I'm a Traditional Kinda Girl

I don't apologize for this fact.  I love traditional quilt patterns, applique and reproduction fabrics.    As proof.... here is the latest Barbara Brackman Civil War Block.  I chose to add a pieced handle.

But I gotta tell you.....I am hooked on 15 Minutes Play blocks.  I go in my sewing room to work on my traditional quilts and instead I grab all my scraps and start playing.  Forget 15 Minutes....I play for hours.  I'm running out of scraps.  I rummage through my trash bag taking out bits and pieces that I would have thrown away and now am keeping.

They are not the most beautiful blocks but I love them and they were all made with scraps.  I am going to make a wall hanging consisting of 20 9" blocks in the center, a 1 1/2" inner border of black and an outer border of 6" blocks.   After this I am going to add some appliqued baskets.  I am having so much fun playing with these.  I think they look much better in person.  But you'll have to trust me on that.

I've had this horrible virus for over a week now and until the last couple of days haven't felt up to sewing.  But I did do a lot of dreaming and thinking.  I recently sent a quilt in for auction for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  It is up for assignment.  Many of my family members have been afflicted with this.  So I decided to do another.   I made this just a few minutes ago.  It is 7 1/2" x 9 1/2".  A real sweetie.  I have to sandwich it, quilt it and bind it.  

You can click on 15 Minutes play on my blog list and see what every one is doing with their scraps.

On a sad note....I lost my balance yesterday, hit my hand on the fridge and knocked the diamond out of my engagement ring.  Luckily I found the diamond but since my finger gained some weight over the years it would not budge from my finger.  Terry had to cut it off my finger.  I cried and he promised to get me another. 

Well I'm still having coughing fits but I do feel better.  Thanks again for all your well wishes.

One last note.  Last week on Facebook I noticed that Aurifil threads had some new colors that they were looking for names.  So I spent a pleasant half hour naming the threads.  They picked one of my suggestions to vote on.  #4653.  I named it "Salsa Verde".  They chose 3 out of the hundreds that suggested names.  Everyone gets to vote on their favorite name.  The winner gets some free thread.  So if you have nothing better to do.  Check it out.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Remember Me

I finally feel better.  I still have a cough (and the sore ribs to prove it) but I can breath without wheezing.  This was the worst I have felt in a long long time.  Thanks to everyone for the well wishes.   I think they helped.  Still not at my best but doing so much better.  I think I can finally get some sewing and quilting done.

Since I haven't been doing much I'll show you 2 of the quilts I have hanging in my house.

This is a quilt designed by Jo Morton.  It hangs between my front door and the window.  I had this quilt almost completely quilted when I decided I didn't like it.  So I took it all out and redid it.   This is one of my favorite wall quilts.

When I was living up north I hung my quilts everywhere.  The guest bedroom had quilts with flowers.  My bedroom had quilts with birds.  This next quilt is one I made up north. 

I had about 4 bird feeder hanging outside the enclosed porch overlooking the lake.  All year long we had  Gold Finches.  So when I came across this pattern I had to make it.  I would love to see the Gold Finches change from their olive drab to the bright gold as summer approached.

Well time to get back to sewing.  Not even sure what I want to work on as my mind is still fuzzy but I need to be working on something.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Just a short note...

I haven't done any sewing in the last couple of day.  I'm congested, sneezing and have a horrible headache.  I'll get back with you when I'm feeling better.  Which I hope is soon.  Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Rain, Sleet, Snow...

Repeat as needed....or not.  But that is all it has been doing for the last couple of days.

But like I've said before, it makes for a good day to stay in the sewing room.

I finished another 4 Farmer's Wife blocks.  I'm having fun making these blocks.  The book came with a CD of templates for the blocks.  However there is only one template per sheet.  That gets to be pretty expensive trying to print all the templates for each block.  So instead of using the CD I've been drawing the blocks using EQ5 and then printing up the Rotary Cutting directions.  It is more accurate than printing templates.  These are blocks 3, 4, 5 & 6.

I made another 2 blocks for my Log Cabin Bow Tie Quilt.  I have been using up so many scraps. 

 I now need to purchase some more Vellum paper (I'm out) so I can print up more foundations patterns.  I used to use light weight paper but I find vellum is easier to see through when paper piecing and it tears easier.

This morning when I was reading all the blogs I follow I saw a beautiful antique quilt on Pepper Cory's blog. (http://quiltflapper.blogspot.com/) The blocks look like they are Crazy Quilt Blocks.  In the center of each block was an appliqued folk art basket.   I've been making my own version of a crazy quilt blocks by sewing bits and pieces of fabric together.  I call them Freestyle Blocks.   I showed you 2 the other day.  Today I made another 2.  I wasn't sure what to do with them until I saw Pepper's quilt.  I think I will sew the blocks together and then do some folk art applique on the quilt.  I really like the idea of the baskets.  But we'll see.  You really need to check out her quilt.

I finally finished Sunflower Quilt #1.  I trimmed it up and sewed on the binding.  I need to sew it the back and then I'll show you the finished quilt.  And I'm finally working on the March block for Henrietta Whiskers from Bunny Hill.  With so much hand work I don't have a lot to show.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Where's the Sun...

It was out this morning but quickly left.  Horrible thunderstorms last night.  It was hard to sleep with all the thunder and lightning.  Cold, damp and dreary out.  A good day to quilt.

I made a few things yesterday.  The newest Barbara Brackman Civil War block and I redid block #1 of the Farmer's Wife quilt.  Then I made block #2.  I'm going to try and make 2 blocks a day.  So later on I will work on #3 and #4.

I've been enjoying Victoria's blog " Bumble Beans" quite a bit lately.  http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/  Then I noticed she had another blog called "15 Minute Play" http://www.15minutesplay..com/ .  She has inspired me.  She takes bits and pieces of scrap fabric and makes a beautiful quilt block.  So I started sewing my pieces together with the idea that I would be making a piece of fabric, cut it up and make a quilt block.  However, once I got the bits and pieces sewn together I loved it just the way it was.  I trimmed the block to 9 1/2".  My husband really liked what I had done.  So I went on to make another.  I'm going to make a bunch for a quilt and put them together using sashing.  These are pieces of fabric I would have normally thrown out.

While browsing yesterday I found another neat idea at Love, Laugh, Quilt.  http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/  Beth is asking for donations of blocks to be put together for the people of Japan.  She has the directions on her blog and will email where to send the blocks.  Here are the 2 blocks I made.  Simple, fast and I used more of my scraps.  So go check out her blog and them make a couple of blocks.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

It's a Beautiful Day...

It's cool out but the sun is shining and the skies are blue and the best part....the snow is melted.

Last night was " Friday Night Sew-In".  I got a lot done.

Here is my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long quilt.  I still had to sew the blocks together for three rows.  After that I sewed all the rows together.  I am really happy with the outcome.

Originally I was going to leave it like this and just quilt it and bind it.  But looking at it hanging here I think it needs another border.  I'm thinking of maybe using a large floral.  Not sure.  Anybody have any ideas?

I thought this quilt would be smaller since the original quilt has 9" blocks, but since I added  3" sashing it was bigger.

I also worked on my Bow Tie Log Cabin blocks.  I know it sounds like 2 different blocks, but it's not.  I searched bow tie blocks on EQ5 and this block came up.  I loved it the minute I saw it.  Last night I got 4 more blocks made.  Now I have 14 blocks made.   I only have 206 more to go to make a queen size quilt.....lol  This is going to take a while.

Thursday we went up to Marine City to visit with the In-Laws and take them out to lunch.  My mother in law told me about a quilt shop in town.  So after lunch we stopped in.  The name of the shop is "Quilted Dreams".  It was a very nice shop.  Lots of BOM's, patterns and books.  And of course fabric.  I spotted the book "The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt".  So did my husband.  He liked it so much he bought the book for me.  I was really hoping to get away from 6" blocks for a while...but it is nice.  So last night I made the first block.  I'm not real happy with it so I'm going to re-do it. 

I really enjoyed the evening and got a lot done.   So the day ended on a good note.  It didn't however start that way.  An hour after my husband left for work he was back home.  (He works 5 minutes from home)  He was feeling dizzy and was sick to his stomach.  So off to the doctors we went.  Turns out he has water in the inner ear and an infection.  So lots of pills and sinus tablets and a good nights sleep he felt great this morning.

So now I'm off to put on a pot of Cabbage Soup.  Straighten up and then off to my favorite place.  My sewing room.

Wishing you all a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

Woo Hoo

It's here....It's Friday.  Time for "Friday Night Sew In" .  I have all my projects lined up.  I'm going to finish sewing my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long top

 and I have my scraps sorted to work on my Log Cabin Bow Tie blocks. 

What will you be working on?  Hope you have a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat