I’m drawing Civil War Modern out on graph paper for you – no, I do not have a computer program for quilt blocks. We never did have one so we had to figure out all the measurements ourselves. And to think I told my geometry teacher I would never have a use for his class! Haha!!
Here’s my original drawing – Greta had a bloody nose – thus, the spots.
I know you’re all busy with Christmas prep so don’t worry that this pattern will disappear. If you want to wait till the new year, it will be available.
Here’s my progress on the calendar quilt:
I am keeping it up on the wall until I’m sure of my fabric choices before I sew. Some pieces may change.
Here are four Christmas patterns for your collection. You might even have time to whip one up before Christmas. Or not. Christmas in July sounds good!
A reader recently asked me again about where to find the comments – it hasn’t changed has it? And the other night when the comment box didn’t load, you smart gals commented on a previous post! Excellent thinking! I salute you!
I had to leave the pink log cabin project for now. I really have several new projects I’d love to start. Don’t forget New Years Day when I always start something new. I can’t even remember what it was last year. But you should follow my suggestion and pick a new quilt to start making on January 1, 2026.
Should we do Christmas decorating? I’d love to see your special highlights! Try to keep the photos to 3-4 per person. I’ve already talked to Gloria about pictures so we’ll look forward to those .
Mary…
So glad you liked the card!
I love your new kitty…so cute & very curious.
Will be ordering several of your oldie but goodie patterns soon as well as Civil War when it’s ready.
Thanks for all you do for all of us Mary.
You are truly a blessing!
Good things,
Susie Emmons, from TEXAS
Designing on the computer #1 and #2 available on Jo Kramer’s blog. FYI
It is not the quilt designing program It is available on the (R) column of her pages.
I surely do NOT need any encouragement to start another quilt!! What I need is better judgement that encourages me to finish what I’ve started . . .
By biggest dilemma for the first new quilt of the new year will be to choose between Contrary Husband and Contrary Wife as I have gathered all the fabrics for both over this year.
My only Christmas decoration these days is a rotating, light flashing tiny fiber optic Christmas tree that is a throwback to the 1960’s! It has two ornaments: a troll doll Mr. and Mrs Santa my grandson bought for me when he was 9 dyears old because he thought I would like them. He was right. This is the ONLY Christmas tree I’ve ever had that my cats don’t bother. The one I have now just lies and watches it “spin,” but never touches it. I call that a win!!
The snow looks beautiful; but, this born, raised, and (as an adult escapee) Iowan knows better. I am very content to experience it ONLY by photo and video.
Great pictures today. Love the calendar quilt. My daughter in law who had a high risk pregnancy had her baby on Thanksgiving. Both mom and baby are doing really well and already home. Our prayers were answered.
Marie, I am so glad to hear this! I have been thinking about you and your family. What a wonderful Thanksgiving gift! Prayers that mother and baby will continue to do well.
Thanks so much for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We just got back from their house. We had to take their dogs back to their house. It was wonderful to hold such a little baby
All is looking good.
Marie – is the baby a boy or a girl? Name? And they’re ready for their dogs, too? That’s a busy household!
Marie – what wonderful news!!! I was hoping you’d let us know – and they’re already home – fantastic!
Love your calendar quilt & the Civil War modern! Such pretty colors. And how pretty is your plant porch at night! You had a very smart contractor by the way. I normally have a new project cut out to start sewing on new years day. It just seems like the perfect way to start the new year! We have about 5″ of snow here in SW Ohio. Looks like a Winter Wonderland! We made the trip to the grocery yesterday to pick up the necessities. I shoveled the walk & a 6’x6′ place for Boots. Waiting for the grounds crew to take care of the roads, driveways, & sidewalks. Installation of the two blinds that were the wrong size was cancelled for today & that’s okay! Roads aren’t good & a week or so longer to wait is fine. Everyone stay safe & keep your pets in where it’s warm & safe for them!
I love the Christmas patterns you have available, but funny thing – I already own them!
Our house is only 1/2 decorated for the season. Workers are supposed to be here one of these days to tear out our fireplace and replace it. New gas firebox, mantle and stone facade and hearth. I hate to put up the tree only to have to take it back down.
New project on New Years Dy sounds like a plan. Been just doing filler projects until I get some time to start something big.
Going to Hobby Lobby today to return something. Friday you couldn’t even get in the parking lot!
Diana – that sounds like a HUGE project! A mess!
Mary, I want you to know that my husband is jealous of your plant porch. He is the one with the green thumb in the family and we have talked about building a small greenhouse but we don’t have the room. I always show him the pictures of your plants and he laughs that there is someone who understands his obsession! LOL
Paula – see, that’s the problem! I can’t find a way to build a small greenhouse hooked on to my house so I have jest and cooling already in place. And if it were free standing I wouldn’t want to go out there when it’s cold. I don’t think I could keep it heated in North Iowa. So my contractor came up with the idea of the wide cement window sills with the cement floor – no issue of water spills.
Paula – I’ve been thinking about your husband’s plants – what does he have and like to take care of? How many does he have – does he use grow lights – does he move them outside during the summer? Where does he keep them in the house? I have more in my piano room and the basement, too. Yes, it’s an addiction and obsession!
Your porch looks so pretty lit up.
Yesterday I started decorating my tree with its many homemade ornaments and thought to myself that I bet Mary has a batch of nice ornaments she’s either made years ago or were given by crafty friends. I have a lot of special ones my daughter has made from reproductions fabric. I tend to look at many and remember who made it and how long I’ve had it. I don’t put the ones from traveling on the tree any longer as I like to admire the handmade ones.
I plan to sew all day on New Year’s Day and no housework or meals whatsoever because they tell us what you do on New Year’s is what you will do all year. True or not I am not taking chances 🙂 Your plants are decoration enough for Christmas. So beautiful, cozy and warm. Love it!
Boy I sure do like that calendar quilt! Are you going to be able to post the pattern? Maybe you can’t? Your house looks so pretty in the picture. Warm and inviting inside.
Jean – I’m quite sure it’s a copyright issue but I’ll look into it.
Your porch looks so beautiful with the plants on the porch and the white snow once ground. You don’t even need a Christmas tree in there.
I am recovering well from the two months with pneumonia and the colon surgery. PET scan is set up for Dec. 16th so i doubt ill get to see the Hematologist til after the first of the year. I’ll have a couple of weeks when maybe I can get reacquainted with my sewing room again. Only needle I’ve had in my hands these past two months is a darning needle to do a repair job on some socks. I’d love to take your suggestion and start a new project on New Years Day. I’d love to do the quilt that you had shown on a chair with Mortie lying on iit from your Battlefield book. But I already have too many unfinished projects that need completion. So I’ll put your lovely quilt on h back burner for now. Stay warm and stay safe on that snow and ice,
Jeanne in Co.
Jeanne – I’m giving you permission to start a new project. This is my theory as I’ve gotten older. Who is
going to care – really? I love to entertain myself in the evenings by piecing – I no longer care that they don’t get quilted – and as a friend keeps saying: We don’t have that much time left! Haha! I’d love to hear what others think, wouldn’t you?
I’m with you, Mary! Let’s bring beauty into the world AND enjoy our time in whatever way is enjoyable to us. If finishing an in-progress work is not appealing today, start something else!
My fabric stash is my IRA { Individual Retirement Account } 🙂 🙂 🙂 and piecing quilt tops is how I want to “spend” it!
Susan – AMEN! If I don’t like the project then I’m not going to waste my time working on it. I have many pieced tops and pieces that I don’t want to quilt and bind either so they’re just living here.
Fun post tonight. Thanks, Mary.
Your porch looks so inviting and warm. The snow is pretty.
I’m glad you mentioned a new project on New Years Day. Maybe I’ll have time to get a kit ready.
Stay warm everyone.
Your civil war modern quilt is amazing and the colors, wow! I look forward to the pattern.. I will make sure I have a self addressed envelope ready to send to you, along with $$. Thank you so much for sharing your patterns and your quilts are always so beautiful. Morty is getting big. I am hoping to finish a up a few unfinished quilt projects soon so can start a new quilt project on New Years Day. So many quilts so little time. Your home looks so cozy.