More Relaxed

And getting some sewing done.

I worked on the Splendid Sampler blocks.

This is block number 6.  I added some new colors to this one.

This is block number 8.  Block 7 is going to be an embroidered block.  I have it traced and ready to go.

Here is the March block for the Sugar block BOM.

I love the soft colors in this quilt.  The fabric is by Robin Pandolph.

Okay so I said I was dropping out of some sew  alongs.  I'm still working on them but not on a frenzied pace.  I may not work on them for months.  I am saving the patterns.  So now that I have a little more time on my hands I started a new quilt.

This is called "Speedwell Quilt" and it was a free pattern from Moda Bake Shop.  It is made using Layer Cakes.  The fabric is from Laundry Basket Quilts.  It's a wonky picture but will give you an idea of how it will turn out.

I am also working on another sew along by Cheri Payne.  I'm a member of her group on facebook.  Each day she is giving us a 4" block.  There are going to be 20 some blocks.  Not sure of the size yet.  It started on Monday.

Mine is going to be a scrappy quilt.

I am enjoying my less stressful sewing room.  I don't feel guilty if I am not in there working away.  Like many of you have said....Quilting is suppose to be fun.  And now it is.

Thanks for stopping by.  It's raining here I hope you have sunshine where you are.

Hugs, Cathy

Uh Oh...

I was in the middle of writing this post and our Internet went out.  First time this has ever happened before.  It was still out when I went to bed.  Thankfully, it's back up today.

The title of the post was going to be AWOL. 


But I'm back now.  

We had a wonderful time camping over the 4th weekend.  Terry and I got to the campground on Wednesday.  We had two wonderful restful days.  Then the family started showing up.  

Kelley and her brood came on Friday afternoon.  Then on Saturday my daughter Kim and her hubby Robert and my son Mike and his partner Stacy and my grandson Brian and his partner Jess came.  We had such a great day with them all.  And guess what no photo's....I'm so bad.

Home Sunday, partially emptied trailer and took a couple of days to recuperate.  

Then I finally got back to the sewing room.

Since I took this picture I have added the top and bottom borders and have prepped the applique leaves.  Hopefully I will finish the top this month.


I worked on another Christmas quilt.

I got 2 more rows made and 2 to go.  My block a day didn't work...life got in the way.  I'm liking this quilt.

Finally I bought another die for my Accuquilt Go so I could make these,

I have always wanted to make a kaleidoscope quilt.  I tried with paper templates and plastic templates and they turned out terrible.  But with the dies each piece was the same.  This is a practice piece.  I used fabrics I didn't really like and had packed away in a shoe box.  The charcoal and light grey is some yardage I had.  I'm planning on making a lap quilt.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Hugs, Cathy

Getting Ready

For the Old Voices, New Impressions Sew Along.  Although I'm not making the quilt on the front, I'm making the quilt on the back.

I changed my background fabric choices twice.  I like my final choice.  I cut all the squares for the blocks.  I traced all the applique pieces on freezer paper.  I prepped 3 blocks in anticipation...and just couldn't wait.  I appliqued the first block.

The picture is a little fuzzy.  The background has little blue what looks like the planet Saturn.  I also chose two blue fabrics for the sashing and borders.

I haven't gotten a lot done...I've played hooky.  We took a day off and went fabric and antique shopping.  I bought the background fabric above and some black fabric for Cheri Payne quilt.

There is a big Antiques Mall near by so we stopped by.  I was inspired by Barb from Fun with Barb to find a vessel for my doll quilts.

This is what I found.  It is a wooden planter.  Works perfect for my doll quilts.

I also found this little doll quilt.  In fact I found 2.  This one was $6 and a smaller one was $4.  I'm not a fan of cutting antique quilts but I loved this one.


Here are my projects up to date.

Cheri Quilt.  15 blocks made and 10 to go.

 Row by Row Quilt.  I'm making some progress.

Tiles quilt.  Again slow but sure.

I have been wanting to make some portable design boards for keeping my pieces together for blocks.  Lori at Bee in my Bonnet has a great tutorial.  I made 2.  A small one....10" x 10"

 And a larger one...20" x 20"

 I didn't cut my border fabric long enough...well actually it was some left over binding that I thought was long enough.  I ended up using some of the binding from the other board.  But it works...that is what is important.

Yesterday we took my father-in-law out for a Father's Day dinner.  We went to his favorite steak place.  We had a great time and Dad smiled the whole time.

Today I hope to get a couple more of my mini design boards made and get some sewing done.  I also need to prep some more Old Voices blocks.  So a busy day for me.

I hope you are having a great day and enjoy the up coming Father's Day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

A Block a Day

And a Row a day...

First my block a day projects.

These are the blocks I have made so far for the Sew Along Cheri Payne posted on her blog.  I am using reproduction CW fabrics.  I have been making one block a day.  I need 25 total.

Next is a new project I just started.  It is going to be a Christmas gift.

I'm using a Lexington by Minick and Simpson Jelly roll to make the blocks.  I ended up ordering another so I can make a decent size quilt.  The blocks are 10" finished.  Today is day 3 so I need to get busy and make another block.


Now for the row a day.

This is another Christmas gift.  I had a few rows already made that I showed you in another post.  I sewed those rows together and then vowed to make a row a day and attach it to the other rows.  So far so good.  

It is so much easier to start these projects now and make a block or row a day. I hate to have to rush to get things done at Christmas time.

I've been prepping applique for the "Old Voices New Impressions" Sew a Long. I like to do applique in the evenings and piece during the day.  I can't wait to start this new project in July.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

Go Tigers

I don't know if I have told you but I am a huge fan of the Detroit Tigers.  As I write this post I am watching them play Houston in Florida.  They are leading 2-0.

Wish I was there.  It is sunny and warm there.  It's sunny here in Michigan too but it definitely not warm.  Another day to get some sewing done.

Over the weekend I did get a chance to get a little sewing done.

 I made the March Blocks for the Country Threads BOM.

 I finished the 3rd row for the Patchwork Posse Winter Wonderland Row Robin.

 I hand quilted my Cheri SAL quilt.  I have used #8 pearl cotton before.  This is the first time I have used #12 pearl cotton.  I want to tell you....I LOVE IT. It goes through all the layers so smoothly.  I think I am going to use it a lot more often.  I like the way it looks too.


The other day we took Sammie for a walk.  Here she is in her Christmas sweater.

The problem is she is a bit too long for it.  I'm going to have make her a quilted jacket.  We didn't see too much while on our walk.  But when we got home there were a ton of birds in the back yard in the feeders.

The male cardinal was up in the tree keeping an eye on his lady....

was in the feeder feasting on sunflower seeds.  They are such beautiful birds. One day I looked out and there had to be 4 pairs of them flitting around between the bird feeders and the tree.

Well the Tigers are still ahead and I'm headed to the sewing room to cut out some 3" squares for a new project and put the game on in there.

Hope you are having a wonderful start to the week.

Hugs, Cathy

Oscars Tonight!!!

Oscar Night always brings back some fond memories.  When I was a kid, my Mom and my Aunt Bunne always got together on Oscar Night.  They would take turns at each other's house and would make a real evening out of it.  I always loved it when it was Mom's turn because she would let me stay up late.  They are both gone now....but the memories are still here.

Tonight while watching the Oscars I will be sewing down the binding  on my Autumn Plus quilt.

It is sitting on top of a very large pile of tops that need quilting.  I think that there are around 30...   I really need to get some quilting done.  This quilt is one of the projects that I listed at the beginning of the month that is on my UFO Busting list.  Check one off.

I got my Quilts by Cheri SAL quilt done.

I really like how it turned out.  I hand quilted it using black thread.   On Cheri's post she showed a little quilt she made out of extra blocks.

I had a few left over and this is what I made out of one block.  I'm sending this to my friend instead of the windmill quilt.  

You might remember that I made the girls in my family 12" quilts to hand on a table frame.  I decided I need to get started on making them more.  The first one I am going to make them is a Cup Cake Quilt to hang for birthdays.  

This is the first I have started.  I need to put a cherry on top.  I think the girls are going to like these.

Don't forget about the giveaway....you have until February "28".  Enter here.
Good Luck and thanks to everyone for being a follower.

Well I'm off to the sewing room.  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Cathy