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

Back to Blogging

I've been so busy I haven't had time to blog.

I do have some quilty pictures to show you and then I'll show you what else I have been up to.

 These are the August Bee Blocks.  I only had to make one set to mail off to the August Queen.

 Remember I won a shopping spree at the Raspberry Rabbits.  Well I took the Christmas tree pattern with me and got the tree finished.

I think it turned out  pretty darn good.  I just need to trim it and then add the pieced border.

I was reading my favorite blogs a few weeks ago and one of them was Don't Call Me Betsy.  She had designed a quilt called "Color My World".  It was published in Quiltmaker Magazine and she now has the pattern for sale.  You can see it on her blog.  Here is her version.

Here is my version.

I just need to make 2 more blocks.  I'm hopping to get them made today.  My quilt will be approx. 50" x 50".  

I entered a few giveaways and actually won 2 of them.

The first was from Kyle of Timeless Reflections.

I've seen these domes before and thought they were complicated.  But I tried it and it is really easy to use.  Since I love hand quilting it is nice to know I can pre-thread needles and place them in the dome and keep them close by.

My second win was from Mary at Sea Quilts.  She designs quilt with a Beachy feel to them.

 I plan on starting this after I finish Color my World.

A couple of weeks ago we went to a Cider Mill with my daughter and her family.

  We picked apples, tomatoes and green peppers.  It was a beautiful day.  That is my lovely daughter.

Then the hot weather came and I wilted.  Didn't even feel like quilting...I know that is terrible.  So we decided to go camping.

Here is our campsite.  We were lucky that this one was pretty big.

This is one of the small lakes there.  Hubby went fishing there and Sammie took an unexpected swim...lol.

Speaking of Sammie...She loves camping.  So many squirrels, birds and other dogs to bark at.  And ooooh the new smells.

Well I guess I've pulled on your ear enough for one day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Taking it Easy....

And enjoying the weather.   Our high temps and high humidity is gone...Yah!!!!  It's been much cooler and a few thunder storms but so much better.

I finally finished a project.

I finally finished the quilting and the binding on my Harmony quilt.  I haven't had many finishes lately.  So it felt good to finish something.

Here is my July block for the Almost Amish Sampler quilt from Sentimental Stitches.

Blocks for the August Queen in the Japanese X block swap.

Here is the first block for the Monday Mystery by This and That.  I've got the pattern for the second block but I had to get some more orange fabric.  As soon as it is washed I will make it.

I just love Cone Flowers.  I bought this plant while I was up north with Dad and planted it outside my bedroom window.  We transplanted it in our back yard after Dad passed away.  This year I have had about 40 blooms.   They always bring a smile to my face.

I hope you enjoyed the weekend and are  energized for Monday.

Hugs, Cathy

Time is Flying By...

I can't believe tomorrow is July 1.  The past few months have flown by.  And I'm sure the summer is going to fly by too.

Wednesday we leave to go camping with both my daughters and their families.  I am really looking forward to spending some quality time with them and my granddaughters.

Later in the month we are watching the granddaughters for a week while my daughters and their husbands, and my grandson and his girlfriend go to Las Vegas to celebrate my grandson's 21st birthday.  

Then on the 24th we are going to Shipshewana for the day with my youngest daughter.   Somewhere in the month we want to go camping again but I'm not sure. 

And of course I have to try and get caught up on all my BOM's.  I plan on prepping some applique blocks to take with us camping.

Speaking of BOM's.  I have some updates to show you.

These are the first 6 blocks for my Almost Amish BOM from Sentimental Stitches.  Yesterday I made the June block and then realized that I didn't make the May block.  I finished it this morning.

These are the first 6 months worth of blocks for the Hip Chicks BOM.  Joined at the Hip that is.  This is the first time I have put all the blocks together on my design wall and I am really liking it.

These are the blocks for the County Threads BOM.  Each month we are given patterns for a block done in 6" and 12".  Unlike the Hip Chicks BOM which the blocks are given in order as they will be in the quilt...these blocks are given in a random order.


I showed you some Japanese X blocks that I made for a swap I am in.  Each month one of us is Queen for the month and everyone sends us 2 blocks.  I am the June Queen.  Here are some of the blocks I have received so far.

I asked for blocks with a red center.  The blocks that have a different center color are ones I made for practice.  The blocks are coming in from all over the United States, Canada, England, Germany and Australia.  It will be interesting to see the rest.  Not sure how I feel about the look of this...but it seems to be growing on me.

It is a beautiful day here in Michigan.  The sun is finally shining, the sky is blue, there is a slight breeze and the temp is around 79.  I hope we have more weather like this when we camp.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

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