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May - June 2020 | Page 1
Page 2 | May - June 2020
What’s Inside? • Wyoming Quilt Shop Hop - Page 2 • A Cup of Tea with Lydia - Page 4 • Tips To Help Your Children in Quarantine - Page 6 • History of Quilts - Page 7 • Belle Fourche Play & Stay Section - Page 8 • Creative Business Featurette - Page 8 • Tips for Business Marketing in a Time of Crisis - Page 9 • Robin’s Nest DIY - Page 10 • The Call Was Given - Page 11 • Wyoming Yarn Crawl - Page 11 • 10 Things I’m Going To Do - Page 15
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Editor’s Notes
Harvest Your Own Energy
This certainly has been a different spring than any of us imagined. A global pandemic that lead to a national health crisis, social distancing and business shutdowns. It has been unprecedented and overwhelming to say the least. But, in the midst of these challenging times we have seen innovation, community support and love shine through. So many businesses have had to get creative in order to comply with social distancing guidelines and still survive. I’ve seen flower shops Kelsey Ruzicka create hands-free deliveries and virtual bouquets to Publisher of send to loved ones. I’ve seen café’s create take and The Country Register bake options and install a drive up window within of ND, SD, WY, a matter of 2 days. I’ve seen an event horse arena MT & N. ID set up virtual obstacle challenges to keep their participants engaged and active. We have gotten creative on how to serve our customers. The community has pulled together in this time of crisis too. Though, most of us know this is what we do when our friends and neighbors need help. Ladies have sewn hundreds of masks for medical staff, companies are flip flopping production in order to make PPE, groups rally together to feed and help struggling families. We see parades for birthdays in quarantine, we see announcements (like engagements) made through the window at nursing homes, we see windows decorated with hearts to show our love and support for frontline and essential workers. We see random meals given to truckers that have spent hours on the road delivering essential goods. I guess what I’m saying is that in dark there is light. Out of fear and turmoil comes community and love. And, though it is easy to focus on the dark and negative swirling around us, the light and positive hope is there. If you are leaning into the dark, I challenge you to find one positive project to focus on that creates light. And, let that be the biproduct of this situation. If you are leaning into the light, I challenge you to find a way to share that light and spread it to others. Together we are stronger. Together we will weather the storm. And the light is on the other side. Stay well.
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The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern Idaho Kelsey (Snyder) Ruzicka, Publisher Produced by Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC PO BOX 2015 • Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-568-0181 Office www.countryregister.com/nrgp www.moxiemarketingmw.com Publisher’s contact numbers across the USA & Canada for The Country Register Send $3 to any publisher below to obtain a paper from another area: * Indicates these editions are available on–line at www.countryregister.com.
May - June 2020 | Page 3
The Quilting Issue
Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd, 602-237-6008, info@countryregister.com, located: Phoenix, AZ
USA
* Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Arkansas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, 405-470-2597, lenda@countryregister.com * California: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * Connecticut: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD 21771, 866-825-2917, Fax 866-261-9641 * Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, florida@countryregisteronline.com * Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, tcrga@windstream.net * Idaho (N): Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Idaho (S): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Illinois: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, IowaCountryRegister@mchsi.com * Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, kansas@countryregister.com * Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com * Maine: Deborah Daney, 660 Country Club Road, Sanford, ME 04073, 207-324-7482 * Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Massachusetts: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Michigan: Bill and Marlene Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211 * Minnesota: Kim & Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, minnesota@countryregister.com * Missouri: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Montana: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Nevada (N): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* * Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803 * New Hampshire: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822 * New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * North Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * North Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, ohiocountryregister@yahoo.com * Oklahoma: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Pennsylvania: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319, Fax 800-609-0278 * Rhode Island: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * South Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com * Texas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Utah: Available * Vermont: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822 * Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Washington: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, jennifer@countryregisterofwisconsin.com * Wyoming: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com CANADA * Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0,780-889-3776, countryregab@yahoo.com * British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711 * Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, countryregister@sasket.net * Ontario: Harriet Ramos, Box 60, 4338 Innes Rd., Orleans, ON K4A 3W3, 343-882-5812
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains
May - June • Volume 10 Issue 3
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2020. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited by law. The Country Register is a registered business trade name. Moxie Marketing of the Midwest produces The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains. Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers, tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Northern Idaho. Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from outside sources, express the opinions of their authors only and may not express the viewpoints of the management and staff of The Country Register. Such articles that are accepted for publication herein may be edited at the sole discretion of the publisher. Responsibility for products advertised in this newspaper lies with the advertisers themselves. Though The Country Register will not knowingly publish fraudulent materials or fraudulently obtained materials, we are not liable for any damages arising from the purchase or use of products advertised herein.
Index: See page 14 for advertiser’s index by name and by community as well as upcoming events. Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the July/August issue are due June 7, 2020.
Page 4 | May - June 2020
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A Cup of Tea with Lydia: New Beginnings, Butterflies, and Hope
By Lydia Harris
I love butterflies. Their beauty, grace, and seemingly carefree life captivate me. They also symbolize the HOPE of brighter things to come. After all, butterflies don’t hatch as butterflies. They go through a crawl-in-the-dirt-andmunch-leaves stage and then wait dormant inside a cocoon. After metamorphosis, they burst forth as beautiful butterflies. Challenges in life, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may make us feel isolated or cocooned. But, like the caterpillar, we can anticipate a brighter future and go forward with hope. So when possible, let’s break free and celebrate new beginnings with a butterfly tea. After a season of hibernating, gathering with a few family members or friends could be a breath of fresh air and hope. Let’s take a tip from nature and use a butterfly theme for a beau-TEA-ful hope-filled teatime. Children’s Par-Tea Any age is a good time for tea. Both the young and the young at heart would enjoy a fancy or frivolous tea. Using a butterfly theme makes it easy to do. For the menu, you could make butterfly-shaped sandwiches. Use a slice of bread, cut off the crusts, and spread the bread with a favorite filling. Leave it open-faced, or add another crustless slice on top. Cut the sandwich in half diagonally to make two triangles. Place the points of the shorter sides together to make a butterfly. Or cut each triangle in half and make two smaller butterflies. My children enjoyed open-faced peanut butter butterfly sandwiches sprinkled with sugar. For the body, place a carrot strip between the butterfly wings. Depending on the sandwich filling, decorate the wings with bits of colorful fresh or dried fruit, sliced olives or chopped veggies, or small dabs of colorful jam or jelly. These sandwiches will fly right into everyone’s mouths. Add fresh fruit and a favorite dessert to the menu. Homemade sugar cookies cut with a butterfly cookie cutter would be fun for kids to frost and decorate with sprinkles and candy. And don’t forget the tea. My grandkids’ favorite herbal tea is Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion—served with sugar cubes. For table décor, include a colorful flower bouquet or plant, and add one or two artificial butterflies (available at floral shops or craft stores). If you want to get fancy, fold napkins into butterflies. (Find directions online.) You could even teach guests to fold their own. To entertain children, consider reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly. Checkout books from the library or order them online. In sunny weather, young children will enjoy pretending to be butterflies and fluttering around outside. Maybe some will even come wearing butterfly wings from a costume party or the Dollar Store . Butterflies are enchanting. One of my friend’s grandchildren named them “fuffies.” And another child called them “flutterbys.” Adult Butterfly Brunch An easy menu includes Butterfly Waffles. (See recipe from In the Kitchen with Grandma elsewhere.) Make them with purchased or homemade waffles, sausage links, and fruit. Add yogurt parfaits and dessert to the menu. If you decide on cake for dessert, you could make it into a butterfly shape. Bake the cake in a square pan and make cupcakes from the leftover batter. Cut the cake diagonally to make two wings, place the points together, and frost. Use your imagination and add colorful sprinkles and licorice vines for antennae. Or frost a pan of brownies and turn them into butterflies. Cut brownies into squares and then into triangles. For the beverage, offer an assortment of teabags with and without caffeine, and set out teapots of hot water so guests can each make their favorite cup of tea. As you sip tea, guests could share hope-filled thoughts, sayings, or Bible verses. My favorite hopeful verse is Romans 15:13 (NIV). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” If possible, enjoy your tea outdoors on the deck or in your garden. Perhaps you could prepare and share a simple handout about plants that attract butterflies.
Whether life feels like the wiggly worm stage or a season of cocooning, we can be certain our God of Transformation is working His plan. And that gives us hope for beautiful things to come. “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). From Lydia’s Recipe File: Butterfly Waffles Taken from In the Kitchen with Grandma, page 11. These colorful, tasty butterflies are ready to flutter right into your mouth! Prep time: 15 minutes Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free waffles and sausages Ingredients (for each butterfly) 1 square waffle, homemade or ready-made frozen 1 cooked sausage link Fresh fruit to make colorful spots on wings (kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries) 1 red apple Powdered sugar Syrup or honey (to serve with the waffle) Whipped cream or yogurt Directions 1. Toast a waffle. Then cut it in half diagonally to make two wings. Place the points together on a plate. 2. Add a cooked sausage for the body between the waffle wings. Warm the butterfly in the microwave. 3. Decorate the butterfly with blueberries and slices of kiwi and strawberries. 4. Add two thin strips of a red apple for the antennae. 5. Dust with powdered sugar. 6. Serve the waffle with syrup or honey, whipped cream or yogurt, and more fresh fruit. Make as many as needed. Variation: Use a round waffle to make a butterfly. Cut the waffle in half. Place the rounded sides together and add a sausage link for the body. Decorate the butterfly with fruit. Lydia E. Harris holds a master’s in home economics and has been writing this tea column for 20 years. No wonder her five grandkids call her “Grandma Tea.” She is the author of Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting and In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together. Her books are available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and Christianbook.com.
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Paws and Reflection
May - June 2020 | Page 5
By Kerri Habben
Free Pattern
We’ve loved Arthur ever since he came out from behind the bathtub. I never imagined I would be able love a cat. For as long as I can remember, petting cats made my eyes burn and caused me to sneeze. Often I found myself sniffling for days after meeting one. When Wayne’s son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Emily, asked us to keep Arthur for a year, we readily agreed. They would be renting for this time and with a two pet limit. So Mac (a dog) and Burberry (another cat) stayed with them, and Arthur came here. I prepared for him by buying antihistamines and crossing my fingers. It still seems a minor miracle that no medicine was necessary. I can pet Arthur all I want and even bury my face in his fur with no reaction. At least not from me. He purrs. After arriving, Arthur hid for close to twenty-four hours, and then, I was in the bathroom when he cautiously emerged. I quietly called out to Wayne, who came right away. Then I looked into Arthur’s blue eyes, sank down to the floor, and held out my hand to him. Thus, he has been contentedly and temporarily ours. Never having had a pet, for awhile I worried over little things. One day I said to Wayne, “I hope Arthur is okay. It just seems like he sleeps so much and really doesn’t have a lot of energy.” Wayne bestowed a gentle smile upon me with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “Hey, hon,” he reassured me. “He is just being a cat.” As I write, Arthur is sitting beside me, tail wagging. It seems that he has some canine in him. He readily comes when he is called and begs shamelessly for food. He has turned up his nose at raw fish but eats coffee cake crumbs. He leads the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night or any time of the day for that matter. It is possible we’ve spoiled him some. Sometimes little pieces of ham or chicken simply just fall on the floor. When he sleeps at our feet, we usually move ourselves instead of waking him up. Arthur loves to “knead” any type of fabric. Particularly blankets. He likes the blue granny square one in the living room and the Green Bay Packers throw in the TV room. We say “knead” because it looks like he is pawing at dough. Then, after all that work, he lays down in another place entirely. He keeps our favorite spots to sit nice and warm. Often he jumps up on an empty chair beside us when we are eating dinner, looking quite hungry and hopeful. I’ve noticed something, though. If Arthur does something utterly silly, Wayne says to me, “Your cat is being ridiculous.” If he does something clever, he is suddenly ours again. Of course, we’ve known all along that he belongs to First Mommy and Daddy (a.k.a. Emily and Brian), and that one spring day, he will go home to them and their two year old son, Quinn. Regularly we text photos and receive a happy response like this, “Awwwww...hi, Art!!!!We miss you!!!!!” Usually followed by a heart. Always, Arthur is loved; past, present, and future. By First Mommy and Daddy before he came here, by us, and then once again when he goes home to them. Very soon, he will go their new house. Undoubtedly, he and the most amazing two year old in the world (we’re totally objective on this) will have a lot of fun together. We are grateful we had this time with Arthur. We will miss his gentle and sweet presence. Some have suggested we get another cat. But we won’t. After all, Arthur has completely spoiled us. Kerri Habben is a writer in Chapel Hill, NC.
Use this pattern for embroidery, wool applique, punch needle or rug hooking, painted projects or whatever your imagination can dream up! Reduce or enlarge pattern as desired. Free Embroidery Pattern May not be sold or used for commercial purposes. For more fun and creative inspiration visit:
www.JacquelynneSteves.com
Page 6 | May - June 2020
Tips To Help Your Children in Quarantine By Robin Snyder It might be a long summer since children have not been in school for two and a half months. E-learning is hard for every one! Here are some great ideas for parents and grandparents to do with their children that may not seem like “school work” but still promotes learning. #1 Read, Read, Read!! This is a big one of course. A little hint to help with their comprehension is to ask open-ended questions, something that is not a yes or no answer. #2 Play board games. Most children’s games are math related and include counting. They also include colors and patterns. #3 Cooking and baking are also good things to allow them to do. Again, they are math related and help them follow directions and steps. Helping to clean up is also part of the process. #4 Gardening is a great way to incorporate science into daily life. A simple way for young children to watch things grow is to put seeds in a small baggie, add water and a cotton ball. They can watch is sprout. Older children may be more interested in real plants. Herbs grow really well in pots, so you don’t really need a garden space. #5 Writing a book can be done for those that are learning to write. Doing one page a day is not overkill. For small children, tracing is fun for them. If you have a sandbox, trace letters in the sand. Highlighter pens or markers are better these days than connect the dots. #6 Talking, Talking and more Talking. For very young children this is how they learn speech. Keeping conversation simple for the very young is ok but you would maybe be surprised at how much language they grasp when we think they don’t understand. It also helps them express their emotions and that will reduce their stress. #7 Physical activity is so important! Make sure your children are doing something physical for an hour every day. Shooting hoops, kickball and freeze tag are all good things to do with your kids and grandkids. Since social distancing is still something we are very aware of, make your groups small and that means that Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa may have to play too!! #8 Responsibility is so important for children to learn early so they can be good school students. Chores and self-care can be learned at a very young age. Putting children in the role of care giver to pets is a great way to help them learn empathy and compassion. Teaching them to mow the lawn or help repair the car are good life lessons. #9 Limiting screen time can help children fill their time with imagination and independence. Learning to play and depend on themselves is extremely valuable to being a good leader. However, keeping your children connected with people in this time of social distancing is also important. They need to understand that they will be able to see friends when it is possible. Where would we be without FaceTime, Skype and Zoom?? #10 This is mostly for Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa. If you are struggling to keep your children occupied; get some help. Give yourself a break when you are over stressed. Children are very good at acting on YOUR stress level. They do not know how to deal with adult emotions. Sometimes we don’t know how either. That is when it is time for a break. We can use this quarantine time to connect with our children in a unique and positive way. Remember that parents and grandparents are your children’s first teachers. Quality time with children is going to make them wonderful adults.
The Covered Wagon
Fabric, Yarn, Wool, Books, Notions Quilting, Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery, Cross Stitch We have every DMC color floss and variation colors “You never know what you’ll find!” COME IN AND SEE WHAT IS BLOOMING, CHECK OUT EVERYTHING NEW. Hours: Monday-Thursday 10-5, Friday 10-4 & Saturday 9-2
2006 Main Street • Torrington, WY 82240 • 307-532-1077
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Plan(T) Something Now
By Ann Marie Stewart
My friend who cares for her aging father, posted a question on FB. “Am I the only one who thinks a quarantine, with books and Netflix and a garden to plant at the start of spring . . .sounds divine?” Another friend, Pastor Dan Morgan, wrote: What a great time to spend with your families! Read a book together. Sit down and play a video game with your teenagers. Ask your neighbors if they need a roll or 2 of TP. Have devotions together. Go on a walk and talk to neighbors from 6 feet away. Clean the house. Pray! Look at where God is at work... don’t miss the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Obviously, this SHELTER IN is a very difficult time and not to be made light of. However, it will be over. There will be a resurrection of our lives but how will we have grown in the meantime? Right now we don’t have a lot of control over some areas of our life. But what if we could plan (t) something during this time? Here is a running list of ideas:
• Plant something in your yard, garden, or window. • Learn to sight-read music. (Sightreadingfactory.com) • Take a daily walk for physical and mental health. • Draw! You can learn how! https://www.skillshare.com/browse/drawing • Play a board game when you’re bored. Extra points for the game PANDEMIC (yes it exists). • Participate in an online exercise class • Eat less. (Hoard your stockpile more) • Try a new recipe using whatever you have in the house. (https://myfridgefood.com/) • Learn something new every day. Plot it out on your calendar and look forward to growing! • Designate a room a day to clean and declutter. • Make your bed each morning. • Be still. Ten minutes a day. Replace fear with prayer and thanks. • Take on a neglected task. • SKYPE a voice lesson from a local or not-so-local teacher! What a way to start! • Clean out your spice and medicine cabinets and throw out everything expired. (Well then again, save the spices for flavoring those rice and beans) • Keep a journal of funny happenings and wisdom. (But not on precious paper towels or toilet paper) • Write a thank you to a former teacher or mentor who’s helped you. • Install a bidet for a splashingly new experience. Beats hoarding toilet paper. • Read one of those books you’ve always wanted to dive into. • Write one of those books you’ve always wanted to dive into. • Paint a room. • Try a new craft or hobby. • Go through photo albums with your family, labeling as you go. Enlist your kids to scan the photos. • Listen to entertaining and educational podcasts. • Read the book of John start to finish. Good choice for this Lenten Quarantine. • Teach your kids something new. Make memories. • Memorize a verse: Romans 15:13 is a good place to start: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. • Complete your taxes. (Oh that always brightens a day!) • Order a Gift Certificate for a place to go AFTER you resume social events.
This will be over someday, and some things will have changed. What about us? How will we be different? And there will be so much “catch-up” with friends and family and house and work, but what can we do now to anticipate that? Plan (t) something. It’s something we can do this season. Let something take root this Spring and see what grows. C 2020 Ann Marie Stewart, author of award-winning Stars In The Grass. All rights reserved.
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A History of Quilts
By Robin Snyder
I am not a quilter but I love them! My Mother has one that her grandmother gave her and it is a cherished item of her family history. It still amazes me how they have survived for so long. That got me to wondering how old is this art form? I got to looking at the history of the quilt and WOW it is really old! The articles that I have read seem to agree that it may date back as far as 3400 B.C.E. There was evidence of quilted fabric in the tombs of the pharaohs. The word ‘Quilt” comes from the Latin word culcita, meaning a stuffed sack or padded mattress. These quilted articles were indicative of the society at the time they were made. Most of the elaborate quiltings were owned by the wealthy. They were the ones who had leisure time to make them or they had artisans that did.
history after the country started to industrialize and make fabric and other materials we saw a change in the quilted items. They became more works of art that still served a purpose. Most of them told a story of their family or a period of time and what was happening. By this time there were several types of quilting and many elaborate designs. Some quilts took years, even decades to make they were so elaborate. This is where I need to mention that most of these (if not all) quilts were made by women. It was a way to express their artistic nature. In rural communities ladies (mostly) would come together to work on a big project and they could finish several quilts in one day. The 1800’s brought the invention of the sewing machine and Henry Davis made an attachment to the sewing machine for quilting. However it was not widely used. Hand quilting still seemed to be the most desirable way to quilt.
We can now jump forward several thousand years to when they appeared is Asia. A quilted carpet was discovered in a Siberian cave prior to the first century C.E. I found it interesting that the backstitching and running stitch found in the carpets they discovered are what we still use today. It was thought that quilting did not appear in Europe until around the 12th century; however there was a wool quilted pall (I had to look this word up….a type of cloak to cover a casket or burial stand) found in a tomb dating to the 5th century (700-800 B.C.). It was made of Egyptian cotton, so I’m guessing it was traded for or purchased. Quilted articles then began to show up everywhere in the European countries. We can trace back to almost every country having some type of quilted artifacts. The oldest preserved quilt is said to be “The Tristan Quilt” made in Sicily in 1360-1400. We now move to American quilts which came over with the English and Dutch settlers. At first quilting was not really used as an art form but as a way to “recycle” materials to make something new. The settlers used then on beds and to cover leaky windows. They also used quilting to make warmer clothing. Most of these utilitarian articles were not preserved as they were considered normal everyday items. Later in American
Quilting began to be a form of relaxation and hobbies for many women. As the country prospered the quilt art work went from being a necessary work to an artistic one. Then WW I took place and the nation was again urged to make quilts to conserve other blanket type materials for the military men. The Great Depression that followed the war also sent us back to making quilts out of anything that could be had. People were very poor at this time and many quilts that were family heirlooms had to be sold for food, rent and other necessities. WWII rolled around and quilts were made to raise money to support the Red Cross. The “signature quilt” was popular at this time when business owners and community leaders would have their names embroidered on quilt squares. They were then auctioned off and the proceeds went to the Red Cross. These quilts were very significant in the history of many communities. The 1950’s and 1960’s quilting was associated with war and hard times and therefore fell out of popularity. As the memories of the war and Depression faded, many young women became interested in the quilting art of
May - June 2020 | Page 7
their mothers and grandmothers. The 1970’s and 1980’s quilting became wildly popular again. The nation’s Bicentennial in 1976 was celebrated with many quilts depicting the pride and spirit of the nation. This century seems to see no decline in the popularity of quilting. The technology and creative means that we have today have greatly enhanced the art of quilting. I am still amazed though at the endurance of this art form. Many people quilt these days by machine but the art of hand quilting is still very much alive. I cannot imagine how all of the patterns and stitches (that is a whole other article!!) are learned and retained by so many women……but I am glad they are!!
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Creative
BUSINESS FEATURETTE
The Wild Plum Belle Fourche, SD
Becky Dean puts her creativity to work with her online store, The Wild Plum. She specializes in keychains, badge reels, magnets, wood signs and other handmade gifts and decor. She accepts and loves special requests and custom orders. Local pickup in Belle Fourche, SD or shipping available anywhere in the US.
