I've Been Busy

Doing what I love best....sewing and quilting.

Every evening I've been doing some hand quilting on my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.  I've gotten the outline quilting done on the 2 remaining blocks.  Just need to mark them for the cross hatching.

I got the binding done on my Scrappy Bears Paw quilt.

It is now hanging on my living room wall.  I love Scrappy.

I started my QM's Bitty Blocks.  This weeks is Bow Tie Blocks.

I decided to make mine using charm squares.  Once started I realized that I only had 2 packs of these charms.  Tried to order more but couldn't find any so I ordered 3 packs of similar charms in blues, browns, and neutrals.  I will intermix them and it should be fine.  These little bow ties are 3" finished.

I also started on Sharon's of Color Girl Quilts Super Simple Blocks.  She just posted Block #20.

These blocks finish at 6" and I have made blocks 1-7.  They go together quickly.  You may notice the fabric I am using is not my usual style.  But it works so well with these blocks.  I'm using a coordinated fat quarter bundle.

Now I know I wasn't going to do any on going projects with so many projects that need to be finished.  But I couldn't resist these blocks.

I have chosen the next UFO to finish.

This quilt top dates back to 1969 oops I meant 1996.  I've mentioned before that I was a member of Interquilt (an Internet quilt guild) for quite a few years.  I must have signed up for every block swap they offered.  The blocks in this quilt is from one of these swaps and the blocks are signed by the maker.  My plan is to get this machine quilted this week.  Wish me luck.

Well it is very cold here in Michigan.  My son lives in Marquette and it is -2 this morning.  Brrrrr....it's a good day for quilting.

Thanks for stopping by, keep warm and get lots of sewing done.

Hugs, Cathy

It's Frigid Out

Baby it is cold outside.  A good day for blogging, sewing and quilting....and maybe a finish or two.


Box of Chocolates is finished.

I really love this quilt.  I did it in muted shades of pink, brown and tan.  I machine quilted it using a serpentine stitch.  It took me 2 days to cut out and stitch and one day to machine quilt and do the binding.

My second finish is "Simple Stripe" by Temecula Quilt Co.  Just before Christmas I saw on their blog that they had a 2015 Calendar which gives you a mini quilt pattern for each month.  I thought this was going to be a wall calendar and was originally disappointed that it was individual cards that are approximately 4" x 5".  Not any more.  I have a small plastic picture frame just about the same side.  I put this months calendar in and then made this sweet little quilt.

The quilt is 12" x 14" and will eventually hang on my table quilt stand.  It took 2 days to make.  One day to cut and sew the strips and one day to machine quilt and do the binding.  I only showed you this months calendar.  I show you a new quilt each month.


Part of my New Years Resolution is to finish some UFO's and if I start a new project....finish it right away.  Mini quilts make this possible.


Speaking of finishing UFO's......

This is a wall quilt I made last year, I even managed to hand quilt it.  Then it got put away.  Today I hope to get the binding sewn on and finish it up this evening.  Woo Hoo....I'm on a roll.


Each evening I try and do some hand work.  I am making a dent in the hand quilting on my Henrietta Whiskers.  I'm hoping to finish it this week.


I said I wasn't going to do any BOM's.....well.....I'm not working on anything big or anything that will last a year.

But I am planning on doing Quiltmaker's Bitty Blocks.  This link will take you to the blog.  They are also doing a Mystery quilt.

Another project I hope to start on comes from Sharon at Color Girl Quilts.  She has designed some super simple sampler blocks.  These blocks are so cute.  I just happened to have acquired a FQ bundle that I am going to use for these blocks.  She just posted block 18....but don't worry she has a link on her blog for all the other blocks.


Now for something other than quilting.  At the end of October I went to the doctors for my usual 6 month diabetic checkup.  I have Type 2.  The doctor said my sugar was higher than she wanted and was going to put me back on lantus.  Ugh...I hated putting needles in my belly.  I asked her what I could do to not take the shots.  Easy she said....loose weight.

Well to me that is not too easy.  I'm 65, overweight and not very active.  I was told I had to loose 6 lbs. a month.  The first month I lost 4 lbs.  Good for me, I have such a hard time loosing weight.  The second month was December.  Not good...to much celebrating.  I didn't loose a pound.

