Snow Storms Make For....

Good sewing time.

Lots to show you.  As I said before I have joined along with Huckleberry Stitches to do a monthly mini from the book 101 Fabulous Small Quilts.  This month's quilt is called "Answer All Invitations That Ask You to RSVP" on page 22.

This was a fun quilt.  I used a charm pack.  It sort of reminds me of Blueberry Cobbler with cream.  


Next up is my Temecula Quilt Co. Calendar quilt for February.

I love Log Cabin Quilts and this was a quick quilt.

I had a change of plans while working on my Medallion quilt.  I decided this is as far as I am going to go with it.  My husband likes it just the way it is.  

So this is where I leave it  It will be to next top to be quilted.  This was started 2 years ago.  So I now have another project box emptied.

I showed you the finished Autumn Mystery top.  Well I got it pinned and started machine quilting it.

I thought I started this last year...but it was started in October 2013.  Another UFO will soon be finished.

I haven't worked on my Hip Chicks BOM.  While checking out my applique folder I came across this unfinished block.

I believe this is from September.  I finished it last night but still need to iron and trim.  The markings on the background are where I used a frixion pen to mark the placement.  They will disappear when I iron the block.

I've told you about all the snow we have gotten.  Totals are around 20" or more.  We have a small dog and she got buried in the snow when we let her out.  So my husband shoveled the lawn...yes I said the lawn.  Now Sammie has a couple of trails to run in the snow.

Not only did Sammie appreciate it but the birds did too.  This is a spot under the bird feeders.  This sweet Junco finds it much easier to get to the dropped seed.

I'm not sure if I will get much done this weekend.  My sweet baby brother is having his third brain tumor surgery.  It's the type of tumor that keeps coming back.  We will be at the hospital tomorrow morning.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you are keeping warm and are doing something you love.

Hugs, Cathy

Goodbye July....

Hello August!  (Warning!!!  Photo Heavy)

July was a busy month for me.  Lot's of sewing and lots of traveling.  We went on a 2 week camping trip to the Upper Peninsula.  

We started with a family get together to visit with my 2 nephews, Nathan and Jake.  Nathan is stationed in Montana and it was the first time we had seen his 3 boys.  Jake is stationed in Ohio and he and his wife will soon be stationed in Guam.  They will be there for 3 years.  That was on the 12th of July.

We left for the UP on the 13th.  Hooked up our trailer and headed north.  This was one long trip.  It took us 10 hours...without the trailer it takes 6 hours.  We went to my son's house just outside of Marquette and picked up our granddaughter Ashley for a week of camping.

We landed at Van Riper State Park on Lake Michigamme.  It was cool and rainy the first couple of days.  But I had lots of crafty stuff for Ashley.  I also took along a featherweight and a box of charm squares to teach her how to sew on a sewing machine.  She took to it like a duck to water.

Here once and off she went.  She said it beat sewing by hand....lol

I signed up for a 9 Patch swap with Barb at "Fun with Barb".  So I showed Ashley how to make 9 patches.  This is the first batch.  Then we went to a quilt shop and she found some fabric she loved and made more 9 patches to match.

This is the backing fabric she found.  She made a pillow (That needs to be stuffed)

And this is the front of the pillow.  Just to let you know....I did all the rotary cutting and ironing.  She did all the sewing of the 9 patches.  She did a great job.

My son and his dog came to camp with us on the weekend.  We took a ride and found a nice little lake to go fishing called Perch Lake.  Even the dogs got in on the action.

Ashley caught the biggest.

My son's dog Roxy tried in vain to catch one.

And Sammie didn't even want to get her paws wet.

We had fun sitting around the camp fire.  Ashley made us a Peanut Butter Smore....and it was delish.  She spread peanut butter on the graham crackers and then added the chocolate and marshmallow.

We left Pat's on Monday and headed home.  We camped for a few days at the State Park in St. Ignace.  It is right next to the bridge.  A little noisy with the sounds of bridge traffic  but at night I turned the fan on and didn't hear a thing.  I was a beautiful park.

We took a ride and went to the Bridge View park.

As you can see it was a little overcast and very breezy.

I found a large of crop of seagulls growing in the park....lol

Sammie loved the wind and strained at the leash trying to get to the seagulls.

All in all it was a wonderful trip.  Glad to be able to sleep in my own bed.  And I'm still emptying the trailer.

Since being home I've been getting some sewing done.  

I signed up for both Modern 9 Patch swap and Reproduction 9 Patch Swap.  I have to make 10 more pairs of the modern 9 patches and start the modern.

This is the July block for Hip Chicks BOM.  I still need to  prep the applique block.

Here are all the blocks together (minus the latest applique block).

And finally the latest Quilt Doodles BOM.  I really love this row.

So I finished all my BOM's for July on my "To Do" list.   Since being on vacation I didn't get anything else done.

Now for my August "To Do" List.

BOM'S

1.  Sugar Shack

2.  Globetrotting

3.  Hip Chicks

4.  Country Threads

5.  Quilt Doodles

6.  Aurifil

I've been commissioned to make 2 small photo quilts that are due in Sept.  So that is another priority.

And I need to finish my Modern 9 Patches and make my Reproduction 9 Patches.

That's it for August.  If I get anything else done it will be a bonus.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope I didn't bore you.

Hugs, Cathy 

It's Been Awhile...

10 days to be exact since my last post.  I have lots to show you.

