My dear friend Mary was the first quilter I told about Inklingo, before we even had a name for it. I promised Russ I would remember what she said, because he was interested in her reaction. Mary is very quiet and low-key, but I had barely started explaining with a couple of small samples, when Mary’s eyes widened and she blurted out, “This is Big.”
I will never forget it.
The Quilt Show BOM with Inklingo by Mary
Mary is too quiet and unassuming (and too busy quilting!) to do this herself, so I have collected most of her Inklingo quilts and works in progress here. She sewed some by hand and some by machine. Some are completed quilts, and some are blocks laid out on the floor. Some are traditional, and some are not. All are wonderful!
Lone Star with Inklingo by Mary
Mary taught me how to hand piece with freezer paper templates in January 1998, when we were both spending every winter in Naples Florida. We had already been friends for several years, although she lived in Wisconsin and I lived in Ontario. She was the first person I ever heard use the strange word “Paducah,” and the first person I ever knew who had a “stash.”
Seven Sisters with Inklingo by Mary
Mary has had a huge influence on my quilting life from the beginning, and she was the one who convinced Russ that I should get a new computer, so I could get online. Early in 1996 (or 1995?) she cunningly showed Russ (the chef) some cooking sites on her laptop, but he said he already had more recipes than he could ever use.
Russ famously told me, “Of course, you can get a new computer, but what are you doing to DO with it?”
We still tease him about that. I did not jump right away, but in 1996 I signed my Christmas cards as linda@no_net.yet and russ@bahnet.com. Mary had convinced me. We got online in 1997.
Red Toile
Alabama Beauty laid out on the floor.
Alabama Beauty laid out on the floor.
Farmer’s Delight (from Dresden Plate Fancy) in Kaffe Fassett fabrics.
Farmer’s Delight, ready to quilt.
Snowball
Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses (POTC)
Lucy Boston Octagon quilt
Lucy Boston Octagon quilt (detail)
Half Square Triangles (HST) by machine.
Mary sometimes pieces by hand and sometimes by machine.
LeMoyne Star
LeMoyne Star
Green Toile
Grandmother’s Flower Garden (GFG) flowers
Farmer’s Wife Sampler (FWS)
Farmer’s Wife Sampler (FWS)
Flying Geese
Drunkard’s Path
Leaves you speechless, doesn’t it?
Mary is also the first quilter to tell me, “Inklingo is the next revolution in quilting, equal to the rotary cutter, paper piecing, acrylic templates, and Internet lists.” That favorite quote is on the back cover of The Inklingo Handbook.
After all these years, Mary continues to keep me inspired. I will make sure she sees any comments you leave here, but Mary is one of the very talented, quiet quilters in the Inklingo Yahoo group, so you can leave comments and ask questions there too. Maybe we can find out what she will do next!
I don’t think anyone can catch up to Mary, but if you would like to try Inklingo now anyway, there is a way to get a Quick Start (free).
I am very grateful to Mary for her friendship, and for letting me share her photos here. Aren’t you glad you came for a visit? Quite an amazing amount of inspiration this time, don’t you think?
Linda & Monkey
Mary -What an amazing body of work! You are an inspiration.
Ohmygosh! Everything is so beautiful, Mary. My favorites are the Farmer’s Delight and the Drunkards Path. You are the best Inklingo ad. No wonder you have no time for the Internet, LOL! Maybe we should all take a lesson from that…
What an absolutely stunning collection of quilts and blocks!! I just want to stay and keep looking at the pictures for hours!
I am bedazzled:)
Oh Wow!! I am thrilled and depressed at the same time…;-) I want to make quilts like that! I love them all but the first one is my very favourite. I have been planning to design an Inklingo medallion quilt for some time, but am too intimidated by doing the math for fitting borders and centre piece. This is inspiring. I take a very deep bow for Mary…sigh….
Anneke in Rotterdam.
Fantastic – gorgeous – beautiful – stunning – I am lost for words.