So now it is a new year and a new start.  In December I joined Planet Fitness. My daughter Kelley is my workout buddy.  We didn't do well last month as she was busy and I was sick.  But we are doing much better.  I lost a pound this last week.  The goal is 1 1/2 pounds a week.  I even got a fitbit.  Yesterday was the first time I wore it.  This thing is amazing.  It keeps track of steps, calories burned, calories consumed and even monitored my sleep last night.  I have it sinked with my Fitness Pal and is keeping me motivated.


Well that is it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Keep warm and keep quilting.

Hugs, Cathy

A Year Of Finishes

At least that is what I hope it will be.  I want to finish old projects and if I start a new on it will get finished right away....maybe....lol

Last night I finished hand quilting another block of my Henrietta Whiskers quilt. That makes 7 total.  Tonight I plan on quilting around the figures of the last two blocks.  The plan is to finish this quilt this month.


Last year I signed up to join Huckleberry Stitches to make a mini quilt a month.  Sadly I wasn't too good at keeping up.  New year new resolve.  This year each month we will be making a quilt from the book "101 Fabulous Small Quilts".  The first quilt is called "Box of Chocolates".

I finished the quilt top yesterday.  It will measure at 14 x 21.  Today I plan on getting it machine quilted and up on my living room wall.  


If you remember I was a member of Quiltmaker's Scrap Squad.  Well Paula Stoddard of Quiltmaker Magazine contacted me about a new free monthly quilt blocks they are starting in January.  Each month they will give directions for a 3"-4" block.  

The first block has been published on the Quilty Pleasures blog.  The first block is an adorable 3" Bow Tie block.  This is going to be so much fun.  I hope you will join in and I will share my blocks at the end of the month.


Well I just got done un-decorating the Christmas Tree.  I usually get it done on New Years Day but since I had that lingering cold I didn't get to it till today.  By the way I am feeling MUCH better.

Speaking of Christmas.....We got this Christmas card from our Son and Daughter-in-law (they live in Virginia).

It didn't come as a complete surprise as they called us before hand.  But I think it was a wonderful way to announce it to friends and family.  They know it is going to be a girl and have chosen the name Ella.

So naturally I will be making a baby quilt.  I have the pattern and fabrics.  Now I just need the time to work on it.  LOL

I'm typing this in my sewing room ready to start working on Box of Chocolates.  I have one of my favorite old movies on "Unconquered" starring Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard.  Love my old movies.

I hope you stay warm and get to spend some time doing what you love.

Hugs, Cathy

Happy New Year!!!

I wonder how many blogs will have this as the title of their blog....

Well I am looking forward to this new year.  2014 ended with me being sick the last couple of months.  I've been congested, sneezing, coughing and eyes tearing up.  Here's too to better health for the New Year.

I made a New Year's Resolution.  I'm not going to get involved in a zillion BOM's like I did last year.  I still have some, who am I kidding, to finish.  So I resolve to finish up projects from last year.

First up is to finish hand quilting my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.

As you can see I finished the top in 2013.  Sandwiched it up in 2014 and started quilting it off and on during the year.  I have quilted the bottom 2 rows. I am hoping to get this quilt done this month because I have.......

33 large quilt tops to be finished and 11 small quilt tops.  I have 6 small quilts sandwiched and want to start quilting them.

Most  of these boxes has a project that I started in 2014.  I'm hoping to empty most of them this year.  Some are on going projects that I am sure won't get finished any time soon....Like my Dear Jane quilt.

This is one of the projects in my project boxes.  Yesterday I made the bottom right had block.  I need to make 6 more blocks so I can finish this.

I want to wish you all a Very Happy New Year.  I hope you keep all your resolutions and have a prosperous year.

Hugs, Cathy

It's Beginning to Look ....

A Lot Like Christmas.....

I started pulling out some of my Christmas Quilts.  

This is a round robin I did years ago.  I did the pine tree and the mitten.  The next person added the basket and heart and sewed the 4 blocks together.  And then 3 different people added borders.  It also came back to me quilted.

This is a favorite of my husband's and he likes me to hang it at Christmas.  I had made this top quite a few years ago and finally got it hand quilted in 2002 while living in the UP taking care of my Dad.

I won the pattern for this quilt from Raspberry Rabbits.  It was a quick and easy quilt and fit perfectly on my table quilt hanger.

I made the Santa quilt from a panel I bought.  And the wreath is one of my favorite small quilts.  I love anything made with Log cabin blocks.

