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Hello Farmgirl Friends!! As most of you know, I love absolutely anything that is quilted… whether it is one of my quilts that I’m snuggled under, a quilt coat I’m wearing that I made from a vintage quilt, a book bag I’ve made from quilted fabric… anything quilted is my favorite!
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is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
It depends on the season, and the weather! In winter, in my cozy bed…and in warmer weather, outside my Little House…but I love that many projects are portable, so most any place will do!
“My favorite place to be when quilting is at Highland Sr. Center/Home Arts” with a lovely and talented group of ladies. Each quilter in this group is very talented and stitch up a lot quilts through the year (we meet every Tuesday).
We all have other crafts we enjoy; so, on any Tuesday, you will see quilting, weaving, knitting, twining and other wonderful projects being completed.
My favorite place: Texas, for quilting, sewing, or anything.
My favorite place to be consists of two areas. First is my comfort area, the sewing/laundry room in my parents 100 year old home. There are so many memories. But my very favorite place to be is in our very little rural church on Wednesday afternoons. The church quilters meet for an afternoon of quilting and visiting. We are all there for each other from the birth of great grandchildren to the sadness of losing a spouse. Ages range from 50 to over 80, but age means nothing when we are together. There is learning from each other, laughing with each other, hugs when tears are shed, and of course quilting. We have coffee time and everyone shares some goodies. Well over 100 quilts a year are donated which gives us much pleasure. It’s small town, it’s sharing, and it’s a special place to bond. It’s a wonderful place to be.
Ginger,
Can I say that your comment was so incredible… I could just put myself there with all you precious ladies. Actually I wish I was there!!! What an incredible thing to have and the best place and people to help share the burden of all of life’s woes… and share in the happiness of all of life’s good things. Hang on to those ladies and that time together!!!
And over 100 quilts a year??? THAT is the best thing ever!
~ Dori ~
I have few favorite places that I like to quilt. Quietly hand quilting on the couch at the end of the day when my husband and I watch TV together. With my neighborhood fellow quilters , we meet 3 times a month at a home , always good conversation and help if needed.
Joanne,
Fellow quilters are the BEST!!!!
~ Dori ~
The hearts are adorable. I love sewing in my sewing room !
I love to quilt in my sewing room.
My favorite place to quilt is sitting on the back porch with the dog in the early afternoon sun.
Vanessa,
I love quilting on my porch as well!!! Most relaxing place!
~ Dori ~
I am not much of a quilter but love to do crafts. I especially love to watercolor cards for all my friends and relatives.
I have subscribed to Mary Jane magazine for several years now. Don’t disturb me on the day it arrives in the mail because I read it from cover to cover. I also share them with my church ladies and have sent a subscription to my grandaughter. Her daughters (3) love it, too, when it comes in there mail on rural Colorado
Margaret,
My grand-girls love MaryJanesFarm magazine as well! I love watercolor cards… I have no artistic ability when it comes to drawing/painting/ etc… but wow do I admire those that do!
~ Dori ~
I love to do my crafts in the sun room. Your quilted heart would brighten up that room.
Carole,
A sun room is PERFECT of all kinds of crafts! And yes… for a quilted heart too!
~ Dori ~
I love to quilt in my living room. If it’s hand piecing or knot tying my quilt. I can be around my husband and spending quality time with him even if he’s watching tv.
My favorite place to quilt is in my art studio, but my studio and our home were lost in hurricane Helene. I don’t say that for pity it is simply fact. So, my favorite current place to quilt is on the floor of a room in our long term rental. Losing so much is hard but a blessing too. Ultimately it’s the people and the experiences that are important. Most of the things can be replaced. I have, in this moment, a chance to gain a new perspective on my life, on what I bring into it. I set out to make a memory quilt for my son as he quickly arrives at college graduation. It was scrappy and my back hurt for days from working on the ground but I got it done. Creating, quilting, cooking, spending time with people…these are the things that I’m focused on. The where isn’t as important anymore.
My favorite place to quilt is in the cozy confines of our home. I work full-time so any time I can squeeze a few precious hours to do my quilting, sewing, baking, or crafting, I grab it. Long time reader of MJ magazine!
I handquilt very little anymore, but when I do my favorite place is in my recliner, under my Ott light, with my hubby in his chair and a crime show on TV. Love the hearts!