My big News is that I moved Mama Kitty into the quilt shop so Barney couldn’t chase her and pound her when he felt like it. She has never been a housecat so I figured she’d be terrified but here she is a couple hours later:
Heat, soft floors, quilts, food served on the top shelf, tv to keep her company and……ME!
Here’s my progress – can’t wait to sew this much together.
Thank you, Sara, for the info and hints about the Basket Pincushion. Here’s the link directly to the instructions:
https://sewingtimes.net/diy-basket-pin-cushion/
I’ll send it to my quilt guild’s Boutique Committee.
Mary, I think Three got his name because he’s the third orange and white cat you adopted. You already had JB, and JB II, so he became JB Three. But I don’t remember what JB stood for! Maybe Mary Says Sew can do some research.
Love the cat story and photos. And the quilts are outstanding. I like what you are working on Mary.
I just got home from retreat. Decided not to stay the extra day. 5 of the 7 went home today. I can’t wait to get into my sewing room the next few days and after I get everything back downstairs to the sewing room. I did do a baby quilt while at retreat and now it needs quilting.
Fran – I am jealous of what you get done at a retreat!
Mary I love that calendar quilt you are making! I know paper piecing takes a while but the end result is so perfect!
We had our grandson and his wife and new baby over for supper last evening, the baby is 6 weeks old and is smiling. I needed to see that little girl! She is so cute and I got her to smile and her eyes even smiled! So fun! Her daddy is so proud!
We could use some sunshine!
Is everyone having a big get together for thanksgiving? With the two grandkids married, they have to go to the other side so it’ll be who ever comes. Our Michigan kids aren’t coming. They came four time in the past year to come for wedding and showers. Sure was fun seeing them that often!
Love all the kitty pictures.
Great photos! And I am intrigued by the basket pincushion – thanks to Sara for sharing the info.
I need sewing time – I’m getting some cross-stitching in at night while watching “American Revolution” on PBS after I get home from rehearsals. Our local Lions Club has a music and comedy show each November as a fundraiser and I decided to go back to the chorus this year. Hoping for sewing time after Thanksgiving!!!
I now have a cat living here – he had adopted my neighbor and needed a home after my neighbor passed away. I wasn’t going to get any more cats…. and now I’m back to taking care of one. He is outside for the most part, but is willing to nestle into my lap when I’m stitching. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s scheduled to lose some parts next week and have a check up….
Gail – you have a kind heart, my dear! What would have happened to this guy if you hadn’t taken him in? Yes, I wasn’t getting any more young cats either but then Mortie arrived. I’d love to hear your chorus – sewing will always be there after the show.
Sara, thank you for the info on the pin cushion, plus your extra tips. 🙂
Barbara, I am on the same wave length regarding pulling back from quick charity quilts. My goal this year and into the next is to address the start/completion of projects I’ve wanted to do, but, put on the back burner. I’ll still do the charity projects, although at a lower volume level of donation.
Mary, the neutrals quilt will be wonderful when It’s done. I always enjoy seeing your progress. It looks like Mama Kitty will adjust to her new environment very well.
Jan
Jan, we can’t think charity quilts without remembering all Patti in FL did, can we? How I miss her nightly reports of all she was sewing away for her Angel group.
Kathy, I think often of Patti and I’m so glad that I saved some of her pictures so I could recreate her quilts and donate them myself. What a treasure she was!
Google and AI to the rescue!
I Googled “Country Threads Chicken Scratch, Mama Kitty, five kittens” and found Mama Kitty posts in 2017. So I added “2017” to the search, and got this in AI,
“In 2017, the blog
Country Threads Chicken Scratch documented the experiences of Mary Etherington with a feral cat named “Mama Kitty” and her five kittens.
Arrival and Care: Mama Kitty was a feral cat who adopted the farm. In April 2017, Mary was trying to get the kittens used to her smell by letting them sleep on her chore glove, though she could not yet hold them.”
I often use Google to find something Mary E. has written about. “Country Threads Chicken Scratch, XYZ-something”, and it usually shows up in the first few results.
Mary – oh, for cryin out loud!!! I’ve never even thought about doing this but I’m so grateful you told me. Now I’m thinking the other two kittens are Connie’s cats?? I had the remaining three fixed and vaccinations and they all disappeared one at a time. So sad.
Yes, Connie adopted two of Mama Kitty’s kittens. Both girls, if i remember correctly. Maybe one of them is named Dot?
Of course I could always Google it…. ;’}
I remember you got the three kittens who stayed with you their Ultimate Extreme Makeovers, and i was sad too when each one disappeared.
Love your quilt Mary. So happy that Mama Kitty is happy in the quilt shop. I love Sara’s pin cushion and plan to check out the web site as soon as I post this. Thank you for sharing Sara.
