Sneak peak of new class . . . . .

In a few weeks, I am teaching a class again at the Quilters of South Carolina annual retreat.

Here is a sneak peak of what I am working on to get ready for the class.

One thing I have learned about teaching.  You can never have enough samples or enough samples of each stage of the process!

Hardest part of this is writing the pattern as I go.  Yes, I am writing a pattern for this one.  I'll let you know when it is finished.

Heard the Fall weather will be here Friday.  Can't wait!!


Blessings, Cathi

Just love the Cheri minis . . . . .

I finished up the Cheri mini that I pieced a few weeks ago.

Not only was it quick and easy to piece, but the quilting and binding went just as quickly.

It took longer to figure out what quilt pattern to use than it did to actually quilt it.

At only 11" x 16" even the binding went quickly.  The binding was from the scraps left over from piecing the top.  I had to put more seams in the binding than usual and only had a 2-1/4" x 4" piece left but it was enough.

Like I said before, these minis are the way to go.  Such a feeling of accomplishment to have something else in the finish column instead of all those large tops sitting in plastic bins!

Blessings, Cathi

Iron (ing) is not a 4-letter word . . . . .

The quilt show that I attended as a vendor this past weekend was over Saturday afternoon.  Sunday, Dear Hubby and I decided to tool around the countryside.  Besides finding all the barn quilts that I showed you in the last post, we found several flea markets that were open.

My best score of the day was this lovely vintage 1940's Knapp-Monarch travel iron in perfect condition.

Look ma, no holes . . . . .

The handle folds flat and the cord unplugs from the iron for easy traveling.  It's also heavier than it looks.  I plugged it in and it works just fine. There is no adjustable heat element.  You just plug it in until it is the "hotness" you want and iron away.  It took no time at all for the temperature to get to the "linen" setting but it seems to be taking forever to cool back down.  And there is no stand so I will have to lay it on it's side when not in use.

But she is as cute as can be.  I don't know if I will actually use her but if I ever need an iron without steam holes, she will be the first one I call!

Blessings, Cathi

Barn quilts . . . . .

It took me a few days to recover from the busy, busy weekend in West Jefferson.  It was a lovely show and definitely worth my time going.

Dear Hubby met me up there on Saturday afternoon after his Friday night football game.  While tooling around Ashe County in the mountains of North Carolina, we found several barn quilts.

The last one was from a moving car!  I'm surprised I got the shot ........

Sorry I haven't been around to read blogs - or comment - . I didn't have wifi at the show and was busy at night.  By the time I got to the internet on Monday, I was overwhelmed by the amount of blogging that went on while I was gone!  You have all been a busy bunch.  Guess I just need to move forward from here!!

Blessings, Cathi

On the road again . . . . .

I am finally back on the road this weekend after a 2 month hiatus.  The time has flown by since I feel like I spent most of my time in the dye pot (and trying to stay cool).  But cooler weather is ahead.  and even if not, it will be where I am headed. . . . .  West Jefferson, North Carolina.

Located in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it's beautiful, serene, picturesque and any other superlative you can think of.  The Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild is having their quilt show this weekend.

I hope I get to meet Linda May from BlueRidge Boomer.  She is supposed to be there.

I'll try to post from the road.  Sorry I haven't commented on blogs this week.  I have been doing a quick peek and reading some but I was trying to stay off the computer as much as possible so I would stay on task.  Some days I think I have adult ADD.  See, I'm going off track already.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings, Cathi

Christmas Quilt Along - Part 3 . . . . .

I stayed up late last night finishing the borders.  It took me FOREVER!  I added three borders instead of the two Sue's directions called for.  And I don't have a very large area to lay out a quilt so it takes a little longer.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)  I wasn't alone, though.  I had Clark W. Griswold and family along for company!

I'm still not finished.  I want to add some applique to bring that dusty, sage green to the center of the quilt and maybe some of the border fabric.  The fabrics all blended beautifully laying in the pile but the border fabric is just throwing everything out of balance.  Maybe a good tea bath when it is all finished.  I'm certainly not taking it out and doing it again!  I have enough dark red fabric left for the binding and that will help.

Hope you all enjoyed making this quilt.  Sue and I haven't discussed it yet but maybe a parade of "Scatty Stars" is in our future soon.  We only have 2 more Christmas Quilt Alongs left.  Don't think because the quilt top is finished that we are finished.  Sue and I may have a few more surprises up our sleeves in the next two months!

Blessings, Cathi

Christmas Quilt Along - Part 2

After several side trips of dog issues, lunch, etc., I finally have this top finished enough to show.

