Bye, Bye

Sorry February but I'm glad to see you go.  I'm hoping maybe some warmer weather will come with March.

I am so thrilled that I got almost everything on my February "To Do" list done.

1. Primitive Primer...Take a look!

It's a little wonky....can't seem to get it straight on the design wall..new flannel I guess.  Any way...I had to take part of it apart to resize some blocks.  Now it is pretty square.  I added the first appliqued border on the right and the pieced border on the top.  I have prepped the bottom appliqued border whew...I will be so glad to finish this.

2. 2013 Pieced Sampler...DONE

3  10 Plaid Jacob Ladder Blocks...DONE

4.  Lori's Midwinter Blues...DONE

5.  Cheri Payne Basket quilt...(Hand quilting) top is DONE

2014 BOMS

1.  Sugar Shack...DONE

2.  Pat Sloan's Globetrotting...DONE

3.  Hip Chicks...DONE

4.  Country Threads...DONE

5.  Quilt Doodles...DONE

Now for my March "To Do" List

1.  Finish my Primitive Primer top

2.  Flannel quilt for Sammie (our dog)

3. 20 Shoofly Blocks (Pat Sloan QAL)

4. 10 more Jacobs Ladder Blocks

5.  Blue Bird Challenge

2014 BOMS

1. Sugar Shack

2. Globetrotting

3. Hip Chicks

4. Country Threads

5. Quilt Doodles

I hope I get as much done in March as I did in January and February.  But no pressure...as long as I am enjoying myself I'm happy.

Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY..today is the last day to enter.   

You can enter here.  Good Luck everyone.  I will be back tomorrow with the name of the winner.

Hugs, Cathy

OMG...

The last block has been made for my Primitive Primer and all the blocks are sewn together.

Don't look too closely at my star burst block.  It was a real bugger to make.  I spent 4 days on it and finished it up this morning.  It is paper pieced and appliqued....and it was too big.  Bummer.  I started crying...all that time and all that work.  Then I figured it is suppose to be primitive, right.  So I whacked it down to size.  It is off kilter but it is growing on me.

I sewed all the blocks together, an achievement in itself.  I like how it looks. I need to cut the borders now.  I can't add the top pieced border until I add the applique border.  This will have to wait till tomorrow.  It's 5:30 pm and I am beat.  So no more sewing until tomorrow.  (Unless I do a little hand quilting later).

Now don't forget about my final giveaway....

You can enter here.  You have until Friday evening.  I will pick a winner on Saturday March 1.

And a big yippee!!!  Finally got the last of the paperwork to file my income tax.  So glad I am all done.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Final Giveaway

Today is the final giveaway for my Anniversary Month.

I got this book for Christmas and loved it at first site.  I knew I was going to be having a giveaway for my Blog Anniversary and Wedding Anniversary in February so I ordered another copy.  

You know the drill.....

Leave a comment letting me know you are a follower and how you follow.

For a second chance blog about the giveaway and leave a comment letting me know.

Good luck in the giveaway and thanks to all that are following.

You have until Friday the 28th to enter.  A winner will be picked on Saturday, March 1st.

Hugs, Cathy

Finally...

I have finally finished Ashley's quilt.  It has been over a year since this project was started.  I showed her a picture of the quilt on the computer.  She said she wanted one but not in the colors shown.  So I told her to go to the paint store and send me paint chips in the colors she wanted.  I hope she hasn't outgrown the colors in the year + it took to make it.

It is quite large and quite bright.  I have it hanging in the living room so I could get a picture of it.  Just the border is hidden behind the bench.  

I backed it with flannel.  She lives in the Upper Peninsula so she something to keep warm.  I quilted it with a serpentine stitch.  It is a tighter stitch and took much longer to quilt.  I could only machine quilt for an hour at a time because after that my neck hurt.

So I hope to go visit sometime next month and give her the quilt that she has been patiently waiting for.  I sure hope she likes it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

We Have a Winner!!

The winner is Bonnie Stapelton.  Congrats Bonnie.  I have sent you an email requesting your address.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow when I will be posting about Week 4 Giveaway.  This will be the final Anniversary Month Giveaway.

Hugs, Cathy

Ta Da!!!

 A Flimsy finish, an new project to finish and a challenge.

First the flimsy finish...

