SURPRISE! 4-2-2020

We’ve got a great new project for you – paper pieced coffee cups which are so much easier than the houses. Here’s a little quilt and 3 pincushions that Connie made. Aren’t they just the cutest?

(I simply don’t believe what has happened to my blog format!!! They changed it!!! Bear with me – I’m not sure how this program works! I simply hate that they do this to me!)

Here’s a bit of history regarding the coffee cups. This little quilt was my very first attempt at paper piecing – at least 30 years ago. Just to make this story even funnier, we discovered I left the paper inside!!!!

Connie has improved on this little quilt – so much better!

We are offering two pages of coffee cup blocks and some very simple instructions for $5.00 and a SASE.

Also —- remember our project Hidden In Plain Sight from Beyond the Battlefield? I finally finished it and it’s on my table. How many of you started it? How many of you finished it? How many of you don’t have the book and would like to make it?

We are going to offer our last supply of Beyond the Battlefield, Retail $25.99 for $15.00 plus postage of $7.85. That darned old postage! So if you don’t have this book, you can get a copy mailed to your home for $22.85 and please include an address label for us to use. We cannot accept PayPal or credit card. Your payment must be cash or check only.

The 3 new Itty Bitty quilts are still available for $3.00 each.

Two pages of paper pieced houses are available for $5.00

We gotta keep you guys busy! This is our time to spend sewing and staying at home with our families. Soon we can plant our gardens and mow lawns – none of us know how long this is going to last so Connie and I feel the need to entertain you – haha!!!

Don’t ever forget our two words to live by – BE STILL.

36 thoughts on “SURPRISE! 4-2-2020

  1. Kathy Hanson

    I did start the Beyond the Battlefield project. Just noticed it yesterday so will have to work on that next. Made more masks today but need to do something else tonight!

  2. Judy

    Thanks. You always brighten the day especially when the sun is not shining. Warm enough to work outside today without a coat. The Indiana governor announced today that school closings have been extended to the end of the school year. I got info today that my 50th class reunion has been postponed until May 2021.

  3. Joann Baxter

    Yes, I finished Hidden in Plain Site just 2 weeks ago. Told myself I couldn’t start another project until I finished that one.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Joann Baxter – good for you! I was glad to finish as well.

  4. Carolyn Rector

    The coffee cup project looks so cute.☺ Love all that you do.
    Be still and know that I am God says the Lord. Psalm 46: 10 a good Psalm for these times. Thank you for the reminder.

    1. Rosalie

      Scroll down below the comments and it is just below the picture of Mary and Connie

  5. Martha Engstler

    My Iowa mother always used to say “This too shall pass”. It always did but not always fast. Your blog does brighten the day and is something to look forward to. Thank you.

  6. Jill Finch

    Thanks to those of you who sent birthday Greetings to Jean for her 100th birthday! She had a special day and got lots of cards! Thanks for celebrating with her!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jill Finch – thanks for that report! Probably more cards coming!

  7. Holly in Two Harbors

    I love the coffee cups! Ditto the adorable little houses! I’ll have to dig out my book for those–I know I have it.

  8. Joyce from NY

    You are keeping us busy, cute patterns. Can I make one check out for book & coffee cup pattern. Thank you.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Joyce from NY – yes, you can – just add it all up for one check

  9. Tammy Guerrero

    Can you tell me, is paper piecing for a beginner quilter to try. Have never done paper piecing. Love your coffee mugs. Thank you.

    1. Betty Klosterman

      Just enlarge the coffee mug pattern about 400% and start with it. My suggestion is start with pieces about 1″ larger than the part you are doing. I’m sure there are instructions on the Internet for paper piecing. Note: this is NOT English paper piecing.
      Mary, it is supposed to be 60 here on Sunday!! Betty

  10. Sharon in Oswego, Il

    Those wee coffee cups are adorable! You two are great entertainers! Connie did a great job. You two stay safe and well, too.

  11. Heather k

    I am sorry if I missed it – how big are the coffee up blocks and house blocks ?

  12. Dee in Illinois.

    I also left the paper. In 4 Halloween small hanging s for gifts. I felt so bad. I am not the only one. Never made any more 😔 with paper. I am having big problems with my phone. I have to charge it in my car. Had problems months ago. I procrastinate. It is over 6 years old. Can’t replace now. I will use my PC. Still have to go to basement. Can’t do stairs yet. Keep safe.

