Time Flies By...

Can you believe it, tomorrow will be March 1.   I got a lot accomplished this month.  But I owe it all to the Blogs I follow.  You have all inspired me to get more done and try new things.  I don't think I would have done half as much.  So a BIG THANK YOU to all of you.

When my husband Terry and I took off for a few days we stopped off at Country Stitches.  I already told you that but I forgot to say that I picked up an older BOM kit.  It came with the pattern and fabric to make this 14" block.  (It was $3.00 on clearance)  It is a Bears Paw block but definitely not the traditional one.  I am thinking of making it the center of a Medallion Quilt. 

I worked on my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.  I have to make extra blocks since Joanne's blocks are larger than my 6" blocks.  I won't show you the blocks yet since I have to cut more sashing and border pieces.

I know some of you have heard of the new Frixtion Roller Jel Pen.  When used on fabric the lines will disappear when ironed or steamed.  I have used it to mark quilting designs on small quilts, to trace applique pieces and for embroidery.  The only problem I had was when used on hand dyed or Batiks it removed the color and left a thin white line.  So I would suggest testing it out on a scrap of the fabric you will be using.  The photo shown here is an applique block that I marked out the placement of the pieces.   Note, I am not a spokesperson for the product but I am a very satisfied customer. 

While watching the Oscars last night I worked on Sunflower
Quilt #1.  I used a Scrapbooking template for the center of the sunflower.  It is a turtle shell swirl and I marked it with the frixtion pen.  Look close and you can see the swirl pattern.  I used steam from my iron on it and Waa Laa.....

The markings disappeared.

I just love this pen.

     

So lets revisit my To-Do list from last week:

1. Finish small wall quilt. ( Done and hanging on the wall as we speak.)
2. Sandwich Sunflower Quilt #2.  (Hopefully I will get it done during the month of March)
3. Make 10 more Log Cabin Bow Tie Blocks.  (I only got 4 more made)
4. Make more Thread Head Quilt-a-Long blocks.
5. Keep current with Barbara Brackman Civil War Blocks.

Besides the above, I started hand quilting Sunflower Quilt #1, started hand appliqueing Granny's Hankies BOM #1 and finished a couple of Christmas gifts.

Not sure what my To-Do list for this week will be.  I just need to keep current with BOM, cut the sashing and border pieces for my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long, and make more Log Cabin Bow Tie Blocks. 

So I plan on keeping real busy.  How about you?  I wish you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Free Snow

I'll ship anywhere....lol   I am sooooo ready for spring.

Last night I finished up a couple of Christmas gifts.  They are candle mats.  I love the Spider Web look to them.  Allie at allie-oops sweet happy life is encouraging everyone to start and finish Christmas gifts.  Each month you get a chance to win something by finishing and posting a picture on your blog.  The link is here on my blog.

I finished the next block for Joanne's Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.  We are almost done.  Then it will be time to finish putting together my quilt top.  I can't wait.  Big thanks to Joanne for posting the blocks, directions and the inspiration for this quilt.

Since I finally finished hand quilting DH's quilt I pulled out another quilt to hand quilt.  I'm trying to do these in the order that I finished them.  It's a Sunflower quilt but not the one I have been showing you.  It is also a design of my own from orphan blocks.  And I am addicted to 3" 9 patch blocks.  I put them in a lot of my quilts.  I love Sunflowers.  Could you tell...lol. 

So my wish for you today is no more snow, blue skies and sunshine and Sunflowers.  Have a quilty day....

Hugs, Cat

What a Week

What a week it has been.  First all the snow melts and then we get 14" of snow.  My husband had a few days off and we were going to take off for a day or two.  He spent almost all of Monday shoveling snow.  Tuesday morning he said we needed to get away....so off we went.

We headed west...to the west side of Michigan that is.  The first stop was Battlecreek.  We went to the FireStarters Casino.  It was big.  However we did'nt do to good.  So we took off again.

This time we headed to Lansing and to my favorite quilt shop.  Country Stitches.  I bought a few patterns and got some fabric.  The light fabric is what I am going to use for the Granny's Hankies BOM.  You can't really see, but it has little sprigs of leaves all over.  It is not just white.  The other two are a reproduction fabric.  Now I haven't bought much fabric in the last four years because of being with my Dad and no fabric shops in sight.  Now the big problem is where to put the fabric.  I am running out of room....but it is a nice problem to have.

