Antebellum Album

Is done....at least the top is finished.

The photo is a bit wonky..  I folded the top border so I could fit the entire quilt in the photo.  This was such a wonderful sew along.  Barbara Brackman did a wonderful job with the directions for each block.  I chose a different setting for the blocks.  The border fabric is a Patek/Brannock design.  It's years old.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a safe and  Happy New Year.

Hugs, Cathy

Antebelllum Album and a Win

We are so close to the end of the Antebellum Album BOM.  Here is my block 11.

I'm thinking I need to add something in the center of this block.  The fabric I am using in all the blocks is a tea dyed muslin.  It looks like it is pink.  I started to putting the blocks together.  I really love how it is looking.

Last week Katy at Katy Quilts celebrated 10 years of blogging with a mini quilt giveaway.  She gave away 10 mini quilts.  I entered the giveaway and won.

Isn't it adorable.  I love it.

The weather is cold here but luckily no snow.  Checking out the weather this morning I see there is some winter storm warnings all over the norther part of the country.  My son in the Upper Peninsula is expecting 3 - 6 inches of snow.  I'll keep our cold, sunny weather.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Hugs, Cathy

Antebellum Album plus a Finish

Wow...I can't believe we only have 2 more blocks for the Antebellum Album BOM.  I have to admit that this was not my favorite block to make.  Y seams make me crazy.

It's not perfect but it's done.  I have plans on redoing this block before I put the quilt together.


And I have a finish.  I made the top over a year ago and finally got it all quilted.

I made this quilt using my Accuquilt Go Cutter and my Half Hexagon die.  I used a bunch of browns that I wasn't really fond of just to use my new die.  Once I got the top put together I really loved it.  So now it's finished and it's mine all mine.  


I went to the eye doctor's yesterday to check if I did any damage to my eye when I fell.  My eye has been watering badly the few weeks.  Good news there is no damage.  Bad news I have extreme dry eyes and my allergies are causing problems.  So now I use "Refresh"  eye drops 4 times a day.  Drops for itching 2 times a day.  And an allergy prescription drop 3 times a day.   I need to write up a chart for what time to do the drops.  But at least there is no damage.

The weather has changed.  It's windy, cold, gray and cold.  I swear I saw some snow flakes the other day.  Good quilting weather.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a great upcoming weekend.

Hugs, Cathy 

Antebellum Album

I've been meaning to share a photo of this block with you for a while.  This is block 9.  3 more blocks to go.

I need to think about how I am going to put this quilt together.  I have a couple of different settings in mind.

I went to the Doctor's on Monday.  I was told that my sugar levels were high.  I had to start eating better and get more exercise.  She said walking would be good.  I started out walking on the treadmill because our weather was raining and cold.  Thursday it was still cold but the sun was shining and the sky was clear.  We decided to go to Metro Park by the lake.  

We took our dog Sammie with us.  She loves the park.  She gets so excited.  Usually early in the morning the park has few walkers.  Thursday however they were hosting a Cross Country event for all the local High Schools.  Sammie doesn't do well with lots of people.

She started running and barking and going one way and then the other.  And ran right in front of me and I fell.  Well not just fell....I slammed down on the ground, just missing the paved walkway.  My head hit the ground.  Broke my glasses.  Skinned my nose, cut my cheek and bruised my lips.  Oh and I had a nose bleed.  Needless to say yesterday I had the mother of all headaches.  But today I woke up feeling so much better.  Didn't even have to take any pain pills this morning.  So hopefully I can get some sewing done.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Antebellum Album Block 8

I finished block 8 today.  I am so happy with this sew along.

I had a scrap of fabric with some Civil War motifs on it and used it for the center.  My husband is a big civil war buff and is loving this BOM as much as I am.


I got my Walnut Grove quilt top sewn together.

Here it is on my bed (a full mattress).  

This is a close up of some of the blocks.

Now I'm working on the next block I have prepped for my red and green quilt while enjoying some cooler weather.  At least for a day....lol

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs, Cathy

Antebellum Block 7

Here is block 7.  I am so enjoying this sew along.

Here are the first 6.

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

Now to catch up on some more projects.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Dearest Boy Blocks 4 and 5

It's that time again.  This week we will be sharing 2 blocks.  One pieced and one appliqued.

This is our first pieced block.  Block 4A.  This was a rather difficult block to piece.  I don't usually have a problem with pieced blocks but this one gave my patience a hard time....lol

Here is block 5A.  I wasn't too fond of this block.  But I persevered and finished it.  My cherries are a little wonky but I do like the outcome.  One more block and we will have the first row done.

Be sure to stop by Karen and Julie's blogs to see their version of the blocks.  

I've also been working on Barbara Brackman's Antebellum Album.  Here is block 6.

I'm using a tea dyed muslin for the background and browns and pinks for the rest.  I really love how this block turned out.

It's hot, hot, hot here in Michigan.  Yesterday was in the 90's and we are expecting more of the same today.  Trying to stay cool and get some sewing done.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Slow Sewing

A few projects to share.

Antebellum Album Block 5.

I'm using a tea dyed muslin for the background on all my blocks.  


Next up is Month 6 of the Land of Liberty quilt sew along hosted by Lori of Humble Quilts.  She gives so much insightful information which is helpful to both people who have the pattern and those that don't.

Lately I've been prepping blocks for Dearest Boy and my Red and Green quilt.


