Sweet Gum Leaf

Oh the torture....  I started on this block right away.  The dreaded Y seam did me in.  I stacked all the pieces for the block on a design board and put it up.  Then yesterday I was checking out blogs and visited one of my favorites Fun with Barb .  She is also doing Barbara Brackman's BOM Westering Women.  However she is doing her blocks to finish at 9".  She did her block using HST.

I was going to do the same and then I remembered a pattern I saw for 8 pointed star where you didn't have to do Y seams.  So thanks to Barb for her inspiration.

Top diagram is the block directions from Blockbase.  The bottom is how I redrafted the block.  What a difference in sewing but not in how it looks.

I appliqued the stem.  It took about 20 minutes to sew the block.  I spent over an hour trying to get one Y seam made.  Love this block.


Next month I am going to be having a giveaway.  What you don't know is that for the last 6 months I have been testing blocks for Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol. 13.  I so enjoyed it.  For my participation they have sent me 3 issues of the magazine.  One for me and two to give away.  So stay tuned and watch for the giveaway the beginning of May.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the weekend.

Hugs, Cathy

Feeling So Much Better

For the first time in months I have energy.  I actually feel like doing something rather than just sitting all day.

We are going to be going camping a couple of times next month with my daughter and her family.  My granddaughter is going to be playing in a couple of baseball tournaments and it's easier to camp than drive back and forth everyday.  Sunday Terry and I decided to take a ride out to the first campground and check it out.  We hadn't been there before.  We were really happy with the campsite we are at.  So looking forward to camping.

Meanwhile back at the ranch....

I've been working on a few projects.

First up my 1857 Sampler Quilt.  Here are Aprils blocks 11-14.  I am so happy with the way they turned out.  It took me so long to learn how to do needle turn applique and I'm loving it.  I thought the floral block was going to be hard but I got it done in 2 nights while watching Tiger baseball.


I've been wanting to start another applique project for a while.  It is the Red and Green quilt designed by Wendy Wellum at Legend and Lace that she offers for free.  She started posting patterns in January and just posted May's early.
So I printed up the 5 patterns and started January's block.

This one is call Clover and Spades.  The only problem I had with this block is I used a stiff fabric and had a hard time turning the edges under.  But I pretty happy with how it turned out.  Today I'm going to start on February's block.


Next month I am going to be starting a new project.  I'm joining Lori at Humble Quilts in making Jan Patek's  pattern called Front Porch.  It is a 10 month BOM and that is what we are going to be doing...one block a month.  A few of us are doing it and have just ordered the pattern.  We will be starting in about a month.  

Well today our skies are overcast and it's been raining steadily.  Good day to sew.  Our dog Sammie has an appointment at the hair dresser..LOL..for a shampoo, cut and nails.  Can't wait to see her finished.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Cathy

Under the Weather

But feeling much better.  Went to the Doctor's because I had no energy.  Turns out I had a UTI and my sugar was high.  They found sugar in my urine..(sorry).  Antibiotics cleared the infection and she put me on insulin.  It's been a little over a week and I'm feeling much better.

I managed to get a few hours of sewing done.

I got all the blocks made and sewn together for Cheri Payne's Scrap Basket Quilt along.  Next week we get the directions to finish it up.  These blocks are 4" finished.

These are March's Cabot Cuties II blocks.  Some were pieces some are paper pieced.  These are a $5 BOM from Sentimental Stitches.  I'm also working on her 1857 Sampler but have nothing to show at this time.

Finally the April Sugar Block Club block.  

Well done for the present.  Hoping the weather changes and it gets warmer then I can get out and walk.  Doctor said I need to get more exercise.

Thanks for stopping buy.

Hugs, Cathy