Close-up of some of the fabrics.

The wider borders shown at the top will have some applique.  At first I thought I would do some raw edge applique but the pieces are rather small so it could be problematic.  I think I will go back and re-cut the applique for needleturn.   This quilt is for another of the Married One's friends who had a baby back in the spring.  The baby didn't need a quilt this summer so I figure I am right on schedule!

Blessings, Cathi

Christmas Quilt Along - Part 1 . . . . .

All the "little" things taken care of this morning - dogs, Dear Hubby, me - so I am off to the sewing room now to audition more fabric AGAIN for the borders of my Scatty Christmas Stars quilt.  I think I have it narrowed down.

But first I have two more rows to put on this quilt that I started ......

I worked on it last night and would really like to get to a better stopping point.  I'll be back with a picture soon!

Blessings, Cathi

Surprise, Surprise . . . . .

Remember Karen's little post the other day about her Four Finishes?   Well, the little mini angels from Sandy Gervais' pattern that was a gift for an un-named friend was mine!

What a wonderful treat after such a busy week! I tried several different ways of photographing the quilt but I just couldn't do it justice.

Even the back is adorable.  Christmas fabrics!  And with a hanging sleeve no less!

I even tried to take a picture of it with Nelson.  I don't know how Carol gets Buster and Betty to sit still with a quilt and look at a camera.  Nelson will sit but he is constantly moving his head around.  We would HATE for him to miss something!

I think it may be time for a new camera.  Mine is about 7 years old.  Never had a lick of trouble but it doesn't seem to be focusing as well as it used to.  Guess it's "eyes" are getting bad like the rest of us!

I even tried to get a close-up of her hand quilting.  It's wonderful!  My camera used to take nice clear picture of up close shots.  I know how to do the settings but it still isn't working.

Here is the picture I stole from Karen's blog.  She isn't home at the moment to ask permission so I hope she doesn't mind.

Regardless of my camera issues, it is a warm and sweet gesture from someone I consider a very good friend.  We have never met in person but someday I hope to.  Thank you so much, Karen.  Now to start the hunt for the perfect spot during the holidays!

Blessings, Cathi

Quick reminder . . . . .

that the Christmas Quilt Along is this Saturday!  I had it in my head that it was next weekend.  I know Sue has been busy with getting ready to host it this month.  This month, the borders will be added to our quilts.

Here is mine so far!

Won't you join us?

Blessings, Cathi

Wow, that was quick . . . .

I think I may have to make more of these little minis.  I cut out the pieces Saturday night.  A few hours on a Sunday afternoon (with feeding the dogs and blog-hopping in between) and .....

the top is finished! Notice I added an extra column.  Overall size is still only 11" x 16".

See how tiny the pieces ............

It took longer to press the nine-patches than it did to sew them.

Of course, quilting and binding still to go.

Lessons learned:  Starch the side biased triangle fabric before cutting. I've read or heard of this tip many times and just ignored or forgot about it. I thought about it after the triangles were cut.  Although starching the pieces after cutting helped, it would have been better before and MUCH worse if I hadn't at all.  Been there, done that.

Blessings, Cathi

Like I need to start another project . . . . .

I really need to start showing some finishes again!  I seem to be showing a lot of starts lately.  Or maybe I am starting a lot and not showing you.  It's all becoming a fog......

I wanted to make a small quilt to put on the wall in our newly remodeled bathroom.  At first I was going to make one larger wall hanging.  Actually two, The "Let it Snow" quilt during the holidays and the piece I was going to make from the mistakes from the "Let It Snow" that is at the bottom of the same post.  It was going to take up the entire area.  I think I want a couple of different things on the wall like I did when we remodeled the kids bath.

So I picked one of Cheri's free quilt patterns.  WHAT .... you didn't know that Cheri had free quilt patterns on her website?  They are not in *.pdf form and they are not every month.  They are once in a while in a post.

I picked the one from August.

It's really tiny.  Only 11" x 16".

I spent a little bit of time in-between the dye pots today picking out some fabric.

Did I mention how much nicer it is having the stash back in the house?

Here is my final scrappy pile selection.

It's almost a little crazy.  From each of the fabrics that are NOT green or creme, I need a piece 1-1/2" x 4".  I'll probably spend more time putting these back in the right container that I will cutting and sewing them.

It's supposed to rain here all day on Monday.  Lord knows we need it.  I may have to play hooky from working at least part of the day to work on this quilt.

Blessings, Cathi