Did you know . . . . .

That I have added new tabs to my quilt blog?  I knew that some people had tabs on their blog but I thought they had the fancy, "gotta pay some money for the extras" blog.  Turns out Blogger has made them available to all of us!

As you can see just under my header picture, I added a tab for "About Me" which is . . . . . . .about me.  

And I added a tab with the pictures of all the finished quilts I have uh . . . . . .  finished . . . . . in the last two years . . . . . so far.

In a few hours, I'm off to retreat.  I am going a day early to set up my classroom and help some of the board members set up for retreat.  Being a former board member, I know how much work goes into it.

I hope you either have a nice weekend OR I will see you at retreat tomorrow in which case I KNOW you will have a nice weekend!

Blessings, Cathi

Fall-o-ween is here . . . . .

Gudrun and friends have done it again!  Last November, Gudrun and nine other designers got together for 10 days of Cross Country Christmas fun.  Now they have gotten together to have some fall/halloween fun.  Hop on over to Gundrun's to download a cute candy corn pattern.  Each day for the next ten days, each of the designers will blog about the "topic of the day" and one will have a special free pattern just for us!

And the other designers are:

Sandy Gervais

Roseann Kermes

Kari Carr

Terry Atkinson

Heather Mulder Peterson

Terri Degenkolb

Carrie Nelson

Linda Lum DeBono

Pat Sloan

Blessings, Cathi
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Busy, busy, busy . . . . .

Not much sewing going on around here.  I picked up Buttercup (my Aurora 440QE)  from the Bernina doctor (she went in for her annual checkup) last Thursday and haven't even taken her out of her bag yet!!

I was one of the lucky ones that won a GoCutter from Accuquilt and Paulette.  Thanks, guys!!!!  It came to my door this past Monday and I haven't even opened it up!  I did take it out of the box to make sure all the parts were there but I haven't had time to play with her yet!  I need to dedicate some time but when?!!

So what have I been up to?  This . . . . . I turned this pile . . . . .

into this . . . . .

My first patterns !!  I will be teaching at our state quilt guild retreat next weekend.  When the classes are over, I will put them up for sale on my blog and/or website.

I have also been making the kits for the classes . . . . .

And I can't make the kits with my wool if I don't do this . . . . .

With this . . . . .

To get this . . . . .

I also filled in for our church secretary this week who had to go to Ohio for family business.  So anyone at our church on Sunday . . . . . if the bulletins are wrong . . . . .I'm just saying . . . . .

And Dear Hubby wants to go apple orchard hopping tomorrow in the mountains.  It's the only Saturday that is only closely available this fall.  I'm going to have to take some work with me in the car.  Or at least a good pen and paper to make a long list of what I have to do by Thursday.  Retreat starts on Friday morning and I can't wait.

And everybody start enjoying the fall coolness that is supposed to be here sometime Monday morning!!  Time to pull out a sweater!!!

Blessings, Cathi

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It's State Fair time . . . . .

Well, not yet in South Carolina.  It's the week of October 13-24.  I have to be honest with ya . . . . . I've never been to our State Fair.  Something about the prospect of all those people kind of scares me.

BUT I did finish my State Fair quilt finally.  It has been quilted from some time.  I have even had the binding sewn on for a month.  

Now it's another one for the finish column!!

Blessings, Cathi
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My mailbox . . . . .

I've noticed quite a few bloggers have been able to post about what has been in their mailbox lately.  Now it's my turn.

I was also the lucky recipient of one of Darlene's (and DD) scissor fobs yesterday.  Isn't it such a yummy color?  It looks like a tiny butterscotch candy!  Thank you, Darlene!

I was also a winner on Crafty Carol's blog last week.  My giftie arrived in the mail today.  I am really excited about this one.  I know exactly what I am going to do with it.  But I'm not telling, it's a surprise!  Thanks, Carol !!

Blessings, Cathi
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Soot & Ashes & Fire . . . . .

I noticed that Cheri had a center square in the middle of most of her blocks.  I thought I would add a second color by replacing the center blocks with a red square.

Some of the blocks were already made so taking the center square out and replacing it was a little tedious but do-able.  I heard there may be 15 blocks total.  I can't wait until she reveals the rest.

Blessings, Cathi

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Christmas Quilt-A-Long Update: 9:35 AM EST

Yup, it's Sunday morning here in the States.  I wanted to post one last time last night before I quit but I just didn't get to it.

I was up early this morning to finish the 20 blocks that I started and to put them in rows.

 Didn't I tell you it looked really cool when all laid out?  All from nine-patches.  

I still have 15 more blocks to make which adds three more rows.  Then the borders.  This won't be done today.  Today is family day and maybe a little more unpacking of boxes from the great remodel.  A few doors need to be put back on their hinges, some touch up paint, curtains hung, etc.

I really enjoyed my day yesterday with the Christmas Quilt-a-long.  Won't you join us next month?  You don't have to make a Christmas quilt but maybe start on some Christmas gifts. There are only 3 Quilt-a-longs left before Christmas.  Sue is a great host and I'm sure your you'll enjoy her company.

Blessings, Cathi

Christmas Quilt-A-Long Update: 9:13 PM EST

I was a bad girl . . . . .  I decided after my last post to take a "little" nap. 

Oops ........

Dear Hubby woke me up to say he had cooked dinner and would I like for him to bring it to me.  Well, yeah!

So I ate dinner in bed while watching Sherlock Holmes on PBS.  I love college football until about game 13 on the same day.  Dear Hubby switched between channels of 10 different football games and Nascar.

Now that I have had a little rest, I think I will go sew a little longer.  

I'm spoiled and I'll admit it!

Blessings, Cathi

Christmas Quilt-A-Long Update: 5:30 PM EST

The Star Trip quilt is made of only 4 nine-patch blocks.  It's the way they are put together that makes it so quick and fun but so striking when it is finished.

I have one of each block made so far.  Then I went back and made 4 more of Block A and Block B. 

Five of each block should have been enough to make the baby size quilt.  That was the size I made the last 2 quilts.  After I went back and checked how many pieces I had cut out, I realized that I had cut enough for a lap size!  So back I go to make a lot more blocks.

I'm sure Sue and the others over the pond are about to go to bed now since they are 6 (or 7) hours ahead of me.  Hopefully in the morning they will able to see at least part of the top put together.

 

Blessings, Cathi

Christmas Quilt-A-Long Update: 2:55 PM EST

I'm back from the Stitchin' Friends group meeting.  About 12 of us showed up. We had lots of fun, as usual, and I got a good bit finished.

I finished the last row of my Thoughts of Christmas quilt.  This was supposed to finished in May . . . not too far behind.

I laid out all the rows for the first time to see how they looked . . . . The pattern calls for the rows to be sewn one on top of the other.  Since I never follow the directions, I have decided to put black sashing in between each row so it doesn't look quite so busy.

I also started my Christmas Star Trip quilt.  All the pieces have been cut for quite some time.  We won't mention how long.  Of all the Star Trips I have made, I think this is my favorite color combination.

After a little lunch, I'm off to the sewing room to unpack my bags and work on the Star Trip some more.  Hope to post again in a few hours.  Come back and visit!

Blessings, Cathi

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go . . . . .

I am all packed for what I hope will be a productive 4 hours with Teresa and the rest of my Stitchin' Friends buddies.  About 15 of us spend the second Saturday of each month either learning something new which Teresa is so gracious to teach us or doing our own thing.  It just happens to coincide with Sue's Christmas Quilt-a-long so why not do both !!

So my bags are packed.  I hope to take lots of pictures and post through the day on my progress.  Maybe I'll get through at least part of my Charming Girls Club goals.

Blessings, Cathi

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300th Follower . . . . .

No, I don't have 300 followers but I was the 300th follower over at Debbie's blog back in July.  Debbie and I were joking around by email about how she was going to have a giveaway when she reached 300 followers.  When I decided to become a follower of hers, I happened to be #300.  I didn't win the giveaway but Debbie was kind enough to send a gift to me anyway.  For being #300!

This is what she sent . . . .a glass frog!  Isn't it adorable?!

I probably could fill it with many quilty things.  Maybe put some perle cottons inside and have the thread come up through the holes.  Debbie suggested putting scissors in each of the holes.  I'll have to play with that later but for now . . . . .

. . . . .flowers sure are nice.  Be sure to visit Debbie over at Thread Gatherer and tell her I said hi!  And thanks, Debbie !!

Don't forget tomorrow is Sue's Christmas Quilt-a-long.  

I will be spending part of the day with Teresa and our Stitchin' Friends group.  Teresa usually has a project for us to work on but this week is a Do-your-own-thing day.  You know I will be working on my Christmas projects!!

Blessings, Cathi

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Charming Girls Club . . . . .

I totally blew my chances to enter on Kelly's blog this past week.  I finished one of my three goals and didn't even post about it.  Goal #2 (quilt the State Fair quilt) was "oh, so close".  I quilted it, put on the binding but didn't sew the binding down.  How lame is that ?!  Goal #3 wasn't even taken out of the box.

Goal #1 was posted right away . . . . .the finale to Between Friends . . . .but I didn't use Mr. Linky to make it official.

I don't know if this time it will be much better.  I am teaching 2 classes and will be a vendor at 2 shows in the month of October.  I also have at least 18 yards of wool sitting in the sewing room that I need to dye before the first show!

Let's make this easy on myself and try to do "little bite" goals.

1.   Finish the Presents row in this BOM that is supposed to be finished by now.  It's the bottom (and last) row to do.  Then on to the sashing and borders.

2.  Sew together the top for another Star Trip.  This will be my 5th(?) one.  But I just love making these.  I have taught this class several times so I have plenty of quilt tops in several stages of finishedness (new word).  The next one I have in pieces is Christmas colors.  I'd show you a picture of the fabric but it's in a box in storage that I can't get to right now.

3. Kelly's theme for the next two months is "Quilting the Quilt".  So in honor of that, I am going to list two quilts that I really want to get quilted.  They have been sitting way too long in the flimsie stage.

This was originally to be a tree skirt but I think I will do a little applique and make it a table topper.

This little log cabin has been a flimsie for over 10 years.  Time to finish it, don't you think!?

4.  And finally, I want to at least make the top with the Gail Pan "Christmas Wish" blocks that we all embroidered last year.  They are just too pretty to hide in a box!

Remember this Saturday is the Christmas Quilt-A-Long over at Sue's blog.  Guess which Christmas projects I will be working on this week!?  All of them!

Blessings, Cathi
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Welcome to Blogland, Cheri . . . . .

Just wanted to give a warm welcome to Cheri Saffiote-Payne who has finally joined us in Blogland.  There are a lot of Cheri fans out there . . . . . me included!

Cheri is giving directions to a quilt she calls "Soot & Ashes".  I don't know how many blocks there will be but so far I really like it.

Here are my blocks so far . . . . .

They went together so quickly, I may have to make another colorway! They are coming out 5-1/2" cut (5" finished) so it will be a nice little quilt when it's finished!

Blessings, Cathi
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