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www.facebook.com/TheWildPlum14/
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May - June 2020 | Page 9
Tips for Business Marketing in A Time of Crisis By Kelsey Ruzicka, Publisher
In these unsettling times, we (as business owners) are adapting to changes at an unusual and challenging pace. However, there are several positive opportunities that we can focus on. This time allows us to look at our growth goals, tackle projects set on the shelf, and look at our messaging and communication from business to customer as a whole. It is a great time to get creative and use innovation to get our products and services to our customers. You never know what distribution model might become a new model you add to your regular chain. Stay Connected Staying connected through this period through giveaways, contests, coupons, specialized promotions and stories is really a great way to lean into the situation with positivity. There is enormous value in enhancing your relationship with your customers and maintaining presence right now. It is rare that we get a captivated audience. We generally have to fight pretty hard to accomplish this. Folks are at home, or by themselves searching the internet, surfing social media and listening to the radio. They are looking for distant ways to remain connected to the outside world. There are less blinking lights to distract them, and they want the information. That is something that just doesn’t happen often in today’s world. What a great opportunity! Be Intentional With Your Message Does your online presence (website, social and email) match the experience that customers have when they are in your store or office? If your shop is colorful and friendly, your staff is helpful and customers leave feeling as if they have visited a friend – than this is the experience we want to portray online too. This is your brand. We do that a couple different ways. One, with the visual look and feel. Utilizing the same colors, logos, font and graphics that the customer would see if they saw a flyer, coupon or ad from your store. You want the ad or post they might see on social media, to immediately make the translation to the product or store they visit normally. Two, we convey our shop brand through message. Using friendly and conversational tones in the words we use, sharing stories and humor in posts or emails, and sending out connection virtually keeps the online presence feeling friendly and helpful. These might sound basic and fundamental, but often they are overlooked. Especially when panic or chaos sets in. The intention to connect based on your brand should overrule the intention to sell.
Email Campaigns Email is an older form of connection, but still remains the corner stone for most solid marketing plans. Does your shop or office have an email list? Meaning do you have a list of past shoppers, potential shoppers or regulars that you can email discounts, promotions or tips to? If you don’t, then I recommend starting now. It is a great way to stay top of mind and connected with your customers when you can’t see them in person. Not only that, email is a big part of most all successful marketing plans. MailChimp and Constant Contact offer some tools to create your email list, manage your list and send branded emails with interactive elements to your customers. Most of these sort of tools offer some sort of free version or basic version at a minimal cost. If you do have an email list, does it follow the intentional message plan above? Does it match your shops in-store feel? Creativity, innovation and positive problem solving is what we (at Moxie Marketing & This Country Register Publisher) apply to this crisis situation and everyday situations at our office. Each business is different, and will find themselves with different struggles and unique solutions during this time. We are happy to help coach and assist with ideas and execution.
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Page 10 | May - June 2020
This is the quilting issue and as I’ve said before I am not a quilter but I love fat quarters!! So here is a cute project for summer. Hope you like stuffed chickens, no not the edible kind.
You will Need:
Trace the pattern onto the wrong size of material. You will need two pieces that are mirror images of each other. Trace the beak, wattle and comb onto the felt. Cut out all the pieces.
Step Two
A piece of cardstock paper, a fat quarter of material, needle and thread to match, some embroidery floss and embroidery needle, different color felt, scissors, some sort of poly-fill and a sewing machine.
Step Four
Pick up the unsewn edges of the pattern and pin or clip them together. You are going to sew from each edge into the middle leaving about an inch and a half from each corner (a total of a three inch opening). This opening is where you will stuff the poly-fill.
Step One Lay the pieces of fabric right side up and straight edges next to each other. The side with the deepest “V” cut is the top. Place the beak, comb and wattle where they look good on one piece of your fabric on the top side. Then fold the felted pieces to the inside on the right side of one of the pieces of fabric (see picture). Place the other piece of fabric on top (right sides together) and pin or clip together.
Step THREE First you are going to cut out a pattern from the cardstock paper. I did not have a template but the paper is approximately 8 X 11. I cut the general shape shown from that full sheet of cardstock. Also cut out the comb (top knot), beak and wattle (under the beak) of the chicken. (Again similar to the shapes shown) These do not need to be exact.
You will then sew three sides together. The left, top and right sides are sewn leaving the bottom seam open. Turn your sewn pieces right side out.