OMGoodness Mary!!! I’ve seen your beautiful work here and there over the past couple years but to see them altogether is AWESOME!!! Thank you Linda for giving them a place together for us all to see. Truly Mary is an amazing, gifted quilter. I LOVE ALL her works!!! Hugs Ellyx
Nothing short of totally inspirational. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing. Wow!
Though I am normally just a lurker I have to step out to comment on these quilts. They are just stunning. What a wonderful body of work. I am so impressed that I am not sure which I like the best. I guess I will have to just keep looking till I figure it out. Thank you for sharing.
Mary your quilts are so amazing! Thank you Linda for putting all of these together so that we can look at them.
Dearest Anonymouse,
How happy I am to see some of your wonderful work assembled in one place!! I jump from list to list watching your quilt progress on different quilts and have been wishing they were collected somewhere. Thank you, Linda, for highlighting Mqry and her gorgeous quilts..and for Inklingo to help us make our own quilts more quickly.
Keep stitching, Mary. You are an inspiration for us all!
Biggest hugs to you both,
Brenda
Amazing what one can do when one gets busy and does it. Lovely. I made my one-block-wonder because I saw a photo of Mary’s somewhere…Thanks for sharing.
Dear Mary, Linda and Monkey,
What a group! I don’t know what else to say.
Hugs to you all,
Frummie
What a dazzling display of quilts! It is easy to see where you acquired your love of complex quilts too.
Mary and Linda,
thanks for sharing those fantastic quilts. So exciting and beautiful and depressing (as I have not done half that) at the same time. Go mary I wonder what you may be doing with the pickle dish collection??
Mary, Your quilts are so inspirational. I think my favorite is the Lone Star, but they are all wonderful. That Alabama Beauty is so lovely–your fabric choices perfect. Thanks for sharing!!
My Gosh!! What a wonderful display of fantastic quilts – I am just about speechless…. Isnt that a wonderful collection of quilts. Utterly AMAZING. !!!
Amazing work. So inspirational.
I’m speechless – what an amazing body of work – I LOVE every single one of them- and I want to make them ALL! Mary do you ever sleep, eat, clean your house, do laundry or go out for groceries? I am bookmarking this blog entry to come back to again and again for inspiration. Thank you Linda for putting your friend in the spotlight – Mary – take a bow. Clap, clap, clap, clap…..
Most amazing work! I have not yet tried Inklingo, but I know I am not very far away from doing do! What a great audition for your technique, Linda!
Opps…that should be “doing so”! Still awe-struck from the pics I guess.
I attended an Inklingo demo that Linda was doing for the Naples Quilter Guild a few years ago, and sitting there, hand stitching was Mary. I don’t remember what she was working on, but I think it was at that moment that I realized that I just HAD to investigate Inklingo. She looked like she was in such a peaceful place and was enjoying what she was doing. Thank you Mary, and thank you Linda, for showing me the joy of hand piecing.
I am amazed at your quilts. You have a great gift for choosing colors.
Marge in MN.
Holy Smokes…Mary, you are nothing short of amazing. I am flabbergasted!!! What beautiful quilts!!! I wanna be you when I grow up!!
Well, I wanted to do a farmer’s delight. Now I just want Mary’s farmer’s delight. Mouth-wateringly gorgeous! And the HST quilt! A sight to behold. And do-able —with Inklingo. Thanks, Linda, Mary and Monkey!
lindylou
Mary thank you for sharing these wonderful, inspiring works of yours!
Mary,
What a body of work you have and I’m sure Linda is not showing all of your quilts. I love your sense of colour.
Mary, You have just knocked me off my feet. Your quilts are such an inspiration. Kathie L in Allentown
Mary, your quilts are absolutely stunning. I know I will come back time and time again to view them.
Pam M, Australia
[...] week to see Mary’s One Woman Quilt Show in person. For now, we have to settle for seeing the her Inklingo quilts online—here. Congratulations, Mary. We are very proud of [...]