  13. Wendy T.

    I am loving the little coffee cups. So adorable. Thanks to you and Connie for all you do to keep us all entertained and part of your lives. You guys are the best and it is so appreciated. Now more than ever.

  14. Mrs. Goodneedle

    Such pretty minis to contemplate. I just adore that tiny paper-pieced mug with the strawberry on it. 😊 Thanks for a happy, colorful and cheer-filled post today!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Mrs. Goodneedle – do you recognize that strawberry fabric? You might not be old enough to remember Debbie Mumm’s First fabric line – that’s where the strawberry came from!!

      1. Mrs. Goodneedle

        Not old enough!?! Ha! I remember it fondly, was a huge DM fan and bought all her fabrics when they came out. I still have some in my stash, must have used all of that piece up though!

  15. Deb Renken - SW Minnesota

    I wish I had extra sewing time while being home. I am able to work from home. I manage packaging for the food industry and our company is going crazy trying to meet the increased demands of our food customers. In fact, I have been working additional hours for the last 2 weeks just to keep those cartons shipping so those grocery store shelves and freezers can be restocked. I definitely spend my evenings and weekends in my sewing room since we can’t go anywhere though. So I am getting a lot done.

    1. Ruth

      Thank You so much for all your hard work!! I am so glad there are people like you working behind the scenes to keep foods and necessary products moving! I’ve told my husband before, We should invest in Cardboard, we see so much of it!

    2. Mary Says Sew!

      Deb,

      I also want to thank you for the extra work you are doing right now to meet the need for our food needs, and for what you do normally. You’re in a line of work that mostly goes unnoticed by the majority of us.

  16. Brenda in SC

    Mary,
    Thanks, I received the house paper pieced pattern a few days ago. Now to learn how to do paper piecing. My plan is to do it all in Christmas prints and add more borders and do it in a small quilt (I hope), as well as adding in some pieced trees. Boy, I have my work cut out for me…LOL…Will let you know how it goes and send pictures along the way, if I can figure it out. They say freezer paper is the way to go.
    The coffee cups are adorable. Just may have to add that one as well to my new collection of paper pieced obsession (Thanks Connie)..like I need something new to start!!! HAHAHA
    Y’all stay safe and remember to stay still. Sending hugs from South Carolina.

  17. mary jane

    I made a handmade sign and put it on my fridge…BE STILL, BE CALM… I treasure the thought. Everyday we hear more and more higher numbers, both in new virus cases and the worse, the deaths. I just find this unbelievable. Every morning, about 10 MN/WI time, I listen to the Gov Cuomo briefing. The Gov of NY. I find him truthful, informative AND calming, if that is possible…I hate living in fear.. I am in my 3rd week of staying at home. Gone to the Market twice … I have gotten so much done since I have been home. My taxes for one thing, notes and calls to friends and family. Been a good time to “get caught up”. Also got my dirty dozen projects finished, now just need to get to the quilter when they are back in the shop…This blog is so important, I think for all of us. Just keeping in touch, even if we are all strangers. I thank you all and please be safe and WASH THOSE HANDS !!!!!!!! mj from WI

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Mary Jane – I feel the need to connect with you blog readers – I look forward to hearing from you as much as you say you like hearing from me!

  18. Gail Celeste -- Illinois

    Those coffee cups look familiar – like the ones in my Wear Warm Clothes quilt!!
    Staying inside is no problem for quilters — we are never bored and will never run out of fabrics – or wool!!
    68˚ here today, so I went outside for the first time in 16 days and picked up sticks. We have lots of trees so there’s always many sticks in the yard, especially after a big wind, which we had last week.
    Keep safe, stay home, be still, everyone!!!

  19. Jan

    I got an order off in the mail this morning for the coffee cups. I love it and want to give it a try.

    Blessings
    Jan Rhoades
    Texas

  20. Barbara Ramey (six bags in Seattle)

    Today none of the finished pictures came through but the cats did. Also I went back to the coffee cups pattern pictures from yesterday and they had disappeared but the other individual mini quilts were still there along with the little houses. What happened?

  21. Cathy

    Mary,
    I am agreeing with Barbara Ramey about the pictures not showing up….the coffee cups and the dirty dozen pictures. I tried my desk top computer and my chromebook and both were the same.
    Hope you are keeping warm today. The sunshine certainly helps.

  22. Carol Christensen

    Love all the small quilts and I love receiving your blogs. Haven’t heard from you in a few days.

  23. Carol Christensen

    Love all the small quilts and I love receiving your blogs. Haven’t heard from you in a few days.

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