Sweet Gum Leaf

Oh the torture....  I started on this block right away.  The dreaded Y seam did me in.  I stacked all the pieces for the block on a design board and put it up.  Then yesterday I was checking out blogs and visited one of my favorites Fun with Barb .  She is also doing Barbara Brackman's BOM Westering Women.  However she is doing her blocks to finish at 9".  She did her block using HST.

I was going to do the same and then I remembered a pattern I saw for 8 pointed star where you didn't have to do Y seams.  So thanks to Barb for her inspiration.

Top diagram is the block directions from Blockbase.  The bottom is how I redrafted the block.  What a difference in sewing but not in how it looks.

I appliqued the stem.  It took about 20 minutes to sew the block.  I spent over an hour trying to get one Y seam made.  Love this block.


Next month I am going to be having a giveaway.  What you don't know is that for the last 6 months I have been testing blocks for Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol. 13.  I so enjoyed it.  For my participation they have sent me 3 issues of the magazine.  One for me and two to give away.  So stay tuned and watch for the giveaway the beginning of May.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the weekend.

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

Under the Weather

But feeling much better.  Went to the Doctor's because I had no energy.  Turns out I had a UTI and my sugar was high.  They found sugar in my urine..(sorry).  Antibiotics cleared the infection and she put me on insulin.  It's been a little over a week and I'm feeling much better.

I managed to get a few hours of sewing done.

I got all the blocks made and sewn together for Cheri Payne's Scrap Basket Quilt along.  Next week we get the directions to finish it up.  These blocks are 4" finished.

These are March's Cabot Cuties II blocks.  Some were pieces some are paper pieced.  These are a $5 BOM from Sentimental Stitches.  I'm also working on her 1857 Sampler but have nothing to show at this time.

Finally the April Sugar Block Club block.  

Well done for the present.  Hoping the weather changes and it gets warmer then I can get out and walk.  Doctor said I need to get more exercise.

Thanks for stopping buy.

Hugs, Cathy

The Flu is Here

And I got it.  Not feeling to well and not getting too much quilting done.  Just a little applique.

Here are the balance of the marathon sewing I did last weekend.

I just finished the applique on this quilt top.  It is called Everyday Patchwork.  It was a free Sew Along by Cheri Payne that she held on her blog.  The applique really makes the quilt.


I also finished my Speedwell Quilt top.

This quilt top was so easy to make.  I got it all cut out in a couple of hours.  This is a free pattern that was posted on the Moda Bake Shop Blog.  I've already got plans for making another one in a different color.  The pattern calls for using a layer cake.  

Here are all the blocks I have made so far for the Splendid Sampler Quilt.  For some reason this picture is fuzzy.   Hopefully when I get more blocks done I can get a better picture.

Well, I'm going to go sit and put my feet up, watch some TV and drink some Ginger Ale.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

Sewing Marathon

I have spent the last 3 days happily sewing in my sewing room.  I still need to get some pictures taken so I'll show more tomorrow.

I spent my evenings doing hand applique.  I have 2 of the 4 March blocks for the 1857 Sampler Quilt.

I have to say I wasn't too pleased when I saw these blocks.  But I'm happy with my rendition.

Even though it doesn't look like it the pieces are centered.  I did a bad job cropping them.  It is taking me a bit longer to get the blocks done because I am doing needle turn applique.

Here are my blocks for Cheri Payne's Scrap Basket Sew Along.  She is so generous with her talent.  I know there is going to be some applique too.  My favorite.


I am finishing up some applique on another Cheri Payne quilt....when done I'll have some more pictures to show you.


Today the sun is shining.  It is a little cool out.  My daughter Kelley and I are going to start walking on her lunch hour.  There is a park near her work that has a nice walking trail.  So everyday I will meet her there and we will walk...time to get into shape.


So glad that we finally have some nice weather.  My son Patrick who lives in the Upper Peninsula is having terrible weather.  SNOW....3-4 inches every other day.  And I have some great news....my granddaughter Ashley (the hockey player) and her team went to Alpena this month for the State Finals for hockey.  Guess what?  The won.  They are the State Champs for their region.

They were so excited.  My son told me they went by bus.  On the way home when they came into Munising they were met by local and State police.  They were escorted all the way home picking up more police.  And there was a huge crowd of people waiting for them at the Ice Arena at NMU.  I am so proud of them.  They did not let a single goal against them and my granddaughter scored a goal and assisted in a goal.  I'm proud of my son too.  He is one of the coaches.


Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to have a few more photos for you in a couple of day.

Hugs, Cathy

More Relaxed

And getting some sewing done.

I worked on the Splendid Sampler blocks.

This is block number 6.  I added some new colors to this one.

This is block number 8.  Block 7 is going to be an embroidered block.  I have it traced and ready to go.

Here is the March block for the Sugar block BOM.

I love the soft colors in this quilt.  The fabric is by Robin Pandolph.

Okay so I said I was dropping out of some sew  alongs.  I'm still working on them but not on a frenzied pace.  I may not work on them for months.  I am saving the patterns.  So now that I have a little more time on my hands I started a new quilt.

This is called "Speedwell Quilt" and it was a free pattern from Moda Bake Shop.  It is made using Layer Cakes.  The fabric is from Laundry Basket Quilts.  It's a wonky picture but will give you an idea of how it will turn out.

I am also working on another sew along by Cheri Payne.  I'm a member of her group on facebook.  Each day she is giving us a 4" block.  There are going to be 20 some blocks.  Not sure of the size yet.  It started on Monday.

Mine is going to be a scrappy quilt.

I am enjoying my less stressful sewing room.  I don't feel guilty if I am not in there working away.  Like many of you have said....Quilting is suppose to be fun.  And now it is.

Thanks for stopping by.  It's raining here I hope you have sunshine where you are.

Hugs, Cathy

Overwhelmed

I have made a decision.  I'm working on too many BOM's, BOW's, BOD's and I don't have time to work on anything else..  I have been sick with a terrible head cold for the last couple of days.  Just enough time to get behind on everything. So I decided to drop some.  I will continue to keep the patterns but I just can't keep up any more.

365 blocks, Splendid Sampler and 1857 Sampler will be put on hold.  I will continue to save the patterns and work on them when time permits.  This will give me time to work on some WIP and get some quilts quilted.  Whew....I feel so much better.

I have a finish to show you.  Small, wonky but sweet.

This is a quilt from Cheri Payne's pattern "A Good Day"  It is 11" square.  I heavily quilted it and that made it wonky  but I still love it.


I also finished the next block for Barbara Brackman's BOM.

I'm going to use the same background print in all blocks and use a red, white and blue theme.

Today is beautiful.  The sun is shining the skies are blue and I am starting to feel so much better. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy