Rainy day here in North Iowa. Good day for straightening up my closet and sewing room.
Sheila Valle – I have patterns here for you – please contact me.
I printed out a photo tonight of Mortie and she was fascinated with the clicking of the printer.
I am the only one who can post photos on the blog but all explanations should be written as a comment. I can’t copy and paste.
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Patterns available
Each pattern is $5 and each pattern requires its own SASE, business size envelope only. If you send anything different than this, I’ll keep your money and send you nothing. Cash or check only.
9:20 pm – I’ve got at least 2.5 hours to sew – goodnight!
Really enjoy the recent photos, and first quilt stories. My first quilt was about 24 x 36 inches for our small black farm dog, Bullet. It was all scrappy blue calicos (about 1967!) with an old men’s shirt for backing, and a piece of flannel in the middle. Blue bias tape for binding, tied it about every 6 in. with crochet thread Mom had on hand. Finally got rid of it a couple years ago, as it would just be a rag to anyone else, so no photo to share.
Will send an order for the Oh, nuts! pattern to be a fall wall hanging to make hubby laugh. He has a vendetta against squirrels for stealing the blue jays peanuts!
Take care, Mary. Always fun to get the farm and animal news.
The first quilt I remember putting together was basic squares of any fabric we had in the house. Probably mostly polyester! And I hated it. I don’t remember finishing it either. It reminded me of something the Beverly Hillbillies would have thrown over Grannies rocker in the back of the truck. LOL! Jasper our new pup (that we’ve only had 2 weeks) runs to pull the paper out of the shredder when he hears it. Too funny! Have a good day all!
Teresa – sounds like Jasper is feeling pretty comfortable in his new home! Beverly Hillbillies! Hahaha!!! Oh, we loved that show!
Teresa in Indiana and All Dog Parents,
I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer but a word of caution. I have heard terrible stories of dogs accidentally having their tongues injured from the shredder blades.
Jeanie – oh, I didn’t even think of that! How horrible!!?
Yes, it is a horrible thought. I told my elderly dad, and the thought of his precious Jack being hurt like that was terrifying. He immediately put his shredder in the den up high on a file cabinet.
Funny that cats come running to see what’s happening at the printer … and dogs come running to the sound of the can opener being used! That’s my laugh for the day! Although I had made a few smaller quilted pieces (in a class, where we learned several techniques), the first bed-size quilt I ever made was for my daughter’s dorm room, when she went to university. Knowing nothing about making a quilt, I bought a pattern and fabric we both liked, then basically followed the directions. Making the top went fine, but quilting it on my sewing machine was another thing! I didn’t know about using a walking foot (nor did I have one), so I just plugged along, and when the stitches got smaller and closer, I just gave it a yank from behind the presser foot, and carried on … can you imagine?! In the end it turned out OK (at least I thought so at the time), it went off to university, and I don’t think I ever saw it again, lol! After that, I really ‘got the bug’, took a few classes, and learned a lot about quilting from books and magazines. 30-some years later, I’m still at it … and my quilting is alot better (and more fun)!
Oh, and I forgot to say, that was before I thought to take pictures of my quilts, which I always do now.
Thinking back, my first quilt was a simple 4-strip square set alternately with a white knit rather like a lightweight fleece. The white was all I could afford as a newlywed, and the strips were cut-aways from clothing construction. How was I so brave as to wear lime green, orange, bright pink, and golden yellow? But that “Jewel Box” quilt sure did brighten up the wood-paneled bedroom! I used a polyester bat in that double bedspread-size monstrosity, tied it with orange yarn, and it lived a long life before the white squares lost their fuzz and disintegrated completely.
I learned my lesson and my next project was a very trendy pink, blue, and brown (all tiny florals) Irish Chain that still covers the spare bed downstairs. 45+ years later and I still like it! Another testament to using quality fabric!
56*, cloudy and blustery. A good day for sewing! Kris in WI
What is it with printers? Bette comes running to watch the printer too – doesn’t watch the paper come out, she watches the side of the printer where she can hear the clicking and other noises because there is something in there she needs to catch! I’m glad Bette isn’t the only cat fascinated with printers.
Mortie is just adorable, my very favorite orange kitty. My sister Nancy says she looks just like the little Augie she did her best to save, but his poor short life was set to be short when she found him, the vet finally said s he had done everything possible before he was put to sleep. I think that will haunt her forever. I don’t know what is worse, losing a little kitten or losing a kitty you have loved for years.
I sent my get well card and latest birthday card off yesterday. In my note to everyone, I now include “if you read Mary’s cheery blog – I am Minnie’s mom!” Who can forget my little 12 ounce stray baby that is now over two pounds and runs like greased lightning!
Blessings to evereyone. It’s a beautiful but very chilly day in Saginaw Michigan.
Linda – I’m glad you identify yourself as Minnie’s mom like Ha
Linda – oops, a cat jumped up on my lap, I was saying – like Hankster’s mom! I’m missing Hankster because it’s been so rainy. I am so happy that Minnie is doing so well but I have one of those sad stories like Nancy.
My cat Ellie is also fascinated by the printer. As soon as she hears the sound of printer, she runs over to wait for the paper to come out.
Cards are in the Mail! I ‘think’ it’s suppose to be sunny today. The rain has given the farmers a rest from their heavy labors! Some probably catching up on maintenance. Jay is washing my car, his pickup, and loader tractor. The boys will come on Saturday to do major blow out all the dust and wash everything. Then it’s out away for the winter. It is crazy but it has not froze here yet. My geraniums are still beautiful aftr the rain!
Joy – my geraniums are still outside, too. Kind of unbelievable but I’m loving it.
Mortie is sure cute. We had a cat that loved to watch the printer pages come out. She would come from anywhere in the house when she heard that printer start. Got lots of plants from a friend yesterday – redbud trees, hostas, ferns, daylilies and lenten rose. Hoping to plant all of them today, but I might have got a few too many for a one day project.
Thinking back, my 1st quilt was a baby quilt I made while I was pregnant with my daughter Laurie and she is now 38. I started sewing when I was around 8 or 9 and was taught by my mother who remained my sewing partner until she passed away. I recently found it packed away and will now pass it down to her son, Wilder. I was kinda surprised how well it held up and can totally agree with Mary that using good quality fabric really does matter. Speaking about Laurie, she was recently interviewed by a local Newspaper in Asheville, NC about the situation there 1 year ago after the Hurricane . Our quilt giveaway sponsored by this Blog and and my Church, was part of the memory Earthfare ( the store where the event was held) presented to the reporter. Their main store in downtown Asheville still has 4 of those quilts hanging up in the eating area by the fireplace in memory of the quilt giveaway event provided by people who wanted to help. Thank you again everyone who donated to our cause, and know that people are still talking about your generosity.
Barbara – well, if that didn’t start my day out great – to know that 4 of those quilts still hang in the store! It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since that terrible event and I’m quite sure they’re still rebuilding and recovering. Would you take a picture of those four quilts sometime?
Mary, Next time I’m in the store I’ll get those pictures for you of the quilts on the wall. Downtown Asheville is still in shambles in many parts of the area.
Barbara – that’s very sad – do you think they’ll ever get it rebuilt and back to where it was?
Mary, No, I really don’t think so. So many families left the area and many are left with next to nothing. The governor is doing nothing to help. Trees are still lying everywhere and JUST off the roadways.
Good evening Mary and fellow bloggers! I have resent every block for this log cabin table cloth. I have gained some valuable insight on the versatility of a log cabin quilt, it is like a chameleon in that you can easily move the blocks around and its appearance will totally change. I have every block sized to 15” and will sew it together tomorrow, and Friday it will go to the quilters to hand quilt this labor of love. Now I will look at what’s next in my sewing world, and am going to do a deep clean and reorganization once again in my little sewing space in the basement. I almost gave up on this project more than once, but no longer shall I do any saving or reseeding anyone’s old quilt, sentimental stuff or no. No. Hopefully tomorrow the weather here will not be so dreary. I have flower gardens to cut down for winter also. Luckily I have gathered a lot of cosmos seeds for next year, and when it dries up I will collect marigold seeds as well. All my jade plants are adjusted to the indoors now as well. I still have new jade plants started too, that never ends of course. It is MEA vacation here in Minnesota and my Granddaughter and I will work on her Halloween costume and bake cookies too. Today my sister and I went curtain shopping, and ladder shopping. I think on Friday I will put up new curtain rods and put up her curtains, and we are still looking for a suitable curtain for her kitchen window. What’s out there is pretty sad. Makes me wish Shopko was still in business, for sure!
Arleen – no, if you sent a big envelope with stamps, you’ll be fine.
Glad to see Americana Pumpkin info. I was afraid I missed it. I ll drop envelope and check tomorrow. Is your printer loving cat a kitten? Cutest little furball