7 Down and 1 or 2 To Go

I had 8 projects on my January "To Do" List.

1. Make 4 blocks for Ashley's quilt.  I not only got the 4 blocks done I put the quilt top together.  I even bought some flannel for the backing and a huge roll of cotton batting.  Hopefully I will get it quilted next week.
2. Finish my Hip Chicks 2013 BOM quilt top.  Done.
3. Finish my Country Threads 2013 BOM quilt top.  Done
4. Make the 1st block for the Sugar Shack 2014 BOM.  Done
5. Make the center block for Pat Sloan's Globetrotting 2014 BOM. Done

I've shown you all of these projects in earlier posts.

Number 6 on my list is the first 3 blocks for the Hip Chicks 2014 BOM.  They are 6 1/2" unfinished.  I can now mark this one as done.

The first 2 were pretty easy...however the third one gave me fits.  But I am very happy with the results.

The 7th project is the Country Threads 2014 BOM.  Like last year, each month has 2 blocks one smaller and the second is twice the size of the first.

This month's blocks are 10" and 20".  They said that the blocks will be different sizes each month.  I love how my blocks turned out.

My 8th project is the Quilt Doodles Sew a Long.  For January I need to make a row of Snowman heads.  I will be working on this today.

Now for the or 2....  Lori at http://humblequilts.blogspot.com  She is doing another sew a long based on an antique quilt.  Mid-Winter Blues.  Even though I said I wasn't going to start anymore new projects I couldn't resist.  Lori does such a fantastic job on the directions.  And what I love is that it isn't a big project.  It is something you can get done in a hurry.  Check it out. I'm sure you will fall in love with it too.

I managed to get one finish this year.  It was suppose to be a Christmas gift but since I was feeling so bad most of November and part of December it didn't get finished.  

So I guess I am ahead of the game for this Christmas....lol  I love this pattern because it is made using 5" charm squares.

The weather here is still very frigid.  The weatherman said to expect it to be this way for a week or two.  I don't know about where you are but here in Michigan there is a flu epidemic.  It seems to be hitting the young adults more than anyone else.  I've been meaning to get a flu shot but every time I plan on it I get sick.  Yesterday was no exception.  I woke up sneezing.  Continued sneezing, watery eyes and my sinuses draining like someone turned on the tap.  Dayquil seemed to help and with NyQuil I got a good nights sleep.  Sinuses still draining but I'm not sneezing as much.

Needless to stay I am staying put, keeping warm and getting some sewing therapy done.  

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

Hugs, Cathy

I was asked for the link to Joined at the Hip BOM  here it is.

A Finish Almost

Well once it is quilted it will be a finish.  But right now it is a finished top.

I really love how this turned out.  I chose the same fabric I used in the basket block in the bottom left corner.  I was going to make each border piece a different fabric but I like this fabric.  I had just enough of this fabric for the border but not enough for the binding.  I'm going to make the binding black.

I finished 2 more blocks for Ashley's quilt.  2 more and I can add the border and then it will be ready to quilt.

Right now I'm working on the center medallion block for Pat Sloan's Globetrotting BOM.  I will post a picture when done.

I also have up on my design wall the blocks for the 2013 Country Threads BOM.  I didn't realize how far behind I was.  So I will try and make a set of blocks every day till it is done.  Photo coming later.

Well our weather has been crazy here in Michigan.  A week ago we had -40 degrees with windchill.  It was truly frigid.  Today we are in the +40's.  We took Sammie out to Metro Beach for a much needed walk.  While there I picked up the new park stickers for my three kids (that live near here) and for Terry and me.  We really love the Metro Parks.

I've got Split Pea Soup simmering on the stove and a pile of blocks to be trimmed so I really need to get busy.

Hope your start to the week is going well.  See you later.

Hugs, Cathy

Have I told you.....

How much I love Autumn?  Today has been such a beautiful Autumn day.  The sun is shining and the colors are glorious.

We took Sammie out to Wolcott Mill Metro Park for a good work out.  We thought the workout was for her...but we are the ones that got the work out.  I'll show you some pictures of the park but first I want to show you what I have been working on.

I came to the party late....I didn't see Lori @ Humble Quilts latest QAL until the third round.  I'm pretty busy with other projects but I did want to do a smaller version of Lori's block.

 I had this chicken blocks and was always going to make more and have a queen size quilt.  Best laid plans.....  So when this project came along I thought this block would be perfect.  The red borders has these spots that remind me of eggs.  The pieced border was made up of triangles that were trimmed from projects.  I save them in a box and when I have a bunch I used them in other projects.  The 3rd border is chickens.  My quilt measures 13" and will fit perfect on my table quilt stand or on the wall in my kitchen by my chicken collection.  I have 2 tiny buttons for the eyes that I will add after I quilt it.  Thanks Lori for another fun QAL.  This is something I will definitely do again.