Yesterday I sewed all the blocks together...that took a while.  And then I added the narrow blue border.  I used the same blue as I used in the 9 patches.  Today I got up bright and early (not really) sewed on the final border.  It is 3" wide and I used the same fabric as the background.  This top resides on the pile (and I do mean big pile) of quilts to be quilted.


This leaves me with one project left on my "To Do" list for February.

Meet Primitive Primer!

This project was started a few years ago.  I got serious about finishing it last year and this is where I left off.  I need to make a large star burst block for the upper left corner and 2 appliqued borders and 2 plain borders.  I'll be happy just to finish the last block this month.  This will end up on my March "To Do" list because of the appliqued border.


Last week while reading some of my favorite blogs I came across the "Bluebird Challenge" at Em's Scrapbag.  She had 10 blue bird flour sacks that she would send to the first 10 readers who wanted to participate.

It is so cute how could I pass it up.  We have until April 4th to make a quilt using the bag.  Once the quilts are posted our friends (That's You) get to vote on their favorite.  The winner will receive a FQ Bundle of 30's fabrics.  I'll keep you posted.

You might be interested in the fact that Em was chosen to be apart of Quiltlmaker's 2014 Scrap Squad.  I hope she has as much fun as I did in 2012.  She should be posting a picture of her latest quilt sometime this month.

I hope you enjoyed this post.  I've had lots of time to get some sewing done as our weather has been really crappy lately.  We had extreme cold weather, a snow blizzard, more snow, warm temps (we are talking 40) and now today it is raining...but wait...we are expecting colder temps and more snow by the beginning of next week.  

Hugs, Cathy

To Do List and Giveaway

I am making great headway on my "To Do" list...

I wanted to get 10 Jacobs Ladder blocks made and I did.

I love how this is coming together.  I need to make 18 more then I can put the quilt together. I will make 9 blocks a month for the next 2 months.  This is a project I started early last year.


Continuing the theme of finishing projects from 2013....This is the Amish Sampler Block of the Month by Sentimental Stitches.  You can see I chose not to make it Amish.

This is where I left off last year. I had 3 blocks to go.

After I finished the last 3 blocks I had to put them on point on my design wall.  Only one of the 3 blocks is original to the pattern.  The were a bit involved and I wanted to get this top done so I opted for easier blocks.

Now the blocks were suppose to have sashing around all of them.  I decided not to add it.  I love how it looks like with the red and blue nine patches.

The quilt was suppose to have pieced set in triangles and corner triangles.  Wanting to make the quilt my own I decided to add plain triangles.

You know how hard it is to figure out what size to make the triangles...  Well I got this free app for my phone and my kindle.  It is the Robert Kaufman Quilt Calc.  You go to set-in and corner triangles.  Add the size of your finished block and hit calculate.  I needed 15 1/2" squares cut twice on the diagonal for my set-in triangles and 8" squares cut once on the diagonal for the corner triangles.  This app makes it so easy.

Today I hope to get the top sewn together.  After I am adding a 1 1/2" border of blue and then a 2 1/2" to 3" outer border.  

I only have one more project on my "To Do" list.  That is to work on my Primitive Primer quilt.  I don't think this will get done this month but that is okay.  I'm happy with what I've gotten done.

I want to remind you of my Week 3 Giveaway.

To enter click here to enter in the giveaway.  Good Luck!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you are having a wonderful middle of the week and getting lots of sewing done.

Hugs, Cathy

A FINISH AND A GIVEAWAY!!!

A finish....

I finished my Midwinter Blues.  A big thank you to Lori for hosting this wonderful QAL.  She makes it easy for the rest of us.

I finished my Hip Chicks February BOM blocks.  The block on the left is pieced. It was a tough one.  These blocks are only 6" finished.  Now don't get excited, the blocks on the right are fusible applique.  Later I will add button hole applique.  This is the last of my BOMs for the month...another project crossed off my list.

Yesterday it was so beautiful.  The sun was shining and the yard was full of hungry birds.  They emptied my bird feeders.  We decided to go on a nice ride and out to lunch on Sunday.  Surprise...woke up this morning and it is snowing yet again.  No ride for us.  Instead I will be spending time in my sewing room make the final 2 Plaid Jacob Ladder blocks to complete the 10 blocks I wanted to get done this month.  I still have about 18 blocks to go to finish this quilt.


