FNSI Results

I love FNSI.  I usually get so much done.

I got a couple more of the Mourning Quilt blocks done.  These are for the quilt-a-long Miniature Quilt a month hosted by Kathleen Tracy.  It is from her book "Prairie Children and Their Quilts".

But the majority of my time was working on something I can't show you....well at least I can't show you the front.  I can show you the back.

If you look closely you can see the machine quilting.  This is the quilt I am making as part of the Quiltmaker's 2012 Scrap Squad.  It is a scrappy version of a quilt that will be in the next magazine.  You can go to the Quilty Pleasures blog and check out what last years Squad did and soon you will be able to see what this years Squad is doing.

I can't wait to see what everyone has done for FNSI.  Have a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

Friday Night Sew-In Projects

Didn't get too much done.  Life so has a way of stepping in.

However, I did start working on the November Primitive by Cheri Paynes Blog .

Isn't it adorable.  It is only 4" square.  I need to make 4 for the quilt.

All the pieces are cut out and ready to go.  I just love her quilt patterns.  Each month she has a new quilt she shares with everyone.

I finished another Mug Rug...

I just need to sew the binding down.  And I started another....

I love the shades of green.

Well, that is all I got done.  But I did have fun.

Hope you had a productive Friday night.  Until next time.

Hugs, Cathy

Friday Night Sew-in and More

I don't know about you....but I have stacks of blocks that I received in swaps over the years.  While straightening up a corner of my sewing room (it is impossible to do the whole room) I came across a stack of Halloween blocks.  So I did some trimming, added some, and ended up making 6-12" blocks.

I am really liking it.  I used Pat Sloan's Alphabet Letters to make the Happy Halloween.  I printed it up at 75% so it would fit.  I added strips from Debbie Mumm Halloween fabric, made 3" 9 patches and some strips of black and orange fabric.  Today I plan on sewing the blocks together and machine quilting it.  I'm not going to add a border but just bind it with black binding.  Not bad for some blocks that have been hanging around here for a few years.

I haven't had a chance to show what I have been working on this week.  So here is a picture.

The table runner is 12"x24".  It was a breeze to make.  The spools are from the Fall Issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects.  They are addictive.  I want to a ton of them.  And last but not least...I got one more block done for the Jacobs Ladder Quilt A Long.

I wish I could get more time to sew.  But since Terry retired we have been on the run constantly.  I had to tell him I wasn't going anywhere yesterday so I do the FNSI.  lol

Can't wait to see what everyone else did.  Have a great day.

Hugs, Cathy

Friday Night Sew In - Quilt Show Part 2 - Giveaway Reminder

Tonight is Friday Night Sew-In.  I've got a couple of things in mind to work on.  What are you working on?  See you there.

Now for some quilt pictures....

These 4 quilts have the same blocks but totally different settings.

I once made a quilt for my Granddaughter Ashley with the above butterfly blocks.  The quilt maker said this was originally suppose to be 2 different quilts and her son suggested making one.

This quilt sang to me.  It reminded me of my time living in the Upper Peninsula.

Now don't forget about my giveaway.  I will be drawing the winner tomorrow and posting a picture of the final giveaway.   Leave a comment if you are a follower.  Leave a second comment if you blog about it.  Good luck to all.

Well it is a chilly day here in Michigan...but at least no rain at the moment.  We've had so much rain lately I was going to ask Terry to build us an ark.  Speaking of Terry, it has been about a week since he retired and we have been constantly on the go.  I told him I need a day to get some sewing done.  I got 3.   Woo Hoo....I get to play with my new machine.

So I'm getting ready to put a pot of "White Chili" on the stove, put some comfortable clothes on and head for the sewing room.  I wish you all a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

FNSI

I worked on a baby quilt last night.  My nephew is in the Air Force and stationed in Germany.  He and his wife are expecting their second son.  So this quilt will be for Cowen.
I plan on making Churn Dash, Shoo Fly and 9 patch blocks in blue and neutrals.  Six each with the centers dark and the outside neutral and then six each with the centers light and the outside dark.  These blocks are 6".

