Finally...

I have finally finished Ashley's quilt.  It has been over a year since this project was started.  I showed her a picture of the quilt on the computer.  She said she wanted one but not in the colors shown.  So I told her to go to the paint store and send me paint chips in the colors she wanted.  I hope she hasn't outgrown the colors in the year + it took to make it.

It is quite large and quite bright.  I have it hanging in the living room so I could get a picture of it.  Just the border is hidden behind the bench.  

I backed it with flannel.  She lives in the Upper Peninsula so she something to keep warm.  I quilted it with a serpentine stitch.  It is a tighter stitch and took much longer to quilt.  I could only machine quilt for an hour at a time because after that my neck hurt.

So I hope to go visit sometime next month and give her the quilt that she has been patiently waiting for.  I sure hope she likes it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Another Finish

Since I accomplished everything I had on my January "To Do" list I had time to work on a few other projects.

I finished this UFO from last year.... 

My Trip Around the World.  The directions for making this so easy came from Bonnie Hunter.  I decided on doing the layout a bit differently.  I used Jelly Rolls that I purchased from Connecting Threads.

This is the backing I used on the quilt...Hibiscus Flowers.  It goes well with the front.  I'm so glad to have this finished and I really like how it turned out.

Here's another project I worked on.  

It is a little fuzzy...I guess because I am a little fuzzy today...sinuses.  I started this last November.  It is a Lisa Bonegan pattern.  I finished hand quilting it and it is now ready for a sleeve and binding.

I also made a block from Legend and Lace.

I was worried about the curved piecing.  But I've found if I just jump in and do it and not worry too much I can get it done.  It's not perfect...but neither am I.

The other day I spent the day pin basting my "Trip Around the World" quilt and Ashley's quilt.  I finished my "Trip" quilt and have just started quilting Ashley's quilt.

The yellow looks so much brighter in the picture.  I have backed this quilt with flannel.  The flannel back doesn't go through the machine as easily as cotton fabrics so this is going to take me longer than I planned.  I chose to use this wavy stitch.  I'm happy with the outcome.  I think she will be too.

Well, tomorrow is February 1st.  Let's see.... It's the 3rd anniversary of my blog, my husband and I are celebrating our 25th Anniversary on the 10th and we have Valentines Day.

To honor all three I am going to have a giveaway each week.  I went through my library of quilting books (and I have way to many) and discovered I have doubles on quite a few books.   These will be the giveaway prizes.  I will post on Sunday with all the details.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.

Hugs, Cathy

Sewing Marathon

Whew....I'm beat.  I spent the weekend and part of yesterday making blocks and finishing quilt tops.

First up...

It looks a little wonky up on the design wall.  I can never get them exactly straight.  I LOVE how it turned out.  DH loves this one too.  This is my Country Threads 2013 BOM quilt.  Can't wait to start the 2014 BOM.

The second quilt top....

Again it looks wonky.  This one was bigger and I had a heck of time getting the quilt up on my design wall.  I need to get this one quilted right away as it is for my Granddaughter Ashley and I want to take it up to her next month.

The only thing I have left on my January "To Do" list is:

1. 3 6" blocks for the Hip Chicks 2014 BOM.
2. 2 blocks for the Country Threads 2014 BOM.
3. 1 row of snowmen for the Quilt Doodles 2014 Sew a Long.

That should keep me busy for a few days....lol

I'm off to JoAnn's to pick up some quilt batts and backing for Ashley's quilt.  Thanks for stopping by, stay warm and get some quilting done.

Hugs, Cathy

Is Spring on its Way...

They say it is.  I even saw a Robin.  However, the weather is not being very cooperative.  Cold, rain, then snow, sunshine, then gray skies.  I am so ready for some warm tropical breezes.  But until they come, let's sew.

I finished my Small Quilt Talk March Challenge Quilt.

The challenge was to use some ugly fabrics.  It's funny...what looked ugly on it's own doesn't look ugly in the quilt.  This is my first challenge quilt with the group.


My second finish is a project that I made about 4 years ago but never quilted.

It is a table runner I made using leftover block from a quilt I made my son Michael 6 years ago.  I finally pin basted and machine quilted it.  It is approx. 4 feet long.  I am slowly getting some older projects finished.


I also got the top finished from my EQ7 BOM.

Now I need to get it pin basted and machine quilted.  It is on my UFO Busting list for March.


And then there are some projects that weren't on the horizon....but I just had to start.

Last year my granddaughter Ashley asked if I would make her a quilt.  We chose a design, a plaid quilt, and she picked out colors.  I had her go to the paint store and get paint samples for the colors she wanted.  I took these to the fabric store and chose fabrics that matched the chips.  Then I got chosen for the Scrap Squad and was not able to start the quilt.  The other day I was digging for fabric and came across the fabric for her quilt.  I decided I had better start working on it.  I plan on making at least 1 block a day.

Notice anything funny about the top left block.  I didn't notice until I put it up on the design wall and took a photo.  I took it apart yesterday and resewed it.  
The dark fabric is navy with a lighter blue running through it.  Probably not the colors I would have chosen but the colors an 11 year old would.

The second project is a Bonnie Hunter free pattern, Scrappy Trip Around the World.  I have seen so many people working on it and I just had to make one.

I'm using a jelly roll I got from Connecting Threads and a jelly roll of Moda solid neutrals.  It won't be as scrappy as some I've seen but I like my first block.


I forgot to tell you....My son's girlfriend commissioned me to make a photo quilt for her friend.  She wants it in autumn colors.  I designed a quilt on EQ with Maple leaf blocks and log cabin blocks.  The photo's would be in the center of the log cabin blocks.  I just started working on it and really don't have anything to show you yet.

I just got the March patterns for the Sentimental Stitches Applique and Pieced BOM's.  The applique is a house with a shamrock on it.  The pieced is going to be fun...lots of y seams.

I finished the row for my Patchwork Posse Winter Wonderland quilt.  I need to do some embroidery on it before I can show it to you.

And I have another little quilt that I made 2 years ago in the quilting frame.  Hopefully I can finish it this week so I can share a photo.

Well, I guess I had better get going.  Putting on a pot of Cabbage Soup for dinner and then off to the sewing room.  Wonder what I will be working on today.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Cathy