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I have a very good friend who has a husband going through cancer treatments. When he was diagnosed and I knew the hours upon hours she’d be spending at his treatments with him, I wanted to put together some sort of hand sewing project. The tricky part is that I didn’t want to give her something that required thinking, measuring, figuring… even reading an embroidery pattern seemed like it might require too much mental concentration.
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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”.
Good Sunday morning….I wanted to write before I read your “site” here…I have been a subscriber of Mary Janes for many many years..and am so sad to hear the publication will be ending….was my FAVORITE magazine….I hope that you and the other girls that I get info from…like this one you sent…will continue…How can I make sure it does? or just “dont do anything”…. appreciate all your posts and info….Kris from the Ga mts
A beautiful idea. Thanks for sharing the process; particularly taking a photo. I very much enjoy reading your columns.
What an awesome idea and it’s so beautiful 😍. I’m going to try it. Thank you. I’m so glad for this blog because I sure do miss the magazine. Thanks for the awesome inspiration.
I used to hand embroider and cross stitch. Since I purchased my embroidery machine I digitized a lot of my patterns. However, it’s not the same. I’m back to doing hand embroidery and cross stitch.
Beautiful idea! Thanks for sharing it ❤️ Hiw do you make a “needle holder”?
I just love this! I made a pin cushion some years ago with fabric scraps, lace and buttons but couldn’t bring myself to use any of my Grandmother’s doilies, hankies or quilt pieces. Now that the years have gone by I feel inspired to create something with those pieces that I can pass on to my younger nieces and cousins. Using our grandma’s treasures will be extra special. Thank you Dori!
This is a beautiful little project. I have containers with these sweet vintage scraps that now I know what to do with!
Dori – This beyond adorable – You are so very creative! – Thanks for sharing – Meri
Dear Dori, Your post today couldn’t have come at a better time! Thank you. I’ve been looking over patterns and thinking about how measuring, cutting and perfecting would be hard to do right now. This is just perfect. Im usually silent in the comment department, but truly appreciate every one of your posts and all MJF sisters. You are amazing and inspiring women. Stay warm and safe on this stormy day!
What a beautiful thing to do for your friend! I love slow stitching and how sweet yours came out too. Maybe if I make a kit I will be more apt to grab it when on the go. I actually have a kit I’m working on that a farmsister gifted to me.
Thanks Dori! Love this slow stitch as a gift.
It’s perfect
I absolutely love this post! My eyes ate up all your lovely pictures! I’m going to make a kit also, and I have an antique tin to keep it in. Thank you so much for the inspiration.
wonderful idea! I am sure this project brought as much peace to you as it did to your friend & this will be her positive out of the place she’s in with her husband.
gentle hugs, Char
Awesome idea. Thank You for sharing. This could be used for other events in life.
Could you show us the printed paper you put in the kit?? Thank You
What a lovely idea! I’ve spent many hours at a hospital bedside before. It’s very hard for both patient and companion. How wonderful it would have been to have something like this to occupy the hands and mind, as well as relieving the patient’s worry if they feel they are a burden.
Beautiful. I love the idea of using clothespins to spool thread!
Hi Dori,
I love your slow stitching project! I used to stay away from any kind of hand stitching, except binding my quilts, or slow stitching. Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t be any good at it. Then one year, I started a quilt project that required a LOT of applique. I found that I enjoyed the process and started looking for other hand stitching projects to work on. I got into EPP and from there I began making little wool and flannel projects. I have since started a number of original slow stitch projects including a stitch journal (still under construction). It’s amazing how satisfying it is to create these little projects. Thank you for sharing the gift for your friend and your insights into the joy of slow stitching.
Stacy S. Farmgirl Sister 7112
I thoroughly enjoyed your blog. I’ve been fascinated by slow stitching for some time now. I love the concept of using fabric scraps from the past as a way to preserve memories of special people and places. The kit is perfect for allowing your friend to take her time, letting go of perfection and precision, and simply relaxing and enjoying the creative process.
That kit looks awesome. I may try that but, with my grandsons 1st clothes. It may take
a little longer and be a litter bigger, You gave me something to look forward in doing
Wonderful gift. It is very hard going through what your friend is. I’ve been there twice. You’re tired and want to take your mind off all your problems. You have a very good and beautiful heart.
Beautiful thoughts going into this project. Your piece is really lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Outstanding, Dorie.
Just the right size. She won’t feel overwhelmed. Just loved, and inspired.
Distraction therapy 🙂