Now I think I mentioned a giveaway.  Week #3 Giveaway is.....

The book is "Welcome the Seasons" by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts.  I love the quilt on the front.  The box shown in the photo is included in the giveaway.  This one is mine...I emptied out all my supplies so I could show it to you.  Yours will come in a cellophane package.  

Now to enter the giveaway.....

1.  Leave a comment telling me you are a follower and how you follow me.

2.  For a second chance blog about the giveaway and leave me a comment.

You have until Friday evening to enter.  I will pick a winner on Saturday.

Thanks you for stopping by.  

Hugs, Cathy

And the Winner is....

Carrie @ A Passion for Applique.  Congratulations Carrie.  I have sent you an email.  

Stay tuned tomorrow for Giveaway #3.

Thanks to everyone for leaving a comment and for following.

Hugs, Cathy

Craft it Forward and more...

First the more....

I finished the quilt top for my Flower Basket quilt designed by Cheri Payne.

I auditioned many fabrics for the border.  Couldn't find one I really loved.  I found this fabric and cut a strip and placed them up on the design wall.  Not really a favorite but after looking at it for a day I loved it.

This year I vowed to finish more UFOs and make do with what fabric I have on hand.  So far so good.  The only fabric I bought was flannel for the back of my granddaughter's quilt.


Now for Craft it Forward.  Last week Terry at Terry's Treasures posted a picture of an organizer she had received.  She had signed up for "Craft it Forward" and the organizer was what she received.  She then posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to participate.  The first five sign ups would receive a crafted gift from her.  I signed up.  This is what I received from Terry.

It is so sweet.  It is approximately 10" square.  What I like about it is that I can hang it on the wall as a mini quilt, use it as a mug rug or a candle mat. Thank you Terry.

Now it is my turn to "Craft it Forward"

Here are the rules:

1.  I will make a crafty gift for the first five people to comment on this post and say that they would like to be a part of Craft it Forward!  This little gift is a surprise, and will arrive to you anytime within the next 9 months.

2.  To sign up to Craft it Forward, you need to commit to the project yourself.  Once you receive the item from me, just post this (or something similar) on your blog so others can get involved.  You then make them something and Craft it Forward continues on and on!

3.  Leave a comment on this post telling me that you want participate in Craft it Forward.  Please be sure that I have a way to contact you so I can get your postal address (do not leave your postal address in the comment.) so I can get your crafty gift in the mail.

 Don't forget about the giveaway I am having.

You have until tomorrow (Valentine's Day) to enter here.  Only comments on that link will be entered into the giveaway.  Please be sure I have some way of contacting you.  I have been receiving quite a few "no reply commenters".  A winner will be picked on Saturday and new Giveaway will be posted on Sunday.

I want to thank everyone who left a comment on my Dear Jane Blocks.  I've decided to make a wall hanging out of the original blocks and start again on my scrappy backgrounds.  This will not be a quick project but rather a lovingly long project.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a nice Valentines Day and a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Cathy

P.S. Spell check took a break today so please forgive any misspellings.

This and That

I have a few things to share..

First thanks for all the kind comments regarding my Twirling Fan block.  Sharon is really talented and makes it so easy to do.  

I have been asked to share my Dear Jane Blocks.  There is a story behind these blocks.  I started them years ago and placed them in a box for safe keeping...

...In moving up north to take care of Dad and then moving back home the blocks got lost.  Recently I was going through some boxes from the move and found them.  But not before I started over...

This time I was making the backgrounds different in each block while my original all had a white background.  I think I like the scrappy better.


I finished my February block for Quilt Doodles BOM.  My version is kind of boring but I plan on embellishing it later.

Later we are going to add snow flakes to the block.

So my "To Do" list for February is coming along good.

My Primitive Primer hasn't been touch yet.

I haven't worked on my 2013 Pieced Sampler yet

I have made 6 of the 10 blocks that I wanted to make this month for my Plaid Jacobs Ladder

BOMS:

Sugar Shack, Globetrotting, Country Threads and Quilt Doodles February blocks are done.

I have the patterns for the 3 February Hip Chicks block so I will be working on them soon.

And I finished the top for Lori's Midwinter Blues and now need to get it ready for quilting.

So for the 9 projects on my list I have 4 to go.  Not bad.


GIVEAWAY INFO:

On Sunday I showed everyone the book that I am giving away for the second week of my blogiversary month.  To enter click here.  I have already received many entries but unfortunately a few have been no reply commenter's.  I can't get in touch with you if I can't email you.

Lori at Humble Quilts wrote a post on how you can change this.  Please click here to read her post.  I'm sure it will help.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Week 2 Giveaway 2

But first I want to share a special project with you.  Last year I got to know Sharon at Fabrics and Flowers when I entered a giveaway on her blog.  I won! She is a very talented designer and publishes under the name Color Girl.  I made the quilt in the pattern and was so happy with it.  After chit chatting back and forth she asked if I would mind proof reading patterns once in a while.  I jumped at the chance.

She has just designed a fan quilt called "Twirling Fans" and I got to proof it.  Not only did I proof it I made one of the blocks.  I thought it would be soooo hard but with her directions I made the block in a day.  She said I could share my block with you.

I pulled all of the fabrics from my scrap bag.  I could not believe how quickly it came together.  So please stop on over to her blog and check out the pattern. Just click on the link above.  You won't be disappointed.


Congrats to the winners from last weeks Giveaway.

Now for the second Giveaway.  Monday is my 25th Wedding Anniversary. What better way to celebrate than to have a giveaway of a book by one of my favorite authors and designers.

I love her designs so much that I purchased the book twice.  lol

For a chance to win the book leave me a comment that you are a follower and tell me what you like about Kim's designs.

For a second chance to win blog about my giveaway and let me know.

You have until Friday night to enter, a winner will be chosen on Saturday, February 15th.  Good Luck!!

Hugs, Cathy

P.S. It is starting to snow here yet again.  Boo hoo!

Winners!!

But first...

I had a win myself.  I am doing the Quilt Doodles BOM and entered my photo onto the flicker page.  Well my name was drawn and I won a $20 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.

This is what I bought.  A Moda charm pack called "Joy Batiks".  I bought an extra one so I can make some Christmas Table Runners.  I also got the "Lil Crumblers" ruler by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.  And finally a little pair of scissors and a measuring tape.  A girl can't have enough scissors...lol

Next up...the progress on my Flower Basket by Cheri Payne.  I just have to finish the last two flowers and add the borders.  This was a fun project.  I plan on keeping an applique project ready to go for evening hand work.

I finished my Midwinter Blues...sort of.

Here it is before borders.

And here it is with borders.  I'm not really happy with the border fabric.  It is blue with different shades of brown oak leaves.  Doesn't really go with the CW fabric in the pieced blocks.  I guess I will have to go buy some fabric (Oh Darn) that I like for the borders.

Now let me see there was something else.....

Oh right the Winners.

First up the winner of the book is:

Barbara Woods of Wont-to-be Quilter.  Congratulations Barbara. 

The winner of the Traveling Stash is:

Katie of Snuggle Up With a Dish From Karma.  Congratulations Katie

I will be sending an email to both winners asking for addresses.

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Tomorrow I will be having a giveaway for another book so be sure to come back.  Enjoy the weekend and thanks for visiting.

Hugs, Cathy

A Finish

Is a finish no matter what size....

I started this little quilt in 2013.  Finished quilting it last month and put it up on the design wall to remind me all it needed was binding.  Well it stayed there for about 2 weeks until yesterday.  It fits perfectly on my table Quilt Hanger.


Yesterday I also made a couple more blocks for my Plaid Jacobs Ladder.  This project was started last year and is one of the projects on my "To Do" list.

Speaking of my "To Do" list...I know I showed you a picture of the list but not sure you could read it.  Here it is:

February's "To Do" List

Finish my Primitive Primer Top.  I have one block to make plus Applique Border.

Finish blocks for my 2013 Sentimental Stitches Almost Amish BOM

Make 10 Blocks for my Plaid Jacobs Ladder quilt.  (I've made 2 and have 8 to go).

2014 BOM's

Sugar Shack.  DONE

Globetrotting.  DONE

Hip Chicks (Just got the patterns for it)

Country Threads.  DONE

Quilt Doodles.

And my add-on project

Lori's Midwinter Blues.  I have finished steps 1 & 2 and need to do step 3 to finish it.

Now I'm sure I won't get it all done but I will make headway.


I've been working on a secret project....more to come later.


