Having a wonderful time....

Wish you were here.

We have been so busy.  2 10 year old girls can really keep you going.  My granddaughter Ashley found a quilt I had made her years ago.  I had never taken a picture of it.  Now I have one.

The pattern I used was originally a miniature quilt pattern.  So I just enlarged it.  You can't see it from this photo but I embroidered antennae on each butterfly.

Here are some photos from our vacation so far.

We visited a Pirate Ship in Marquette's Lower Harbor.

Went swimming in Lake Superior on Presque Isle.

Visited Seney Wildlife Refuge.  The above is an Osprey Nest with some babies.

An Eagles nest.  See the Eagle.

We saw quite a few Loons.  This is the only one close enough to get a picture.

And we saw thousands of Water Lilys.

Afterwards we drove down to Manistique to go swimming by the lighthouse. 

The cousins are having a ball.  They really enjoy one another and they really tire out their grand parents.  I'm totally exhausted by the days end.

The weather has been pretty good.  One day of heat and humidity, one day of rain and today it is beautiful.  It is in the seventies, sunny, slight breeze and at 10:30 in the morning the girls are still sleeping....lol

I've managed to work on my applique project I brought with me.  Again I can't show you as it is part of the 4th Quiltmaker Scrap Squad Quilt.  But soon, I promise.

I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Hugs, Cathy

Time's Flying

Back in February my daughter Kelley asked if we would like to go to Las Vegas with them.  Sounded good.  Then my daughter Kim and her husband decided to go to.  It seemed so far away....that is till this week.  We leave very early Sunday morning and leave Vegas at 8:00pm on Friday.  So much to do...so little time.

In the mean time I finally finished my latest Scrap Squad quilt top.  The latest Quiltmaker Magazine is out and in it is the original quilt.  You will be surprised when you see the scrap squad versions.

I showed you a picture of a 12" quilt that I made following Cheri Payne's directions on her blog.  I believe it is called Georgia's Star.  Well I got it quilted and here is what it looks like.

I had forgotten that I bought this stand at a quilt show in Kalamazoo earlier in the year.  It was just perfect to display this quilt.

My next project is basted and ready to quilt.

It is paper pieced and went together quickly.  The border fabric has cherries on it.   I'm going to hand quilt it.

Another project I've been working on is an on going project.   It is made from leftover half square triangles and trimmings from various projects.  This is the third such top I have made.

I really like these broken dish blocks that I get from leftovers.  These blocks finish at 3".  I have others at 2 1/2" and 2".  They are so much fun to make.

Last time I showed you my one peony blossom.  Well the other one finally blossomed.

 It is a much deeper color and is really pack tight.  I love both of them.

Well, it is really chilly here in Michigan.  It will be in the 90's and 100's while in Vegas.  And I don't do well in the heat.  Guess I just have to stay in the casino till evening...lol  We are going to be staying at the Luxor.  So if you don't hear from me for a while you'll know why.

Wishing you a quilty day!

Hugs, Cathy

A Finish, A Start, A Walk, and A Quilt Show

WARNING:  PHOTO HEAVY

A while ago I showed you a little basket quilt top that I made.  It was a Cheri Payne quilt-a-long.  Well here it is finished and hanging up on my wall.

I machine quilted it doing squigly lines across the quilt.

Here is another Cheri Payne quilt-a-long.  It still needs to be quilted.

You know how much Terry and I love walking at Lake St. Clair Metro Park.  Well it's been raining so much lately we haven't had a chance to walk.  Yesterday the sun was shining and a nice breeze blowing...so we took off to the park.

We came across this couple having a picnic.  They were so lucky to find a spot with a private swimming pool.

Mom was taking her new borns out for a stroll.

This Mom had her hands full.  The babies are growing so fast.

I love this time of year.  The flowering trees are so beautiful. 

Everytime I go to the park I have wanted to get a picture of this weathervane.  So I finally did.  It is made of copper.

And now I saved the best for last.  Last week we went to the Macomb County Quilt Guild Quilt Show.  There were so many beautiful quilts.  Enjoy!!

 Look closely and you can see that the entire quilt is made from 9 patches.  It is so beautiful.

And of course they had sooooo many vendors.  However, I only bought one thing.  A new book.  I won't be starting this quilt till my year with Quiltmaker Magazine is over.

