Wow it is May Already....

Time sure flies when you are having fun.

Lots to share with you today.  An April finish.

I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  I bought a striped fabric for the backing and liked it so much I used it for the binding too.

I told you I went to a quilt show Friday.  Well, what I forgot to show you is what I bought from the vendors.

I fell in love with candle mat kit.  It has different quilt blocks that go around the mat.

I got a new pattern for a table runner and some cute charm squares.

I'm going to start some wool projects so I picked up a pack of wool charm squares.

I found this wonderful fabric that will be great for backgrounds.

I won a door prize.  This is a pattern by Karen Stone.  The reason I picked this is that years ago I took a class with her and she was working on this quilt.  I have pictures of it before it was finished.  I learned to hand applique in this class.

I joined a Japanese X Swap and Bee.  I have to make 2 blocks each for 2 members.  The first two wanted brights.  I'm not really a "bright fabric" kinda girl so I hope these work.  One of them also wanted black and white fabrics.

The other day I was looking for my pair of scissors that I keep in the living room for when I am doing hand work.  I looked high and I looked low.  I hear a crunching sound.  I listened hard and found the noise was coming from Sammie's Puppy cave.

She had chewed off one finger hole and was working on the next.  No harm was done to Sammie but lots to my scissors. 

Good news was that I got 2 new pair.  I will be more careful as to where I put these scissors.

I'm off to the sewing room now to start my May To-do List.  I'll be back shortly.

That's so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Cathy 

I Felt Burned Out...

I felt like I lost my focus.  So I took it easy for a day and no sewing.  I read and read and watched movies.   It wasn't much time away from sewing but it helped.

I guess I spent so much time with the block with Y seams that I felt frustrated and unproductive.  So I put the block up.  I haven't given up, but I need to work on other things.  I will definitely get back to it and you will see the most stunning block.  Until then.....

I finished my Floribunda Quilt Top.

I kept the red block because I feel the focus of the quilt is on the yellows and golds.  I rearranged the blocks and started the design in the upper left corner.  It is different...still not sure how I feel about this quilt...but the top is finished and it will be a picnic quilt when all is said and done.


DH and I went to JoAnn's today.  I was looking for some backing fabric for this quilt.  I fell in love this fabric.

For some reason I have been choosing large florals for backings.  This was a little more than I usually pay. Regular price $9.99 a yard.  I had a coupon but couldn't use it as this was on sale.  I ended up paying $6.99.  Now I need to wash it and get this quilt finished.


I also finished the quilt top for my Baby Trip Around the World.

I made it using Bonnie Hunter's directions.  However I cut my strips at 2" wide which made a 10" block.  Instead of making it scrappy I used the same 6 fabrics for each block.  I love how it turned out.  While at JoAnn's I looked for a backing fabric but couldn't find anything I like.  Will look again another day.

A few things I've been working on but do not have anything to show are:

1.  Pat Sloan Quilt from her new book "New Ideas for Applique" has a quilt that is excellent for a BOM.  She is starting it this month with Aprils block.  I should have it done in a day or two.

2.  I've been making quilt labels and sewing them onto the back of recently finished quilts.  I had so many small finishes the last couple of months that they are starting to stack up.

3.  I chose the quilt I want to make for the Small Quilt Talk quilt swap.  I've been in touch with the quilter I am swapping with and I have chosen an appliqued quilt with scrappy blocks.  All I have done is traced the applique pieces to freezer paper.  I have until the end of May to finish it.


As I sit and write this post I am watching the Tigers play the Blue Jays.  It is cold, it is raining and the Tigers are winning.  Let's hope it lasts.  

My son posted on facebook a picture of a weather map.  He lives in the Upper Peninsula.  The map shows they are expecting snow....like 1" - 2" an hour.  Last week he still had 3 feet of snow.  So I guess I won't complain too much about our 30 - 40 degree weather and rain.

Hope you have sunshine where you are.  Thanks for stopping by and spending some time.

Hugs, Cathy

P.S.  I want to thank everyone for their suggestions for the Y seam block.  I will use each and everyone of them when I decide to try it again.