We ended up staying in Lansing over night.  When we got up in the morning there was a heavy, I mean heavy frost everywhere.  Here's a picture of the tree outside the motel.  The ice was thick. 

On the road again and we headed to Williamston and Mason for some antiquing.  We stopped at one shop and found an adorable quilt from 30's.  It showed some wear, a few holes but I fell in love and it was only $20.00.

I think I'm going to reproduce this quilt in more modern fabrics.  But isn't it sweet?

When we got home last night I immediately ran to my computer to check e-mail, and of course all the blogs I follow.  I was happy to find out that my partner in the Mug Rug swap finally received her package.  I had mailed it to her 2 weeks ago.  She lives in Canada and I was told that it did take longer.  So now I am relieved she received them and she likes them.

I then sat down and finished sewing the binding on my wall quilt that I have been working on

forever.  It started out as a Christmas gift for my husband the last year I was up north with Dad.  I gave it to him partially quilted.  Well I forgot to take it back up north with me and hubby forgot where he put it.  So this Christmas I was down in the basement looking for boxes to wrap presents in and low and behold I found the quilt still in the box I put it in.  So I felt obligated to finish it before I could start hand quilting another project.  This quilt is a design by Lori Smith.  It was hard to piece (so please overlook the multitude of piecing errors).  It was also hard to hand quilt.  But I got it done.  I also misplaced the binding I had made for the quilt.  In the move back home from up north I have things packed in boxes all over the house.  Too many to go through.  So off to the fabric store for more fabric.  Unfortunately I couldn't find the exact shade of rust for the binding.  But I think I came real close.

Now I'm off to wash all the fabric I just bought and work on the latest Thread Head Quilt-a-Long block.   Here is the last one.  I forgot to post this picture. 

So have a quilty day...get lots done and post some great pics.

Hugs, Cat

And Then The Lights Went Out....

I was all set for the Friday Night Sew In.  I had my jammies on.  My plans for what to work on all set out.  I sat in my easy chair to do a little hand quilting before heading to my sewing room when there was a bang and a flash of light....then darkness.  The wind was so strong that it ripped down a power line.  All my plans gone up in darkness.  The power finally came back on around 1:00am. 

So I didn't get anything done last night but I did get a lot done yesterday.  I finished sewing the first 3 rows of my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.  I also worked on a few more blocks for it.
I am really happy with the way it is turning out.

About 10 years ago I bought a quilted fabric check book cover.  Over the years it has gotten quite worn and the fabric is now shiny.  So I took this forlorn check book cover into my sewing room, took some measurements and made myself a new one.  I like the way it turned out.  I'm thinking of making some more for Christmas presents.  Oops...If my daughters read this pretend you didn't see this.  lol

I finally finished my little yellow Churn Dash Quilt I made for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  Now I just have to get it sent in.  

My accomplishments have been many but there are many more to do.  Here is my last To-Do List:

1. Finish Quilting Wall Quilt (I'm half way there)
2. Keep up with current Quilt A Longs. 
3. Start Bunny Hill BOM (Finished Jan. and Feb. blocks)
4. Start Pat Sloan's Mystery Quilt.  (Started and finished first clue)

Now for this coming week's To-Do List:

1. Finish quilting my wall quilt.
2. Sandwich my Sunflower quilt and start hand quilting.
3. Make at least 10 more Log Cabin Bow Tie blocks.
4. Make more blocks for the Thread Head Quilt-a-Long quilt.
5. Work on Barbara Brackman CW blocks.

 Remember it is time to vote for the 2 color quilts at the Quilting Gallery (http://quiltinggallery.com/)  My quilt is called Persian Gates.  There are some beautiful quilts there.

Well I had better get busy.  Lots to do and places to go.  Hope you have a quilty day.
Hugs, Cathy

 

Time to Vote

Well it is Friday and time to vote on the 2-color quilts at the Quilting gallery.

There are lots of beautiful quilts.  So if you so choose, please vote for my little quilt "Persian Gates". 
http://quiltinggallery.com/







No sewing  yesterday.  Went with my daughter to pick up my grandson from college.  He goes to school at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.  There just happens to be a casino there and we just happened to go.  Walked out with $7.00 more than I walked in with.  But we had fun.

Hope you have a quilty day.  Hugs, Cat

Sun's Shining....

And the snow is melting.  Its time to change my heading picture.  This is a picture I took my last Spring on Big Lake Manistique.  Snow is gone and the ice is melting.  Spring is in the air.

