Busy

 Lots happening here.  Some good some not so good.  First Hubby came down with the flu (not covid).  He was sick for a couple of days.  Then as it usually happens, I came down with it.  As usual, I got it worse and was sick for a week. 

On the 19th my youngest daughter had surgery done.  She had had a partial hysterectomy a few years ago.  They found a mass and decided to do a total and removed the mass.  It was benign and she is doing wonderfully.

The last couple of days we've been getting our travel trailer ready to go camping next weekend.  We are camping with my oldest daughter and her husband.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me that they want to spend so much time with us.  We have another two camping trips planned.

Now to share my sewing projects.

1.  May Monthly Mini

When I've had some spare time, I've been cutting out 3" finished half square triangles with my Accuquilt Go cutter.  I really wanted to do a pieced mini this month and this is what I came up with.  

2.  Fig Tree quilts Autumn Frolic BOM

My birthday is in October so I'm and Autumn baby.  I love anything to do with Autumn.

3.  Open Skies BOM by Connecting Threads

This is month 2 and already my husband has claimed this quilt.

4.  Prairie Flowers by Joe Morton

This month I got lots of practice sewing circles.

5.  Red and Green Blocks

Each month I put the blocks up on my design wall so I can see the blocks I already made and what fabrics I used so I don't make any duplicates.

These are the blocks I made this month.

6.  Finally my APQ UFO #11 for May

This month's UFO was Fig Tree Quilts Strawberry Mystery BOM.  I had completed 6 months of the patterns.  That left 6 to go.

The photo is not the best, but it will do for now.  The pattern called for a pieced border on the long sides.  I decided I was going to add a plain border all around the quilt.  I've ordered the fabric and I'll show a photo of it when finished.

I've been working on my Aviary block, but it was slow going.  I will have something to show you after my camping trip.

I hope you are having a great Memorial Day weekend.  Ours has been quiet and we will be celebrating when we go camping.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you found something you liked.

Hugs, Cathy

Show and Tell

I started a new quilt.  16 patch blocks made using jelly roll strips.  I'm trying to make 2-4 blocks a day.

I am slowly working on my Simple Summer Sampler quilt from last year.  Blue seems to be my go to color.

I finished another quilt top.  It was made using a jelly roll.  All the jelly roll strips were cut into 6 1/2" pieces.  Definitely not the fabrics I tend to use.  However I had this jelly roll and a new pattern and tried it out.  It is a lap size.

In between working on Sweet Land of Liberty and Dearest Boy applique blocks I prepped another block for my Red and Green quilt.  I'm happy with the way it looks.  I'm not sure how many more blocks I want to make.

Well here in Michigan our weather has been a roller coaster.  One day the temps have been 90 - 100 degrees.  The next day it was 69.  We had a few days of beautiful sunny 76 degrees.  Then we had a few days of rain.  Today it looks like more rain.  And the weekend is bringing the temps up in the 80's.  I guess that is why they say when in Michigan if you don't like the weather...wait a day, it will change.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to come back on the 15th to see the latest Dearest Boy block.

Hugs, Cathy

A Little Bit

I gotten just a little bit of sewing done.  I've been going through bags of scraps trying to tame them.  Alas no luck.  They are such wild creatures.  LOL

I tried a new Accuquilt die I recently purchased for a Lemoyne Star block.  I used Christmas fabric.

While going through bags and boxes of fabric in my sewing room I came across this patriotic Christmas fabric.  I had a problem matching up the pieces in the block.  Finally I pulled out the cover of the die and read the directions.  When I cut the fabric to put it in the cutter the pieces were backside to backside.  The instructions say the fabric needs to be right sides up.  It truly made a difference when I started to piece the blocks.


I made another block for my Red and Green quilt.  Although this one is pink.

 I'm so happy with the way it turned out.  I need to pick the next bock to work on.

I've been working on blocks for my Dear Boy quilt.  I figured I needed to get a head start on some of the blocks as some are very challenging.  We will be posting pictures of the second block on the 30th.


I wanted to share a couple of photos of 2 of my granddaughters.

First up is Ashley.  She is the hockey player.  They were State Champs again this year.

This is her prom picture.

Next is Cassidy.  She plays baseball.  This is here official baseball picture.

I'm so proud of all my grand kids. 

Our oldest grandchild and only grandson, Brian is getting married in June.  And my granddaughter Alecia is taking college courses.  She had a tough time in high school which makes it so wonderful that she is continuing her education.  We are so proud of her.

I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend.  

Hugs, Cathy 

Busy

Snowy weather makes for good sewing time.  I've started new projects, pulled out on going projects and am finishing a quilt.

The new project is a pattern I showed you recently.

 These are the blocks for Month 1.  They are quite big.  That made the applique go quickly.

I pulled out the red and green blocks.  I hadn't worked on them for a while.  The block on the far right is my latest.  I pulled a couple more blocks to start prepping.


Another project that needed working on is Cheri Payne's Sew Spooky quilt.

This is the first block I made.

Here is the block I just finished.  I love a cat with character.

This is what has been taking up most of my time.  I'm quilting the wedding quilt.  It has been such a joy quilting with my Juki.  I love how smoothly it is going.  The stitch regulator keeps all the stitches even.  I do love this machine.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

BOM's

I'm still trying to catch up on my Cabot Cuties and wouldn't you know I got a sew of new patterns today.  So now I need to catch up quicker....LOL

The majority of these blocks are paper pieced.  They finish at 4 1/2"  I've got 3 blocks set aside because they are really difficult.  I'm saving them for a day when I have nothing else to do.


I also finished a couple of 1857 Sampler blocks.

The leaf block was suppose to be 4 separate leaves.  I made it all one piece.

This is the 2nd block for the Red and Green quilt that is designed b Legend and Lace.

Junes block for the Sugar Club BOM.  I may redo it as the top of the leaf doesn't have enough contrast.


Last Saturday we went to Ann Arbor to visit my grandson Brian and his fiance Jess.  They took us out to lunch and then to visit the Botanical Gardens.  I'm sharing a few of the photos I took.  Too many to show at one time.

Brian among the Cacti

Jess among the Cacti

They had a tropical room and a desert room.  These are the desert plants.

 Agave

So much beauty there.  Next time I'll share some more photos from the tropical room.  I also have some from outdoors.  I really love this place.  We are planning to go back again in the fall to see more.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Cathy

Feeling So Much Better

For the first time in months I have energy.  I actually feel like doing something rather than just sitting all day.

We are going to be going camping a couple of times next month with my daughter and her family.  My granddaughter is going to be playing in a couple of baseball tournaments and it's easier to camp than drive back and forth everyday.  Sunday Terry and I decided to take a ride out to the first campground and check it out.  We hadn't been there before.  We were really happy with the campsite we are at.  So looking forward to camping.

Meanwhile back at the ranch....

I've been working on a few projects.

First up my 1857 Sampler Quilt.  Here are Aprils blocks 11-14.  I am so happy with the way they turned out.  It took me so long to learn how to do needle turn applique and I'm loving it.  I thought the floral block was going to be hard but I got it done in 2 nights while watching Tiger baseball.


I've been wanting to start another applique project for a while.  It is the Red and Green quilt designed by Wendy Wellum at Legend and Lace that she offers for free.  She started posting patterns in January and just posted May's early.
So I printed up the 5 patterns and started January's block.

This one is call Clover and Spades.  The only problem I had with this block is I used a stiff fabric and had a hard time turning the edges under.  But I pretty happy with how it turned out.  Today I'm going to start on February's block.


Next month I am going to be starting a new project.  I'm joining Lori at Humble Quilts in making Jan Patek's  pattern called Front Porch.  It is a 10 month BOM and that is what we are going to be doing...one block a month.  A few of us are doing it and have just ordered the pattern.  We will be starting in about a month.  

Well today our skies are overcast and it's been raining steadily.  Good day to sew.  Our dog Sammie has an appointment at the hair dresser..LOL..for a shampoo, cut and nails.  Can't wait to see her finished.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Cathy