Saturday Miscellaneous, 8-22-2020

Here are the rest of the new patterns in the store:

Pincushion Stars

Constellation

Connie “fixed” her elephant block – here it is! There were a couple mistakes that you probably didn’t even notice.

Now I have a question for you – why is it so difficult to know where these patterns are? Didn’t you read the post about the Vote! pattern?

Do you see the donkey and the elephant?

These kind of questions make me want to tear my hair out!

Another issue is the remake of patterns. We would never make the new quilt the same colors as the original. The remake is a chance to try a different look or combination of fabrics. And no, we’re not going to rewrite the pattern every time we make the quilt again. Do you have any idea how much work that would be for Connie, Kayla and me? All for the sale of a few patterns? No way.

Read the blog posts carefully before you ask the question. I am always happy to answer your question if it hasn’t been addressed. MOST of you do read and are upset FOR me when you see a ridiculous question in the comments.

Enough of my whining – here are the newest Dirty Dozen quilts.

We got 2-1/4″ of rain early this morning and we needed it. I should have washed my car, washed my windows and thoroughly watered all my plants long before now if that’s what it took to get it to rain.

Here are the elderberries, so ripe and heavy the branches are breaking. I’d really like to try doing something with them but need an extra set of hands to help.

And Carla, your Tad, the dragon was the hit of the Dirty Dozen show yesterday – we all just loved him and know how much work he was. I hope you’ll send us a picture of your granddaughter with him when the time comes.

Okay, that’s it for me – the dryer bell just dinged and I need to mow lawn. My day is full.

Be still…..

52 thoughts on “Saturday Miscellaneous, 8-22-2020

  1. Kim J LeMere

    The dragon was truly adorable and I can imagine all the work that went into it. I also like the quilt that Mary from Missouri showed, what wonderful fabrics for that pattern. Enjoy the lawn mowing, I can smell the fresh mowed grass.

  2. laurie a

    Just my opinion, and I am probably going to get bashed. I think there are several reasons people keep asking about where to get patterns. They are too lazy to bother looking. They are so self-centered they don’t think they should have to look. Or perhaps just absolutely clueless. Even if they are NEW to the blog and didn’t see the earlier post it only takes a couple minutes to figure out where they can get the patterns.

  3. Mary

    Mary, any chance you can have a search button added to your blog so folk scould find info on older stuff without asking you?

  4. Judy Gnade

    Another idea on why readers may be missing the link. If I don’t click on the URL below Mary’s signoff, I don’t access the buttons at the top. I hope this helps. 🙂

    CountryThreads | August 22, 2020 at 1:31 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: https://wp.me/p2wLNg-4Kv

  5. Diane and Squeak

    I, too, am impressed with Tad and all the DD‘S. Question for Mary from Missouri. How do you add your name to your picture? It looks like maybe something you have done after you have taken the picture. Mary and Connie, I spent a fun hour plus looking at all of the books and patterns I have of yours. I wanted to be sure I didn’t order a pattern I already had. I now have about 10 more quilts to make:). Now I will order!!

    1. Mary in Missouri

      Diane and Squeak, to add any of text or markings on a photo, open the photo, then Edit, then click on the 3 dots at the upper right which drips a small menu. Select Markup, then click on the “+” sign at the right of that menus, click Text, and a small text box will appear in the photo. You can click in the Text box and type what you want, change the text size and color, and move it where you want it. When finished, click on Done in upper right and there it is. I can do this process on either my iPhone or iPad. Hope that helps. There may be an easier way, but this is what I figured out.

      1. Janice Brown

        Mary in Missouri, I was Thank you for explaining the steps. I was also wondering how to add a name to a photo.

      2. Jeanie S, Central IL

        Thank you so much for sharing the tutorial on writing on our photos. I am so excited to know how to do this! I really appreciate it.

  6. Sue in Oregon

    After going back and forth several times, I finally found the mistake. I may have never seen it if I hadn’t been promoted. My daughter always finds my mistakes no matter how small but Me?? It takes a much longer time to see them.
    I really envy those elderberries. I see some down low. They are best either juiced to make syrups and jellies, or dried in a food dryer to make syrups for colds and flus in winter. If you have a juicer or could borrow one, that would be a great help. There are lots of recipes online using elderberries. They are reported to be extremely good for our immune systems.
    Your newest patterns wonderful.
    Beautiful quilt, Mary in Missouri. So colorful and interesting.

