Don't ask God to make your life easier, ask Him to make you a stronger person.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

She's finally here !!!!!!!

Do I sound excited enough yet?!  Sweet Baby Girl finally made it into the world this afternoon.  She is going to be as stubborn as the aunt that is holding her!


And at 8lbs. 5oz., she is a little butterball ......... I almost look like I am struggling to hold her up!


I think the new Papa is thinking more like the size of a football.  Sure hope this little girl likes football and pizza 'cause she sure was born into a family that likes a lot of both!!


I'm off to take a nap.  The waiting can be VERY tiring!!

Maybe now that she is here, I can get this blog back to the quilting ...... and I can get to more hugs and kisses!!

Blessings, Cathi

Monday, December 24, 2012

Not a creature was stirring, not even a baby .......


The Married One and SIL this afternoon.  As you can see ...... we're still waiting.  Only 3 days late ......

And she has hung around long enough this evening for all my babies to be in a group picture.  As they said, "All four and a half" of them.


Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, December 21, 2012

The doctor visit went great but still no baby today.  

The world didn't end today - which is good.  Now I will still be able to meet my granddaughter.

I texted the Married One this morning.  I told her the Christmas cards were all addressed and signed ..... just waiting on a baby picture to put inside ..... she said she passed along the info to Sweet Baby Girl.  

Apparently SBG isn't going to listen to her mother, either!

Can't have a post without a picture ......



Blessings, Cathi

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Thanks for all the suggestions of what to do with the leftover fabric from SBG's quilt.

I went up to the Married One's house (or should I say the VPO - Very Pregnant One's) last week to take a surprise to her.  I kept thinking, "What could I give SBG that would be so me that no one else would think of?"  The answer .... a Christmas tree of her own.


It's a beginning .... something to be added to over the years.  She has a few "Baby's First Christmas - 2012" ornaments already along with some Baby's First Christmas outfits.  She's not here yet and still has 6 days to go.  If she isn't here, they will make for some fun discussions in the future!

I used some of the leftover fabric to make a tree skirt for the tree.


It doesn't look very pretty yet.  It's just the top with the circles fused on.  I told Married One that I would finish it properly with decorative stitching and embellishments before next year.

There is still enough fabric left for another surprise for her.  It's already started and it should use up the rest of the fabric just nicely.

Married One goes to the doctor again on Thursday.  Due date is Friday but she was born 2 weeks late.  I don't know if Mawmaw will be able to handle the suspense!

Blessings, Cathi

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Sweet Baby Girl . . . . .

I finished Sweet Baby Girl's quilt this morning!


The binding is down and it has been washed and lovingly crinkled by the dryer.


This Mama has even managed to make the quilting look like the backing fabric.


I'm just tickled pink at how it turned out.  And there is just enough scraps to make a smaller quilt.  I must use them up because I can't think of a single room in my house that would use these colors!!

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, November 30, 2012

I went to visit the VERY pregnant Married One yesterday to help her decorate for Christmas.  For some reason, she has trouble getting up off the couch * or on a ladder * or bending over to get anything out of a box * LOL

It gave me the opportunity to show her the quilt I am making for Sweet Baby Girl (SBG).  I would have had it finished but I ran out of the quilting thread I was using.  Since she has seen it now, I have no problem showing it to you.


I will show a better picture when it is ALL finished.  I had not even told her that I already bought the fabrics so it was a nice surprise for her to see that it may be finished before the baby gets here.  Obviously the picture above is part of SBG's room.  I didn't take a picture of the closet but The Married One painted it the bright pink that is in the quilt.  The trees and birds are decals that she ordered from Etsy.  The curtains are floor to ceiling chevron in gray and white.  She still has a few gifts to put away and some details to take care of.  The big day is only three weeks away.  It will be here before she knows it!

I can't wait to meet her!

Blessings, Cathi

Monday, November 26, 2012

Today starts . . . . .

Stacy's Primitive Blog Hop!


Today we start with Tara Darr so HOP on over!!

Blessings, Cathi

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Plans . . . . .

I had many plans over the last week of what I was going to do this weekend.  All of that went up in smoke when I started to feel under the weather Tuesday night.  Long story but I didn't spend Thanksgiving with Dear Hubby, Computer Geek or the Married One.  I thought that would give me plenty of time to sew and decorate, etc.



As it was, I made it to Cracker Barrel with The Wild One and TurfBoy and proceeded to spend the rest of the time in bed.  I managed to decorate three of the big trees.  I got out of bed long enough to put the first tree up (artificial and pre-lit which only took five minutes), took a nap, put on half the ornaments, took another nap, put on the rest of the ornaments ..... well, you get the picture.  Three days, three trees.

Dear Hubby is back home and is taking good care of me.  IMHO, he should be since he is the one that brought the cold home to me from work (he works in a high school).  He is over his episode of sickness now.  Took him a week.  I figure I have a few more days and I will be ready to get back to work.

Although my shows are over for the season, the January shows are just around the corner.  I need to get a LOT of wool dyed again (thanks to all the great sales I had!  WhooHoo).  I have new samples in the works and new kits coming in the new year.