Happy kitty! Love your quilt and anxious to see it finished. Thank you , Sara, for the link to the basket pin cushion. I decided it was time to decorate for Christmas because red and green and twinkling lights make me happy. Mary, I know you are happy to celebrate one year post cancer surgery. I saw our Dr. Robinson in September and we celebrated five plus years. My husband had a pacemaker installed two weeks ago so I have been doing lots of sewing while politely nagging him to stop using his left arm.
Donna – how could you possibly remember this date??? I will be seeing Dr. Robinson next January, I think. What a nice man.
So glad momma Kitty is happy inside. Sad that Barney wants to chase & pick on her. I hope she continues to enjoy her new home. It has to be really hard to keep all the animals happy & getting along. Mary, I love the quilt you’re working on. It will be spectacular when you’re finished! We had lots of rain here yesterday, almost 2″ which is strange weather for November in SW Ohio! We certainly needed the rain as it’s been so dry. Very nice quilt show yesterday.
Alice – forgot your little sweetie pie in the post – warm towels! Smart guy
I remember when Mama Kitty came to live with the best darn barn. Her cute little head peeking in the rafters.
Sun is shining here so will have some good light to sew in this morning. It’s cold and I am content to be inside although I need to shop for a new calendar to carry in my purse. I like a certain size so have to go to Barnes and Nobles soon.
Kathy – ok, tell me. When did she come here? I do not remember and neither can Rick. Once again she is the result of the cat distribution system – haha! She is so happy now – she would just wait for me in the barn, grab my foot when I went to leave and I couldn’t stand it. The other cats don’t know she’s in the shop yet – I hope that goes ok. I’ll be emailing you
I love your new quilt Mary! As much of a pain paper peacing can be sometimes I’ve found it’s the most accurate. Especially for small stuff. It’s just hard to wrap my brain around it to start. Mama kitty will wonder why she didn’t start the house at life earlier. Loved the quilt show!
Mama Kitty won the lottery. Barney’s in the barn and look where she ended up. Love seeing everyone’s quilts and projects.
The orange pincushion is called Basket Pincushion, and I found the free pattern at sewing times.net. If I had it to do over, I would topstitch the seams of the side panels to keep them flat while stuffing. Also, all side panel seams need to be secured at each end so they don’t come out during the stuffing step. Otherwise, it was a quick project and I’m glad I made it.
Thank you for sharing the information and tips for making the Basket Pincushion. What a great idea to keep the clips organized and in one place.
Mama cat is sweet, she reminds me of my mammy cat who was a short haired tuxedo. I had found Mammy in the ditch in front of our house with two tiny kittens (this was years ago). Husband said I couldn’t keep them so the babies, when old enough, went to my secretary and I called her Mammy because if I gave her a name she would be permanent. And she was for close to 18 years but she was always Mammy, a sweet little girl who loved everyone. Give mama cat hugs from me.
Your quilt is going to be stunning. I love paper piecing and now it has rubbed off on sister Nancy. She thought she couldn’t master it but something clicked and now she loves it. To me it has always been cheating because things turn out perfect with sewing on the foundation pattern. Yours is perfect! Can’t wait to see the finish.
Blessings all, and stay warm! There is a skim of ice on the pond this morning and I had to put the water heater in the donkeys water this week so winter is here.
Linda – Mammy! I’m the same way – when they get a name, they’re mine. Remember when Three arrived and I was going to have him euthanized becuse I just couldn’t handle more cats? Readers were appalled! So he was here without a name which got shortened to Three. And again – where did he come from? His front leg is deformed – maybe that’s why someone dropped him off here?
Linda – forgot to ask about Minnie – is she getting any bigger?
Sara I would be very interested in your clip/ pin cushion bowls. Do you make them for sale and or do you sell the pattern? Where can they be gotten?
Mary the quilt you are currently working on would be a huge challenge for me with all the points. I have a problem with getting points like this aligned correctly so, I tend to stay away from patterns like it. I can hardly wait to see your finished awesome quilt!
Oh Mary how I love your quilt that your making. Your colors are perfect. You have lots of work ahead of you to keep busy with. Keep us posted as you work along.
Francine – yes, I will! I was tired of fast and easy and needed something to keep me interested – I think I’m going to love it!
Mary, I do understand being tired of fast and easy. I have sewed and longarmed so many quilts for donation this year and they have all been squares, strips, panels, etc. I’ve already warned the organizer of our group that I’m planning to take a step back after the first of the year so that I can make some of the projects I’ve been wanting to do, things that interest me more.
Barbara – yes, I’m tired of fast and easy because I don’t need more quilts. I just have to have something to work on in the evenings so when this is done I’ll look for another hard one. This has taken every ounce of skill I have – sometimes it’s good to be challenged. Tell me what some of your own projects are – those that are waiting in the wings.
I have had the Dear Jane book for years and I want to try my hand at that. Also, a Blackbird Designs applique quilt called Garden Club.
Both of these will stretch my skills and make me learn and that’s what I need. Of course, I will continue to donate children’s quilts, just not as many as before.