  7. Jeanine Waal

    Mary in Missouri—Your quilt is gorgeous, and the beautiful green grass and trees make me envious. We are so dry here in southeast Iowa, and have big cracks in the ground. our lawns are mostly brown. What we wouldn’t give for 2″ or more of rain! Always enjoy all the pictures.

    1. Mary in Missouri

      Thank you! We are still so green here, hard to believe it is nearing the end of August. We have had fairly consistent rain this year but we have cracks in the ground too. Mowing continues and I have had a heck of a time getting all of the bush hogging done. Hang in there, September will likely bring your rain.

    1. Mary in Missouri

      Yes, mostly Kaffe Fassett and some Tula Pink with other fat quarters that I thought would fit in.

  8. Sandy

    Hi Mary,can you tell me why the donkey and elephant for political parties please? ( Or one of the girls) .I have a son,Andrew who helps me with technology, thank goodness.

    1. Jo in Wyoming

      Sandy, it’s a United States thing. You would have to live here to understand.
      Stay warm!!
      Cheers

  9. Marcia-Ohio

    I taught high school for 35 years. I can empathize with you. Computers have made it so much worse-instant gratification w/o work.

    Love seeing your patterns becoming available and the dirty dozen finishes.

    Enjoy reading your blog. We are getting much needed rain in SW Ohio this afternoon.

      1. Mary in Missouri

        I agree. Mary is never rude, just honest. The truly rude person has shown his/her true nature. IMO

    1. Janice Brown

      R – I was stunned by this type of comment. To me, it was a personal attack on Mary. If you have an issue with the content of her posts then please communicate it directly to Mary via her email address.

  10. Helen Jane (Tx)

    Hi…to Mary in Missouri, thanks for the tutorial to add text to the photo. I tried on my iPhone and it works! I like your quilt and color choices very much. Hi…to Mary @ Country Threads. I am attempting to make Elderberry syrup with a simple recipe from online. (my first try) soon as I find raw honey from my area. There will be lots of hackberry which are identified as “sugar berries” unlike the more bitter taste of elderberries. It is true about the benefits of elderberry. I did a leaf identification on-line to be positive about both. Thank- you Mary/Connie for your blog and ALL the efforts/time put in to bring us joy. All the quilts/crafts just wonderful talents…

  11. Marty

    My mom used to make elderberry pies and they were delicious! Use recipe similar to blueberry (with some lemon juice). This was in Kansas years ago. We had elderberries growing along roadsides.

  12. Jo in Wyoming

    I smiled through the blog till I got to the WOW quilt…love it.
    The green grass is quite “wow” too.
    I just can’t see any mistakes in Connie’s quilt.

    It’s hot here, triple digits in some places! Windy, smoky….hot!

  13. Julie Hutcherson

    Hi, Mary!

    Just thought I would tell you how the new shop worked for me. I’d checked the homepage a couple of times looking for Louise. Didn’t see the pattern. You and I were emailing b/F on that other thing, and I asked you about Louise. You said the pattern was in the shop. I looked again, in homepage. The same few list. Hmmm. Still looking, so I clicked “shop” and there were all the patterns, including Louise.

    They don’t show up in homepage, you have to look deeper. I thought it was just me, on a tablet, until you asked why is it so hard. It’s not hard, but it’s not exactly intuitive, either. 🙂 🙂 🙂

    NOT NOT NOT complaining, explaining why some may be having pattern finding issues.

    Julie

  14. Sherrill

    Oh MAN! If I was near, I’d help you do something with those elderberries!! I think it was last year I saw a recipe for like elderberry gummies (or similar). Would definitely be a very good thing to keep your immune system pumped up!! Always good for a cold.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Sherrill – I even found a recipe for the gummies but it just looks like too much work and mess!

  15. Carla

    Thanks to Mary and to everyone who left kind words. You all feel like neighbors! I’ll be sure to send along a picture of Tad with Madison!

    1. Linda Thompson

      Carla, I can imagine how much your granddaughter will squeal when she sees her dragon. A couple years ago at Christmas I made book pillows for the grands. The freshman granddaughter thinks dreams draws dragons. When she opened her gift, She held her breath, squeeled, rolled on the floor…I tried posting a photo to show you the pillow. I hope I can find the pattern on Etsy, I know what she gets for Christmas as a junoir. The others get Christmas quilts. Who will be the most thrilled.

  16. Marj in WI

    I used to pick Eldeberries along the road, but when I looked for them last year, someone had cleaned out the ditch on the backroad and they were all gone. A quilting friend left a message on my phone yesterday telling me to come to her farm, I am welcome to pick her Eldeberries. So tomorrow I’ll visit her and get enough to make a batch of jelly.

    Going to order the vote pattern and try to get it done before November. I can’t wait for November to be done, I work 13 hours at the polls.

      1. Linda Thompson

        I think we could lighten the colors in the background of the donkeys, and make the elephant less prominent with more subdued colors. Donna, you are so wonderful. Linda

  17. Roxanne

    These comments were fun. I felt like I was sitting with my quilt group friends from decades ago. Bless you all.
    Mary, Pincushion Stars is a pattern I’ve loved since I saw it.
    If this Covid mess ever clears up and we move to Nebraska, like we want to, I’ll come up and pick elderberries with you. I’ve never had them but berry picking makes any day a good day. ❤️

  18. Susan K in Texas

    I bought the goats and the vote pattern the other day. Hopefully I’ll have time to pull fabrics in a week or so. I have a commission quilt to make.
    As for people not reading and asking questions that have already been answered. It’s just easier to ask than to read. And it is rude to Mary who spends a lot of time trying to answer and keep us informed.

  19. Kathy in western NY

    Keep doing the wonderful job Mary on your blog. Your devotion is to be commended and I truly feel our quilting community here is generally very supportive in so many ways. I will never understand entitlement in all forms and can figure out myself how to do things most of my days If I truly cared to push onward. Each election year my husband and I for all these years have cancelled each other’s votes out until now…..he’s had enough and is disgusted. Bless the poll workers, postal workers, teachers, California firefighters trying to save their areas, it just goes on and on but Mary, your quilt shows are the bright spots in our days and bless you for giving them to us.

  20. Betty Klosterman

    Mary, I just did a couple trial runs at your posts. First, if I click on the little red “X” in the box, I can see nothing–no pictures– except what you have commented. Second, if I go down to the bottom of your comments and click on “See Comments,” I can see everything including your pictures to the top right of my screen along with your address, all the pictures and all the readers’ comments, and the tabs to go to the shopping, etc. at the top of the screen……. I get your blog on my computer screen which is large, not like looking at the screen on a small cell phone. Maybe this is why people aren’t finding the address. After all the trials and tribulations of getting the blog going, you are entitled to say it like you do. People don’t always see all the different parts of your posting and just ask questions. It is human, for me, too.
    In the meantime, it is still very hot and dry out here. There are red warnings all over, but at least we aren’t California and the other states with so many fires. Finally supposed to cool off about Thursday, maybe. Luckily our humidity is very low.
    In the meantime, patience, everybody. It is hard, but we will make it thru this, someday. I find that I’m at a bit of loose ends finding it hard to concentrate and do stuff I need to do….

  21. Sandy

    Thank you to Linda from Estherville for finding the Google site for me, re donkey and elephant.im not great on the internet, but enjoy Mary’s blog ,,a break from dealing with my husband and his dementia.enjoy your day everyone,best wishes from sandy

  22. Joy

    My mom would always make elderberry jam from the elderberry bush that was in the fence line. She would gift some to my brother for his birthday which is near the time of elderberry season. It was his favorite! I loved it too!!

  23. Mrs. Goodneedle

    Those elderberries, WOW! I lam infatuated with the VOTE quilt and plan to order the pattern today, I have no questions about it. Ha!!

    The DDs are all great, as usual. The Pincushion Stars and Constellation small quilts are so sweet and homey; I love them.

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