First on the agenda is Sweet Baby Girl's quilt to be quilted ..... still.

Blessings, Cathi

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Better show her first . . . . .

I finished the top of Sweet Baby Girl's quilt last Friday but I thought I ought to show the Married One first before I showed you.  I will be layering it this afternoon.  Maybe by the end of the weekend it will be quilted.    

I have come down with a wicked cold so I better not give the quilt to her until I am all better.  Here is a sneak peak.



Last June (of 2011), I talked about a little mistake I made cutting the flying geese for a quilt.  The plan was to use the mis-cut pieces for another top.  I did it!  17 months later but hey, the top is finished. 


I have found a piece of batting to fit this top along with 5 others.  Yup, 6 tops all ready to quilt.  Plus Sweet Baby Girls quilt.  They are all small so if I can find some backing this afternoon, I will see how many I can get finished over the weekend.  If this cold doesn't do me in first!

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, November 16, 2012

Gray is hot . . . . .

Who would have thunk it but gray is the new hot color for baby's room.  Maybe because it lets all the accent colors pop.  Married One has chosen gray for the Sweet Baby Girl's room with accents of aqua, bright yellow and magenta.

Although she doesn't know which quilt pattern I chose or any of the fabrics, she rarely looks at my blog so I feel safe showing some of it.


She loves chevrons so I will be making a simple chevron pattern from half square triangles.  I spent last night cutting the squares, drawing my line from corner to corner and sewing down 1/4" on each side of the line.

Today was spent pressing.  (Along with a thorough spring cleaning of my bedroom ... only 6 months late).  This was the pile from this afternoon.  The 120 4-1/2" squares have been trimmed and I will spend the rest of the evening sewing them in to rows and the rows in to a quilt.

Better hurry ..... only 5 weeks left!!

Blessings, Cathi

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Finally back at home . . . . .

I had good intentions of showing all the shows I have gone to and the people I have met but I seem to keep forgetting to take the camera with me.

Since my last post, I have been to the Quilters of South Carolina retreat where I was a teacher and a vendor (and the vendor coordinator).  I taught a simple penny rug project with double stack and triple stack pennies as well as tongues and double tongues.  It was a full class with 15 wonderful students.

This past weekend was a quilt show in beautiful New Bern, North Carolina.  Although New Bern is located on the coast, the hurricane didn't impact us as bad as other parts of the Atlantic Coast.  But we still had to pack up the booth and load it up in 20+ mph winds and rain.  We were soaked by the time we finished!

While I was in that part of the state, our family had a baby shower for The Married One and the Son-In-Law.  They are having a girl that is due Christmas week.  Dear Hubby and I are over the moon!

They both are so happy!
The mommy and the grandma (me!)

And finally, since the weather has turned, I picked the rest of the peppers and basil left in the garden.  I just love the colors!  Most of them will be frozen to use in soups and chili this winter.  Except maybe those habaneros that you see in the front of the pile.  I don't know why Dear Hubby grows so many!



Blessings, Cathi

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

If only I lived closer . . . . .

to Minnesota.  

Stacy from Buttermilk Basin and Karen from My Red or Yellow Farmhouse (it used to be Yellow but now is Red) and Farmhouse Woolens is having an open house in mid-November to kick off the holiday season.

Check out the Buttermilk Basin's website starting this coming Monday (Oct. 15th) to find out all the details.

In the meantime, here is their flyer.


If only I lived closer ..... I'd be there every day.

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, October 5, 2012

Thank you! . . . . .

Thanks to all my customers today at the Cabarrus quilt show for your patience while I cussed under my breath at Intuit. It turns out that it wasn't my computer or the wifi connection or the operator (me!) but Intuit's website was down all across the country for most of the day. Whatever was broke is now fixed and all is right with the world!

And speaking of Cabarrus quilt show . . . . . 


Tomorrow (Saturday) is the second and last day of the Cabarrus Quilters Guild annual quilt show.

The show is held at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 NC Hwy 49 North, Concord, North Carolina.  The show is from 10 am until 5 pm.  Lots of beautiful quilts and bunches of vendors.  Come on out and visit!!

Blessings, Cathi

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Yes, I know it's been over two weeks ....... Stay tuned ...........


Blessings, Cathi

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Jacksonville, Florida .....

Last week was a whirlwind of activity.  10 hours of driving to Philadelphia (truck and trailer in tow).  Setting up, selling, selling, selling.  10 hours driving home. Restock the best I could within 24 hours. 
Back on the road this morning at 4 am.  

Do it all again.

Today, I am in Jacksonville for QuiltFest of Jacksonville. The quilts are absolutely beautiful.  I saw the most wonderfully made Baltimore Album quilt and it had a second place ribbon!  Can't wait to find the first place quilt.

Don't have any pictures to share today but hope to show some tomorrow.  Hope you can come by!


Blessings, Cathi

Sunday, September 9, 2012

You CAN go home again . . . . .

I'm heading home to the place of my birth, the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.