Don't forget about my Blogiversary giveaway.

To enter the giveaway for the book click here.

To enter a chance to win the Traveling Stash click here


I hope the weather is good where you are.  We had yet another snow storm come through.  I live north of Detroit.  The snow was so bad that 2 planes got stuck in the snow at Metro Airport.  We got about 6" of snow.  My sweet next door neighbor came over and used his snow blower to clear our driveway and sidewalks.  It was very much appreciated.  We expect more snow this weekend.

Stay warm and get some quilting done.  I know I will.

Hugs, Cathy

What did you do Super Bowl Sunday?

I spent the afternoon working on one of my BOM's.

These are the February blocks for the Country Threads BOM.  I am going to keep this one scrappy for the most part.  These blocks are 6" and 12".


After that I prepped some applique to work on while the big game was on.

This is a Cheri Payne pattern called Flower Basket.  I didn't expect to get so much done but seeing only one team was playing last night there wasn't much to watch so I got lots done.  This will be my evening project for a while.

Don't forget the giveaway... click here to enter.

And if you want to be in the running for the Traveling Stash...click here .

I'd love to hear what you worked on during the game.

Well, the sun is shining here, the temp is a little warmer...So we are going to go for a walk, then the grocery store and then get some more bird seed for my feathered friends.  We are expecting more snow later this week..UGH.. so we need to get some supplies.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

Projects, The Traveling Stash, and A Giveaway

I go from a post every other month to almost one a day.  Guess I just have so much to share.

First, some projects I have been working on.

I finished the pieced half square triangles and the the corner triangles.  Lori has done such a fantastic job with the directions.  I love doing her QAL.

Next up is the Sugar Shack BOM.

This is February's block.  I love it.  

Here are January and February blocks together.  These are not colors I am used to working with.  I usually use dark country colors or reproduction fabrics.

I mentioned "The Traveling Stash".  Last week Audrey at Quilty Folk  said she had received the Traveling Stash and asked if anyone would be interested in receiving it.  I put my name in and low and behold I was chosen.

This is what I found.  Too many goodies....what a hard time I had picking what I wanted.

This is what I chose.  Can't wait to start a new project with them.  I'll let you know I really want to keep it all.

This is what I added to the mix.

Now if you would like to be the next recipient of the Traveling Stash leave me a comment stating you would like a chance to have the Stash visit you.  I will be drawing a winner on Saturday.

Now don't forget about the giveaway I'm having for the first week of February.  I am going to have one each week for 4 weeks to celebrate my 3rd Blogiversary, my 25th Wedding Anniversary, Valentines Day and Hoping for an early Spring.

This is the book I am giving away for week 1.    To win a chance, leave me a comment that you are a follower and how you follow me.  For a second chance, blog about the giveaway and leave me a comment stating this.

Now please leave separate comments for the Giveaway and the Traveling Stash.

I want to thank you for being a follower and all the kind comments I have received over the years.  Love you all.

Hugs, Cathy

February 1st and a Giveaway

Well it is February 1st and that means a new "To Do" list.

Yep you are seeing right.  I already have one BOM crossed off my list.  Pat Sloan posted the February block yesterday morning and I got it done last night.

This is the second block for the Globetrotting BOM.  We left Washington DC and landed in Venice, Italy.  The blocks now are all 10" finished.

This is the position of this block in the quilt.  I used the same fabric in the center as I did in the large HST in the center block.


Lori posted part 2 of Midwinter Blues.  I have the pieces all cut out but only had time yesterday to sew one of the half blocks.

I love the way this is looking.  I chose mostly gray/blue fabrics.  Can't wait for part 3.

Now let's see....there was something else I wanted to mention.

A Giveaway...

As I said the other day February holds a few special dates for me.  The first giveaway will celebrate the anniversary of my blog.  3 Years.  (And they said it wouldn't last).  Here is what I am giving away, seeing I bought 2 copies of this book.

I must have really wanted this book.  

Here are the guidelines.

For one chance to win comment that you are a follower and let me know how you follow.  Example: Bloglovin, Google, Email.

For a second chance, blog about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know you did.

It is that easy.  You have until Friday to enter.  A winner will be chosen on Saturday morning.

Thanks for stopping buy and have a great weekend.  It is snowing again here so I will be spending the weekend staying warm and sewing.

Hugs, Cathy