I Entered Again

It is so much fun to enter contests.  Yesterday I saw that the theme for the Quilting Gallery's weekly contest was 2 color quilts.  I was bummed because I didn't think I had one. 

I was reading some of my favorite blogs and my friend Terry at Terry's Treasures(http://terrytreasures.blogspot.com/) had the sweetest little quilt she had just paper pieced.  You should check it out. 

 That reminded me of a quilt I made in 1997.

The quilt measures 9" x 10 1/2".  It was made with  3/4" strips of fabric and 1/8" seam allowance.  The name of the pattern is "Persian Gates"  So I entered my little quilt in the weekly contest.  When you get a chance stop on over to The Quilting Gallery (there is a link here on my blog) and check out the 2 color quilts.  And if you would be so kind vote for mine.

Have a quilty day.   Hugs, Cat

Sunny and a High of 35

What a difference sunshine makes.  It just brings a smile to your face.  And it is suppose to be in the 50's the next couple of days.  Looks like Spring will be here in no time.

My electronic sewing machine has been acting up lately.  So I packed her up and put her aside and brought out my old stand-by.   Yep my Featherweight.  This is #1.  I have 2 others.  The second one a friend of my mothers gave to me when I was up north taking care of Dad.  The third one my hubby bought real cheap while I was up north.  I use it for parts.  I don't know why I don't use this one more often.  I use the quarter inch foot from my electronic machine on this and it gives me the perfect quarter inch seam.

I've been working on my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long quilt.  I need to make extra blocks seeing I am making 6" blocks and Joanne made 9 blocks. I have the first row and sashing

rows sewn together.  I like the way it looks.  It will have 7 blocks across and 8 blocks down.  My husband really likes this one, but he is a Civil War buff and likes anything Civil War.  I'm hoping to get 3 rows done by tonight.  In case you are wondering....my design wall is made of 2 flannel backed tablecloths sewn together lengthwise and tacked to one wall of my sewing room.  I like it because I can put up 3 or 4 smaller projects at once.

Speaking of smaller projects.  I pieced together the background of my Pat Sloan's mystery quilt.  I got the  embroidery done and the water appliqued to the background.  I'm not sure if I like my background, one is too dark and the other too light.  But we will wait and see.  It just might be okay.

I had mentioned before that I was involved in a Mug Rug Swap.  In the mail yesterday I got my mug rugs.  They were made by Jan from Missouri.  She also sent me some coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

I really like them.  It was a fun swap .

Well, my sewing machine is calling and I have lots to do so I better get going. 

Hope you have a quilty day.  Hugs Cat

I Won

I woke up this morning and checked my email.  There was a message from Kate, The Quilting Professor.  I won a book from her.  She gave me a choice of three books.  One I had and I told her to surprise me, so she is picking one for me from the other 2 books.   I am so excited.   Thank you Kate.  Check out her blog.  http://quiltingprofessor.blogspot.com/

Have a quilty day.  Hugs Cat

Sunny - But Cooooold

It was good to see the sun today.  It was cold but it looks like it is going to be warm next week.  I can't wait.

I've been working on a multitude of projects.   I made the current Barbara Brackman block (log cabin).  But in my haste I reversed the light and dark.  So I guess I need to redo it.  I also finished Block #16 from the Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.  It is called Wedding Ring.  She chose this one because her anniversary was this week.  I had to laugh...mine was too.  Only I forgot mine.  But my husband remembered...lol

I put a new border on my Sunflower quilt, but I'm not going to show you it till it is finished.  I still need to redo some of the applique.  I already decided on how I will quilt it. 

I started Pat Sloan's mystery quilt.  I just love her quilts.  I have the background pieced and am almost done embroidering the saying on the water piece.  Then I have to applique it to the background.  Once I get done with that I will show you.

I was reading some of my favorite blogs and on Sew Unique Creations (http://www.sewuniquecreationsblog.com/)  she had a picture of some of the cutest bow tie blocks. I thought I would really like to make some.  So I went into EQ5 and did a search on Bow Tie.  I was surprised what came up.  The traditional bow tie came up along with a block that is similar to courthouse steps only on the diagonal.   I'm foundation piecing the block.  I have bags and bags of scraps and this will be an ideal way to use them up.  My blocks are 6".  I will probably work on them when I'm caught up on other projects.

I keep starting so many UFO's that I think it is time I try to finish some.  LOL  But it is so much fun to start a new project.

Here's hoping you have a quilty day.  Hugs, Cathy

Long Time No See...

I've been quiet this week.  But I've been busy.  I did a lot of hand work.  I finished the first 2 blocks from Bunny Hill BOM.  I will add the buttons after all the blocks are done.  I'm more of a country colors type of gal rather than the pastel look of the original quilt.   But I think it is looking good.

I also worked on my Sunflower quilt.  I sewed 3 1/2" x 2" neutral strips together on the 3 1/2" sides to form borders for the quilt.  I didn't like it at all.  I can't show you what it looked like because I took it all off.  I had to undo some of my applique to do it.

So it's back to square one.  I plan on just adding a single border then reattach the applique.  I'm going to work on this tonight during the "Friday Night Sew In"  You can sign up at: http://www.craftyvegasmom.blogspot.com

You will get a chance to win prizes.  I'm also going to work on the current Thread Head Quilt-a-Long block.

I've got my fabrics picked out for Pat Sloan's Mystery Quilt.  It looks like it is going to be fun.   It has a day at the beach kind of look.

Well we had a few days of sunshine and it was glorious, cold but glorious.  Woke up this morning and guess what?  Not only no sunshine but that 4 letter word.  SNOW.  But it does look nice.  They are the big fat fluffy snow flakes that look like feathers floating.  However, no matter how nice it looks it is still snow. 

So stay warm and have a quilty day.  Hugs Cat

My Little Piece of Spring

Like so many others I have had the winter blahs.  But this little plant is going to help send them away.  While grocery shopping yesterday I saw this sweet little Primrose plant.  I told my husband it was so pretty so he bought it for me.  It brightens my day just looking at it.  Especially since today it is snowing again...

I got quilte a bit of sewing accomplished this week.  Here is my To-Do list from last Monday:

1. Finish up the blocks for the Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.
2. Start Barbara Brackman Civil War Blocks.
3. Finish appliqueing sunflower petals.

4. Finish hand quilting small wall hanging.

Three out of four isn't bad.  I got caught up on Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.  These are blocks 10-15.  I made 2 of everyblock but I'm just showing you these.

I made all the Barbara Brackman blocks except for Seven Sisters.  I'm going to start working on it this week. As you can see I did the last block my way.  As always I like to be a little different.

So here is my To-Do List for this week:

1. Finish quilting wall quilt.
2. Keep current with Quilt-a-Longs.
3. Start work on Bunny Hill BOM.
4. Start Pat Sloan's new Mystery Quilt.

For those of you in warm climates, enjoy your sunshine.  For those of you in the Snow Belt, keep warm and safe driving in the snow.  To everyone, have a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

P.S. This I hit the Publish button instead of Preview so part of this got posted.  Here's hoping the rest will now be posted.

Do You Remember Interquilt?

This morning I was getting reacquainted with a fellow former member of Interquilt, Lori.  It brought back so many memories....block swaps, fabric swaps, Secret Sister, and get togethers. 

  I was fortunate to go to the Interquilt Convention in Lancaster in 1999.  I met so many of the women who I had been swapping with for years.  Interquilt had a "Squishy Challenge" in connection with the convention.  You sent in 3 ugly fabrics to Melissa (the Web Mistress), and she sent back someone else's ugly fabrics plus one she chose to send to all participants.  The bottom picture shows the back of the quilt.  I used my uglies for it.  The top is the fabric Melissa sent to all participants, the 3 uglies were: 1.  a blue with pinwheels, 2. a very ugly hand dyed, and finally #3 a batik with zebras.  We could add 2 additional fabrics.  Top picture shows the quilt I made.  It is button hole applique.  I added black and the red inner border.  I won the challenge and then I entered my little quilt in my guilds quilt show.  I was so excited to win first place.

This shows the good side of the Internet.  Quilters from all over the world who get together to further the craft of quilting.  Interquilt is now gone but many of those friendships still exist.  I was away from the Internet for 4 years while taking care of my Dad.  Once back home I got reconnected with friends through Facebook.  That led to Blogs and then  starting my own.   I am learning so much through these online friends. 

I've been in my sewing room, sewing all morning with my back to the window.  When I went to get my laptop I looked out the window and what did I see.....SNOW!  I don't know about you but I have had it up to hear with SNOW. 

Hoping you are having a quilty day.  Hugs, Cat

Another Sunny Day

Just a short note to let you know that I entered a quilt in the Quilting Gallery weekly contest.  This weeks theme is quilts made from half-square triangles.

It's a small little quilt (9 1/2" x 12 1/2") made up of trimmings from a larger quilt.

So stop on over to the Quilting Gallery check out the quilts and if you like vote for me. 

Have a quilty day (I will)...Hugs Cat

What a Glorious Day

The sun is shinning and it's beautiful....A very nice change from yesterday.  My husband and son had to work late so my nice neighbors cleared our drive and sidewalks.  Both husband and son made it home okay and while we were eating dinner the snow plow came and cleared our street.  In doing so they filled our driveway approach and blocked my husbands van.  So he had to go out and clear a way the snow so he could get out.  This morning he repaid the neighbors by going out and removing the snow deposited in their driveways.  It's nice to have good neighbors.

I did get some sewing done yesterday.  2 more blocks for the Tread Head Quilt-a-Long.  I would have had to make 5 more blocks to get caught up....but now it is 6.  Joanne posted the 15th block.  Her blocks are beautiful.  Sometimes I think I was nuts to do 6" blocks instead of 9".  They have been challenging but I've been happy with the outcome.

I got the center of my sunflower basted on.  Next I need to think of what type of border to do.  It will definitely be a pieced border, but I'm not sure if it will be a piano border in neutrals or a block done in light and dark neutrals.  It will be fun to play.

Have a quilty day......Hugs, Cat

We Survived.....

Well, it wasn't as bad as we thought.  They said we got 6" to 10".  I think we were somewhere in the middle.  Although it's hard to tell.  The wind was so strong last night and the snow drifted quilte a bit.  This is a picture outside my front door.  It's snowing right now, but it is a fine snow.  It is suppose to stop sometime around noon. 

I hope everyone in the line of the storm survived as well. 

Besides worrying about the storm, I got some sewing done.  I worked on Barbara Brackmans Civil War Blocks. 

The sawtooth star block was easy.  It is one of my favorite blocks and I have made it many times.  Texas Tears is another story.  This is the second one I made.  I won't even show you the first.  It was sooooo bad that it wouldn't lay flat.  So I printed up the block in blockbase and found I was cutting the pieces for the X to wide.  I'm happy with my final result.
So now I have 3 done and 2 to go.

EQ posted February's block.  I'm always so last minute with everything that I decided to get this one done right away.  My choice of colors is so different from the samples they give, but I always did like to be different. 


And BTW I found the fabric for the center of my sunflower.  I was looking for something different and there it was.  So today I will cut out the center, baste it down and applique it tonight. 

Now I'm going to have another cup of coffee, one of my breakfast muffins, and then off to the sewing room.  Today I'm going to work on my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long blocks.

Have a quilty day.....Hugs, Cat

Hunker Down....Here Comes the Storm

All they are doing on the news is talking about the impending storm.  We are suppose to get between 10"- 12".  I'm hoping they are wrong....but if not it will be a good time to quilt.

I worked on my To-Do list yesterday.   The block on the left is the first block of Barbara Brackman's  Civil War Blocks.  One down and 3 to go.  The block on the right is Block #7 of Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.  Seven more and I will be caught up.

I also finished appliqueing all the petals on my Sunflower Quilt.  Now I just need to find the fabric I planned on using for the center of the Sunflower.  I started working on this in May, 2010 and now I can't remember where I put the fabric. 
I designed this quilt from a photo a friend of mine took.  He was surprised when I asked him for permission to use his photo.  But gladly gave it.  I can't wait to show him the finished quilt. 

I want to share a recipe with you.  I found this on Debbie Mumm's Web page.  These are really delicious.

MORNING COFFEE MUFFINS

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 c. white sugar
2 t. baking soda
2 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
2 c. shredded carrots
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. unsweetened flaked coconut (I don't add this)
1 apple - peeled, cored and shredded
3 eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
2 t. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C.) Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flours, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Stir in the carrot, raisins, dried cranberries, nuts, coconut and apple.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla.  Stir egg mixture into the carrot/flour mixture, just until moistened.  Scoop into prepared muffin cups.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

I made a batch of these last night.  I put them in the freezer and heat in Microwave to have with my morning coffee.  They are really good.

Well we are under a weather advisory from 7:00 pm tonight until 7:00 pm tomorrow.  So hunker down, keep warm, keep safe and quilt.

Have a quilty day....Hugs, Cat