To those of you who have requested patterns or asked to see quilts, you’re all on my list and today I started searching the quilts just in the quilt shop main room. I made a pile of Country Threads quilts, antique quilts and quilts from other sources.
The first one I found that I had searched for was Folksy Chickens from our book On Behalf Of Chickens. I didn’t think I would have agreed to sell it because I have always loved it.
Available for $5.00 and a SASE, cash or check only to Mary ETHERINGTON, 2345 Palm Ave, Garner, IA 50438
I will find the others requested tomorrow.
I mowed every inch of the lawn today, nearly finished all the trimming until I went through two rechargeable batteries, pulled many weeds and tomorrow I’m going to start cleaning my plants before they come inside. Did you know that just Dawn soapy water will get rid of any bugs? I’m going to buy a 1 gallon sprayer just for Dawn – seems too early to start bringing them in but I’m not sure how restricted I will be after surgery.
Reader photos
2013-2025, family heirloom quilt by Mary Phillips
Very nice quilt show today. Two more weeks and two days and we will be in our house. We’ve bought some apple trees because they were on sale 30% off and have bought 6 blueberry plants at 50% off. I’m going to buy a few plum trees. They are all being looked after by my son till we move. I’d rather not be buying them now but I know I won’t have time till October and by then they won’t be on sale or in stock. We are getting very excited.
You said that you wished your readers would read the comments. The comments are not available when I read blogs using an app called Feedly. When I go to the website, I’m inundated by multiple ads dancing around the screen blocking the content. Maybe others have the same experience.
Susan / yes, I think the gods are punishing me for saying that but I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong.
Mary, I was scrolling through the pictures tonight and when I saw “Folksy Chickens”, I thought the ‘girls’ looked so intent, dashing off to somewhere important. Then I noticed the red barns at the top of the quilt and figured they must be on an Iowa Shop Hop. Can’t you just hear them cackling and clucking over all the patterns and fabrics they found at Country Threads? Now I can’t get that idea out of my mind. I guess I’ll just have to buy the pattern!
The Heritage Hexie quilt is so charming; complete with the little posies tucked in between the larger blooms in the garden (rather like the mixed generations at a family reunion). Oh, so many stories can be told between the stitches.
Thanks, everyone, for the pix the last few days. Just what I needed. Sharon, I can sympathize with the calendar filled with appointments. I finally have a day off tomorrow…I think I’ll go sit in Cynthia’s garden and watch the bumble bees sample the cosmos as they bob in the breeze. Ahhh, peace; at least in my imagination! Kris in WI
Right now I’m in the get rid, excuse me, use up all the little bits of leftover material I have into whatever. Just use it! Julie, thanks for more inspiration with today’s three quilts. Instead of piles of various strip sizes and square sizes I’m seeing fun charity quilt tops. Mary, your little square with two prints is in my mind, also. Energy renewed! The family heirloom quilt is beautiful and so full of family history. Love it! Backing on the first quilt is such a perfect balance for the strong colors of the top.
Early this summer I heard about the usage of Dawn to discourage bugs rising from the soil. Last summer was gnat city in my house. (Very few potted plants survive the summer Arizona heat.) So, I gave it a try. The recommended ratio was 3 to 1: three water, one Dawn. I’m using a small squirt bottle and keep it by the plants, so I don’t forget to use it after I water. The other recommendation was to spray the soil after watering, not the plant itself., So far, it seems to work well using it on all my indoor plants. Give it a try.
Jan – I’ve been reading about all the uses for Dawn – especially with plants. I had Rick get me a one gallon sprayer that will be easier to use than a spray bottle to give my hands a rest. Tomorrow I’m going to start cleaning a few and leave them outside yet for awhile. Then I’ll clean again before I bring them in.
Jan,
Are you saying 3:1 ?? I could see 30:1, but Dawn goes so far when you squirt just a little in a bucket and fill it with water, so just checking on the ratio before I kill something. Thanks!
Mary, wow! You could have your own quilt museum!
The Blue Onion quilt is beautiful and the heirloom quilt with the hexies is amazing. Thanks for sharing them.
Today is the first day in over a week that I don’t have an appointment or plans to leave the house. Yay! Hope to do some machine quilting. But there are some chores to take care of too, so we’ll see.
Forgot to mention that we finally got some rain!! It’s been a very dry monsoon so far and we needed it so badly. We had to put up with a haboob first but then had a good downpour to wash everything off. Finally
Pat – when I saw pictures of the haboob I didn’t actually know a dust storm had a name – you learn something everyday!
I’m playing catch up again (groan) and have been enjoying all of the beautiful quilts and gardens shared lately. I keep going back and looking at everything (and closing more ads). I could probably keep up better if I didn’t but everything has been so pretty, it’s hard not to.
Mary, you’re like the EveryReady bunny! You get more done in a day than I do in a week!
I’ve finally finished a couple of quilts for the great grands. It hasn’t been a very productive year for me. I keep plodding along and eventually things get done. I’ll send you pictures
I heard that migration of birds is early this yr. I was thinking false fall weather too. So we shall see if the birds know something we don’t. Ha
Loved the quilts today. Mary, I thought I had a lot of quilts…
Fran – oh, that’s just a start – and we sold several hundred at our sale.
Looking at all your quilts has to be daunting but what a collection. I can see why the chicken one is a favorite. It will be a needed task done getting them organized like you want so you can find a certain one. Somehow once things are in order we feel so much better. That’s why I never mind our winters here in NY…..gives me a couple months to stay focused on sorting out and organizing as I balance sewing, cooking, reading and then cleaning out.
Kathy – and think of the hundreds we sold!
Mary , I am amazed at the energy you have and all the work you’ve accomplished!
I had a setback last week. I had a different physical therapist Wednesday and she added more weight to both machines had me doing a step without anything for balance. I had some sharp pains and she had me keep going. By the time I left I had to stop halfway to the exit because I was in such pain. I had to sit a few minutes. I had awful pain and Friday I saw my surgeon. He said my knee was aggravated due to excessive therapy and to let them know since I was headed there next. I had a different lady and she was kinder and didn’t push me, said she took the weight machine off my therapy. It irked me because I was doing so well. I have the harder lady again tomorrow and I really just don’t want to go now. 😣
I love the swirled rainbow 🌈 quilt!!! Did she name the pattern? Just awesome.
The last picture of Barney you posted was adorable 😻😻😻❤️
It’s not my quilt, but I love it! I just recently bought the pattern—it’s Blue Onion from Saginaw Street Quilts. I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you! I will be looking for it!
Pamela – oh, Pam a setback for sure! So sorry – your Dr should call her! But don’t give up – you’ll get there. Keep us posted tho because the next t8me we hear from you I’ll bet you’re back on track! Hang in there – knee replacements are tough – I know because I’ve had two of them.
Thank you, Mary. I still don’t want to go and have her again but my Darrell is going too for his foot so will put my big girl panties on and go. It’s still aggravated 6 days later.
I too am interested in the Dawn soap mixture to clean my Christmas cactus before I bring them inside. Do you have a certain amount of Dawn/water you use? Do you have to rinse it all off or just spray it on & leave it? Last year I used something….can’t remember the name of it & I thought it was a pain to use! I think we’re in the “false fall” stage of weather right now but it sure is making me think it’s time to do some of these things as well! Chopping corn silage is going to happen here this week so I know fall is coming!!
Jane – yes, I’ll let you know! I just said to Rick – is it always this chilly in August? The kids started school yesterday and usually it’s hotter than blazes.
I had hernia surgery last summer and was on a 10 pound weight restriction for 2 weeks. No pushing, pulling or stretching. Then 2 weeks of “take it easy”. After that I could do whatever I wanted. For me it was a very easy surgery and no pain to speak of. Hope yours goes as well as mine.
Barbara – when I had my surgery last November Rick did chores for about a week and then I had weighed all my full buckets ahead of time so I knew what I could safely carry. I would imagine my restrictions will be similar to yours.
Hi Mary, just love the hexagon quilt with the baptist fan quilting, 2 of my favorite things!My daughter in law Katrina’s birthday today so we are going out to dinner tonight. Hayfever season ,so my eyes are puffy and swollen, hard to keep quilting, but l plod on! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Did I miss news about your surgery? Hope all goes well.
DebMac – I have a hernia in the area of my incision from last November’s surgery – I’m not in pain but it is quite uncomfortable.
What surgery- I must of missed something 🙁
Carol – I have an incisional hernia from my surgery last November – will it ever end??????
Im drooling over the size of your quilt shop. And I’m liking that chicken quilt.
Cindy – the original chicken house/quilt shop is 24 x 40 and then we doubled it so the whole building is 24 x 80.
Wow what darling quilts for the quilt show! I especially like Mary Phillips’ family heirloom quilt. I also loved your beautiful goat photo. I think she liked having her picture taken too! I think you are very wise to get as many if not all your plants brought in before your surgery. I think you will have a weight lif type restriction. I. I need to do the Dawn treatment on my large Jade planters and my Christmas Cactus. Is this a spray all over the plants, and do you have a proportion of soap to water amount? I think I will bring my plants in earlier this year. I am still working on the log cabin project. If one quilts this do you think stitch in the ditch is a good choice? Otherwise I thought about tying it. This will become a tablecloth. Next year I plan to do potatoes in my tiny vegetable garden. I did radishes this year but only got three that were worth eating. I am starting seed collection for the cosmos. Last year I had a bumper crop! Hard to believe Labor Day is in a week. Back to school for my grands. I got a new little solar pump for my fairy fountain but this one doesn’t have anything to set it up on anything to get the sun. My other one at least had a holder so I could put it on re-rod.
I love seeing pictures of your quilt room. It would have been amazing to get to visit. I love the chicken quilt! Hugs,