Last year I joined an Internet block swap for a block they called "Japanese X Block".  It was a disaster.  The woman who hosted it sent out changes to the list at least every other day.  The order of who to send to each month changed.  It was chaotic.  I followed the best I could.  Sent out blocks to everyone on the list.  I even sent blocks to the hostess...who BTW didn't send any out to anyone.  Some blocks were well constructed, some were slightly smaller than they were suppose to be and some had seam allowances that were 1/8".  I didn't receive blocks from everyone so I need to make about 14 blocks myself.  But low and behold I can scratch this off my June "To Do" list.

Definitely not my colors or style but it is growing on me.  My husband who likes very traditional quilts said he doesn't know why but he likes it.

With this top made I now have another project box emptied.

Do you see it.  I have a storage unit that I didn't put the doors on.  The top two shelves have my project boxes and the bottom two shelves have my sewing machines on them.  Now I get to find a new project to put in the empty box.

A few more finishes to show you.

 Another Common Threads Block.

Hip Chicks June BOM's.

Quilt Doodles BOM.  The Skates are for June.

Another Sally Post Block.  Not perfect but it is done.

Huckleberry Stitches is hosting a monthly QAL of Kathleen Tracy's quilts (with Kathy's approval).  This month was a log cabin quilt.

I finished the quilt and hand quilted it.  I just need to add the binding which I hope to do today.  I used fabrics I got in a scrap bag of CW reproduction fabrics.

We have been having some terrible storms rolling through and we expect more later today.  The humidity has been high and it has made it hard to sew...but I am bound and determined to get some more projects done.

Oh and yesterday my Amazon Fire TV came.  My son came over and set it up.  I love it.  Especially the remote that I can talk into and it brings up what I want.  I've been watching my Amazon Prime via my computer but this is so much better.

I am going to have a hectic weekend...we are dog sitting my daughter's dog.  His name is Bear and he looks very similar to our Sammie.  They get along great but love to run all over.  Sometimes I have to separate them so they will rest.  It will be interesting.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you have seen something you like or that inspires you.  I know I am inspired daily by the blogs I read.

Hugs, Cathy

May's "To Do" List

Is done......

1.  Disappearing 4 Patch  

 Once quilted this is going to my Grandson Brian's girlfriend who just graduated with a Nursing Degree.


2.  Work on Lori & Randy's QAL

 It is ready for quilting.

3.  Sugar Shack BOM

4.  Globetrotting BOM

5. Hip Chicks

6.  Country Threads BOM

7.  Quilt Doodles BOM

8.  Aurifil BOM

 9.  APQ QAL

I noticed when I was writing this post that I made an error on one of the blocks.  Can you pick it out.  I also was trying out a different sashing then the one in the original.

10.  Common Threads Series

Next month I hope to work on the next 4 blocks in the series.


I also finished the top for the "This and That" Mystery Monday quilt.  I haven't gotten a picture of it yet.  And I am working on the Pam Buda Market Day QAL.  Still need to do Fridays part.

So now I have some free time.  Tomorrow we are going to a Memorial Day Parade that my father-in-law will be in.  And I will have some time to sandwich some quilts and get some quilting done.

I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend and thank you for stopping by.


Hugs, Cathy

Catching Up..

Working on some on going projects... 

I finished this month's Hip Chicks BOM.  The bottom 3 blocks are for the month of May.  

These are my Market Day SAL by Pam Buda.  Today we will get the next hint.

Now I have something I bought a couple of weeks ago and I love it.

This is a portable Light Table by Crayola Crayon.  I saw this on a group posting I belong to on Facebook.  I took it camping with us and it worked perfectly when working on my applique.

Now for my Antique finds.

These are 4 tulip blocks that are from the 30's.  I'm sure the pattern is one that was posted in a newspaper.  

I was thrilled to see there was a template for the pattern.  I want to replicate this block using more modern fabrics.

My next find was a rather bright quilt.

This is the quilt on my bed.  It is basically a lap quilt.

Here is a close up of some of the blocks.

Next up is a quilt top I found.

The top was made in 1934.  I love that it was dated.  

It is a twin size quilt.  I hope to get it quilted (sometime in the future).

Well that is it for my sew and tell.  I just have to make 3 more Disappearing Four Patch blocks and I will have enough to make a lap quilt.  I should be able to show you the top on Monday.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a wonderful start to your Memorial Day weekend.

Hugs, Cathy

My Happy Place

Is my sewing room.  I've been spending some quality time in sewing room lately.  Crossing off lots of projects from my "To Do" list.

First up is my April Blocks from the Hip Chicks BOM.

The center block is going to be star points for the center medallion block.  I had to make 4 of them.  The flowers were suppose to be fusible applique. But you know me.  I had to needle turn applique them.  I almost gave up a couple of times.  They were a little too little.

Next up...I am a huge fan of Cheri Payne.  I fell in love with her Common Threads series.  Here are the first set of 4 blocks.

I have already shown you the flower pot block.  I finished the other three blocks yesterday.  I can't wait to start on the next set.


I started working on the APQ QAL blocks last month.  My goal is to make an additional 3 blocks this month.  Thereafter I want to make 4 blocks a month. Here are last months block and a block I made yesterday.

I'm so glad I decided to make all my blocks in Red and Blue.  The original quilt has every block a different color.  I was amazed to see that my reds and blues in these two blocks are so similar.  It wasn't planned.


My final project is something that was started 2 years ago.  I just kept putting it aside to work on other projects.  I felt it was time to finish it up.

Sarah Vee from Sew Joy Creations asked if anyone would like to join in a QAL. I decided to join along.  The center blocks was her design.  The rest is mine.  I plan on getting it quilted this month.  Then it will hang on my sewing room door.

Well that is it for now.  It is going to be a rainy day today so a good day for getting some more sewing done and tackle another project on my To Do list.  Mmmm.....I think I will make some more Jacob's Ladder blocks.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy