I’m doing a little series of posts that feature old blog posts. I have been going back and looking at them. It’s been fun. I started blogging in June 2009…WOW. Over thirteen years. I’m so glad I’ve kept the blog as a diary of sorts…today I’m telling you about things I was working on in January of 2013.
Kelli and were regularly featured designers for Quiltmaker’s 100 blocks magazine. It is no long published which makes me a little sad. We had such a fun time doing that. This was our featured block. You can read more about it HERE.

We took the block and designed this quilt with it. What a fun quilt!

I started my charity quilting endeavors… back in March 2013. I was busy working on quilts for West Texas. They had a disaster there and I was all onboard to help. I finished quilt tops and sent many there. It really was the start of the charity quilt I do. I’m so glad I was able to help. This was one of the many quilts I worked on.

Here are more of the quilts…These were all in my binding pile.

We had a quilt featured on Moda Bake Shop. We made three baby quilts out of a jelly roll and panel. You can get the free patterns HERE.

My daughter Kelli came home for a visit and helped me sort scraps. This is when I implement my scrap users system. It is by far the best thing I ever did for my quilt room and my quilting life. Those of you who are thinking of taking the time to organize your scraps. Trust me, it’s time well spent!


That was one of the best things I’ve ever done to help my quilting life. I am so thankful that I did. What a game-changer when it comes to quilting!
finished my Criss Cross Applesauce quilt. You can read more about it HERE. You can find the pattern in this book Scraps & Shirttails II: Continuing the Art of Quilting Green.

I just love this quilt!!

I had picked up this vintage quilt top at the thrift store. I had thought I’d take it home and quilt it. Then I got the bright idea to quilt it by doing the big stitch. Epic fail. I still have it. I’ve never finished the big stitch. It’s time to pull that all out and just machine-quilt it.

As a baby gift, a mom asked me to make a Puff quilt. It’s a completely different type of sewing. You can read more about it HERE.

I was working on these blocks. They later became a quilt called Rustic Charm that was published in American Patchwork and Quilting. You can read about it more HERE.

Here is a picture of the finished quilt. You can read about it HERE.

I was also working on this quilt…It’s the cover quilt from the magazine. I have the quilt in my bedroom and it is one I regularly rotate on my bed.

Kelli finished a quilt called Charity Crosses. It was a Moda Bakeshop project. I don’t believe it’s available anymore. At least the link I had for it didn’t work.

I did a UFO parade of all the projects I had. Oh my. After I get done with this blog post I’m going to go back and really read the post and see if I still have any of them. HA!! What a hoot!! Do you all have 10-year-old UFOs? I am betting I do. I’ll have to write another blog post about those. If you want to read it, you can find it HERE.

In the kitchen, I was making M&M Oatmeal Bars. Those were so good…really rich but good. You can find the recipe HERE.

Our daughter, Kalissa was busy with high school senior activities. Here she is in her Prom dress.

My niece Jody who I’ve often written about came for a visit. All the kids were with but I happen to get his picture of Stacey and Jody together. It’s hard to believe that six year later cancer would take her from us. Her daughter Stacey is getting married in the Spring…another hard thing for me to believe!

We spent much of the month worrying about my dog at the time, Ruby. Her intestine had come back on itself cutting it off.  This isn’t common but does happen.  A 3″ section of her intestine was removed and then the intestine was stitched back together.  We were hoping all will go well but we were looking at a 12-24 hour critical period. She was pretty miserable and recovery was slow but she popped out of it. Man, that dog cost me a lot of money, but boy, I sure did love her.

There were many updates on the blog that month telling how she was doing. Here are three of my favorite picture of the bunch. Oh, we sure loved Ruby.



That’s the latest from the Kramer house from back in April of 2013
Just love seeing your quilts Jo. I am amazed at how productive you are, and obviously have always been. I have had the star quilt that is on the magazine cover on my list of “want to do”. I have always loved it. I need to finish up some of my many UFO’s so I can get started.
Love your “Blast from the past” posts!! I may have to make that Rustic Charm quilt. I’m not much for stars, but I love the split 9 patch block. That would be a fun variation.
UFOs that are 10 years old or more? At my house?? You bet there are! One of these days…………. sigh…….. :)
Kalissa is drop dead gorgeous! A great blog.
I wanted to go back to the Quiltmaker block but all I got was “moving the grain bins”.
Hi Mary, Just scroll down to the bottom of the page.
I am constantly amazed at how prolific you are, especially since you have so many other things going on in your life. (And then here I am stuck on the smallest decisions.) I really do like your “Blast from the past” posts and those where you share what you have found at thrift stores. Both of those are my all time favorites. Thanks for all that you share. It is very much appreciated and I always look forward to your blog posts.