Not Sure....

I'm not sure if I like my border fabric or not on my Old Voices quilt.

It looks better in the photo than it does in person.  But still not sure. 

I started the 1857 Sampler by Sentimental Stitches.  I'm going to do a different layout.  Not sure if I like the diamonds in the corners.

I love the blocks.  I'm not using solids as I don't have many and am trying not to buy fabric right now except for backings. 

Speaking of backings.  I need one for this quilt.  I plan on finishing up some old UFO's and this one is scheduled for February.

The quilt top is finished I now need to get some fabric for the backing and binding.  I'm thinking on going with orange.

Another UFO I plan on finishing is my gray Churn Dash quilt.  I made this a while ago.

Yesterday I cut out another 6 blocks.  I'm hoping to get 20 blocks total.  These are 12" squares.  The quilt will be 4 blocks by 5 blocks.  This is also on my list for February.

I'm working on so many BOM's that won't be finished any time soon so it is nice to have some projects that I will definitely get done soon.

So I'm going out to buy some backings and then come home and get some sewing done.  I hope you have time to get some sewing done.

Hugs, Cathy

Busy, busy, busy...

When the weather gets cold and the snow flies I get busy in the sewing room.  My goal for each month is to pull a UFO from the to be quilted pile and get it quilted.

I found this one in the pile.  It is a wall hanging that I made from a Sew Along with Sarah V.

I thought it would be a good chance to try out some FM quilting.   I used my new sewing machine and the FM foot.  The center wasn't so great...but as I got used to FM again the top section was better and I really liked how the bottom section turned out.  I just quilted around the applique on the border us the FM foot.  It's a little wonky but it is finally finished and hanging on my sewing room door.


The other day I told you Hubby and I were going out for the day.  It snowed a little but not too much.  We went out to lunch at Applebee's.  I had a spinach salad with grilled shrimp and loaded potato soup.  Yum.   We left there and went to one of my favorite quilt shops "Linda's Country Quilts" in Davison, MI.  I bought some fabric to use for background on a new project I have in mind.  We left there and went to an Antique Mall.  I was disappointed.  Couldn't find anything that called out to me.  Just before we left I saw some quilt blocks that were folded and pinned together.  Turned out they were appliqued blocks.  Not old, but beautiful.

One of the blocks was already trimmed but the rest were not.  They are over lapping in the picture.  I love them and hope to put them together soon.

Like many of you I am working on the 365 Block sew along.  I have 20 blocks finished in both the color ways that I am doing.  I'm trying to make 5 blocks at a time.

I didn't notice that I had cut off the top blocks in this picture.  Oh well.  For the rest of the month I need to finish the borders on my Old Voices quilt, keep up with BOM's and find a new WIP to work on.

Thanks for stopping by.  Keep warm, safe and busy sewing.

Hugs, Cathy

Yippee

I can't believe it.  After 5 years Henrietta Whiskers is finally done.  The last quilting stitch was done on Tuesday night.  The binding was finished last night.  I got up early this morning and put her in the washer and dryer.  And now....

I quilted around the applique and then cross hatched the balance of the quilt.  It is now hanging on the wall in the living room.  Hubby says it is his favorite quilt.  So glad to have this quilt finally finished.

I received the patterns for January's blocks for the Cabot Cuties II BOM.  Here are blocks 1-11.

These blocks finish at 4 1/2". 

Hubby and I are going for a ride today, out to lunch, antiquing and visiting a few quilt shops.  Hope you have something fun scheduled for today.

Hugs, Cathy

It's a Finish

My first start and finish of 2016.

I finished my tumbler quilt.  The backing is a light gray and I used it for the binding.  Not real fond of the gray as a binding.  But...my goal this year is to shop from my stash and that was the only yardage I had.  Not too much flannel in my stash.

Now I'm off to the sewing room to get caught up on the 365 block a day.

Stay warm and get some quilting done.

Hugs, Cathy

The Weather Outside is Freightful

And it snowed, and it snowed and it snowed....

Good for sewing time for me.  But first, this is what I woke up to.

More to come today.  We were spoiled this year.  50 degree temps in November.  Couldn't hold off forever.

I've been working on my 365 blocks.

I don't do them everyday.  I wait till I have a few blocks to make.  These are fun to do and surprisingly only 3" finished.  This isn't my original fabric choices.  I original started making them using some charm squares.  Then I saw what the completed quilt was going to look like so I switched gears.  Then I thought I loved the scrappiness of my original design.  So....

I decided to do both.  I had only made 3 blocks using the charm squares.  So I sat down and caught up.  I love how both of these look.

Yesterday was productive.  I got my tumbler quilt pin basted.  I found another UFO from 2 years ago (a wall quilt) and got it pin basted too.  I want to try some FMQ on it.  Then last night I got part of the final border on Henrietta marked and started quilting.  It is so good to see the finish line for this quilt.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay warm, or cool depending where you live and I wish you time to get some quilting done.

Hugs, Cathy

2016 Starts...

With a flurry of stitches.

I finished the last block for my Old Voices, New Impressions quilt.

I did my open wreath a little different from the original.  With the final block finished I decided to cut the sashing and cornerstones together and start putting the quilt together.

I chose a light blue fabric for the sashing.  The border fabric is a darker version of this color.  I still need to cut the inner border out of the same blue.  Then I can add the final border.  I'm not doing the scallop border.  I am really happy with the way this is looking.  I'm so glad Karen suggested us making this quilt, otherwise I don't think I would have made it.

I also have be working on my flannel tumbler quilt.

The top is now finished.  I purchased some flannel for the back and it is pieced together.  I just need to iron it and I can get this quilt pin basted.  I chose a thin batting as the thickness of the flannels would be a bit much with a thicker batting.

I started the 365 Blocks.  I get a pattern each day for a new pattern.  Here are the first 5 plus a challenging block.  I am saving the patterns and working on 5 at a time.  So far so good.

This cold or should I say frigid weather we have been experiencing is keeping me inside and in my sewing room.  So I'm getting lots done.  During the day I sew blocks and in the evening I have been trying to finish up the hand quilting on my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.  This quilt has been years in the making.  I think I started it in 2010 or 2011?  It was a free block of the month by Bunny Hill.  I stopped working on it but printed up the patterns.  Started working on it again in 2012.  Finally finished the top in 2013.  Starting hand quilting in cold weather only and am proud to say I will finally have finished it this year.

This is a photo before I started quilting it.  Hopefully at the end of the month I can show you a photo of the finished quilt.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

Happy New Year!

I spent New Years Eve doing some applique and putting tumblers up on my design wall.

First the Applique....Old Voices New Impressions.  I was hoping to get the last 6 blocks finished in 2015.  I did finish all but one.

Acorns and Leaves

Bird with Fruit

Cherries

Honey Suckle

Twins

I'm hoping to get the final block finished by tomorrow.  Then I can trim the blocks and cut the sashing and corner stones.  I'm am so happy that I joined in this Sew Along.

In my last post I showed you the flannel I was gifted and the tumblers I cut.  I added more tumbler to the pile from my stash.

This is the die I used for the tumblers.  It went very quickly.

These are some of the tumblers up on my design wall.  They are not quite a bright as they look here.  I plan on sewing the top together this weekend and quilting it next week.

I've been reading quite a few blogs and noting that quite a few of them have lists of planned projects to do in 2016.  I have made to do lists and they worked fine until I got behind and then I felt bad.  My plan for 2016 is to finish some on going projects to the quilt top stage, and start quilting some of quilt tops that have been stacking up for years.  I also need to finish hand quilting my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.  I only need to finish the borders and then bind it.  My next hand quilted project will be the Old Voices New Impressions quilt. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a Happy, Prosperous, and Productive New Year.

Hugs, Cathy