Almost Amish

Lori at Humble Quilts is hosting another mini sew along.  She calls it Almost Amish.  I just cannot pass up one of her sew alongs.

Step one has been posted and today I spent a few minutes choosing fabrics and sewing step one.

These are the fabrics I have chosen.  The top blue is darker than it looks here.

These are my blocks from step one.

I can't wait for the next step.


Oops I did it again.  I signed up for the newest BOM by Minnick and Simpson.
Meet Derby House.  They have sold out all the spots.  Each month I will get fabric and patterns for the month.  I don't usually sign up for BOM with fabric but I fell in love with this quilt and the fabrics.  It will start in December.  

I can't wait.

I finished my blocks for the month for Celebrating Mary Brown.  Not perfect but they are done.  We will be posting pictures on the 30th of each month.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Palmateer Point Sew Along

Another wonderful Sew Along with Lori from Humble Quilts.

I really enjoyed this quilt.  Maybe in my future there will be a full size quilt.  Until then I will enjoy this mini.

Thanks Lori.  You're the best

Hugs, Cathy

Country Roads

Yesterday I finished my version of "Country Roads" sew along designed by Lori of Humble Quilts.  She always chooses such fun quick projects.

I already have this hanging on my living room wall.  I only wish I had chosen a different color thread to quilt it.


Here is a photo of the back of the quilt.

This some of the fabric I won from Barb at Fun with Barb from a giveaway she had.  It worked perfect for the backing.

Be sure to check out Lori's current post.  She posted photos of some antique quilts she saw in France.  I LOVE the first quilt she showed.  I already let her know it would make a terrific sew along project.

The weather here has been on the cool and rainy side.  However, today the sun is shining and the temps are up.  I have windows open and am enjoying the day.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you are enjoying the Autumn.

Hugs, Cathy

February 1st and a Giveaway

Well it is February 1st and that means a new "To Do" list.

Yep you are seeing right.  I already have one BOM crossed off my list.  Pat Sloan posted the February block yesterday morning and I got it done last night.

This is the second block for the Globetrotting BOM.  We left Washington DC and landed in Venice, Italy.  The blocks now are all 10" finished.

This is the position of this block in the quilt.  I used the same fabric in the center as I did in the large HST in the center block.


Lori posted part 2 of Midwinter Blues.  I have the pieces all cut out but only had time yesterday to sew one of the half blocks.

I love the way this is looking.  I chose mostly gray/blue fabrics.  Can't wait for part 3.

Now let's see....there was something else I wanted to mention.

A Giveaway...

As I said the other day February holds a few special dates for me.  The first giveaway will celebrate the anniversary of my blog.  3 Years.  (And they said it wouldn't last).  Here is what I am giving away, seeing I bought 2 copies of this book.

I must have really wanted this book.  

Here are the guidelines.

For one chance to win comment that you are a follower and let me know how you follow.  Example: Bloglovin, Google, Email.

For a second chance, blog about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know you did.

It is that easy.  You have until Friday to enter.  A winner will be chosen on Saturday morning.

Thanks for stopping buy and have a great weekend.  It is snowing again here so I will be spending the weekend staying warm and sewing.

Hugs, Cathy

Snow again...

I'm sitting here looking out my living room window watching the snow come down yet again.  It's not snowing hard but just enough to make the roads slick.  I saw a flash of red in the neighbors pine tree.  There was a male cardinal sitting in the tree.  They are so beautiful and a welcome bit of color on a gray cold day.

We were suppose to go visit my sister today, however, we did so much sliding on the road before we got to the expressway we decided to turn around and go back home.  We've rescheduled lunch in 2 weeks.

So I am going to get some more sewing done instead.  In the last 2 days I finished up #8 on my list, Quilt Doodles BOM.

It is hard to tell but the fabric I am using is a blue and tan check.  For some reason it reads gray in the picture.  I would have preferred to buy some nice blue fabric....but my goal this year is to try and use only fabric in my stash.  I need 4 yards for this quilt and this was the only blue I had 4 yards.  

Last night I got the blocks done for Lori @ Humble Quilts Midwinter Blues QAL.

Lori's directions were very easy to figure out.  I am really happy with these blocks.

So this brings us to....

My January "To Do" List is done...   This is the first time that I got my monthly "To Do" List done.

Now that I'm done I decided to work on some of the Legend and Lace Basket Blocks.  Next week I plan on getting Ashley's quilt ready for quilting.  

Hope it is warmer where you are and not snowing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs, Cathy

7 Down and 1 or 2 To Go

I had 8 projects on my January "To Do" List.

1. Make 4 blocks for Ashley's quilt.  I not only got the 4 blocks done I put the quilt top together.  I even bought some flannel for the backing and a huge roll of cotton batting.  Hopefully I will get it quilted next week.
2. Finish my Hip Chicks 2013 BOM quilt top.  Done.
3. Finish my Country Threads 2013 BOM quilt top.  Done
4. Make the 1st block for the Sugar Shack 2014 BOM.  Done
5. Make the center block for Pat Sloan's Globetrotting 2014 BOM. Done

I've shown you all of these projects in earlier posts.

Number 6 on my list is the first 3 blocks for the Hip Chicks 2014 BOM.  They are 6 1/2" unfinished.  I can now mark this one as done.

The first 2 were pretty easy...however the third one gave me fits.  But I am very happy with the results.

The 7th project is the Country Threads 2014 BOM.  Like last year, each month has 2 blocks one smaller and the second is twice the size of the first.