Step Five Stuff your chicken with the poly-fill!! I put quite a bit in to make it pretty firm. Then stitch the opening closed. The last step is to add the eyes. I sewed a knot for the eyes. I went straight through the fabric from one side to the next. I used a French knot several times but you can also glue or sew on buttons. TaaDaa!! A stuffed chicken!!
FINISHED!
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May - June 2020 | Page 11
The Call was Given and You Answered . . .
By Robin Snyder
As we all know that personal protective equipment (PPE) is in high demand and there is not enough to go around to all health care and frontline workers. So the call was issued for those who can sew to make masks and boy did you answer!!! These masks are not being used for COVID-19 care but for many of the other health issues still being addressed by health care workers, first responders and frontline people. The CDC is now recommending that the general public wear facemasks when out in public places such as the grocery store and pharmacy. COVID-19 can spread from people that have it but have no symptoms. So if you have to be in places where there are more people a cloth face mask is beneficial. So I wondered just how many organizations were asking for cloth masks and who are making them? As quilters I thought that almost all of you are doing this. So I called around to quilt shops and follow seamstresses to see how many people were sewing. I got a huge response. The shops that I contacted all said they are making masks and they knew of other people that were also. The numbers of masks being made surprised me. I thought probably a total of several hundred but… oh NO more like thousands! I asked also if organizations were still asking for them and all responded yes they were. Organizations that are asking for these masks are military bases, law enforcement, grocery stores and pharmacies, janitors, delivery people and of course hospitals and long-term care facilities. Then there are people that feel more comfortable being out in the public with a mask on. So a million masks is probably too low a number to “mask up” all these people. Keep in mind that cloth masks are used like disposable ones, you wear them once till they get wet and then launder them, and so one person may need quite a few masks. You don’t need to be a great seamstress to make masks. There are many patterns out there. There are patterns on almost all social media sites. There are also ways to make them without sewing, if you don’t know how to sew or know of anyone that does. Even the Surgeon General has a video on how to make one without sewing! There are lots of different types of masks that you can make. Some organizations have a pattern they like best if you are making them for that organization. I think it is amazing how history repeats itself. Quilters and seamstresses have always answered the call to provide what is needed to our country. If we needed blankets after the war we made them from anything that could be found. At the time of the Spanish Flu in 1918 all people who could sew where called to make masks as the “prophylactic” masks were in short supply. The last question I have is when this is all over is what are we going to do with all these masks?? I bet we can think of something…………….
WYOMING’S 3RD ANNUAL COWBOY YARN CRAWL Local yarn stores in Wyoming will be having their 3rd annual Cowboy Yarn Crawl. This year’s crawl will be active from August 1 through September 30, 2020. This obviously is dependent on the status of Covid-19 recommendations for that time frame. We have seven participating stores: Mountain Meadow Wool in Buffalo, Ewe Count in Cheyenne, Cowgirl Yarn in Laramie, Pingora Yarns in Lander, Knit on Pearl in Jackson, and Grand Loop Yarns in Cody. Passports can be picked up at participating stores. Grand prize picked from crawlers who visit all seven stores. Free stitch marker from each store and individual store prizes as well. See more at our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cowboyyarncrawl/.
Page 12 | May - June 2020
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$25 Gift Certificate Winner Cynthia Ketron
Won a $25 gift certificate to her favorite shop –
The Fiber House in Sheridan, WY
To enter the next drawing, fill out the form on page 14 or email
kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
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think that spring is on the horizon. There are a couple of special occasions coming up to start making plans for a celebration. St. Patrick’s Day is on Tuesday, March 17th. You don’t have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Whether you have Irish friends or family, you can still have a wonderfulMay get together. - June 2020 | Page 13 ©Lesley R Nuttall is the Author of Secrets of Party Planning. She lives in Dryden, ON Canada with her husband.
Do you know who a DIGITABULISTS is? By Judy Sharer
If you collect these as a hobby, you are called a Digitabulist. Can you guess what object a Digitabulist collects? Here are a few hints: • The name for what you collect comes from an Old English word for thumb. • The object can be made of many materials such as brass, silver, bone china, rubber, and plastic to name a few. • You can find these collectables at tourist attractions, antique shops, flea markets, yard sales, fabric stores, and many more. • The items come in many shapes and sizes with infinite decorative elements. • The cost of one can range from a few dollars to hundreds. • If you hand quilt, you probably own at least one. • These collectable objects can hold sentimental meaning, come from around the world, and are often attractively displayed in a case or hanging on the wall.
A MOTHER’S LOVE by Lesley Nuttall, Dryden, ON, Canada They say love is blind, and it must be true, A Mother’s love stretches to the moon, and right back to you. She loved you before you even opened your eyes, with complete loving devotion that could fill the skies. The magic component of a Mother’s love, has more loving patience than you could think of. She provides gentleness daily, and a guiding hand, inspiring joy and confidence as if it were planned. A Mother is the greatest friend anyone has ever had. She will cheer you up when you might feel sad. And she can turn a frown upside down, while encouraging smiling faces all around. She has given the gift of life to you. Her loving heart overflows; if only you knew. Being loved by such a Mother, as time quickly flies, is a blessing for you, with a Mother so wise.
Have you guessed what a DIGITABULIST collects? One more hint, • If you ever played Monopoly, you may have moved this piece around the board until March of 2017 when it was replaced. Yes, you guessed it! A DIGITABLIST is a Thimble Collector! To learn about thimbles, the protective device used at the end of a digit (finger, in this case) when pushing a threaded needle through layers of material, a search of the internet reveals a wide range of interesting thimble topics, photographs, and groups that focus on this all-important element of the sewing kit. Judy Sharer is the author of A Plains Life series published by The Wild Rose Press. Book One, Settler’s Life and Book Two, Second Chance Life are now available wherever online books are sold. Book three will be released Fall of 2020. If you’re a quilter, you’ll enjoy Judy’s sweet historical romance series which has a thread of quilting that runs throughout the family saga series. Visit Judy’s website for more details. judysharer.com
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ART in t he Barn is Canceled, but dates are set for 2021! See you t here!
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Quilters, Knitters, NeedleArtists: Find Your Favorite Shops When You Travel! Visit
NeedleTravel.com
to find shops online for FREE! Or order the 2020 edition of our Travel Guide for only $9.95
Makes a great gift!
needletravel.com or 888-737-0847
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Page 14 | May - June 2020
Advertiser Directory by Name
Win a $25 Gift Certificate!
Always Your Design • Dell Rapids, SD......................................................... 5
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to be used at YOUR FAVORITE SHOP!
Betty’s Quiltery • Rapid City, SD................................................................ 16
Just fill out this form and send it to:
The Country Register P.O. Box 2015 Belle Fourche, SD 57717
May - June 2020 Entry OR visit www.moxiemarketingmw.com, click on The Country Register to sign up online Name________________________________________________________ Phone________________________________________________________ Email ________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________
Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce • Belle Fourche, SD......................... 8 Black Hills Visitor Center • Rapid City, SD................................................. 12 Covered Wagon, The • Torrington, WY........................................................ 6 Creative Closet • Townsend, MT.................................................................. 6 Dakota Quilt Company • Spearfish, SD..................................................... 16 Fiber House, The • Sheridan, WY............................................................... 13 Knothole, The • Spearfish, SD................................................................... 16
City_____________________________ State ____________ Zip__________
Lickety Stitch Quits • Lusk, WY.................................................................. 16
Favorite Shop Advertised___________________________________________
Lickety Stitch Quits • Lusk, WY.................................................................. 16
This is My Favorite Shop Because______________________________________
Moxie Marketing of the Midwest • Black Hills, SD................................... 16
My Favorite Feature(s) of The Country Register_____________________________
North Country Fiber Fair • Watertown, SD................................................ 14
Found This Issue At_______________________________________________
Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop • Edgemont, SD................................................ 16
Are You a:
Regular Reader or
First Time Reader
What stores would like to see in The Country Register? (include town) ____________________________________________________________
Entries received by June 7, 2020, with all questions answered will qualify for the drawing. One gift certificate is given away each issue.
Office Emporium/Gone to Pieces Quilts • Belle Fourche, SD...................... 8 Quilt Connection • Rapid City, SD............................................................. 16 Quilt Connection 2 • Buffalo, SD............................................................... 16 Quilters Corner • Faulkton, SD.................................................................... 5 Quilt Yard, The • Pierre, SD.......................................................................... 5 Wall Drug • Wall, SD................................................................................. 12 Wyoming Quilt Shop Hop • Wyoming........................................................ 2
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May - June 2020 | Page 15
10 Things I’m Going to Do When “Normal” Returns: The Clouds Have Lifted on This Crisis 1. Hug Family Members 2. Eat at a Restaurant or Meet Friends at a Coffee Shop 3. Go On Vacation or Travel to See Family/Friends 4. Go to My Favorite Fabric Store 5. Go to the Gym or Yoga Class 6. See a Movie 7. Go to a Craft Fair 8. Go Shopping 9. Play Sports with Friends – Golf, Basketball, Baseball, etc 10. Go to a Concert or Play What else will you do?
Page 16 | May - June 2020
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