I'm leaving early this week to go to the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza which is located in Oaks just north of Valley Forge and west of Philly proper.   It's located at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Show will be next Thursday thru Sunday (Sept. 13 - 16). Hours are 10 - 6 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 10 - 4 on Sunday. I will be in Booth 532. Hope you can come out and visit!

New at this show will be my new Halloween ornaments that I have been working on this past week.



Aren't they just adorable?  I love how they turned out.  They are available in kits.  Each kit includes enough wool and buttons to make either 4 pumpkins or 4 cats.  The kits include the pattern sheet.  Each kit is $14.50.  They aren't available on the website yet since I will be traveling for the next 2 weeks and won't be able to ship any orders. 

If you would like to reserve a kit to either pick up at one of my next 4 shows (Philadelphia, Jacksonville, FL, Asheville or Cabarrus County) or have shipped when I get home between shows in 2 weeks, send an email to me or leave a comment.  I'll be glad to put your name on a kit!

Blessings, Cathi

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Yup ... still here ......

Yup, I'm still here and still in the dye pots, cutting kits, making samples.  I don't even seem to make the time to take pictures of what I have finished.  Well, almost finished.

Notice I said "MAKE" the time instead of don't HAVE the time.  We all have time, it's just a matter of if we really want to make the time for something. 

Back on the second Saturday of August during the Christmas Quilt Along,  I posted about this new project.  I cut out the pieces and did a little handwork.  It didn't take too long to finish it but sure did take a while to post about it!  


As with most of my other projects, it's still a flimsie.  I may have to hand quilt this one! I think it turned out really cute.  This one will never be sold or given away ...... it's a keeper.


It's called "Merry Christmas" and is a Cheri Payne pattern.  I have it available on my website on the Winter patterns page.


Also up on the website FINALLY are at least some of the threads.  I have the Aurifil wool thread on there.  Still have the Valdani to go but it's a start!  Baby steps, baby steps .....

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, August 24, 2012

2012 Finishes . . . . .

I noticed the other day that I didn't have a list of finishes for this year.  That wasn't true since I had finished a few things.

First is "January" which is one that I showed before but this time it is finished!  As in quilting and binding... whoohoo


And then there is "Sewing Seeds" .....



And finally "Winterberry".



All three are by Cheri Payne.  I, of course, used wool for all the appliques. 

The patterns are all available on my website.  "January" is also available in a kit but I don't have the kits up on the website yet.  If you are interested, shoot an email to me.

Speaking of the website, I've been doing a lot of work to it.  So if you have been before, make sure you refresh the pages!  It's finally starting to look the way I had always envisioned it in my mind.

Blessings, Cathi

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Charm Packs are here . . . . .

You asked for them, you got them.


And I didn't just make a few here and there.  I made bunches and bunches!


All sorted, collated, labeled and stacked.  Ready to head to your house.

Each bundle has 10 different yummy wool pieces of one colorway in 5" x 5" squares.  Perfect for when you need scraps for leaves, berries, snowman noses, flower petals, pumpkin eyes ..... who knows what you will come up with!


They are all available on the website.  Go to the Wool page then click on "Charm Packs".  Easier yet, just click here!

Blessings, Cathi

Friday, August 17, 2012

Tools of the trade for a professional wool dyer?

Ibuprofen and coffee, of course!


Enjoy your day! I'm off to the dye pots . . . . 

Blessings, Cathi

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Cotton Quilt . . . . .

This Saturday, my friend and fellow vendor Martha, is having her first annual (hopefully it's annual) outdoor quilt show.


The show will be held at 4900 Troy Road, Granite Falls, North Carolina.  Granite Falls is off Hwy. 321 just above Hickory.  The show will be held from 10 am until 2 pm this Saturday, August 18th.  

Martha and her husband Jerry own The Cotton Quilt which is housed in her grandmother's sister's old farmhouse.  As you can see in the picture above, there is lots of room to hang quilts.  All the quilts hanging were made by Martha's students and customers since the shop opened years and years ago so there should be plenty to see. 

I have been to Martha's shop and I was just amazed at how much fabric a small house could hold.  Room after room of bolts and patterns and notions.  

So if you are anywhere in the Carolinas this weekend, take a trip up to the foothills and visit!

Blessings, Cathi

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Christmas QAL follow-up and other stuff . . . . .

Thanks for all the emails and postings about yesterday's Christmas Quilt Along.  I really had a good time and enjoyed visiting as many of you as I did.

I finished stitching the text and started the feather stitch on my project.  I haven't done the feather stitch in a long time so it felt a little awkward.

For those who asked, the pattern is called "Merry Christmas" by Cheri Payne.

I spent today updating my website to add the Christmas/Winter patterns.  Here is what I added . . . . .

Comfort and Joy
Merry Christmas
Winterberry
Joy
Good Cheer
Patriotic Snowman Basket
Cold Days
Let's Ride
Winter
And here is the link ......... Christmas/Winter patterns.

I hope you all had a good time yesterday.  If you didn't get the chance to participate, we will meet again on the second Saturday of September.  Our hostess will be Reenie at A Quilt Complex.  Hope you can make it!

Blessings, Cathi