I got caught up on my Hip Chicks BOM (Joined at the Hip).

 I am surprised that I have been able to keep up with this.  It is going to be a nice quilt when finished.


I also got a couple of table runners made for Christmas presents.

They are the same size but at the angle I took the picture, one looks longer than the other.  Does it look familiar?  I made another one earlier and have a picture on my left side bar.


Now for our walk.  Wolcott Mill Metro Park is a bit of drive but on such a beautiful day it was enjoyable.  We took a longer drive to get there that took us through the country and down dirt roads.   All of a sudden my husband stopped and said look what is in the front yard of this house.

At first I thought he meant the pumpkins...then I saw them.  PEACOCKS!!! Then Sammie saw them too and started barking and they took off running.

This is the mill that the park is named after.  We've been here many times.  Once a year they have a quilt show.  

I love how they decorate the mill buildings with Scarecrows.

 After we checked out the mill we went for a walk.  They have quite a few hiking trails.  Sammie took us on a real hike.

 It was such a lovely walk.  The trail for the most part was covered in leaves and went up and down some hills.

We came across this tree that was hollowed out at the base.  There were all these tiny mushrooms.  It looked like a fairy garden.

On the way back to the car we missed our path and ended up in a field that had this mess covering it.  We almost stepped on this cute fuzzy caterpillar.

That was the end of walk.  Sammie didn't want to get in the car while Terry and I were dragging our butts and couldn't wait to get in.

I'll leave you now with this picture.  I loved how this leaf was shining against all the brown curled up leaves.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Hugs, Cathy

Enjoying the Summer and a Giveaway

I've been lazy lately.  I've done a lot of reading and watching movies and watching the Detroit Tigers win.

But I've also done some sewing and shopping....

Here are some of the projects I've been working on.

1.  Lori and Randy's Quilt a Long.

I decided to do a scrappy final border.  I have 2 cut out and plan on working on it today.  Then I need to pull the fabrics for the applique.  I'm slowly getting this done.


2.  Joined at the Hip BOM.

Here is the latest block.  I can't wait till the end of the year.  It is going to be a really nice sampler quilt.


3.  This and That Monday Mystery #6.

I love these Monday Mystery's.  I haven't done all of them but I do print up the patterns.  My favorite time of year is autumn so this is one I will definitely finish.


4.  Dear Jane.  Like a lot of you I was fascinated when Dear Jane came out.  I worked on it religiously.  I took it up north with me when I stayed with my Dad.  Some how when packing up to come home I misplaced my blocks.  I've been meaning to work on it again but just kept putting it off.  Well I recently bought the EQ Dear Jane program.  Wow!!!  it is so much easier to do the blocks.  I started with block #2 and have printed up all the rotary and or templates for the first row.

Now I told you I went shopping.  DH and I had received a gift certificate for Cabela's.  Last week we decided to go to their Saginaw store.  We picked up a fire pit grill to use when we camp.  While in Saginaw we decided to go to an antique store.

I'm always on the look out for an antique quilt.  I got lucky.

Isn't it beautiful.  There is some where and some of the fabrics are disintegrated.  But the colors are still very vibrant.

The fabrics look like they are from the CW Era.  It will be hanging on my wall for a while.

My second shopping trip was a visit to Amazon.  I preordered a book and then ordered it again.  DUH.... but since I got such a good deal I decided to give the second copy away.

I saw this book on different blogs and just had to have it.  (Like I don't have enough books...lol)

So here is what you need to do to be entered to win a copy.

1.  Leave a comment on this blog letting me know you are a follower.

2.  Blog about it for a second chance.

Now that is easy.  You know it has been 2 years since I started this blog.  I have made many friends through blogging.  This is my way of saying thank you for all your inspiration.

You have until August 25 to enter.  I will pick the winning name on Monday August 26.  Good Luck to all.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

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

Sorry I Haven't Written Sooner

It hasn't been the best 2 weeks of the year.  I didn't get much sewing done.  I tell you why later.

I did get my Joined at the Hip BOM done.

Next I made 10 of the pinwheel blocks for the first pieced round of the Humble Quilts/Barrister's Block Medallion Quilt SAL.  

Now for why I haven't gotten much done.  I went for my normal Diabetic check up and everything was fine.  Some of my levels came down.  2 days latter I developed some congestion and then my back started hurting.  Turns out I have a cyst on my back that got infected.  Heavy doses of antibiotics (still have 6 days to take pills) have taken a lot of the redness away and the mass has shrunk.  The meds make me very tired so I can only get a little done at a time.  If it doesn't get better the doctor said she was going to put me in the hospital....ugh.

Any way we had plans to go camping over Memorial Day weekend with my youngest son Mike and his girlfriend Stacy.  We are still going.  I am taking some hand work and plan on vegging out for a week.  Hopefully by then my back will be all cleared up.

We leave tomorrow morning and I can wait.  This will be Sammie's first experience camping.  She loves the trailer.  However, earlier today she tried to go in and didn't realize the screen door was closed.  Ouch!!  Now she waits for us to go in first.

I'll try and post some pictures of our week...not sure if they have wifi but I can post some pictures with my phone.  Ah...modern technology.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

A Couple of Blocks and a Quilt Show

I made the latest 2 blocks for The Hip Chicks (Joined at the Hip) BOM.

 Yesterday was a beautiful day so DH and I took a ride up to Flushing, MI just north of Flint to see a quilt show.  It was a small show but they had some really beautiful quilts.  Enough said....here are the quilts.

It was hard to get some of the photos, so I apologize for them.  The show was in a church and the ceilings were low so some of the bigger quilts were laying on the floor.  We really enjoyed the show and hope you did too.  

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope it is as sunny where you are as it is here.

Hugs, Cathy

Check 2 Off My List

I did a little sewing and have 2 projects to check off my To Do List.

1.  Country Threads BOM.

I love doing BOM's.  I must since I am doing about 5 of them....LOL!


2.  Joined at the Hip BOM.

I love basket blocks.  This is block #5.


I also made 4 more Baby Trips blocks.  I would have  gotten more done but yesterday we went grocery shopping.  Now that we are retired we usually only go once a month.  It takes a couple hours to do it and then....about 3 hours to repackage meat and put all the grocery's away.

Today I am working on my Small Quilt Talk quilt for April.  Maybe I will have something to show you tomorrow. In the evenings I keep myself busy either hand quilting or doing hand applique on my Pat Sloan BOM.

The sun is shining but it's cold out so another good day to spend time in the sewing room.  Also a good day to make a pot of Split Pea Soup.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

April Fools Day

And time to make my to do or want to do list for April.  But first I want to show you my last 2 finishes for March.

This is a little quilt I made for my daughter, Kim, for having us over for Easter.  I had bought her a standing quilt frame for Christmas.  This was from a new pattern I bought by Cheri Payne called  "A Basket Full".  The actual basket was smaller and I enlarged it on my copier.  I hand appliqued and hand quilted it.  Now I've got to make one for myself.

This is a little quilt I made after seeing an antique doll quilt on Pinterest.  Then I also found the quilt in a multitude of quilt books.  It is made up of 2.5" squares, 1.5" squares and 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles.  It worked up quickly and I hand quilted it.


Now for my April List:

BOM'S

1.  Joined at the Hip, March and April's blocks.
2.  Country Threads
3.  Seasonal Applique
4.  Almost Amish, March and April
6.  Patchwork Posse Winter Wonderland
7.  Pat Sloan Quilt a Long (I know I can't believe it either.  Another BOM)

On Going

1.  Log Cabin Bow Ties

2.  Scrappy Trip Around the world.  I need to make 12 more blocks.  So I hope to get this finished and quilted this month.

3.  Ashley's Plaid quilt.  I have 7 blocks made and 23 more to make.

4.  I need to make another cup cake quilt.


UFO Busting

1.  Plaid Jacobs Ladder.  This was a sew a long from 2011 with Freda.  I would love to get at least the top put together.  So I need to make a few more blocks.

2.  Floribunda.  This was a Bonnie Hunter SAL from 2011.  I never really liked 
what I did but one of my daughters did so I think I will finish it for her for Christmas.

3.  I think I should make this #1.  It is my Primitive Primer.  I still only need one block to make.  So I will try and make this a priority.


Now if that isn't enough.....

1.  I signed up for a Small Quilt Swap at Small Quilt Talk.  I have 2 months to finish it.

2.  My monthly Small Quilt Talk Challenge.  This month we need to make a quilt using the Contrary Wife block.

3.  I'm making a baby quilt for my Nephew and his Wife.  The are expecting Son #3.

This is what I started on Saturday.  It is a Trip Around the World using just 6 fabrics.  The prints are from Riley Blake.  I am using 2" strips so it is a smaller block that the Scrappy one I am making.

4.  I got a couple of Sally Post Blocks prepped and started working on one of them.

5.  And I started hand quilting my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.  I am quilting it using #12 perle cotton and doing a big stitch.  


How's that for a list?  18 projects on my list.  It looks daunting, however the first 6 are just one block.  The next 4 are work on when time permits.   I think I can make a good dent in my list.  Only time will tell.

Well I better get going so I can get some of this done.  Hope you are having a great start to spring.  Since it is April Fools Day...Mother Nature pulled a good one.  It SNOWED this morning.  No accumulation...Thank goodness.  But none the less it snowed.

Hugs, Cathy