Glorious Sunshine

Two days of thunderstorms and two days of glorious sunshine.  Hot and humid but I'm not complaining (even though I don't like hot and humid) because it is beautiful out. 

Got some sewing done.

I made two stars with the freezer paper piecing method.  I was quite surprised how easy it was.  It is amazing that after 25 years of quilting I have never tried this.  I will definitely do this again.

Then I made the Log Cabin Star Block.  I am really enjoying making the Primitive Primer.  Don't know why I waited so long to work on it.  I've had the book for years.

The latest Barbara Brackman CW block.  Not real happy with the way it turned out so I plan on redoing the block.  I am having fun with these blocks.

I've seen so many curved flying geese projects lately and wanted to try it myself.  Don't ask me how I came up with this one.  I traced around a roll of tape on vellum paper and then traced around the inner ring of an embroidery hoop.  Then I drew lines cutting across the ring and then drew the triangle units.  I made a copy of it just in case it actually turned out so I could make more of them.  I added 1/4" seam allowance inside and outside the circle.  I cut the pattern at the bottom of one of the triangles.  That made it easier to sew.  Once all the flying geese were made I trimmed  the ends to 1/4" so I could sew the ring together. 

Now my big question is....What do I do now?   lol

I hope you all have sunshine and have the chance to enjoy it.  I got up early and went out to Metro Park this morning and walked.  It was Glorious.....

Hugs, Cat

It's Time to Build an Ark!!!

I don't know what it is like where you live but here in SE Michigan we've been getting one good day for every 2-3 rainy days.  Yesterday we had some horrible thunderstorms.  Today we have had rain off and on.  It wasn't too bad this morning so Hubby and I went to Metro Beach and walked.  It was fine when we started out but the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped while we were walking back to the car.

Earlier in the week we went for a walk and the sun was shining.

We weren't the only ones walking.  The goose family were taking the little ones out for a walk.

The swan was still sitting on her nest so no little ones there yet.

I've been doing a little sewing on the rainy days.

I got the last 2 Barbara Brackman CW blocks done.  I look forward to every Saturday when she gives us another block.

I totally forgot about my Farmer's Wife blocks.  So Tuesday I drew up blocks 9-12 on EQ and printed up the rotary cutting directions and worked on these.  12 done and so many more to go.  I like having so many different projects going at once.  If I get tired of one, I jump to another.

Today's mail brought me the Lapel Stick I won at Hollyhock Quilts.  And it came at a great time.  I'm working on May's Henrietta Whiskers block and was going to spend the evening thread basting the pieces down.  Now I can try out the Lapel Stick.  I'm hoping it will save me lots of time.

Where ever you live I hope you are safe and sound.  We don't need any more rain, flooding, high winds and tornadoes. 

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Friday Night Sew In

These Friday Night Sew-In's are addictive.  I don't know about you but I get more done in a few hours during the sew-ins than any other time.

My first project that I finished was April's Henrietta Whiskers block.  It is darker than the rest.  I'm hoping to get May's block started today.

I finished a basket block for my Primitive Primer quilt.  I paper pieced it but did it backwards from the original quilt.  This was not intentional.  I love all the different techniques in this quilt.

My third  project of the night was the pumpkin block for the Primer quilt.  I love applique and this block went really quick.

I started my day off with a walk around the boat docks at Metro Beach.  It was a foggy morning on the lake but it cleared up by the docks.  The water was so smooth.  Love the seagull, he didn't look real. 

When I got home I checked my email and found out that I won a Lapel Stick from Glenna at Hollyhock Quilts.  She has some really beautiful quilts.

So today's agenda is to work on May's Henrietta Whiskers block and both last week's and this week's Barbara Brackman blocks.  Then I'm going to enjoy some of this beautiful weather.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

A Day Without Rain...or Sunshine.

Haven't been able to walk to much lately because of the RAIN.  But Hubby and I got up and went out to Metro Beach around 8:00 am to walk.  I forgot to bring my camera.  So of course all the Mom and Dad geese were taking their young for a walk.  What cute little fuzz balls they were. 

I don't have a lot to show as I am working on a new piecing project and still working on some applique projects.

This is what I am working on.  Some piecing, some applique and some paper piecing.    It is the Primitive Primer.  I started on it a few years back but only got the top row done.  I decided to start working on it again.  The little yellow lines on some of the blocks are sticky notes with the letter of the block.  Guess I'm afraid I will forget where they go.

This quilt has been hanging on my living room wall.  It was a mystery quilt I made. 

This is the quilt now hanging in it's place.  It is a quilt designed by Kim Diehl and was in BHG American Patchwork.  I instantly fell in love with it. 

And a big WOO HOO!! I got my copy of  Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks that I won during the blog hop in the mail yesterday.  I've been drooling ever since.  Can't wait to start making some of the blocks.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Finally......

I finished sewing the "Disappearing 4-Patch" Lap Quilt together.  I really like the effect of these blocks.  Later this week I will sandwich it together and machine quilt it.  We are going to the UP in July and I will deliver it to Janet.

I finally finished hand appliqueing March's block for Henrietta Whiskers.

Here's how the three finished blocks look together.  I printed up the patterns for the next 2 blocks and hope to work on them soon.

Here's my version of Saturday's Barbara Brackman Civil War Blocks.  I'm loving these blocks.