This month's blocks are 10" and 20".  They said that the blocks will be different sizes each month.  I love how my blocks turned out.

My 8th project is the Quilt Doodles Sew a Long.  For January I need to make a row of Snowman heads.  I will be working on this today.

Now for the or 2....  Lori at http://humblequilts.blogspot.com  She is doing another sew a long based on an antique quilt.  Mid-Winter Blues.  Even though I said I wasn't going to start anymore new projects I couldn't resist.  Lori does such a fantastic job on the directions.  And what I love is that it isn't a big project.  It is something you can get done in a hurry.  Check it out. I'm sure you will fall in love with it too.

I managed to get one finish this year.  It was suppose to be a Christmas gift but since I was feeling so bad most of November and part of December it didn't get finished.  

So I guess I am ahead of the game for this Christmas....lol  I love this pattern because it is made using 5" charm squares.

The weather here is still very frigid.  The weatherman said to expect it to be this way for a week or two.  I don't know about where you are but here in Michigan there is a flu epidemic.  It seems to be hitting the young adults more than anyone else.  I've been meaning to get a flu shot but every time I plan on it I get sick.  Yesterday was no exception.  I woke up sneezing.  Continued sneezing, watery eyes and my sinuses draining like someone turned on the tap.  Dayquil seemed to help and with NyQuil I got a good nights sleep.  Sinuses still draining but I'm not sneezing as much.

Needless to stay I am staying put, keeping warm and getting some sewing therapy done.  

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

I was asked for the link to Joined at the Hip BOM  here it is.

Have I told you.....

How much I love Autumn?  Today has been such a beautiful Autumn day.  The sun is shining and the colors are glorious.

We took Sammie out to Wolcott Mill Metro Park for a good work out.  We thought the workout was for her...but we are the ones that got the work out.  I'll show you some pictures of the park but first I want to show you what I have been working on.

I came to the party late....I didn't see Lori @ Humble Quilts latest QAL until the third round.  I'm pretty busy with other projects but I did want to do a smaller version of Lori's block.

 I had this chicken blocks and was always going to make more and have a queen size quilt.  Best laid plans.....  So when this project came along I thought this block would be perfect.  The red borders has these spots that remind me of eggs.  The pieced border was made up of triangles that were trimmed from projects.  I save them in a box and when I have a bunch I used them in other projects.  The 3rd border is chickens.  My quilt measures 13" and will fit perfect on my table quilt stand or on the wall in my kitchen by my chicken collection.  I have 2 tiny buttons for the eyes that I will add after I quilt it.  Thanks Lori for another fun QAL.  This is something I will definitely do again.


I got caught up on my Hip Chicks BOM (Joined at the Hip).

 I am surprised that I have been able to keep up with this.  It is going to be a nice quilt when finished.


I also got a couple of table runners made for Christmas presents.

They are the same size but at the angle I took the picture, one looks longer than the other.  Does it look familiar?  I made another one earlier and have a picture on my left side bar.


Now for our walk.  Wolcott Mill Metro Park is a bit of drive but on such a beautiful day it was enjoyable.  We took a longer drive to get there that took us through the country and down dirt roads.   All of a sudden my husband stopped and said look what is in the front yard of this house.

At first I thought he meant the pumpkins...then I saw them.  PEACOCKS!!! Then Sammie saw them too and started barking and they took off running.

This is the mill that the park is named after.  We've been here many times.  Once a year they have a quilt show.  

I love how they decorate the mill buildings with Scarecrows.

 After we checked out the mill we went for a walk.  They have quite a few hiking trails.  Sammie took us on a real hike.

 It was such a lovely walk.  The trail for the most part was covered in leaves and went up and down some hills.

We came across this tree that was hollowed out at the base.  There were all these tiny mushrooms.  It looked like a fairy garden.

On the way back to the car we missed our path and ended up in a field that had this mess covering it.  We almost stepped on this cute fuzzy caterpillar.

That was the end of walk.  Sammie didn't want to get in the car while Terry and I were dragging our butts and couldn't wait to get in.

I'll leave you now with this picture.  I loved how this leaf was shining against all the brown curled up leaves.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Hugs, Cathy

I Got my Mojo Back

I'm feeling inspired again and had some fun.

Yesterday I finished the first block in Pat Sloan's SAL...It is suppose to start soon but I couldn't wait.

Here is my block.

Here is the book.

I love just about anything Pat Sloan.

Here is a picture of the quilt.

This is the second version.  The first is in Batiks.  As you can see mine is going to be a little different.  The checker board in my quilt is going to be different blues and neutrals.


Next I saw Lori at Humble Quilts hosted another Quilt-a-Long.  Another antique mini quilt she calls "Harmony".  I couldn't resist.  Just finished the top this morning.

I made a few tiny changes and trimmed it down to 14" so when finished it will fit on my standing quilt stand.  Thank you Lori for yet another wonderful Quilt-a-Long.


The last thing I have to show you I've already shown you...LOL  But I need to post it again so I can link up with the "Simply Charming" Quilt-a-Long.  My March/April quilt.  I chose "Teresa's Treasures".  I already have the next quilt I want to make picked out.  I am doing the quilts as they are shown in the book.

Well that is it for now.  I stayed up late trying to watch the Tigers play the Oakland A's and fell asleep in the 11 inning.  They lost in the 12th.  Boo Hoo.

 So now I am going to sandwich my Harmony quilt and get some hand quilting done.  And BTW...it snowed again today.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy