly putting things away. One of my many projects is to downsize ornaments and get rid of things I don’t use. I’m hoping to get my sewing machine out and finish some things.
Anyone interested in a good book “The Children’s Blizzard” by Melanie Benjamin is good. It’s about the blizzard of 1888 in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota etc. with a tremendous loss of life. Not a happy story but a page turner.
That is a good book. I read it many years ago but still remember it.
Enjoyed seeing Pat, Jamie, and Jan in AZ. Glad they could get together.
Best wishes to everyone for a safe and healthy new Year!
We are getting much needed rain as well. Our water table is low so we need it.
Poor JB. He looks so sad. Glad he will get his stitches out soon and can go on with life.
I couldn’t sleep this morning so got up and put cabbage rolls in the oven. I had the leaves all ready yesterday but ran out of steam. Seems like I do that a lot. So I have decided things will wait no need to stress about things
The new year will be here soon and I wish everyone a very happy New Year
Angie – that’s what you did when you couldn’t sleep? Haha! I’d be sewing but you’ll eat better than us. Sounds delicious.
Angie, one of the hardest things for me when I retired was realizing I didn’t need to get everything done in the two days I had off each week. Took me years! Unfortunately I may have taken that to the other extreme! Haha
I like the idea of digital download Mary for the patterns. Or just don’t offer patterns anymore. Even though we all appreciate it, during this season of life we get to choose what we do. So only do what you love. You have my permission to “let it go”. Sometimes it can be a little sad letting things go, but it can also be freeing. Much love and blessings for you!!
Linda – you obviously haven’t been around the blog long enough to remember all the trouble I had with digital patterns – there’s a reason I no longer have a website and store.
Mary – JB is looking good, albeit a little tired.
So glad the fan club got together. What a fun thing to do.
My nephew went home from the hospital today on high dosage of antibiotics and medications for other issues. He’ll be on oxygen and insulin the rest of his life. I’m just so glad he’s discharged and home with his loving caregiver (girlfriend).
I’ll be turning a year older in a few days. I was born 24 hours short of being a New Years baby. I can hardly believe I’ll be 76. I’m getting my hair done on Monday and spending the rest of the day with my younger sister. We may squeeze in lunch and thrift store excursion. We may get an opportunity to see our niece (brother’s daughter) who will be in town to see her grand babies before the new year!
Take care everyone.
Happy upcoming birthday Sharon! My husband just turned 76 Friday
Hi Mary, hope you can get the longer working again and sort out the copier,machinery is not mything ,. So happy Jamie has found some friends! It makes a big difference if you have people to talk to and share interests and fun. Today l quilted a lap quilt for charity and did a little bit of tidying up,then enjoyed the sunshine, a beautiful day at last!Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – I love to hear you tell us about your weather knowing your seasons are opposite of ours. I’m sure cold weather will find us in the new year.
Mary, so glad I could return the favor…the 3 of us agreed that your blog about nothing is always the best part of our day.
I’ve received 7 cards already! Big thanks to Lynn in Scottsdale, Diane, Squeaky and Buddy in Ohio , Joy in Iowa, Pat in Florida, Helen in Texas, Sheryl in Texas and Susan in Alabama. Every card contained an uplifting note. Joy, I was a card maker for 25 years so your handmade card was extra special to me. Diane, I’m obsessed with dogs (well, really all animals) so I’m really enjoying all the dogs on your card.
I truly love the family I found here.
One last thing, I was one of the winners in the door decorating contest at my facility! I feel the stocking from my new friend on Next Door sealed the deal. Winners will be treated to lunch at a restaurant in January. It will be so nice to get out of here for a few hours!
Isn’t that wonderful Jamie!! How nice you get to enjoy a meal out as well as you “recycled” a stocking that someone was getting rid of. Did you happen to let the person know whom you got it from as I recall she mentioned when she delivered it to you that if you needed anything, to let her know. She sounded like a kind person just like Jan and Pat are by coming to visit.
Jamie, glad you received my card and enjoyed it.
I would be interested in joining the AZ fan club, but I am not comfortable driving too far. Maybe if you meet on a Saturday or Sunday, my husband could come along.
Mary, thanks for the blog. Making a Rug from Rags would be a nice break from your high tech quilts.
Lynn, it would be so fun if all of us could get together sometime. I’m in@
1) does your longarm have a special “parking/resting” setting that you might have placed it in when you were leaving for hospital??? (well, I just showed my ignorance for all to see)
2) might this be a good time to peruse Amazon, Staples,Best Buy for a great copier bargain ?? Those end of the year sales seem to be popping up all over the internet right now…
3) the end of Bossy Brenda’s message.
Perhaps patterns could digital downloads rather than than paper with the help of your tech.
Brenda – haha! Bossy Brenda! Love it! My problem is that I really need a commercial grade copier that makes 11×17” copies and not many do. I bought the only one Staples has and it just crumpled up the paper – how would you like to receive a pattern like that? I wouldn’t even like to send it out. Remember what Charlie Brown says – there are no dumb questions.