It's been a couple of hard months here.  First we lost my husband's mother.  It was totally unexpected.  His father was struggling with Alzheimer's and mobility issues.  My husband and his brother finally got Dad in a nursing home.  He wasn't doing well and appeared to have given up.  He missed Mom.  Last week on Monday he passed away.  We miss them both very much.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Your comments are appreciated.

Hugs, Cathy

The Sun is Shinning

It's a wonderful site to see.  It has been so rainy and gloomy so the sunshine is a welcome change.


Sunday was my Granddaughter-to-Be's wedding shower.  My daughter did such a great job getting this shower together.

Jess loved the quilt.  She wrapped herself up in the quilt like a cocoon and slept with it that night.


I finished this month's Antebellum Album.  I will show you all the blocks so far.

Block 4

Block 3

Block 2

Block 1

I love all the blocks so far.  Can't wait to see what's next.

I've also been working on the blocks for the Temecula Quilt Co. 1800 Sampler blocks.  Here's what I have so far.

I'm not sure how long this sew along is.  But these 4" blocks have been fun to make.

I want to thank everyone for the their kind words and prayers over the loss of my Mother-in-Law.  They were very much appreciated.

Hugs, Cathy

EAL Block 10

Well, Karen and I are half way done with our sew along.  This block starts the third row of our quilt.

This block reminds me of a Pennsylvania Dutch motif.  


I'm working on Barbara Brackman's  Antebellum Album.  This is the third block.

I was going to English paper piece this block but didn't want to do all that hand sewing.  Instead I made an eight pointed star and appliqued the hexagon in the center.  This is a fun sew along.

Well the last of our snow finally melted yesterday...due to rain.  It rained all day yesterday and so far all day today.  They had to postpone the Detroit Tigers opening day due to the rain.  Oh well....

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such nice comments.

Hugs, Cathy

Crazy Weather

Wednesday it was 60 degrees out.  I even went outside without a coat on.  Then comes Thursday...it started out with freezing rain, then a rain and snow mix and then snow.  We got 3" of wet heavy snow.   I am so ready for summer.

I have been getting some sewing done.

First up is block 2 of Barbara Brackman's #Antebellum Album.  I'm using a tan background, brown and pink fabrics for all the blocks.

Next up....26 Pinwheel blocks.  These are the final pieced blocks for my Walnut Grove Sampler quilt.  Now I need to cut out a gazillion plain blocks.  Then I can get this quilt top sewn together.

The blocks are 6 1/2".  They went together really quick because I cut them out using my AccuQuilt Go Cutter.


I started working on the free Temecula Quilt Shop 1800 Sampler.

These blocks are 4" finished.  They just posted block 5.

Since posting block 8 of the Early American Life quilt that Karen and I are working on I put together the second row.  I decided to add red corner stones to the quilt.

I really love how this is looking.


I found a quilt on Moda Bake Shop called Dottie.  It is made using jelly rolls.  Sorry for the fuzzy photo.  I have all the jelly rolls sewn in pairs ready to cut up and make more blocks.

I decided to make everyone a Christmas quilt this year.  I need to make 7 or 8 quilts.  This is the first one.  It is made using jelly rolls.  Once everything was cut out the blocks went together really quickly.

This section is 48" x 6".  It will have borders.  The original pattern called for the design to run vertical.  However the direction of the prints called for the horizontal layout.  I made this row yesterday in about a couple of hours.  That included cutting all the strips.

Finally while browsing Etsy I came across this pattern.  It is by Jennifer Gaston.  It is a BOM.  I got a great deal.  I paid $12.00 for the entire pattern.  The finished quilt measures 79" x 92".  I have traced the first month's patterns on freezer paper but I haven't pulled any fabrics yet.  I have too many projects going as it is....lol

And finally....yesterday I ordered a new sewing machine.  Actually  it is a Juki TL2010Q quilting machine.  I will be using it as a table top machine.  Maybe in the future I can afford a quilting frame to use with it.  It is a straight stitch machine, 9" throat area, variable speed, thread cutter, bobbin winder, needle thread, free motion foot, walking foot, 3 other feet and comes with a table attachment.  It is suppose to come next week.  I can't wait.  I will be using this machine to get my tall stack of quilt tops quilted.  It is so hard to quilt a big quilt on my regular machine.  I'll show you the machine once I receive it.

Well enough chit chat...the next block for the 1800 sampler has been posted and Lori at Humble Quilts has posted the 3rd instructions for the Land of Liberty quilt so I need to get into the sewing room.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you saw something you like.

Hugs, Cathy

Antebellum Album

I'm excited that Barbara Brackman's newest BOM is here, Antebellum Album.
Here is my version of Block 1.

I'm not happy with my piecing...still having some problems focusing my eyes.  But it will have to do for now.

A couple of weeks ago i spent the day working on a little Cheri Payne quilt.

I pulled out a bunch of 2 1/2" strips and hacked away.  The flower applique was suppose to be all one piece of fabric.  I chose to make the stem separate.

Health update.  I started going to physical therapy for my face.  I'm happy to report it is working.  Although not back to 100% I am doing so much better.

Being on Prednisone for my Bells Palsy caused my sugar levels to sky rocket and I gained back the weight I had previously lost.  I'm happy to say my sugar levels have gone down, (In fact they are lower than before) and I have lost the weight I gained plus another 2 pounds.

My eyes are still giving me problems.  Tomorrow I go to the eye doctors to have them checked out.

On the weather front....I woke up to this.   Ugh!

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay warm

Hugs, Cathy