The Post is Up...

This morning Quiltmaker Magazine posted the blog on my final quilt as member of the 2012 Scrap Squad.

The quilt is called Caribbean Vacation.  Mine looks nothing like the Caribbean but I love how it turned out.

First I chose my focus fabric.

Next I went through all my scraps.  I keep all my scraps sorted by color in large plastic bags.  It makes it so much easier to find what I'm looking for.

I made a sample block to see if I was on the right track.

I was pretty happy with the way it was looking and started making more.  For this quilt I cut out all the pieces at one time.  It made it so much easier to put the quilt together.

I was so afraid that it would be too busy looking.  But after a couple of rows I saw a definite design.

The completed center of the quilt.  I wasn't sure how to finish the borders.  Because it was so scrappy I decided to just use my focus fabric.  I added a 6" border.

I am really happy with the way it turned out.  Can you guess....It's not quilted yet.  This one is going on the frame to be hand quilted.

This was such an amazing journey.  I really enjoyed working with Quiltmaker Magazine and especially Diane Harris.  Thanks for following my year long adventure.

Now....my mind is spinning with so many projects to start and too finish.  I guess I should finish those I showed you on my last post.  

Hugs, Cathy

Happy New Year!!!

Okay, so I'm a little late.  Par for the course.  I am so looking forward to this new year, new projects and new places to visit.  Speaking of visits....

 We are in the Upper Peninsula visiting my son and his family.  It is so beautiful here.  The sun is shining and the temp is only 14 degrees but with the sun its not to bad.

This is the view outside his side door.  Later today we are going to watch my granddaughter Ashley play hockey.  She has 2 games today and 1 tomorrow.  Then we head home on Monday.

We brought our new dog, Sammie with us.  She didn't like being in the car at all.  She shook and whined for a while.  Once she got used to it she was fine. She curled up in the well of the back seat and slept.  She sure loves the snow.

I make some 12" quilts for the daughters, daughters-in-law and girlfriends as Christmas gifts.  I bought them each a table stand quilt hanger.  Her are the quilts.

I made a photo of each set of quilts and put their name under the description. That way when I make them future quilts I won't duplicate.  I think they were

pretty happy with them.

I am now finishing up my last quilt as part of Quiltmaker Magazine's Scrap Squad.  They will be announcing the 2013 Scrap Squad members soon.  I had so much fun this year.  Made a lot of new friends, tried new techniques and was kept very busy.  I look forward to new adventures in quilting this year and hope to show you many new projects and hopefully some old finishes.

Thanks for being loyal followers.  It is much appreciated.  

Hugs, Cathy

Going on Vacation

We leave tomorrow to go to the Upper Peninsula to visit my son and his family.  We are going to take my granddaughter Cassidy so she can visit with her cousin Ashley.

This is what they looked like 2 years ago.  They have both grown so much.  I will post a picture of this duo next week to show how much they have grown.  We always have such a good time when we visit.

Last week I showed you the blocks I designed for my New Bee swap on 15 Minutes Play.  Well here are the first set of blocks I have received.  I am going to make some more so I can have a large quilt.  I think I am going to use white sashing between the blocks.  All these blocks are made from made fabric.  We have taken all our scraps, sewn them together and then cut them into our patterns.  I thought this would make me use up my scraps but they seem to multiply instead.  lol

Weather here is beautiful hope it is the same tomorrow when we cross the Mackinaw Bridge.  I will be sure to post pictures of our time up north.

BTW...I finished my latest Scrap Squad quilt.  Just waiting to hear when it will be posted on Quilty Pleasures Blog (Quiltmaker Magazine).  As soon as I hear something I will let you know.

Hugs, Cathy

Summer is HERE...

And it is HOT. 

Not much to share with you today.  Wanted to say hi and hope you are keeping cool.  The temps are in the 100's and it is humid.  Some wicked storms have been going through our area and we have been having flash flood warnings. 

Thank goodness for air conditioning.  We have a room air conditioner in our bedroom and in mine sewing room.  I don't know how I would get any sewing done without it.

I am almost finished with my Scrap Squad quilt.  The quilting is done and the binding is made.  I'm going to sew it on the quilt today.  Then I just need to do the write up for Quiltmaker's blog.

So I am going back to the sewing room.  I wanted to share a picture of a beautiful sunset from the Upper Peninsula.  I will be going there on the 13th for a much needed rest and visit with my son Pat, his wife Courtney and my granddaughter Ashley.  We will be taking my other granddaughter Cassidy with us.

Stay cool and Happy Quilting.

Hugs, Cathy

Swealtering in Michigan

Boy is it hot.  And even hotter in my sewing machine.  Even though I had my husband put a room air conditioner in here....trying to machine quilt a large quilt is hot business.  I have been working on my Scrap Squad quilt and am about 3/4 of the way done.  I should be able to show it to you in a week or two.

Meanwhile, I just wrote up a tutorial for my NewBee Swap block for July over at 15 Minutes Play.  Hope on over and check it out.

Here is what it looks like finished.

Keep cool and happy quilting,

Cathy

It's Time to Reveal...

My second Quiltmaker Scrap Squad Quilt...

But first a little background.  As you know last year I applied to Quiltmaker Magazine to be a part of their Scrap Squad.  I had to send in pictures of some of my scrap quilt.  Amazingly I was chosen.  Their are 7 of us in the Scrap Squad.

The magazine sends us a pattern of a quilt that is coming out in the next issue of Quiltmaker and we are asked to make a scrappy version.  This entails making a quilt every 2 months.

The first quilt I made is on the left side of the screen, "Chain Reaction"

The second quilt "Ladder of Success" was designed by Judy Martin.  I hope you enjoy the journey of this second quilt.

First I chose my focus fabric.

I pulled all the colors for my quilt from this fabric.  And I made it using only scraps except for the first and second borders.

I used solid looking fabrics for the large 9 patches. lots of different black prints for the sashing blocks and light shades of blue for the double 9 patch blocks and many golds for the second border.  The balance was different shades of neutral fabrics.

To keep me organized I draw the different segments on a graph paper index card.  I mark the size of each piece, and how many pieces.  I put this in a plastic frame and keep it along side my sewing machine.

Once all the pieces were cut out the center of the quilt went together very quickly.

I think this would make a nice quilt on its own.

Here are my quilt top and Judy Martin's quilt bottom.

Please check out Quiltmaker's Blog, Quilty Pleasures  and see the different versions of this quilt made by my fellow Scrap Squad members. 

And just to let you know....I've already received the pattern for the next quilt.  You are going to like what we have in store for you.

Hugs, Cathy



In Just One Week.....

We've had 80 degree weather, 32 degree weather, a quilt show, a walk, and health issues.

First the Quilt Show.  A week ago, my husband and I went to the Oakland County Quilt Guild Quilt Show.  This show is special to me.  I used to be a member of the guild and I got my first 1st place ribbon at this NQA show.  Here are some of the quilts I saw.

It was a really nice show.  And they had tons of vendors...I did shop a little.  It was nice to run into some old friends too.

We went for a walk to Lake St. Clair Metro Park (formerly Metro Beach Metro Park) and it was beautiful out.  I made sure I took my camera hoping to see some wild life.  And I did.  The temperature was around 80.

These 2 Terns were flirting quite a bit.  We had to turn away at one point....lol

We saw so many swans.  There was a flock of 10 swans that flew over us.  Not sure where they were headed.

My first site of baby geese for the season.  They were quite small and as you can see the parents were very protective.

We went walking yesterday and it was only 32 degrees out.  I swear I saw snow flakes.  It must have been dog walking day.  There had to be about 80 dogs there.

Now for the health issues.  I've had Type 2 diabetes for years.  Tuesday I went to the Doctor's for my regular check up and my blood tests showed that my diabetes is out of control.  I am now on a new additional medication (which is playing havoc with my system) and I will need to start on insulin.  But thank goodness it will be a pen.  She said I could possibly get of insulin and some of my medication if I loose some weight.  That's not an easy task with diabetes and thyroid problems. 

So she suggested that I join weight watchers online.  I did.  From counting points I realized that I was eating too much and all the wrong foods.  I weigh myself Wednesday morning to see how much weight I have lost during this first week.   I will keep you informed on how I am doing.

Woo hoo....I finally finished my Scrap Squad Quilt.  I have to do my write up on the process for Quiltmaker's Blog and take a picture of my quilt.  I'll let you know when it will be posted on their blog.  Already got the pattern for the next quilt.  Trying to think up some ideas for it.

Well this has been a lengthy post and lots of photos.  I hope you enjoyed then and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy 

My Design Wall

With being on the Scrap Squad I am working on something I can't show.  So I took a few days off to work on some projects.

Here is the next round of my Jubilee Quilt.

I paper pieced the border blocks.  I'm hoping to have time today to sew the border on the center block today.  I played with a lot of different blocks on EQ and like this one the most.

I also made a few more Spool Blocks.

I only get to make a few blocks at a time but at least it is growing.  Some day I make actually make a quilt from these 5" blocks.

Here is a sneak peak at the second Scrap Squad quilt....

This is going to be the second border of the quilt.  Once done with this I have one more plain border and then I can decide how to quilt it.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.  Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

Check it out

I'm so excited.  My quilt is revealed on Quiltmaker's blog Quilty Pleasures.  Woo Hoo!!

They posted it in my own words.  I will post a picture of my quilt here later this week.

Here's the address:  http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/

Here's a peak at my practice blocks.  Sure glad I practiced.

So step on over to Quiltmaker's blog and let me know what you think.

Have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

I've Got Something to Show You

I don't know if I told you but we celebrated our 23 wedding anniversary while visiting our son.  Terry said he had a present for me at home.  Yesterday he finally got around to giving it to me.  And here it is...

Isn't it a beauty.  It has fabrics from the 1860's to the 1920's.  I really love it.  It is a good thing he likes quilts as much as I do.  Yep...he did good.

On Thursday we went to my new favorite store..IKEA.  We had gone before and I saw these units that held 6 wire baskets each.  It worked out to 30 dollars a unit.  Well lets just say my sewing room definitely needed some storage help.  I talked Terry into letting me get 4 units.  It took me 3 days to build them, fill them and I'm still cleaning.  But I now have a new home for my fat quarters, and projects I'm working on.  However, I still have 3 or 4 storage boxes of FQ that I need to find room.  But that's for another day.  Here are what they look like.

For the first time in years I can actually walk straight to my sewing table without bumping into things...lol

Rumor has it that my first quilt for Quiltmaker's 2012 Scrap Squad will be posted tomorrow on their blog.  I'll let you know.

Also, my granddaughter Ashley is in another Hockey Tournament this weekend.  Yesterday they won the first game 3 - 0,  They lost the second game but she scored the first goal.  They are playing again today and she said she would email me the outcome. 

I hope your weekend is a good one.  Are you sewing?  I hope to finally get to work on something today.  The fun thing about cleaning and reorganizing my sewing room is I found some projects I had started and forgot about.

Wishing you a Quilty day!

Hugs, Cathy