My final Christmas quilt that is hanging in the living room is my Country Santa. He hangs next to the front door to greet all our guests.  It is my first hand appliqued project.

I've been working on some Christmas gifts but I can't show you....the recipients read my blog.

But I do have some small projects to show you.

This block is called Partridge in a Pear Tree.  It is a design by Cheri Payne.  I have a lot of her early books and this one is from her book "301 Country Christmas Blocks".  I want to make a Christmas Quilt for next year from this book.

Here is a pillow top for a monkey lover in the family.  I can show you because I don't think she reads my blog...lol

I hope you are making progress on all the Christmas gifts you are making or buying.  I'm hoping to get mine finished soon.  

Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

OMG....

I just looked at the date of my last post and couldn't believe it has been 2 months since my last post.  WOW....

Lots happened.  We went camping with my daughter.  We watched my granddaughter Cassidy for a week while my daughter went to Vegas.  Then we went camping for 10 days at Sleeper State Park.  Then we just got busy.  Our last adventure was last week when we went to the UP to visit my son's family. It was my granddaughter Ashley's Birthday she is now 13 (My husband's too...same day but he is not 13).  We bought her a Janome sewing machine made especially for beginners.  And it was in her favorite color...turquoise.  And guess what...I didn't get any pictures.  She sat right down and made a 9 patch pillow.  Another quilter in the making.  We also got to watch her play in 3 hockey games.  She is a stunner on skates.

I haven't gotten much sewing done.  I'm behind on everything.  Oh well.

Jan thru Oct for my Aurifil BOM.  Hoping to get this month's done soon.

The top picture is half of the Country Threads BOM all sewn together.  The bottom block is the September block.  This is going to be a huge quilt.

My favorite so far is my Sugar Shack BOM.  I still need to work on the November block which is a paper pieced block.

This is the final installment of the Quilt Doodles BOM.  In case you are wondering...they are a string of Christmas lights.  I probably won't be able to get the rows all sewn together till after the first of the year.

I participated in a 9 patch swap.  These are the modern 9 patch blocks I received.

And these are the reproduction 9 patch blocks.  It was such a fun swap and Barb did such a great job.

Sorry I've been so absent lately.  I promise to do a better job.  I have more projects to share.

Thanks for stopping by and not giving up on me.

Hugs, Cathy

How Time Flys....

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post.  I have no excuse.  I can't count how many days I sat down to write a post and something came up.  Nothing bad.  We went camping with my daughter and her family.  Had a great time.  When your kids are grown and have families of their own you don't get to spend a lot of quality time with them.

I did some sewing.  Finished last month's "To Do" list and started this month's list.  Basically the only thing on this month's "To Do" list is to keep up with the 6 BOM's that I am doing.  Then I can do what ever I want.

Speaking of BOM's....here are some photos of what I have done.

 The three blocks were from August for my Hip Chicks BOM.  I haven't gotten the patterns for this month yet.

Here are my Pat Sloan's Globetrotting BOM.  The single block is September's block.

Sugar Shack BOM up to date.  I really love the fabric I chose.

Aurifil BOM is all up to date.

These are the September blocks for my Country Threads BOM.  The house block is 22" and the chevron blocks are 12" each.

I also finished another Sally Post block.  This is one of my favorites.

And finally....

 This is a quilt that I put together in one day.  It uses 12 fat quarters and then some background fabric.  I used some FQ that I wasn't all that fond of and I like the way they look in this quilt.

Yesterday I finally finished quilting the Pat Sloan sew-a-long quilt that I made a few months back.  I just need to tack down the binding.  I will show you a picture of it when it's done.

My oldest daughter Kelley signed up for a 5K run.  Now she is more of a walker than a runner.  She got this app on her phone called "Couch to 5K".  It is a training app.  You walk, run, walk, run...  She has been doing it for a few weeks not and the other day she called me soooo excited.  She ran for 45 minutes without stopping.  I am so proud of her.

My youngest daughter Kim had knee surgery this morning.  I just got off the phone with her.  She is doing good.  I tell you I just love taking to someone on pain meds....she really made me laugh.

Well that is it for now.  Not sure when my next post will be.  Sunday I go to Kelley's house to watch my granddaughter Cassidy while they go to Las Vegas.  Lucky them.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic week.

Hugs, Cathy