Speaking of Quiltmaker....go to Quilty Pleasures Blog and see my fellow Scrap Squad member Jennifer's Ladder of Success.  Another beautiful quilt.

Wishing you a wonderful sunshine filled day.

Hugs, Cathy

I Joined the Jubilee Project

Lori at Humble Quilts and a few friends started the Jubilee Project.  Lori is turning 50 this year and to celebrate is making a Jubilee Quilt.  She invited others to join.  Luckily you didn't have to be turning 50...I'm a bit passed that. 

My Jubilee quilt will be a Christmas Quilt. (All these years of quilting and I really don't have one).  It will celebrate my husband's retirement last October and our 23rd Anniversary earlier this month.

Here is what I came up with....

This is my center of my Medallion Quilt.  Now to figure out what goes next....lol

Still working on my next Quiltmaker's Scrap Squad quilt.  I really like this one.  Did you enjoy my post on Quiltmaker's Blog ?  I had so much fun putting it together.  You need to check out their blog on a daily basis.  Not only do they show the quilts that the Scrap Squad has made, they have really nice giveaways.  Today they are having a giveaway for some fabric and books.

Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Hugs, Cathy

My Tree is decorated, Book in the Mail, and a WINNER

I got the tree decorated today.  I made the majority of the ornaments.  The rest were either gifts or a few from my childhood.  I even made the angel on top.  She looks a bit tipsy right now.

I love angels.  Here are a few that I made.

I ordered this book a bit ago.  I love everything in it.  Sorry for the reflection but I think you can still see that it is a Brannock/Patek book.  Lots of great patterns in it.

I got my first pattern for the 2012 Quiltmaker Scrap Squad.  Now I can't show you what I am working on but I can show you what I have cut out so far.

Can't tell to much from this can you?  Well that is good.  That way you will be pleasantly surprised when we all get our versions of the quilt done.

Now there was something else....what was it?  Oh yea.....the winner of the giveaway.
Drum roll please......."Libby Quilter"  Congrats.  I sent you an email and now I just need your address. 

Thank you to all the new followers and everyone who sent a comment.  I wish you all could win.  BTW..the most popular block was Pinwheels, followed by 9 patch and 4 patch.

Now I would like to say  "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to my wonderful daughter Kelley.  I love you.

Hugs, Cathy

Some Projects and Some FANTASTIC News

I've been working on a couple of things.

This is a block I made for Victoria @ Bumble Beans for the New Bee Swap.  I liked how it turned out, however....I goofed.  I've had so much on my mind lately (will tell you what at the end of this post), I got the size right, the dark colors right, the star right, but the star was suppose to be a light blue.  I sent it anyway with apologies.  She sent us some fabrics to incorporate in her block.  So I told her I would make a new block if she would be so kind as to send more fabric.

This is the block I made to send to Beth @ Love Laugh Quilt for a chance to win enough blocks for a quilt.  It went in the mail today.  Mine is very simple, some are very elaborate.  I hope I win.

Now I've been in a bit of a tizzy lately.  Around November 1, I got my copy of Quiltmaker's Newsletter by email.  I'm sure some of you get it too.  In this particular issue they said they were looking for quilters to be a part of their 2012 Scrap Squad.  You had to send them an email telling a little about yourself and 3 pictures of Scrap Quilts you have made.  So I sent them an email, with pictures on Nov. 2.  I got an email saying they received my email and would get back to me in a few days as they had publishing deadlines.  So everyday I would check my email hoping to hear word.  I was so anxious and then I knew I hadn't been chosen.  Monday while checking my email I saw a reply.  I was afraid to open it because I knew it would say....Thank you for your interest but the squad is full.....

What I saw shocked me.  It said:  CONGRATULATIONS, we would love to have you participate in the 2012 Scrap Squad.  My heart stopped.  I yelled, YIPPEE.  

Quiltmaker will be sending me a pattern that will be in an upcoming issue and will be making a scrappy version of the quilt.  I need to photograph it and send it to them.  The photos will be shown on line (with quilts made by the other squad members, we are 8 in all) and will have a chance of having our quilts in the magazine.

Needless to say I am thrilled.  I will be participating in 6 issues starting with the March/April issue.  I keep you up to date on what is going on.  Wish me Luck!!!

Hugs, Cathy