I would have gotten more done except I had a very wonderful visit from my Grandson Brian.  He left this morning to go back to college and came over to see me for a little bit and give me a couple of his wonderful hugs.  I'm going to miss him but gratefully he will only be a couple of hours away so we can go visit him.

Wishing you all a quilty day.

Hugs, Cathy

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That and A Lot of Pictures!

A Little Bit of This is.....It's Friday Night Sew-In.....Yay!!!  I've got dinner in the slow cooker and fabrics picked out for tonight's Sew-In.  Hope to see you there...

A Little Bit of That is......Last months Bunny Hill BOM.  Took me a while but I finally finished it.  Now I need to start on this months BOM. 


Yesterday Terry and I decided to go out to Kennsington Metro Park for a picnic and a walk.  It was much hotter than we thought it would be but we still hiked a bit.  Get ready for a lot of pictures....

The swans were out in record numbers.  We counted at least 50!

Love taking pictures of the wild flowers.

We came across a secret stairway.  I wonder where it went?

We took birdseed with us this time.  Terry had fun with the chickadees.  He was sitting there maybe a minute when the first bird came.

While walking we ran into this couple take the kids for a walk.  I think they smelled the birdseed.  They walked right past me and headed for Terry....and mean they ran to him.

They loved the seed.  And they remembered us.  We left the Nature Center and then came back later.  When we pulled into the parking lot these 4 Sandhill Cranes were lying in the shade.  As soon as Terry got out they came running.  He dumped a handful of seed and then we took off running.

There were so many of these Swallow Tail Butterflies all over the place.  They really liked purple flowers.

I spotted this red tail hawk.  He looks so majestic.  But he also explained why there weren't a lot of birds around.

I just love Sunflowers.  Any size, any shape, any kind.

This park is so big and has so much to offer.  Including a petting farm.  This goose reminds of the goose in Charlotte's Web.

It was so HOT...  But this fella knew how to keep cool.

Caught this little fella just before he dashed down his hole. 

While walking on the boardwalk that crosses a small lake saw this creature.  It was the biggest snapping turtle I had ever seen.  His shell was about 20" long and 15" across.  If you look closely you can see the moss that is growing on his shell. 

Now if you think this is a lot of pictures I have to confess I took about 100 pictures yesterday.  We had so much fun walking and taking pictures.

Wishing you could have gone with us and hoping you have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Cathy



FNSI

I love these Friday Nights....I plan ahead and have lots to do.

This is my 15 Minutes Play block.  I started out by making fabric from scraps.  I drew the block up using EQ5 and printed up the rotary cutting instructions.  There are 4 blocks so far on the 15 Minutes Play Blog.  This is number 3.

Because of a swap I was involved in the the 15 Minutes Play Blog I got to be friends with Emily at "Em Celebrates"  (A link is on my sidebar on my Blog List.  Go check it out.  She does such beautiful free motion quilting.  Because of our friendship she has pushed me to try FMQ.  I did my first 12" block of practicing my FMQ.  I sent pictures to Emily and she posted them on her blog.  In case you read it I am "Big Girl Pants". 

So last night I sandwiched a 12" block, picked out a variegated thread and started playing.  I think my favorite is the flowers in the left hand corner.  Here are some close up pictures.

After I finished playing I attached some binding.  I like to use up scraps of binding.  It didn't take long at all.

I was up late watching the Detroit Tigers loose.  So I spent part of that time prepping the angel block for the Primitive Primer.

It was a long game and started late as it was in Colorado.  So I was happy to get a lot done.

I hope you had a good Friday Night Sew In and share all your project.  Wishing you a quilty weekend.

Hugs, Cat

Friday Night Sew In

These Friday Night Sew-In's are addictive.  I don't know about you but I get more done in a few hours during the sew-ins than any other time.

My first project that I finished was April's Henrietta Whiskers block.  It is darker than the rest.  I'm hoping to get May's block started today.

I finished a basket block for my Primitive Primer quilt.  I paper pieced it but did it backwards from the original quilt.  This was not intentional.  I love all the different techniques in this quilt.

My third  project of the night was the pumpkin block for the Primer quilt.  I love applique and this block went really quick.

I started my day off with a walk around the boat docks at Metro Beach.  It was a foggy morning on the lake but it cleared up by the docks.  The water was so smooth.  Love the seagull, he didn't look real. 

When I got home I checked my email and found out that I won a Lapel Stick from Glenna at Hollyhock Quilts.  She has some really beautiful quilts.

So today's agenda is to work on May's Henrietta Whiskers block and both last week's and this week's Barbara Brackman blocks.  Then I'm going to enjoy some of this beautiful weather.

Wishing you a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

SO MUCH TO SHARE....

Woo Hoo.!  I won.  If you are on Facebook and are friends with Aurifill Threads you might remember that they had a contest for naming some variegated threads.  Two of the names I thought up were chosen.  Alas the first I named Salsa Verde came in second.  But the second name I chose "Creme Brule"  came in first.  I got a message from the company today, congratulating me and asking for my address.  I have won all 34 variegated threads.  I'm sooooo excited.

Remember this little beauty.  Well it went in the mail today to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  And quite by chance I got an email from Ami Simms this morning asking if I would post something to my blog.  It is a video from Utube about AAQI.  It is so moving.
http://youtu.be/JGzAOBwZ7MM  Also http://www.aaqiupdate.wordpress.com/ 
Please visit both and if you can make a little Art Quilt for a good cause.

Last week while reading some of my favorite blocks I came across a photo similar to this on a post at Talin's Corner.  She had a lovely idea of sending something she made to 3 people who in turn would send something they made to 3 people and so on and so on and so on.  I left a message about what a wonderful idea it was.  She contacted me and asked for my address.

It is the sweetest little pouch used for jewelry.  I just adore it.  She made my day.  So this weekend I am going to be making 3 little gifts for 3 of my blog readers.  So leave a message and will pick 3 names on Monday.  The receivers will then in turn make 3 little gifts and so on and so on and so on.  What do you think?

Last Friday was FNSI and I spent a good part of Saturday checking out what people had been working on.  I saw a block that I really liked (sorry I don't remember who was working on it) and I thought it was really neat.

It is made using 5" charm squares.  I have a ton of them so I am hoping to make a couple of quilts using this block.

And guess what....The Sun is finally shining.  It is beautiful out.  So I wish you all a Sunny Quilty day.

Hugs, Cat

It's a Beautiful Day...

It's cool out but the sun is shining and the skies are blue and the best part....the snow is melted.

Last night was " Friday Night Sew-In".  I got a lot done.

Here is my Thread Head Quilt-a-Long quilt.  I still had to sew the blocks together for three rows.  After that I sewed all the rows together.  I am really happy with the outcome.

Originally I was going to leave it like this and just quilt it and bind it.  But looking at it hanging here I think it needs another border.  I'm thinking of maybe using a large floral.  Not sure.  Anybody have any ideas?

I thought this quilt would be smaller since the original quilt has 9" blocks, but since I added  3" sashing it was bigger.

I also worked on my Bow Tie Log Cabin blocks.  I know it sounds like 2 different blocks, but it's not.  I searched bow tie blocks on EQ5 and this block came up.  I loved it the minute I saw it.  Last night I got 4 more blocks made.  Now I have 14 blocks made.   I only have 206 more to go to make a queen size quilt.....lol  This is going to take a while.

Thursday we went up to Marine City to visit with the In-Laws and take them out to lunch.  My mother in law told me about a quilt shop in town.  So after lunch we stopped in.  The name of the shop is "Quilted Dreams".  It was a very nice shop.  Lots of BOM's, patterns and books.  And of course fabric.  I spotted the book "The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt".  So did my husband.  He liked it so much he bought the book for me.  I was really hoping to get away from 6" blocks for a while...but it is nice.  So last night I made the first block.  I'm not real happy with it so I'm going to re-do it. 

I really enjoyed the evening and got a lot done.   So the day ended on a good note.  It didn't however start that way.  An hour after my husband left for work he was back home.  (He works 5 minutes from home)  He was feeling dizzy and was sick to his stomach.  So off to the doctors we went.  Turns out he has water in the inner ear and an infection.  So lots of pills and sinus tablets and a good nights sleep he felt great this morning.

So now I'm off to put on a pot of Cabbage Soup.  Straighten up and then off to my favorite place.  My sewing room.

Wishing you all a quilty day.

Hugs, Cat