This is the 12 x 12 Something From Nothing Quilt I received from the swap.  Em from Em Celebrates made this.  I put it up in my sewing room for inspiration.  I wish you could see her quilting.  It is so fantastic.

Seeing it is finally Spring, I decided to hang my Birdhouse Quilt.  This was made from blocks received from an IQ swap.  I agonized over what to do with the blocks.  Finally came up with this design and I love it

Last Thursday Hubby and I got a Metro Parks Pass and have been going to Metro Beach walking.  We met some interesting critters.

This guy swam right up to us.  I think he was hoping for food.

This little fellow hopped right along with us squawking.  I'm sure he was saying feed me, feed me.

So I off to go walking and see if I can make more friends.  Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Woo Hoo....2 great surprises today.

I want to thank Lori at Humble Quilts for honoring me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  I feel so honored.

There are a few rules to receiving the award:

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them. 

Tell 7 things about yourself that others might not know about you.

1. I love, I mean really love John Wayne movies.
2. I love to cook.
3. I am addicted to Mystery novels.
4. I love taking Nature walks.
5. I would love to be a professional photographer.
6. I'm jealous that Lori gets to be Bonnie Hunter's assistant on the cruise.
7. I am very shy when meeting new people..just until I get to know them, then look out.

I would now like to pass this award to my newly discovered blogger friends.

LaDonna & Diana at A Sisterly Connection

Linda at The Quilted Pineapple

Freda at The Adventures of the Empress of the Universe

Terry at Terrys Treasures

Miki at Mikis Quilts

Allie at Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life

I hope you will stop by and visit these great blogs and enjoy them as much as I have.



Now for my second bit of news.  I got an email from Cindy Simms this morning.  I had visited her blog during the Quiltmakers 100 Blocks blog hop.  Well, her granddaughter pulled my name to win a copy of the magazine.  I am so excited.

I hope all of you have a very nice Mother's Day weekend.

Hugs, Cat

I'm in Thread Heaven!

Yesterday I got my package from Aurifil Threads.  I won 36 spools of variegated thread for the thread naming contest on their Facebook page.  The gold at the top of the page is the thread I named Creme Brule.  It was voted favorite name.  I can't wait to start playing with them.

I made the basket using clothesline wrapped with fabric strips.

I have all the blocks made for my Disappearing 9-patch quilt.  2 rows sewn together.  Not sure how much sewing I'm going to be able to do the next days as my hubby has 4 days off.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Time for change!

Nothing to show today.  Working on hand work, which is sometimes slow going.

Time to change my header picture.  Needed a change.  Although spring hasn't sprung in the Upper Peninsula yet I want to change my header picture to one taken by the lake a few years ago.  We had a very rocky shore  and there were a variety of wild flowers that grew among the rocks.

Speaking of rocks.... When my children were small we used to spend time with my Dad up north.  He had so much more vacation time than my Mom did, so Dad would take me and my kids up north for a week or two to his place on Big Lake Manistique.  Every winter the storms would push rocks up on our shore.  Every summer Me, Dad and the kids would start our vacation picking rocks trying to clear the shore.  One summer we worked for a week picking rocks and then Dad brought in a truck load of sand to make a beach.  He was so proud.  He brought my Mom up the next week to surprise her but instead he was surprised.  A storm had hit the lake while he was gone and had washed away all the sand and brought in more rocks.  Needless to say he never brought in sand again.

Many years later when I moved up north to take care of my Dad, my kids would come visit with their kids.  The grand kids would always complain about the rocks.  They suggested that we all spend time removing rocks.  My kids loudly vetoed this.  lol. 

I do miss living on the Big Lake, but I certainly do not miss the snow.  They are having an unseasonably long winter there.

Thanks for listening to my reminisces of many years spent on the Big Lake.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

I GOT A SQUISHEY IN THE MAIL

I received this in the mail yesterday.  It is for the 12" x 12" Something from Nothing quilt swap.  My quilt was made by Em of "Em Celebrates".  This beautiful quilt was wrapped in the fabric shown and tied with the pink fabric.  This picture does not do it justice.  The machine quilting is to die for.  She did such a fantastic job.  The flower and leaves are raw edge applique.  She thread signed the front of the quilt.  I adore this quilt.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Em.

Seeing this is the first of the month I naturally went to the EQ blog to get the pattern for this months BOM contest.  I had to show you all of them together.  The block bordered in black is May's block.  I already sent a picture to EQ.  I may be late on everything else but I can't seem to wait to do the EQ BOM.

Made some more of the Disappearing Four Patch blocks.  I am going to make a lap quilt, 5 blocks across and 6 rows down.  Some of you may remember that I had spent 4 years in the Upper Peninsula taking care of my Dad.  Part of this entailed taking him every 2 weeks  to the hospital to get shots for his hemoglobin count.  The nurse who took care of him, Janet, was such a wonderful person.  When we found out Dad had bone cancer and his time was short, Janet helped me get him into the hospital, told all the nurses he was her special patient and did her best to make him comfortable.  She also helped me keep it together and get through a difficult time.  Well, this quilt is going to Janet for her Chemo Therapy room.  I'm hoping to get her a couple more.  Any way......

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.  It is overcast and raining off and on here.  Another good day to stay in the sewing room making future treasures.

Hope you have a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat