Thursday, February 25, 2016

Did I Say Spring?

Snow, ice, sleet, and slush.  Not what I call Spring.  The weather here is so strange.  But snow and cold makes for good sewing weather.

I have a finish.



I quilted it just doing vertical lines.  I finished the binding today and then put it in the washer and dryer.  I'm calling it "Gray Skies Churning".  This is going to be a Christmas gift.  One down and many more to go.



Here are my 1857 Sampler blocks for February.  I had the first 3 done weeks ago.  I had a real problem with the circles in the 4th block.  I was in touch with Karen at Log Cabin Quilter and told her I was having a real problem with all the circles.  She suggested using cardboard template....Light Bulb.  I forgot that I had circle templates by Karen Kay Buckley.  So I pulled them out, found the correct sizes, followed the directions that came with them and I had perfect circles.  Two evenings of appliqueing and they were done.



I have been working on the Temecula Quilt Co. sew along.  Not sure if I am going further with it.  I kinda like it the way it is.  I'm going to add a final gray border and I'll be done.

Hopefully our weather will clear up tomorrow.  Hubby is going up to his parents to help clean up the snow.  I am going out to lunch with my granddaughter Alecia.  I just love it when we get together.

Have a great weekend.  And stay warm and dry.

Hugs, Cathy

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Spring?

It has been warm enough here to make me believe that Spring is here.  We have even been seeing Robins.  One can only hope.

Although I've been fighting a cold/sinus issue I have gotten a few things done.



Here are the Cabot Cuties blocks for February.  These blocks are 4 1/2" finished.  The bottom right block has to be redone.  I didn't add a seam allowance to the curve pieces.  It is fused because the drunkard path blocks were too little to sew.  This will be on my to do list.


Next up are the 365 Blocks.


Scrappy Blocks 41-50


Blue Blocks 41-50


I also started the Splendid Sampler.  100 6" blocks. 


Block 1


Block 2

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment....lol

I also am working on the Temecula Quilt Company's sew along.  I hope to have more to show next week.

Today we are off to the in-laws.  They are taking us out to lunch for our Anniversary.  Enjoy your day.

Hugs, Cathy

Thursday, February 18, 2016

A Finish

Mini Finish that is....


I call this Leftover Bricks.  The pieces are from the trimmings from blocks I cut using my Accuquilt Go.  It is approx. 16" x 12".  Machine quilted using a serpentine stitch.

Working on a bunch of different projects but nothing to show yet.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Hugs Cathy

Monday, February 15, 2016

I'm Beat

By beat I mean tired.  I had a busy week.  Thursday was our 27th Wedding Anniversary.  We took of and went to Motor City Casino to celebrate.  Wasn't doing to well...then I broke even.  We decided it was time to go.  But I spotted a machine that looked inviting.  "Big Bang Theory"!  And Bazinga...I hit the jackpot 3 times and left with $300.  After that we went out for a nice dinner at Applebee's.  It was a good day.

Friday I decided to clean and rearrange my sewing room.  I wanted to get a new table as my current one was a bit too big.  I was exhausted.  I ended up getting a new shelving unit, a three drawer unit on wheels and an ironing board/hamper combination.  It took 3 days of rearranging to get to where I could sew in there again.  And I still have boxes to go through..

Before this I did get some of my 365 blocks done.


These are blocks 31-40.  A real mix of easy and hard blocks.


And the scrappy version of blocks 31-40.  I'm a bit behind but with all the rearranging of the my sewing room I was to pooped to sew.


I had mentioned last time that I bought some fabric at Mary Maxims.  Here is what I bought.

The fabric on the right will go well with the Sugar Block BOM I am working on.

Well that's it for now.  I'm hoping to spend the day tomorrow sewing.  Hopefully I will have more to show you later this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Sunday, February 7, 2016

February Finishes

I finally finished a small quilt that I made last year.  I was all sandwiched together and sat waiting, and waiting for me to quilt it.



 This is a pattern by Cheri Payne and it is called "Flower Basket".  I am such a fan of her.  I don't know why I had waited so long to finish it. 


I worked on my Gray Churn Dash quilt.  The blocks were finished last week and were residing on my design wall.  I really needed to clear off the design wall so I could put up a new UFO to work on.

I like how it turned out.  Next week I hope to get it pin basted and quilted.  It feels good to finish another project from last year.


I have started so many BOM's this year.  I'm trying hard to keep up.

Here is one of this months blocks for the 1857 Sampler from Sentimental Stitches.


I love working on applique in the evening.  I'm working on a second block and should have it finished tonight.

I joined in on the Sugar Block BOM.  I'm using fabric designed by Robin Pandolph.  It is soft and romantic.


This is January's block.  I'm using a soft gray for the background.


This block is almost too light.  I even replaced some fabric in it.  The yellow was a white print.  Even though it is very light I love it.


Thursday we took my Mother-in-Law out for the day.  Went to Port Huron to visit a store I love...Mary Maxims.  I always find something there.  I hadn't been there for years.  When we walked in the first thing I noticed was the store was much smaller.  I went looking for fabric.  They always carry such beautiful fabric.  But not this time.  They have all their quilting items (what little they had) on clearance for 50% off.  I managed to find 4 bolts of fabric I liked.  Bought 4 yards of 3 of them and bought the balance of the bolt (2 yards) of a stripe.  They also had Gutterman thread 50% off.  So I stocked up on some colors I needed.  I show you the fabric in a future post.

We bought Mom a new coffee pot at Meijer's and then took her out to lunch.  She had a wonderful day.  She doesn't get out much.  Dad has dementia.  Most days he is pleasant but ....  My brother-in-law lives with them but has no patience for either of them.  We plan on getting Mom out alone at least once a month.  She is already looking forward to out next day out.

Another overcast day today.  Hubby is off running errands so he can watch the Super Bowl later.  Speaking of the Super Bowl...seven years ago to the day the Steelers were in the Super Bowl.  They were my Dad's favorite team.  He was just diagnosed with bone cancer and didn't have long to live.  He so wanted to see the game.  We moved a TV in the room so he could watch it.  Unfortunately Dad died that morning.  We miss him so much.  And will think of him tonight (even though the Steeler's won't be playing) with fond memories.

Have a great day and enjoy the game.

Hugs, Cathy





Wednesday, February 3, 2016

365 Update

I don't work on these blocks each day.  I usually wait till I have 5 days of patterns.  Here are blocks 21-30.


365 Blue


365 Scrappy

That's it for today.  I'm off to prep the next four 1857 applique blocks.

Have a nice day. 

Hugs, Cathy

Monday, February 1, 2016

It's February!

It is usually gray and snowy this time of the year but today the skies are blue and the sun is shining.  Not good weather for quilting...good weather for getting outside and walking.

I managed to get a few things done this last week.



Here is block #1 for Barbara Brackman's latest BOM. 



I put my gray churn dash blocks up on the design wall.  I cut out the balance of the blocks and made 4 yesterday.  I need to make 6 more blocks and then I can sew the top together.  I put up a new design wall.  I bought a curtain rod, 3M hooks and curtain rings.  Put those up on the wall and clipped my new Fons and Porter design wall (my son got it for me for Christmas).  I like this new set up.  The old one covered the closet that I keep boxes of fabric in.  I had to take down part of the design wall down to get into it.  This one I can just slide it out of the way.

I made it to JoAnn's last week and picked up the backing for the above quilt and backing and binding fabric for my blue and orange quilt.  I plan on basting the blue and orange quilt later this week.

My goal this year is to finish up projects that I have started in past years and get some quilt tops quilted.  Speaking of which....I went through some piles in the sewing room and found some already basted wall quilts that need quilting.  The one I decided on finishing is.....


Flower Baskets by Cheri Payne.  I has been basted for quite a while waiting to be hand quilted.  Last night I quilted around all the flowers and the vase.  I marked the quilt with vertical lines and got a few of them quilted.  This will be a finish later this week.

I'm off to go for a walk with Sammie and then hopefully find some sewing time.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy